What's up with Urlacher?

[Cliff Levingston]

Nagging back injury? Lost a step? No motivation/fire? Trying to defer to his buddy Briggs? Change of defensive coordinator? Offenses staying away from him?

Whatever it is, it needs to be said. Urlacher isn't getting it done this season plain and simple. He's being taken out of plays quite easily, isn't making plays in the backfield, isn't defending a whole lot of passes over the middle, isn't collecting sacks. Frankly, he looks borderline average out there lately, and as our marquee defensive player, ICLO it's one of the reason our defense has been below average this year.

With the way he's playing, an extension for Briggs is looking more and more important with each passing week.

[CBS7]

I actually thought he's looked just as dominant as he always has at times this season, but he's also done nothing at times.

The main reason our defense has been sucking is injuries.

[Howling Mad]

I agree with CBS.

With all the injuries to our backfield, specifically our safeties, Urlacher has taken more real estate responsibility. When Mike B. and Archuleta were still playing I remembered Urlacher playing a lot up front on the line of scrimmage. He racked up 3 sacks. The scheme also had Urlacher and Briggs playing a lot of Blitz fakes. You saw a lot of spying from Urlacher. Now you see him peddle back a lot and help out our non-experienced safeties.

[richard]

more than any other season, i've seen urlacher miss tackles. it seems like he has forgotten how to tackle! several times he has run past the ball carrier, taking just a one handed swipe at him. he could really take some tackling lessons from his buddy briggs.

[CBS7]

Yeah, I've noticed the one handed swipes more then anything. Its annoying, really.

[IlliniNRG]

Urlacher's getting to that stage of his career where he'll need to rely on his instincts and experience more than his body. Let's hope his football IQ is high enough to make that transition.

[HINrichPolice]

OT: Cliff, I've been posting with you on the Bulls boards for probably several years now. Yet, I still don't know what the hell ICLO stands for.

http://www.acronymfinder.com/af-query.a ... ring=exact

[Cliff Levingston]

In Cliff Levingston's opinion.

Cliff Levingston would agree that Urlacher played well for the first two games, but since, he's been pretty non-existent. Maybe it is him dropping back more often to help out the safeties but when he's at the line of scrimmage, he's being taken out of the play rather easily.

[HINrichPolice]

In Cliff Levingston's opinion.

Cliff Levingston would agree that Urlacher played well for the first two games, but since, he's been pretty non-existent. Maybe it is him dropping back more often to help out the safeties but when he's at the line of scrimmage, he's being taken out of the play rather easily.

HINrichPolice's bad.

HP should've figured that out.

[jumanji]

Nagging back injury? Lost a step? No motivation/fire? Trying to defer to his buddy Briggs? Change of defensive coordinator? Offenses staying away from him?

Whatever it is, it needs to be said. Urlacher isn't getting it done this season plain and simple. He's being taken out of plays quite easily, isn't making plays in the backfield, isn't defending a whole lot of passes over the middle, isn't collecting sacks. Frankly, he looks borderline average out there lately, and as our marquee defensive player, ICLO it's one of the reason our defense has been below average this year.

With the way he's playing, an extension for Briggs is looking more and more important with each passing week.

Would hope it's nagging injury as opposed to lost a step, either way he is not playing at the same level he has in the past.

[emperorjones]

Yeah, I've noticed the one handed swipes more then anything. Its annoying, really.

The one handed swipes are a problem with many Bears defenders as they try to go for the forced fumble rather than the solid tackle IMO. I have argued for a long time that the extra couple yards defenders give up on each play trying to go for the forced fumble (which add up to 1st downs and increased time of possession) are not worth the few turnovers that they cause (as opposed to those cuased by a solid hit or unforced error).

This year I've gotten sick of seeing a guy miss a tackle because he didnt warp up while trying to rake the ball out of a runners hands.

[CBS7]

Well then, Urlacher was pretty good against the Eagles. He had like, all the team's first quarter tackles, he was everywhere.

Run defense still wasn't great, but it wasn't as bad as it was vs the Vikes.