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Chicago Bears 2010: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly
by Seth Boster
Correspondent Written on June 30, 2010
Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images
Peer into the crystal ball of the Chicago Bears' upcoming season and about all you'll see is a dense shroud of fog.
It is an erratic cause to predict how the Bears will finish the 2010 campaign. Based on how the team finished last season, with a flustered gunslinger, an even more flustered offensive line, and a lifeless running attack, the Bears' offense looked like a malfunctioned machine.
Some fans find hope in the face of new offensive coordinator, Mike Martz. Some think Martz can spring a Jay Cutler bounce back, as his resume shows quarterback prowess.
That's only some though.
Others think Mad Martz's system won't compute with inexperienced receivers. Also, how will players like running back Matt Forte and tight end Greg Olsen fit into the equation?
On the defensive side of the ball, "The Monsters of the Midway" didn't look so monstrous at all last season.
A swarm of injury bugs hit hard, knocking out team leader, Brian Urlacher, for the season. Injuries also nagged starters Tommie Harris, Lance Briggs, and Charles Tillman.
Urlacher will return to perhaps the NFL's best linebacker corps. He, along with many others, will come back with a clear bill of health.
But can they keep it that way?
Questions litter Chicago as training camp looms nearer, and the fog inside the crystal ball shows no signs of clearing. There is no clear-cut answer to how this team will perform in 2010, there is only a wide range of aspects surrounding it that we can examine.
Some of those aspects are good, some bad, and some even ugly.
The Good
Jay Cutler
Yes, yes, the man who flung a humliating record 26 interceptions is "Good." His decision-making needs to improve. Under the strict tutelage of new coordinator, Mike Martz, Cutler has an opportunity to learn from the man who resurrected quarterbacks like Jon Kitna. To go along with the opportunity is Cutler's flat-out gifted ability.
Linebacker Committee
Brian Urlacher will return to the defensive unit in 2010, after a season-ending wrist injury, carrying with him six Pro Bowl showings. Alongside him is Lance Briggs, who is coming off of his fifth consecutive Pro Bowl nod. The other side consists of strong depth with Nick Roach, Pisa Tinoisamoa, and Hunter Hillenmeyer. The group, however old, makes up one of the league's most potent linebacker corps.
Speed
We all know you can't coach speed. Thank goodness the Bears have that. Perhaps Chicago's receivers lack experience and, at times, plain instinct, but at least they have speed. With players like Devin Hester and Johnny Knox, Martz can stretch the field like putty and create mismatches.
Experience on 'D'
Like speed, experience is another intangible that plays to strengths. On defense, the Bears have all sorts of experience stretching from Urlacher, to Charles Tillman, to Briggs, to Julius Peppers, all of whom combine for 36 years in the NFL and 16 Pro Bowl appearances.
Special Teams
Under special teams wizard, Dave Toub, the unit has consistently finished as one of the league's best. The return game can be handled by Hester, Knox, or Daniel Manning. Robbie Gould, the Bears' fifth all-time leader in points, is a trustworthy candidate to score in Chicago's inclement conditions.
The special teams unit has been the one solid throughout the Bears' past roller coaster three years, and will once again do its part in the winning effort in 2010.
Julius Peppers
The Midway's new monster will add a much needed dimension to Chicago's defense in 2010. The pass rush was a major woe last year. Peppers fits snug in Lovie Smith's cover 2 scheme. The sack machine is one of the NFL's most versatile athletes. His impact will make the entire defense a lot better.
Matt Forte Fitting the Martz Mold
After a lousy 2009 with a 3.5-yards-per-carry average, it would be nice to see Matt Forte return to his rookie days when he put over 1,200 yards on the ground. But let's not get our hopes up. Martz doesn't give much attention to his runners.
What's more, the few carries Forte could receive will be vultured by newcomer Chester Taylor. Chin up Forte fans. We saw last season that Forte can do wonders out of the backfield. In this year's offense, Forte will see a lot of action there. 1,000-yards through the air, anyone?
Pressure to Win
Lovie Smith, regarded as a stoic coach showing little passion, should show a little fire in 2010. The pressure to win will bring out a Smith whose coaching will have to be at the top of its game and generate a winning season. Smith knows in the back of his mind that losing is not an option this season if he wants to remain employed with the Bears.
