2009 NFL Preview: #13 Chicago Bears
Check out all of our 2009 NFL team previews.
Offseason Additions: Jay Cutler (QB); Orlando Pace (OT); Kevin Shaffer (OT); Pisa Tinoisamoa (LB); Josh Bullocks (S); Frank Omiyale (OT).
Offseason Losses: Mike Brown (S); Terrence Metcalf (G); John St. Clair (OT); Fred Miller (OT); Rex Grossman (QB).
Player to Watch: Jay Cutler, QB.
If any other player were listed here, Bear fans would petition to have this site taken down (and they might anyway since Da Bears aren’t No. 1 in these rankings). Cutler is the reason why the fine folks in Chicago are talking Super Bowl and why other media publications are predicting the Bears to win the NFC North this season. The strong-armed Cutler complained his way out of Denver this offseason and now has the task of winning with what some pundits deem a putrid receiving corps. But what those same pundits fail to grasp is that tight end Greg Olsen is a solid option in the passing game and Cutler should work well with former Vandy teammate Earl Bennett (whose next catch in the NFL will also be his first). Running back Matt Forte is a great receiving option out of the backfield and returner-turned-receiver Devin Hester can stretch a defense with his speed. But the Bears’ success this season rests squarely on Cutler’s shoulders.
Team Strength: Even though he’s coming off a down year, middle linebacker Brian Urlacher is still one of the best in the league and it’s laughable to suggest that he’s overrated. His athletic talents are a perfect fit for Chicago’s defensive scheme and his intelligence separates himself from other defenders on Sundays. He reportedly looked fantastic this summer and as long as the neck and back problems that limited last year don’t start acting up again, he’s going to be a force against the run and in coverage. But Urlacher is just one piece to star-studded linebacker corps. Lance Briggs has outstanding athleticism and is a sideline-to-sideline tackler. He too is coming off a down year, but like Urlacher, Briggs will be motivated by the hype that surrounds this team entering the season. While intriguing youngster Jamar Williams or third-year player Nick Roach might push him for the starting spot, newcomer Pisa Tinoisamoa will play opposite Briggs at the other outside linebacker position. Tinoisamoa is familiar with Lovie Smith’s defense from their days together in St. Louis and adds speed to a linebacker corps that is already loaded with players that can run.
Potential Weakness: While many will be quick to suggest that receiver is the Bears most pressing concern, that position has nothing on the secondary. The Bears’ best corner, Charles Tillman, missed the entire preseason after having his second back operation in the last two years. While the team expects him to play in the opener, Tillman will probably need a couple games to shake off the rust. Playing opposite Tillman will be Zack Bowman, who battled a hamstring injury in preseason. Speaking of injuries, starting free safety Danieal Manning also dealt with hamstring issues in preseason and nickelback Nathan Vasher can never seem to stay healthy. At strong safety, six-round pick Al Afalava could get the starting nod over Kevin Payne and Craig Steltz and while he’s good at sniffing out the run, Afalava struggled in pass coverage while at Oregon State. On a whole, the Bears’ defensive backfield looks shaky entering the season.
Outlook: Cutler gives this team rejuvenated hope. The Bears have seriously upgraded the one position that has been lacking since Jim McMahon helped Chicago win the Super Bowl in 1986. Paired with dazzling second year running back Matt Forte, the Bears have a formidable duo in their backfield and will definitely be a more potent offense than they have been in years past. That begs the question: Will the defense regress after the Bears finally added a franchise quarterback? The linebacker corps is solid and the defensive line will be able to generate a pass rush with Tommie Harris (as long as he’s healthy and motivated), Adewale Oguneleye and Alex Brown. But the secondary has some major question marks and could potentially hinder how successful Chicago is this season. The offensive line raises some questions, too. The additions of Orlando Pace and Frank Omiyale, as well as a healthy Chris Williams, makes the Bears appear better on paper. But can Pace stay healthy? Does Omiyale (who is a better fit in a zone-blocking scheme) provide a significant upgrade over last year’s starter Josh Beekman? The Bears also play in one of the tougher divisions in football as the Packers and Vikings reloaded in the offseason and have postseason berths on their minds as well.
The Bears are improved, but can the secondary hold up? Will Cutler be begging for Chicago to trade for legit No. 1 receiver by midseason (ahem, Brandon Marshall)? This could be a playoff team, but time will tell if all the additions the Bears made this offseason will inevitably pay off in the end.
2009 Prediction: Second, NFC North.
Wow 13?
I think they need to be up about #4 or #5.
They’ll own the NFC North.
Anonymous,
I think #4 or #5 is really ambitions for the Bears in my opinion, although SI.com has them in the Super Bowl so others (like yourself) disagree.
As I noted in the preview, the Bears’ secondary is a concern and even though Angelo spent a lot of time on the O-line this offseason, Pace still has to stay healthy (remember, he’s not 25 years old anymore) and Omiyale has only played in zone-blocking schemes throughout his career, which the Bears don’t run.
Just my opinion though. I think the Bears have more questions than some will let on.
I see the O’line as “good enough”
(by the way it was me lol, didnt put John nitime)
The Defense will make or break the team.
Cutler, Forte, Olsen, Hester, plenty of weapons.
I think for the D to hold out, which in turns equals top5 team
1. Tommie Harris needs to be healthy and play
2. Sacks, Anderson and others need to play up
3. Tilman needs to be better, Vasher needs to remember how to play football.
4. Safety concerns me as Payne is a hitter but never seems to be on time in the right place.
5. Briggs/Urlacher probowl years.
I dont think cutler brings the SB to Chicago
I think the D does. If its healthy
Haha – I thought it might have been you, J-Town!
