Bears Offense Drawing Criticism, but Defense Will Ultimately Be Their Downfall
Published by Gary Davenport on October 10, 2014
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Chicago Bears
Over the past two weeks, the offense for the Chicago Bears has received its fair share of criticism.
It’s well-founded. An offense that was expected to be among the NFL‘s best has struggled in back-to-back losses, largely due to an appearance by Chicago’s arch-nemesis.
No, not Lex Luthor. It ain’t Doctor Octopus either.
“Bad Jay Cutler.”
However, while everyone wrings their hands about the state of the offense, the fact remains that the Bears actually have an even bigger problem on their hands.
The Bears defense isn’t good, and from the looks of things, it’s could be about to go from bad to worse.
Granted, through five games the Bears’ ranking of 17th in the NFL in total defense might not be great, but it isn’t horrible either. However, in the only statistical category that really matters (points allowed per game), the Bears are 23rd.
It’s just been one thing after another, at every level of the defense.
The Bears’ high-priced additions along the defensive line have accomplished a fat bag of nothing so far in 2014. The Bears rank a respectable 11th in the league in sacks, but defensive ends LaMarr Houston and Jared Allen have combined for a grand total of none of them.
Allen has said that he’s not worried about his lack of sacks so far this season.
“Do I want all the sacks? Absolutely. Will they come? Absolutely,” Allen told Nathan Jahns of The Chicago Sun-Times. “My technique in my rush is good. I don’t really have a lot of false movements, and you’ve just got to keep working. They’ll come.”
Allen may think his technique has been “good,” but the folks who grade his games at Pro Football Focus (subscription required) would respectfully disagree. Of 52 qualifying 4-3 defensive ends at PFF, Allen ranks 39th in rushing the passer, easily the lowest mark on the team.
A Bears linebacker corps that was the defense’s weak link last year hasn’t looked one bit better so far this season, largely due to injuries.
Outside linebacker Lance Briggs, who was being counted on to anchor a group of journeyman and unproven youngsters, has looked like a shell of his formerly dominant self. The 33-year-old has looked every bit of his age in 2014, averaging fewer than five stops a game.
Briggs has graded out pretty well this season (10th among 4-3 outside linebackers at PFF), and much like Allen, Briggs was defiant when talking about any perceived drop-off in his play with David Haugh of The Chicago Tribune (subscription required):
I don’t think you know what I do every day. I’m here early. … I work out in the middle of the day. Even though this is not necessarily anybody’s business, but I’m going to tell you. After practice, I’m getting treatment and I do an additional workout after I leave this building to get my body ready. People don’t know that.
Unfortunately, Briggs won’t get a chance to back up that tough talk Sunday against the Atlanta Falcons. Per the team’s injury report, (h/t Michael C. Wright of ESPN), both Briggs and strong-side linebacker Shea McClellin will miss the game with injuries. Jonathan Bostic is iffy for the game with a bad back.
Things don’t really improve a lot once you hit the secondary, because the injuries have hit hard there as well.
Cornerback Charles Tillman, a mainstay of the Bears’ defensive backfield over the past decade, was lost for the season to an arm injury.
Rookie Kyle Fuller made a huge dent on the stat sheet early on and has actually fared pretty well given that rookie cornerbacks often struggle early. In fact, Fuller was named the NFC’s Defensive Rookie of the Month for September.
However, veteran Tim Jennings has struggled mightily opposite Fuller. The 30-year-old, who has 15 interceptions over the past three seasons, has yet to record one this season. His ranking of 71st at his position in pass coverage, per PFF, doesn’t inspire confidence given that Jennings plays in a division where he faces the likes of Calvin Johnson and Jordy Nelson on a regular basis.
It’s not just one big glaring issue that can be addressed and remedied. It’s a bunch of little problems that all feed into one another, creating that big glaring issue. As the injuries continue to pile up, the problem only gets bigger for a Bears team that’s light on defensive depth.
The problems have been in evidence over Chicago’s two-game skid. Two weeks ago, the Bears were able to sack Aaron Rodgers only once, and the Green Bay quarterback cut the Bears to pieces. Last week, the Bears linebackers and safeties had no answer for Carolina Panthers tight end Greg Olsen, who caught two touchdown passes (including the game-winner).
So while the Chicago offense would certainly appear to have the horses to right the ship on that side of the ball, it’s the defense where the Chicken Littles in the Windy City should be setting up shop.
Because if things don’t turn around in a big way soon, the Bears are going to be forced to outscore people.
When the Bears are forced to outscore people, Cutler starts forcing passes.
And we all know how that turns out.
Gary Davenport is an NFL Analyst at Bleacher Report and a member of the Fantasy Sports Writers Association and the Pro Football Writers of America. You can follow Gary on Twitter @IDPManor.
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