1952 CHICAGO BEARS: 'Cause You Start Lying to Me There's Gonna Be a River Between Us'

By TJ Troup 

The quote in the title is from one of my heroes...Raylan Givens and today is Tim Oliphant's birthday.

The saga of the '52 Bears is interesting for a number of reasons. You ask why? Ready for the answer? Here goes. During a 54-game span from the beginning of the 1947 season to the halfway mark of the '51 campaign, the Bears won 41 and lost but 13. Impressive, yet they had one playoff appearance to show for all those victories (they lost in the Coliseum to the Rams in December of '50). 

The Neft & Cohen Football Encyclopedia is a vital source of information and on page 200 of the Early Years edition the following short synopsis of the '52 season: "Four years ago George Halas had a marvelous stable of quarterbacks in Sid Luckman, Johnny Lujack, and Bobby Layne; now Luckman was gracefully retired. Lujack had quit with a bad shoulder, and Layne was leading the Detroit Lions to a league championship. 

Stuck with a pair of unproven quarterbacks in George Blanda and Steve Romanik, the Bears dropped below the .500 mark for the first time since 1945 and only the second time since 1929. Halas and his staff believe they can rebound from the failure to win the conference crown in '51 after being in first place in November, yet many questions need to be answered. 

The Chicago Bears have had success in the draft many times in their history (and some seasons that were a disaster), but the '52 draft remains one of the best in Bear history. Let's take a look at those youngsters. The first nine drafted by the Bears in '52 all make the team and contribute. Jim Dooley was the 8th overall pick in the draft, and while he play well most of his career; there were better players available, and you just might take the time to look at the '52 draft overall and form your own opinion on who the Bears should have taken first. 

Clark Shaughnessy might be listed as a consultant, but he is the defensive coordinator who is still formulating a number of creative defensive alignments. Bear players had to be very sharp mentally (especially the linebackers) to absorb his verbiage and understand their responsibilities. 

The Bears would align in a 5-3-3, and also a 5-2-4. The defense would overshift, and align in gaps, thus hopefully creating lanes to "red dog". You would see some Bear defenders attempting to play a rudimentary zone coverage underneath, while the deep defenders were almost always in man coverage. 

Rookie Jack Hoffman is the starter at left defensive end, and the rangy youngster has an impressive first year. He sheds blocks, pressures passers, and can play the run. Rookie Fred Williams is the starting left defensive tackle. His size and strength are apparent right from the get-go, and he will earn numerous trips to the Pro Bowl in his long career. 

Rookie Herman Clark aligns at middle guard. Sometimes he stays aligned there, but many times he stands up to become a middle linebacker. He moves well for a big man and is very capable in pursuit. While not the best-tackling linebacker, he is learning on the job. Rookie Bill Bishop is the starting right defensive tackle, and he also demonstrates he has a bright future in the league as a run defender. 

Ed Sprinkle

Joining the four rookies on the D-line is veteran Ed Sprinkle. He lacks size, but not toughness. Sprinkle is a top-notch pass rusher and is still capable in pursuit, but at times he struggles in defending the run. Ed is again chosen for the Pro Bowl due to his big play ability. 

Drafted the year before as a future, Bill George gets plenty of playing time at left linebacker, and in some of Shaughnessy's defenses, he puts his hand in the dirt, shoots the gap and rushes the passer. He also is the starting right offensive guard thus more on him when that side of the ball is detailed. When he returns from his military commitment Bones 

Weatherly is the starting left linebacker, and sometimes even plays left safety. Weatherly is an excellent pass defender, and swift in pursuit, but struggles at times to stop the run. 

George Connor

The leader of the defense is linebacker George Connor. Savvy, strong, and versatile he plays both left and right linebacker during the campaign. Connor will be discussed even more as he starts at offensive left tackle. Many times have written about the defensive passer rating, and during '51 the Bears ranked 9th with a mark of 66.5 (league average was 52.9) and was a key reason why the Bears fell from first place late in the season. 

