Chicago Bears: Does the Pre-season Really Matter?
Published by Patti Rodisch on August 15, 2009
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Chicago Bears
Let’s be honest: it’s only the pre-season, and these games mean nothing. They mean just as much as pre-season baseball; absolutely nothing.
You could lose every game and go on to win the Super Bowl, and going winless in the preseason is a distant memory.
Here’s the thing if you’re the Chicago Bears and you make a huge trade in the off-season landing your first true franchise quarterback since (well, let’s face it) Sid Luckman, the preseason means just a little bit more.
Since the Bears lost the Super Bowl in 2006, the playoffs are feeling like a distant memory, and fans are tired of settling for just an average at the quarterback.
So the signing of Jay Cutler has brought some excitement back to Bears football in Chicago. With Cutler jerseys flying off the shelves and the numbers to prove it according to the NFLshop.com, Cutler jerseys are the top selling jersey in the league.
Can we even remember when the last time a Bear’s quarterback jersey was the top-selling jersey? It might as well be Luckman.
The once vaunted Bear defense has fallen flat in the last two years with sloppy defense and injuries that had what was once the No. 1-ranked defense in the league in 2006, fell to 21st in 2008 giving up over 21 points a game.
That just won’t get it done.
The special team is probably what saved this team last year, with Robbie Gould coming through on more than one occasion. And long snapper Patrick Mannelly dropping the ball inside the 20 yard line and trapping the opposing offense deep in Bears territory.
Only to watch the lifeless defense give up deep passes and long runs.
It was the offense that often found the spotlight in both local and national sports media. Why couldn’t they pass the ball? Can they really win strictly running the ball?
To many fans, the Bears have found the answer to those questions; Cutler.
Cutler is enjoying a cult like reception both in training camp and in the Chicago media. With his every move on and off the field being dissected, for most fans they don’t care about his off the field activities, they want results on Sundays.
Like another Chicago sports team it’s been too long since this team has seen his glory of championship and with Cutler leading the charge this could be the year.
With talk in training camp about Greg Olsen quickly becoming Cutler’s favorite target. It doesn’t solve the Bear’s need for another receiver, Olsen a tight end, could end up leading the team with receptions this year, something you don’t usually want to see coming from you tight end.
With fans anticipating and high expectations even the practices at training camp had the sidelines filled with fans all leaving the hope of a championship run, on Cutler.
Heading into tonight’s first pre-season game many people were interested to see the chemistry between Cutler and his offense in live game action.
It wasn’t flashy, as he went five for 10, for 64 yards and one interception. For Cutler, it was all about getting some work in and figuring out where you need to improve.
Some of his passes seemed a bit rushed and he looked like he was forcing some passes where he shouldn’t have.
While the defense was decent, and the special teams got their work in, it’s about getting the cobwebs out.
While many of the Bears starters didn’t start, so you take the numbers with a grain of salt, there are still questions that have not been answered with one pre-season game.
So while the Bears have started off this pre-season with a loss, it’s only the pre-season and as long as they win it all this year, it will all be a distant memory.
Very good
