Nothing produces amnesia in a coach like a victory.
So it was no surprise in the aftermath of Sunday’s stirring 19-17 overtime win over Tennessee that Lovie Smith acted almost as if he had forgotten how anemically Craig Krenzel had played the first 57 minutes.
“How about Craig Krenzel at the end leading us to victory?” Smith asked. “That’s the way I’m going to look at that.”
It was not even the way the Bears quarterback chose to look at it.
Sure, it made the rookie proud to engineer a 10-play, 69-yard drive that began with 2:51 left in the fourth quarter and ended with Paul Edinger’s 29-yard game-tying field goal.
But Krenzel put his disappointing individual performance in perspective. Smith’s compliments aside, Krenzel seemed to understand that the Bears beat the Titans in spite of him more than because of him.
Asked how it felt to remain unbeaten in three NFL starts, Krenzel chuckled. “I’m not 3-0,” he said. “We’re 4-5, and our defense is playing great football and the special teams came up huge for us.”
He completed 10 of 28 passes for 116 yards and two interceptions, and his rating of 19.3 was the lowest by a winning QB in the NFL since Carolina’s Jake Delhomme’s 15.9 rating in a 12-9 win over the Vikings on Sept. 14, 2003.
“I’m not concerned,” Krenzel said. “[But] obviously, I’m frustrated and I need to play better.”
Five plays that make his point.
First-and-10 from the Bears’ 42 with 7:23 left in the fourth quarter
1. What Krenzel did: On an ill-advised call from offensive coordinator Terry Shea, Krenzel forced a deep pass to rookie Bernard Berrian that Andre Dyson intercepted at the Titans’ 4. Berrian never had Dyson beat, and a high-risk pass in that situation endangered a 14-10 lead. Four plays after Dyson’s pick, the Titans scored the go-ahead touchdown.
What he should have done: Once it was obvious Berrian was covered, Krenzel should have checked down to the secondary receiver or thrown the ball away. It makes little sense for a team with an erratic rookie quarterback on the road protecting a one-possession lead to take such a risk.
Third-and-5 from the Bears’ 47 with 7:44 left in the third quarter
2. What Krenzel did: This time Berrian was open after getting a step on Samari Rolle down the left sideline, but Krenzel threw the pass outside after Berrian broke inside. It marked the best chance for the rookies to make a big-play connection for the third straight game.
What he should have done: Throw the ball to Berrian’s inside shoulder and let the speedster run it down. This was one of the few plays on which Krenzel did not feel pressure before he unloaded the ball.
Third-and-15 from the Bears’ 15 with 3:18 left in the third quarter
3. What Krenzel did: Out of the shotgun, Krenzel stepped up in the pocket after sensing pressure, pumped toward an open Bryan Johnson, pulled the ball back and took a 5-yard sack by Kevin Carter.
What he should have done: Krenzel should have dumped off the pass to Johnson once protection broke down or thrown the ball away to avoid a lost-yardage play. If there has been one consistent error of Krenzel’s in three starts, it’s that he holds the ball longer than an NFL quarterback can afford to, given the ferocity of the pass rush.
Second-and-10 from the Titans’ 45 with 49 seconds left in first half
4. What Krenzel did: Carter beat right tackle John Tait and forced Krenzel to fumble, which Titans end Travis LaBoy recovered. It did not hurt the Bears–in an odd way it set up Michael Haynes’ 45-yard interception return for a TD–but marked the third straight week that Krenzel has fumbled in the pocket.
What Krenzel should have done: Easier said than done, but if Krenzel had sensed the pressure sooner he could have tucked the ball away or thrown it away. In the final minute in an opponent’s territory is a time that a QB’s awareness must be heightened.
Third-and-10 from the Bears’ 34 with 2:02 left in the first quarter
5. What Krenzel did: Carter ran through right guard Rex Tucker as if he were a turnstile, and center Olin Kreutz alertly stepped over to help. Rather than sensing what was happening, Krenzel actually appeared to run into the sack for a 13-yard loss.
What he should have done: Experience should improve Krenzel’s pocket presence and picking up the direction from which the rush is coming.
