Hot Off The Press: Bears Mid-Season Report
Published by Jake Perper on November 10, 2009
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Chicago Bears
Are the Chicago Bears really that bad that they would allow Cincinnati to put up 45 points and Arizona to put up 41? I guess so.
The Bears have beaten Pittsburgh, Seattle, Detroit and Cleveland, who are a combined 11-21 and they have been beaten by Green Bay, Atlanta, Cincinnati and Arizona who are a combined 20-12.
The Bears played very well in the victories over Pittsburgh, Seattle and Detroit, but besides Pittsburgh, their victories this season don’t look very impressive.
The losses against Green Bay and Atlanta came on Sunday night, where the Bears could have easily won both games if they didn’t make stupid mistakes. They could be 6-2, but instead they’re sitting at .500 (4-4).
They are three games behind the Minnesota Vikings and the only good thing is that they still have two games against the Vikings to gain some ground.
The Bears are not a bad team. The offense played well last week, but the defense missed tackles left and right, were not in the right gaps, and just couldn’t stop any pass attempt. The Bengals and Cardinals were a disgrace and the Bears have to forget those games quickly. They are embarrassing and Lovie Smith should take a lot of the blame because he is the defensive coordinator this season.
Eight games are still left this season, but the schedule isn’t easy. I had the Bears going 12-4, which they can still technically do, but not if they play like they have the past couple weeks.
They travel to San Fransisco this Thursday night, then they’re home for the Eagles, then on the road against the Vikings, then home for two straight against St. Louis and Green Bay, then at Baltimore, back home against the Vikings and end in Detroit playing the Lions. Those teams are a combined 32-32 exactly .500. Three of those games will be on national television.
Bright Spots
Offensively—Jay Cutler, Greg Olsen, Devin Hester, Earl Bennett, and Johnny Knox
No one expected to see such success out of the Bears inexperienced receivers, but they look legit so far this season. The only problem I have is when Cutler scrambles out of the pocket, the receivers seem to be unable to get open.
Defensively—Lance Briggs, Danieal Manning, and Alex Brown
These guys have been the most consistent players on this Bears defense. This unit looks nothing like it did during their Super Bowl run three years ago.
Not So Bright Spots:
Offensively—Orlando Pace, Olin Kreutz, Roberto Garza, and Matt Forte
The success of this offense all depends on the offensive line and the veterans Pace, Kreutz and Garza have failed to protect Jay Cutler, allowing 19 sacks so far this season and have failed to open up lanes for Matt Forte. Forte hasn’t looked like the Forte of last year, but a lot of that has to do with the offensive line. I just hope he returns to form.
Defensively—Tommie Harris, Al Afalava, Mark Anderson, and Marcus Harrison
Afalava looked solid during the first couple of games, but he hasn’t looked like a starter at all lately. Anderson and Harrison are young players, who are supposed to be legitimate players on this defense, but they haven’t helped one bit. Tommie Harris hit a career low last week, when he punched Duece Lutui in the face and was thrown out of the game. All of these guys must step it up for this team to have success.
Without Urlacher, this defense looks inexperienced and just plain silly out there. Harris needs to be the man in the middle, that’s the reason this defense has been so good at stopping the run the last couple of seasons, but he just isn’t the same anymore.
What must happen for this team to Have a shot at the playoffs?
They have to start every game fast, by playing much better defense and scoring more points than seven in the first half. The running game must get going because it will be tough to throw the ball with the winds of Lake Michigan coming in.
The offensive line has to give Jay Cutler some time to throw the ball. The defense CAN’T miss as many tackles as they’ve been missing this season. Lovie Smith has to change his emotion, he looks the same when the Bears are losing by 40 or there winning by 40.
This team is better than this and it will show the next couple of weeks if they actually are. I just really want to think they are better, because last season they weren’t very good, but they managed a 9-7 finish and could have finished much better than that. It starts with the defense, they are the problem. They have to tackle, get to the quarterback, and just play solid football.
Bear Down!
Jake Perper is the creator of www.BearsBacker.com and also covers the Bears for www.NFLTouchdown.com and www.MVN.com.
Read more Chicago Bears news on BleacherReport.com