The 1952 Bear secondary ranks 11th out of 12 teams in this key statistical category with a mark of 66.8 (league average is 57.7). Al Campana starts a few games, is aligned at safety (both left and right), and does very little to help the defense and is gone after the season. 

Jim Dooley will align at the left corner a few times, but he is almost always the starting right corner and leads the team in interceptions. Shaughnessy has defenses where starting safety Don Kindt and Dooley switch places, and would relish telling you why, but cannot. 

The season begins with John Hoffman as the starting right safety when the Bears are in a four-man secondary. Athletic, and speedy for a big man, he is an alert pass defender. He misses many games with injury, and when he returns late in the year, he usually is the starting left corner. 

Don Kindt is by far the Bears best pass defender and is a strong tackler. Film study shows him ranging all over the field in pursuit, many times since his teammates are out of position. Billy Stone begins the year as the starting left corner, and he also is an able pass defender. He is an average tackler at best, and contributes far more on offense. 

The season begins in Green Bay with a 24-14 victory, and in week two the Bears head across town to play the Cardinals at Comiskey Park. Rookie Ollie Matson is the star of the game, but that old Bear nemesis Charlie Trippi dashes 59 yards for a touchdown to ensure a 21-10 win. 

The fledgling Dallas Texans are destroyed at Wrigley on October the 12th, thus the Bears at 2-1 are right back in the race, and will face a team that they beat all three times they have played them; the San Francisco 49ers. The Niners have scored just 27 points total in those losses, but this team is different in that they have royalty at halfback in Hugh McElhenny. 

The game is highlighted in the NFL's Best Teams, Best Years series in the 49er edition. McElhenny returns a punt 94 yards for a score in the 40-16 win. Watching "The King" weave, and dash through the Bears attempted punt coverage paints a dreadful picture of an area Halas never really addresses. 

Covering kicks can surely help you win a game, but you would never know this when watching Bears "special teams" (an oxymoron if there ever was one). Why would Bulldog Turner be on the punt team at this point in his career? 

The Bears travel to Los Angeles to take on a Ram team that is struggling and has already made a coaching change. Turnover after turnover occurs over the course of the first three quarters and the Bears lead 7-3. The Rams and Bears have become hardbitten rivals over the past five years with Chicago having won five and Los Angeles four. 

Many of the games have twists and turns, and plenty of excitement. 

The key play in this game so far is at the beginning of the 3rd quarter. Bill George recovered Dan Towler's fumble on the Los Angeles twenty-yard line, and now on 4th down and a yard to go, Chuck Hunsinger is stopped for no gain. 

The Bears first drive in the 4th quarter has Blanda attempting a 51-yard field goal which is short and returned by safety Jerry Williams. 

First and ten on the Bear twenty-yard line and Romanik's pass is pilfered by rookie right corner Richard "Night Train" Lane and returned 30 yards to the Bear four-yard line. Rams punch it in and take the lead. Bob Carey kicks off and there he is again involved in the kicking game . . . Bulldog Turner trundles 29 yards to his own forty-five-yard line. 

Blanda again misses a field goal, and here comes the Rams again. Van Brocklin rifles to Fears for the score. The Bears have the ball on their own twenty-five, with no T-formation quarterback in the game? 

The week before in the loss to the 49ers Halas sent in Whizzer White to play tailback and in a version of what many of you would call "the Wildcat" ran the ball a few times. Down 24-7 with about 4 minutes left Halas again sends in White to run the ball out of this formation. 

Four consecutive running plays by White and he has gained 22 yards, with a fifteen-yard penalty also accessed on Los Angeles for a personal foul. First and ten on the Ram forty-one, White throws incomplete, and then on second down lost six. 

Third down, and White cannot find running room, and foolishly weaves his way backward towards his own goal 51 yards, before his arm is hooked, and he fumbles. Ken Casner scoops up the ball and lumbers two yards to score.  Final Los Angeles 31 Chicago 7. 

