Chicago Bears: NFL Predicts Their 2018 Most Valuable Player
By Erik Lambert
In order for the Chicago Bears to finally get off the mat and back to winning, they need their best players to start playing like stars.
The problem has been the team simply doesn’t have enough of them. That may have finally changed this year. Chicago already had some pieces in place with that capability including Mitch Trubisky, Jordan Howard, Leonard Floyd and Akiem Hicks. The coaching staff was revamped over the past few months in order to make those men more effective. Still, GM Ryan Pace knew he needed more playmakers. So he got aggressive in free agency and the draft.
What followed was possibly the most productive offseason on paper the Bears have had in 10 years. That’s not an exaggeration. They got better, or at least deeper, at almost every position on the roster. People don’t understand how hard that is to do. The question is who will be the man amidst this newfound wealth that ends up leading the way to success? NFL.com analyst Dan Hanzus went across every depth chart and selected his likely 2018 MVPs.
His choice for the Bears? Rather unexpected.
Allen Robinson will be the one to carry the Bears out of the cellar
"“This is a time of optimism around the Bears, who might actually be — gasp! — fun to watch this season. Much of that has to do with an emerging young core on offense shepherded by first-year coach Matt Nagy, fresh off a stint building the Chiefs into a powerful attack under Andy Reid.Robinson was Chicago’s centerpiece signing in free agency, and the hope is that the wideout and second-year quarterback Mitchell Trubisky will be the town’s biggest power couple since Jay Cutler and Kristin Cavallari (OK, bad example).Robinson is the clear-cut No. 1 receiver and — assuming his recovery from knee surgery goes according to plan — will be a focal point in an offense that will feature plenty of downfield passing. Remember, Robinson once went 80/1,400/14 with Blake Bortles throwing him the rock. To quote a Windy City icon: “The ceiling is the roof.”"
The Bears knew going into this year that to make Trubisky a success, they need a genuine wide receiver. Somebody who could force defenses to pull precious bodies out of the box to deal with him. Allen Robinson was the best available in free agency. While he’s coming off that torn ACL from last year, he flashed superstar ability in 2015. What could happen when he has a more accurate quarterback to get him the ball?
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That’s what the Bears are dying to find out. If he regains his old form, this offense just became infinitely more dangerous. Defenses will have a choice. Load the box to stop Howard and leave him one-on-one. Or roll coverage to him and have fewer bodies to throw at Howard. It’s the football equivalent of a Catch 22 that Chicago is dying to put them in. It’s why Robinson was signed. This scenario is something every Bears fan can get behind.