Stretch field with TE and run game could explode

The best thing that happened for the Bears' running game last week was a pass to tight end Greg Olsen.

Before we get into that, let me point out that complaining the Bears don't run well enough is like complaining that an alcoholic isn't getting enough booze.

The Bears are recovering running addicts now that they have Jay Cutler at quarterback. They can pass the ball but it's one day at a time as the ground game attempts to transition into operating in moderation.

Seriously, how long have we groaned about the Bears' preference being to get off the bus running?

Probably since the Bears allegedly thrilled the nation with the T-formation? Since Red Grange through Walter Payton fit the Monsters of the Midway mentality to a T? Since Papa Bear drove a Model-T?

Ironic, then, that the Bears weren't able to shake the ground with Matt Forte or anybody else during the first two weeks of this season.

The Bears do have to be able to ground it out some despite having Cutler. That's especially true today at Seattle when they face a defense that yields more big runs than the Cubs and White Sox bullpens combined.

The Bears have to be able to run against Seattle and anybody else. That's why that one pass to Olsen was encouraging.

A wise NFL general manager once sat me down and diagramed that to run the ball a team must be able to throw it deep down the middle.

Now, I'm Xs and Os challenged but even I understood that if the defense knows the offense can complete something deep middle, the safeties can't cheat toward the line of scrimmage.

(Man, do I ever feel hairy macho speaking football like I know what eight in the box means.)

Anyway, the hope has to be that the one pass over the top to Olsen helps start to lift the Bears' running game over the top this season.

So far even Bears wide receivers have been more prominent flashing down the sideline, so a tight end going up center stage is huge.

Olsen's play came in the fourth quarter against the Steelers. The stats sheet described it this way: "J. Cutler pass deep middle to G. Olsen to PIT 23 for 29 yards."

Olsen said later, "We've been working on it all off-season. We hadn't broken it out yet."

Why not? The projection when Olsen was drafted in 2007 to be the rare great Bears tight end was that he had the speed to be that kind of longball threat.

It was easy to envision Olsen in the mold of Tony Gonzalez - you know, as much wide receiver as tight end to keep safeties honest.

Olsen disagreed last week when it was suggested that the Bears hadn't used him much as a deep threat.

Yet, it sure seems Olsen mostly has caught short little dinks to the outside in the hope he'll provide yards after the catch.

Ah, but then there was that 29-yarder that hopefully for the Bears' sake wasn't an aberration.

If they can repeat that pass play today to keep Seattle's safeties from cheating, it should help prevent their running game from becoming a running joke.

mimrem@dailyherald.com