A mixture of relief and resolve overcame Lovie Smith.
He had just watched the Bears lose 24-10 to the Browns at Cleveland Stadium in the exhibition finale Friday night. One phase of Smith’s first NFL season as a head coach was ending, but the most important phase was just beginning.
It started the moment Smith walked out of the interview room and took his seat on the team bus; a seat that might have felt a little hotter than it did on the ride over before the game. The onset of the regular season, including Sunday’s mandatory cut to 53 players, has a way of heating things up.
“Now, training camp’s over and as I see it, we go back and analyze everything,” Smith said with a sigh.
From top to bottom, here are 10 things that are apparent about the Bears:
1. Inexperience at wide receiver will make quarterback Rex Grossman struggle more than expected. This is probably a good time to remember Kordell Stewart completed 68 percent of his passes last preseason. He flopped once the real games began, so exhibition game statistics can be misleading. At least the Bears are banking their season on that assumption.
The downfield passing attack that was supposed to be introduced boldly will be introduced slowly as Grossman develops a rhythm throwing to backs and tight ends. He still will take his shots–and must if the Bears are to prevent teams from stacking eight men in the box. But until the receivers start to gain more separation and run the routes Grossman expects, the passing game will be a work in progress.
2. Running back Thomas Jones earned enough trust to become the focal point of the offense. Jones could end up being the Bears’ leading rusher and receiver, but his attitude earned him as much respect as his ability. When he practiced every day at training camp despite increased reps in Anthony Thomas’ absence, it was a clear statement Jones believes he has something to prove this season. With the passing game lacking consistency, he will get ample opportunity to do so and could approach 1,200 yards rushing.
3. Defensive end Adewale Ogunleye will improve the pass rush, but maybe not immediately. Next Sunday he will mark only three weeks in Chicago. His body still thinks it’s mid-August after a long holdout in Miami.
He’s a proven veteran with a $33 million contract, but it’s likely to take him time to return to Pro Bowl form. Ogunleye’s mere presence should help pass rushers such as Alex Brown and Tommie Harris, though, as teams compensate for the 2003 AFC sack leader.
4. The dilemma at right cornerback might not be as dire as originally thought. In the locker room after Friday night’s game, injured cornerback R.W. McQuarters predicted he would return to practice Thursday and said that would give him plenty of time to prepare for the Lions. Smith echoed those expectations, making the battle between Nathan Vasher and Todd McMillon to replace McQuarters appear moot.
5. The offense needs tight ends Desmond Clark and Dustin Lyman to stay healthy. Clark and Lyman have yet to play together in a game in the new offense, a must for a passing game desperate for a dependable outlet. Grossman has confidence in Clark’s and Lyman’s ability to find a seam, get open and take pressure off the Bears’ unproven wide receivers.
6. Linebacker Brian Urlacher’s last tackle came in the Pro Bowl. His next contact will come seven months later in the season opener against the Lions.
A player as instinctive as Urlacher may not need training camp. But remember he is the first to say how much he still has to learn about playing linebacker in the NFL and he will be six weeks behind in a new defense. Even great players require an adjustment period, but the coaching staff seems to think Urlacher will immediately start creating turnovers.
7. The return game will be handled by NFL novices and, unlike 2003, will have only a nominal impact. The Bears’ big-play offense last season consisted of McQuarters returning punts and Jerry Azumah making tacklers look silly on kickoff returns. Those hidden yards will be missed more than people realize as Bernard Berrian, on punts, and Daryl Jones, on kickoffs, replace two Pro Bowl-caliber return men. Berrian and Jones probably will be so preoccupied with ball security they won’t generate much excitement.
8. Left tackle Qasim Mitchell has not answered the Bears’ seemingly perpetual problem at the position. Mitchell gave up another sack Friday night and had a false start to end an inconsistent preseason. Smith remains steadfastly behind him because the Bears have no other choice. For the third straight year, left tackle represents a glaring weakness on the offensive line. Marc Colombo can resume practicing in Week 6. That’s a definite maybe–but may be the Bears’ best solution.
9. Rookie defensive tackle Tommie Harris looks like an impact player and will shore up a porous run defense.
After a slow start, Harris has emerged as a high-motor defensive tackle whose quick first step makes him uncommonly good for a rookie. Little doubt remains that Harris will start, and needs to if the Bears want their best 11 on the field. He has endurance issues and will need to be spelled, but when he’s fresh he gives the Bears a potentially dominant player in the middle of their defense.
10. Offensive coordinator Terry Shea’s word appears to carry more weight than many suspected.
Shea has been Anthony Thomas’ biggest backer publicly and privately despite Thomas not practicing all training camp. Shea also made general manager Jerry Angelo believe his offense still can work using inexperienced receivers, making Marty Booker expendable. Don’t forget it was Shea who lobbied the hardest for backup Jonathan Quinn, who hasn’t done much yet to garner public confidence.
These examples, as well as Shea’s overall demeanor, indicate that as offensive coordinator Shea truly is the de facto head coach of the offense and approaches his job in that fashion.
