Once again, the fire is beginning to smolder inside Mike Ditka.
There`s the familiar flash in the Bear coach`s eye as he thinks back to 1988 while looking ahead to 1989.
”We weren`t good enough last year and fell short of our goal,” Ditka said. ”Our motto for 1989 is: Do whatever it takes. We will do whatever it takes with whomever it takes to win the Super Bowl.
”We`re not going to worry about hurting certain players` feelings. We`re not going to get into politics, as some people seem to be concerned about. Forget all that stuff.”
The feisty Ditka appeared to be priming himself for the club`s three-week preseason training regimen that begins with a meeting Thursday evening in Platteville, Wis. Along with two-a-day workouts at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville, the Bears will travel to LaCrosse, Wis., to scrimmage for two days with the New Orleans Saints, and they have their preseason opener at Miami Aug. 14.
As the Bears head north, there are 10 critical questions on the minds of many fans:
1. Can Ditka and the Bears win the big game?
They lost to the Washington Redskins in the playoffs twice; and last year, after beating Philadelphia 20-12, they were smoked by San Francisco 28-3.
In a season where they were riddled with injuries to key players and the coach had a heart attack, the Bears finished 12-4 and won their fifth straight Central Division title.
But they didn`t get to the Super Bowl.
”We`ve won the big game in the past,” Ditka said. ”Sure, we lost to Washington twice and to the 49ers last year. The 49ers just wanted it more. If we had performances like the ones Joe Montana and Jerry Rice gave, we`d have been in good shape. I think we can still win the big game.”
2. Who is the starting quarterback?
Jim McMahon has lost 15 pounds and undergone a rigid offseason conditioning program. He works out at 6:30 a.m. three days a week. He`s coming into camp in top condition because of the competition from Mike Tomczak, who is ready to take over as the No. 1 quarterback. And there`s also third-stringer Jim Harbaugh.
”I don`t think McMahon or Tomczak has the No. 1 spot wrapped up,”
center Jay Hilgenberg said. ”Harbaugh is an intense, hard worker and the improvement he`s shown is incredible.”
Ditka said: ”I`m looking at how the (No. 1 quarterback) relates to the whole team. How much has he been around (working out)? The guy who has been around here more than anyone else is Jim Harbaugh. Interesting, isn`t it?
”That`s the whole thing. I`m looking for a leader, on and off the field. I want someone that his teammates can look up to and respect. I don`t want to hear about what a guy did last year or all the things he`s done in the past.” 3. Is Richard Dent fully recovered from last season`s broken leg?
McMahon ran into Dent recently and reported back to their mutual agent Steve Zucker that Dent looks better than ever. Zucker reports that Dent is confident he can return to the pre-injury form that made him one of the league`s premier pass rushers.
4. What do you do with ”Fridge?”
Ditka is going to move William Perry from defensive end to tackle. Playing inside is more conducive to Perry`s size and will enable the Bears to rest tackles Dan Hampton and Steve McMichael more often. Perry worked out consistently in the offseason at the Deerfield Multiplex, riding the stationary bicycle, doing sit-ups and playing basketball. He said his goal was to report to training camp weighing 295 pounds. A slimmed-down Fridge would put the Bears` defensive line in great shape.
5. Are the Bears a happy team?
”I think we`re pretty happy,” placekicker Kevin Butler said. ”It seems more like the attitude I saw in my first year (Super Bowl year, 1985). We had great workouts in the offseason.”
6. Are the Bears taking too hard a line on signing players?
Dave Duerson would say ”absolutely.” Ex-Bears Al Harris and Todd Bell would be inclined to agree.
”Absolutely not,” said finance director Ted Phillips. ”Every situation is different. We don`t have any general policy on how we negotiate contracts.”
”No,” said Butler. ”They have developed an approach on how they sign players. Sure, it`s a little hard-line, but not as hard as some people turning down $600,000 or $700,000.”
