Run Defense and Penalties Killed the Bears

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On November 25th 2013, I posted a lengthy commentary on the Chicago Bears community. It was a day after an aggravating 21-42 loss to the St. Louis Rams. It generated an even lengthier discussion among a few of us members.

What a roller coaster game! It's like the Bears were expecting a 1 PM start, then found out they had to get on the field, before they were ready. But after such an embarrassing start, they got things settled down for two quarters, and got back in the game. Then the wheels totally came off ...

Here are stats I was keying on, after the game:

I.

Our defense is atrocious, and is, not surprisingly, dead last in the NFL against the run at 145.2 yards/game. They gave up 258 yards to a Rams team that was, at best, a middling running team (15th, at 113.8 yard/game). Just inexcusable! And they're going to face AP [Vikings' Adrian Peterson] on Sunday (yikes).
But what I found surprising were: (a) Broncos (27th, 378.0 yards/game) have a worse overall defense than the Bears (26th, 376.0 yards/game). Which doesn't bode well for Peyton & Co.'s Super Bowl aspirations. (b) Our pass defense isn't all that bad: 13th, at 230.8 yard/game. This stat may be misleading, though, because teams may be slanting towards the run against the Bears. For example, pass-rush plays for the Rams yesterday: 22-29. 

II.

Penalties, penalties. They made me totally insane! e.g., On Devin's return TD, on Forte's rushing TD... Of course there were some questionable calls on both sides, but for that last Bears TD, in the red zone, the referees seemed to be on our side.

Bears are one of the least penalized teams in the NFL: 9th, at 5.7 penalties/game. Some of the broadcasters lauded the Bears for their discipline and focus, e.g., just a couple of false start penalties, early in the season. But what's disturbing is, In the last 3 games, the Bears are the 2nd most penalized team in the league: at 9.3 penalties/game. They were nailed 10 times, for 84 yards, yesterday. What the hey is going on, man?

III.

Finally, the silver lining in all of this? Bears (6-5) are still very much in the playoff hunt! But, Bears fans, don't be fooled, when sports reporters say they're tied for the Division lead: They are not! Because Lions (6-5) own the tiebreaker, the Bears have to finish with a better record to win the Division. This is the Bears' best chance to get in. The wild card picture is tougher, because they have to do better than really good teams, like Cardinals (7-4) and 49ers (6-4, currently; they play Redskins tonight).

Of course the Packers (5-5-1) are right there in the playoff hunt, too. If Rodgers gets back earlier than expected, say goodbye to the Bears and Lions.

I don't know how Trestman and staff are going to do this: Defense must keep opponents to under 30 points, and keep RBs closer to their season average in rush yards given up. Some of you in the community made a good point, that we need Cutler to win, if our defense is going to give up 30+ points. Otherwise, a McCown-led offense is methodic and reliable at scoring in the mid- to upper-20s. Plus, as a team, Bears have to get back to their mental discipline and focus, and minimize costly penalties. You don't need to have any special talent to avoid holding and illegal blocks!

Whew, what do you guys think?

I've been saying all along that Mel Tucker is the dynamite that destroyed our Defense. This is the worst Defensive team we've had in my lifetime of 38 years. His Defensive play calling puts players out of position before the ball is even snapped and the players seem to be injuring themselves trying their best to cover the enormous amount of ground that is asked of them. Tucker was kicked out of Cleveland and chased out of Jacksonville. (Those are some pathetic teams right there!) Yes we need some players and players to make plays, but having this BUM show the NFL ropes to players like Bostic is going to ruin the kid. Tucker has to go in order for this team to get better!

Do you think Trestman is tough enough to make that tough call on Tucker? If not, I expect Emery to step in.

Trestman went through 4 defensive Coordinators in 5 years while in Canada. I would almost expect the same here. I've got my fingers crossed that Singletary will be job hunting when the season is over.

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tucker is a solid d. coordinator. In Cleveland and Jacksonville his defenses were top 5 or better. Tucker runs a 3-4 scheme. The bears are currently a 4-3 tampa 2 defense.

The dynamite that destroyed the bears defense is horrible drafting, no depth and age. Expect major turnover when they switch schemes. 

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Cleveland fans were calling for his head. And in the 2012 season Tuckers Defense ranked 30th against the rush and 22nd against that pass. He had 4 years in Jacksonville....so it was his players and his calls. Our stats now rate similar to his last season stats in Jacksonville. Any other answers to this similarity?

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I think too many injuries on defense. 3 DTs, 2 LBs, a CB and a NB. They've got guys playing who were on the couch a few weeks ago. What can we expect? How can Tucker be blamed for this?

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the players on defense are garbage. Major Wright and Chris Conte are awful safeties. James Anderson is good on pass coverage, but horrible on run defense. Peppers is terrible. Only decent players are Paea, Briggs, Ozougwu and Jennings. I'll post the defensive player grades and you tell me who is great. 

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So what you're saying is that Phil Emery is to blame? He's not competent enough to draft players? Yet all last season and last year our fans praised this guy. 

Conte wasn't an all-star but was by no means horrible. Major Wright was considered progressing. So in 1 season, Peppers (a HOF player) forgot how to tackle, Jennings forgot how to intercept a ball and we can't stop a 3rd string RB from running all over us like the 2nd coming of Walter Payton? 

Tucker is a BUM! He came from 2 teams that are NFL floor mats and was sold to us as a defensive genius. I'm not buying it. 

Let's just hope Trestman stays true to form and fires another D Cord this season. He went through 4 in 5 seasons in Canada.

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I only mentioned injured players, don't get me started on the safeties...How bad are the backup safeties that they can't crack the starting lineup with those two bums out there?

My two-cents is Tucker is very much trying to get a feel for these players, injuries and all, and for offenses he's seeing. But he doesn't adjust very quickly or very well. The two weeks off did him and his staff a world of good, it seems, as the defense played better against the Packers, Lions and Ravens. But my guess is that the Rams studied film very well, and knew how to exploit the weaknesses in the defense big time, including Tucker's difficulty adjusting. Recently Trestman gave Tucker a big vote of confidence, but I'm not sure if that means anything, really. Bottomline: Emery has a lot of work to do with the defense, and it may take him two years to get it corrected. My guess is that he's more or less decided to "tag" Cutler, so he can focus as much as possible on the defense. 

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In 2 years Emery's changed out 7 offensive starters, 8 if you count Bitten who plays on a regular basis. The only starters left from pre-Emery are Cutler, Forte, Garza and Earl Bennet. 

As of now on defense there are 3 rookies and 2 2nd year guys starting or playing regularly. If any of them make the leap that Jeffery did that will be a plus. And based on what Emery did to the offense, I expect we'll see 4 or 5 more new starters next season. 

And I agree he will tag Cutler - he has to in order to fix the rest of the roster.

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The postscript is this: The Bears just lost to the Vikings 20-23 in OT.  This, after leading 20-10 through three quarters.  They settled down the costly penalties (nailed six times for 51 yards).  But the run defense?  Another big stinker at 246 yards given up, 211 yard to AP alone.  With the Lions (7-5) winning on Thanksgiving Day, the Bears (6-6) are now a longshot at making the playoffs.  

Ah, well, at least it was a thrilling OT game, at the end of the day, and as a football fan I love that.  

Thank you for reading, and let me know what you think!

Ron Villejo, PhD