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Buddy Ryan and Jim Johnson are two of the more blitz-happy defensive coordinators of the past 20 years.
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| Ron Rivera and the Bears have a bigger challenge this week -- Peyton Manning and the Colts.(Getty Images) |
"You have to bring the pressure to find ways to slow these teams down," Rivera said. "We believe in speed and getting after the quarterback."
In his first year as an NFL coordinator, Rivera's defense is the main reason Chicago is a surprise team sitting at 4-5, one game out of first place in the NFC North. Chicago has won three in a row behind its defense that won last Sunday's game against Tennessee by forcing a safety in overtime.
But just when they can start feeling good about what they're doing, the NFL, as usual, finds a way to humble you.
Here come the Indianapolis Colts.
"Oh boy," Rivera said. "Man, are they good."
The Colts lead the league in scoring offense at 33.1 points per game, with Peyton Manning throwing 31 touchdown passes. The Bears defense is ranked ninth in scoring defense at 17.7 per game and is carrying the team.
The offense, which lost quarterback Rex Grossman for the year in the second week, has been terrible. Rookie Craig Krenzel is 3-0, but he has completed 18 passes the past two weeks -- combined.
Last week against the Titans, the defense not only got the safety but scored another touchdown. The Bears also got a punt return for a score. The defense forced four turnovers, giving it nine in the last two weeks.
The Bears also have had 11 sacks the past two games, giving them 24 after getting just 18 all in 2003 under the previous coaching staff.
Blitzing makes that happen, which is why it's a favorite defensive style of this space. Rivera learned it well playing linebacker under Ryan, whose 1985 Bears attack defense is generally regarded as one of the two or three best of all time. It's certainly the best blitzing defense ever.
As a linebacker coach under Johnson, Rivera learned more about the attack mode. Johnson is an innovative blitz coach who will bring players from all positions from all angles at all times.
Opponents are converting only 28.2 percent on third down against the Bears, best in the league. That's an amazing number when you consider the Bears are ranked 20th in run defense, and it's a tribute to their ability to get after the quarterback.
"Pressure is definitely the key to getting off the field," Rivera said.
Under coach Lovie Smith, a former defensive coordinator for the Rams, Rivera has his defense playing more one-gap up front than they did under Dick Jauron, which helps the pass rush.
"They just get up the field and attack the gaps," Rivera said.
Twelve different players have accounted for at least a half sack, with end Alex Brown leading with 5½. Brown has emerged as a force of the right end spot, his speed creating problems for opposing passers.
The rest of the line has also played well. End Adewale Ogunleye and rookie tackle Tommie Harris each have 3½ sacks, while backup end Michael Haynes scored a touchdown off an interception last week. Tackles Ian Scott and Tank Johnson are also making big plays. All are quick and fast for their positions.
"Speed is a high priority for this defense," Rivera said.
That's why the loss of middle linebacker Brian Urlacher will sting. Urlacher is out for an extended period with a calf injury. He was playing well, running and tackling and registering 3½ sacks.
But this defense is about the front, and the blitz. Expect Rivera to do a good job compensating for the loss of Urlacher.
But does it have to come against the Colts?
"You have to play your defense and read your keys against them," Rivera said. "We played them when I was in Philadelphia and I thought we had a good plan against them. But Peyton and Tom Moore had a great day against us. It's definitely a challenge, a big one."
Blitzing Manning is dangerous. The Packers tried it earlier this year, and he lit them up for four touchdown passes in the first half. He has an uncanny knack for finding the open receiver.
Does Rivera tell the hounds to back off? It's unlikely, because attacking is what they do.
Would Buddy Ryan back off Peyton Manning? Not a chance. So don't expect Rivera to either. But do expect one thing: If his defense continues to show this kind of improvement over the next year or so, Ron Rivera could soon be following the same path Ryan did: from Chicago defensive coordinator to NFL head coach.
Insider notes
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What should the Seattle Seahawks do about the future concerning
quarterback Matt Hasselbeck? His contract expires after this
season, and he can become an unrestricted free agent. There had been
some talk the Seahawks would work out a long-term deal before the
season, but that never happened. With the way Hasselbeck is going,
might they be willing to let him walk away? That could be a decision
made by another coach. Mike Holmgren hand-picked Hasselbeck,
but the feeling around the league is if Holmgren doesn't get Seattle
to the playoffs, he could be gone. While Holmgren no longer has say
over personnel decisions, his input would be a factor. A new coach
might want his own quarterback, and it's not like Hasselbeck is
lighting it up. After a fast start, he has become rather ordinary.
After throwing six touchdown passes and two interceptions in the first
four games, Hasselbeck has thrown five touchdown passes and eight
interceptions in the past five.
For the year, he's completing 54.4 percent of his passes, compared to 61.0 last year. His passer rating is down from 88.8 last season to 73.9. If he doesn't pick up his play in the final seven games, the Seahawks may be forced to look elsewhere next year for a starter -- at least if Hasselbeck is looking for a big-money deal. Remember, Seattle also has Shaun Alexander, the NFL's rushing leader, set to become an unrestricted free agent. The Seahawks have some tough decisions to make. Word is the coaches and players aren't exactly sold on Alexander, who they consider a bit soft. Alexander is rumored to be a target for the Dolphins. But they have cap issues next year, and they also might have a new general manager to go with a new coach. So any link of Alexander to Miami is simply speculation.
