Running amok
Dusty Dvoracek used to keep a chart on the sideline of how many snaps defensive end Mark Anderson played as a rookie in 2006. Lovie Smith wanted to see more and more of Anderson, so he had instant stats available for him. Surely Smith can find an injured player to track the number of times the Bears hand the ball off. Mike Martz called 47 passes and only 12 runs, making the offense one-dimensional to the delight of the blitz-happy Seahawks. Every defense’s goal is to make an offense one-dimensional. Martz is doing it for them.
Red zone a dead zone
There is no longer any doubt Johnny Knox is the Bears’ No. 1 wide receiver, even from those who predicted an explosion for Devin Hester. Knox is second in the league with 21.8 yards per reception, but the Bears didn’t convert any of Jay Cutler’s long completions into touchdowns. Knox had a 67-yarder, Earl Bennett a 36-yarder and Devin Aromashodu a 34-yarder, but the Bears are not converting in the red zone, where they rank 30th. With no threat of the run, they’re easier to defend, and a year after being Cutler’s preferred red-zone target, Greg Olsen is missing.
Picking on secondary
With all of the questions about the Bears’ safeties and the secondary in general, it’s a little surprising it took until Week 6 for issues to arise. Interestingly, Seahawks quarterback Matt Hasselbeck chose to go after right cornerback Charles Tillman — a lot. The Bears pulled off the previously unthinkable, making former Matt Millen draft bust Mike Williams look like a star. Williams caught 10 passes for 123 yards, and Deon Butler scored on a 22-yard pass over Tillman, who got no help from the Cover-2 alignment.
Week 7 crucial
There’s no reason to panic with the Bears 4-2 and atop the NFC North, but Week 7 meetings don’t get much more important. The Redskins visit Soldier Field, and the Bears can’t afford to go into the open week that follows filled with questions and doubts. They need to find a way to spring back like they did after the poor showing against the Giants. They’ve been riding a wave of momentum, but the Panthers and Jimmy Clausen don’t await them this time.
