Somebody brought up the name of Buddy Ryan in reference to the Bears`
defense last week, and most of the Bears didn`t know what he was talking about.
There are only four starters left-Mike Singletary, Dan Hampton, Richard Dent and William Perry-and Perry was made a starter in 1985 by Mike Ditka over Ryan`s objections. Only eight of the 21 defensive players on the 1990 Bears were around when Ryan was in Chicago, so the outdated comparisons between Ryan and Vince Tobin soon will die of attrition if not common sense.
Over the years, statistics and averages aren`t able to lie so easily as they can in everyday misuse. So it is interesting to look at the Bears on defense in 1982-85, Ryan`s final four years, and in 1986-89, Tobin`s first four.
Under Ryan, those defenses allowed 16.5 points per game over 57 regular-season games, counting the shortened 1982 strike year.
Under Tobin, the defenses allowed 16.8 points per game over 63 games, including three replacement games during the 1987 strike.
Other averages are strikingly similar-284.3 yards allowed under Ryan, 292.4 under Tobin; 30 percent third-down efficiency under Ryan, 35 percent under Tobin; 6.5 overall team ranking average (yards) under Ryan, 7.5 under Tobin.
The numbers are so similar they offer outstanding evidence of not only good coaches using different systems, but good players.
Singletary started his first full season in 1982. Dent was a rookie in 1983. McMichael`s first full season in Chicago was 1982. Hampton has been around since 1979.
– Teams still find changing coaches and systems simpler and quicker than changing players.
Of the 10 clubs that hired new offensive coordinators or changed offenses this year, none has a winning record. All are 1-2 except Seattle, which is 0-3.
Among them are five of the 10 playoff teams last year-the Eagles, Oilers, Steelers, Vikings and Browns.
”When you`re talking about change, the most important element is the human element,” said the Eagles` new offensive coordinator, Rich Kotite.
”Everyone is resistant to change. The unknown is scary. I don`t care if it`s Amos Alonzo Stagg or Vince Lombardi coming in to make the changes, people cling to what`s comfortable.”
– Quick stat: The Vikings are 8-7 in games that count since adding Herschel Walker. In their 15 games before Walker`s arrival, they were 10-5.
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– If the Dallas Cowboys aren`t yet the Team of the `90s, there`s always the 21st century.
Here is their stockpile of high draft choices after trades of Herschel Walker, Steve Pelluer, and Steve Walsh:
1991-three No. 1s (their own, Minnesota, New Orleans); their own No. 2;
two No. 3s (New Orleans, San Diego); two No. 4s (their own No. 4, Kansas City).
1992-two No. 1s (their own, Minnesota); three No. 2s (their own, Minnesota, New Orleans); two No. 3s (their own, Minnesota); their own No. 4.
That`s 16, twice as many as clubs who did no trading.
– Ron Brown beat Willie Gault in the NFL`s ”Fastest Man” competition last off-season. Both are Raiders but neither is the fastest on the team. That would be Sam Graddy, 1984 Olympic silver medalist to Carl Lewis in the 100-meter dash.
Because of his speed, Gault is the one ex-Bear Mike Ditka most wanted to keep. Salary demands were the main reason for his trade. The Raiders paid him $700,000 in 1988, $750,000 in 1989, and $800,000 in 1990.
Gault has caught only 49 passes over that time. That`s $32,653.06 per catch. He has 6 touchdowns and 10 receptions of 40 yards or longer.
Is he worth it?
”Oh my, yes,” Raiders boss Al Davis said. ”Ask those cornerbacks for the Bears if they`re looking forward to playing him.”
– The Giants are the No. 1 defensive team in the league at the moment. Dave Duerson, now a backup strong safety in New York, compared it to the old Bears: ”That was the best 4-3 team to ever step on the field. This defense is the greatest 3-4 defense ever. Most 3-4 defenses bend but don`t break. Here in New York, it`s an attack defense.”
– Tampa Bay linebacker Broderick Thomas is Singletary`s nephew. Although the two players are only nine years apart, Thomas remembers a time when Uncle Mike influenced his life:
”I had just gotten into trouble as a kid in Houston. My mother and father took me over to my grandmother`s. They were very upset. Mike was there and he took me into a room. He always used to talk so calmly, but this time he went into a rage and told me how much he loved his sister and that he didn`t appreciate how much trouble I was causing her. He told me I needed to shape up. I tried to get out of the room but he had the doors locked. I was very, very nervous. You think you`ve seen him on the football field in a rage, you haven`t seen anything. I didn`t want to see him like that ever again. It`s always great to say that Mike Singletary is my uncle. He`s a great person. He`d always give you a few strong words and let you figure the rest out for yourself. I was so bullheaded. Thank God he hounded me the way he did.”