Can the Bears Defense Be Better Than 2005-06?
by Dane Noble on Jun 12, 2009 3:06 PM CDT
56 comments
As ChiFan13 brought you in today's Den, Lance Briggs thinks so. Briggs cites the change in coaching scheme this year as a reason he thinks the Bears can be better than 2005.
"I don’t want to revert back to that form," said the four-time Pro Bowler. "I want to revert to a better form. I think that’s what we all want. We’re all aiming toward something better.
"That’s what we’re working on. You hear coaches out here [at practice] yelling at everybody every play. That’s what we need. We’ve got to be yelled at. We have to put our grind in if we want to be successful."
How much of that yelling and motivating is being done by Lovie Smith is anyone's guess. But we constantly hear positive things from the coaching and player ranks that Rod Marinelli is shaking things up.
We know that our offense should be better, and our special teams will consistantly be one of the best in the NFL, but can our defense really make that big of a jump?
The Bears made significant changes to their defensive coaching staff this offseason. They added two veteran assistants in Rod Marinelli (line) and Jon Hoke (secondary), moved Bob Babich into the role he once occupied as linebackers coach and announced that head coach Lovie Smith will assume play-calling duties.
Given those upgrades, Briggs feels that the pressure to perform is squarely on the players’ shoulders.
"That’s why they pay us the big bucks," he said. "We might have had some down years, but they pay us big bucks because they believe in us, and we’ve got to show up this year."
Sounds good to me... it's time to put your money where your mouth is. A team needs to be strong in all 3 phases of the game to be successful, to be contenders. This year, our defense may just be the weakest link.
0 recs |
56 comments
|
Email
Print
Comments
TWO WORDS...
THEY BETTER BE!!!
Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the judgement that something else is more important than fear.
by windycity72 on Jun 12, 2009 3:48 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Whale, Vasher, and of course Harris.
These three have to return to form for that to happen, and the youngsters in the secondary will have to cover better.
X factors- DJ Moore, Bowman, and Bullocks.
"I'm not so mean. I wouldn't ever go out to hurt anybody deliberately - unless it was, you know, important, like a league game or something." - Dick Butkus
"Yeah, Moe, that team sure did suck last night. They just plain sucked! I’ve seen teams suck before, but they were the suckiest bunch of sucks that ever sucked!" - Homer
by propheteer on Jun 12, 2009 4:06 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Oops!
I meant Graham over Bullocks.
"I'm not so mean. I wouldn't ever go out to hurt anybody deliberately - unless it was, you know, important, like a league game or something." - Dick Butkus
"Yeah, Moe, that team sure did suck last night. They just plain sucked! I’ve seen teams suck before, but they were the suckiest bunch of sucks that ever sucked!" - Homer
by propheteer on Jun 12, 2009 4:10 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
How do you go back to being better?? And when did a whale join the team?
"The cup is not half empty and neither is the cup half full. The cup's just too damn big." -George Carlton
by Just Dave on Jun 12, 2009 4:24 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Confuses me...
both of your questions does.
Be nice. Flag comments that you think are offensive. Use the "reply" button. Drink plenty of water. Compliment others. "Rec" comments and posts you like. Don't call people names. If you don't like someone's comment, attack the comment and not the commentor. Learn the difference in your/you're, then/than, to/too. Exercise. Relax. Stretch often. Find good in the world.
by Dane Noble on Jun 12, 2009 4:28 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I get the 2nd part
He’s referring to the annoying habit people have of spelling Whale instead of Wale in reference to Adewale.
"If God had wanted man to play soccer, He wouldn't have given us arms" - Ditka
by EricEmpire on Jun 12, 2009 5:46 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
My apologies
I actually usually spell his shortened name the correct, but failed miserably this time. Please don’t scorn me.
"I'm not so mean. I wouldn't ever go out to hurt anybody deliberately - unless it was, you know, important, like a league game or something." - Dick Butkus
"Yeah, Moe, that team sure did suck last night. They just plain sucked! I’ve seen teams suck before, but they were the suckiest bunch of sucks that ever sucked!" - Homer
by propheteer on Jun 12, 2009 5:57 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Wow
I’m a little off my typing game today. I meant I usually spell his shortened correctly.
