Ditka Sees Bears Growing Stronger

Are the Chicago Bears on the verge of becoming one of the NFL’s elite or are they one-year wonders? Was Chicago’s drive that fell one game short of the Super Bowl one that symbolizes the beginning of another “monsters of the midway” era or a false harbinger the club was finally coming out of hibernation. The Bears have no doubt which is true. “This club is going to get better. We have learned our lessons and we’re going to be around for quite a while,” said Chicago Coach Mike Ditka. Ditka, rewarded with a new three-year contract before last week’s NFC title game loss to San Francisco, had made a point all year long of saying how the Bears were ready to make that final drive to become one of the league’s premier teams. Blessed with the No. 1 defense in the league, Ditka nearly made it to Palo Alto, Calif., and the Super Bowl. But the 23-0 loss to the 49ers exposed some of the weaknesses the Bears have been able to hide with a stout defense all year long. “We’ll be back. All we have to do is make some adjustments on offense, some on defense,” said defensive tackle Dan Hampton, one of the leaders of the Bears’ “sack pack” that set an NFL mark with 72 sacks. The defense figures to be strong again next year. The club features basically young players with NFC defensive player of the year Mike Singletary only in his third year. “There’s no reason we can’t come back,” Singletary said. “We’ve showed that we belong. We can play with anyone in this league.” The only question mark concerning the defense is probably whether defensive coordinator Buddy Ryan, the architect of the complex system, is back. Ryan is being wooed by several other NFL teams to become a head coach. Ryan was able to adjust to other team’s adjustments to his unusual “46” defense that featured linebackers playing linemen, cornerbacks playing linebacker and safeties playing cornerback. If he isn’t back, the NFL may be able to get wise to the system and make the necessary adjustments. “I think other teams are catching on and probably will start making their own similar types of defenses,” Ditka said. Clearly, the one thing the Bears are lacking that would make them Super Bowl contenders is a balanced offense. The club had the best ground attack statistically in the league, thanks to Walter Payton. The 10-year pro, who broke Jim Brown’s career rushing mark midway through the season, had talked about retirement as late as the time of the players’ strike in 1982. Now, Payton, who has missed only one game in his career, is talking more along the lines of staying for several more years. “My dream is to play in the Super Bowl,” Payton said. “Statistics are fine but I want to play in a championship.” The Bears can be encouraged about getting Payton some support. Jim McMahon was just starting to come into his own as one of the better quarterbacks in the NFL when injuries hit. First, it was his hand. Then, his back. Finally, a lacerated kidney felled the former BYU signal caller. He even entertained ideas of coming back if the Bears had made it to the Super Bowl next week. “I’ll be back. I can’t believe that all of these things happened to me in one year,” said McMahon, who had been the No. 2-rated passer at the time he went down in early November. “I went through my entire career relatively injury-free and all of this happened. But the doctors say I should be able to come back 100%.” Additionally, Chicago finally has adequate support at quarterback in Steve Fuller, who filled in for McMahon down the stretch and nearly got the Bears to the Super Bowl for the first time. “I know when Jim comes back he’ll be No. 1,” Fuller said. “I’m just glad I have a chance to play with a winning team.” The Bears’ receiving corps should also remain deep. Dennis McKinnon and Willie Gault formed a good deep threat although Ditka’s game plan did not always call for them to get many plays. In addition, Ken Margerum, injured in 1984, will return in 1985. The offensive line had a chance to play together led by Jimbo Covert, a former No. 1 draft choice who emerged as a leader on offense. While Chicago should get better, it cannot count on having another year of domination of the NFC Central. Playing in perhaps the weakest division in football, the Bears parlayed 7 of their 10 regular season wins against teams in their own division. Green Bay, the only team that beat Chicago in the NFC Central, came on strong at the end of the year and could be a threat. Minnesota returns Bud Grant as coach and that alone should help stabilize the Vikings.