Faster than you can say “Adewale Ogunleye,” the Bears’ lightning-quick left defensive end was in the Minnesota backfield Sunday.
He was credited with four tackles, two sacks, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery.
“There were some good things done today, but we have to try to come back this week and regroup,” Ogunleye said after the Bears’ 27-22 loss.
Acquired from Miami for wide receiver Marty Booker just before the season started, Ogunleye had 15 sacks last year for the Dolphins. Sunday’s sacks were his first with the Bears.
With 4 minutes 7 seconds left in the first quarter, Ogunleye sacked Daunte Culpepper for a 2-yard loss at the Bears’ 28-yard line.
Ogunleye struck again four minutes later, this time stripping running back Onterrio Smith of the ball and advancing it 3 yards to the Minnesota 7 as the first quarter ended.
“[Smith] was on the way down,” Ogunleye said. “I just reached in and got the ball out of his hands. I’m just trying to make plays, just trying to add to this defense and get us in position to win. Today was another step in getting better for me. But that stuff doesn’t matter unless we get these W’s.”
Despite Ogunleye’s play, the Bears gave up 443 net yards.
“I really can’t put my finger on it unless I watch the film,” Ogunleye said of the Vikings’ big plays. “We have to be able to tackle better. We have to get off the field on third down, and when they catch the ball we can’t let these guys run for 40 or 50 yards after the catch. That’s what was hurting us–yards after the catch. Guys are going to complete passes. You just have to do a good job of staying off the ground and making these tackles.”
With linebacker Brian Urlacher out with a hamstring injury, it was incumbent on Ogunleye to cause turnovers.
“He makes everything go,” Ogunleye said. “We missed him a lot. But the guys who filled in did a good job. Guys are going to have to step up when their names are called.”
