Thread: The Story of the Three Bears; Too Hot, Too Cold and Just Right...........

3 Bears: Too hot, too cold, just right

Corey Graham intercepts the ball against the Raiders. (José M. Osorio, Chicago Tribune / November 27, 2011)

By Brad Biggs, Chicago Tribune reporter 9:55 p.m. CST, December 3, 2011


Too hot: Julius Peppers

At some point, the Bears are going to run out of superlatives to use when discussing Julius Peppers, who had two sacks at Oakland to give him eight this season, matching his 2010 total. Defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli called him a "great talent that overachieves." That says a lot about the engine of the defensive front. Peppers leads the NFL with 13 quarterback hurries, according to STATS, and he's going to have to remain a dominant force down the stretch because the rest of the line has been inconsistent. Some feared the Bears bought a player lacking in motivation in Peppers. That hasn't been the case.

Too cold: Mike Martz

So much for a conservative game plan for a young quarterback making his first career start in a difficult road environment. Offensive coordinator Mike Martz didn't do what he could to make the debut easier for Caleb Hanie at Oakland and the proof was in the play calling. Before the final two possessions — when the Bears scrambled to erase a 25-13 deficit — Martz had called 34 pass plays and 22 runs. That was against the NFL's 26th-ranked run defense. If that wasn't bad enough, he essentially blamed players for not executing the throwback screen that was intercepted late in the first half and resulted in at least a six-point swing.

Just right: Corey Graham

Corey Graham seldom has been used on defense since 2008 when he started half the season in place of Nathan Vasher. He has wanted another opportunity on defense but hasn't made a fuss and quietly went about his job, even in 2010 when he got one snap the entire season. Pressed into action with D.J. Moore sidelined by a sprained ankle, Graham has proved to be a playmaker. He has made three interceptions in nine quarters of action and is enhancing his value as he will be a free agent following the season. The Bears look at him as a special-teams ace, but he's proving he can play defense.