The biggest change in the Bears’ offense this season unquestionably is Rex Grossman. His inconsistency has been exasperating–it certainly was for him. But he energizes the unit and brings an element of danger, even if critics would debate which side of the ball faces the greater danger.
But the Bears were quite clear.
“We were able to run the ball because people are scared of Grossman,” center Olin Kreutz said. “Even when he’s off, they still have to play coverage.”
The Bears had 24 touchdown passes in 2006 and improved from 31st in passing yardage to 14th in their second season under Ron Turner. Only once since 1995, the last time their quarterback started all 16 games, has the passing offense ranked that high. The Bears topped 30 points seven times, plus the 39 against the New Orleans Saints in the playoffs. That was the most in one season since 1956, when Ed Brown led the NFL in passing and Rick Casares in rushing.
Besides experience on the field and second-nature familiarity with Turner’s system, what aided Grossman was consistency. Wide receiver Muhsin Muhammad, tight end Desmond Clark, running back Thomas Jones and four of the five offensive linemen started every game.
BEARS
THE PRINCIPALS
Q Rex Grossman
WR Bernard Berrian
WR Muhsin Muhammad
LT John Tait
RT Fred Miller
Grossman is a Chicago anomaly: a quarterback who is both more comfortable and more adept throwing deep than short. His accuracy on deep balls and his downfield comfort level make him the most dangerous Bears quarterback in recent years. The Bears tied for ninth in the NFL with 50 completions of 20 yards or longer and tied for third with 12 touchdown passes of at least 20 yards.
Grossman’s 23 touchdown passes were at times overshadowed by his 20 interceptions, but he has been picked off only once in the postseason, and that came on a ball off Muhammad’s shoulder pads. Berrian and Clark caught six TD passes each, Muhammad five.
A persistent preseason question was whether the Bears had a No. 2 receiver to complement Muhammad. In fact, even with 60 catches to Berrian’s 51, Muhammad has become the complement. Berrian led or tied for game-high receptions six times to five for Muhammad and four for Clark.
Grossman’s safety is everyone’s business, but especially so for Miller and Tait on the edges, where the Colts’ speed lies. Miller faces Robert Mathis and Tait draws Dwight Freeney, a three-time Pro Bowl defensive end. The Bears allowed only 25 sacks and are 9-1 when they allow fewer than two.
Jones caught 36 passes and even more blitzers and pass rushers than that.
“I do a lot of blocking, staying in and chipping defensive ends,” Jones said. “I’m allowed to help if I see a guy coming free, and that kind of limits me as far as the open field and catching balls. But Rex is confident checking down to us, getting us the ball and us making the catch.”
COLTS
THE PRINCIPALS
DE Dwight Freeney
DE Robert Mathis
CB Nick Harper
LB Cato June
The Colts faced the second-fewest pass plays in the NFL, in large part because opponents were successful running the ball. Mathis led the Colts with 9.5 sacks and has 21 over the last two seasons. Freeney’s sack total dipped to 5.5 this season, but he is the quintessential speed rusher with a spin move that ranks as one of the hardest to block. At 6 feet 2 inches and 245 pounds, Mathis is far from the prototypical left defensive end, but he forces tackles to deal with his quickness.
Freeney and Mathis also led the Colts with four forced fumbles each, meaning that when they get to a quarterback, more than just a pass play can be lost. Freeney has forced 27 fumbles in five seasons.
The 5-10, 182-pound Harper had three interceptions and has one in the postseason. He injured an ankle in the AFC title game against the Patriots and missed three days of practice. Harper’s physical presence is critical to the secondary, with Marlin Jackson coming off his game-ending interception of Tom Brady and moving back to cornerback from safety.
June is a former safety and another lightweight at 227. He led the Colts with five interceptions in 2005, taking two back for touchdowns. June had a team-high 162 tackles and tied Harper with three interceptions.
THE ANALYSIS
Grossman can lose games with turnovers, but in 12 of 18 games this season he has posted a passer rating of 73 or better. The Bears won all 12, including both playoff games. Grossman appears to have learned to play within himself as the season has gone on but has not lost his gut preference for the long ball, particularly with Berrian. The Bears were 8-0 in the regular season when Grossman was not intercepted. They need more from him than just an exercise in management and playing not to lose. Indianapolis allowed opponents to complete 64.1 percent of their passes. In the Colts’ four losses, opposing quarterbacks completed 68 percent of their passes. Grossman will not have to be that precise to do damage with his receivers.
