Bear(ing) the News – A Chicago Bears Blog

In considering the moves that the Bears have made since December, I find the question of whether they are actually better than they were at the beginning of 2013 to be debatable.

Though the offense has been left largely intact, we all know that the problems were on defense and that’s where improvements need to materialize.  In that respect, the lousy pass rush didn’t get any better with the loss of Julius Peppers (assuming he had anything at all left).  The addition of defensive end Lamarr Houston doesn’t help much there as he had a career high six sacks last year, lower that the 7 1/2 that Peppers generated in a “down year”.

Though he’s not officially gone, the return of corner back Charles Tillman and the turnovers he generated is also looking less and less likely.

However, all is not bad news because:

1. GM Phil Emery emphasized yesterday in his press conference that the free agent signings (and re-signings) were only the first steps in the rebuilding process and there is a lot of work yet to be done before final judgment can be passed.
2. The defense will be definitively younger, one of Emery’s stated goals.  Houston may not be a pass rushing force now but he’s on the rise and may yet quickly become one.
3. The run defense will be better with the signing of both Houston and new safety Ryan Mundy.  Mundy may not start but if he doesn’t, whoever beats him out will have to bring at least the same physical style of play that he does.

And then there are the intangibles and this may be where the Bears made their biggest gains.  For instance, Brad Biggs at the Chicago Tribune quotes new Bears defensive end Houston about his role as a potential leader:

“‘[Emery] said he is looking forward to my leadership developing through my actions as a player,’ Houston said. ‘That is very important. I’m not really too much of an outspoken leader. I like to lead more by example and that is exactly what he is looking for.'”

Though it wasn’t the emphasis of his article, this quote from Dan Wiederer at the Chicago Tribune seems to emphasize the same possibility for Mundy:

“Mundy, after four seasons with the Steelers and one with the Giants, envisions an opening to become, in his words, ‘a tone setter’ and impact playmaker on the back end of the Bears defense.”

The fact that Emery actually took the time to emphasize this role with Houston and probably  Mundy indicates the importance that he attaches to it.  Setting “a new tone” may be as important as anything new additions to the Bears defense may do next year.

As good as the start was for the coaching staff on the offensive side of the ball, the start on the defensive side was miserable in 2013.  Faced with a new coaching staff that clearly catered to the defensive veterans already on the team rather than the other way around, its more than likely that both Emery and Trestman believe that the defense got complacent in 2013.  How else to explain, for instance, the 54-11 total demolition of the Bears by the Eagles late in the year?  Whatever was wrong that night, it was more than just talent and technique.  What was missing was pride and attitude, as well.

Replacing a defensive line coach who was an “assistant to an assistant” in 2012 and a linebackers coach that probably didn’t have the gravitas to motivate and insist on the needed changes was likely as big a step as any Emery will take in the offseason.  It was likely only the first on the way to instilling a new attitude on the defense.  Only time will tell where the road will end but here’s betting its at a point where harder work and higher intensity of play become the norm.  The free agent signings to date will be a big part of that change.

Dan Wieder at the Chicago Tribune on soon to be free agent quarterback Josh McCown:

“[McCown] remembers an expression [Bears head coach Marc] Trestman often recites: ‘Don’t let familiarity rob you of your joy.'”

“That’s the reminder to savor every moment, no matter how routine. That helps explain why McCown carries enthusiasm into every practice, why he cherished his game-day drives up Lake Shore Drive, why he always pinches himself on the way into Halas Hall.

“‘That door handle on the back of the facility, every time I grab it, it’s this moment for me,’ McCown says. ‘I’m walking in the facility again — where once I thought I was never going to do this again. So that will never get old. Ever.'”

