Thread: Bears scale back goal-line offense

www.chicagotribune.com/sports/football/bears/ct-spt-1102-bears-brite--20101101,0,428759.story
chicagotribune.com

Bears scale back goal-line offense

Kreutz has a better idea: Execute and block better

By Vaughn McClure, Tribune reporter
8:12 PM CDT, November 1, 2010

Scoring from near the goal line should be as simple as a quarterback falling forward and extending the ball or a running back leaping over the pile.
For some reason, the Bears still can't get it right.
Mike Martz's offense has failed to score in 10 tries from the opponent's 1-yard line, a streak of futility that has to come to an end immediately if the Bears have any thoughts of competing for a playoff berth.
Martz believes part of the solution involves simplifying the scheme. The offensive coordinator said he eliminated at least two run plays from the goal-line offense, in part, due to the constant changes in personnel along the offensive line.
The Bears have approximately 10 total run and pass plays from inside the opponent's 3-yard line. Martz said there are just two or three run plays now.
"I've always said scaling back and whatever the coaches do is none of our business," center Olin Kreutz said. "We will run what's called.
"What would help is us blocking guys. That would help no matter what's called. We're not worried about them scaling back. We want to step up to a level where no matter what's called, we're executing."
It is unclear exactly which plays Martz eliminated, but nothing has worked from the 1 other than Jay Cutler's sneak against the Redskins, a play Lovie Smith admitted he should have challenged after replays showed Cutler crossing the plane before fumbling.
The Bears have scored just once from the 3 or closer this season: a 3-yard pass from Cutler to Matt Forte at Dallas.
"I can't comment on what (the coaches) took away or put in," Kreutz said. "I wouldn't know. The only time I find out is when they install goal line on Fridays. That's when I worry about it."
The Bears designated Chester Taylor as their short-yardage back before the Panthers game. In the last two games, Taylor had just one short-yardage situation, a third-and-1 from the Bears' 31 against the Redskins. He was dropped for a 4-yard loss.
"I don't care how many plays you have on the goal line, no matter if there are a lot or a little," Taylor said. "It's just all about execution. If we win the battle at the line of scrimmage, no matter what play we call, we're going to get in."