It's a slow sports week, so I'm going to write a short post today. There's nothing slow about the topic, though. Brian Urlacher is not overrated. Urlacher is an absolute monster in the middle. The Bears' MLB is a factor not only in the running game tracking down ballcarriers from sideline to sideline, he's also the best LB I saw in pass coverage all year. His ability to run with TE's and WR's down the seam is incredible, although he did get beat my Colston in the NFC Championship Game because he didn't locate the underthrown ball. The play that sticks out in my mind is when Reggie Bush was single covered on the outside by Urlacher and Brees didn't take a shot that way. Why didn't he just throw it up? Urlacher's coverage was too good. Bush wasn't even close to being open and Reggie Bush is regarded as one of the most electrifying players in the NFL. A MLB that can cover a top tier skill position player on the outside is incredible. Urlacher was also the only Bear not being blown away by Bush on his long reception for a TD - I guess that's why he was in position to be taunted by Bush.
People like to say Urlacher struggles against the run. They point to a TD run by Shaun Alexander in the playoffs where Urlacher is blocked well and is unable to make the play. However, if you look at the play closely, it would have taken an amazing effort for Urlacher to come close to making a play on that one. The first thing working against him was that he was moving away from the line of scrimmage at the snap. Thus, he had no momentum to knock the oncoming blocker back into the hole. Sure, he didn't have to be moving back at the snap, but sometimes you get caught in that situation. Maybe it was the result of a bad read ... maybe things just didn't work out for him on that one. So, the center was able to get engaged with Urlacher who wasn't in a great position to take on the blocker. None of the defensive linemen were able to do anything and were occupied by the two guards and two tackles (4 on 4). Urlacher was working around the center. Unfortunately for him and the Bears, TE Stevens was coming through as the lead blocker and was able to finish Urlacher off before he could get to Alexander. Any MLB in the same position would have suffered the same fate. The defense just wasn't set up to stop a run right up the middle - both guards were able to get inside the DT's and drive them to the outside. That left Urlacher to battle the center and lead blocker. It's not surprising the Bears didn't stop the play and you can't blame Urlacher for it.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment