The Chicago Bears defense has caught a lot of flak this year for not being what many feel it should be. A dominant unit that holds any opponent they play in check. Already they’ve surrendered 23 points or more twice and have looked disturbingly weak against the run. Then again some feel it’s far too easy to nitpick on them because the offense continues to be a massive disappointment. Former Bears linebacker Lance Briggs isn’t letting them off the hook though.
The seven-time Pro Bowler has watched this unit play for a long time now and he sees one trend that concerns him. Not so much the talent or execution. It’s more a matter of effort. Too many times in his estimation has the Bears defense lacked proper energy during a game. Not nearly enough guys going to the football.
Something he saw a lot of from the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday. Why is that? Briggs seemed to point the finger of blame at defensive coordinator Chuck Pagano on the NBC Sports Postgame show.
“It’s gotta be coached. One of the issues now– and I have watched a lot of other games in the NFL– is effort. Obviously tackling comes into play, because there are a lot of guys bumping the ball carriers, and the ball carriers are bumping off of them and running 60 more yards. But the effort, there’s such a lack of effort. That’s why it was great to see this Colts defense fly around. I love watching our Bears defense every week. Like I said, our Bears defense you’re going to see four, five guys around the ball. But, it’s such a difference, (the Colts) have nine, sometimes 11 guys around the ball.”
Lance Briggs isn’t wrong in his assessment
Is Briggs being a little unfair? Perhaps. Then again his defenses back in the 2000s dealt with bad offenses all the time too. That didn’t stop him, Brian Urlacher, Charles Tillman, and the rest of the defense from showing proper effort and execution to make plays. Urlacher said he never accepted the offense’s play as an excuse for the defense not doing its job.
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Too many times this latest incarnation has looked deflated and uninspired during games. While it’s easy to understand why, that doesn’t excuse them. Those men are paid way too much money to accept their lack of interest at times. Pagano has done a decent job keeping this unit effective after the departure of Vic Fangio. However, his inability to give it more of an attacking mentality remains a nagging concern.
Then again, considering this defense has played with a lead for less than a third of this season so far? It’s hard to be aggressive.