NFL.com news: Exit Interview: Bears hope 2012 isn't another star-crossed season
Good find Mark. I just copied it here so the guys didn't have to wait for the link to open the page. That took awhile on my machine and it's fairly fast. Hope you don't mind. Not trying to steal the thunder.
Chicago Bears Exit Interview: Bears hope 2012 isn't another star-crossed season
- http://static.nfl.com/static/content..._110827_65.jpg
- By Elliot Harrison NFL.com
- Analyst
- Published: Feb. 14, 2012 at 06:11 a.m.
- Updated: Feb. 14, 2012 at 04:47 p.m.
- Liked: 0 | Comments: 67
http://static.nfl.com/static/content...20214_spot.jpg AP The Bears' 2011 season took a big hit when QB Jay Cutler and RB Matt Forte (above) went down with injuries.
With the 2011 season in the rearview mirror, it's time for NFL.com's annual "Exit Interviews," a chance to review the ups and downs of each team's past season and spin it forward.
2011 in a Nutshell: Thumbs down. If there was one team that looked poised to take out the Packers at the midway point of the 2011 season, it was the Chicago Bears. Then came Jay Cutler's broken thumb. Game, set, match. Even with Matt Forte (who eventually was hurt, too), the defensive-minded Bears still could go nowhere without Cutler. Unless 8-8 and out of the playoffs is somewhere.
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What Went Right: The 2011 season served notice that Cutler is a franchise quarterback, mainly because this franchise went down the tubes after he got hurt. The numbers weren't spectacular (85.7 passer rating), but Cutler made plays when he had to behind a shaky offensive line -- a unit playing without top pick Gabe Carimi. Chicago was 7-3 with Cutler, 1-5 without him. Enough said. Like Cutler, Forte was invaluable before hurting his knee. Despite playing in just 11 complete games, Forte amassed nearly 1,500 yards from scrimmage, finishing third in scrimmage yards per game.
Defensively, the Bears were better than the numbers read. Chicago allowed 21.3 points per game, 14th in the NFL. The Bears gave up more than 24 points per game until benching their starting safeties for youngsters Major Wright and Chris Conte. Over the next five games, Chicago gave up just 15 points per game -- then Cutler went down. The defense, led by a good front four with Julius Peppers (11 sacks) and the surprising Henry Melton (seven sacks), kept the team in some games, but was continually put on the spot by a Caleb Hanie-led offense that had trouble moving the ball.
What Went Not So Right: Hanie might have surprised people in the 2010 NFC Championship Game, but impressed few as a replacement for Cutler in 2011. Nine picks and a 41.8 passer rating not only lost games, but didn't engender much confidence going forward, either. The wideouts continue to give this ballclub very little, and Johnny Knox's status is in doubt after sustaining a bad late-season injury. The offensive line struggled to protect in former coordinator Mike Martz's scheme, especially after Carimi went down. They allowed 49 sacks as a group.
The defense tried to get pressure, but Peppers continues to be the only true pass-rushing threat. When the front four didn't hurry the passer early in the year, the secondary had some trouble. The two former starters at safety -- Brandon Meriweather and Chris Harris -- gave a clinic on bad angles against Detroit. The defensive backs dropped many picks, too.
Thankfully, Cutler didn't throw too many picks in 2011, but as valuable as he was, his numbers could have been better. He'll get help from the hiring of his former quarterback coach in Denver, Jeremy Bates, a move Cutler was pretty pleased about.
Offseason Crystal Ball: New general manager Phil Emery comes with a personnel background from the Chiefs. He'll have plenty of such issues to address with a subpar receiving corps and an offensive line that still doesn't have all the tools it needs. Immediately on the horizon, however, is the status of Forte, due to be a free agent. I spoke with Forte during Super Bowl week, and it's clear he wants to stay with the Bears. Expect Emery to pull out ye ole franchise tag. Then it's up to new offensive coordinator Mike Tice to use Forte like the queen on the chessboard.
Free-agent concerns on the defense include Israel Idonije, Tim Jennings and Corey Graham. Idonije is a solid contributor, Jennings has been steady, and Graham is a disruptive special teams player who wants to do more. Other free agents of note include cornerback Zach Bowman, who isn't necessarily the best fit and will probably end up elsewhere. Something tells me Bears fans are OK with losing receiver Roy Williams. Tight end Kellen Davis is on the market, but could return to the Bears for a low rate. And what about Craig Steltz, the safety who looks like Kevin Greene? He played well in spot duty last year.
Team Needs and Draft: Bears fans reading this on their laptop, in their dorm room or in line at the DMV must be silently (or not so silently) screaming, "Offensive line!" Beyond that, help at corner would be nice for a back four that is serviceable, but not championship-level. Linebackers Brian Urlacher and Lance Briggs aren't getting any younger, and at some point in the draft this position group will need to be fortified. If Emery doesn't sign a free-agent receiver, then wideout becomes a prime draft concern. (In my initial mock draft, I had Chicago doing just that.)
Follow Elliot Harrison on Twitter @Harrison_NFL
To me there are three things the Bears need this year to get back on the path to a championship.
1) Most importantly stay healthy. We were fortunate in 2010 to have almost no key injuries and we went 11-5. In 2011 we were 7-3 and gathering enough momentum to challenge for the NFC Championship when Cutler went down followed by Forte and there went the offense. Even the loss of our two best Olineman, Carimi and CWill, didn't slow us down like losing our two main offensive weapons did. Gotta stay healthy this year. We don't have enough quality depth to win without it.
2) For the love of God get Cutler some receivers who can get open 80% of the time and catch the ball and get the TE back into the passing game. It makes no difference to me whether that comes from FA, the draft, or just getting our current bunch playing better or the combination of all three but we're not winning any championships with a piss poor passing game.
3) Improve the outside pass rush. If the Giants proved anything it's the value of a strong and consistent pass rush. We finally began to get pressure up the middle last year with 13 sacks coming from out DT's but only 17 from our DE's. That's not anywhere near good enough. Hell, in 2010 NY sacked Cutler 9 times in one half and most of those came from their DE's. In addition to WR (s) another good pass rusher is a must.
Believe it or not we can actually survive with Webb at LT for another year more than we can survive without help at WR and DE. Tice will expose the line to less exposure in pass blocking and Webb is one year older, one year more experienced, and this year Tice will have all offseason to work with him and try to get him to cut down on his stupid mistakes. He has some skills, we saw that during a few games, but he's inconsistent as all hell. The problem is Tice thinks he can correct that so rather than continue to debate whether of not we need to draft a LT high in the draft I'm gonna accept the fact that we probably won't and learn to live with Webb for one more year.