What are Jerry Angelo's priorities for '08 season? Fixing defense, run

After the Bears finished a disappointing 7-9, general manager Jerry Angelo said Thursday what bothered him the most about the season was the precipitous drop-off in a defense that plummeted from No. 5 a year ago to No. 28 -- as well as the team's inability to run the football.

"We have to play good defense, that's first and foremost," Angelo said. "What's good defense here in Chicago? Good defense is takeaways, not giving up big plays, playing aggressive with top effort."

None of that happened in 2007 -- until it was too late.

The Bears intercepted a league-low 7 passes in the first 11 games. Even with 9 picks in the final five games, the team finished with 8 fewer interceptions than a year ago.

"Unfortunately we weren't able to get those takeaways, and we gave up far too many big plays on defense," Angelo said. "That pretty much spells the inconsistency that we did have with defense."

More Coverage Audio Bears' GM on 2007 season

Like coach Lovie Smith three days earlier, Angelo cited defensive improvement in the final two games as a source for optimism, but those modest accomplishments didn't make up for earlier failings.

And even in the season-ending win over the New Orleans Saints, the Bears allowed 415 yards of total offense, the sixth time this season they gave up more than 400. That happened just once in 2006.

"We got gashed in the running game," Angelo said. "Our defense isn't really, in my opinion, set up to be a run-stuffing defense. But those things definitely got our attention, got my attention. We have our work cut out for us in the off-season."

Opponents had 53 runs of 10 yards or more, compared to 26 by the Bears' offense.

The Bears' offense had its troubles, finishing No. 27 in total yards and No. 30 in rushing yards. Despite the spark provided by rookie tight end Greg Olsen, a 920-yards receiving season from Bernard Berrian and the big-play factor of Devin Hester, the offense sputtered as the running game failed.

A muddled picture at quarterback is another off-season concern.

"I think we have a good nucleus of offensive players," Angelo said. "We have good possession receivers, we have good slot receivers, we have speed receivers. Where we did not perform well was in our running game. We weren't able to get the big plays out of the running backs. That does affect an offense like ours.

"We have to run the football. After we establish the run, we have to get our big plays with our play-action passing game, and we can't turn the ball over, it's that simple. Unfortunately we weren't able to do that."

Two of Angelo's first-round draft picks -- running back Cedric Benson and quarterback Rex Grossman -- will have to compete for starting jobs next season.

In Grossman's case, the Bears will first have to decide if they want to re-sign the unrestricted free agent. Benson, coming off a fractured ankle, will have to win the feature role in training camp, in competition with either from Adrian Peterson, a free-agent addition or a draft choice.

"I'd like to think he could still be a feature back," Angelo said of Benson. "But there's going to be competition at that position. If something were to arise and there's a good back in the marketplace and/or in the draft, we're going to look at that.

"He started to turn the corner. Unfortunately, he got an injury, and we didn't see what we needed to see or what we feel we were going to see with him."

Benson and Peterson finished with the same subpar 3.4-yard average per carry, contributing to a league-worst team average of 3.1.

"We weren't able to generate any big plays with the running game," Angelo said. "If you have a feature back, he's got to make two or three runs over 20 yards. We weren't able to get that."

Benson didn't have a run longer than 16 yards until his 10th game. Peterson didn't have a run longer than 11 yards until his 15th game. The Bears had one run all season of longer than 25 yards, while opponents had 11.

"Everything we did, we had to grind it out, and that's very tough to do," Angelo said.

Angelo said he wants Grossman back to try to make those plays downfield off play-action passes, but even if the Bears re-sign their 2003 first-rounder, he won't be guaranteed anything more than the chance to compete for the starting job.

"We've got to get the position stabilized," Angelo said. "We would like to have Rex back in the mix. Rex showed some good play, particularly when he was coming back off his little sabbatical (benching)."

Grossman has said he just wants an opportunity to compete for the No. 1 spot, and that's all the Bears will be offering. Angelo was asked if a re-signed Grossman would return as the starter or as a competitor for the top job.

"Without sitting and talking with the coaches, off the top of my head," Angelo said, "it's got to be competition."

But none of the skill positions will have an opportunity to show much improvement without major renovation of an offensive line that has gone from experienced to ancient and from cohesive to decrepit in a year.

An offense that constantly struggled was further hamstrung by false-start penalties, lack of running room and faulty pass protection.

"I'm sure that it contributed to the offensive woes," Angelo said. "The false-start penalties were very disappointing, particularly when you have a veteran bunch. I'm sure (offensive line) coach (Harry) Hiestand and (offensive coordinator Ron) Turner are going to look at that.

"We shot ourselves enough in the foot in a lot of areas to lead us to the season that we had, and we have to definitely get those things corrected. That's beating yourself, and we can't do that."