The Bad
Inexperienced Receivers
2010 will practically be last season's late bloomer Devin Aromashodu's first year as a full-time player. He's the guy expected to be No. 1 come regular season kickoff. After Aromashodu is Knox, Hester and Earl Bennett. Knox will be in his second year. Hester in the fourth year of his receiver-converted mess of a project. Next is Bennett, who has yet to prove he can succeed in the NFL.
These are the players in charge of picking up Martz's complex system. These are Cutler's options. Yikes.
Injury-Prone Defense
The medical bill is expensive for players on Chicago's defense. Bumps and bruises have closely followed the unit. Last year saw the worst of it. A new face seemingly went down each week. Think of the defense as a chair and its players legs. Without all of its legs, the chair doesn't stand. In 2010, the Bears' defense needs its legs.
Players Not Fitting into the Martz Offense
I'm not saying Martz is bringing in a bad offense. Not necessarily. But it is pretty scary to think about.
The Chicago Bears tradition has never revolved around the passing game like it will this season. To make it work, the Bears will count on Cutler. The offense will be the fourth new offense that Cutler has had to master in the past four seasons. Sound like a lot to ask for?
It's even more to ask when Cutler's choices through the air aren't reliable. Chicago's best receiver is tight end Greg Olsen. Tight ends are there to block in Martz's world though, and blocking isn't exactly Olsen's specialty. Either Martz makes Olsen fit, or one of the offense's strongest weapons takes a back seat. Hmmm...
Unreliable Running Game
With how things turned out last season, we'll classify Chicago's running assault as "unreliable." The fault doesn't all land on Forte for last season, who battled injuries and failed to eclipse the 1,000 yard mark despite over 250 touches. No. A highly inconsistent offensive line proved incapable last season, forcing Forte to make the best of things.
A passing offense could keep defenses honest in 2010 and provide the running game more room. Also, Forte won't have to carry everything alone. A seasoned Taylor can provide reassurance.
Clashing Philosophies
Smith prefers to "get off the bus running." Martz prefers to "get off the bus throwing."
There was a time in St. Louis where Martz was the boss over Smith. Actually, Smith had nothing to do with the offensive play calling. This time around, Smith is the boss over Martz. As head coach, he has a little something to do with the offense. Now, Smith is one to avoid drama. However, could two very opposite football personalities collide over the season?
The Ugly
The Offensive Line
Simply put, the bigguns up front did not get it done last season. Actually, that's an understatement.
The boys let their QB get sacked a ridiculous 35 times in 2009 and led the NFL's 27th ranked rushing game.
In the Martz offense, Cutler will be making five-step drop backs, allowing receivers to get down field, and needing plenty of time to work. This line, which failed to be upgraded over the offseason, is not able to provide Cutler that pocket time. New line coach Mike Tice has his hands full with this ugly group.
The Schedule
If I sound pessimistic in this article, I don't mean to. Believe me, I think the Bears are an improved team this year with significant talent on paper. At a glance, they are an above average squad.
But the Bears will miss the playoffs this year mainly because the team is in the same division as the Vikings and Packers. Those two teams are not just playoff contenders, they are Superbowl candidates. Along with those four games, the Bears also will face the Cowboys, Giants, Dolphins, Eagles, Patriots, and Jets.
It doesn't take a pessimist to say the Bears will lose 10 games in 2010. In fact, some might call those people realists.
The Throwbacks
The team is to wear these rags from 1940 in select games to "honor" the Bears of old. In this day and age, nothing about this uniform is honorable.
Desire and Motivation
Since 2007, we have been watching a team that's missing a certain sense of urgency. Last season in particular, we saw the Bears take some pretty ugly defeats. For example, when the Bengals and Cardinals both scored over 40 points.
Cutler has not led a winning team in college nor the pros. Not to condemn, but can we say the team is led by a winner? If the Bears are to succeed this year, the team needs to first shape up the attitude.
The Repercussions of Failure
If this team fails to win in 2010, the organization could take a turn for the worst. The club is in a position where it has no choice but to clean house at the end of an unsuccessful season. Out goes Smith, and most of his coaching staff. Out possibly even goes GM Jerry Angelo. Usually, when these types of moves are made and new front offices are hired, it signifies rebuilding.
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