Bears Blitz

Published by John Juettner on May 12, 2009
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Chicago Bears

Obviously, the biggest news for the Chicago Bears this offseason is the man pictured with this piece of writing: Jay Cutler. The Bears finally have a genuine franchise-caliber quarterback on the roster. It’s quite possible no previous Bears’ quarterback has had as much talent as Cutler.

Having Cutler is definitely great for the Bears franchise and brought immediate joy and sighs of relief from Bears fans in this city. But, what does it mean for 2009? What will the Bears be like with No. 6 under center?

I was enjoying myself at some local bars the night of the trade, and there were many of Chicago’s relative youth (between the ages of 21 and 30) talking Super Bowl for the 2009 season. Call it the excitement of the trade or the excitement of what they were drinking, but those statements are crazy. At least crazy to be talking about right now.

In 2008, the Bears fought their way to a 9-7 record, which surpassed most every major media outlet’s prognostication of what the team would do.

The Bears accomplished this record with a rookie running back, an aging offensive line, a defensive line that did not pressure the quarterback very well, a secondary that struggled mightily at times, a star kick returner who did not score a touchdown on a return, and Kyle Orton at quarterback.

In my eyes, the 2008 Bears weren’t very good. They played some good games and wound up 9-7. On the whole, the 2009 Bears look to be in the same class as the 2008 team. I figure Chicago will likely fall somewhere between 7-9 and 9-7 for the third straight year. With the way the NFC North looks, the division will probably be another close race, just like 2008, which means that with a record like that, the Bears could be in the hunt—just as they were in 2008.

It’s very easy to say that Cutler will be the team’s savior, but good quarterbacks get stuck on bad teams all the time.

Denver didn’t post any great records with Cutler at the helm.

Aaron Rodgers was one of the league’s best passers last year, but injuries and poor defense forced the Packers to a 6-10 record.

Dan Marino played on a lot of Dolphins’ teams that weren’t very good. They weren’t awful, but there wasn’t enough talent around the Hall of Fame quarterback to be great in the playoffs.

While Chicago added Cutler it lost its first-round draft pick this season, and traded away its second rounder to get more picks later. Some of the drafted players could contribute this year. I know there are high hopes for third-round wide receiver Juaquin Eglesias from Oklahoma. But Earl Bennett, a third-round wide receiver from the 2008 NFL Draft, didn’t catch a single pass as a rookie last year. It’s very possible nobody from the 2009 draft class makes an immediate impact.

For 2009, you hope Matt Forte progresses in his second season. For as much press as he got, Forte still only averaged 3.9 yards per carry in 2008, which is not ideal. You hope Orlando Pace and Chris Williams are solid and healthy at the tackle positions. You hope Tommie Harris stays healthy and motivated on the defensive line, and that Devin Hester becomes a threat again in the return game.

That’s a lot of hopes to be considered a great team.

Cutler must stay healthy or the team is in trouble, because right now, Caleb Hannie is the next option (unless undrafted free agent Chase Patton or Brett Basanez—who aren’t any better options—unseat him).

This is still a team with Hester and Rashied Davis listed as its starting wide receivers, with Nick Roach starting as an outside linebacker, and that doesn’t show they can get pressure from its defensive ends.

Lately, the Bears have been a team that scrapes out victories, and I see them being like that again in 2009. They will play tough and look great in some games and play awful in others. There will be a few impressive wins and a couple baffling defeats in the fall and winter of 2009.

Ultimately, I think they will wind up in the middle of the league again.