Joniak's Journal: Despite Injuries, Bears Coaches Get WRs Ready To Play
By Jeff Joniak--
(CBS) The Bears (5-7) host the Redskins (5-7) on Sunday at noon at Soldier Field. Here are my observations heading into the game.
First impression
One of my favorite coaches on the Bears staff is Mike Groh, a no-nonsense, tough, creative teacher who has the respect of the receivers for his attention to detail and instruction. Groh's a straight shooter, and I respect that about him as well. On Monday night on the Bears Coaches Show on WBBM, Groh gave a terrific analysis of how this roster will approach the final four games of the regular season.
"We're going out there to win four games," Groh said. "I mean anything can happen here. If anybody has a crystal ball, let me know."
Groh didn't think the Bears' loss Sunday was about anything that the 49ers did, but rather what Chicago did or didn't do.
"Those are things that are within our control and those are things that we've got to get fixed," he said. "We can't go back and play that game, but we can certainly get ready to play the next one. I guarantee you we will give it everything we've got."
Second thought
Groh has done a quality job getting his receivers ready to contribute every week. Multiple lower-body injuries have kept Alshon Jeffrey from being 100 percent all season. Rookie Kevin White needed surgery to repair a stress fracture in his leg. Eddie Royal has been nicked for weeks, the latest being a knee injury. Marquess Wilson suffered a foot injury in practice before the 49ers game and is sidelined.
Filling the void and playing a lot of snaps have been Joshua Bellamy, Marc Mariani, Cameron Meredith and, as of Sunday, Deonte Thompson.
"I hope that people would say we've done a good job with it," Groh said. "We've rotated a lot of guys in there. For the most part, I think that we've played very well."
As for White, Groh's smile grew when I brought him up.
"It's just nice to see Kevin running around out there, you know," he said. "It's been a lot of fun having him out there. It's a significant injury and procedure that he had done. There's some lack of strength there in that leg, so it's about getting that thing strong enough so he can compete."
Groh calls White a "super kid" and the "total package" in terms of the kind of athlete and character you want to represent your organization.
Third degree
One of the best developments of the season at receiver has Wilson, who's second on the team in receiving yardage but now dealing with a foot injury.
"He's a guy that we've become dependent on," Groh said. "He's made plays when the opportunity has come to him. He's somebody that they have got to pay attention to. You just can't forget about him on the other side of the field."
Wilson also ranks among the league leaders in yards per catch with a Bears team-high 16.6. Wilson is still young at 23, and his speed, catch radius and quickness make him a valuable piece to a larger puzzle.
Fourth-and-short
Like most fans, I am still sick about the loss to the 49ers. However, just throw it on the pile of other near-misses this season. It's great to see the resiliency, tenacity and determination of this edition of the Bears, but we're all looking for the payoffs.
With such a narrow margin for error for the Bears, like for many teams, we will have to live with the roller coaster ride for the time being. With another draft and an offseason of acquisitions, the pool of playmakers who can widen the margin of error and help finish games gives the Bears something to look forward to in the near future.
Jeff Joniak is the play-by-play announcer for the Bears broadcasts on WBBM Newsradio 780. Follow him on Twitter @JeffJoniak.
