Stats Tell a Grim Story About Bears Defense.................

**soulman** · 10-08-2011, 07:31 PM

Statistics tell grim tale about Bears defense

Unit simply giving up too much ground

By Brad Biggs, Chicago Tribune reporter 9:12 p.m. CDT, October 7, 2011

This Bears defense has faced adversity before.

Just when it looks like things are turning bleak, the defense always has arisen to remain the backbone of the franchise, something to carry the team during Lovie Smith's tenure while the offense has been erratic even in times of prosperity.

The Bears (2-2) might have reached one of those points as they enter their Week 5 game Monday night in Detroit ranked 31st in the NFL in yards allowed.

Sure, that's not the most telling statistic available. But to give up a lot of yards, the Bears have to give up a lot of big plays or be bad on third down. Both areas have been problems. While the Panthers converted only 2 of 12 third downs last week, they rolled up 543 yards, the most the Bears have allowed in 29 seasons.

Moreover, across the board, the statistics aren't pretty. The Bears are tied for 20th in points allowed at 24.5 per game, 28th in defensive snaps, 27th in yards per play and tied for 19th with only eight sacks.

"Given up a lot of points and yards, which isn't a good thing," middle linebacker Brian Urlacher said. "Luckily, we've managed to win two of those games. We're not making big plays, we're giving up too many long runs, too many long passes.

"We're just not doing the things we normally do. Sometimes we're not running to the football, we're not catching the balls that are thrown to us like we usually do. It's all fixable."

While opponents have rushed for 100 yards or more in each of the first four games, the most alarming statistic involves pass defense. Smith's Cover-2 scheme is designed to prevent big plays. The safeties keep the receivers in front of them, and when a play is made, the idea is to swarm the receiver.

The Bears allowed 44 pass plays of 20 or more yards last season. They have surrendered 17 already, putting them on pace for 68. That's a big chunk of yardage.

"We gave up a lot of yards against the Falcons too; we just won the game," weak-side linebacker Lance Briggs said. "It hasn't been typical of the type of defense we've played or we're supposed to play to be among the top defenses in the league."

The Bears say it's a matter of failing to execute, not anything opponents are doing, dispelling the idea that anyone has a blueprint to defeat a coverage every team in the league uses in some fashion.

"The only warning signs you see are when you turn the tape on and you see the mistakes, and the fact that guys aren't in their gaps, guys aren't playing as violent as they need to play," Briggs said. "There are things that we need to do defensively that start right here (points at himself). When we do that — and we'll do that this week — we'll get back on track."

The Bears put stock in the Troy Aikman Efficiency Ratings, a tool the Hall of Fame quarterback devised to reflect qualities that lead to victories. He measures yards per rush, yards per pass, third-down conversions, total first downs, adjusted points, red-zone performance and turnovers. The Bears are 21st using his formula.

So stack up the numbers any way you like, the Bears' stats are not conducive to winning football, especially against a Lions offense Aikman ranks sixth. Yes, the Bears have played talented offenses each week — the Falcons, Saints, Packers and Panthers — but at some point you have to wonder if the unit is showing early signs of decline.

It's easy to point to the safeties' poor performance for the big pass plays, but the pass rush has been sluggish. Defensive end Julius Peppers hasn't taken over a game, and his linemates aren't getting the hustle sacks we've seen.

Briggs warned not to single out the safeties.

"It's tough on the whole back seven if we're not getting quarterbacks down or we're not getting enough pressure," he said. "All the blame doesn't go to the safeties; it goes to us collectively.

"Yes, there are plays where the safety should have been over the top, but there are also plays where time breaks down coverage. We're all to blame."

bmbiggs@tribune.com

Twitter @BradBiggs

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Copyright © 2011, Chicago Tribune
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**soulman** · 10-08-2011, 07:48 PM

Pretty much tells the story so far doesn't it. Last year I think we were in the top 5 in Aikman's efficiency rankings and this year were 21st so far. Oh how the mighty have fallen. Is it a sign of decline and impending doom for our once stout defense? I don't think so.

There's three trouble spots which need top be addressed and it has nothing to do with age.

1) Teams are running on us because we aren't controlling the gaps. I've said that after watching team roll up big yardage straight up the gut against us and Briggs acknowledges it here. No gap control = poor rushing defense in this system.

2) The pass rush must improve. There have been signs of it, Melton, Okoye and Peppers have all had two sacks games, but they're not all getting it together at the same time. I'll give then some grace for last week. There were at least 5 times when we had Newton dead to rights but he slipped out of it somehow. The guy is as good at that as anybody I've ever seen. But we're still not putting the QB on his butt. Pressure yes but those drive ending sacks no. QB's have shaken loose on third and long to complete drive sustaining passes way too often.

