By Brad BiggsPart 2 of a 12-part series
General manager Jerry Angelo and coach Lovie Smith think alike when it comes to defensive ends.
They can't have enough quality ones.
The problem for the Bears has been finding ends, or an end who can consistently get to the quarterback. It's the kind of edge pressure that's needed to make any defense -- not just Smith's Tampa Two -- operate at a high level. The Bears lack that presence. They got glimpses of it in six seasons from Adewale Ogunleye. They saw flashes of it from Mark Anderson in 2006. The franchise had it at the beginning of the decade with Rosevelt Colvin. The Bears are not going to be dominant again defensively until they can rediscover that element.
Photo: Mark Anderson still needs to prove he can be a consistent pass-rusher. (Nam Y. Huh/AP)
Here is the second installment in a 12-part daily breakdown of the
Bears' roster, looking at strengths and weaknesses and what the future
might hold:
Defensive end
Roll Call: Mark Anderson, Alex Brown, Jarron Gilbert, Henry Melton, Adewale Ogunleye.
2009 overview: Smith
called Rod Marinelli the best free agent available a year ago when he
came on board for a reunion of friends from their heyday with the Tampa
Bay Buccaneers. The problem Marinelli quickly discovered is the Bears
didn't possess the same talent up front that he worked with in Tampa,
when the line of Warren Sapp, Booger McFarland, Simeon Rice and others
made the Bucs' defense one of the best in the league.
The three
technique, or under tackle, is the signature position of the defense.
But an elite pass rusher is also part of the equation. Marinelli
couldn't spark Anderson to double-digit sacks again, or get him
anywhere near. Anderson was improved over his effort from the previous
two seasons, though. Ogunleye was hoping a huge season would catapult
him into free agency. He led the team with 6.5 sacks, but got the
majority of them against second-rate right tackles. Brown was his usual
self, steady and consistent but far from flashy.
Realizing the
group needed a boost, the Bears traded with the Bucs to acquire Gaines
Adams in October. It was hailed as a move for the future, but that plan
is scratched after his tragic death last month. Now, the Bears can look
to Gilbert, their third-round draft pick who barely saw the field, and
Melton, a fourth-round pick who spent the season on injured reserve
with a minor ankle sprain, for help. Anderson will be a restricted free
agent in what is expected to be an uncapped year and he figures to
return to add depth, at the minimum.
What do the Bears have with the
group? Based on 2009, it's a pedestrian outfit. There's some question
whether Gilbert will be best suited at tackle -- where the team listed
him during the season --or left end. Melton was drafted as an end, but
Smith told him to bulk up for a potential move to the three technique.
Ogunleye will test the free-agent market. The Bears could work to bring
him back. But at what price? Moreover, does re-signing Ogunleye prevent
them from aiming higher?
By the numbers: The trio of
Ogunleye (6.5), Brown (6) and Anderson (3.5) combined for 16 sacks, 9.5
less than the three had during 2006. Sure, the Bears played with many
large leads that season. It's not so much the lack of the numbers, but
the lack of a player that opposing offenses have to scheme for and
worry about.
Free agency/draft priority: High. Angelo
said last season that elite pass rushers rarely come outside of the
first round, or even the top half of the first round, so the Bears will
not be looking for one there. As Angelo says, you can find players with
traits in lower rounds, but that's only projection. It's hit-or-miss.
Julius Peppers could be available, although the Carolina Panthers would
be foolish to not place the franchise tag on him and then work to trade
him (they'd receive no compensation for letting him walk away). If they
do that, the Bears' chances of landing him without draft picks in the
first two rounds would seem slim. If Peppers is on the open market,
what are the Bears' chances? Well, Angelo has been adamant that the
Bears will not set the bar for pay. He also consistently has said you
have to overpay to get top talent in free agency. Anyone realistically
see the Bears doing that?
Player to watch: Melton. Not
sure if he's going to play end or tackle, but he was the draft pick the
Bears might have been most excited about near the end of training camp.
Yes, they might have been more excited about him than wide receiver
Johnny Knox. Melton will be fresh, and he has had a year to learn in the
classroom. He's poised to open eyes.
Looking ahead: Figure
on the Bears bringing Anderson back on a modest deal, maybe a one-year
tender. Gilbert needs to find a way to get into the rotation and then
the Bears need to create a Cadillac plan for adding a pass rusher. If
the Cadillac plan doesn't work -- and sometimes it doesn't fall your way
-- then they can explore bringing Ogunleye back.
