The 3-4 defense has held the Bears to three touchdowns in three games this season. That constitutes more trend than glitch.
The only three 3-4 defenses they have faced–the Dolphins, Jets and Patriots–have held them to their three lowest scores in their 9-2 season.
The 49ers played an experimental hybrid 3-4 and 4-3 when the Bears blew them out 41-10, but the Dolphins and Patriots are almost exclusively 3-4 teams and the Jets have transitioned to it this season under new coach Eric Mangini, formerly the defensive coordinator of the Patriots. The Bears beat the Jets 10-0 but lost to Miami 31-13 and New England 17-13.
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Recent dominance by the AFC against NFC teams (32-20 this season) is explained in part by the AFC preference for the 3-4, a defense that allows for more variety in fronts as linebackers and linemen are often interchangeable. Because NFC teams don’t see the defense as much in the NFC, they have trouble practicing against it because they don’t have defensive players familiar with the scheme. Therefore, NFC offenses often stumble.
The Ravens, Steelers and Chargers are among other AFC teams that use the 3-4 exclusively.
The one team in the NFC that uses it as its primary defense is the Cowboys, which is one reason the Bears are assigning a scout to check out the Cowboys at their game Sunday against the Giants in New Jersey.
It’s six weeks until the Bears are likely to be in a playoff game, but it’s never too early to start preparing, and the Cowboys look like just about the only NFC team besides the Bears interested in playing in January.
Dallas coach Bill Parcells has favored the 3-4 since linebacker Lawrence Taylor was terrorizing quarterbacks as a pass rusher for the Giants, when New England coach Bill Belichick was the Giants’ defensive coordinator.
But the Bears may not have to wait until a possible meeting with Dallas to see if their offense can function against the 3-4. They also could get some practice against the 3-4 this week when the Vikings come to town.
Under defensive coordinator Mike Tomlin, formerly of Tampa Bay, the Vikings have installed the same Cover-2 defense that Lovie Smith and Ron Rivera teach the Bears. But against the Cardinals on Sunday, the Vikings also effectively used a version of the 3-4 in order to keep linebacker Ben Leber on the field in nickel situations. Leber joined the Vikings from the Chargers in the off-season.
“He has rush skills coming off the edge from playing that 3-4 in San Diego,” Vikings coach Brad Childress said. “You don’t want to be able to factor him out where he’s only getting on the field in certain situations, so we wanted to give him an opportunity to go out there and make plays.”
Leber forced two fumbles and Tomlin estimated his defense used the alignment on about one-third of their plays.
“We will leave no stone unturned in terms of looking for answers in our rush and our coverage,” Tomlin told Minnesota reporters Sunday.
Marcus rises again
Bears director of pro personnel Bobby DePaul scouted the Vikings this season and said during Week 2 that ex-Bear Marcus Robinson was the Vikings’ best receiver.
That was shortly after the Vikings dumped Koren Robinson before he was suspended. They were trying to make Troy Williamson, their 2005 No. 1 draft choice, their go-to receiver opposite Travis Taylor.
But Robinson leads the Vikings in touchdown catches with four, including one Sunday in the 31-26 win over Arizona when he led Vikings receivers with seven catches for 82 yards.
Because of a bad back, Robinson missed three of the four games the Vikings lost before ending their slide Sunday. He has caught only 21 passes all season, but his big-play ability distinguishes him.
“He is a big, physical, strong receiver who has strong hands that catch the ball in traffic well,” quarterback Brad Johnson said. “And when he is in there, we always feel like we move the ball and our completion percentage has been up. … Whether it was last year or this year, he has always made some big red-zone plays and he does make a threat for you.”
The Vikings have averaged only 18 points a game and Childress is calling plays regularly for the first time. As offensive coordinator of the Eagles, he deferred to head coach Andy Reid and vowed when he came to Minnesota to have a stronger running game than the Eagles had.
Running back Chester Taylor has been a reliable weapon and the Vikings have balanced their attack with 306 runs and 384 passes. Against the Cardinals, Johnson’s 41 passes were the most he has thrown in a win. The Vikings also ran 33 times.
“What happened was I think as an offense we just decided to start taking what teams give us,” Robinson said. “We’re not trying to be balanced–run the ball, pass the ball. Hey, if they’re giving us one-on-one loading the box, throw the ball. We threw it way more times than we thought we would, but if they’re giving it to us, do it.”
Cutler the latest
The Broncos made Jay Cutler the fourth rookie to get a starting quarterback job this season, following the Buccaneers’ Bruce Gradkowski, the Cardinals’ Matt Leinart and Titans’ Vince Young.
“There’s a lot of pressure on a first-year quarterback, no question about it,” coach Mike Shanahan said in demoting Jake Plummer. “I think this kid can handle it. I think he gives us the best chance to win.”
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Cutler, from Vanderbilt, the 11th pick in the draft, hasn’t taken a snap since the preseason, when he threw for 561 yards and led the league in passer rating (108.3).
Cutler’s promotion with a 7-4 team follows outstanding debuts this season by fourth-year pro Tony Romo of the Cowboys and third-year pro Philip Rivers of the Chargers.
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