All is not lost for Jim Harbaugh, the Bears’ $5 million tackling dummy. He was up and about Monday at Halas Hall, watching films of his gnarled body being embroidered to the turf of Green Bay’s Lambeau Field.
It is difficult to recall another Chicago sports figure who spent so much time on horizontal hold. James “Quick” Tillis, a local boxer who led with his glass chin and invariably finished on the canvas, vanished not a moment too soon. After conquering his habit of tripping over the blue line, Dennis Hull became a prolific scorer for the Blackhawks. Even when former Cub Jose Cardenal was awakened by crickets in his room during spring training, he arose to alert security.
But, like we said, it could be worse. Harbaugh, who has endured 16 sacks in the last two games, could be allergic to grass. Not even playing under Bo Schembechler at Michigan is sufficient preparation for the abuse Harbaugh suffers here. Yet, his spirit is such that he continues to seek answers from mentors such as Ron Turner, coordinator of the Bears’ offense, such as it is.
“That’s too many, 16 sacks,” Turner noticed. “Jim could have avoided five or six of them, but that still leaves 10 or 11. Too many.”
On any given Sunday, Harbaugh does seem to be operating from a playbook written by Dr. Jack Kevorkian. But, no, Turner insists his game plans are safe and sound. It’s just that they’re also new. Harbaugh might as well be in his rookie NFL year as his seventh, so different is this system from the past. It could take until later this season, or even next season, before Harbaugh feels comfortable, presuming he still has his senses.
“Jim’s as tough and competitive as they come,” Turner continued. “But, there’s a limit to how much even he can handle.”
Turner reminds that, during the interim fire drill, Harbaugh could alleviate some stress merely by throwing sooner. If the Bears’ primary receiver is covered, look for second and third options. Scramble, quick kick, yell “Earthquake!”, something. The sack is at once the most debiliating and depressing alternative.
“It can demoralize a team just as it does fans,” Turner said. “You’ve not only lost yards and a down, you’ve helped the other team’s momentum. A lot of avoiding sacks is instinctive. The word itself means instincts are God-given. You don’t teach instinct. But you can teach reaction, and that comes with a complete understanding of the system.”
One solution offered to cure Harbaugh’s woe is the shotgun. The formation, not the weapon. Turner doesn’t agree. Harbaugh, he says, is quick enough at getting set, whether he’s taking a three- or five-step drop. The shotgun therefore wouldn’t fast-forward the process. It’s what’s happening when the ball is snapped that’s causing these ambushes, and Harbaugh surely is not the lone wolf. No degree of improvisation, no amount of moveable pockets, no profile in courage can counter the ill-effects of protection that varies between null and void.
“It’s been a collective breakdown,” Turner said. “I have absolute confidence in Jim. We all do. If it was just him, it would be different. But it isn’t just him. Not at all. Learning a new system is like learning a foreign language. The Packers went through a difficult period last year under a new coach (Mike Holmgren). But look at them now.
“I see no signs of Jim being gun shy, but he’s only human. We worry about him being hit so often and wonder sometimes whether he’s going to get up. But, if he starts peeking, looking for the rush instead of where he’s supposed to be focused, then it could actually result in him holding onto the ball longer instead of letting go sooner. You lose that instant by letting your eyes stray.”
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Bears fans who wonder how long the offense can be so bad have another concern. How long can the defense be so good before it, too, crumbles? Then the $5 million tacking dummy, already booed for failures beyond his control, will be blamed for everything this side of world hunger.
Jim Harbaugh, meet Mitch Williams.