What a difference a year makes?!? The Chicago Bears traded for their old friend Chris Harris and moved Manning in as the starting strong safety. DJ Moore had a great year as the nickel safety. Rookie Major Wright proved to be a big hitter when he could stay healthy. Craig Steltz exploded out of camp as a potential starter but disappeared thanks to an injury during the preseason.

Charles Tillman is a favorite target of fans. He can be terrible against the slant pattern. However, he’s an excellent tackler and causes many fumbles. He’s a poor man’s Charles Woodson. Zachary Bowman was productive last season and struggled this year. He was replaced by one of the more underrated Bears this season in Tim Jennings. Josh Bullocks and Corey Graham are also cornerbacks, but their contributions come on special teams where Graham is a stud.

Obviously things were going right from a coaching standpoint. Jon Hoke was interviewed by the Philadelphia Eagles for their vacant defensive coordinator position. He didn’t get the job but it’s a nice pat-on-the-back for his career.

Overall, I give this unit a B+. While I think Harris was overrated and missed many tackles, he did get interceptions. Manning had a strong season. The cornerbacks played well and the coaches pulled the plug on Bowman quickly. Moore had a great season for a nickelback.

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This past off-season, Angelo cleaned house within his scouting department and brought in former Seahawk general manager Tim Ruskell to help with player scouting and evaluation. Obviously, there’s been a problem somewhere within the organization, and as my wife likes to say, poo flows downhill.

Regardless of these moves, I think it’s fair to evaluate Angelo based on him being the boss. I think it didn’t take a rocket scientist to find Julius Peppers. He showed guts giving up Kyle Orton and three draft picks for Jay Cutler and a fifth round pick that eventually became Johnny Knox. The Cutler trade will be his defining one for his tenure with the Chicago Bears.

I highlight these two moves because these are the highest profile moves he’s made. Frankly, his track record with free agents is sub-par at best. And that’s being unbelievably generous. Peppers really wasn’t much of a risk. He brought in train wrecks like Muhsin Muhammad and Adam Archuleta. The Archuleta move was particularly disturbing because he traded Chris Harris in anticipation of it. While Harris is back, it just didn’t make any sense to get rid of a good young safety for the worst one I’ve seen in my lifetime.

He’s made some good moves that haven’t been as publicized. The addition of Pisa Tinoisamoa and Anthony Adams were solid pickups on the defensive side of the ball. Offensively, Roberto Garza and Frank Omiyale have proven to be solid NFL offensive linemen. But, the whole Thomas Jones/Cedric Benson fiasco really marred him as a general manager. While Matt Forte may be better than both, the whole scenario just worked out poorly.

Being a general manager in the NFL is an extremely difficult job. Very little praise will come your way and the crap hits the fan when things fall apart. I’ve got two concerns with Angelo, its his evaluation of offensive talent specifically on the line and receiver positions.

While Chris Williams worked out respectably as a guard last season, he was drafted to be a tackle. That is the only high draft pick in many years the Bears have used on an offensive lineman. Granted, they traded a lot of picks the last two seasons, but the commitment wasn’t there before either. While I’m not pleased with the lack of offensive line depth or development, J’Marcus Webb may have been a steal as a seventh round pick. Kudos on that selection.

The Bears still don’t have anyone in the stable of receivers that strike fear in opponents. While there’s some speed, there’s not a lot of tough guys that will make a tough catch. Earl Bennett showed that potential towards the end of the season, but I’m not exactly ready to call him an elite receiver. This is something the Bears desperately need and fast. If Cutler is going to take that next step, he needs a top-tier wide receiver. Guys like Knox and Devin Hester will be great complementary receivers, but aren’t elite guys. As far as I’m concerned, bringing in an top receiver is priority number 1A this off-season along with improving the above-mentioned offensive line. Honestly, I’m not terribly confident in Angelo’s ability to do either one. Defensively, the Bears could use a better three-technique due to Tommie Harris’ decline in that role. But this isn’t as much of a priority as wide receiver and offensive line.

Basically, it comes down to wins and losses with any front office person (minus Jim Hendry). I feel as if I’ve given some fair and constructive feedback as a fan of Angelo’s performance. While I don’t think he’s a disaster, I’m not sure if he’s done enough to warrant sticking around when his contract expires. This will be his most critical off-season. Considering the type of season the Chicago Bears had this year, a few key additions may be enough to put them over the top.

