Defense determined to perform better on third down

Improving on third down was a main focus for the Bears defense on Thursday. 

The unit ranks 24th in the NFL in that critical aspect of the game after allowing the Falcons to convert 5 of 12 opportunities (41.7 percent) in last Sunday night’s 21-14 loss in the Georgia Dome.

“We went over a bunch of third downs from the Atlanta game because of how important third down is,” said linebacker Lance Briggs. “Lovie [Smith] just really pointed out on each of those third downs how we could have gotten out of them, and it was really simple stuff.”

Asked if there was one common problem on those plays, Smith said: “A couple times we didn’t get lined up quick enough. It was as simple as that; just getting proper alignment. We’re close with the third downs like we are with a lot of things. Hopefully we can take that next step this week.”

The Bears allowed the Falcons to convert 4 of 4 third-down chances on Atlanta’s three touchdown drives, including Matt Ryan’s 10-yard TD pass to tight end Tony Gonzalez on third-and-goal.

Last Sunday night’s loss marked the first time the Bears defense allowed more than one touchdown without forcing its opponent to settle for a field goal attempt since a 21-16 loss to the New York Giants on Dec. 2, 2007 at Soldier Field, a span of 26 games.

Briggs is confident that the defense will perform better Sunday in Cincinnati.

“To me, our great game is coming,” he said. “It should start this week, where we can start distinguishing ourselves and saying, ‘Hey, this is the way we need to be each week, week-in and week-out, and why not Cincinnati?”

Ogunleye focusing on this season, not future

Bears general manager Jerry Angelo has insisted that last Friday’s acquisition of defensive end Gaines Adams doesn’t mean that veteran Adewale Ogunleye won’t return next season.

Ogunleye, who is in the final year of his contract, said Thursday that he isn’t wasting any time worrying about where he’ll be a year from now. 

“It’s a part of life,” said Ogunleye, who leads the Bears with 4½ sacks. “You do think about that kind of stuff before the season, but as soon as the season starts, it’s my goal to just really focus on my play on the field, and I think if I continue to play well, then I’ll control my own destiny.

"I love Chicago. I would love to be here, but at the same time I’ve got to continue to play well.”

Ogunleye has been impressed with what he’s seen so far of Gaines, a 26-year-old who was obtained by the Bears from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in exchange for a 2010 second-round draft pick.

“I like him,” Ogunleye said. “He’s got a lot of talent. He’s a little raw. Definitely him here with coach [Rod] Marinelli is going to help him out a lot, and with me and Alex [Brown], it’s going to help him out a lot. 

"We’re definitely going to help him out, getting his steps right and just the way he plays the game. His awareness of the game, [we’re] going to get that up a little bit. But he’s a good talent. Management did well getting him in here.”

Harris, Peterson miss second straight practice

For the second straight day Thursday, defensive tackle Tommie Harris (knee) and running back Adrian Peterson (knee) were held out of practice in advance of Sunday’s game in Cincinnati. View Bears-Bengals injury report

Asked about Harris sitting out, coach Lovie Smith said: “It was precautionary, but whenever a player misses a couple days, there’s a little bit of concern. Hopefully he’ll be ready to go [Friday].”

Bears safety Josh Bullocks (ankle), defensive back Corey Graham (ankle) and safety Kevin Payne (toe) were limited; while linebacker Hunter Hillenmeyer (rib) and defensive tackle Israel Idonije (knee) practiced without limitations.

Bengals defensive end Antwan Odom (Achilles) is out; defensive lineman Jonathan Fanene (illness) and defensive tackles Tank Johnson (foot) and Domata Peko (knee) and safety Roy Williams (forearm) did not practice; offensive tackle Andre Smith (foot) was limited; and tight end Dan Coats (shoulder), running back Brian Leonard (groin), defensive end Frostee Rucker (ankle) and defensive tackle Pat Sims (biceps) practiced without restrictions.

Roach raises level of play; his voice is next

Lance Briggs has been impressed with how Nick Roach has performed at middle linebacker in the Bears’ last three games. The former Northwestern star moved inside from the strongside position when Hunter Hillenmeyer sustained a rib injury Sept. 27 in a win over the Seahawks.

“Nick does well,” Briggs said. “Nick recognizes everything. He’s a smart guy, a very smart player. He recognizes all the formations. He can get us in all the checks.”

Roach is tied for second on the Bears with 29 tackles after recording 10 stops in each of the last two games against the Lions and Falcons. He also had a sack, tackle-for-loss, quarterback hit and pass breakup versus Detroit.

Briggs does have one complaint about Roach, however.

“He’s got the Lovie [Smith] voice box though,” Briggs said with a laugh. “He doesn’t enunciate like say a [Brian] Urlacher or a Hunter Hillenmeyer. When Nick talks, we’ve got to make sure we’ve got our ears on and we’re echoing so everyone can hear. But he’s working on it. He’s going to get better.

“[His voice] doesn’t get squeaky. It’s just like being in the backseat of a car. You’ve got the volume, but it only goes so high. You’ve got that parental control in the front.”

When informed of Briggs’ comments, Roach looked around the Bears locker room and jokingly shouted, “I don’t know what he means by that, wherever he might be.”

Lowering his voice, Roach said: “I know it’s something I’m conscious about. I try to work on it every day and yeah, they remind me of it from time to time. I don’t know what it is. I feel like I’m yelling, but the guys are like, ‘Huh?’"

Bears players not surprised by Benson's success

Cedric Benson’s ex-Bears teammates aren’t surprised that he has blossomed in Cincinnati. The Bengals running back ranks third in the NFL in rushing heading into Sunday’s game against his former team.

“You saw glimpses of that here,” said defensive end Adewale Ogunleye. “I think a lot of the off-the-field issues kind of got in the way with stuff, and it came at a time when the NFL was trying to crack down on the off-the-field stuff. All that combined and his perceived lack of production kind of went against him.”

“He’s a quality back,” added linebacker Lance Briggs. “He was picked No. 4 in the draft for a reason. He’s done well at the college level. He just wasn’t a good fit for Chicago.”

Benson was waived by the Bears on June 9, 2008 after being arrested twice in five weeks for alcohol-related transgressions in Texas. The 2005 first-round pick appeared in 35 games with 12 starts in three seasons in Chicago, rushing for 1,593 yards and 10 touchdowns on 420 carries, a 3.8-yard average.

In his second season with the Bengals, Benson has rushed for 531 yards and 4 TDs on 127 carries.

“He’s a downhill runner,” Briggs said. “He’s a physical-type of runner. He gets to going downhill at full speed. To me, that’s when he’s dangerous. He’s got a quick two first steps. I’ve noticed that in watching him. But [he does] a lot of the similar things that I saw when he was here. He puts his head down and runs through tackles.”

Ogunleye insisted that it’ll be business as usual for the defense Sunday when the Bears face Benson.

“I don’t have anything personal against him,” Ogunleye said. “I’m not sure how he feels [about] this organization, but if I was him I wouldn’t even worry. He’s having a great season. He’s playing phenomenal, and he’s running well.

“Cedric’s his own kind of guy and whatever he needs to get him motivated for the game, he’s going to do that. At the same time, we need to know in the back of our head, with or without the motivation, he’s playing well. He hasn’t played us all season, and he’s been playing good.

“We’ve got to be on our ‘A’ game against him. He’s the kind of running back that doesn’t do a lot of cuts. He gets up the field and he brings his pads with him, so we’ve got to be on our ‘A’ game.”