The Bears` offense has offended coach Mike Ditka.
In the most preliminary of preliminary exercises, the annual intrasquad scrimmage Saturday, it seemed to pick up where it left off at the end of last season: fourth down and goal to go.
The offense lost 26-10 to the defense while scoring only one touchdown, a 12-yard run by Darren Lewis.
With the first preseason game against New Orleans next Monday night at Soldier Field, Ditka is trying to put the scrimmage in perspective.
”Right now we`re just picking plays out of a hat,” he said. ”We have no continuity by formation. We aren`t attacking a defense or anything.”
Ditka said those circumstances make things difficult for offensive coordinator Greg Landry.
”We`re just trying to run plays and see who can block,” Ditka said.
”There`s not a whole lot of strategy in what we`re doing now.
”Hopefully, when we try to involve strategy and formations and looks, it will get better. I hope. If it doesn`t, then I`ll really be worried. I`ll be worried like crazy. As a matter of fact, I`ll be on my way out of town.”
Without tackles Keith Van Horne (injured calf), Ron Mattes (injured hamstring) and Louis Age (sore back), the offense gave up seven sacks. Quarterbacks Jim Harbaugh, P.T. Willis and Will Furrer yielded five interceptions.
A heavy workload fell to rookie tackle Troy Auzenne and left tackle Stan Thomas.
”I felt poor Troy was going to die right there in the middle of the field,” Harbaugh said. ”He ran 70-something plays. That`s tough to do for him and Stan Thomas.”
Second-year quarterback Paul Justin had his best day as a Bear, completing 11 of 13 passes for 104 yards and no interceptions.
”Everybody wants to know if we`re going to keep three quarterbacks, three holders, three snappers, three tight ends, three kickers,” Ditka said. ”I hope we have three players we can keep.”
Harbaugh completed 5 of 9 passes for 69 yards and had a few catchable balls dropped. He was intercepted twice.
”We misfired at the goal line once again,” Harbaugh said. ”They brought their goal-line defense in, and we tried to run a running play with our regular personnel. I don`t think that was the right idea. Then the next play we tried to throw the ball, and somebody (rushed) free up the middle.”
Harbaugh said he wanted to try a different approach.
”I tried to make the suggestion, but Greg (Landry) had an idea,”
Harbaugh said. ”When they bring their goal-line defense in and we`re on the 7-yard line, I think we have to throw the ball. Hopefully, we`ll get a little more work on the goal-line offense this week.”
Lewis led all rushers with 25 yards on six carries, picking up where he left off last season when he gained 65 yards on nine carries against Dallas.
Lewis, trimmed from 230 to 221 pounds, said he is trying ”to make
(defenders) miss. My catching and running ability is there, but I have to try to be more elusive. And that comes with less weight.”
Lewis said he was willing to play fullback or tailback but prefers tailback, where he played at Texas A&M while becoming the all-time rushing leader in the Southwest Conference.
After giving his players Sunday off, Ditka plans to turn up the heat the rest of the week in preparation for the Saints.
”We`re going to work like heck Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday-really hard,” Ditka said. ”Running and conditioning . . . we`re going to bust butt.”
