Vic Fangio: Bears Run Defense 'Hasn't Been Good Enough'
By Chris Emma--
LAKE FOREST, Ill. (CBS) -- Lost in the praise for an improving Bears defense is a reality that has irked linebacker Pernell McPhee.
"Not in the run game -- s--t," McPhee said Monday. "We're not going good in the run game. Hopefully we can tighten up the screws."
Entering Week 13, the Bears ranked 14th in team defense, an impressive turnaround for a unit that was near rock bottom last season. Even more impressive is that Chicago is second in team pass defense, allowing just 214.5 yards per game, only trailing Denver.
But the Bears sit 29th in run defense, with their unit allowing 128.5 yards per game.
In Chicago's win in Green Bay, the Packers ran for 177 yards, with Eddie Lacy going for 105 on the ground. Just days before, the Broncos went for 170 yards, the difference in a 17-15 win at Soldier Field.
As McPhee said after the game, the Broncos did what they intended and ran the ball down the Bears' throat.
"It hasn't been good enough," Bears defensive coordinator Vic Fangio said of the run defense. "But we've been able to overcome it."
Chicago's secondary has helped form one of the top pass defenses in the NFL, in part because Tracy Porter is having a career year as the top cornerback, rookie Adrian Amos has excelled at safety and undrafted rookie Bryce Callahan has surprised as a fit in the nickelback role.
Factor in an added pass rush this season and the blitz schemes of Fangio, and the Bears have contained opposing passing attacks.
But the Bears haven't had recent success preventing the run. Despite holding the explosive Todd Gurley to 45 yards in a win over the Rams a few weeks ago, the Bears still rank near the bottom of the NFL. Fangio didn't mince words in assessing the unit.
"It's a little bit of everything," Fangio said. "It starts up front -- we haven't been consistently good enough up front, we haven't been consistently good enough at the linebacker position. And your secondary is involved in the run defense, too, and there's been plays where they haven't been consistent enough. It's been a little bit of everything. We have to get it rectified."
Fangio's right with his evaluation. While the Bears have found wins with plenty of pleasant surprises, their greatest weakness comes at linebacker, part of the problem for the run defense.
For the Bears to keep improving defensively, their run game must make strides. They hope for better against the 49ers in a critical game Sunday.
"We just got to get better in run defense," McPhee said. "That's what our focus has got to be, because San Fran is going to probably try to come in here and run the ball down our throat."
Chris Emma covers the Chicago sports scene and more for CBSChicago.com. Follow him on Twitter @CEmma670 and like his Facebook page.