It's finally time for some football! Despite having two playoff contending baseball teams, Chicago will always be a football town. Here's a look at how the Bears stack up for the 2008 campaign.
Team MVP: Brian Urlacher. This one may have you scratching your head a little since all the talk this offseason has been about Urlacher's back and neck injury. Every report out of training camp indicates the neck is fully healed and with his new stretching routine, Urlacher says he feels the best he has in years. That's dangerous for a player that is capable of taking over a game single-handedly. When the Bears defense is healthy it is designed to let Urlacher roam the field like a savage beast and make plays. The Bears have a potent defensive line that can tie up blockers and a secondary that can create pressure when healthy. The Bears can't seem to keep their defensive players off the injured list but Urlacher has proven year after year to be the rock that keeps the Bears consistently a great defensive team.
Break-Out Player: Matt Forte. If you haven't followed the Bears all offseason, here's the cliff notes run down. The Bears released running back Cedric Benson after a series of off-the-field issues. Before that the Bears allowed receivers Bernard Berrian and Muhsin Muhammad to leave town. If the Bears are going to have any offense they are going to have to rely on a large, unreliable group of receivers and rookie running back Matt Forte. He'll have back up from Kevin Jones when he is fully recovered from his knee injury and career backup Adrian Peterson. However, there's no doubt that the running back position has been put in the hands of the second round draft pick. He can run, he can catch, and he can block, making him a three-down back the Bears desperately needed. Normally a team is happy with any production from a rookie but the Bears have put almost all of their offensive hopes in Forte's hands. He will get a lot of touches, a lot of catches, and will have a lot of opportunities to contribute. Even if he struggles he would split time with Kevin Jones and has the chance to put up good numbers. If he develops quickly, he has every opportunity to grab rookie of the year.
Biggest Disappointment: Chris Williams. Despite this prediction Williams can still develop into the left tackle of the future for the Bears. However, Williams has missed significant practice time with a lingering back injury and will have a hard time getting ready for the reason. The Bears will be facing a lot of dangerous defensive ends this year and putting a rookie tackle with little practice on the field could be an attack point for opposing defenses to send the blitz. Unless Williams can shorten the learning curve in a hurry he's going to have a rough rookie season.
Fantasy Stud: Matt Forte. Forte is that guy that can make your fantasy team and you don't have to use a high pick to get him. The game will be sitting on him on draft day and waiting until that right moment to grab him before someone else does. It's no secret the Bears will give him a lot of touches and catches the whole season. If your league gives points for every rushing attempt and catch then he will be even more valuable. If he's still available in the 4th or 5th round you shouldn't hesitate to draft him. In some leagues he may go as high as the 3rd round. Avoid drafting any Bears receiver or tight end until later rounds, it's far too unpredictable at this point which will emerge from the pack. Devin Hester and Brandon Lloyd would be the only two I would even consider drafting and you'd have to be desperate. Tights ends Greg Olsen and Desmond Clark will be platooning which means mediocre fantasy numbers.
Offensive Outlook: Messy. The Bears came to training camp with a rookie starting running back, no starting receiver, a banged up line, and a quarterback controversy that has become a chore. The Bears have far too many wide receivers in consideration to name and not one of them has a guaranteed starting spot. The offensive line was supposed to be improved this year but so far they already look banged up and weak going into the season. Oh and then there's Rex Grossman and Kyle Orton fighting for quarterback. It's like being the brother of the Handsome Prince and deciding which ugly step-sister you have to take to the Ball. Either way no one will really be happy and will second guess choosing the other. The Bears do have a couple weapons in Devin Hester and Greg Olsen that can make some great plays. This offense can come together if the offensive line can make improvements but right now it looks like a repeat of last year.
Defensive Diagnosis: Champions. The Bears defense can be the best in football when healthy. The past few seasons the Bears have had injury issues in the secondary that has made them vulnerable to big plays down the field. If Mike Brown can stay on the field at safety and the rest of the defense stays healthy, this group can carry the rest of the team on its shoulders. They have a variety of pro bowlers in Brown, Urlacher, Harris, Briggs, Vasher, and others. The rotation of tackles and ends has proven to be effective and coaches learned last season you can never have too many safeties. This unit not only can stop opposing offenses, they can create turnovers and score on their own. Unlike the offense, the defense looks happy and healthy and ready to do some damage. The struggles the past few seasons have made fans forget how dominant the Bears defense can be at times. It looks as though the league may get a reminder.
"Red Letter" Game: Bears vs. Packers, Monday, December 22nd. At the beginning of the season you can never tell which games will prove to be the make or break games for the season. As a fan I can tell you every Bears fan is savoring the end of the schedule when the Bears will host the Green Bay Packers at Soldier Field for Monday Night Football. Nothing gets Bears fans excited more than kicking the Packers ass than doing it on national television for everyone to see. The Bears have had a lot of tough luck against the Packers on national television, mostly due to Brett Favre. Bears fans will be excited to welcome a Favre-less Packers to Soldier Field for a good ass kicking. The cold factor plays a huge factor with a late-December game because that means the die hard fans will be out with their wool caps and full flasks to enjoy some real football. A night game means no sun to battle the cold winds coming off Lake Michigan and one cold, hard field.
