For a third time in as many weeks, a game that normally would be relatively meaningless has taken on abnormal significance.
The Bears host the Buffalo Bills on Friday night after consecutive games in which their first units on offense and defense were easily defeated, first by the Baltimore Ravens, then by the Arizona Cardinals. Coaches began game-planning for Buffalo as early as Monday and plan to play the starters three quarters. There is no attempt to downplay the importance of the result.
“This week will give us a real, true indication of where our team is at,” coach Dave Wannstedt said. “The starters are going to play close to three quarters. And we’re going to spend some time on these guys. This will be a real interesting test.”
James Bond once explained that once is chance, twice is coincidence and three times is enemy action. If there is a third consecutive dismal time for the Bears, their troubles can no longer be even remotely excused as coincidence.
The Buffalo game last Dec. 7, which the Bears won 20-3, arguably saved Wannstedt’s job, coming as it did a week after a 55-20 dismantling at the hands of the Detroit Lions that shook the organization.
While Bears President Michael McCaskey is on record as stating that he plans on Wannstedt coaching the Bears all of 1998, that sentiment, as it was last year, is based on certain assumptions, including that the Bears show progress and continue playing hard.
Progress has been absent the first two exhibition games. The Bears, who open the regular season with five 1997 playoff teams, need to show some now–and for jobs beyond Wannstedt’s.
One run. One tackle. That may be what decides whether one player survives next week’s first round of cuts or is out of a job.
“It could be,” Wannstedt said. “That’s the tough thing about the business. A guy might get to cover one kickoff and he’s got to go down and make the play.”
Starters on offense and defense have their pressures, but subs need to make an impression quickly–particularly those on special teams, since special teams are the key to non-starters making a roster.
Increasing amounts of preseason practice reps go to the units working themselves toward the regular season, leaving less time for marginal players who need as many chances as they can get.
“These guys want an opportunity to play, but sometimes, because of the way it’s structured with playing the veterans, they don’t get as much opportunity,” Wannstedt said. “That’s tough. These guys are fighting for spots but these guys have to make some plays on special teams. That’s going to be the bottom line of whether they’re going to be around.”
An example is former Northwestern running back Darnell Autry. With the signing of Curtis Enis, the Bears’ depth chart is extremely crowded, with Enis, Edgar Bennett, Bam Morris and hopefuls Autry, James Allen and Ronnie Harmon. There will not be room for all three, if any, unless they flash something special on special teams.
“(Autry) got caught in kind of a tough situation,” Wannstedt said. “With Bam (and Enis) coming in, everybody kind of got bounced back from practice time to playing time.
“Darnell’s doing everything he can, he’s working hard, he’s got a great attitude, and we’re going to just have to wait and see.”
