Bears could use more production out of Muhammad

Muhsin Muhammad, who has 2 catches for 15 yards this season, was asked if it was difficult for a go-to wide receiver not to be getting the ball more frequently.

"I guess I'm not the go-to guy," said Muhammad, who, in the past, has considered himself in that class. "You guys can stop calling me that right now."

Bernard Berrian leads the team with 10 catches and 148 yards, but he's the only wideout on the team with more than 20 receiving yards or 3 catches.

Last season the 26-year-old Berrian put up similar numbers to the 34-year-old Muhammad, catching 51 passes to Moose's 60 and gaining 775 yards, just 88 less than the former Pro Bowler. This year, it appears Berrian has moved past Muhammad into the "go-to" role.

"I think Bernard has played real well," said quarterback Rex Grossman. "But we also need to emphasize getting Moose the ball to make things happen."

Muhammad was not known for holding his tongue when he wasn't getting the ball enough during his nine years with the Carolina Panthers, but he has yet to complain about his current lack of involvement.

"I've been out there working hard in the games and for whatever reason it just ain't bouncing my way right now," he said. "When my plays are getting called -- and there are some plays being called -- it's like the perfect coverage to take it away every single time or just sacks or things like that."

But Muhammad also said: "For whatever reason, the calls ain't coming my way right now. The balls ain't coming my way right now. The best thing I can say to that is I'm going to keep working, and I'm ready to make some plays. I've got to stay patient. Eventually those things that have been taken away will start coming open, and I'm going to start making some plays.

"Bernard is getting 1-on-1 coverage. Hopefully they'll start double-teaming Bernard so I can get some balls," Muhammad said with a laugh.

After two weeks, there's not much amusing about a Bears offense that is No. 29 in passing yards, No. 30 in total yards and average gain per pass play and tied for 28th in scoring. Getting the ball to Muhammad seems as if it would help, since he's averaged 64 catches and 851 yards over the past 11 seasons.

Muhammad had an opportunity for a second catch last week, one that would have picked up a good chunk of yardage, but he dropped a slightly underthrown -- but catchable -- Grossman pass.

The former second-round pick has also been held out of practice one day in each of the first two weeks with an ankle injury, but coach Lovie Smith said Muhammad's been healthy on game day and the 6-foot-2, 215-pound receiver hasn't mentioned the injury or noticed any drop-off in his performance.

"I'm probably the most critical person on myself, and I can't really say that it's anything that I've done to take myself out of the game," he said. "It's not that I've been covered by one person or something like that.

"But if I've got an 'in' route, and there's a linebacker right up underneath me and there's a safety on top of me, the best thing to do is to check it down to the running back. You have to commend the quarterback for saying, 'I'm not going to force that ball in there. I'm going to check it down to the running back and we're going to get as much as we can.' "

Still, Grossman says more of an effort needs to be made to involve Muhammad, although the Bears also have to adhere to their game plan and offensive philosophy.

"From my point of view, I just need to go his way a little more," Grossman said. "I need to get him the ball early in the game if I have an option between the two, so that he gets into a rhythm, just get the ball in his hands so he can make things happen. (But) I'm not going to pay too much attention to it because I'm going to run the offense and go where the defense takes me to go with the football."

Offensive coordinator Ron Turner isn't pleased with Muhammad's numbers, but it's the overall production of the offense that has him most concerned.

"Obviously we need to get Moose more involved; he's a heck of a player," Turner said. "But we've got to get everyone involved. We've got to run our offense. We have to take care of the football and convert better on third down. If we start doing just those two things like we're capable, everything else will take care of itself."