Bears Blitz

Published by Michael Clark on February 1, 2011
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Chicago Bears

This is the first installment of a five-part series on a look back at the Bears‘ 2010 drive to the NFC Championship Game and how they should prepare to make 2011 a run for the Lombardi.

After getting over the sloppy end of the season with a loss to the hated Packers, looking back, the 2010 season was actually a success.  If you had asked me before the season started I would have told you we were still a year away from being in title contention.  I would have been happy with nine wins and shot at the Wild Card, so it really passed my expectations. 

In reality the Bears should have beaten the Redskins and the Seahawks, and maybe should have lost to the Lions, but it evened out well for us.  Had Calvin Johnson’s catch been confirmed I contend the Bears would have finished with six wins.  The ball bounced our way most of the year.

Now on to where we are going (if I were Jerry Angelo).  As I said we were one year away.  Now begins that year.

The first stop in this series is at the top of those who hit the field every day…coaching staff.

Before anything else, give Lovie a nice new recliner in his office and tell him to make himself at home, he is staying for a while.

On the offensive side of the ball, I think that Mike Martz grew as much as anyone this season.  He threw away half the playbook and opened up the forbidden side.  He adapted for what he had, not what he wanted to see. 

I think this offseason will provide the Bears with an opportunity to revamp the playbook.  Martz will be able to take the base of what worked late in this season and add a splash of what he wants to do (throw a 90-yard TD on every play) and add what last year was not possible.  The personnel the Bears had didn’t allow for all phases to click, but with a full draft and looking deep into the talent pool of other leagues, the gaps can be filled and the playbook opened up.  Improvement must be made up front, which leads to Mike Tice.

Tice may be the coach of the year.  The line that started the season and the line that ended the season are completely different.  Whether it was sticking to one lineup or just good coaching I can’t say, but it worked. 

The Bears must upgrade this spot with the aging of Garza and Kruetz.  If Webb and Williams can grow and learn the technique of their positions, they could be solid.  Big Frank may have done as well as he can do.  It is up to Tice to make sure the line is on the same page from Week 1 so the Bears can run the ball up the middle and throw the ball vertically.

On the other side of the ball, Rod Marinelli did a good job and I know they love playing for him.  The key for him is to maximize what he has.  Urlacher had another tremendous season, but can he do it again next year?  Having come off a season with injury seemed to add new life to his legs; hopefully he can come back with the same steam next year. 

The front line did well, but I think the Bears need to upgrade the middle.  They need some bulk in there to plug up holes and make the offensive linemen key on them so the backers can make the plays.  I don’t think you can coach size, but maybe there is technique that can come into play.

I don’t know much about defensive back coach Jon Hoke, but I know he has his work cut out for him.  If the Bears are going to compete with the top teams next year, they must be able to shut down spread offenses and stop the bend but don’t break.  I’m not bashing the DBs, they played great this season, but will a season-changing call (Calvin Johnson’s no-TD) go our way next year?

Who has heard of Dave Toub?  Who can pronounce his name?  Here’s how.  Devin Hester.  Special Teams were pretty good this last season again.  I do think there is room for improvement. 

When you know a team will not kick to Hester, why not set some blocking schemes that would allow for two punt returners on the hashes like they do in high school?  How about putting Daniel Manning at about the 25 on kickoffs and give the kicker a choice.  Kick deep for Hester’s 100-yard TD or squib it to Manning for a 75-yard TD.  Either way I like our outcome, so a little tweaking will help.  Plus we need a couple of guys to step up like Tim Shaw and Brendon Ayanbadejo.

I will go more in depth as this series progresses—try to put some names to the holes in the story.  The bottom line is a step ahead must be taken to stay where we finished 2010; our coaching staff will determine how big of a step it will be in 2011.

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