"I'm not so mean. I wouldn't ever go out to hurt anybody deliberately - unless it was, you know, important, like a league game or something." - Dick Butkus
"Yeah, Moe, that team sure did suck last night. They just plain sucked! I’ve seen teams suck before, but they were the suckiest bunch of sucks that ever sucked!" - Homer
by propheteer on Jun 12, 2009 5:58 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Okay... Okay...
I meant I usually spell his shortened correctly.
I think it is officially time to step away from the keyboard and walk around the chair before you are allowed to type again. :)
- Smudgers
"Newbie, if the next two words out of your mouth aren't 'See ya' then the third word will be 'Oh my god. My crotch. You've punched me in my crotch." - Dr. Percival Ulysses Cox
by smudgers on Jun 12, 2009 6:07 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Seriously
I didn’t get on the net for the rest of the day! I think it something to do with the lack of sleep the night before.
"I'm not so mean. I wouldn't ever go out to hurt anybody deliberately - unless it was, you know, important, like a league game or something." - Dick Butkus
"Yeah, Moe, that team sure did suck last night. They just plain sucked! I’ve seen teams suck before, but they were the suckiest bunch of sucks that ever sucked!" - Homer
by propheteer on Jun 13, 2009 1:33 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
He wants to revert to a better form
The word revert literally means to go back to. How do you revert to a better form? Or…. Back to being better, how do you go?
"The cup is not half empty and neither is the cup half full. The cup's just too damn big." -George Carlton
by Just Dave on Jun 12, 2009 4:33 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
I gotcha, and the answer can only be obtained
through clicking the reply button. It’s a truly enlightening experience!
Be nice. Flag comments that you think are offensive. Use the "reply" button. Drink plenty of water. Compliment others. "Rec" comments and posts you like. Don't call people names. If you don't like someone's comment, attack the comment and not the commentor. Learn the difference in your/you're, then/than, to/too. Exercise. Relax. Stretch often. Find good in the world.
by Dane Noble on Jun 12, 2009 4:37 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Sorry, I occasionally forget..... like all the time.
"The cup is not half empty and neither is the cup half full. The cup's just too damn big." -George Carlton
by Just Dave on Jun 12, 2009 4:40 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
funny stuff.
- Smudgers
"Newbie, if the next two words out of your mouth aren't 'See ya' then the third word will be 'Oh my god. My crotch. You've punched me in my crotch." - Dr. Percival Ulysses Cox
by smudgers on Jun 12, 2009 6:07 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I'm usually pretty optimistic, and would love for that to happen, but I don't see how.
Urlacher was in his prime, Vasher and Tillman and Harris were having career years, Brown had half a season still playing well, Briggs was a pro bowler, Anderson was a renegade.
Urlacher is good, but slower, I think we all see that. Briggs may be better, Harris is not the same guy. Tillman and Vasher have been very hurt even though Tillman played more games. And most of our team has MBD these days (Mike Brown Disease). No definition needed.
Heck for like 4 years we have had half our draft on IR before playing 2 full games.
The way it could happen though is if the line gets really good pressure all year.
Kick it to me... I'm open!
by #23 on Jun 12, 2009 5:39 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
I'm cautiously optimistic this year
The line will get pressure or Hot Rod was a waste of money.
The secondary, which was our biggest defensive concern, has a lot of fresh faces, and a lot of intrigue. If the best players from that group hit the field, I think we’ll be ok.
The linebacking corps appears to be the strongest in the NFC, maybe the NFL. (the patriots look nice on paper, but they’re all 80 years old…)
So I’m sort of visualizing a return to form. I wont be surprised if they’re a top ten D.
"If God had wanted man to play soccer, He wouldn't have given us arms" - Ditka
by EricEmpire on Jun 12, 2009 5:51 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Remember this is Urlacher 2009 not Urlacher of 2005-6
I think the secondary can pull if off. Lots of question marks at safety, but some real talent at CB. I think the safety position could be a pleasant surprise.
