The Daily Herald from Chicago, Illinois • Page 134

September 22,1998 PROFOOIBAIl Section 7 CLF12M" Red zone foreign soil for punchless Bears BYBOBLEGERE Daily Herald Sports Writer The Bears have looked pretty good so far this season as long as you have a seat in the opposing end zone. But the closer they get to paydirt, the worse these 1998 Bears look. By the time they get inside the opponents' 20-yard line, they're downright ugly. And scary. The red zone might as well be the Twilight Zone the way the Bears have performed once they get there.

Ten times the Bears' offense has ventured into the red zone this season (inside their opponents' 20- yard line), and only once has it managed to get into the endzone. Bears opponents have also entered the red zone 10 times, but they've scored touchdowns on 7 of those occasions. That, more than anything, explains why the Bears are 0-3, even though they've held halftime leads in each of the losses. The Bears have managed field goals on 5 of their red-zone possessions, while their opponents have 1. But teams that repeatedly settle for 3 points instead of 6 when they have scoring opportunities often come up short on the scoreboard, as the Bears did in their first two losses, by 1 and 5 points.

"We're down there in the red zone and it doesn't make any difference if we run the ball or throw the ball," coach Dave Wannstedt said Monday, a day after his team managed just 1 field goal on four trips into the red zone. "If we throw it we have to protect (the quarterback) and catch the ball, and if we run the ball, we've got to block them and get the thing in the end zone. "I think there's too much made of the run over the pass and all this stuff. We just haven't executed, and I have to do a better job of finding out what we need to do to get the ball in the end zone. That's my responsibility and I'll carry that," Wannstedt meant carry the responsibility, not the ball, although he couldn't do much worse than Curtis Enis and Robert Chancey did against the Bucs on Sunday.

The Bears had 16 plays in the red zone. They ran the ball nine times for a total of 15 yards. That's 1.7 yards per carry. Chancey had 1 carry for 2 yards. Enis had the rest.

It wasn't any better when the Bears went to the air. Erik Kramer threw the ball seven times. Five of them were incomplete, one went to Bobby Engram for eight yards and a first down, and they other was fumbled away by Ryan Wetnight at the Bucs'5-yard line. "We're not hitting any runs of 5 or 6 yard runs when we get down inside the 20 to make it easy," Wann- stedt said. "Everything is a yard and a half, two yards, no gain.

And when we threw it, it was third down and we had to throw the ball." The Bears threw the ball on third down four times in the red zone, needing 5, 7, 8 and 9 yards. They converted just once, the 8-yard pass to Engram on third-and-7. And even that required an outstanding individual eftort by Engram, who dragged a tackier for four yards to make first-down yardage. Starting on Wednesday, the Bears will devote more time to their red-zone offense, and they will try some variation in the way they practice. "Usually when we practice red zone, it's red-zone passing and then the runs," Wannstedt said.

"This week we're going to do some different things and work on it as a total team and try to really put an emphasis on this and see if by emphasizing it more and studying it more we get more productivity." Packers defensive unit living up to billing GM says '98 squad could be better than '96 bunch Associated Press GREEN BAY, Wis. Green Bay Packers general manager Ron Wolf raised eyebrows last month when he said this year's defense was his best ever. Slow down. Better than the 1996 unit that led the league and produced a Super Bowl celebration? "Yup," Wolf said. Next question.

"Everybody thought I was an idiot," Wolf said in the glow of a 3-0 start. Suffice it to say his opinion was in the scant minority. The Packers had four new defensive starters, including a rookie (Vonnie Holliday) to go with a second-year pro (Darren Sharper) and two players (Craig Newsome and George Kponce) coming off serious knee injuries. Holliday, Sharper and Koonce were playing new positions, too. Even strong safety LeRoy Butler, who can boast with the best of them, was taken aback by Wolfs declaration, which followed a lousy preseason.

"We have new people now and it's just going to take time, but I think the '96 defense was a lot better," he said. But it hasn't take long for Wolfs words to prove prophetic. Despite being put in difficult positions by their own struggles on offense and special teams, the Packers defense has stymied Detroit, Tampa Bay and Cincinnati. The Packers have the NFL's top-ranked rushing defense and fourth-best passing defense. "We're impenetrable," declared Butler, who's beginning to see what Wolf meant.

"When we get threatened, we get better." In their 13-6 victory Sunday, the Packers surrendered 7 first downs, their fewest in 210 games dating to the 1985 "Snow Bowl" in which Tampa Bay managed just five first downs in a blizzard. The Bengals' 28 yards rushing was their worst output since Sept. 26, 1971. And after 3 Packers turnovers, Cincinnati managed just 31 total yards. "That's an important time a game and we talk about that and we coach that.

Sudden change we call it," coach Mike Holmgren said. "Something happens, it's not good. Now, how do you play the next play or the next series of plays? Rookie Vonnie Holliday (90) is one the reasons why the Green Bay Paickers have thes NFL top-ranked rushing defense and fourth-best passing defense. Nei O'Donnell (12) is chased out of the pocket by Holliday in the third quarter of Green Bay 13-6 victory over Cincinnati on Sunday. Assodated pross Photo "And you will see, some teams don't handle that very well and in the years past, there have been occasions where I didn't think we handled it very well," Holmgren added.

