Thread: Smith, Idonije come down hard on Allen hit

By Vaughn McClure, Tribune reporter

12:36 p.m. CST, November 26, 2012

Chicago Bears coach Lovie Smith and defensive end Israel Idonije voiced disapproval Monday regarding the hit by Minnesota Vikings defensive end Jared Allen that injured Bears right guard Lance Louis.

In the third quarter of Sunday’s 28-10 win over the Vikings, Louis got blindsided by Allen after a Jay Cutler interception. Louis suffered a signficant left knee injury on the play and didn’t return.

Smith was asked if he thought the play was unnecessary.

"Yes," Smith said. "I did. Jared Allen plays the game a certain way, good player in our league. But I think there are some plays, when you look at them again, you say, 'Hey, we could have done without that.'

"I think our game could do without that play. We have an injured player right now based on it. I think you could have gotten him blocked a little bit differently. That’s about all I should probably say about it."

Allen defended himself after the game.

"I thought it was a legal hit,"’ he said. "He’s running to make a tackle, so I just went to block him. I never intentionally try to hurt anybody."

Idonije has been on the same side as Allen in the past in terms of taking out a player after an interception. Still, Idonije saw no need for such a vicious blow.

"I saw the play. It wasn’t necessary," Idonije said. "There have been a number of rules put in the game now that you can’t hit a defenseless player. Lance’s vision is clearly down the field. Allen hits him on his blindside.

"At that point of the game, you can have easily (gone) shoulder to shoulder. You could have laid him out with just using his hands to his chest, a lot of options. … He hit (Louis) that way because he chose to hit him that way."

Smith did not provide any more details about the injuries suffered by Louis, guard Chris Spencer (knee), receiver/returner Devin Hester (concussion), running back Matt Forte (ankle), and cornerback Charles Tillman (ankle).


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