Bears Blitz

Published by Bob Warja on October 14, 2009
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Chicago Bears

The Chicago Bears are in the midst of an identity crisis. They want to be a running team, yet their best offensive weapon is the QB.

We all know that the Bears have always stated that they “come off the bus running the football.” Traditional NFL thinking has it that you need to have a strong running game to set up your passing offense.

But is a so-called “balanced offensive attack” overrated if your team has a solid QB? That is a question I’ve been pondering since the Bears obtained Jay Cutler.

On one hand, seeing as we have yet to really get the running game on track and we sit at 3-1 on the season, I think that question may already be answered.

Yes, Matt Forte had 121 yards rushing against the Lions in week four. But he got the bulk of that yardage on two big runs. Take those away, and Forte ran for 23 yards on 10 carries, an average of 2.3 yards per carry.

Meanwhile, after a very rough start to the season, Jay Cutler has been very good.

So do the Bears really need to continue to think of themselves as a running team or is that thinking passé now? Should they instead focus on taking advantage of our offensive strength which, for the first time in a long time, is actually the QB position?

It’s an interesting question for a team whose long-term identity has been running the ball. Gale Sayers, Walter Payton, Neal Anderson, Thomas Jones, et al, move over. There’s a new sheriff in town.

But does that sheriff have a “mayor” that can take advantage of this strength? I still have my doubts about offensive coordinator Ron Turner. Does he know how to effectively “play” with his new toy or is this a cat without claws?

At times, it seems the Bears are still intent on forcing the rushing game to improve, as opposed to doing what they now do best, which is throwing the ball, despite lacking a true No. 1 receiver.

No question, a running game helps the passing game, and vice-versa. In an ideal world, a team has both operating on all cylinders. But is the long-standing belief that a balanced attack is necessary to win still as cut and dried anymore? Or, is the proliferation of good, young QBs in the league turning that into a wives tale?

It is a question worth pondering for the Bears, especially if Forte is indeed running on a bad knee.

“I don’t know if a lot of people know that Matt is playing with a bad knee, but he’s still out there playing hard and he still broke a couple runs today,” Olin Kreutz said.

Meanwhile, back to the Turner issue. The offense did put up 48 points in their last game. While it may seem absurd to criticize such an offensive outburst, remember that it was against a bad Detroit Lions football team. Plus, the Bears squandered several scoring opportunities despite having outstanding field position most of the game.

Maybe they should quit trying to prove they are a running team, and instead admit that the worm has turned. Could it be that the Bears are…ahem…a passing team now?

Well, wake the neighbors and phone the kids, Jay Cutler has come to town!

While Papa Bear Halas may be turning over in his grave with this news, it’s high time that Turner exploits his new-found success. Try throwing the ball deep a bit more. Let’s stretch that defense. After all, Cutler’s strong arm is also his strong suit, right?

Look, it’s not as if the Bears run blocking has been stellar either. All of which adds up to the conclusion that the Bears need to focus on passing the ball.

Even if it wakes the ghosts of Soldier Field, come to think of it.

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