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As much as I do not like the Chicago White Sox, I received a nice shout out from the guys at www.paleandhosed.com. They’re your one-stop shop for the latest and unbiased White Sox needs and notes.

What does this mean for the Chicago Bears?  It is obvious to anyone with a brain that Briggs has been a huge part of this defense. He has become one of the league’s top linebackers. It is concerning considering that along with Brian Urlacher, Briggs has played at a high Pro Bowl level all season long.

Look for the Chicago Bears to use the nickle package a lot on Sunday. While they will give up a little in run support, it is important that they do not lose pass coverage. Ideally, it would almost make the most sense to move Chris Harris into the nickle position and play another safety. Harris is a good tackler and strong against the run. The Bears may even use some variations of the 46 defense with Harris blitzing, but most important is to prevent big plays which the Chicago Bears have been doing well all season.

Injuries are a part of football, and with the loss of Cutler from last week and Briggs this week, the Bears will need to show some resilience.

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[picappgallerysingle id="7436787"]When Chris Harris and Danieal Manning take the field later today, it will be the 42nd and 43rd different safety to start under Lovie Smith (keep in mind that Harris played strong safety in the past and will start at free safety and the reverse also applies to Manning).

Manning is one of the most frustrating Chicago Bears. He has tremendous talent but doesn’t ever seem to quite “get it”. He is out of position on many plays and seems lost. Then he will turn around and make an unbelievable play. Plus, he has proven to be an excellent kick-off returner. This is a big year for Manning, and hopefully he can rise to the occasion.

[picappgallerysingle id="9715528"]Going into the preseason, Harris was a lock at safety. Based on his play in the preseason, his job isn’t quite as secure. With Major Wright and Craig Steltz breathing down his neck, Harris will have to step up his game. I would hope Harris has something to prove to the Chicago Bears upon his return, but perhaps there was a reason why he was traded to the Chicago Bears from the Carolina Panthers. I really hope we don’t have another Adam Archuleta on our hands. Man did he suck!

[picappgallerysingle id="9563205"]After being injured in the first preseason game, Wright is ready to roll. All indications are that he is a solid all-around safety. With the secondary being a huge question with this team, and frankly, the lack of solid play out of the current starters (well at least in the preseason…both had moments but overall didn’t play at a high level), Wright may give these guys a little push to perform. Additionally, Steltz was also playing well in training camp until injuring his ankle.

[picappgallerysingle id="2690351"]Follow me on Twitter at bearshq for regular updates during the game. Go Bears!!!

Afalava wasn’t a huge surprise. Last season the secondary pretty much sucked. Along with Kevin Payne,  not a lot of good things came from this tandom. By drafting Major Wright and trading for Chris Harris, the writing was on the wall.  Alfalava overcame some off-the-field issues while at Oregon State stemming from a drunk driving conviction. He got passed this but now needs to prove to another team he can play.

Born in England, Tim Shaw has bounced around the NFL after his time at Penn State. He replaced Brian Urlacher on the roster last season. I’m a little surprised on this move, but others including Brian Iwuh seemed to be more versatile. Ironically enough,  Iwuh also beat Shaw out in Jacksonville last season.

Stay tuned for updates on the final roster on my Twitter account (bearshq) and on bearsheadquarters.com.

Here are some of the low-lights…

-Jay Cutler played like Rex Grossman.

-The offensive line still cannot block.

-Missed tackles on defense.

-Two missed field goals.

-Lack of third-down stops.

-Lance Briggs injured his ankle.

-Matt Forte doesn’t play very much.

-Chris Harris missed two obvious tackles on consecutive plays.

-Brandon Manumaleuna forgot how to block.

What were the highlights???

-Dan LeFevour actually looked like he did in college…good (and he shut me up with some play-making abilities).

-Juaquin Iglesias made a tough catch in the end-zone.

-Pisa Tinoisamoa was all over the field making plays.

-Johnny Knox continues to grow before our very eyes.

-Julius Peppers is pretty good.

-Tommie Harris continues to show flashes of his former self.

