By Eric Emery
The Bears have finally figured out the offensive formula that works for them: Keeping it simple. Brian Griese is too complicated to be the Bears’ quarterback; he’s a thinker, and he knows the entire playbook. Rex Grossman knows how to win with one quick strike and go home. One-dimensional is the name of the game. Just look at Cedric Benson. I think the Bears like how he just runs into the line and falls down. Don’t get too fancy. Let the defense do its thing.
And can everyone get off Brian Urlacher’s case? One-word answers suit him. Stop filling his head with complete sentences. Simple, people. Keep it simple. That’s the Bears way.
Of course, Devin Hester is the exception, but the Bears are working really hard to get him to the Pro Bowl as Starting Decoy. He’ll pick it up soon enough.
Here are some other examples of the Bears simple ways.
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Complicated: Bill Belichick’s sophisticated video spying system.
Simple: Bears advance scouting newspaper-reading sessions.
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Complicated: Bill Walsh’s West Coast Offense.
Simple: Ron Turner’s Midwest Athletic Conference Offense.
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Complicated: The Tampa 2 Cover Defense.
Simple: The Chicago 2 Uncovered Defense.
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Complicated: Randy Moss.
Simple: Bernard Berrian.
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Complicated: A Terrell Owens interview.
Simple: A Brian Urlacher interview.
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Complicated: The way the Patriots have bounced back from the 1986 Super Bowl.
Simple: The way the Bears haven’t bounced back from the 1986 Super Bowl.
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Of course, to every rule, there is an exception. Here is the Bears’:
Complicated for the Bears: The center-quarterback exchange.
Simple for everyone else: The center-quarterback exchange.
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Bears at Seahawks
Storyline: Last week, Seattle leaned on their average passing game to make up for their crappy running game. On the other hand, Chicago leaned on their punter and one big play to make up for their crappy running game.
Reality: On any given Sunday, one crappy team can beat another in today’s NFL.
Pick: Bears Plus 5.5 Points, Under 37.5 Points Scored.
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Sugar in the Blue and Orange Kool-Aid: 30%
Recommended Sugar in the Blue and Orange Kool-Aid: 20%
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For more Emery, see the Kool-Aid archive, and the Over/Under archive. Emery accepts comments from Bears fans reluctantly and everyone else tolerably.
Posted on November 16, 2007