Miller’s crushing block underscores Bears’ renewed focus

By Paul Eide  |   Tuesday, October 31, 2006  |  Comments( 0 )

Chicago Bears
Got something to say?

Sign Up and be the first to comment on this article!

It didn't show up on this past Sunday's stat sheet for the Chicago Bears, but offensive tackle Fred Miller's block on a hapless 49ers defensive back during running back Thomas Jones' 7-yard touchdown run is a microcosm of why the team is still undefeated after seven games. Facing a third-and-2 from the San Francisco 7-yard line, Rex Grossman handed the ball off to Jones.

The play was designed to go to the left side, with the whole Bears' line shifting that way and blocking down. The mass of humanity left no room for Jones to find a hole, so he wisely bounced outside to the right and scampered into the end zone untouched. Why was he untouched? Because of a merciless, malicious, cold-blooded block by Miller, a block that was as effective as it was violent.

Having successfully blocked his assignment, and with the play running away from him, Miller found himself standing straight up with no Niners defender in the immediate area. When Jones cut back to the right side, you could visibly see Miller revert back into "blocking mode," ready to destroy any warm-blooded creature posing a threat to the successful completion of the play.

The 6-foot-7, 314-pound Miller then honed in on his target, 5-11, 190-pound cornerback Walt Harris, and personified the football version of the law of the jungle: Kill or be killed. The scene was reminiscent of a lion attacking its prey on the open Sahara, with Miller as the lion and Harris as the overmatched gazelle. Miller had a full five-yard head start before hurtling his massive frame toward his target. Harris haphazardly stumbled into Miller's line of sight, and by the time he realized what was going to happen, there was nothing he could do but cover up and take the blow.

Had it not happened on a football field, it would've been assault for sure, and maybe even attempted murder.

Miller's block alone didn't spring Jones for the touchdown, but the culmination of every blocker on the team doing his job is what did. Miller responding the way he did shows not only how well coached this team is, but also how Lovie Smith's aggressive, defensive style has permeated the entire roster.

That is what's different about the Bears this year; they are as physical and nasty on both sides of the ball as any team in the league. Smith has effectively turned the idea of a loss into the epitome of failure, whereas previous regimes were constantly unprepared and seemed to accept losing as part of the territory.

Though Sunday's 41-10 victory came at the hands of the NFL's worst defense, for Bears fans, it was encouraging to see their team come out firing, showing no signs of a letdown following the narrow victory over the Cardinals two weeks ago. Mentally, this was a huge game for the Bears, proving to themselves and the entire NFL community that their first six wins weren't an aberration or the result of luck.

Thanks to plays like the one made by Fred Miller, the Bears dispelled any notion of a midseason crisis, and reasserted themselves as the team to beat in the NFC.

Chicago Bears analysis, courtesy of RealFootball365.com
Got something to say?

Sign Up and be the first to comment on this article! (0)

Article Tools Share!   |  RSS  |  Bleacher Report About Bleacher Report