"But this season they're doing a great job that way. And it's huge for the defense." The Packers came up biggest after Holmgren's gamble on fourth- and-3 in the waning minutes backfired when Brett Favre was sacked for a 12-yard loss at the Bengals 45 with 1:53 remaining. Cincinnati couldn't even get a first down. The problem is that the Packers must dominate defensively because they're banged up on offense and rattled on special teams. The coverage unit allowed a 30- yard kickoff return average, and punt returner Roell Preston, who lost a fumble and let three other punts bounce, might be replaced this week.

Preston, who had a 100-yard TD kickoff return in the opener, would still return kickoffs. The Packers kept him over Glyn Milburn, who's already returned two punts for scores with the Bears. The Packers are looking for help in the running game, too. Raymont Harris had a solid although unspectacular debut in place of injured Dorsey Levens (leg), rushing for 76 yards on 24 carries. He fumbled at the Ben- gals 22 late in the game.

Travis Jervey pulled his right hamstring covering a punt and might miss the trip to Carolina next weekend. So, the Packers might pursue a free agent such as Terry Kirby. "I'm going to meet with Ron today," Holmgren said. "We're a little thin there. The problem is, they're not just floating around out there." The defense has made all other concerns bearable so far.

"It's a week-to-week business and the first three weeks have been fine," defensive coordinator Fritz Shurmur said. "They've gotten better every week and worked harder every week. This is a special group of guys," The best, as far as Wolf is concerned. Anderson sets sights on Blanda's scoring record Associated Press EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. Look out, George Blanda.

Gary Anderson has you in his sights. Now that he has moved up to No. 2 on the NFL scoring list, Anderson is looking forward to surpassing the record 2,002 points Blanda accumulated in a record 26 seasons. And Anderson doesn't figure it will take him anywhere near as long to become the NFL's second man. "I think George Blanda played until he was about 50 or something," Anderson said.

"I have a few years left. I'll be coming after him." Blanda actually was 48 when he retired after the 1976 season, the oldest man ever to play in the NFL. But that's one record Anderson doesn't plan on threatening. Anderson, who turned 39 a week before training camp, jumped from fourth to second with 17 pomts in the Minnesota Vikings' 29-6 victory over the Detroit Lions on Sunday. He moved past Jan Stenerud (1,699) and Nick Lowery (1,711) and has 1,713 points.

If Anderson maintains the pace that has led to six 100-point seasons in his last seven, he should pass Blanda during the 2000 season. "It's exciting," Anderson said. "You obviously don't come into this league 17 years ago with those kind of goals and aspirations. It's really humbling to think you've scored more points than anybody in the history of this game, other than one person." After spending the first 16 seasons of his career with bad-weather teams in Pittsburgh (1982-94), Philadelphia (1995-96) and San Francisco (1997), Anderson signed with the Vikings as a free agent last winter and moved into the cozy Metrodome. Always accurate no matter the conditions, Anderson has made 78.9 percent of his kicks, including 88.7 percent inside 40 yards.

His 392 field goals are an NFL mark. He also has made better than 99 percent of his extra points, which ranks among the best percentages ever. "He's been one of the best in the league, kicking in some of the most difficult places to kick," coach Dennis Green said Monday. "We felt coming in here in the dome and playing our eight regular-season games, and then adding in a game every year in a game against Detroit in a dome, that he would be very good for us, and he has been." Anderson has yet to miss for the Vikings, converting all 11 extra points and seven field goal attempts. That includes five field goals Sunday, one short of his career best.

He leads the NFC with 32 points and has made 12 straight field goals dating to last season. That's a long way from the team and NFL mark Fuad Reveiz set with 31 straight in 1994-95, and the Vikings hope they don't need a lot of help from Anderson this season. They'd prefer to have Cris Carter, Robert Smith, Randy Moss and the rest of their many offensive stars finishing most of their drives. Still, there will be days like Sunday when the offense misfires when it gets close to the end zone. "Everybody's been talking about the offensive weapons, but you have to remember that in this league there are some teams with some pretty good defenses," Anderson said.

"You're obviously not going to score four or five touchdowns every game, even though the fans would love that. There's going to be some closer ballgames where you're going to have to kick some field goals." The Vikings know they can count on Anderson when that happens, the first time they have had that comfort level with their kicker since injuries started to derail Reveiz's career in 1995. "He clearly gives our team confidence because he's consistent," Green said. "Not only just on Sunday. He's consistent every day." Several members of the Bears' medical staff tend to punter Todd Sauerbrun after he was injured in Sunday's game in Tampa Bay.