Although I expect the DE’s to play better, I think DT production is the key to this year. If those guys take on the blocks, Urlacher will be better because he is free to roam. They also need to generate some pressure. That is the position, I’m watching.
Kick it to me... I'm open!
by #23 on Jun 12, 2009 6:59 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
You're forgetting that we have done some things to get better as well...
PT is definately better than HH, no mater how you slice it. We also picked up Marcus Harrison in what could turn out to be one of the steals of the draft last year if he continues to progress. We’re really deep at DT IMO, I only worry slightly about our DE depth. However, we’ve definately got the the talent on the line if only the new coaching can get it to produce.
by Sklz711 on Jun 12, 2009 6:03 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I'm not forgetting anything
I don’t think Marcus Harrison is 2006 Tommy Harris. So that is a down grade.
HH wasn’t horrible is 2006 and although Pisa may be better Urlacher was a beast in 2006. He still makes some plays but he so spotty these days. He is no where near the same and MLB is much more of an impact position than OLB.
And like I said, if we get lots of pressure this season, I do see us improving a lot. Not better than 2005 or 2006, but definitely a top defense.
And by the way PT is not the defensive savior if anyone thinks that. He is a nice addition, but we don’t know for sure that he is going to start. Roach is the incumbent and gets first crack and Jamar Williams is playing very well so far.
Kick it to me... I'm open!
by #23 on Jun 12, 2009 6:53 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Bears defense better
The Bears defense will not be better than the sorry one from last year. I see the Cardinal putting at least 35 on the Bears on November 8th. The Bears will not make the playoffs and finish 3rd in the North. There will be improvement on offense because of Denver selling their soul to Angelo, but Urlacher and crew is only getting older.
by modena006 on Jun 12, 2009 6:03 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Who are you? Go troll some one else's site, you know nothing.
At least 35? Puh-lease!!! Sounds like the number of brain cells in that big empty egotistical waste of space you call a head.
Kick it to me... I'm open!
by #23 on Jun 12, 2009 6:56 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
..And your grammar
is only getting worse.
"If God had wanted man to play soccer, He wouldn't have given us arms" - Ditka
by EricEmpire on Jun 12, 2009 7:16 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Modena006
Said the same thing on the tribune’s website, i think hes still sour about the game in 06 where we came back from a 20 point defecit and beat the cards without an offensive touchdown lol or he could just be upset about the massive superbowl hangover his team is going to have or could just be hes delirious because of the fact his defense made the steelers cupcake offense look like the 49ers of the mid 80’s
by Staleystan595455 on Jun 12, 2009 7:18 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
You must mean Cardinal Francis George of the Chicago Diocese
My question is would that be 35 blessings for the starting players or 35 indulgences for the people from Denver involved in the trade?
"The cup is not half empty and neither is the cup half full. The cup's just too damn big." -George Carlton
by Just Dave on Jun 12, 2009 9:04 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Or perhaps the Cardinal is a gambling man and wishes to make a $35 wager?
"The cup is not half empty and neither is the cup half full. The cup's just too damn big." -George Carlton
by Just Dave on Jun 12, 2009 9:05 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
WE ARE WHO YOU THOUGHT WE WE WERE!!!
AND WE BEAT YOU LIKE $2 CRACK HOES!!!
Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the judgement that something else is more important than fear.
by windycity72 on Jun 13, 2009 2:06 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
The ball's in Tommie's court
In my opinion, improved pass rush is a must if we are to improve our D this year & the key in that effort is TH!! He was quoted the other day as saying he’s getting tired of all the negativity directed toward him and his gimpy left knee. Well….he has the opportunity to silence all the nay-sayers by simply delivering the goods this season. If he has another spotty season this year, I think it’s beyond time to look to the future and find his replacemnt.
by prbart140 on Jun 12, 2009 7:33 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Image
"The cup is not half empty and neither is the cup half full. The cup's just too damn big." -George Carlton
by Just Dave on Jun 12, 2009 9:13 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Live and Learn
I was trying to post a lovely image of the Chicago Cardinal Francis George for all to enjoy. Maybe I’ll figure out how someday.