7. Is is time for the Bears to move out of Soldier Field?
”Yes it is,” President Michael McCaskey said. ”The fans deserve a modern facility, one that is up to standards in the NFL. We`re working very hard to bring about the building of a new stadium.”
8. Could No. 1 draft picks Donnell Woolford and Trace Armstrong be in the starting lineup for the season opener?
Barring a long contract holdout, Woolford should be starting at cornerback opposite Vestee Jackson. Armstrong must beat out Sean Smith at defensive end.
”You hate to saddle a rookie with that kind of pressure,” linebacker coach Dave McGinnis said. ”But, I know they have that kind of ability.”
9. Can the Bears win their sixth straight Central Division title?
On paper, everyone is picking the talent-laden Minnesota Vikings. But nobody beats up on division rivals like the Bears. In the last five years, they are 35-4 against Minnesota, Detroit, Green Bay and Tampa Bay.
10. After the heart attack, will Ditka approach this season any differently?
”I`m going to do whatever it takes to get to the Super Bowl,” Ditka said. ”If it means having another heart attack. . . I`ll try to spread the responsibility around more, particularly with Greg Landry and the playcalling. I`ll try to be a little more low-key on game day.”
TRAINING CAMP FACTS
– Location: Platteville, Wis., 180 miles northwest of Chicago
– Training site: University of Wisconsin-Platteville; facilities include five practice fields, stadium (capacity 10,000), two dormitories, meeting rooms and a dining facility.
– Training camp dates: Friday to Aug. 13
– Practices: Morning 9:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m. Afternoon 3:30 p.m.-5:30 p.m. Practices are open to the public at no charge.
– Directions from Chicago: Interstate Highway 90 west to Route 20 (west)
through Freeport. Continue on Route 20 to Illinois Route 26 north, which turns into Wisconsin Route 69 (north) to Monroe, Wis. Continue on Route 69 to Route 11 (west). Continue on Route 11 to Route 23, east of Schullsberg; continue on 23 north for approximately 6 miles where it joins Route 81 west. Continue on 81 west for approximately 20 miles to Platteville.
– Population of Platteville: 10,000
PRESEASON AGENDA
– Thursday: Players report for 7 p.m. meeting
– Friday: Two-a-day practices begin (9:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m.)
– Aug. 5: Intrasquad game, Pioneer Stadium, 2 p.m.
– Aug. 6: Team departs for LaCrosse, Wis., 2 p.m.
– Aug. 7-8: Two-a-day practices with New Orleans Saints
– Aug. 9: Morning practice with Saints; return to Platteville. Bus leaves LaCrosse at 1 p.m.
– Aug. 13: Team departs Madison, Wis., airport for Miami, 3 p.m.
– Aug. 17: Team departs Platteville for Lake Forest, 1 p.m.
– Aug. 18: Fan Appreciation Night at Soldier Field, time TBA; practice follows – Aug. 21: Bears resume practice at Lake Forest headquarters
– Aug. 29: Roster must be cut down to 60 players.
– Sept. 4: Roster must be cut down to 47 players.
– Sept. 10: Bears open regular season vs. Cincinnati at Soldier Field, noon.
1989 SCHEDULE
Preseason schedule
Home games in CAPS
August
14-At Miami, 7 p.m. 19-SAN DIEGO, 6 p.m. 27-KANSAS CITY, 7 p.m.
September
2-At Los Angeles Raiders, 3 p.m.
Regular season
Home games in CAPS
September
10-CINCINNATI, noon. 17-MINNESOTA, 3 p.m. 24-At Detroit, noon.
October
2-PHILADELPHIA, 8 p.m. 8-At Tampa Bay, noon. 15-HOUSTON, noon. 23-At Cleveland, 8 p.m. 29-LOS ANGELES RAMS, noon.
November
5-At Green Bay, noon. 12-At Pittsburgh, noon. 19-TAMPA BAY, noon. 26-At Washington, 3 p.m.
December
3-At Minnesota, 7 p.m. 10-DETROIT, noon. 17-GREEN BAY, noon. 24-At San Francisco, 3 p.m.
