The Bears have expended a first-round draft pick plus $13.8 million over five years to give them taller-than-average cornerbacks to match up against teams such as the Minnesota Vikings.
But the tandem of Walt Harris and free agent Tom Carter came up short again Sunday as Vikings quarterback Brad Johnson completed 33 passes for 285 yards, including a late TD toss to Chris Walsh on an “out” pattern for the game-winner.
Although defensive coordinator Bob Slowik accepted the blame for deploying the wrong defense during the Vikings’ winning drive, Jake Reed (12 catches for 118 yards) and Cris Carter (nine for 107) ran circles around the Bears’ secondary all day.
“On the goal-line play on the touchdown, I was playing off for the inside route, and the coverage was (inside),” said the soft-spoken Harris, last year’s No. 1 pick. “They just took advantage of our weakness on defense. They did a good job of driving down the field and making great catches and great throws.”
Harris was a major target of criticism for the loss. But Slowik absolved him.
“He was right where he was supposed to be–because he was not called to do a `press,’ and that’s not his fault. He was doing what was called,” said Slowik.
Harris said the size of the Minnesota receivers (Reed and Carter each is 6 feet 3 inches, and tight end Hunter Goodwin is 6-5) was not a factor, but: “They have very physical receivers, and they do a lot of pulling of jerseys and they do a lot of things out there.”
Earlier in the game, Harris was whistled for an interference call and a holding penalty.
“It’s better to do that than to give up a touchdown,” he said. “I put a lot of pressure on myself, so I take a lot of blame. I think I played my heart out. But there are a lot of things that I could have done better.”
The Bears have been criticized the last several years for deploying a soft defensive scheme that concedes the 10-yard sideline pattern.
“Anytime we were playing off (the receiver), they threw to that side,” said Harris of Sunday’s Viking attack. “They did a good job of noticing that and going to it and sticking to it.”
Johnson especially noticed the Bears’ secondary alignment during the winning drive.
“Any cornerback, playing 5 or 6 yards off the line, you’re not comfortable,” said Harris. “But if that’s what’s called, you have to play it. (Slowik) came in at the end of the game and told us it was his fault for calling that. He took the blame for that, and he stood up for it.
“It’s really not good to play off on the goal line like that, and they run that out (pattern).”
