Bears' Muhammad sees need to raise bar
By K.C. Johnson
Tribune staff reporter
June 7, 2006
On paper, the Bears will return the NFL's second-ranked defense and eighth-ranked running game, which will operate behind an offensive line that remains intact.
The crumpled piece that sits in the wastebasket, then, would seem to represent the passing game. That finished 31st last season.
Muhsin Muhammad, the team's "leading" receiver, might have caught more criticism than passes last season and agrees there is room for improvement—albeit with a caveat.
"Anytime your leading receiver only has 700-some yards, whatever it was—I don't know what it was—you stand for room for improvement," Muhammad said. "I think that would make the team more versatile.
"But within the scheme of what we're doing, we weren't asked to do a lot last year.
"We won 11 games. This is a team game. You're talking about individual statistics in comparison to the whole team that went 11-5.
"We scored 21 points in a [playoff] game that we lost and offense was supposed to be the weakest link. Yeah, we do need to score more points. But within Lovie's system, we're doing what's asked of us."
Indeed, coach Lovie Smith favors a grind-it-out running attack and swarming defense to win games.
That's one reason why Muhammad finished with 64 catches for 750 yards and why the emergence of a consistent No. 2 receiver will be a dominant story line come July training camp.
Another reason would be quarterback Rex Grossman's injury. Muhammad failed to establish consistent chemistry with Kyle Orton and dropped 11 passes.
Muhammad is excited to work with Grossman in their second year in offensive coordinator Ron Turner's system.
"Rex and I said it to ourselves on the first day [of mini-camp] that it's a lot different than last year," Muhammad said. "We know the system a lot better. We're a lot more comfortable with what we're doing out here."
No shows
As expected, running back Thomas Jones and linebacker Lance Briggs didn't attend Tuesday's organized team activity, the first of 11 such team gatherings through June 22.
The Bears can't fine either player for missing the non-mandatory workouts. Both players attended the mandatory three-day mini-camp.
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from NFL Films at SB41: Colts defensive line coach John Teerlinck can be heard saying: '' Stay alive on this guy. He's scared to death.'' ... that "guy" is Turnoverasaurus Rex Grossman.
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Bears' Muhammad sees need to raise bar
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