CHICAGO -- Lovie Smith learned to cope with the unexpected
in his first season as head coach of the Chicago Bears. There were
injuries and bouts of inept football he could not have envisioned.
"It isn't acceptable where we are right now," Smith said. "We
had big goals and 5-11 wasn't a part of it."
The Bears lost six of their last seven games, set dubious team
records for sacks allowed (66) and penalties (124) and had more
lost fumbles (21) than offensive touchdowns (19). The league's
worst offense was ranked last in six major statistical categories,
including scoring and total yards.
"Was it a frustrating year? Heck, yeah it was," said Pro Bowl
center Olin Kreutz. "We've been doing everything we can. We just
haven't corrected it."
The blame fell on Terry Shea, the offensive coordinator, who was
brought in to install the West Coast offense. He was fired on
Tuesday.
But Shea wasn't entirely to blame.
When starting quarterback Rex Grossman was lost to a
season-ending knee injury in the third game, the Bears simply
didn't have a capable or experienced replacement.
Jonathan Quinn and rookie Craig Krenzel struggled as backups
before Chad Hutchinson, signed after Grossman was hurt, was more
effective but still 1-4 as a starter.
Chicago tried out Tim Couch and finally signed veteran Jeff
George as insurance. Hutchinson and George could return as backups
and general manager Jerry Angelo said the Bears could also explore
other options outside the organization.
A defense that scored six touchdowns lost big-play safety Mike
Brown to an Achilles' tendon injury in Game 2 against Green Bay.
Brian Urlacher missed seven games with an assortment of leg
injuries that began in the first workout of training camp, and
Chicago was 0-7 without its star linebacker.
"I think we all expected to have a winning season," said
defensive back Charles Tillman, who was also sidelined for an
extended period with a knee injury.
The injuries never stopped coming, also hitting the
ever-changing offensive line that had to rely on reserves and gave
up nine sacks in an embarrassing season-ending loss to the rival
Packers.
But after a while, the injuries can't become an excuse for all
the poor play.
"To be a good team, at some point you've got to say if somebody
gets hurt, our backups are good enough," Kreutz said.
The Bears haven't been good enough for a long time, with just
three winning seasons since Mike Ditka was fired after the 1992
season.
"What we haven't had going on here is wins. We need to get
wins," Angelo said after a third straight losing season.
"That's what we're here for and we're going to get those wins.
I'm to be judged on that, Lovie is to be judged on that."
The Bears have the fourth pick in April's draft and must find a
way to spruce up the offense that featured 948 yards rushing and 56
receptions by Thomas Jones, whose presence means 2001 Offensive
Rookie of the Year Anthony Thomas plans to be elsewhere next
season.
Chicago must also sort out the left tackle situation to see if
Qasim Mitchell or Marc Colombo is the answer.
Wide receiver David Terrell, who has another year left on his
contract, and Bobby Wade caught 42 passes each for a team that lost
top wideout Marty Booker in a trade to Miami for defensive end
Adewale Ogunleye. Ogunleye went from 15 sacks to 5½ and ended the
season with ankle surgery.
Defensive end Alex Brown, rookie tackle Tommie Harris and
linebacker Lance Briggs all had solid seasons defensively, but
couldn't overcome the many deficiencies of the offense.
"I think we could use a little bit of firepower on the
offensive side of the ball, one of the skill positions," Smith
said.
"I still like the core of our team. We have a good group of
young players assembled here right now. ... Offensively, it's hard
to put a good spin on the way we performed."