[CBFF] ST - Bears must recapture September magic

[Jerry Madsen]

This article was a good read by Mully.  It has overtones of hope, but
I think the underlying message is, 'You've got two weeks to fix things
or else.'

I also didn't realize that Devon Hester left the game with a leg injury.  Geez.

Jerry

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Bears must recapture September magic

January 1, 2007
BY MIKE MULLIGAN Staff Reporter

Way back four months ago, when this endless season first began, no
less an authority than Brett Favre marveled at the Bears' defense. He
said no team ever had run the cover-2 better than the Bears during a
26-0 shutout of the Packers at Lambeau Field on that September
afternoon.

That's the same Favre, mind you, who battled so many times against
Tampa Bay in the old NFC Central. And those are the same Buccaneers
who rode that cover-2 defense to Super Bowl glory. Favre may have been
shellshocked after that game. After all, he never had been shut out in
his NFL career, something that would happen again later in the season
against New England.

The promise of that first game still hasn't been broken. Regardless of
how miserable the starting unit looked Sunday night in the
regular-season finale, the only way the promise of the season is
broken is if the Bears falter in the playoffs. Again.

If they somehow lose in the divisional round to the lowest seed the
NFL's inferior conference can send to Soldier Field, well, you have to
wonder if they'll ever win a playoff game. Whichever opponent arrives
to challenge the Bears -- the Giants, Cowboys or Seahawks -- stumbled
down the stretch to get there.

Regardless, Sunday's performance was further proof that the halcyon
days early in the season -- a time when the defense was being compared
to that of the 1985 team and Rex Grossman was the NFL's Mr. September
-- seem to have given way to an extended winter solstice. Can a team
that finishes with a 13-3 record really have fallen into a bottomless
pit?

In fairness, the Bears didn't need anything out of Sunday's game, and
they haven't needed much for a few games. The end of the season has
had the feeling of playing out the string -- as if the NFC
regular-season champions actually were eliminated and had nothing left
to play for but building for next year. There were injuries,
especially in the secondary, that led to playing reserves.

''We kind of relaxed a little bit in the last couple of games,''
cornerback Ricky Manning Jr. said. ''It's tough. It's a long season in
the NFL, and that is going to happen to anybody, especially around
this time of year. We'll get back on track, get guys some rest and get
healthy and get ready for the playoffs.''

Despite all the evidence to the contrary, Manning insists the Bears'
defense is getting better as the season comes to an end. He said the
playing time that he, Chris Harris, Devin Hester and Cameron Worrell
have gotten in the secondary only will improve the depth in the
playoffs. That logic also would apply to tackles Israel Idonije and
Alfonso Boone, who've been a regular part of the rotation.

Tank Johnson's return after missing two games was interesting, as
well. He played both tackle positions but lined up most often at the
three-technique spot that was vacated by Tommie Harris. Johnson was
moved to nose tackle this season to get him on the field with Harris
so the Bears would have pass rushers at every position. When Harris
went down, the Bears opted to keep Johnson at nose tackle because they
didn't want to make two changes for one injury. But since he has been
out and Ian Scott has moved into the nose tackle spot, where he
previously started, it was deemed time to move Johnson.

''Wherever the coaches line me up, I will play,'' Johnson said. ''I
just want to play consistent, play hard and play fast. Anytime you
miss a game for any reason, when you come back, you appreciate the
game more.''

In the ultimate irony of the night, the decision to play starters in a
meaningless game -- something coach Lovie Smith opted not to do last
season at Minnesota -- essentially forced Smith to give them an
extended run because of how badly the Packers were beating them. Green
Bay built a 23-0 lead in the first half when Grossman was on the field
and being booed off it. Grossman threw three interceptions, two of
which were returned for touchdowns. The beating should've been worse,
but the Packers missed an extra point and a short field goal.

The Bears have taken exception to the criticism they've received for
victories over Tampa Bay and Detroit, saying they're being judged on
style points like a college football team looking to move up the
rankings. But the criticism came because it seemed like they were
headed to this sort of defeat -- one in which every one-time strength
seemed in question.

Now a busy bye week just got even busier. The Bears will need to give
Grossman another lesson on the horror of turnovers. They'll have to
set up a spot in the training room for star returner Hester, who left
the game with a leg injury. They'll have to rebuild the confidence of
a defense that once looked capable of an all-time season but now might
be a liability.

It's an interesting checklist at a time when Smith may get his
contract extension and defensive coordinator Ron Rivera seems certain
to have a job interview or two.

If only it were September again.



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