[CBFF] Back to the drawing board :: CHICAGO SUN-TIMES :: Bears

[Tom Shannon]

Back to the drawing board :: CHICAGO SUN-TIMES :: Bears

Back to the drawing board
 Successful end to year doesn't reduce Bears' offseason work


December 31, 2007
BY BRAD BIGGS bbiggs at suntimes.com

Let the remodeling begin.

A season that began with travel plans to Glendale, Ariz., for Super
Bowl XLII came to a merciful end Sunday at Soldier Field. The Bears
managed to tie a bow on an otherwise hideous campaign, closing with a
33-25 victory over New Orleans that ended any chance the Saints had of
making the playoffs.
 PHOTO GALLERY

 Bears vs. Saints


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Devin Hester capped another remarkable, record-setting season with two
touchdowns -- a 55-yard reception and a 64-yard punt return -- and
quarterback Kyle Orton was steady with help from an opportunistic
defense that harassed Drew Brees from start to finish. There was even
some razzle-dazzle, with running back Adrian Peterson tossing a
touchdown pass to Bernard Berrian.

It was the first time this season the Bears (7-9) won consecutive
games, a case of too little way too late. The best thing that can be
said is the locker room never gave up on coach Lovie Smith, something
worth remembering after a three-game losing streak had the team on the
verge of unhinging. But in the wake of a first-to-worst free fall, it
would be naive to think that scoring 68 points in the final two weeks
is a sign the Bears' problems are superficial.

In reshaping for 2008, don't remove the nameplates from the office
doors of coordinators Ron Turner and Bob Babich. Smith was emphatic in
saying no changes are in store for them. That doesn't mean his staff
won't be tweaked. Turner's offense showed some life in the holiday
season, but the team that gets off the bus running the ball finished
30th in that category. Babich's defense, which accounted for 57 of the
team's 76 starts lost to injury, began collecting takeaways down the
stretch, although Saints fourth-stringer Pierre Thomas rushed for 105
yards on 20 carries.

''I don't see how you can be fooled by the win,'' Smith said when
asked about guarding against overconfidence entering the offseason.
''With that many losses, there were lots of things we did wrong.
Hopefully as the season went along and after you look back over it,
we've learned from those mistakes.

''But we're not the first team to go through tough times like this. I
just look forward to people talking about us being one of the teams
that went to the Super Bowl, [then] the following year didn't have a
great year, but that next year came back strong.''

Smith asked for fans' trust during the last offseason in doing what
was right for the organization, and it will be in his hands and those
of general manager Jerry Angelo with the Bears in position to draft
14th. Angelo has said offense will be his top priority. He has drafted
only two offensive players in six years who made at least eight starts
this year.

First, however, comes free agency, when we'll find out what happens
with Berrian, linebacker Lance Briggs, quarterback Rex Grossman and
others.

''We're close,'' Smith said. ''You look at the games we lost ... we
were in every one of those. We'll tighten up some things, try to make
some minor adjustments to improve and come back strong.''

But what, exactly, are the Bears close to? The decades-old search for
a franchise quarterback wages on. There doesn't appear to be a running
back worth featuring on the roster. If you don't have those two
positions shored up, typically you're close to limbo.

One fan walked up to the stadium before the game carrying a ''We need
McNabb'' sign. Smith makes it sound like it won't be an extensive
rehab. Change is in store, though.