Overall Recap

I really left Soldier Field tonight with a sour taste in my mouth and anger in my gut. How can this team be so bad? Are they not showing us anything or do they not have the ability to show us anything? Lovie Smith claimed that this game was going to be treated like a regular season game and even suggested that the Bears had a score to settle with the Cardinals from last season. If this is how the Chicago Bears settle a score, it may be time to start looking for another line of work.

OK, its only the preseason I keep telling myself. No one remembers what your record was during this time. However, glaring holes are still showing up on this team and there is little that may give us any hope.

Garrett Wolfe…

[picappgallerysingle id="9580937"]Over the past day or so, some of you have had some strong suggestions on why Garrett Wolfe should make the Chicago Bears. His blocking on special teams and speed are two of the primary reasons. But in his time with the Chicago Bears, he has not exactly been a productive player. He has shown very little on offense and some things on special teams. With Kahlil Bell emerging as a viable third running back, Wolfe has an uphill battle. On Saturday’s roster, Wolfe was listed as fourth on the depth charts. As much as any of you, I would love to see this kid succeed because he is a local guy who had great success in college. However, I think the Chicago Bears have given him ample opportunities to prove himself, and he has not done so on a regular (or at all) basis. I am guessing Mr. Wolfe will be out of work come the end of training camp.

Dan LeFevour

[picappgallerysingle id="9580910"]Here’s another local kid that has many Chicago Bears fans excited. He put up amazing numbers at Central Michigan and has proven the ability to scramble. However, he has not exactly been lighting it up with his arm. Based on what I witnessed in person last Saturday, his arm speed and strength is not quite up to NFL standards. I know I am being a little harsh on this kid, but this is the big leagues and teams just do not have the luxury to hope glaring weaknesses get better. With the signing of Todd Collins and to a certain extent Matt Gutierrez, I think the Chicago Bears are sending a message that there is a concern with the depth of quarterbacks. Here is my prediction…the Bears will release LeFevour and try to sign him to the practice squad.

Hunter Hillenmeyer

[picappgallerysingle id="7371404"]Hunter Hillenmeyer was given the opportunity to start last season after Brian Urlacher was injured last season. He wasn’t very impressive. Now, in fairness to Hillenmeyer, he isn’t Brian Urlacher. But, he has been in the NFL long enough where he should understand the linebacker position. He seemed to have many missteps along the way. That being said, he is still a contributor on special teams and the coaches love him. He will make this team, but I think it is a lot closer than people think.

Al Afalava

[picappgallerysingle id="6853634"]Last season, Al Afalava was the toast of training camp. He impressed many people and earned a starting  job with the defense. However, that did not last long and the coaches seemed to be frustrated with his development. This season, he is listed third on the free safety depth chart and hardly mentioned by the coaches. Based on the moves of getting Chris Harris and Major Wright, I think Afalava will be off this team by the end of training camp. It’s too bad, because he had to overcome some things in his life to get here…but like with LeFevour, this is the NFL for a reason.

I am interested to hear some of your thoughts. Please follow me on Twitter.

With the Football…

Things for the Chicago Bears offense started off strong. Jay Cutler hit Johnny Knox on two nice patterns. Until the dreaded red-zone…Cutler Checked off on second down and perfectly anticipated a blitz from the weak-side safety. However, Matt Forte (despite being in perfect position) whiffed on his block. Needless to say, Cutler expressed his frustration in the huddle and the Bears were stopped short of a touchdown.

[picappgallerysingle id="8894720"] 

While its the first preseason game, Forte needs to pick up that type of rush. When you set your quarterback up to get killed, obviously bad things will happen. Had Forte picked up the block, Cutler had options downfield. While I am blasting Forte, Olin Kruetz did a solid job at center. The inside of the line had its struggles, but Kruetz looked to have a little more of a burst.

Other notables on offense include Chester Taylor. He really gives the Chicago Bears an option as a third-down back, and frankly, will hopefully be an option if Forte continues to struggle like he did last season. Caleb Hanie also showed athleticism at the quarterback position until he got knocked out of the game in the third quarter with an apparant shoulder injury (although he walked off on his own power). He appeared to mess up his throwing shoulder on a tackle. Devin Aromashodu is really establishing himself as a legitimate NFL target. Khalil Bell got a chance to show the coaching staff a lot in the second half. He’s in a tough battle for the third running back spot with Garrett Wolfe.