3) The play of the Safeties has to improve. Without Chris Harris to lead everyone looks lost out there. If Lovie didn't impress upon Meriweather the need to keep the play in front of him and not freelance then he shouldn't be playing him at FS. Wrights coverage and tackling need a major improvement. It may be due to sophmore slump but I think it's more likely that he trusts himself more and plays better when Harris is playing. It keeps his mistakes down.

To me those are the holes I've seen in the defense in all four games so far. If they don't get them corrected soon this 2nd four game sequence is very likely to turn out like the first and on throughout the season all the way to an 8-8 finish. The Packers defense isn't doing so hot either. They're ranked just ahead of us at #28 but they have an offense that they can win behind, we don't.

**Blue Horse-shoe** · 10-09-2011, 04:30 PM

Bout time someone took on this sacred cow and spelled it out like it needed to be. This team is on thin ice and they're lucky to be 2-2. If they don't improve, in a hurry, this ice is going to break and this season will go down the tubes ......... very quickly.
But there's a silver lining. What will Jerry have to hang his hat on then ?

**Dagan81** · 10-09-2011, 09:39 PM

Originally Posted by Blue Horse-shoe

Bout time someone took on this sacred cow and spelled it out like it needed to be. This team is on thin ice and they're lucky to be 2-2. If they don't improve, in a hurry, this ice is going to break and this season will go down the tubes ......... very quickly.
But there's a silver lining. What will Jerry have to hang his hat on then ?

Jerry Angelo will simply say that the franchise did all it could to improve at all positions, and then will put the blame on his subordinates instead of himself. Frankly, I'm halfway hoping that this season tanks out so it will hasten the demise of the front office and, perhaps, this coaching staff. We are running an outdated defense in my estimation, an offense that hasn't been effective since the early 2000s, and the only thing that is saving our bacon so far has been our stellar play on special teams. If it means cleaning house would occur, I would wholeheartedly support tanking this season.

**Blue Horse-shoe** · 10-09-2011, 10:40 PM

Originally Posted by Dagan81

Jerry Angelo will simply say that the franchise did all it could to improve at all positions, and then will put the blame on his subordinates instead of himself. Frankly, I'm halfway hoping that this season tanks out so it will hasten the demise of the front office and, perhaps, this coaching staff. We are running an outdated defense in my estimation, an offense that hasn't been effective since the early 2000s, and the only thing that is saving our bacon so far has been our stellar play on special teams. If it means cleaning house would occur, I would wholeheartedly support tanking this season.

Well put and I've been thinking the same thing for a while now. The D is too predictable and the O is a Chinese fire drill. Yet there is just enough talent on this team for them to go 7-9 which might be enough for spin doctor Jerry to snowjob his way into staying, which will do nothing towards building a better future. Sheesh.

**soulman** · 10-10-2011, 12:13 AM

Originally Posted by Dagan81

Jerry Angelo will simply say that the franchise did all it could to improve at all positions, and then will put the blame on his subordinates instead of himself. Frankly, I'm halfway hoping that this season tanks out so it will hasten the demise of the front office and, perhaps, this coaching staff. We are running an outdated defense in my estimation, an offense that hasn't been effective since the early 2000s, and the only thing that is saving our bacon so far has been our stellar play on special teams. If it means cleaning house would occur, I would wholeheartedly support tanking this season.

I don't think it's outdated and if so then a lot of other teams are running an outdated defense too. The Bears aren't the only team to play it. The defense isn't all that much different than the offense in that it takes the right personnel and talented enough personnel to run it. We have the right guys and most of the talent. There just not playing well right now IMO.

**go4bears** · 10-10-2011, 03:05 AM

A lot of teams run the Tampa 2 as a base and put their own spins on it. But with the talent we have and the current trend something needs to change. Lets face it the d has been going into a downward spiral since Rivera left. Secondary has been the week spot for years, it is just the front 7 played well enough to hide the fact. Now the front seven is not what it use to be and everything is coming to the forefront. Let's face it Peppers, Urlacher, and Briggs are getting old and we need someone to develope some more talent to complete the front seven. It just seems like the bears pick people up and do nothing to improve their play.

**GermansbombedPH** · 10-10-2011, 04:16 AM

We don't have a WR like Johnson. Just throw the ball in his direction and he will caught it. It must be good to be Stafford ;)

**Dagan81** · 10-14-2011, 11:06 PM

Originally Posted by GermansbombedPH

We don't have a WR like Johnson. Just throw the ball in his direction and he will caught it. It must be good to be Stafford ;)

Calvin Johnson is a freak, period.

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