"The cup is not half empty and neither is the cup half full. The cup's just too damn big." -George Carlton
by Just Dave on Jun 12, 2009 9:15 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
you are ON FIRE lately!!!
Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the judgement that something else is more important than fear.
by windycity72 on Jun 13, 2009 1:48 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Seriously!
What does The Cardinal have in his right hand?
by rdent4hof on Jun 14, 2009 8:04 AM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
YOU'RE NUTS!!!
thank ditka i’m not catholic…
Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the judgement that something else is more important than fear.
by windycity72 on Jun 14, 2009 11:45 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
LOL
only little boys get to find out….
" Of all the things I lost, I miss my mind the most" - Ozzy Osbourn
by stupidhead! on Jun 14, 2009 4:15 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Thats Turrible
Just Turrible.
Stop with your toilet humor it’ll only encourage me.
by icarr0331 on Jun 14, 2009 7:38 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I have no idea
but my best guess is you’d have to take it in your hand and kiss it to find out.
"The cup is not half empty and neither is the cup half full. The cup's just too damn big." -George Carlton
by Just Dave on Jun 14, 2009 9:15 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
His HAND that is.
"The cup is not half empty and neither is the cup half full. The cup's just too damn big." -George Carlton
by Just Dave on Jun 14, 2009 9:15 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Wrong...
on so many levels, WRONG
" Of all the things I lost, I miss my mind the most" - Ozzy Osbourn
by stupidhead! on Jun 15, 2009 12:45 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Oh COME ON. I'm CLEARLY referring to his RING!!!!
I can’t help it if you have a dirty mind…..
"The cup is not half empty and neither is the cup half full. The cup's just too damn big." -George Carlton
by Just Dave on Jun 15, 2009 2:25 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I’m CLEARLY referring to his RING!!!!
That’s what we were afraid of…..
"They tried to take out the quarterback, and if they managed that, they tried to take out the backup." - Bears SB20 TE Emery Moorehead, on the mentality of *that* defense
by Spongie on Jun 15, 2009 4:25 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
you guys are horrible!!!
you’re all going to hell… but, don’t worry, i’ll give you the keys to my condo so you’ll have a place to stay when you get there… one drawback, the AC is busted!!!
Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the judgement that something else is more important than fear.
by windycity72 on Jun 15, 2009 5:54 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
The defense was not bad last year
I say this a lot, but people don’t believe it. Everybody remembers a few high-profile failures, and it clouds their judgments. That, plus the fact that they were on the field A LOT.
NFL.com Team Defense Standings
Points/Game: 21.9, T16th in the NFL
Yards/Game: 334.7, 21st in the NFL
Yards/Play: 4.9, T5th in the NFL
Opp. 3rd down : 35, T5th in the NFL
That’s a defense that’s good, but not good enough to make up for a bad offense. In other words, not as good as it was in 2006. But still pretty good, and if you took some pressure off of it with a more consistent offense, it would probably be even better.
FWIW, the advanced stats at FootballOutsiders agree:
Def DVOA: -5.5%, 7th in the NFL (for defense negative is better)
Weighted DVOA (puts more weight on the end of the season, so it reflects how the team was playing at the end): -2.5%, 7th in the NFL
by TCBullfrog on Jun 12, 2009 10:28 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
The defense was not as good as those numbers
The offense many times put the Bears in position to win at the end of games and the D choked. Numbers don’t tell the whole story. The offense was acceptable. Had the Bears had that offense in 05 we make the Superbowl. The offense got the job done except in GB and Houston. No bad for the weak link.
Kick it to me... I'm open!
by #23 on Jun 13, 2009 9:15 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Agree with you on this
you can’t just go by numbers in anything concerning sports. I wouldn’t have cared where the defense ranked in yardage if they were able to stop people when it counted (Atlanta game). Same goes for the offense, who cares how many yards anyone rushes for or passes for as long as they can put up “1” more point than the opposition. THAT is the only stat that counts.
by BearFan611 on Jun 13, 2009 10:01 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Granted our offense wasn't superb, but last year it was solid.
