Despite lots of doubters, Bears' Adams brings A-game

It seems as if the Bears have been looking to find an upgrade for Anthony Adams at nose tackle ever since they signed him as an unrestricted free agent before the 2007 season.

But he always winds up outplaying whoever it is that's supposed to be a better talent. Every year Adams comes in having to prove himself, but to him that's just part of the deal.

"That's basically what you have to do every year in this job," Adams said. "But I must be doing something right, this is Year Eight for me, but you can't really get too comfortable. You've got to keep grinding."

Maybe the Bears have finally learned their lesson. The 6-foot, 310-pound Adams has been getting the bulk of the first-team snaps at nose tackle, and he's showing no signs of relinquishing the spot.

"Anthony Adams had a good year last year, and he's trying to build off that right now," Bears defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli said. "He's got rare rush ability for a nose. He's very good. He's very, very consistent."

The squatty Adams doesn't look like much of a pass rusher. He's built for doing what successful nose tackles do: tying up blockers and stopping the run.

While he gets overlooked, his work this season will help make success possible for Pro Bowlers Julius Peppers and Tommie Harris.

It took some time, however, for his own team to realize his importance.

The Bears used a third-round pick on nose tackle Dusty Dvoracek in the 2006 draft, but injuries and inconsistency prevented him from ever fulfilling his potential, and now he's out of football while Adams keeps rolling along.

Even though he started just half the games in 2007, his first season with the Bears, Adams had 49 tackles, the most of any Bears interior lineman.

Dvoracek was handed the starting job that season, but he suffered yet another season-ending injury in the season opener. Darwin Walker, one of the biggest free-agent busts in Bears history, got a shot at the job before Adams solidified the position until an elbow injury sidelined him for the final four games.

In 2008, the Bears used another third-round pick on a defensive tackle, Marcus Harrison, and they again gave the job to Dvoracek, who lasted 12 games until a torn triceps ended his season. Despite starting only the final four games, Adams had 16 solo tackles, the same number as Dvoracek.

Last season, Adams and Harrison split the position with eight starts apiece, but Adams had 42 tackles to Harrison's 27. Adams tied for third on the Bears with 7 tackles for loss, while Harrison had 1.

Adams, a second-round pick of the 49ers in 2003, has earned a starting spot, but he's not obsessing over who starts since the Bears' system of rotating defensive linemen allows the backups to play as much as the starters. For him, there are more important things.

"I've never been to the playoffs, my whole career, so I want to get to the playoffs and the Super Bowl," Adams said. "So however we get there, I'm not going to complain about anything. I'm just going to be who I am as a player and as a man and just try to contribute to the team.

"It really doesn't matter. I would like to (start), but coaches coach and players play. I just try to keep everything simple for me. Just like nose, I got the 'A' gap. Just try to keep it simple. Keep it simple stupid. That's my motto."

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