Dec. 07--Lost in the frustration of the Bears' 26-20 overtime loss to the 49ers on Sunday was another strong showing by outside linebacker Willie Young. Young recorded 11/2 sacks to give the pass rush some life. And he did so against 49ers left tackle Joe Staley, a four-time Pro Bowl selection and one of the game's best technicians.
Young knew sound preparation would be key to counter Staley's toughness and athleticism.
"Whenever you have a guy like that, it's crucial to lock in," Young said. "There's definitely a lot of strategy involved. When I saw him after the game, I told him, 'Look, man. I didn't get no sleep watching you all week. I want you to know that. So you weren't just slipping. I had to really (prepare).'
"I kept telling my son, 'Go on and watch some cartoons or something. I've got studying to do. I'm playing Joe Staley this week.'"
On the first-quarter sack that Young split with defensive end Jarvis Jenkins, he used quick hands to overpower Staley and made a diving lunge to corral quarterback Blaine Gabbert.
Young also took Gabbert down for a loss of 6 on the first play of the 49ers' game-tying drive late in regulation.
Young now has at least one sack in each of the last three games and continues to show progress at a new position in a new scheme less than a year after blowing out the Achilles tendon in his left leg.
"He's been grinding," fellow outside linebacker Pernell McPhee said.
Home insecurity: Sunday's loss dropped the Bears to 1-5 at Soldier Field, a troubling trend for a team that has shown heart and resilience on the road. Right tackle Kyle Long said the Bears take great pride in their 4-2 road record and need to find an added edge at home.
Said Long: "We put a big emphasis on being road warriors. ... I guess we might find that extra something when (we) go on the road. When you know that it's us against the entire stadium, that kind of gives you that extra juice. We have to be able to find that at home."
Tricked again: The Bears appeared to deliver their first special teams touchdown of the season early in Sunday's game when, on a trick punt return, Bryce Callahan went 65 yards to the end zone. But the score was nullified and the ball brought back to the 49ers' 41 because of a holding call against LaRoy Reynolds, who lost sense of where Callahan was and became too aggressive in trying to block 49ers running back Kendall Gaskins.
As Reynolds grabbed Gaskins' right forearm and pulled him away from Callahan, several flags flew.
"It sucks," Reynolds said "Because you hate to be the guy that didn't execute or caused the play not to be successful."
Rich Campbell contributed.
dwiederer@tribpub.com
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