Em-Bear-Assessment: Stating the Obvious

Another week, another Bears loss.

It’s becoming too routine, watching the Bears lose. After starting the season 1-0, they have lost 3 out of 4, the most recent a loss to the undefeated (yes, undefeated) Lions, in the first Monday Night Game since the previous millenium. Before continuing, let that sink in for a minute-the Lions had not been on Monday Night Football since before we were putting a 2 at the front of the year. Imagine if the Packers went that long between Monday Night appearances. Amazing.

After the Bears lost last night 24-13 Brian Urlacher, long time leader of the Bears had enough of the performance of the team so far this season, and had a few things to get off his chest.

Defensively we stink. We cant stop the run, we can’t stop the pass.

Pretty strong words coming from the defensive leader of the so called Monsters of the Midway. This deserves a closer look.

Through 5 games this season, the Bears, a team built around defense, are ranked a no so stellar 29th in overall defense, giving up a mere 419 yards per game. In comparison, the Packers somewhat maligned and often too criticized by know it all bloggers like yours truly are giving up 375 yards per game. Overall yards, smoverall yards, right? Sure, if you have an offense like the Packers do who can put up 30 points per game by simply showing up. When your offense is struggling to find an identity, which the Bears CLEARLY are doing right now, yards=points=fire Lovie chants. Not good for the defending NFC North champions and runners up in the NFC last year.

What has happened to the vaunted Bears defense? For starters, they simply do not have the playmakers. Urlacher cannot play forever, and at some point he is going to beginning to slow down. The defensive line is fair, the other line backers are fair, and the safety team of Brandon Meriweather and Major Wright may be the worst in the NFL. If not for Chris Harris’ return, would have the distinction of the worst safeties in the league. Having the worst at anything on defense is never good, especially when your team is designed to win with defense. Having average isn’t much better, and that’s what the Bears defense consists of right now: Urlacher, Julius Peppers, Lance Briggs, and a bunch of average to below average players.

More importantly, they cannot stop the run, something the Bears have been known for since they were shufflin’ to the Super Bowl back in 1985. So far this season, they are giving up 135.6 rushing yards per game. Repeat-135.6 yards per game. That is very unlike any Bears defense in recent memory, and upcoming opponents should be salivating at the chance to run into, and through, a defense which has more holes than the best Wisconsin Swiss. Combine that with 285 passing yards given up per game, and their defense is just not giving them any chance to stay in the game, forcing Jay Cutler and the offense to try and keep up, which just is not happening.

Good for the Packers, bad, really bad news, for the Bears. And to verify what Brian Urlacher said, yes, the Bears defense sucks right now.

The Bears have problems on defense to say the very least, and Urlacher calling out the defense for their play so far may just be the beginning. If their struggles continue, the bulls eye may be placed squarely on the backs of Lovie Smith, Defensive Coordinator Rod Marinelli, and GM Jerry Angelo. Come to think of it, didn’t two coaches get fired last year after playing the Packers and getting torched on defense? Why yes, yes they did.

Wouldn’t getting one of the above canned after playing the Packers on Christmas be the ultimate middle finger to the Bears?