Without the Ball…

Welcome home Brian Urlacher. We really missed you. I really enjoyed watching Major Wright (although Wright left with a minor hand injury). He is a kid with a nose to the football and will lay the wood to other players. While it is nice to have Chris Harris back in the fold, he blew coverage on an end-zone route. Again, its the preseason. Craig Steltz suffered a leg injury early in the game. He’s been a star of training camp so the Chicago Bears hope its not serious.

Final Thoughts…

I am so glad its officially football season. The Chicago Bears did some things well last night. I really enjoyed watching how strong the Chicago Bears appear at the wide receiver position. While these guys are playing well, the blocking upfront needs to improve. The pass rush was not non-existent, so lets just hope its not a trend. My other fear is the lack of depth seems to be an issue as well. I am wondering what happens if they continue to take these little injuries. The kickers continued to be the best in the league.

New Offense

While Jay Cutler and the boys will not be playing the whole game, I am excited to see Mike Martz’s offense in action. There will be a learning curve involved, so I am curious as to how quickly the Chicago Bears pick up the system. Additionally, I am wondering if Mike Tice can work his magic with the offense line. It should be the main thing to watch.

The Defensive Line

Julius Peppers by all accounts is a manchild. However, how will Tommie Harris and Mark Anderson respond this season? If Harris plays well, Peppers will be an All-Pro and the Chicago Bears will be a dominating defensive unit. Tomorrow is the first step towards the hopeful return of Tommie Harris to his old form.

Linebackers

The Chicago Bears have the best linebacking core in football. Brian Urlacher and Lance Briggs are awesome football players. I am curious to see if Pisa Tinoisamoa can get back to his form from the St. Louis Rams days. If so, the Chicago Bears will create some great opportunities from this group. Nick Roach is also a solid NFL performer.

Secondary

Chris Harris is back and playing some great ball in camp. How will Major Wright play? What about some of the other holdovers? Tonight will tell us a lot.

And Finally…

I know its the preseason. But the Chicago Bears have a lot to prove to themselves and the league. Tonight will be the beginning of that challenge.

Free Agency

It did not take a rocket scientist to notice that the Chicago Bears needed to improve in many areas this season. This included in pressuring the quarterback, running the football and blocking. Jerry Angelo and his staff did a great job addressing these areas in free agency. The additions of Julius Peppers, Chester Taylor and Brandon Manumaleuna all addressed major holes with the Chicago Bears.

Trade

The Chicago Bears had holes in the secondary last season. In order to solve this problem, they brought in a familiar face in Chris Harris. He is a playmaker in the secondary and really will help a part of the Chicago Bears that struggled last season.

The Draft

Very rarely will you hear a GM tell you that they thought the draft was a waste of time, but the Chicago Bears are very happy with Major Wright in the third round. He was considered a strong part of the Florida defense from last season. Not sure why he slipped into the third round, but the feedback on this pick has been good for the most part. As a Northwestern fan, I think getting Corey Wooten was also a solid move. Finally, many local fans are excited about Lisle’s very own Dan LeFevour. He was very productive as a QB at Central Michigan, and many feel he will be a good backup to Jay Cutler.

Other Moves of Interest

In the supplemental draft, the Chicago Bears selected BYU’s running back Harvey Unga. Unga was projected to be one of the nation’s top backs, but issues in his personal life led him to the NFL. The Bears recognized his talent and used a supplemental pick for his talents. He is the short distance running back the Bears have needed for a long time. The Bears also signed Brian Iwuh who is a solid special teams player.

The Verdict

Alex Brown will be missed, but the moves to improve the roster well outweight the loss of Brown. I think the Bears should get credit for building a roster without having many draft picks.

On a final note, I have to give a huge shout out to the Joliet JackHammers of the Northern League. I was at the Schaumburg Flyers game yesterday with my father and son, and two of the players were unbelievable. Brad Correll gave my son a baseball and Jonathan Wyatt gave him a bat. It was probably the best time I ever had at a sporting event. For those of you with children, you understand what I mean. I am still on cloud nine from how wonderful these ballplayers were to my son, and they deserve some kudos for doing the right thing with kids.

Please follow me on Twitter at BearsHQ for updates during training camp.