Bears have that run-down feeling
Maybe because he has played so well this season, defensive end Adewale Ogunleye can be brutally honest in his assessment of the Bears' weak run defense, which will be put to the test tonight by the Washington Redskins' Clinton Portis.
"He's lightning quick with his feet. He's a great runner," Ogunleye said. "It's going to be a big challenge. He's arguably one of the top three backs we're going to face all year, and we've let a lot of backs run on us, (backs) with a lot less talent than him.
"So we've got to really be on our 'A' game. We've got to be in our gaps, everybody, all 11 guys are going to have to play well."
The Bears' defense is 27th in rushing yards allowed and 28th in average gain allowed per rushing play. Rarely has its 'A' game been on display this season.
Four days ago, the New York Giants' Derrick Ward pummeled the Bears for 154 yards on 24 carries (6.4-yard average), including 110 yards in the first half.
"On the defensive side of the football, they hurt us with the run," Bears coach Lovie Smith said. "It seems like we've talked about that quite a bit. Whether it's missed tackles, just not getting off the blocks, getting out of our gaps -- it was a combination of all of those things.
"We have to be able to play the run a little bit better or teams will continue to do that against us."
A week earlier, Denver Broncos third-stringer Andre Hall rushed for 98 yards on 26 carries. In the Bears' previous game, Seattle Seahawks backup Maurice Morris picked up 87 yards on just 18 carries.
None of them is comparable to Portis, who in three career games against the Bears has 457 rushing yards on 71 attempts for a 6.4-yard average.
"For them to be successful, he has to be successful running the ball," said Bears defensive coordinator Bob Babich. "Obviously it's a major point of ours to stop the run."
Portis' performance against a Bears defense missing sturdy nose tackle Anthony Adams (elbow) could be the key factor in the prime-time battle of 5-7 teams.
The Bears also have been gashed this season by the Detroit Lions' Kevin Jones for 105 yards on 23 carries; for 244 yards on 20 carries by the Minnesota Vikings' Adrian Peterson; and for 102 yards on just 15 carries by the Dallas Cowboys' Marion Barber.
All of those failures are interesting when one considers the impressive manner in which the Bears' run defense began the season, by holding the San Diego Chargers' LaDainian Tomlinson to 25 yards on 17 carries and the Kansas City Chiefs' Larry Johnson to 55 yards on 16 attempts.
"It's been a lot of stuff," Ogunleye said. "Guys missing tackles, guys busting plays, me included. All of us just have to make plays.
"Even if I make mistakes, Tommie (Harris) should have my back, or Tommie can say that I should have his back. Guys have been breaking down, and guys haven't been having each other's back. We're going to try to get back to that."
Last year the Bears were No. 6 in run defense, allowing 99.4 yards per game, 31 yards less per game than this year.
"It's just frustrating to see the run game be productive against us because it's a philosophy of ours that you've got to stop the run to be successful in our defense," Babich said. "To see the run game have success vs. us is just very disappointing."