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KORDELL'S KONFIDENCE IS ALREADY SHOT

Rarely in the history of the NFL has there been a quarterback whose performance in any
given week is influenced heavily by his performance in the preceding week's game.

But Bears quarterback Kordell Stewart has brought to the position a mindset that allows
him gradually to build on success, and quickly to wallow in failure.

In Stewart's Pro Bowl season of 2001, Steelers offensive coordinator Mike Mularkey
brick-by-bricked Kordell's confidence level, relying on the running game and switching to
the pass once opposing defenses were obsessed with stopping Jerome Bettis.

Consider the facts.

In a week one loss at Jacksonville, Kordell had 181 yards passing and two picks. After
the 9/11 postponement week and a week two bye, Kordell had only 105 yards passing in a
20-3 win at Buffalo.

The next week, Stewart had 151 yards passing in a 16-7 win over the Bungles. The
following week at K.C., Kordell had 141 yards and his first touchdown pass of the season.

In the Steelers' "breakout" win at Tampa, when the boys from the 'Burgh first were
recognized as a Super Bowl contender, Stewart threw for only 100 yards, with two picks.
There was a touchdown pass in that game . . . but it came from Jerome Bettis.

With the team at 4-1, Stewart had four interceptions, an average of less than 140 yards
passing per week, and as many touchdown passes as the Bus.

And that's when it happened. Mike Mularkey somehow coaxed Kordell into taking advantage
of the looks he was getting. In a high-profile Monday night game against the Titans,
Stewart threw for 252 yards and a touchdown on the way to a 34-7 win.

From there, Stewart's confidence continued to grow. Until, of course, it was shattered
(again) in an AFC championship game loss to the underestimated Patriots, when Stewart
threw two late picks (three total) as the Steelers' Super Bowl run came crashing to a
halt.

The consequences of that title game tanking carried into 2002, landing Stewart on the
bench after only a few weeks, and ending his career in Pittsburgh.

So when they signed Stewart in the offseason, the Bears knew that they were getting a good
physical specimen with a delicate psyche. Although the team arguably didn't spend enough
time tailoring its offense to his specific skills, there were constant efforts to get
Kordell in the proper mindset. Indeed, we got a phone call at one point from a member of
the Bears front office regarding our criticisms of Kordell's struggles with John Shoop's
complex offense.

And after a week one debacle in San Francisco, quarterback (coach) Greg Olson candidly
admits that the team's primary challenge this week has been rebuilding Kordell's
confidence.

What Olson doesn't realize is that Kordell's confidence can't be restored quickly.
Stewart never will rebound from a bad game with a good game. Instead, the Bears need to
let him fade into the background for a few weeks (as the Steelers did in 2001), and hope
that his confidence slowly will regenerate.

The problem in Chicago is that the Bears don't have the horses to carry the running game
while Kordell limits his throws. Given the news that speedster David Terrell will be
getting more reps, it looks like the Bears' plan to get Stewart's head screwed on straight
by letting him throw the deep ball, like he did late in the 2001 season to Plaxico
Burress.

It won't work. Kordell will overthrow and/or underthrow Terrell, resulting in more picks,
more losses, and (we predict) a hook for Stewart by the middle of October.

mr_.brian_allen_aka_ferk_sperm_catcher

**** kordell penis!!

why do you seem to worry about how Kordell feels

a-your his lover
b-racist faggot
c-all of the above

quickly.

Bears need to

2001), and hope

the running game

Terrell will be

screwed on straight

Plaxico

resulting in more picks,

ron dahler

Groid.

October.

Is binks easy or what? LOL