Bears Blitz

Published by Dane Curley on September 3, 2009
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Chicago Bears

The 2009 football season is almost upon us, and now is the time of year where fantasy drafts are held, preseason scouting reports are finalized, power rankings are tossed out, and the rosters are trimmed.

This is also when the predictions of the hopeful, the faithful, and the just plain crazy are exacted.

This might just be all of the above.

With the upgrade of the offensive line, the healthiness of the defensive line and linebackers, the maturation of the wide receiving core, the sophomore season of Matt Forte, and the addition of Jay Cutler, there is a lot to be hopeful for for the “Bear Down Chicago” fans. 

I left out the status of the secondary for a reason—I will get to that later. 

This is the time when we start to try and figure out, hope about, and cheer about the upcoming Chicago Bears season.

The following is an inside look to the possibilities of the Bears 2009 season.

Chicago went out and spent good money and good draft picks on a “franchise” quarterback in Jay Cutler. I don’t usually like using to the term “franchise,” but in this case, it might have to come into play.

Now, all things being said, we are still amidst the preseason. With the Browns up next, most people will watch the starters on the first series, then continue to watch the players they think should earn a starter role on the 53-man roster.

I will get this out of the way right now: The Chicago Bears should finish the season 10-6 and win the NFC North title; however, that is as much as I am prepared at this point to convey in my predictions.

The Bears are a team that everyone will watch for, yet no one will pay too much attention to (aside, of course, from the men who are paid good money to pay attention to them).

We have a decent schedule. We won’t have the chance to go 4-1 or 5-0 at the start of the season like the Vikings. We will, however, have chances to perfect what could be one of the most understated receiving corps in the NFL. 

Timing, however, is the key. The Bears can have a solid defense, strong linebackers, and a mediocre secondary and still figure to be contenders for four reasons:

1. Jay Cutler

Yeah, I know it’s cliche, but he brings a mobile element to the Bears’ offense that some of us have never seen. He has a strong arm, accurate passes, and can throw the deep ball.

2. Matt Forte

He will gain 1,000 yards this season and be a passing threat in the offense.

3. The defensive line

We have a new man pissed off at last year’s performance, determined to make sure that we are a force to be reckoned with. 

4. Jay Cutler’s targets

The people Cutler are throwing to are all skilled in different aspects of the game. I doubt I am the first to think that Greg Olsen will have a breakout year.

I might be one person who thinks that Devin Hester being on the field at least demands attention. He is fully integrated into the wide receiving scheme now and has the chance to be as dangerous at wide receiver as he was a return man.

Throw in Earl Bennett and the other wide receivers, who will play four deep, and you have a group of guys who are hard to plan for week-in and week-out.

Now, of course, after all of the crazy talk comes the sane thought. This all hinges on timing with the receivers and the confidence that Cutler has in them.

We all know that Hester can outrun almost anyone on the field. We also know that, without posing a real threat, he won’t get the best coverage. This will allow defenses to focus their big threats on something more substantial. 

We all know that Forte will run and catch the ball with ease and effectiveness.

We also all know that we have a young group of men in the secondary that desire the chance to play, the will to succeed, and possibly the chance for total failure. 

If we had a secondary that was 100 percent, my prediction could go beyond 10-6 and start speaking of deep playoff contention. However, at this juncture, I have to predict that which I personally think can happen. 

The Chicago Bears have the potential for a Super Bowl run. They also have the potential for a 6-10 season if not closely checked.

I understand that Lovie Smith is the coach, but I also think he knows that without a playoff spot, his job becomes ever closer to the other dreaded cliche: the “hot seat.”

Again, this is a season like each prior, where we think “this is the year.”

We also have to go into this season knowing our defense that made us great is getting older and, oddly enough, our offense—which we were never known for—is younger than ever.

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