Projected Record/Outlook: 10-6. I realize I must look like a loon giving a 10-win season to a team with no offense but I stick with my prediction. Sure they open against the Colts and eventually play the Titans, Saints, Jaguars, Eagles, Vikings twice, and possibly Favre-led Bucs. However, they also get the Falcons, Texans, Lions twice, Rams, and Steve Smith-less Panthers. A lot of the tough games I think they can win like the Titans because of Urlacher's ability to shadow running quarterbacks, Saints because the Bears match up well against them, and the Bucs because even if they have Favre he will take time to learn the system. Add it all up and I think the Bears can get 10 wins.
Parting Smack: For the life of me I cannot understand why experts continue to place the Packers as a top 10 team in the league with Favre gone, but place the Vikings in the middle and Bears in the bottom 10. The Packers were all Favre, all the time. Without his crazy play making ability the offense goes down a few notches and the pressure goes on the defense to carry the game. The Packers have running success because defenses have to respect Favre's play-making ability. Favre is gone and defense can stack the box and force Aaron Rodgers to make a play. He won't and even when he does it won't be enough.
Green Bay Packers: Cheese heads and the rest of the NFL are in denial of how much this team could fall apart. The entire attitude and outlook of this team changed when they changed quarterbacks. Defenses can stack the line against the run and will bring the blitz often to rattle the cage of Aaron Rodgers. You couldn't rattle Favre's cage so teams didn't bother. A new quarterback changes that entire offense and will put more pressure on a defense that will be looked upon to save games. The entire team could fold under the pressure like a cheap tent.
Minnesota Vikings: No team in the NFC has made more moves to put themselves in position to go to the Super Bowl than the Vikings. They are the new favorite to take it all, which is exactly why they won't. They have put so much pressure and expectations upon the team that there is no way the players can live up to them. Vikings fans think this team is amazing but going out and buying the best at positions doesn't mean they will play great as a team. Redskin fans can educate Viking fans on the disappointment of paying for a great team and watching them under-achieve. This Vikings team can definately shake things up, but they have a long road before they can be crowned champions.
Detroit Lions: I'm not even going to waste time analyzing the Lions players. They suck, the team sucks, the organization sucks, and the town sucks. Only Detroit can spend five first round picks on offensive players and none of them developed. It's a true testament of how this organization will never amount to anything in this league. One the greatest running backs of all time, Barry Sanders, retired early rather than continue playing for them. They are a horrible team and we are all now dumber for having discussed them.
- Bob
Team MVP: Brian Urlacher. This one may have you scratching your head a little since all the talk this offseason has been about Urlacher's back and neck injury. Every report out of training camp indicates the neck is fully healed and with his new stretching routine, Urlacher says he feels the best he has in years. That's dangerous for a player that is capable of taking over a game single-handedly. When the Bears defense is healthy it is designed to let Urlacher roam the field like a savage beast and make plays. The Bears have a potent defensive line that can tie up blockers and a secondary that can create pressure when healthy. The Bears can't seem to keep their defensive players off the injured list but Urlacher has proven year after year to be the rock that keeps the Bears consistently a great defensive team.
Break-Out Player: Matt Forte. If you haven't followed the Bears all offseason, here's the cliff notes run down. The Bears released running back Cedric Benson after a series of off-the-field issues. Before that the Bears allowed receivers Bernard Berrian and Muhsin Muhammad to leave town. If the Bears are going to have any offense they are going to have to rely on a large, unreliable group of receivers and rookie running back Matt Forte. He'll have back up from Kevin Jones when he is fully recovered from his knee injury and career backup Adrian Peterson. However, there's no doubt that the running back position has been put in the hands of the second round draft pick. He can run, he can catch, and he can block, making him a three-down back the Bears desperately needed. Normally a team is happy with any production from a rookie but the Bears have put almost all of their offensive hopes in Forte's hands. He will get a lot of touches, a lot of catches, and will have a lot of opportunities to contribute. Even if he struggles he would split time with Kevin Jones and has the chance to put up good numbers. If he develops quickly, he has every opportunity to grab rookie of the year.
Biggest Disappointment: Chris Williams. Despite this prediction Williams can still develop into the left tackle of the future for the Bears. However, Williams has missed significant practice time with a lingering back injury and will have a hard time getting ready for the reason. The Bears will be facing a lot of dangerous defensive ends this year and putting a rookie tackle with little practice on the field could be an attack point for opposing defenses to send the blitz. Unless Williams can shorten the learning curve in a hurry he's going to have a rough rookie season.
Fantasy Stud: Matt Forte. Forte is that guy that can make your fantasy team and you don't have to use a high pick to get him. The game will be sitting on him on draft day and waiting until that right moment to grab him before someone else does. It's no secret the Bears will give him a lot of touches and catches the whole season. If your league gives points for every rushing attempt and catch then he will be even more valuable. If he's still available in the 4th or 5th round you shouldn't hesitate to draft him. In some leagues he may go as high as the 3rd round. Avoid drafting any Bears receiver or tight end until later rounds, it's far too unpredictable at this point which will emerge from the pack. Devin Hester and Brandon Lloyd would be the only two I would even consider drafting and you'd have to be desperate. Tights ends Greg Olsen and Desmond Clark will be platooning which means mediocre fantasy numbers.