Bottom line: The
Bears have to develop or acquire a player who can be a considerable
threat as an edge rusher. They have to find a way to generate a
consistent pass rush without having to blitz as much. It's the No. 1
area of need for the offseason, and that's saying something because
there is work to be done.
Next: Running backs
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Switching to a 3-4 would be great if the Bears had the coaches or players to implement it properly. The 3-4 is far superior in today's all-passing game. But back to the issue of D linemen.
If the Bears don't get Peppers, or at least try as hard as they can to get him, that will just be another in the million pieces of evidence that this ownership and management cares far more about making money than about winning. The Bears would be fools to not get Peppers, regardless of his cost, up to a point.
Re Alex Brown, this guy could've been All Pro many times in his career. Problem is, he's been playing on the wrong side. I read awhile ago that he didn't want to play on the right side for some reason, but the right side suits his talents of mostly being a run-stopper. Too bad the Bears didn't have a coach with a strong enough personality to make Brown switch sides.
All of this is meaningless if the Bears don't get much better play from their tackles. Getting good pressure from ends will be negated by lack of push by the tackles if opposing QBs can just step up in the pocket. And the tackles have to play better v. the run, too. The Bears' D tackle play has been poor since Johnson was released and Harris got hurt, and the tackles are the foundation of the defense.
This talk of swithching to a 3-4 is stupid! The Packers switched and the got killed by the Steelers,Cardinals, and Vikings! They were ranked #1 because the rest of their easy schedule was against poor offenses of Cleveland, Detroit, Baltimore, etc! We need healthy players back a pure pass rusher and a ballhawk safety!
The Bears already have a player who could excell at rushing the passer. Brian Urlarcher!
Why not use him as a free lineman, and give him two responsibilities. Rush from any place along the line standing up. Cover backs on screens and flat routes.
He's no a longer a middle linebacker, he can't get off blocks. Worse he winds up on his back If he has to meet a back In a hole. His only skill left Is his speed and he should be able to chase down any quarterback, and tackle most of them.
The Bears are In a real bind with no first or second round picks. The only two players who might have any trade value are Urlacher, and Hester. So trying a roving Urlarcher as a pass rusher Isn't any worse than going back on the field next year with same people In the same place, getting the same results.
Briggs, Roach, Piotasoma [sic], and Hillameyer have a mix of skills to rotate and handle linebacker. Pull a tackle where we never get any help any way and turn Brown, O.Ogunulely and Urlacher lose on the passer.
Actually Lovies D would be just fine if he had the players/athletes to run it. Look at what we did with Tank/Harris/Url/Briggs at the top of their games, imagine if we had a top DE in that Super Bowl loss? Its', not the system, its the players in any system. Jerry has not replenished this Offense or Defense with ANY great players not a ProBowler amongst any of his drafts or Free Agents and Brad you already know that I feel that 2nd was thrown away the second Jerry made that trade and nothing excuses Jerry for bringing in all these players that just plain arent any good. DE - how many does it take to get it right? Same with RB - same with Oline. The list goes on and on with Jerry and his miss untill you hit the barn wall draft philosophy. Look at the list of DE you have? Not a single one thats been a top DE, and how did they all become bears? except goon was another wasted trade. Defense is supposed to be our strength but Jerry brought in such crappy players its becoming our weakness. Look right square at the DE position for confirmation.
Look We all know the bears really need this and that ut realize this the bears spent their paychecks on coaches and getiing quality players probably wont happen. KNOW THIS LIKE A GREAT ATHLETE ONCE SAID,"PLAYERS MAKE GOOD COACHES, COACHES DONT MAKE GOOD PLAYERS" Understanding that the Bears at many positions are DOOMED FOR MEDIOCRITY.
One of many gaping holes on the Bears...they said money was not an issue when the kept the stooges (sure...what a load), now we'll find out if they are willing to spend some in free agency
Wasn't Rosie Colvin an outside LB?
I STILL FEEL THE BEARS NEED TO HIRE SOMEONE WHO WILL PUT IN SOME TYPE OF 3-4 SCHEME IT WORKS BETTER THAN THAT TAMPA 2 CRAP BUT LOVIE WON'T LIKE THAT BECAUSE HE KNOWS IT WILL WORK. HIRE DOUG PLANK LET HIM PUT A D-FENCE IN IT WILL WORK BETTER THAN SMITH'S LITTLE SO CALL D-FENCE.8