Jay Cutler is a good quarterback. There I said it. Why it’s so hard for some people to fathom this I have no idea. I’m pretty sure it goes back to the playoff game he didn’t finish because ALL MEDICAL PERSONNEL THAT EXAMINED HIM DECIDED HE SHOULDN’T. He didn’t quit or ask out of that game, he had a Grade 2 tear of his MCL yet came back into the game and tried to play on it but couldn’t plant his foot to throw. In 2013 he was having one of the best seasons of his career before ankle and groin injuries forced him to miss five games and leave two others early. He was still able to lead the Bears to the #8 offense and the #5 passing attack, and Chicago scored the most points of any team in the NFL not quarterbacked by Peyton Manning. Cutler had a career-best 63.1% completion rate and averaged the second-most yards per game of his NFL tenure with 238.3. Right now he is better than at least half the starting quarterbacks in football and trending upward. He’s had so many different coaches and coordinators over the years he’s never really had the chance to get comfortable in any given system. This will be his second season under OC Marc Trestman and considering the results from last year you can count me among the scouts and scribes predicting a monster season for the man with the conversion van.
Matt Forte is one of the most dangerous weapons in the league. He was second in the NFL with 1,339 yards rushing last season averaging 4.6 yards per run. He also had 74 receptions for 594 yards totaling 12 touchdowns while losing zero fumbles. He also has uncanny durability for a RB having missed all of five games in six years. Fourth-round pick Ka’Deem Carey out of Arizona is expected to be the No. 2 back. FB Tony Fiammetta will be doling out the lead blocks.
Chicago employs one of the best WR duos in the game. Brandon Marshall has 218 catches for 2,803 yards and 23 TDs in his two years in the Second City. Alshon Jeffery had a breakout year in 2013 catching 89 passes for 1,421 yards and seven scores while adding 105 rushing yards. Both wideouts should see an increase in production this year with a healthy Cutler in the second year of Trestman’s system. Marquess Wilson is a big prospect who is expected to be the No.3 WR this year and develop into a starter in due time. That development will temporarily be put on hold as he has broken his collarbone and will be out until October.
TE Martellus Bennett had his best season last year with 65 receptions for 759 yards and 5 TDs. New acquisition Matthew Mulligan from New England will most likely take care of the blocking.
The Bears O-line is one of the best in the business. From left to right they’ll start Jermon Bushrod, Matt Slauson, Roberto Garza, and Kyle Long. The one possible weakness is RT Jordan Mills, but at 23 he’s still getting better. If these guys can keep Cutler healthy expect the Bears to have an explosive offense.
While the new-look Bears O was lighting up opposing defenses last season the Bears D did their best to give back every yard. They finished #30 in overall defense and were by far the worst run D in the NFL – allowing 410 more rushing yards than any other squad. Many new additions on the defensive line will hope to change that.
The marquee offseason acquisition for the Bears is former Viking DE Jared Allen who had 11.5 sacks last year and will be replacing the departed Julius Peppers. Chicago will have a new starter on the other side as well picking up run-stuffer Lamarr Houston who grabbed six sacks in Oakland in 2013. The Bears also added Willie Colon from Detroit to the rotation as well.
After allowing opponents 5.3 yards per rush last season Chicago needed to beef-up inside, so they used their second and third-round draft picks on DTs. The Bears nabbed Ego Ferguson from LSU in round-2 who just might be the monster they need to clog running lanes in the middle. They next grabbed Will Sutton out of Arizona St. in the third-round who could be in the rotation right away as well. Also in the mix will be the only returning starter Stephen Paea and former Cowboy Jay Ratliff who has only played in 11 games the last two seasons. Nate Collins is coming back from a torn ACL and the Bears signed two undrafted free agent DTs as well. The D-line can’t possibly get any worse, so this group of mostly new faces is surely an improvement.
The fractured shoulder of Lance Briggs was one of the main reasons Chicago couldn’t stop the run last year. He averaged 110 tackles per season with 14 interceptions in the nine years before 2013. When healthy he’s one of the best Will-backers in the game. On the strong side converted DE Shea McClellin will get a chance to make an impact and undrafted free agent Christian Jones out of Florida St. is getting a look as well. There is a good competition going on in camp at middle linebacker as veteran D.J. Williams battles Jon Bostic. When Williams is healthy the former Bronco is an elite MLB but injuries have cost him 19 games over the last two seasons including 10 games last year with a torn pectoral muscle. Bostic is an explosive athlete in his second year who is going to end up a starter eventually. Chicago has completely revamped their front-7 and that is a very, very good thing.
CB Charles Tillman is one of the best defensive backs in the long and storied history of the Chicago Bears. However, last year was his worst in the Windy City when a torn tricep cost him half the season. He’ll need to show he’s not on the decline yet in his 12th year in the league as will the other incumbent starter Tim Jennings because the Bears used their first-round pick (#14 overall) on Kyle Fuller from Virginia Tech. All three guys are solid so however it plays out the Bears look strong at the corners.
Last year’s nightmare season for Chris Conte has rookie fourth-rounder Brock Vereen out of Minnesota ahead of him on the depth chart already at FS. New addition Ryan Mundy from the Giants will be expected to start at SS, a position at which they also took a flier on former All-Pro Cardinal Adrian Wilson.
VERDICT: The Bears made lots of changes on defense so it’s hard to predict how they will perform. If they’re improved – specifically at stopping the run – Chicago will surely make the playoffs with their explosive offense. If they still get the ball run down their throat all game every week however, it’s sure to be another Cub-like campaign.
Article By: Anthony Schiano
