'We can destroy their guys up front'—49ers' Davis
As Niners prepare to pour through Bears' defense, Pro Bowl candidate claims line is nothing special
So much for the fear factor with the Bears' defense.
Not only have members of the unit had their helmets handed to them two of the last three weeks, but now an offensive star for a team coming off four straight losses is talking smack.
(AP)
(Tom Cruze/Sun-Times)
San Francisco 49ers tight end Vernon Davis, projected as a Pro Bowl player this season, added insult to injury Tuesday with a frank assessment of the Bears' defense. It came two days after the Bears' 41-21 loss to the visiting Arizona Cardinals and two days before the Bears and 49ers meet Thursday night at Candlestick Park, with both badly needing a victory.
''We can destroy their guys up front,'' Davis told Bay Area reporters. ''I don't see anything spectacular about their front line. We can handle [their linebackers] pretty well. I like [defensive end] Adewale Ogunluye -- he's performing well, but he's the only guy I like in their line.''
In fairness to the Bears (4-4), there's a reason Davis hasn't seen a lot of defensive tackle Tommie Harris lately; he was ejected at the beginning of the Arizona game Sunday for throwing a punch and was suspended for the 45-10 loss at Cincinnati on Oct. 25.
Cardinals quarterback Kurt Warner was named the NFC offensive player of the week after going 22-for-32 for 261 yards and five touchdown passes against the Bears, and Bengals quarterback Carson Palmer won the corresponding AFC honor after he faced the Bears, also throwing five touchdown passes.
''[The Bears] have given up a lot of points,'' Davis said. ''There's an opportunity for us, especially there in their secondary, for us to make plays. We just have to go out and do it. Enough talking -- go do it.''
Bears coach Lovie Smith puts a good deal of stock in the Aikman Efficiency Ratings, a measuring stick for offenses and defenses that takes more into account than simply yardage, with key statistics like third-down rankings and turnovers involved. But the Bears defense has plummeted to 29th in the league in those ratings, ahead of only the Detroit Lions, Tennessee Titans and St. Louis Rams.
Meanwhile, Davis has emerged as one of the great success stories for the Niners (3-5). Coach Mike Singletary's famous rant, ''Can't win with 'em, can't play with 'em'' was directed at Davis, the team's first-round draft pick in 2006, but his standing dramatically improved, and Singletary named Davis a captain this season. He leads the 49ers with 42 receptions and is tied for tops in the NFL with seven touchdown catches. And his leadership apparently extends to saying exactly what he thinks about the Bears.
Though Davis was more conciliatory on a conference call with Chicago media, it was just a matter of time until someone besides Bengals receiver Chad Ochocinco called out the Bears.
''We'll be playing Thursday,'' defensive end Alex Brown said. ''[Davis] is great. He's an excellent player. He's very athletic. He's made a lot of big plays for them this year. He is a pretty good blocker, also. We'll see him on Thursday and we'll have our hands full with him.''
Because of his blocking prowess, Davis was chosen as the first alternate to the Pro Bowl last year, despite having just 31 receptions and two touchdowns. In Mike Martz's offense, he was called to stay in and block on more than 200 passing downs. That work didn't go unnoticed by players and coaches when it came time for All-Pro voting.
Since he was drafted three years ago, Davis has been coached by Pete Hoener, the offensive line coach for the Bears in 2004 during Smith's first season.
''Pete has helped me. He has made me a tough player,'' Davis said. ''Sometimes you get a coach who just focuses on one thing, but Pete made me become a will-to-win [guy], a blocker, a tough guy. He made me become tough because he taught me to become a complete player. It's not only about catching passes, it's about blocking. That's what he has taught me. I believe in it and I strive to get where I want to be.''
If the Bears needed any more motivation, Davis has done them a wonderful service. But it's impossible to say where this team is at after not being competitive twice in a three-week span. Now, they have to straighten out their mess on a short week.
Asked Thursday what the line had to do, Harris answered: ''Play harder. ... Just putting more effort into what you're doing. Don't wait for anybody to make plays. You be the one to make the play.''
Davis didn't mention anything about the Bears' effort, but he said plenty.
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