The Bears have sought to restore the threat of a deep passing game ever since they traded Willie Gault to the Raiders in 1988.
Bears coach Mike Ditka says the deep passing game is a nice alternative, but not a prerequisite to winning football.
Gault has had a fine preseason catching the football, but he was shut out in Saturday`s 13-10 win over the Bears. After the game, he sized up the Bears` search for a more balanced offensive attack.
”Historically, the Bears have basically been a run-oriented offense, even when I was there,” said Gault. ”We threw the ball sparingly. We threw the ball deep sparingly. But we did have the threat there. They`re getting a threat there now. I think they have the guys who can run. I mean, (Dennis)
Gentry and all those guys. Ron Morris can run. (Anthony) Morgan, I guess, can run.
”But the Bears have generally been a control-type offense. They win with defense and they try not to beat themselves with their offense.
”In the third quarter (Saturday), we only had the ball one time. They had a couple of long, sustained drives to try to score points. That`s what they try to do. They`re probably never going to be a long-ball team like the Raiders. I can`t say never, but right now that`s not their thinking.”
Gault was a key member of the Bears` 1986 Super Bowl champion team.
”When you look back five years ago, you just see wins,” he said. ”You don`t see how pretty it was or how ugly or whatever.”
