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Was Mark Anderson A Guy Who Just Didn't Fit, Or Was It Poor Coaching?......
Ex-Bear Anderson returns to biggest stage
January, 31, 2012 Jan 31
6:44
PM CT
By Jeff Dickerson
INDIANAPOLIS -- It all happened so fast for ex-Chicago Bears' defensive end Mark Anderson.
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AP Photo/Ed ReinkeMark Anderson was unable to replicate the success of his rookie season in Chicago -- until he made the move to New England.
Anderson, selected in round No. 5 of the 2006 NFL draft, burst onto the scene as a rookie with a team-high 12 sacks, and was a valuable member of a defense that propelled the Bears to a berth in Super Bowl XLI.
Then it all began to unravel. The Bears made Anderson a starter the following season. He lost his starting job then he lost his job period when the Bears released the pass-rusher in 2010. After a stint in Houston, Anderson found new life in New England, where he recorded 11 combined sacks for the AFC champion Patriots.
Surrounded by media at his own reserved section at Super Bowl XLVI media day Tuesday at Lucas Oil Stadium, Anderson admitted he took the initial trip to the Super Bowl for granted.
“Honestly it’s true," Anderson said. "After my first year in the league, I knew we would go back. I thought all you had to do was win a majority of the games in the regular season and then win out in the playoffs. We didn’t even make the playoffs my other four years with the Bears. This is my first year coming back to the playoffs, five years later."
Five years later, Anderson has re-made himself. A terrific situational pass-rusher early in career with the Bears, he now finds himself in playing in New England's hybrid 3-4 defense, as opposed to the 4-3 front used in Chicago.
The way Anderson sees it, the Patriots' defense affords him the opportunity to showcase his biggest football strength: athleticism.
"I really like the different packages and stuff, the freedom we have and different things I can do," Anderson said. "It's a fun defense. Once you understand what you need to do, you can really make a lot of plays and contribute a lot. I'm doing different packages at outside linebacker and defense end, so I just try to make the most of it at all times. If you're real athletic, you can rush out of the two-point or you can rush out of the three-point, you can do a lot of things. You can even drop back in coverage if you have to. It really can highlight your athleticism."
I'm getting to that age where a lifetime warranty just doesn't mean as much to me anymore as an afternoon nap. 
Honey Badger Don't Care. Honey Badger Don't Give a Shit.
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Here's a great example of why, even after acquiring Julius Peppers, we're still in the market for another pass rushing DE this year. He's one more example of a draft choice who eventually failed to hold down a starting job.
Was it his coaching or was it the fact that he was never cut out to play DE in a traditional 4-3 defense to begin with? How does a guy go from 12 sacks as a rookie for a complete failure every year thereafter and finally earn his release?
It's always nice to see former Bears succeed but you have to wonder how we missed the boat on this guy. Why is it we tried so hard to turn him into an every down DE when his forte was obviously that of a situational pass rusher. Guys like Anderson is where I have my biggest problem with Lovie's stubbornness. I think there are many times he simply mis-evaluates players strengths and weaknesses and doesn't always play them in a way that allows them the best chance to succeed.
Maybe if we'd have continued to use Mark Anderson as he was used during his rookie season rather than trying to turn him into Richard Dent he would have succeeded and would still be a Bear.
I'm getting to that age where a lifetime warranty just doesn't mean as much to me anymore as an afternoon nap. Honey Badger Don't Care. Honey Badger Don't Give a Shit.
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it could be poor coaching considering lovie fired our dl coach after the superbowl
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Anderson is just being used much like his rookie season as a Bear and still a situational pass rusher specialist. The Pats have easily put up the points this year forcing teams to go pass heavy while playing from behind letting him rush the passer play in/play out during the second half. The majority of his big games came when the Pats were up by a couple scores.
His stats show this when broken down: New England Patriots: Mark Anderson
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Originally Posted by
motownbear 
it could be poor coaching considering lovie fired our dl coach after the superbowl
Good point mo. I wasn't aware of that or at least I didn't remember. I wonder if Marinelli could have done anything with him?
I'm getting to that age where a lifetime warranty just doesn't mean as much to me anymore as an afternoon nap. Honey Badger Don't Care. Honey Badger Don't Give a Shit.
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Originally Posted by
draw2anderson35 Anderson is just being used much like his rookie season as a Bear and still a situational pass rusher specialist. The Pats have easily put up the points this year forcing teams to go pass heavy while playing from behind letting him rush the passer play in/play out during the second half. The majority of his big games came when the Pats were up by a couple scores.
His stats show this when broken down:
New England Patriots: Mark Anderson Yeah, thats pretty much the case. Manderson is a great situational pass rusher, sure. But a full fledged starter? not so much. He isnt the best talent around, but he isnt the worst either. Although...this does bring coaching in to play, much like Martz being unable to use Hanie to his strengths, instead of trying to cram Martz's playbook on him.
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High Fives / Like - 1 BEAR DOWN!, 0 Dislikes
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Originally Posted by
draw2anderson35 Anderson is just being used much like his rookie season as a Bear and still a situational pass rusher specialist. The Pats have easily put up the points this year forcing teams to go pass heavy while playing from behind letting him rush the passer play in/play out during the second half. The majority of his big games came when the Pats were up by a couple scores.
His stats show this when broken down:
New England Patriots: Mark Anderson Thanks for the post up brother. That does explain a lot about why his sack numbers were up so much.
To my way of thinking we made a big mistake making him an every down starting DE. He simply didn't have the size or strength for that role and it wore him down enough that his rush abilities deteriorated. We should have allowed him to remain at RDE and used him to spell Alex Brown on obvious passing downs or like NE does. When you have the other team down and there is a situation of needing to pass nearly every down.
Good post man!
I'm getting to that age where a lifetime warranty just doesn't mean as much to me anymore as an afternoon nap. Honey Badger Don't Care. Honey Badger Don't Give a Shit.
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From other articles I've read on him he also seems to have improved is pass rushing game. Knowing where to be, moves, etc. If he could have been a situational guy and if Rod could have developed him would have been interesting.
My pipe dream though is Avril in FA.
Arguing on the internet is like winning the special olympics, even if you win your still messed up.
Restore the roar!
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Wasn't MA give the starting job over AB, without even having to beat him out?
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Originally Posted by
yttocs Wasn't MA give the starting job over AB, without even having to beat him out?
Indeed he was. And eventually was cut in favor of adding ex-Saint Charles Grant... spent 15 days on Da Bears' roster. And... Charles Grant was cut by New Orleans the beginning of the season and the team shortly after picked up Alex Brown.
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