Quarterback questions loom for the Bears, at least one each for every quarterback on the roster.
Can they win with Steve Stenstrom? Or rather, can they score with Steve Stenstrom?
Teammates think so. Tackle James Williams helped Stenstrom up after a final fourth-quarter interception, put an arm around Stenstrom’s shoulder and talked privately to him.
“He’s been thrown into a fire and I don’t want him to get down on himself,” Williams said. “He has a great arm, he’s a good quarterback and I want him to keep his head up.”
How much does Moses Moreno play in Soldier Field against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers? Does he start in an effort by coaches to shake up a team that is on its fourth losing streak of at least three games in the last two years?
Moreno isn’t agitating for a start. “Steve’s done a good job so far,” Moreno insisted. “He’s directing this offense down the field and for some reason we can’t find a way to finish it off and put it in the end zone.
“This business is all about winning football games, and depending on how Erik is day to day, we have a couple guys ahead of me that are far beyond where I’m at as far as knowledge of this offense and experience at this level.”
But how is Kramer’s shoulder, really?
The Bears are still holding out hope that Kramer can return this season, but may be within a week or two of facing a play-or-sit decision with their injured quarterback for the balance of 1998.
Kramer, virtually unable to practice the last five weeks, spent his third straight game as the third quarterback. Personnel Vice President Mark Hatley reiterated that Kramer’s status remains week-to-week, and coach Dave Wannstedt acknowledged that the longer Kramer is inactive, the more difficult the return.
“No new news on Erik Kramer,” Wannstedt said. “I have no idea. It’s going on five weeks.”
But the Bears, 0-3 since Kramer’s injury, were reduced last week to using offensive coordinator Matt Cavanaugh and pro personnel director Rick Spielman to staff practices. They may have little choice but to bring in a new third quarterback, likely either ex-Cincinnati Bengal and Oakland Raider David Klingler or ex-Tennessee Oiler James Ritchey.
“We haven’t talked about a cutoff date yet,” Spielman said. “Just like any injury, you watch how it’s coming along. Then if it reaches a point where it’s not getting any better, you have to make a decision. Next week that could change, or the week after. It all depends too on if something happens to Steve or Moses.”
Bad call: The Bears’ best chance to score in the fourth quarter ended when a third-down pass to Curtis Conway was nullified by a pass interference call for pushing off cornerback Ray Buchanan. Conway sharply disagreed with the call.
“I’m in the middle of my route, I’m running full speed, the guy sets his feet, of course I’m going to run into him,” Conway said. “(Officials) don’t see that. All they see is me coming back to the ball. My momentum had taken me forward.
“When you’re playing like we are, you don’t get the calls. That’s just how it is. That’s the NFL. The good teams will get the calls; the teams not doing so hot . . . They want to keep the teams that are doing well up top.”
Big foot: Morten Andersen’s 50-yard field goal in the second quarter was the 35th of his career at least that long, extending his own NFL record.
No respect: The Falcons last week worried about the Bears, but the form their worry took was nothing short of an insult. “Games like this and against St. Louis are tough,” wide receiver Tony Martin told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “It’s easy to get up for San Fran.”
Chandler hurt again: Falcons quarterback Chris Chandler suffered a sprained knee and ankle when Mike Wells grabbed him as officials were blowing a whistle for a penalty against the Falcons. “It’s not my call to make, but I thought (Wells) could have pulled up,” Chandler said. “My ankle hurts the most. I guess I’ll be able to play.”
Full-court press: Ask any defensive back and he is likely to say he would rather press than play soft coverage. The Bears, seemingly always fighting that battle, are no different.
“We need to play press coverage a lot more,” said Walt Harris. “When you’re late (to the ball) you have to have 100 percent technique.”
Lucky Lee: Shawn Lee downplayed his part in his third-quarter touchdown, the Bears’ first defensive score this year.
“Jim (Flanigan) came around, had great pressure, knocked the ball out of the quarterback’s hand, God dropped it in mine and I ran it in for a touchdown,” Lee said. “It’s a lucky play.” It’s a play that anyone could make and it was just fortunate I was in the right spot at the right time.”
