Bears Defense and a Ball Control Offense Can Get Them There............

Bears can win with defense

But to do so, offense must to stay out of way with ball control football

http://www.chicagotribune.com/media/...1/66115443.jpg Julius Peppers and Brian Urlacher celebrate a big stop against the Lions in the 4th quarter. (Chris Sweda, Chicago Tribune / November 13, 2011)

Mike Mulligan November 16, 2011


Super Bowl runs are like great comedy. It all comes down to timing.

Just ask the Chargers, who arrive Sunday in Soldier Field as an almost-dynasty, a never-was team that might have been good enough to win a Super Bowl were it not for the unfortunate circumstance of being at its best while the Patriots and Colts dominated the AFC.

Do the Bears find themselves in the same position? Are they doomed to runner-up status, not only in the north division, but in the NFC itself? Even with their season turning from stagger to swagger, the rejuvenated Bears trail the perfect Packers by three games in the division with seven to play. The race isn't technically over, but it sure feels that way. How do you pick up four games on an unbeaten team with seven remaining?

You don't. But In the modern NFL it's just as important to be the hottest team as the best one. The Packers aren't a hurdle for the Bears, but rather an inspiration. What they did last year, going on the road as a sixth seed en route to a championship, serves as incentive, motivation and encouragement for every wild-card team. Odds are the Bears are going to have to beat Green Bay at Lambeau Field if they want ultimate success this season. (He's right. We have to turn around what happened last year and beat them twice at home if we want it all)

But is there any other team in the NFC that much better than these Bears? Not if they continue to defeat the enemy within and play to their formula for success. It's a pity the Bears opened the season attempting to score points and win on offense. That decision probably cost Lovie Smith a shot at Coach of the Year. While Smith has done the best job in-season of rebooting his team, the question remains, why did he have to do it? (Apparently he still hasn't learned the true definition of insanity)

For the past three years, the Bears haven't understood their identity on offense to start a season. All they need do is rely on high-percentage passes, protect the quarterback and run the football. They are built to win on defense and special teams, and controlling their offense is part of that formula. (Which is why the hiring of Mike Martz made about as much sense as the hiring of Terry Shea did) The Bears' offense currently ranks 17th in the NFL, the highest it has been in the Jerry Angelo era other than the No. 15 ranking it enjoyed in 2006 en route to a Super Bowl appearance. Mediocre offense is all that is required if the defense is playing to its capabilities.

When Smith arrived in 2004 the Bears' defense ranked 21st in an injury-plagued season. They followed that with a No. 2 finish, then fifth in the Super Bowl year before falling off badly when Ron Rivera was sent packing, to 28th, 21st and 17th before Julius Peppers' arrival sparked a top 10 ranking (ninth) and a trip to the NFC title game. The defense has risen steadily this year from a low of 31st following Week 4 to a current 25th ranking. That is hardly spectacular, but Smith's defense isn't designed to limit yardage.The coach prefers the Aikman ratings, a seven-category analysis that measures how a team limits opponents in rushing, passing, third down efficiency, first downs, points, red zone efficiency and takeaways. (And I agree with that as long as they are stopping drives short of the end zone and getting takeaways. They may be ranked 25th in yardage allowed but they rank 6th in point differential, defensive points given up less defensive points scored. That ranking eliminates points given up by the offense or special teams and subtracts defensive points scored from those allowed)

The Bears' defense is fifth in the Aikman ratings after finishing second a year ago. It helps that it forced the Lions into six turnovers. That gives the Bears 20 takeaways, tied for second in the league with the Packers, Texans and Bills behind only the 49ers. (Probably a much fairer way to judge the Bears style of defense)

The Bears seem destined to make the playoffs and open on the road against the Giants or Cowboys before traveling to play the 49ers or Saints. They can beat all those teams. The Giants humiliated them last year, but that's when the Bears were playing a wide open offense. Ditto the Saints earlier this year. The Bears have a decided advantage over all those teams in special teams, just as they figure to dominate that area against the Chargers.

Injuries can sabotage the narrative for any team. If Peppers' knee gives out, all bets are off. Losing Chris Williams at guard isn't so much a problem because of the player, but rather the continuity of the unit. A guard should be easier to replace than a tackle. And Edwin Williams fits a profile of center/guard that already has paid dividends this year with Roberto Garza and Chris Spencer.

