[CBFF] Bears still a work in progress (Pierson)

[Victor Waldron]

Bears still a work in progress
Exhibition effort vs. Cardinals doesn't bode well for regular-season 
opener in 2 weeks, writes Don Pierson
Don Pierson
On Pro Football

August 27, 2006

There's still time, Lovie Smith keeps telling himself. There are 14 days 
before the Bears go to Green Bay. The way they've played in their first 
three exhibition games, they'd better take a bus because they can't seem 
to get off the ground.

"We didn't play Green Bay tonight," Smith said after Friday night's 
23-16 loss to Arizona. "We still have time to get it taken care of."

The always optimistic Smith sounded like he was trying to convince 
himself this time.

"It seemed like we took a step back," he admitted.

If there were only one thing to take care of, there would be plenty of 
time. Smith could make the fans happy by benching Rex Grossman and 
starting Brian Griese.

Grossman was the fourth-best quarterback on the field Friday night, 
after Griese and Arizona's old Kurt Warner and rookie Matt Leinart. All 
of them threw touchdown passes except Grossman, who is zero for the 
preseason.

Grossman has completed only 50 percent of his passes, which doesn't cut 
it in the big leagues. He threw another interception Friday. Elevating 
Griese would be an easy way for Smith to make his players think 
everything will be all right.

But Smith made it clear: "We're not going to throw this all on Rex 
Grossman."

There are plenty of players to blame, and even though Smith thinks there 
is time to get this thing going, he also said, "Time is running out for 
the offense as a whole to play better."

He could have included the defense, but there wasn't time.

About eight days of practice remain before the Packers game, so here is 
a list of things to do:

Act like it's football season. Grossman said Smith told the players they 
"can't be up and down. If we're up and down, we'll be 8-8 and sitting at 
home in the playoffs."

Nobody has noticed the "up" part yet. And playoffs? Are they on the 
schedule? The easiest schedule in the league?

"We are running out of time, but we still know we're a good football 
team," Grossman said. "Everyone in the locker room knows it."

Pretty soon, they will have to quit keeping it to themselves.

Beg for discipline. Grossman directed six series Friday night. The only 
one that didn't include penalties ended in the interception. Delay of 
game. Holding. False starts. Unnecessary roughness on offensive tackle 
Fred Miller.

Defensively, there was interference and unsportsmanlike conduct when 
Tommie Harris flipped a ball into a Cardinal's face mask. Exactly what 
do the Bears have to taunt about?

Is there a lack of concentration?

"I wish I knew," Smith said.

Find a running game. Thomas Jones made his debut and ran four times for 
3 yards. Falling down face first four times would have gained more. 
Maybe they don't want to show the Packers too much.

They aren't going to win without being able to run.

"It is disappointing that we have not been able to run the football 
better," Smith said.

Stop dropping passes. Grossman threw three balls that were flat out 
dropped, one by Muhsin Muhammad, one by Jones, one by Bernard Berrian.

Muhammad looks like the only receiver Grossman can trust. It won't be 
enough.

Try calling Deion Branch. If the Patriots are serious about trading him, 
the Bears should get serious too.

Get the defensive linemen out of the training room. Alex Brown hurt a 
shoulder and joined a disturbing list of injured pass rushers. Four 
defensive linemen didn't dress Friday night, and the rest couldn't catch 
up with Warner and Leinart. No wonder Harris flipped that ball. He 
needed a breather for a play while Smith reprimanded him.

If the line isn't ready for Green Bay, it won't matter who plays 
quarterback.

Bring back Mike Brown. Without Brown, the defense lacks something. Like 
consistent tackling.

Put Robbie Gould in a bubble. So far, the placekicker is the MVP.

Give Grossman earplugs.

"When we win or play well, it's not just at the quarterback position," 
Smith said. "Right now we have to be able to put points on the board, 
and we need quite a few of our players to step up."

If sloppy, uninspired play is the way to snap the Bears out of their 
off-season, their plan is working.

"Everything we do is to get ready for Green Bay," Smith said. "Right now 
we're not ready."