Bob Babich, Bears Defensive Coordinator, Is Finally Angry

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Bob Babich inherited a vaunted defense when he took over as Bears defensive coordinator in 2007, replacing the wildly popular -- at least to everyone but Lovie Smith -- Ron Rivera. Rivera had the Bears playing elite defense in 2005 and 2006, which they rode to two division titles and a Super Bowl appearance. He was shown the door, and since then the defense has been mediocre at best (most of this season), and among the worst in football at times (most of last season and yesterday in Green Bay).

While it's hardly comforting, after the debacle in Lambeau Field yesterday, Babich has finally shown some emotion and accountability.

"There are a lot of things that went wrong, OK?" Babich said. "It starts with me, all right? We just didn't stop the run. We didn't do anything well as a defensive unit.

"We have to play better. We will play better. Our players have a lot of character, a lot of pride, and we have to get it taken care of."

I tend to agree. Everything was awful yesterday. In true Jim Mora form, I'd like say the offense sucked, the defense sucked, the coaching sucked. The whole team sucked!

From a defensive line that is loaded, Brian Urlacher, Lance Briggs, Charles Tillman, Mike Brown, and Nathan Vasher; the Bears have tons of talent on the defensive side of the football ... on paper. Unfortunately, that doesn't mean anything, because football games aren't played on paper. Whether the scheme is flawed, the players are washed up, or the players aren't playing hard enough; something is wrong. It needs to get fixed.

"We blitzed a little bit more," Babich said. "We played a little more eight-man front, but ... we obviously didn't fill up our gaps well. And consequently we gave up a lot of yards rushing."

Yeah, that didn't work, Bob. Try something new, please.

I don't know the answer, but it's not my job to coach football. For my money, the onus is on Lovie to fix this thing. He's supposedly the defensive guru, and he's the one who ran Rivera out of town.

The Bears are in a three-way tie for first place in the NFC North. The time is now for the ship to be righted, because the hapless Rams are on the docket for Week 12 and it's time to get things back on track in Halas Hall.

The season can be salvaged, and it all starts with the defense.

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

11-17-2008 @ 4:21PM

jimmy said...

Absolutely it needs to start with the defense. The offense, the HUGE question mark in training camp has been remarkably good (especially when orton was healthy).
They have WAY too much talent on defense to perform so poorly the last two weeks.
To quote Dr. Z:

"Do they ever blitz? Or throw some exotic coverage scheme into the mix? I'm so tired of watching these guys play hard and go down because they were so predictable."

amen.

11-17-2008 @ 4:24PM

da bears said...

Now, if we could just get a bit of emotion out of our head coach........

11-17-2008 @ 4:52PM

George said...

We all know that the world has changed since 1985. They need to set aside what your doing and become the MONSTERS of the MIDWAY attitude. Lovie needs to become a Monster. Thats what made the greatest coaches of all time for any team. Your not looking to be Mayor of Chicago, Lovie. We need a coach who will stand up for its team and be remembered as the toughest, meanest, fairest best coach this city ever had. So, if you have to fight with every member of your staff and argue with your players, do it........DO IT NOW!!!

11-17-2008 @ 5:06PM

Jim said...

Tommy Harris and Devon Hester both whined about how much money they should get so in the off season re-negotiated their contracts. They got 40 Million. Where the Hell are you bums now that you got the big bucks? Manning is running back kicks better than Hester and you never hear about Harris making a sack. Gould is the highest paid kicker in the NFL but on kick-offs he can't even get the ball inside the ten. Lovie got a big fat contract and he looks like he's not even watching the game. This is the sorriest Bears defense ever. All 4 of you are on notice. Get it done or get out of Chicago!

11-17-2008 @ 5:14PM

Odie said...

George, I don't know what that has to do with winning football but enjoyed the pep talk. The '85 Bears did not win because Ditka had fire and passion, they won because they were better than everyone else.
Hard to figure out why a defense that has many of the same names on it from just 2 years ago when they were a top five in the league is now a near league worst. Is it age? Injury? I don't think so. With the exception of Urlacher, Brown and Ogunleye, these guys are all young or in their prime.
Bob Babich getting mad solves nothing. These guys are professional athletes, they don't need a "win for the gipper" speech to get the job done. They need to figure out why their pro bowl DT is too depressed to rush a passer, and why their two supposed shut-down corners have done nothing but shut down themselves.

11-17-2008 @ 6:23PM

robert said...

Why would you give up a top reciever for a converted reciever at this level of competition. hester is not a wide reciever for every down (poor at best). His skills are limited. You have no reciever to stretch the field.

11-17-2008 @ 6:24PM

First and foremost, anyone in high school or college who has ever played cornerback knows when you need 5 yards for a first down you do not give the reciever 10 yards to make his move. That is poor coaching ane terrible corner backs that the bears have picked up.

2nd why would you put in a defense that is so predictable that know one is covered on plays that you know the QB is going to throw to. I do not want to be a arm chair QB but you can watch with consistenty who the opposing team is going to throw too.

11-18-2008 @ 8:00AM

Neil said...

Hey, I've played my fair share of defense and offense to realize with a back like forte on offense you be able to convert 3-1 or even 4-1 but if your offensive coordinator is a smuck (turner) you have a hard time with alot of things. Defensively you seemed 1-3 plays behind their offense 1st Graham needs to get his head out of his ass he gets burned on the slant everytime it is to his side does he not get it, get him the hell out of there. missed assignments for these well paid athletes is not going to cut the mustard you didnot give Jauron the team you gave Smith if they sink you need to replace bottom line, T Harris big salary not much from him get rid of the players that don't want to play the game, need to make the changes threw out the game not the next week!