A four-game winning streak means the Bears are demonstrating resilience, building confidence and playing with consistency. It's a super formula. (They're finally back to playing Bears style football again, restraining pass happy Martz and getting more aggressive in pass coverage are paying off. If they can keep playing this way we may just get that chance to upset the Packers and return the favor. I can't think of any better way to make a Super Bowl entrance than that)


Special contributor Mike Mulligan co-hosts "The Mully and Hanley Show" weekdays from 5 to 9 a.m. on WSCR-AM 670.


Copyright © 2011, Chicago Tribune
ct-spt-1116-mulligan-bears-nfl-chicago--20111116 http://www.dabears.com/hive/images/r.../rating_on.jpghttp://www.dabears.com/hive/images/r.../rating_on.jpghttp://www.dabears.com/hive/images/r.../rating_on.jpghttp://www.dabears.com/hive/images/r.../rating_on.jpghttp://www.dabears.com/hive/images/r...ating_half.jpg

Now that the Bears have seemingly turned their season around the path to a championship is very clear. As it is and always has been it's the Bears defense that wins them championships. The offense just needs to stay out of the way like they did in the 80's and enjoy the ride. The only way we can win is if Mike Martz stays under control, improves his goaline offense (which is what we have Barber, Clutts, and two 6'7" TE's for Mike) and the Bears get back to playing the kind of takeaway defense we have played lately.

Nobody is gonna keep the Packers from being the top team in the NFC as long as they stay healthy so this year the road to the Super Bowl leads through GB just like it led through Chicago last year. Assuming we get the chance there is no way for the Bears to outscore the Packers, or even one of several other teams, so to win we have to put a plug in their scoring. Like it or not Mulligan's solution is the right one. Keep the othre guys offense off the field as much as possible and let the defense win the game.

The Bears offense and special teams are capable of putting 24-30 points on the board every game. Just open some holes for Forte and keep a controlled passing game going with Bennett and Forte so we move the ball with sustained drives and keep our 30 something defense fresh. Even when Forte is having a tough day he's still more than capable of breaking a big run every time he gets the ball. If he had more outright speed he had one broken free for a TD last Sunday but he got caught from behind after a 40 yard run. If he makes that run from 39 yards out or less it was a TD.

Martz needs to keep running the ball even when they have it bottled up like the Lions did. Use Barber more and run into a penetrating defense like the Lions have. Don't try to go around it. Forte's big run came straight up the gut. Use the TE's and roll outs in the goaline offense. Don't just send Forte off tackle twice and throw incomplete to the middle of the field. Throws fades to Bennett and Williams and use their size and strength to get open where the little guys can't. We give up at least 4 to 8 points per game settling for short FG's because we can't punch it or throw it in from 1st and goal. You can't win championships that way but you can lose a shit load of 3 or 4 point games.

We turned a big corner and now the only question is do we have what it takes to make it to the next block over.

This is a pretty thin premise to pin your post season hopes on. There is NO guarantee that the D will play great every game and the 85 Bears had enough players on O to be considered dangerous. Once again the Bears are trying to snow-job their fans into thinking they can win with half a team. This team wins in the playoffs ONLY IF their offense gets hot. EVERY game. Believe it when I see it.

I don't think he's saying defense alone BH-s I think he's saying the defense leads this team and the offense follows. Just like during the 80's the offenses job was to not LOSE the game with turnovers or consistently providing an opponent with good field position. Where I think he's on target is stating that ball control is necessary for this team to win, not a big play offense which of course is what Martz is famous for.

If you look at the 80's Bears and then this Bears team you see some similarities. Both offenses had a star RB leading the charge and a very good posession receiver (McKinnon/Bennett) coupled with a speedy downfield guy (Gault/Knox) and a good blocking TE who could catch a few passes (Morehead/Davis or Spaeth). The main difference is at QB where Cutler has a much better arm than McMahon and is more of a gunslinger and a far more experienced offensive line.

Once we departed from Martz offensive concepts and began to play Bears football again using the run to set up passing and moving the ball downfield with drives as opposed to big plays the TOP advantage came back in our direction and the defense's game picked up. That's how we roll and how we win games. I think that's what Mullins is trying to say. We need to manage our offense and turn the defense loose.