Considering how little money and quality draft picks have been dedicated to that side of the ball, they really outperformed last year. The big problem on offense was having either a poor first half or second half early in the year. But in the end, I really believe that in about 13-14 games they did what was expected of them in order to win. The losses were because the defense didn’t do what was expected of them. I still have visions of Griese making our defense look like Swiss cheese.
Kick it to me... I'm open!
by #23 on Jun 13, 2009 1:15 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
have to agree with you
on the 05 part.
the only thing i am positive about is the the bears d the last few years has always been able to put dominate series together, and without researching it too much, it seems they can do this frequently is shorter spurts. if the offense is moving the ball and making the d play less we might be able to expect dominate numbers in low defensive minute games.
pretty obvious, the less they play the more they have to give. but as bad as they were the last couple years, they were still able to show flashes of shut down dominance.
as far being as good as the 05 team, so many guys would need to step up their declining play along with a lot of younger guys taking big steps forward that its hard to see that happening. also, people forget how good that 05 d was, almost the best in 20 years.
i’m excited to see what this offense can do to help the defense, if rodmar is half as good as what some people here are guaranteeing it should be exciting. kudos to the bears propaganda machine, people are sold on rodmar something fierce.
by mike b on Jun 13, 2009 11:42 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Wow, I'm with you too.
I am hopeful that more sustained offensive drives will keep our guys rested. They really do look tired on the field late in games and the fourth quarter their numbers tank big time which could be fatigue.
And I don’t know if you are saying this for sure or not, but I really believe the biggest problem with our defense has been the decline of the pass rush. Yes we have had lots of injuries, but pressure creates turnovers. The secondary will have many more opportunities if they aren’t left out their all day to defend. Think about all those blitzes last season! If we had pressure from the line, we would have more guys defending passes.
Tommie Harris is a big key.
Kick it to me... I'm open!
by #23 on Jun 13, 2009 1:20 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
As the line goes, so go the Bears
I still think they’re going to be able to stop the run. It’s gonna to come down to the same questions they’ve had the past 2 years. If the defensive line can generate a pass rush, then they’ll be able to shut people down and this team could end up going back to the Super Bowl, again. I think the veterans are gonna have to step up and really commit to making the pass rush a priority. It’ll also be interesting to see how the rookies, Gilbert and Melton, can progress and contribute as the season develops.
by JimmyMack on Jun 13, 2009 7:05 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Statistically Yes
The Bears had a better defense that what most saw according to statistics… Statistics don’t win you games necessarily. As for returning to 05-06 form, I think the aligning of the stars were just right. It will be a while before we can have as many good defensive players all healthy as we did those years. Also, I think most people forgot that we also had Mike Brown for almost all of ‘05 and for a little bit in ’06. We get another safety like Brown then maybe we’ll be as good.
by Da Sassage on Jun 13, 2009 1:11 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
there isnt
another safety like Mike Brown
If you live in Chicago you are a bears fan, if you move from chicago you stay a bears fan, if you move to chicago you will be a bears fan.
by chi-town on Jun 13, 2009 6:27 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Someone (Acreman?) made mention that the scouting report for Rashad Johnson sounded “a LOT” like Mike Brown, but we didn’t go for him and I think he went to the Cardinals.
"They tried to take out the quarterback, and if they managed that, they tried to take out the backup." - Bears SB20 TE Emery Moorehead, on the mentality of *that* defense
by Spongie on Jun 13, 2009 6:57 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Insert
“when he was healthy” and its a lock.
" Of all the things I lost, I miss my mind the most" - Ozzy Osbourn
by stupidhead! on Jun 14, 2009 4:18 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
There are safeties like a healthy Mike Brown
They are all in the Pro Bowl, however.
I’m thinking of Troy Polamalu, Ed Reed, and (healthy) Bob Sanders…
by TCBullfrog on Jun 16, 2009 4:04 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
Related FanPosts on Windy City Gridiron
Related FanShots on Windy City Gridiron
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Certain photos copyright © 2009 by Associated Press or Getty Images. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Associated Press and Getty Images is strictly prohibited.
