2011 NFL Season Preview: Chicago Bears

Chicago Bears

Front Office:

Owner: Virginia McCaskey

GM: Jerry Angelo

B: I want to give this group a higher grade but cannot do so. They have made the Super Bowl and come close other times, but it seems to only happen every 3 years or so. Too many 7-9 win seasons in between. Now with Cutler they are hoping for less inconsistency, but with their defense aging and the offensive line in shambles, this team could be in for a rough patch coming up in the next 1-2 years.

Coaching Staff

HC: Lovie Smith

OC: MikeMartz

DC: Rod Marinelli

B: As a Detroit Lions fan I really laughed when the Bears hired Mike Martz and Rod Marinelli since both were large parts to blame for a 0-16 Detroit Lions team. However, the Bears did well and the duo did an okay job. Plus the Bears beat the Lions both times last year…controversially, but still won. Marinelli has the makings of a good DC and Lovie Smith is a solid HC…Martz impressed me with his scaling back of the offense but he has now struggled at three straight spots. He is under fire this year to get more out of the Bears offense.

QB: B

Jay Cutler is immensely talented, but shows a tendency for turnovers. He also showcases poor leadership ability to the public. Caleb Hanie showed some talent in his brief audition last year I imagine teams will be gunning for him but it would be in the Bears best interest to keep him at least for another year.

RB: B

Matt Forte is Marshall Faulk light. His versatility in both the run and pass game ensures that he posts huge numbers in Mike Martz’s offense. His only weakness he has is in short yardage situations. Chester Taylor is his backup and could work well in this offense, but his age and salary number are both not in his favor. Marion Barber was brought in to add some tough in between the tackle running. I do not know how much he has left to give.

WR/TE C

Mike Martz’s powered offense is only successful if the team has a wealth of WR depth and talent. Bears are short on both. Johnny Knox could be a good number two, but there is no number one currently on this roster. Bears are hoping Roy Williams can rekindle the production he had with Martz and the Detroit Lions. So far he has mixed reviews, and he needs some time getting on the same page as Cutler. Earl Bennett and Devin Hester are okay depth guys but this unit needs a dominate number one guy to move everyone back one spot. TE is just another OT in Martz’s system.

OL: D

Mike Tice did a good job with little talent last year; his predicament is no different this year. Team is hoping that Roberto Garza can make the change to center and that talented but raw LT J’Marcus Webb will take a step forward this season. Bears are thankful that they were able to draft Gabe Carimi in the late first round. Though more of a road grader than pass protector, I believe he is capable of being a near pro bowl talent RT. Problem is at OG where Chris Williams and Lance Louis are both below average. This will be a long year.

DL: B+

Julius Peppers is still the most dominate DE in the game. This will be the last year this sentence is said. On the other side Israel Irondeje is capable pass rusher and solid vs. the run. Problem is he is no spring chicken. Bears are grooming Corey Woottoon to replace him but he might not be ready yet. DT Anthony Adams is solid but unspectacular. Though not flashy he gets the job done. Stephen Paea was taken in the second round and the Bears feel they got a steal. He will battle Henry Melton who has gained 30 pounds of muscle and looks to be the new pet project for Marinelli. All indications are Melton has had a very good offseason…problem is who wouldn’t vs. the Bears OL?

LB: B

Bryan Urlacher and Lance Briggs are still near Pro Bowl talents. Both are on the wrong side of thirty, though and the Bears do not have their replacements on their roster. The other OLB position has always been a revolving door. The LB unit has been the strength of the team for near 10 years and the Bears owe it to their history to start gathering talent to join and replace both Briggs and Urlacher in the relatively near future.

DB: C

Charles Tillman is still decent but no longer a near shut down CB. On the other side Tim Jennings will be picked on till they move him down. DJ Moore is a good slot CB. Team has decent prospects at safety in Major Wright and Chris Conte. The Bears are hoping that Correy Harris can tutor them. The talent on the team isn’t great, but they do fit the system .

2011 NFL Draft: C

Gabe Carimi was a steal where the Bears drafted him. I am still convinced he was the best OL in the draft. Many experts disagree with me, but I saw the guy play and was always impressed. He has the intangibles, playing style, and size the position requires. Stephen Paea was an okay pick. He is a capable run stuffer who gets some penetration into the backfield. Chris Conte has potential to be a CB or safety at the next level. This draft lacked depth and besides Carimi was marginal at best.

Offensive/ Defensive Sleepers

Matt Forte is known to be a solid RB. I think in year two of Martz’s system he will be a pro bowl talent and a PPR fantasy monster. With Carimi the OL will be better at run blocking so I would expect around 1150 yards rushing and 7 touchdowns. In the passing game I expect around 70 receptions for 600 yards and 2-3 touchdowns.

On defense, I think Major Wright will win a safety spot and show his leadership ability in the secondary. He is a more than capable run stuffer and is able to get 3-4 interceptions. I think he will be a pillar for this defense much the way Mike Brown was before him.

2012 Season Prediction: 8-8

With so many questions around Jay Cutler, the Bears lack of weapons for Mike Martz’s system, an OL with numerous questions, and a quickly aging defense, it is impossible for the Bears to match last season. I do think 8-9 wins is a possibility as well as competing with anyone on any given week. Face it Chicago: you are slowly moving down the food chain.

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