Sauerbrun is not expected to play against the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday at Soldier Field. Daily Herald White Sauerbrun unlikely vs. Vikes Bv BOB LEGERE Daily Herald Sports Writer BEARS NOTES One of the best and most consistent weapons the Bears have had all season will probably not be available to them on Sunday at Soldier Field against the Minnesota Vikings. Punter Todd Sauerbrun is not expected to be in the lineup after suffering a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in his left knee last Sunday against the Buccaneers. An MRI Monday revealed the extent of the damage incurred when Tampa's Tony Bouie rolled into his leg just after Sauerbrun had gotten his punt off.

"Todd's attitude is, if the swelling goes down he'd like to wear a brace and try and kick this week," coach Dave Wannstedt said. "I think that's probably very optimistic on his part, orobably unrealistic, if only for the fact that after he kicked the ball he'd have to run down the field and possibly make a tackle, which he would not be able to do." Most ACL injuries result in surgery and a five to nine months rehabilitation. If that's what team doctors decide is Sauerbrun's best course of action, he would be lost for the season. But it's also possible he could wait until after the season to have surgery or that the injury could heal sufficiently enough on its own to allow Sauerbrun to play some time this season. "We're just going to take that day to day," Wannstedt said.

"The doctors want to give it a week or two to see how the thing develops and then take it from there." Sauerbrun is averaging 49.4 yards on 15 punts, which is third-best in the NFL. His net average of 42.1 yards is fourth in the NFL. "If you would say, 'Name a player or two that might be on the road to some postseason Wann- stedt said. "I think Todd was on that course." a One, two, three, kick: Five players will work out at Halas Hall today, hoping to fill the void left by Todd Sauerbrun's expected absence. Tommy Thompson, formerly of the San Francisco 49ers, Nick Gallery (New York Jets), John Kidd (Miami Dolphins, Northwestern Wildcats), Shane Edge (Kansas City Chiefs) and Mike Horan (St.

Louis Rams, Philadelphia Eagles) will compete for the vacancy. Linebacker-defensive end Steve Conley, who was cut in preseason by the Indianapolis Colts after playing two years with the Pittsburgh Steelers, is also expected to work out today. Conley, a Chicago native who won two state championships in the long jump and triple jump at -Luther South High School. His brother Mike won an Olympic gold medal in the triple jump. Steve Conley was the Steelers' third-round draft choice out of Arkansas in 1996, and he had 4 sacks last season.

Many happy returns: Glyn Milbum has already returned a kickoff and a punt for touchdowns this season. His 93-yard punt return against the Bucs came two weeks after his 88-yard Mckoff return in the season opener. No Bears player has done that since wide receiver Ike Hill in 1973. Milburn is averaging an even 20.0 yards on 8 punt returns this season, almost triple the Bears' 7.0- yard punt-return average of last season. His 25.2-yard Mckoff-return average is almost 4 yards better than last year's 21.4-yard team average.

BIB Head games: Safety John Mangum is doubtful this week with a concussion. Wide receiver and special teams player Fabien Bownes, who left the Bucs game with what was announced as a concussion, was actually suffering from "exertional migraines," according to Bears trainer Tim Bream. Bownes was fine on Monday and is expected to play against the Vikings. Cowboys win with ease Associated Press EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. Who needs Troy Aikman or Emmitt Smith when Deion Sanders does it all? Sanders returned a punt 59 yards for a touchdown; set up another TD with a 55-yard reception; and returned an interception 71 yards for a score, piling up 226 yards on offense, defense and special teams.

The result: a 31-7 victory over the New York Giants that put the Dallas Cowboys back where they think they should always be at the top of the NFC East. "I don't have to tell you, he's a special athlete," Cowboys quarterback Jason Garrett said. "He. does some unbelievable things and he does them over and over and over again," Garrett, making only his third career start for the injured Troy Aikman, connected with Billy Davis on an 80-yard TD pass and Sherman Williams ran 18 yards for a score after Sanders' long reception as Dallas (2-1) became the only team in the division with a winning record. The Cowboys, who fell to 6-10 and fourth place last season after five straight division titles, won despite being without two of their quartet of stars Aikman, who broke his collarbone last week, and Smith, who left in the second quarter with a pulled groin muscle and did not return.

Even Sanders, who added a 39- yard punt return in the third quar- ter, sat out most of the second quarter because of dehydration. "It's exhausting but I love it," Sanders said of his multiple roles. "It keeps me focused on the game." For the Giants (1-2), the loss broke a nine-game streak without a loss in the division they won last season with a 10-5-1 record. They had 11 penalties for 92 yards after getting 15 for 90 yards in a loss at Oakland last week and had no sacks after entering the game tied for the NFL lead with 13. How bad was it? At one point, the Giants had two straight illegal procedure calls against them and had five overall, three by left tackle Roman Oben.

That's not supposed to happen at home before a record crowd of 78,039. "I'm confused right now where this team is mentally," coach Jim Fassel said. "No matter what we tried, we just made mistake after mistake after mistake. More than once they made a play and our guys didn't. That's what the NFL is all about." Neither team crossed midfield in the first quarter.

But after the Giants first series of the second quarter, Sanders struck He took Brad Maynard's low punt, zigged left, then zigged right and zagged back into the middle of the field for the 15th return touchdown of his career, the fourth on a punt.