John Mullin at CSNChicago.com argues that resigning center Roberto Garza makes the Bears offensive line unit better than the sum of its parts:

“…Garza has quietly become a player who makes players around him better. He has a comfort level with quarterback Jay Cutler, developed when the Bears and Olin Kreutz were parting ways in 2011. He is one reason why Kyle Long was a Pro Bowl alternate as a rookie guard; Long himself gave Garza effusive praise for his work in Long’s development.”

I don’t have a problem with this signing.  Even at age 35, Garza was probably their best option.

But having now decided to retain the entire offensive line with no changes, the Bears are leaving me with a vague sense of unease.  My mind keeps wandering back to the Bears only exposure to the best division in football last year, the NFC West, in a loss to the Rams.

Despite media attention given to the teams in this division which emphasized other areas, there’s one major reason why these teams were significantly better than the rest of the league – they dominated the line of scrimmage.  That includes the Bears game where the Rams under-rated front seven easily penetrated into the offensive backfield far too often in a 42-21 demolition.  And the Rams were 7-9 and finished in last place.

I’m not necessarily arguing that the Bears did the wrong thing.  The offensive line as it stands was reasonably solid.  Long and right tackle Jordan Mills are young and may yet significantly improve.  And they have a lot of needs on defense to fill with new personnel.  The offensive line can’t take priority right now.

But even with all of this, I’m thinking that if the Bears really want to be elite, staying with the same personnel on the offensive line might not be a long-term option.  Because good might not be good enough.

Steve Rosenbloom at the Chicago Tribune makes a good point:

“Maybe it’s me, but when Bears general manager Phil Emery says that new Bears linebacker Shea McClellin was the team’s best ‘pass disruptor’ when he played defensive end, everyone looks stupid.”

“He’s still trying to defend his first Bears draft choice, but if he’s so proud of McClellin’s pass disruptions and if pass disruptions are so important, then why is he moving McClellin to linebacker?”

Rosenbloom isn’t the only one that found some odd comments in Emery’s appearance at the combine.  Hub Arkush also did a pretty good job of pointing out some of the weird things that Emery let slip out of his mouth at the press conference there as well.

The relative degree of openness that the current Bears leadership has displayed has been a breath of fresh air when compared to the last regime and its been much appreciated.  But I’m thinking maybe its time for Emery to rein it in a little now.

The Bears have removed offensive line coach from offensive coordinator Aaron Kromer's title and promoted assistant offensive line coach Pat Meyer. Rich Campbell at the Chicago Tribune quotes head coach Marc Trestman:

“The move will allow Aaron to still be closely connected to the instruction and development of the offensive line while expanding his coordinator duties and free up time to help in the growth of all of our offensive players.”

Left unsaid is that Kromer will likely be taking more responsibility for the offense as Trestman shifts more of his focus to helping ot improve a defense that had a rough go of it last year. This is a good sign that Trestman is going to do more than former head coach Lovie Smith did when the offense faltered under his watch.

If Kromer can pick up where Trestman left off with the offense such that there will be no sgnificant decline in performance while Trestman improves the defense, the Bears will be better this year. If that doesn't happen, Trestman is going to have to start seriously considering staff changes to find more competant coaches who can do more on thier own on both sides of the ball. It will be interesting to see what comes in year ahead.

John Mullin at CSNChicago.com addresses the Bears defensive line:

“Strategies: Besides specific personnel decisions, the Bears need to decide whether their defensive front is big enough. Injuries were not the only reason the Bears were being blown off the ball. [Jeremiah] Ratliff (303 pounds) is the only starter bigger than 300, and Stephen Paea, playing at about 290, was not stout enough at nose tackle.”

Mullin has an excellent point. If the Bears decide to go with a hybrid 4-3/3-4 defensive scheme, they will almost certainly need more size on the defensive line, especially if they decide to occasionally go with the classic 3-4 two gap scheme where each lineman is responsible for both gaps on either side of an opposing offensive linemane instead of one gap. Even if they play the more penetrating one gap style of 3-4 favored by coaches like Wade Phillips, they will want more size up front, especially at nose tackle.