Running game has to click for Bears' offense to succeed

Q. How important is it for the Bears to re-establish themselves as a running team, which they've gotten away from in recent weeks?

A. It's always going to be the most important aspect to influence defenses, to Kyle Orton's development and to the continued development of Devin Hester. All of that stems from the running game. If you have no running game, and it's just a one-man show, you're taking the pressure that should be divided among 11 and putting it on one, and that would be on Kyle Orton to be the sole mover of this offense.

The running game has to work. The last Detroit game, 34 carries, 2.9-yard average; it's not good enough. If you want to be able to get a lead and control it at the end of the game, then you better be able to run the ball when they know you're going to run it. If you cannot run the ball when they know that's what you're going to do, then you're really not a great running team.

As the second half of the season goes on, it's going to be more mentally demanding on Matt Forte because this will be a longer season than he's never experienced. It's going to take a toll on him, and you want to have Kevin Jones and Adrian Peterson and Garrett Wolfe ready. You better be able to successfully run the ball down the stretch, in inclement weather against some of these teams coming up, or else you're not going to be able to defeat them.

Q. Do you anticipate better play from the defense, and if so, why?

A. I do. You would hope that as the defensive backs get healthy, that it creates a different timing in the opponents' offense, whether it's because of tighter coverages or more qualified athletes on the field.

I see them going out there and performing better statistically. Are they going to become the Doomsday Defense or the Steel Curtain or the Purple People Eaters? That's in the future. But as long as they play better against Detroit than they played the against them the first game, that's going to be an accomplishment.

Q. If you're the coach, does Nate Vasher have to win his job back or does he get it back simply because it was an injury that took him out of the lineup?

A. He's got to earn playing opportunities. But I'm not going to keep him off the field and out of the mix. There are a lot of defensive personnel configurations where Nate is going to have to be on the field. He deserves to be on the field, but so does Corey Graham. If Nate is going out there and mentally he's less than 100 percent, then I want a player who believes he's 100 percent. Charles Tillman may not be 100 percent, but if he believes he's 100 percent, then I want him on the field. Some of the back-and-forth thinking that Nate has had the last few weeks is because he doesn't believe he's 100 percent.

Q. Why haven't the Bears been able to get a consistent pass rush?

A. When you look at the pace of three-step drops and even five-step drops, if the ball is coming out quickly it's very difficult for the defensive ends to get to the quarterback.

When you go back and look at big sack numbers, you're usually talking about quarterbacks taking seven-step drops and a talented defensive end would beat a tackle and chase down the quarterback. Nowadays, because of the pace and the timing of a three-step drop against a Cover-2 defense, the chance for a huge number of sacks is just not there. Look at deflected passes, passes broken up and pressure on the quarterback. Those are the contributions that you would like to see.

Tom Thayer answers key questions each week from Daily Herald sports writer Bob LeGere. Thayer's analysis can also be heard during each Bears broadcast on WBBM 780-AM.