Grading the Chicago Bears
At 4-3, the Chicago Bears find themselves in a tie with Green Bay atop the NFC North. While on paper this looks pretty good, the Chicago Bears have managed to look pretty bad in losing three of four games. Two of those losses came to teams they should have beaten. Without any further buildup, here are my grades for the 2010 Chicago Bears…
Quarterbacks (C-)
Jay Cutler has made some good throws and some bad ones. Todd Collins made no good throws and Caleb Hanie hasn’t done much of anything. While the line hasn’t been good, the quarterbacks haven’t been either.
Running Backs (C)
Matt Forte isn’t very good at blocking of holding onto the football. Chester Taylor is the consummate professional. While Forte has had some spectacular plays and a good game against Carolina, he allows his quarterback to get killed. Taylor is consistently above-average. This needs to improve.
Offensive Line (D)
They’ve been bad, but the running backs and tight ends haven’t helped. Does Olin Kruetz actually block anyone? So a “D” is given out of my frustration to other people not helping a weak unit.
Tight Ends (F)
This has been the most disappointing group. Greg Olsen may make a play once in a while, but his lack of blocking and inconsistent play make him a bad player. Brandon Manumaleuna for a guy that supposedly can block…hasn’t. Desmond Clark and Kellen Davis ain’t worth hot either.
Wide Receivers (C+)
Johnny Knox is coming into his own. Earl Bennett has been solid and Devin Hester has made some plays. Devin Aromashodu is a non-factor.
Defensive Line (B)
Julius Peppers is a dominant football player. Israel Idonije has played well since being slotted as a starter. Tommie Harris isn’t any good and the others are just there.
Linebackers (A)
The best unit on this team and maybe in football. Enough said.
Secondary (B)
Receivers haven’t been going crazy and they cause turnovers. I wish they had a shut-down corner, but this unit has been solid.
Special Teams (B+)
Devin Hester is back. Robbie Gould is awesome and Brad Maynard is solid. Good coverage and Early Bennett’s block on the Seattle punter was one of the best I’ve ever seen.
Coaching (C)
Lovie Smith not challenging Jay Cutler’s TD last week along with Mike Martz’s inability to stop a blitzing corner are bad. Rod Marinelli has done a good job with the defense. At 4-3 this team is still in it, but things have to change next week or we will be in for a crappy final nine games.
Overall (B-)
As of this morning, the Chicago Bears are a first place team. Doesn’t mean there a good one, but who in the NFC really is that good?
Don’t Worry Chicago Bears Fans
Lovie Smith said there’s a problem and he along with his coaches have the cure. My day just got better.
You mean now you’ve noticed the corner blitz? You can motivate Tommie Harris to actually make a play? You will teach Greg Olsen and Matt Forte to block? You will not get your franchise quarterback killed?
Lovie’s obnoxious attitude towards the media really gets old especially when the team loses. He is so smug when the team wins and becomes a condescending jerk when they lose. I’m sure he ain’t happy about it, but he will never accept accountability. When fans pay a lot of money buying tickets and devote hours of his or her time to a team, no one really wants to see a whiney little brat.
I’m curious to see how this problem is fixed. I was there on Sunday and will tell you the better coached and prepared team won. Mike Shanahan will have the Redskins ready too. How about Lovie?
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Chicago Bears vs. NY Giants… Welcome Back Tommie Harris
Rumor has it that Tommie Harris will dress on Sunday. His spot on the depth chart is unknown, but it seems that his playing time will be reduced until he steps up and makes plays.
No word yet on Devin Aromashodu.
Why the Chicago Bears are 3-0
Why when I tell anyone that will listen that Brian Urlacher and Lance Briggs are the best linebackers in football people think I’m wrong? The name Clay Matthews is thrown in my face. So haters, which linebackers proved it last night? Who made the big play? Not Goldilocks…but Chicago’s washed-up linebackers.
Some interesting events came out of this game. Julius Peppers was held on every play. It was called a few times, but his presence is making teams nervous.
Devin Hester is back. Instead of dancing, that man finally hit a hole. If you watch the replay, new Bear Rod Wilson threw the key block. Hester’s been working hard, let’s give the guy a huge welcome back. Johnny Knox was also impressive as well.
Once again, credit to the Mikes. Tice and Martz found a way to get it done. The final drive was brilliant. The Bears knew that Green Bay was having secondary trouble and went after it. Gotta love a coach that sees things. The offensive line gave Jay Cutler time for the most part when he needed it.
Two Chicago Bears were inactive…Tommie Harris and Devin Aromashodu. Not sure why Harris was inactive, but Aromashodu has been in the dog house since the first week. Glad to see some tough love from Lovie Smith and the Chicago Bears beginning to have high expectations and not just look at big contracts.
If you follow me on Twitter at bearshq, you know I wanted to kick the field goal instead of going for it in 4th down. My one issue with the coaches yesterday.
Finally, my prediction of a three point win came true. Now you will love this even more. Unless the wheels fall off, we’re looking at 5-0. New York and Carolina are two winnable games on the road. I only want to look ahead for two weeks, but our boys come home to Seattle and Washington. The schedule gets harder after the week eight bye, but it is now very possible the Bears will be 7-0.
