Bears Blitz

When Chicago Bears general manager Jerry Angelo traded for quarterback Jay Cutler, it merely created the basis for a different type of mediocre season than the one the team just experienced.

Windows Vista has fewer flaws than the Bears’ current roster. And Chicago’s problem isn’t one that can be solved merely by picking up a few more unwanted free agents from the scrap heap. The end result is a team in 2009 with a ceiling of 10 wins and most likely eight to nine wins.

They’ll be exciting with a lot of big plays from Cutler, but the record is unlikely to make their trade look worthwhile.

While Cutler provides the consistent quarterback that Angelo himself said the team has lacked since he took over operations in 2001 (or since Sid Luckman retired, in all honesty), he doesn’t have a wide receiver as a target with more than five career touchdown catches.

Devin Hester and Rashied Davis scare only the worst secondaries, and beyond them there are three draft picks: second year player Earl Bennett coming off a reception-free rookie season and practice squad player Brandon Rideau.  

So unless Hester suddenly develops into Steve Smith, or rookies Juaquin Iglesias, Johnny Knox, and Derek Kinder are this year’s versions of Eagles 2008 rookie standout DeSean Jackson, Cutler will need to become very familiar with tight ends Greg Olsen and Desmond Clark.

The trouble with that is defenses will also be familiar with Olsen and Clark since there are no complementary wide outs.

Beyond the offensive problem, the Bears aren’t the same defensive team that provided the building block for their 2006 run to the Super Bowl. In fact, they haven’t even been close the last two years, ranking 21st last year and 28th in 2007.

Tommie Harris’ knee and hamstring troubles coupled with Charles Tillman’s shoulder problems contributed greatly to this, and there’s no guarantee either will be able to play at their 2006 level this season.

Thirty-something Brian Urlacher has lost a step. Free safety Mike Brown is gone and the Bears’ only veteran replacement came in free agency with Josh Bullocks, a player their own passing attack victimized while he played for the Saints in 2006, 2007, and 2008.

The Bears’ biggest problem defensively has been a pass rush that gets to the bank more than it gets to the quarterback.

They’ve invested heavily on the D line and at linebacker with big contracts for Harris, Brian Urlacher, Lance Briggs, and Alex Brown. But last year the pass rush ranked 22nd with 28 sacks.

And as coach Lovie Smith said at this year’s draft, defensive line “is the lifeblood of our team.”

The Bears’ thinking is that adding former Lions head coach Rod Marinelli as defensive line coach will make a huge difference in their pass rush, especially with young players like defensive end Mark Anderson or tackle Marcus Harrison. It worked for Tampa when Marinelli coached for perennial division contenders.

In fact, the Bears’ best real hope for overachieving and producing 10 or 11 wins in 2009 will be their coaching staff. Lovie Smith is not only head coach, but he has taken over the defensive play calling from Bob Babich, who gets to keep the defensive coordinator job in name only.

The Bears also hope the secondary, which was a main reason they finished 30th in pass defense last year, will benefit from new defensive backs coach

If Cutler delivers as promised, running back Matt Forte takes advantage of a revamped, larger offensive line that includes tackles Orlando Pace and Chris Williams, along with guard acquisition Frank Omiyale.

And if the coaches can work wonders, then a playoff spot in a weak division is a possibility.

That’s a lot of ifs—enough to leave the Bears a cut below the Minnesota Vikings, if not the Green Bay Packers, in the NFC North.