Bears Blitz

Published by Matthew Smith on August 22, 2012
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Chicago Bears

2012 NFL preseason games for the Chicago Bears have never been more important than they are this year.  The third week of the NFL preseason takes on added importance for the Bears as they prepare to face the New York Giants Friday evening in MetLife Stadium.

The reason is simple, and it is not just because the starters typically play into the third quarter.  It has added importance because it will give Bears fans their best indicator of whether or not new offensive coordinator Mike Tice has an offense in place that can close out drives, convert third downs and compensate for the weaknesses on the offensive line.

Last year against the Tennessee Titans, a game the Bears lost 14-13, quarterback Jay Cutler completed 13 passes for 170 yards as the offense piled up 416 total yards.  He threw an interception on the first drive, however, and the first team offense could only manage a three-yard Matt Forte touchdown.

Mike Martz’s offense simply could not finish drives and convert on third down. 

Last year in week two of the NFL preseason, the Bears failed to convert any of their third down opportunities with the starters in.  Ouch.  Guess who the opponent was?  The New York Giants.

John “Moon” Muillin wrote for CSNChicago.com that the focus should not be on the offensive line this week, but everyone else.  To that effect, Mullin wrote that the pressure “is on Cutler, Mike Tice and passing-game director Jeremy Bates,” not the O-line.

He summed up his argument by writing that “the adjustments of Cutler along with the fundamentals installed by Tice and Bates will be up for examination every bit as much as any of the blocking in front of Cutler.”

Great point Moon.

Adjusting was something that Martz could never seem to figure out.  Head coach Lovie Smith always seemed to be the one who issued the ultimatum.

Tice, for as much control as he has given Cutler and Bates, is responsible for showing Bears fans that he is not Martz and that all of the offensive weapons he has at his disposal will not be wasted on bad play-calling and an ineffective game plan for third downs.

Chicagoans will see if the offensive performance against the Washington Redskins in week two of the NFL preseason was a precursor of things to come, or an anomaly which the defensive line of the Giants will quickly expose.

This season is not on the O-line, it is on Tice, Cutler and Bates.

For fans, it starts Friday.

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