After Sunday’s game against Minnesota, the Bears have another weekend off. Then they play games against offenses ranked 30th (Atlanta), 24th (Arizona) and 31st (Cleveland) last season. But Sunday is something else altogether.
After preparing for the Baltimore Ravens’ system-oriented offense and the Jacksonville Jaguars’ let-’em-run, personnel-oriented scheme, the Bears are charged with staring down an offense that combines the best of both those universes. The Vikings run the simple West Coast offense that does not slow its players down with excessive decision-making, yet they do it with Pro Bowl personnel such as Cris Carter, Daunte Culpepper and Randy Moss.
The Vikings were upset at home by Carolina 24-13 in the season opener. But history shows they do not struggle long or often. They ranked No. 5 in points and yards last season with a quarterback in Culpepper who went from a seldom-used No. 3 as a rookie in 1999 to the Pro Bowl last season, leading a team that was picked to finish fifth in the NFC Central to the NFC championship game.
It has helped that coach Dennis Green uses a system that has produced Pro Bowl-grade seasons for Warren Moon, Randall Cunningham, Jeff George and Culpepper.
“[Culpepper] is a better football player than a lot of people thought when he was coming out [in the draft],” said defensive coordinator Greg Blache. “But they’ve done a great job as a coaching staff of giving the kid a little bit to handle; let the weapons do it for him and let him grow.”
What this adds up to for the Bears is a question of validation. The offense faced one against Baltimore and was found wanting. The Vikings, for all of their quarterback shuffling, have scored at least 22 points in their last eight games against the Bears. By contrast, the Bears have topped 22 points five times in their last 19 games.
It has barely mattered that the Vikings have undergone personnel changes, which they have again this year. Right tackle Korey Stringer’s death in training camp took both character and talent from the lineup, and left tackle Todd Steussie left via free agency. But the Vikings still force changes in the mind-set of a defense.
“There’s more conscious thought of the deep ball, knowing that Culpepper will scramble and throw it,” said safety Tony Parrish. “It’s something that they’ve done in the past with George and Cunningham, so it’s part of the personality of that team. You just have to play your responsibility. You need to stay where you’re supposed to be because you know the ball can always come out there.”
The Vikings can strike fear into opposing defenses, particularly the 260-pound Culpepper, who is a strong-armed passer and a dangerous runner.
“I would see Daunte around in the city, at the malls and different places,” recalled rookie defensive end Karon Riley, who played at the University of Minnesota. “He’s about the same size as me. That’s a pretty intimidating factor, just with the way he runs.
“You have to trust in your athletic ability. If you’re a good athlete, you’ve got to believe in that. He’s a great athlete, but you can’t tense up against him. You’ve got to play free but at the same time know the animal you’re up against. You hunt bears and wolverines different ways, and they’re all dangerous. You have to go out with no fear and play.”
Just as the Ravens’ defense was a chance for the Bears’ offense to measure itself against, so now is the Minnesota offense a reference point. It becomes a test of coaching in terms of preparation and game plan, of talent in matching up with Culpepper, Moss and the rest, and perhaps most of all, of the mind of a still-forming Bears defense.
“It’s something I know I look forward to. Ball’s in the air, I’m a DB …,” Parrish said, with a slight smile. “What’s not to look forward to?”
