WADDLE'S WORLD: Much praise after Bears' victory
Thankfully, Jay Cutler has better listening skills than my four children. Against the Pittsburgh Steelers, he did just as I asked, ditching the gunslinger approach for the more reliable game-manager mode.
The result was a potentially season-changing 17-14 win against the defending Super Bowl champs.
OK, maybe I’m taking a little more credit than I deserve for Cutler’s performance. And because I have no interest in becoming the football version of Dr. Phil, I will transition from giving advice to handing out praise.
If you’ve heard or read the football “noise” that has come from my mouth or pen the past four seasons, you know that I haven’t always been Bears coach Lovie Smith’s biggest fan.
Although I respect his body of work here in Chicago and I admire the support the players have shown him, I’ve criticized some of his game-day decisions and clock-management missteps. But I have nothing but love for Lovie Smith the defensive coordinator.
In two short weeks, the Bob Babich experience has become a distant memory. In Green Bay, Lovie dialed up the pressure and the Bears’ defense harassed Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers all game long.
The four sacks and repeated pounding of Rogers kept the Bears in the game despite Cutler’s four interceptions.
Last week, without their defensive leader, Smith and the Bears defense found a way to hold the Steelers to 14 points. A perfect product they are not, but it’s a welcome change from last season.
And how about an “attaboy” for new defensive line coach Rod Marinelli? Once considered the Bears’ top off-season acquisition, (before the Cutler deal, of course) Marinelli has been every bit as good as advertised.
Last year, Bears defensive linemen had 22 1/2 sacks. Through two weeks, they have four, not to mention the more inspired play from everyone on that D-line.
Yes, defensive tackle Tommie Harris has only two tackles in two games. But Marinelli is a coach, not a doctor. Something tells me Harris might be more in need of medical advice than technical pointers.
I’m not out of bouquets. I was rough on offensive coordinator Ron Turner last week after that disaster against the Packers. I thought he did a poor job of helping Cutler find his rhythm. He bounced back nicely with a terrific game plan this past Sunday.
Maybe you were frustrated by the dink-and-dunk passing of the Bears’ cannon-armed quarterback Sunday, but it was the perfect approach.
Coming off a four-pick nightmare in Week 1 and facing arguably the league’s best defense, the worst route would have been a deep-drop, vertical passing game. Here’s hoping Turner can solve the issues with the running game.
And finally, while I’m feeling the euphoria of a Bears victory, a tip of the cap to special teams guru Dave Toub. No, he doesn’t control kicker Robbie Gould’s magical leg, punter Brad Maynard’s uncanny accuracy or Johnny Knox’s turbo speed, but he can take credit for leading the best special teams squad in the league over the past four years.
Amazing what one win can blossom into, isnt it? Maybe it's a bit over the top, but I call it like I see it, and this Bears coaching staff looks to be the best in years. Rest assured, if it gets ugly in Seattle this weekend, I’ll be the first in line to kick them when they’re down.
Fortunately, I don’t see that happening. Qwest Field has been a very difficult venue for visiting teams over the years, but this year, half of the Seahawks’ roster is on the injury report. The usually decisive homefield advantage is nullified by the “B-team” Seattle coach Jim Mora will be forced to field.
I’m not sure it would matter though, as the Seahawks' “A-team” would have its hands full with a Bears squad that has a new sense of confidence. Prediction: Bears 24, Seahawks 13.
• Tom Waddle appears from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday through Friday on the “Waddle & Silvy Show” on WMVP AM-1000. He writes a weekly column on the Bears, "Waddle's World," for the Daily Chronicle.