I think your list is spot on, although the only thing I’d change is bumping #3 up to #2 or #1.
I like the Bears this year and think they could potentially win the division. They’re knocking on the door of a playoff berth with the trade of Cutler, although I worry now that the defense could take a step back.
We’ll see – it’s that time of year again, my friend!
Anthony, I usually can agree with most of your preseason rankings and thoughts on teams, however on this one i think you are wrong. I think the Bears win the division hands down with an 12 win season. If you look at last year this team was a game or two away from wining the division, and don’t forget there were a few wins that should have been (Atlanta). So if you add a pro bowl quarterback to the mix how does this team not get a few games better? Everybody talks about the other teams getting better in this division, i will give Minnesota the addition of the old man, but i still don’t think they win. I bet the old timer throws more picks then TD this year. Then Green Bay, why are they all of a sudden a contender, because they are switching their defensive scheme, or because they outscored their opponents, but still lost? The Bears will prove their worth on Sunday Night with a 38-10 win in Green Bay, and everybody will be talking about is Chicago the real deal. I will save you all time and tell you to book your super bowl tickets now and don’t wait until the rest of the league finds out this team is for real
Tone
I agree, my list was not in any order.
For that “cover who” to work, they need
the CB’s big time
The-Riot Rules,
This was the comment I’ve been waiting for! Yes! A Bear fan speaking his mind – now it’s football season, damn it!
One thing I didn’t mention in the preview because I think it’s been covered “ad nauseam” is that Cutler has never won. He didn’t win at Vandy and he didn’t win at Denver. Granted, not winning at Vandy isn’t an earth-shattering revelation, but Bear fans are immediately thinking Super Bowl when this kid has never even gotten a team to the playoffs. And I realize Chicago was knocking on the door of a playoff berth last year, but as you can see from my rankings I’m not sold on Minnesota being as dominant as everyone thinks and the Bears were handed two wins against the Lions.
You’ll never get me to agree with you on the Falcons game. The Falcons dominated for three and a half quarters and then the Bears were given an opportunity to win the game because Jason Elam missed a chip shot FG in the 4th. He makes that FG you’re not even talking about Ryan-to-Jenkins because the game would have been over then.
I think the Bears are a good team. I think the Packers are better one because they have a more complete offense. I hear you on their transition to the 3-4 and that’s their biggest challenge. But Dom Capers has a longer track record of succeeding in his first year with a new team than he does at providing a clunker. But that’s just my opinion and I certainly don’t think you or any Viking fan is nuts for thinking that their team will win the division. The NFC North is going to be a wild one…
Again, love the passion of the conversations we’ve got going on now!
AS-
Cant stress this enough.
Cutler didnt win at Vandy or at Denver
but not because of him. He was 12-1 when denver
Defense let 21 or less. Bears usually never give up that many points.
Vandy and Denver had points on defense that made it, in my view, impossible to win.
Remember Marino? He never won, ever a SB, yet he is the man. Elway, took all of college and 15yrs to win in the pros.
Not saying he is or isnt, but the didnt win at Vandy is like saying he didnt win at North Iowa State University. Vandy is and will always be a rough team in the SEC.
John,
All good points and I mentioned that not winning at Vandy isn’t a deal-breaker.
Denver’s defense was brutal last year yes, but it wasn’t the only reason why they didn’t make the playoffs. (Don’t forget that Cutler threw two bad INTs in that Week 17 game against the Chargers with the season on the line.) It’s never just one think, although the 12-1 record is noteworthy obviously.
My point is that everyone in Chicago has their bags backed to Miami because of Cutler and he’s never gotten a team to the playoffs yet. How will he fair in the playoffs? He had one playoff-like game last year (that SD game) and he didn’t play very well. That’s not to say that he’ll be awful, but I think it’s a fair question.
I think the difference with you though, is that you think the Bears are still the dominating D that they always have been. That’s fair. I think they’ll struggle more than what people think, but again, that’s not to suggest that I think this is a 6-10 team. On the contrary, I think they’ll push for the division title.
I’m just not booking my tickets to Miami via Chicago just yet!
Agreed on the Cutler thing.
I said the D makes or breaks it.
Remember 3 seasons ago.
Urlacher and Ray Lewis where “done”
aging, too old ect…
then Lewis pulled off that year last year?
Urlacher says he finally has no neck or back pain?
Thats sickening news for NFC North peeps.
And dont forget they have one of the best D-line coaches, which in their Defense makes the day.
I think if healthy there still a top 5 D. Not as a fan but as a defensive minded person. They were solid against the run last year, healthy LB and secondary are musts though.
Now on Cutler, you know they dont have the weapons IMO the denver had, but will he have to put up 35+ points to win. Everyone loves Bret Farve who leads the leauge in TD’s, Throws, Incompletions, and interceptions? So I’d take 27-30 TD’s to 15 picks. I dont think they win the bowl this year, but they will surprise most. Farve was cut from Atlanta, GreenBay went through rough years, but I’d say he is a legend. Neither Manning won huge at College and I dare say Payton is still the best QB in the past 25yrs.
Again I agree Cutler doesnt make or a brake the Bears, but his presence ans the way the Bears play keep it close try at the end is a nice fit.
He is mobile, strongest arm with accuracy in NFL, and no one will catch hester in a footrace.
besides you know my Saints are winning the Bowl this year, they’re due