Barely a month ago, there were few positives in a Bears season that was in a free fall. An eight-game losing streak was running its course. Potentially worse for the long term, young players were failing to fill in the gaps left when starters were injured.
That has changed. A silver lining has started to appear in the thunderheads that have dumped every form of bad weather on the Bears.
Alex Brown. Mike Gandy. John Gilmore. Adrian Peterson. Roosevelt Williams.
The names were barely visible on the depth chart when training camp started. Brown needed a good camp to beat out Karon Riley, and neither appeared likely to move ahead of Keith McKenzie at one defensive end position. Gandy was part of trade talks with Washington. Gilmore was a late draft choice of the New Orleans Saints. Peterson was drafted in the sixth round, three picks after the Saints took Gilmore. Williams was a project from a small college at defensive back.
Now, each has emerged as a factor in the Bears’ future. Each received an opportunity because of an injury to a starter, and each has done something important with it.
“I think that’s a part of the silver lining, the fact that this is an opportunity for a lot of young players to step up,” coach Dick Jauron said. It would not be the first time the Bears have found riches in the wake of an injury. An injury to Curtis Conway in 1999 was Marcus Robinson’s springboard to a 1,400-yard receiving season. Robinson’s injury last season opened the door for Marty Booker to become a 100-catch receiver. Injuries to Shane Matthews and Cade McNown in 1999 and 2000 forced coaches to turn to Jim Miller.
The defensive end
Brown, the Bears’ fourth-round pick, was inactive on opening day. He wasn’t even the first alternate when right end Phillip Daniels was injured that afternoon; McKenzie was. Brown didn’t start until Game 7, at Minnesota, by which time Brown was playing well enough for McKenzie to be released and coaches to move Daniels permanently to the other side in order to get the four best defensive linemen on the field.
Brown has forced three fumbles, recovered two, and collected 31/2 sacks. On Sunday, he deflected his third pass of the season in the win over the Jets. He is now rarely off the field except in long-yardage situations when the Bears use Rosevelt Colvin and Bryan Knight as their rush ends.
“He’s an intelligent young man, and he’s worked hard [and] we should see more production from him,” said defensive coordinator Greg Blache. “But he has been solid and his progress has been continuous.”
The left tackle
The Bears began training camp believing they had their left tackle of the future already on their roster in first-round pick Marc Colombo or veteran Bernard Robertson. But they’ve discovered they have someone else who can play the position–Gandy. Who knew?
After all, Gandy was inactive for all 16 games as a rookie in 2001. And he would be a Redskin if the Bears had agreed to Washington’s terms in a proposed deal for quarterback Patrick Ramsey during training camp.
“That was one of those people who you knew had the athletic ability to play left tackle,” James “Big Cat” Williams said. “It just was, `Can he go out there and do it week in and week out?'”
Gandy proved himself good enough to be a starting right guard in the preseason when Chris Villarrial was hurt. He started five regular-season games at left guard when Rex Tucker went down. He moved to left tackle when Colombo injured his knee.
“He’s a good enough athlete to be the left tackle,” line coach Bob Wylie said. “He’s got good speed, good hands and good instincts. He just needs to play. We’re fortunate to have him because he can play inside or outside, and left tackle is even a bigger bonus.”
The tight end
The Bears thought they had a tight end for the future in John Davis. Now a back injury may have ended his season and he is an unrestricted free agent in ’03. Dustin Lyman’s knee injury may not be healed before next season starts.
Gilmore, a pickup after he was cut by New Orleans, has started the last two games and has seven catches over the last three games. He also has a job in ’03.
“John Gilmore has really helped himself,” Jauron said. “One of the things I like the most about him is that he really plays hard. As a rookie he makes some errors. I like the fact that he plays hard, and I like the fact that when he makes a mistake, he feels bad about it. . . . I think that’s a positive sign.”
The running back
Anthony Thomas’ season-ending broken finger meant playing time for Peterson, who the Bears hope will be one of those late-round nuggets unearthed in the draft that Jamal Anderson, Terrell Davis and others have been. Peterson is averaging 5 yards a carry (10-for-50) in two games, scored his first NFL touchdown in the Jets game and has caught a pass in each game.
Leon Johnson is an unrestricted free agent after this season. Thomas was a disappointment all season to the point where GM Jerry Angelo ranks running back again high on the draft priority list. Peterson alone won’t change that entirely, but he can’t be ruled out in what will be a true competition for the No. 1 tailback job next season.
“Adrian will get opportunities,” Jauron said. “Obviously Leon will still be our `1,’ but we’ll work Adrian in as we have and he may get a few more [plays]. It just depends on how the game goes.”
The defensive back
Williams has moved up the depth chart from inactive to dime back to nickel back to starter Sunday against the Jets when R.W. McQuarters was injured. Williams, who coaches hoped would compete for the No. 3 cornerback job before a preseason injury of his own, contributed a diving pass deflection and a fumble recovery on the Jets’ final play to help the Bears to a win over a potential playoff team.
“You’re always going to be nervous starting your first one,” Williams said, “but I just tried to picture in my mind that I was in practice and just tried to make plays.”
They bear watching
Four rookies and second-year lineman Mike Gandy have shown signs they may become key players for the Bears.
ALEX BROWN
Defensive end
The fourth-round pick from Florida has taken over as the starting right defensive end.
MIKE GANDY
Left tackle
Last year’s third-round pick has shown he can play tackle as well as guard.
JOHN GILMORE
Tight end
Cut by the Saints, he has seven receptions in the last three games.
ADRIAN PETERSON
Running back
Will sixth-round pick be another late-round discovery at running back?
ROOSEVELT WILLIAMS
Defensive back
Third-round pick showing his potential now that he’s healthy.
