Mike Ditka On Bears: 'The Worst Defense I've Seen In A Long Time'
(CBS) Like the rest of Chicago, Mike Ditka is having a hard time comprehending how this Bears' season has derailed into a 3-5 mark at the midpoint.
In a piece in the Chicago Sun-Times, Ditka said that he doesn't think there's any quick for the Bears, believes "everybody deserves a little bit of the blame" and then shredded a defense that in no way whatsoever resembles the '85 Bears unit that spurred then-coach Ditka and the franchise to its only Super Bowl win.
"It starts with the fact that they are not a very good team on defense, and that creates a lot of problems for the offense," Ditka said, according to the Sun-Times. "They consistently put the offense in a position where they have to score to win.
"It's the worst defense I've seen in a long time. No question about it. I can understand why (former players) would be vocal about it. The one constant throughout Bears history has been their defense. You know, in '63, our defense carried us. We did some good things on offense, but our defense carried us. In '85 we won a championship — our defense carried us."
Perhaps the tough-minded Ditka preaching defense was to be expected, but it's an interesting take that he provides. The Bears are allowing 27.8 points per game, 29th in the league, and definitely warrant ample criticism on that side of the ball. But before Sunday's debacle of a 51-23 loss to the Patriots, the Bears were allowing 24.4 points per game, which would rate 21st. Meanwhile, an offense that's had more money invested in it is averaging 22.5 points, which is 20th in the NFL.