The Bears return home after beating the Niners at Kezar in a contentious battle to take on a Packer team that is improved. Late in the first quarter, Parilli has pitched to rookie sensation Bill Howton for a score, but speedy Leon Campbell sprints 86 yards with the ensuing kickoff. Early third quarter and Rote has thrown a touchdown pass to Cone, and again on the ensuing kickoff, a Bear goes the distance as rookie Eddie Macon dashes 89 yards to score. 

Now early in the fourth quarter Reichardt of the Packers attempts a 43-yard field goal which is partially blocked, but the ball is still bouncing towards the Bear goal line, and Whizzer White has the pigskin bounce off his arm (ruled a fumble) and John Martinkovic scores for the Packers. 

A Green Bay 41-24 victory where the score is nowhere near an indicator of how well the Packers played, and how mistake-prone the Bears are. If there ever was a player who deserved to be Player of Week for a game—it is defensive end John Martinkovic wreaks havoc with his pass rush, and he also partially blocked a Morrison punt, and as previously mentioned scored on a fumble recovery. Five games left and here comes a Ram team that has won three straight to vault themselves back in contention for the conference crown. 

Los Angeles scored 42 points at Wrigley in December of '51 to position themselves to win the division, could they possibly score at will against this inconsistent Bear defense again? 

You betcha! 

First play of the game the Night Train intercepts, and eventually Waterfield kicks a field goal. 

Next Ram possession Van Brocklin isolates Vitamin T. Smith on linebacker Weatherly and lofts a perfect pass to the speedy back for 80 yards and a score. 

Late in the first quarter, the Bears had first and ten on the Ram thirteen, and a chance to get back in the game. Four failed plays, and is written in the play by plays "fans boo as Bears leave the field". Second quarter and Van Brocklin finds Hirsch open in the endzone behind Connor and Dooley. Rams 17 Bears 3. The Bears fight back, as Blanda zips a pass to rookie Bill McColl in the endzone for the first touchdown of his career. When Don Kindt recovered Towler's fumble at the Los Angeles forty-two, the Bear offense moves to the Los Angeles twenty-eight. 

Blanda then misses the field goal try from the thirty-five. Los Angeles's first possession of the second half ends with Don Kindt intercepting Waterfield and returning to the Ram thirty-seven, but he fumbles and Ram center Leon McLaughlin recovers. Late in the quarter and Van Brocklin after two deft fakes delivers a strike to Hirsch for 84 yards and a touchdown. Dooley does not even chase Hirsch (stated in the play-by-play). Chicago first and ten on their own thirty-nine, and halfback Eddie Macon loses the handle on the ball. 

Right defensive end Andy Robustelli recovers, and as he goes down pitches the ball forward (are you listening Ken Stabler?). Jack Dwyer grabs the ball and scores. The scorekeeper listed this play as a lateral by Robustelli and a 12-yard fumble-return touchdown by Dwyer. 

Possibly the scorekeeper did not think that Dwyer had control of the all until he was at the Chicago twelve-yard line? The Papa Bear comes onto the field to dispute the play and is penalized. Carey kicks off from the Bear 45 and Hunsinger returns to his own four-yard line. 

Macon in attempting to sweep left is tackled in the end zone by spirited rookie right corner of the Rams....yes you guessed it...Night Train Lane. The first play of the fourth quarter and the play-by-play states Van Brocklin "pulls" the Waterfield fake, hits Bob Carey at midfield, and a twisting 61-yard run, tearing away from several tacklers. 

The Rams now lead 40 to 10. The Bears score twice in the fourth quarter to demonstrate they have not quit, yet another loss 40-24. 

Detroit is leading the division, and Bobby Layne would relish beating his old boss on his home turf, but the Bears play spirited football and defeat the Lions 24-23! The Bear offense was polished, creative, and consistent in the victory, so let's take a look at who played on that side of the ball for the Bears. 

