Five Top Bear Plays of '08 and How to Tweak 'Em for '09

(Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

4-3: Tampa 2

The Chicago Bears run the majority of their defensive plays out of the Cover 2/Tampa 2 formation given their recent history of an alert defense secondary, which is a necessity whenever a franchise decides Cover 2 is their official weapon of choice.

The scheme the mighty Bears employee relies on the tenacity of not only the safeties, but also corners Nathan Vasher and (especially) Charles “Peanut” Tillman’s outstanding ability to create takeaways.

With certainty in the glory years of the mid-2000s, the Bears were typically forcing turnovers en route to Super Bowl XLI.

The Bears have always been a franchise dependent on their defense, and this current group is no different than tradition dictates; their success is riding on how vicious this year's players will react out of the Cover 2.

Chicago runs their Cover 2 out of a 4-3 due to the quickness of Bear legend Brian Urlacher, who covers a lot of ground in the backfield resulting in its success.

However, Urlacher has been showing signs of age in recent years.

Converting Lance Briggs from Sam (strong-side linebacker) to Mike (middle) is not an option because he’s so valuable outside. Free-agency and the draft are the only ways we will find a future Mike linebacker for Chi-town.

Flawless tackling and a strong sense of staying home to protect your gap are the ways to run an ideal Cover 2. In 2006, when the Bears were tops in the NFC, week after week (with notable exceptions) they executed with discipline the superior turnover ratio a sufficient Cover 2 requires.

In this zone formation, the middle linebacker is more times than not dropped back into coverage since he has such a liberal amount of field to patrol. Urlacher is one of the best linebackers to defend the pass in NFL history; his inevitable decline will necessitate a replacement that’s comfortable in the secondary.

Offset I, two tight end set: Pass

The Bears had one wide receiver with more than 50 catches in 2008 (Devin Hester had 51). Needless to say they lacked a No.1 and No. 2 threat at wide out like Al Bundy lacked money.

Outside the developing Hester, a mediocre cast of wide-outs clogged the depth chart leaving coordinator Ron Turner with an obvious alternative: Get the most out of pro bowler quality tight ends Desmond Clark and Greg Olsen.

Finding Clark and especially Olsen down the field was something Kyle Orton was simply a beast at doing all season. Jay Cutler will be able to buy a lot more time than Orton did with his legs and has the luxury to check-down to not only Olsen and Clark, but FB Jason McKie as well.

McKie’s stellar hands were so valuable in 2008—his late season quad injury all but crushed the Bears playoff hopes. Having McKie available as a fourth or fifth option for Culter should keep the Bears coming out in passing situations in the I, as opposed to the no fullback Ace.

Olsen, a 2007 first round pick, fits this formation like a cold beer in the hands of Archie Bunker. His speed, height, and dominant hand-eye-coordination mark the ideal mold of a receiving-first tight end, something the two tight end set thrives on.

Although Clark is a skilled receiver, he will ease into a role as more of a blocking tight end in 2009, allowing Olsen to blossom out of the double tight end set. Expect Olsen to be lined up in the slot again as Chicago continues to struggle for production out of its wide receiving corp.

Matt Forte’s success has opened up the passing attack out of this formation. Cutler will be able to bootleg out of the offset I just in time to hit a sprinting receiver in stride (pending the protection of an aging offense line).

Single set: Draw

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