Coaches chose Erik Kramer as the starting quarterback in large part for his familiarity with the Bears’ offense. The problem, though, wasn’t the Bears’ offense; it was the Packers’ defense.
Kramer, after 5-for-9 passing in the first quarter, was pressured into hurried throws and two interceptions in the second quarter. The Green Bay rush led by Reggie White had reduced Kramer to a total of 10 completions in 27 attempts through three quarters.
The effect of the loss of Curtis Conway with a broken collarbone, possibly for the first seven games of the season, was evident. Kramer completed only three passes to wide receivers–one each to Bobby Engram, Chris Penn and Ricky Proehl–through the first three quarters. Proehl did catch a 22-yard touchdown pass with 3 minutes 28 seconds to go.
If there were any questions about how running backs Raymont Harris and Rashaan Salaam would work together in the Bears’ offense, Monday night’s game against the NFL’s No. 1 defense of last year provided some answers.
Harris and Salaam, who combined for 23 “touches” on the Bears’ first 40 plays from scrimmage, each carried 10 times in the first half, with Harris netting 44 yards and the Bears’ only touchdown of the first two quarters. Harris caught 1 pass in the first half, and added receptions for 12 and 16 yards in the third quarter. It was virtually the only offensive production managed by the Bears in the third quarter.
Salaam, the featured back early, picked up 15 yards rushing and 20 receiving in the first half. The overall even distribution between the two was close to the Bears’ plan for 1997, although coaches are staying away from getting too caught up with a scripted number for either.
“It could work out that way, but we would never go into a game plan saying this is the way it’s going to be for the next five games,” said coach Dave Wannstedt. “There may be a week when the fullback and tailback are equal in carries, but I would never see it where the fullback is getting more carries.
“I could see a game where Raymont has 10 catches and 12 carries, and Rashaan has 22 carries. I think that’s going to have to happen.”
The Bears also showed that they intend to use the pass to set up the run instead of the traditional run-first philosophy. The offense threw on eight first-down plays in the first half compared with five runs.
“The problem you run into is that the best time to throw the ball is on early downs,” Wannstedt said. “Everybody thinks of pass as third downs, but your percentage is actually better on first and second downs.”