The left offensive end post for Chicago was handled by Bill Wightkin and Bill McColl, and both men also played some at right end. Ed Sprinkle even filled in a few times at right end. Gene Schroeder played some at right end, and also "flanked" out on the right thus he would be listed as a halfback (he even took a few turns in the secondary). George Connor usually started at left offensive tackle, and he was selected as an All-Pro linebacker, but he was still an effective o-tackle. 

When Connor needed a rest, Bobby Cross in his only year as a Bear filled in. This is the fourth year of the substitution rule, but many players had the skills necessary to go both ways, and Connor was sure one of them. Who logged the most minutes during the year you ask? Boy oh boy would I relish having the answer. Connor would be among the men who logged the most minutes, along with Nomellini and a couple others. 

 Dick Barwegan

The starting left offensive guard is handled by Dick Barwegan. Powerful, and quick Barwegan received all-pro votes for his performance. Wayne Hansen was a capable starting center, while rookie Bill George started at right guard, though Frank Dempsey and Ed Bradley got lots of playing time when Bill George concentrated on defense. The Bulldog is at the end of the line, yet he is the starting right offensive tackle week in and week out. He can drive block, he just does not move as well as he did when he was an All-Pro center in the '40s. 

Since many teams would have the tackle down block on the defensive tackle on dropback pass plays, that meant the right guard pulled and blocked the defensive end. Thus, on film, you can see rookie offensive guard Bill George pull, and cut block rookie left defensive end Gino Marchetti of the Texans. Priceless! Wonder if these two men when they became aged warhorses in the '60's discussed these plays at the Pro Bowl in Los Angeles? 

The Bears have one of the best fullbacks in the league, and Halas no doubt wanted him to be the featured back in the offense. John "Kayo" Dottley was the whole package . . . .speed for a big man, quick nimble feet, demonstrating he could change direction, he ran with power and bounced off many a tackler. His injury in the Coliseum basically ended a very promising career (he would return, but be a shell of what he once was). So who would carry the ball for a team that prided itself on a strong ground attack?

Basically halfback by committee - led by Curly Morrison - who at times really sparkled. Chuck Hunsinger had played well in the past, but in his last year as a Bear just did not get the job done. After the debacle against he Rams Whizzer White got very few chances in his last year in Chicago. Rookie Eddie Macon flashed ability and would return for '53, but the jury was out on how much he could handle? 

Previously mentioned Billy Stone as a corner, and he had proven in 1950 with the Colts he was a weapon as a receiver out of the backfield, and he did so with the Bears in '52. While not a great runner, he was at least adequate. 

Finally, Babe Dimanchef and Leon Campbell with their speed got a few opportunities. Blanda and Romanik were mentioned with the Neft & Cohen quote, but Bobby Williams started seven games in '52 and early in the campaign was accurate though he lacked a strong arm. Romanik held the ball too long and just was not as accurate a passer for the Bear passing attack, which takes us to Blanda. 

Halas never had the belief in Blanda as a passer. There was no doubt about his leadership and toughness, and George Blanda could force a pass into coverage with the best of the. During the draft Halas used a "future" pick on Ed Brown, and that will lead to more stories on the history of the Bears, but that is for another time. Back to the season. 

Victory in Wrigley over the Lions should have inspired the Bears to finish strong, but the disaster that awaited them in the Rubber Bowl in Akron Ohio is a story for another day. 

Yes, folks will tell you all about the Dallas Texans in my next saga (trying to whet your appetite). The loss to the lowly Texans and a shellacking by Lions in the return match at Briggs (again the Bears allowed over 40 points) takes us to the final game of the year. 

The Cardinals come to Wrigley and in a bitter hard-fought defensive battle the Bears prevailed to end the season on a winning note at 5-7. 

Jim Brown

Shifting gears to the greatest running back of all-time in JB. Am so thankful to have seen him play in person in '62, and twice in the Pro Bowl which of course included the final game of his career. 

So many talk about his power and speed for a big man, yet very little is said about what I believe was his best physical attribute—incredible balance, which he used to summon up that chiseled body to attack defenders. 

RIP JB! 

Lastly returning to the title . . . "With no bridge to cross".