Mike Ditka was not exactly sure what he was defending himself against, which is no problem for someone with the proper instincts.
”I`ll take our record and match it with any in football,” said Ditka.
That would mean, of course, that no team is better than the Bears and all but five others are worse.
Perfection is such an irritating excuse.
”We`re 3-0,” said defensive coach Vince Tobin, ”and that is where you want to be.”
There is that little flaw in any attack on the Bears thus far. They still haven`t lost a football game. How much easier it would be to accuse them of something awful if they had done anything but win.
”For crying out loud,” said Tobin, ”the objective is to win.”
I am not so sure that the tears are yet audible but there is a growing suspicion that what the Bears are is not what the Bears were, especially on a defense that has no excuse except Tobin himself.
”It is early in the year,” Tobin said. ”Comparisons are being made with the Bears of last year`s playoffs after they had 17-18 games together. They weren`t having easy games at the beginning of last year. Anytime there is a new defense, there are growing pains, learning pains.”
Any pain involved with the old defense was generally inflicted upon others.
”Take away the 31 points (in the opener) against Cleveland,” Ditka said, ”and this defense has given up 10 and 12 points. That`s a pretty good defense.”
Of course it is, even with those 31 first-game points. Only eight teams have given up fewer. Miami has given up nearly as many in one game. Twice.
This Bears` defense, as is, may be good enough to carry the Bears to the playoffs, even with their new-quarterback-a-game offense, maybe through the Super Bowl. The talent is no less terrific today than it was a year ago.
”We keep holding teams to 40 yards rushing (47 actually by the Packers) and we`re not going to lose many games,” Ditka said.
Competence is not the issue here; style is.
The difference between this year`s defense and last year`s is the difference between a woof and a purr. The animals are wearing dentures.
This defense does not attack; it reacts. This defense does not terrorize; it massages. This defense does not gamble; it bargains.
It takes some getting used to. Here`s the difference for me.
I much more enjoyed watching the Bear defense play than the offense. The offense would wobble along with its off tackle plunges and occasional spirals and interesting things would sometimes happen.
Ah, but watching the defense was like having a ticket to an accident. Collisions littered the field with bodies, usually not Bears. Quarterbacks never entered a game against the Bears without paid up insurance and a will on file.
The defense was a weapon. It scored nearly as often as the offense. It batted down balls and ballcarriers. It made fumbles and enemies. It howled and children covered their eyes.
And now? Quarterbacks get back up. Wide receivers go across the middle without looking over their shoulders. Running backs help Bear tacklers to their feet.
I don`t want to sound heartless about this, but it was Willie Gault, the ballet dancer, who put the only Packer on a stretcher.
”The defense is not,” admitted Tobin, ”where I want it just yet.” ”He (Tobin) is doing the right things,” said Ditka. ”We`re doing the right things. I think the players know that and believe it.”
To fret is to care.
