Peppers in a rush to bounce back from loss

Peppers in a rush to bounce back from loss

Bears DE says he has to play better, 'everybody has to'


Breaking down film Monday only reinforced what Bears defensive end Julius Peppers already knew about his performance Sunday against the Seahawks.
"I've got to rush better, play better," he said. "Everybody has to. I was frustrated because we lost and I didn't think we had enough of a sense of urgency to win that game."

Peppers failed to record a sack, but he was held without a sack in three other games this season and still managed to make an impact. That wasn't the case against rookie left tackle Russell Okung and the Seahawks.

"It doesn't matter who it is out there because everybody on this level can play," Peppers said, referring to his battles with Okung. "When I was a rookie, I was dominant. So it doesn't matter if it's a rookie, 10-year guy, five-year guy. It's an NFL offensive tackle, and you've got to beat him."

Coach Lovie Smith and his defensive staff have constantly preached the importance of pressure from the front four in the Cover-2 scheme. The Bears allowed Seahawks quarterback Matt Hasselbeck to attempt 40 passes without sacking him once.
We did get to him," Smith said. "There were a couple of times when we should have had a sack and we weren't able to because he got the ball out of his hands fairly quick. … But we're not pleased with where our rush is right now. We need to improve on that."

Peppers has just two sacks through six games, although statistics don't measure his impact on the defense. But he is bound to have off games like Sunday, particularly with offenses scheming to shut him down.

"I mean double-teaming … you can call it whatever you want to, but it's no different than any other game we've played," Peppers said. "There are no excuses. You just have to play better."

The Bears have nine sacks through six games. They had 14 through six last season. Israel Idonije leads the team with four sacks, but no one else on the defensive line other than Peppers has recorded a sack.

And it won't get any easier for the rush men with Donovan McNabb and the Redskins next up. Peppers has yet to sack McNabb in four career meetings, including the playoffs.

"Not only Donovan ... they've got a lot of talent over there," Peppers said. "We just have to be ready.

"Right now, we've got to get up off the mat. You get knocked down in this league, man. It's just about who gets up and keeps fighting."
vxmcclure@tribune.com

Bears’ pass rush lacking

bob legere

Just a week after the Bears’ pass rush, spearheaded by the defensive line, tormented Panthers rookie quarterback Jimmy Clausen with 5 sacks on 27 dropbacks, Seahawks veteran QB Matt Hasselbeck was able to fling 40 passes without being sacked once.

“It wasn’t as good an effort, Bears coach Lovie Smith said. “But we did some good things. We did get to him. There were a couple times when we should have had a sack and we weren’t able to because he got the ball out of his hands fairly quick because he’s a pretty good player, too.

But we’re not pleased with where our rush is right now. We need to improve on that.
The Bears’ rushmen have been blanked in half of their six games, and their total of 9 sacks is 25th in the league. Sackmaster Julius Peppers has been held to 2 sacks as opponents have focused on keeping him away from the quarterback.

“What else can you do to him? Smith said. “He gets double-teamed each week. He gets chipped. The tight end stays in. He’s going to get that each week. So there’s nothing new. He’s going to have to deal with that. It’s a part of life for him.

Israel Idonije leads the Bears with 3½ sacks but missed an opportunity to add to his total against Seattle.

“We had opportunities to get to the quarterback, Idonije said. “Myself, I had one where I thought he was throwing the ball. I had him there in my hands and rather than just continue and take him to the ground, I let up, and he held the ball and was able to check it down. You can’t wait for a second chance. You’ve got to finish. We’ve got to do better this week.

Let’s stay together:

Coach Lovie Smith says he still has faith in his offensive linemen because of the Bears’ record.
“We’ve won four games with this offensive line, Smith said. “Keep in mind, too, that we’ve worked different combinations. I’m excited about this week hopefully of having the same combination start the game. Hopefully all that will help.

Despite allowing 5 sacks and leading a ground game that produced just 61 yards (on 14 carries), Smith said he hopes to have (from left tackle to right) Frank Omiyale, Chris Williams, Olin Kreutz, Edwin Williams and J’Marcus Webb together again vs. the Redskins at Soldier Field.

“Believe me, each week we haven’t said, ‘Hey, new week, let’s try a different combination,’ Smith said. “Injuries have forced us to do it a little bit, but we’re getting guys back healthy right now. Hopefully we can go with this same line again this week. And just that in itself, guys playing together more, will help.

Peppers wasnt great in the game especially considering what he did in prior games. But you got to give Seattle credit with mixing in all those quick passes to neutralize the pass rush.

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Originally Posted by motownbear

Peppers wasnt great in the game especially considering what he did in prior games. But you got to give Seattle credit with mixing in all those quick passes to neutralize the pass rush.

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Maybe somebody ought to tell Jay and Mike about that trick, eh?

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Originally Posted by motownbear

Peppers wasnt great in the game especially considering what he did in prior games. But you got to give Seattle credit with mixing in all those quick passes to neutralize the pass rush.

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Agreed, but peppers was going against a rookie most of the day, STILL should have had more big Plays..and maybe not even sacks, but more pressure, he rarely got there, which was a dissapointment- he's still everything expected, but he did have an offweek, which will happen to all players.. urlacher also was pretty invisible for the first timeall year, which hurts when BOTH have an off week

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Originally Posted by jnastorer

Maybe somebody ought to tell Jay and Mike about that trick, eh?

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we did it against the Cowboys just dont know what happened since then.

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Originally Posted by motownbear

we did it against the Cowboys just dont know what happened since then.

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I know, that is what really killed me on Sunday, why were we not hitting the short passes. Bennett seemed to be ready to do it, but only deep incompletes for Jay. It was hard to watch. If we can find a way to get Knox and Hester and DA and Bennet short, they will make the YAC, no DB's in the league can stay with them the whole game with quick hit routes. What about the TE over the middle like the Dallas game?????

That was just too frustrating.

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Originally Posted by jnastorer

I know, that is what really killed me on Sunday, why were we not hitting the short passes. Bennett seemed to be ready to do it, but only deep incompletes for Jay. It was hard to watch. If we can find a way to get Knox and Hester and DA and Bennet short, they will make the YAC, no DB's in the league can stay with them the whole game with quick hit routes. What about the TE over the middle like the Dallas game?????

That was just too frustrating.

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And if rewatch the gme THOSE SHORT PLAYS OPEN, on at least 3-4 can recall, jay had the hot read wide open to hester or bennett crossing right in front of him, but didn't take it.. besides the awful line play, jay must ALSO shoulder some of the blame for missing those- and if just hit 1-2 , you never know how that changes game or the pass rush