Offensive Outlook: Messy. The Bears came to training camp with a rookie starting running back, no starting receiver, a banged up line, and a quarterback controversy that has become a chore. The Bears have far too many wide receivers in consideration to name and not one of them has a guaranteed starting spot. The offensive line was supposed to be improved this year but so far they already look banged up and weak going into the season. Oh and then there's Rex Grossman and Kyle Orton fighting for quarterback. It's like being the brother of the Handsome Prince and deciding which ugly step-sister you have to take to the Ball. Either way no one will really be happy and will second guess choosing the other. The Bears do have a couple weapons in Devin Hester and Greg Olsen that can make some great plays. This offense can come together if the offensive line can make improvements but right now it looks like a repeat of last year.
Defensive Diagnosis: Champions. The Bears defense can be the best in football when healthy. The past few seasons the Bears have had injury issues in the secondary that has made them vulnerable to big plays down the field. If Mike Brown can stay on the field at safety and the rest of the defense stays healthy, this group can carry the rest of the team on its shoulders. They have a variety of pro bowlers in Brown, Urlacher, Harris, Briggs, Vasher, and others. The rotation of tackles and ends has proven to be effective and coaches learned last season you can never have too many safeties. This unit not only can stop opposing offenses, they can create turnovers and score on their own. Unlike the offense, the defense looks happy and healthy and ready to do some damage. The struggles the past few seasons have made fans forget how dominant the Bears defense can be at times. It looks as though the league may get a reminder.
"Red Letter" Game: Bears vs. Packers, Monday, December 22nd. At the beginning of the season you can never tell which games will prove to be the make or break games for the season. As a fan I can tell you every Bears fan is savoring the end of the schedule when the Bears will host the Green Bay Packers at Soldier Field for Monday Night Football. Nothing gets Bears fans excited more than kicking the Packers ass than doing it on national television for everyone to see. The Bears have had a lot of tough luck against the Packers on national television, mostly due to Brett Favre. Bears fans will be excited to welcome a Favre-less Packers to Soldier Field for a good ass kicking. The cold factor plays a huge factor with a late-December game because that means the die hard fans will be out with their wool caps and full flasks to enjoy some real football. A night game means no sun to battle the cold winds coming off Lake Michigan and one cold, hard field.
Projected Record/Outlook: 10-6. I realize I must look like a loon giving a 10-win season to a team with no offense but I stick with my prediction. Sure they open against the Colts and eventually play the Titans, Saints, Jaguars, Eagles, Vikings twice, and possibly Favre-led Bucs. However, they also get the Falcons, Texans, Lions twice, Rams, and Steve Smith-less Panthers. A lot of the tough games I think they can win like the Titans because of Urlacher's ability to shadow running quarterbacks, Saints because the Bears match up well against them, and the Bucs because even if they have Favre he will take time to learn the system. Add it all up and I think the Bears can get 10 wins.
Parting Smack: For the life of me I cannot understand why experts continue to place the Packers as a top 10 team in the league with Favre gone, but place the Vikings in the middle and Bears in the bottom 10. The Packers were all Favre, all the time. Without his crazy play making ability the offense goes down a few notches and the pressure goes on the defense to carry the game. The Packers have running success because defenses have to respect Favre's play-making ability. Favre is gone and defense can stack the box and force Aaron Rodgers to make a play. He won't and even when he does it won't be enough.
Green Bay Packers: Cheese heads and the rest of the NFL are in denial of how much this team could fall apart. The entire attitude and outlook of this team changed when they changed quarterbacks. Defenses can stack the line against the run and will bring the blitz often to rattle the cage of Aaron Rodgers. You couldn't rattle Favre's cage so teams didn't bother. A new quarterback changes that entire offense and will put more pressure on a defense that will be looked upon to save games. The entire team could fold under the pressure like a cheap tent.
Minnesota Vikings: No team in the NFC has made more moves to put themselves in position to go to the Super Bowl than the Vikings. They are the new favorite to take it all, which is exactly why they won't. They have put so much pressure and expectations upon the team that there is no way the players can live up to them. Vikings fans think this team is amazing but going out and buying the best at positions doesn't mean they will play great as a team. Redskin fans can educate Viking fans on the disappointment of paying for a great team and watching them under-achieve. This Vikings team can definately shake things up, but they have a long road before they can be crowned champions.
Detroit Lions: I'm not even going to waste time analyzing the Lions players. They suck, the team sucks, the organization sucks, and the town sucks. Only Detroit can spend five first round picks on offensive players and none of them developed. It's a true testament of how this organization will never amount to anything in this league. One the greatest running backs of all time, Barry Sanders, retired early rather than continue playing for them. They are a horrible team and we are all now dumber for having discussed them.
- Bob
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