Beating Green Bay makes the world a better place. Think any of those dbags will comment on this blog or are they back in hiding?
Chicago Bears Lack of Player Development and Personnel Decisions
When the Chicago Bears had their successful run a few years back, homegrown developed talent was up and down the roster. Let’s look at the Super Bowl XLI roster for starters. Here are a list of starters drafted and developed by the organization.
[picappgallerysingle id="1839604"]On offense, three players included Olin Kruetz, Bernard Berrian and Rex Grossman. Cedric Benson, as much as people hated him, also gave the team some solid work as well.
[picappgallerysingle id="1542340"]On the defensive side of the ball, ten of the twelve starters included Brian Urlacher, Lance Briggs, Alex Brown, Tommie Harris, Tank Johnson, Peanut Tillman, Nathan Vasher, Mike Brown (until he was injured and Danieal Manning filled in…another guy that hasn’t developed as a safety but a nice kick returner) and Chris Harris. Mark Anderson should also get credit for his twelve sacks as well.
[picappgallerysingle id="1839777"]One cannot look at this team without also mentioning a second-round draft pick out of Miami. When he was drafted, many felt he was the best athlete in the draft but with raw talent. You might remember his unbelievable kick-off and punt returns including the opening kickoff in the Super Bowl for a touchdown…you guessed it…Devin Hester.
So why the stroll down memory lane? Because the success of this team really puts into perspective how much the organization has failed since Super Bowl XLI. One player in particular that stands out to me is the above-mentioned Hester.
The Hester that everyone loves was the guy that could return a kick for a touchdown every time he touched the ball. Teams were scared to kick to him and he was able to secure the Chicago Bears with excellent field position even when he didn’t touch the ball. So what did the Chicago Bears do? They decided to move him to wide receiver and feature him in the offense. At first, it seemed like a good idea…I mean here’s a guy with unbelievable talent that might be able to make the offense better. However, in the process of making this transition, Hester’s return abilities began to suffer. In fact, he became just another returner.
[picappgallerysingle id="2999848"]Meanwhile, the Chicago Bears had a good receiver in Bernard Berrian. He had great speed and good hands. Since they decided to move Hester up to offense (and Hester got a huge contract), they let Berrian go. While the Chicago Bears claim Berrian wanted too much money, they were way under the salary cap every season (that eats me up inside). Meanwhile, Berrian went to rival Minnesota and the Chicago Bears haven’t been as good since he was a member of the team.
So in two moves, the Chicago Bears (unless he makes a huge turn-around this season), have actually hurt the development of a Hall-of-Fame caliber player (and Hester was that type of returner) while letting a good player leave to a rival.
[picappgallerysingle id="1537793"]Other brilliant personnel decisions from the Super Bowl team include releasing Cedric Benson (I am aware of his off-the-field problems but to not even get anything in return for a first-round pick is inexcusable, especially when he is now one of the best running backs in football), and Tank Johnson (another guy with character issues but he comes to play every week).
[picappgallerysingle id="1839468"]The organization also traded Chris Harris (he’s back but should never have been let go by the team) and Thomas Jones (trading him away when you were aware of Benson’s off-the-field issues was also bone-headed).
[picappgallerysingle id="2154973"]Meanwhile, a huge contract was rewarded to Nathan Vasher. While Vasher had some good years, he was made one of the highest paid cornerbacks in the league. Once again, the organization lets Bernard Berrian walk over money while signing a mediocre cornerback to a big-money contract.
Today’s Chicago Bears
Since the Super Bowl, the Chicago Bears talent development has been poor. The only two players since the Super Bowl that the Chicago Bears have drafted and developed are Zach Bowman and Johnny Knox. Greg Olsen frankly has been a disappointment. Matt Forte has showed some signs but needs to do it more on a consistent basis, and having a crappy second season isn’t a ringing endorsement for player development. The jury is still out on Chris Williams, but based on some of his preseason play, it may be a short trial.
[picappgallerysingle id="9580310"]The Chicago Bears did trade two first-round and a third-round pick for Jay Cutler (the Chicago Bears did get a fifth-round pick in that trade that ended up being Johnny Knox). In addition, they gave up a second-round pick for Gaines Adams. In many people’s opinions, Cutler hasn’t lived up to the value of three picks and Adams tragically died last off-season.
[picappgallerysingle id="9580658"]Last years’ top picks (third-round) Jarron Gilbert and Juaquin Iglasius were released yesterday. So was sixth-round pick Al Afalava. This is not exactly a ringing endorsement to an organization’s scouting and player development. In fairness, Johnny Knox was a steal as a fifth-round pick, and starting left guard Lance Louis came out of this draft.
This year’s draft features Major Wright. Based on a half of a preseason game, he played well. But, let’s see what happens when it really matters.
[picappgallerysingle id="3170387"]Jerry Angelo and Lovie Smith have taken a Super Bowl team and really screwed it up quickly. To go from the top game to not even making the playoffs is a joke. It is not like there isn’t any talent left on this team, it is just getting older and the younger guys just aren’t developing.