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The conspiracy theorists around the league are trying to imply the
Colts are not throwing as much to Marvin Harrison for contract
reasons. Harrison is set to become an unrestricted free agent after
the season and is looking for a break-the-bank contract that would
make him the highest-paid receiver. Word is he's looking for
signing-bonus money in the $25 million range. Good luck. The Colts
will not give him that, nor should they. He'll be 33 when the 2005
season starts, and while he is still one of the game's best, how much
longer can he go? Harrison has 47 catches for 588 yards and seven
touchdowns. That puts him on pace for 84 catches, which would be his
lowest since he caught 59 in 1998, Manning's rookie year. Harrison's
12.5 yards-per-catch average is also lower than his career average of
13.2.
Harrison grumbled publicly a few weeks back that he wasn't getting enough balls thrown his way. That public gripe is something he does far more often in private than people know. Harrison's numbers are off slightly because Brandon Stokley, Dallas Clark and Reggie Wayne are having good years. That means the ball is getting spread around. Harrison had two catches for 22 yards last week against the Texans. The Colts were throwing the ball late, which angered the Texans, and there is some thought that they were doing so to get Harrison the ball. That's probably not true, but the Colts might be facing a tougher decision on bringing him back for a mega-deal than they thought at the start of the season.
- Titans quarterback Steve McNair expects to play Sunday against Jacksonville, the first time he will start in a month because of a bruised sternum. McNair is still the lifeblood of this Tennessee team, but the Titans face a major hurdle in 2006 when his contract calls for him to make $50 million, which is obviously not going to happen. So to keep McNair, the Titans will have to give him a new contract. "I hope so," he said. "But if not then so be it. But that's my goal, my goal coming in 1995 was to spend my career with one team and get this team to the Super Bowl and that's still my goal. That's up to the front office. If they want to trade me or do whatever they want to do, I can't control that. But I want to be Titan for life." Creativity with a contract will be key to seeing if that becomes a reality. That dummy-money $50 million won't ever be a reality.
- The NFL leaders in receiving yards are making a strong statement about older receivers. Of the top five, four are 30 or older, including the leader in the NFC (Terrell Owens) and the AFC (Jimmy Smith). Philadelphia's Owens, who is 30, leads the league with 884 receiving yards. Smith, 36, has 812 for the Jaguars. Green Bay's Javon Walker is third, but he's a pup at 26. Isaac Bruce (fourth) and Joe Horn (fifth) are both 32. Smith, who turns 36 in February, also leads the league in catches of 20 yards or more with 14.
- OK, nobody would ever think I was a prude, so what I'm about to say shouldn't be a big surprise. But what the heck is the fuss all about regarding the Owens-Nicollette Sheridan skit to open Monday Night Football? Daytime soaps have far more risqué material than that skit, and there are many more kids tuned in at that time of day, home from school with their parents away working. The other thing about the NFL's reaction is how the league easily forgets how much money the networks take in from Viagra and other male-enhancing products during NFL games. Admit it, you all know the ad where the guy grows horns as he looks at a mannequin in bra and panties. Try explaining that one to a 10-year-old kid. So if the Owens skit goes too far, so do the male-enhancement ads. The NFL and the networks can't have it both ways.
- The Chiefs are not happy with the play of safeties Greg Wesley and Jerome Woods. But what did they expect when they extended the contracts of both players last year? Neither played well in 2003, tackling poorly and struggling in coverage, but the Chiefs decided to bring both back at long-term deals instead of spending money to upgrade the defense at other spots, such as defensive end. Sometimes teams get themselves in trouble with loyalty to their own players.
- The Steelers defense tops the NFL and one of the big reasons the play of safety Troy Polamalu. In his second season out of USC, Polamalu has become a force against the run, but what's surprising to some is how much he has improved as a cover player. He has four interceptions. "He's playing at a Pro Bowl level," said one AFC personnel director.
- Any team looking for a Sean Taylor with a good attitude in next year's draft should study the Georgia Bulldogs. Safety Thomas Davis is one of the best players I've seen all year. The guy is all over the field, and when his team is losing, he still plays hard. Taylor is a star in the making for the Washington Redskins at safety -- if his off-field problems aren't an issue -- but Davis is in that same class. A former linebacker, he hits like it, but he can run.
- There are rumblings in Jacksonville that offensive coordinator Bill Musgrave could be fired after the season. Don't believe it. Coach Jack Del Rio still is a big supporter of Musgrave, plus quarterback Byron Leftwich is close to him. The two spent a lot of time together in the offseason and developed a fondness for each other. Quarterbacks don't keep coaches, but Musgrave isn't going anywhere, even if the fans want him out.
- Last week in our midseason review we named Warren Sapp the worst free-agent signing of the offseason. That hasn't really changed, but one name that should have been in contention is Dallas defensive end Marcellus Wiley. As one personnel director noted, "he hasn't done a thing." Wiley does not have a sack after being counted on to provide outside pressure. Wiley is certainly right up there with Sapp.
