Attack.
That is the essence of the Bears defense. Unlike guard dogs, however, Bears defenders are trained to attack without an oral command. The snap of the ball is their silent cue to swarm the man with the football.
The Bears, obviously, have missed their cue the last two games, allowing the opposition to outscore them 72-36. After the first three games, the fourth-ranked defense in 1993 is a disappointing 24th. They are last (28th) in stopping the rush and tied for 15th against the pass as they prepare for Sunday night’s game against the Jets at the Meadowlands.
The best-laid plans of head coach Dave Wannstedt and defensive coordinator Bob Slowik have gone wrong primarily because of poor execution.
“We need to have an attitude adjustment with our front four, whether they are in short yardage or third-and-long. We need an `On Sunday Attitude,’ ” said Wannstedt, who added that changes in the starting lineup could come this week. They definitely will be made next week if progress is not made. “We need to make more plays.”
While the apprenticeship of young defensive players continues, the Bears defense needs big plays from its veteran Pro Bowl performers Donnell Woolford, Mark Carrier and Shaun Gayle.
“It doesn’t matter what your defensive philosophy is, what kind of scheme you are playing . . . if you don’t take care of the basics like tackling and getting off blocks and using your hands and running to the football, then you don’t have a chance to be a good defense,” said defensive line coach Clarence Brooks. “It gets frustrating at times. With Dave, the basics are always stressed.”
The Bears front four of Alonzo Spellman, Chris Zorich, Carl Simpson and Trace Armstrong has not gotten the job done. Albert Fontenot stepped in at tackle for an injured Simpson (hip) last Sunday. Rookie John Thierry moved outside on the nickel set with Spellman moving inside and Zorich coming out of the game.
Stopping the run: “The guys up front are responsible for gap control and a run that happens to come their way,” said Brooks. “That is the thing we have not done very well.”
Every defensive scheme has at least one area of vulnerability and, guess what? Opposing teams have found it on the Bears. When three or four defenders swarm to the ball but fail to make the tackle, then the ballcarrier (Terry Allen last Sunday and Herschel Walker the week before) will simply reverse his field and find daylight.
“That’s an indication of not playing our assignments,” said Gayle.
Last Sunday, the Bears were getting killed on the run when Spellman got caught inside the tight end block and Allen reversed his field to his outside. Gayle missed a few open-field tackles, and cornerback Jeremy Lincoln was tied up by the wide receiver.
“We have front-side responsibilities and backside responsibilities,” said Brooks. “Obviously, people at the point of attack are responsible for bringing that guy down. People at the point of attack are responsible for chasing at an angle that the runner can’t escape. When we get one or two guys who either don’t take the proper angle or aren’t quick enough at getting off a block or aren’t quick enough getting off a play . . . that is when we get big plays against us, and that is something we definitely have to stop. We can’t afford to have people run up and down the field on us.”
Tackling technique: Wannstedt watched films of the Vikings’ debacle and came away feeling dreadful. Poor tackling, not offensive finesse or trickery by the Vikings, led to the defense’s demise.
“Sometimes they get themselves in bad position to make a tackle. Sometimes they can’t get their arms around or wrap a guy up,” said Brooks. “You will see a guy who delivers a good blow, but he doesn’t have enough follow-through with it to bring the guy down. That is when you need more than one guy making the tackle.”
Gayle is considered one the best tacklers on the team. He is second on the team now with 25 tackles. Linebacker Joe Cain has 35, including a team-high 14 against the Vikings.
“You learn a lot from your losses as a mature competitor,” said Gayle.
Pass rush: The Bears are contemplating moving Spellman inside to tackle on every down and going with Albert Fontenot or Thierry at end.
“Physically, I don’t think Al has a problem. And mentally he is a pretty doggone good student of the game,” said Brooks. “He studies tape, and he takes good notes. He really prepares himself to play. For a second-year guy, he has come along maturity-wise.”
The Bears have only three sacks, two of them by Armstrong in the first game against Tampa Bay.
Spellman complained during the offseason when Wannstedt suggested moving him inside to tackle. But that might be his best position right now.
“He showed some force, and he gave us a little more presence in the middle with the pass rush. His height helps tremendously, and he is so strong,” said Brooks. “He is able to give us a little more upfield surge. That is something that we liked. We will continue to play around with that at times and see if he gets more comfortable in there.”
Run support: Cain was forced to start at middle linebacker last Sunday with Dante Jones nursing groin and shoulder injuries.
“There are more people who can hit you in the middle,” said Cain. “So you never know when you are going to get ear-holed.”
Jones, who set a club record with 189 tackles last season, says he feels much better this week and expects to return against the Jets.
Secondary look: The secondary, considered the best in the NFL entering the season with three Pro Bowlers, has looked very ordinary, mainly because of the problems of the front line.
With Gayle forced to move up in a linebacker position at times to help out on the run, Woolford, Lincoln and Carrier cannot afford to gamble for an interception on a short sideline route. There is no one backing them up.
With the absence of Richard Dent and Steve McMichael on the unit, new leaders must emerge.
“I don’t see a loss of leadership,” said Gayle.
Does that mean the leadership notion is simply a matter of rhetoric?
“No, it’s real. But it is not something that can be just bestowed on someone because of your age,” said Gayle.
