Bears insider: Team must stop beating themselves
Q. Everyone has talked about the need for the Bears to go on a winning streak. What signs have you seen in the first half of the season, if any, that this team has the ability to make a run in the second half?
A. It has had the lead in all but one game, and that was the Week 8 loss to the Lions. Their point differential isn't horrendous, just a minus-37. That difference can easily be made up by forcing turnovers and making teams pay for their mistakes.
They've played six games without getting any points off turnovers, and they have just 13 points off turnovers for the season. Look what they did a year ago in that category.
They need those points, and they are capable of getting them. They have to become extremely aggressive early on both sides of the ball in order to get the lead.
The slow starts are killing momentum and messing with their blueprint to win.
Q. Specifically, what must happen for this team to get back into playoff contention?
A. Quite simply, stop beating themselves.
Quit giving the ball away. Stop dropping passes. Stay focused in critical situations. No more mental errors. Be assignment sure. Take the ball away when the opportunity presents itself.
And not just for one quarter or one half. It must be a consistent, four-quarter effort with the team's play-makers on both sides of the ball making big plays.
To this point, the Bears' playmakers have not consistently made them. And the coaching staff must keep putting those individuals in a position to make those big plays.
Q. What have been the biggest disappointments so far?
A. It's the failure to play even one complete game this season. It's been one half here, one half there.
The meltdowns defensively have been disturbing, like at Detroit and against the Vikings.
I thought going into the season there would be more big plays on offense -- in the passing game and the running game.
Q. No one likes to use injuries as an excuse, but how much of a factor have they been in the 3-5 start?
A. Injuries are always a factor. The Bears lost some real emotion and toughness on defense in San Diego when Mike Brown and Dusty Dvoracek went down in the season opener. Both play with an edge that spreads to the rest of the unit. They'll bark and bite, and that void has not been adequately filled.
Losing Nathan Vasher for the past five games at cornerback forced them into a series of personnel moves that shot the secondary chemistry, no question about it.
They're still trying to recover from that, and hopefully in the last eight games the entire defensive unit gets its stinger back.
Q. Before the season ends, especially if they fall out of playoff contention, do the Bears need to see Kyle Orton in game situations to determine his future in Chicago?
A. We're getting ahead of ourselves because there's a lot of season left. If they fall out of playoff contention, you could expect to see a number of young players. That happens on most teams.
Orton recommitted himself during Super Bowl week in Miami and used it as his launching point for 2007. He would be ready if called upon.
Q. What do you expect the Bears' quarterback situation to look like next year when training camp starts?
A. Now we're getting way, way, way ahead of ourselves.
I think it's safe to say, no one has any idea. The position demands attention, and it always will.
I'm in favor of collecting quarterbacks every year. I think it's always a need position because there are not enough starting-caliber quarterbacks to fill 32 jobs, and certainly not 96 for a three-deep rotation.
Of course, that's assuming teams carry three. Some are carrying two. Heck, the Raiders are carrying four right now.
Q. Prioritize the needs that must be addressed in the off-season:
A. It's too early, but are you re-signing Lanced Briggs and Bernard Berrian? That needs to be answered.
The safety position needs to be stabilized, and I'm in favor of bringing back Mike Brown no matter how many times he's been injured.
Getting a young offensive tackle will no doubt be a priority.