Bears - NFL's version of "According to Jim"

It’s not easy being right when one’s rooting interest is in direct opposition to the reality at hand.  Unfortunately, the reality at hand is the mediocrity known as the Chicago Bears and also unfortunately, I and many others not employed by the Bears knew the path this thing was going to take a couple years ago.  Now here we are, looking at a team with a highly paid, fundamentally unsound quarterback who is surrounded by a complete lack of talent on the offensive end and being coached by a so-called offensive mastermind who prefers to hammer home a stubborn offensive scheme rather than adapt to the talent given.  Jay Cutler has some positive attributes, but throwing accurately to a spot is not one of them, and a lack of receiver talent only accentuates the problem.

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On the defensive side, things still look good but seem to be wasted, because when the offense eventually acquires enough talent to succeed, the defense will be too old to compete.  Fans could expect to rebuild the defense through the draft, but Chicagoans are well aware of what happens when the Bears attempt to draft talent – they are soon left paying for free agents to fix the problem.

Green Bay obviously knows what to do for long-term success, and even Detroit seems to finally have a handle on how to rebuild properly, although much of the Lions’ short term success will depend on keeping Matthew Stafford healthy.  That leaves Chicago fighting with Minnesota to try to figure out how to patch up the mess in the bottom of the NFC North.  In the NFL, change can happen quickly, but without a depth of talent, it becomes a lot harder.  Now that Cutler is becoming less and less trade-able by the game, the Bears are going to be in a holding pattern for a few years.  My biggest fear: when Chicago finally figures out a way to develop a strong line and some receivers, Cutler will be gone and there won’t be enough money for a top-tier quarterback, ensuring mediocrity once again.  The only viable solution is to draft well, so pray hard, Bears fans, pray very hard.

Please protect me

Last week this site posted an entry questioning whether a pass-happy NFL was good or bad for the Bears.  After Week 1 set a record in overall passing yards, Week 2 surpassed Week 1!  Guess what, in Week 2, Bears fans also got their answer – too much passing = too much losing.  As stated in the past, Chicago’s RB Matt Forte is skilled at pass receiving, which he proved in a 10-catch performance last Sunday.  Great, but at what expense?  What happened when the Bears followed suit with the league, handing off to Forte a miniscule 10 times and passing at a record rate?  They got creamed by New Orleans.

Hopefully, Martz watches the video as someone possessing common sense and thinks “lesson learned,” because love him or hate him, Jay Cutler is the only Bears QB with an NFL-ready arm, and risking his life by not mixing up the play calling is no way to win a game, nor a division.  With the Packers coming into town, a lot is at stake in Week 3.  Solid defense and a controlled, balanced offensive attack could make it a close game.  Forcing the passing issue will lead to a double digit halftime deficit, though, so let’s all hope Martz shows some humility and plays to the talent he has been given and not to the schemes he desires to see.

Everyone seems to be passing nowadays...

After a record-setting Week 1 in which the NFL as a whole seemed to abandon the run, the question Bears fans are asking is whether this is good or bad for Chicago’s playoff hopes. 

Trying to be positive, let’s start with the good: a defense like Chicago’s, predicated on causing turnovers should thrive in a pass-happy league; Mike Martz loves to design passing schemes; Jay Cutler (like most QBs) loves to air it out; and Chicago’s best RB, Matt Forte, is extremely adept at pass catching, making him a multiple threat and an extra body to be keyed on in the passing game. 

Now for the negatives: the offensive line still has trouble protecting Cutler, so more passes means more chances at the dreaded “Cutler concussion”; Cutler isn’t exactly careful with the ball in the air (50 TD - 42 INT ratio in last two seasons); Chicago winters don’t lend themselves well to the passing game; and the Bears’ receivers are hardly ready to schedule their Pro Bowl plans.

In the end, Chicago must play to its strengths.  Use Martz’s mind, use the defense and hope it can help the offense through turnovers, use Cutler’s arm, and use Forte’s mobility.  Through necessity and lack of a true star wideout, Cutler is forced to spread the offense around, so if Martz tries to use that as an advantage that keeps the defense guessing, Chicago could have some success this year with two big “ifs” – IF Cutler doesn’t turn it over, and IF the line keeps Cutler on his feet.

Happily, I was wrong about Week 1, so hopefully the Bears will prove me wrong a few more times this season.