A picture wasn't good enough for these guys. Daaaaa Bears.
If you're a Chicago fan I don't know what's going through your head. Chances are you're delusional, overly obsessive, and like Joakim Noah way more than I ever will, but you're also a little scared of the number 26. Jay Cutler's 26 interceptions crushed the Bears' faithful but gave everybody else in the sports world something to smile about (my personal favorite was against San Francisco. Beautiful). Nobody likes Jay Cutler outside of you Chicago, and if he isn't careful, you're going to hate him as well. Letting down a franchise that banked their future on you isn't a great plan Jay, but I sincerely hope it happens to you. Putting my hate for Jay aside...
The Bears are trying to get back to their roots by re-establishing a premier defense. They didn't have selections in the first two rounds, but when they did have a draft pick they addressed issues in their defense. Major Wright isn't exactly a stud yet at safety, but rookie defensive end Coorey Wootton out of Northwestern has all the tools to succeed. At worst, Wright will add depth and Wootton will help a pass rush that finished 13th in the league in sacks with 35. Having Brian Urlacher won't hurt the team either. Given, he isn't the same player he was a few seasons ago and there may be lingering effects from his wrist injury, but having the defensive leader back on the field will help them improve. Chicago defenses aren't supposed to finish in the bottom half of the league so the front office shook this unit up by adding Julius Peppers. He should be motivated to prove any Carolina wrong for letting him walk, so watch out for a return of the "Monsters of the Midway," even if it's more Diet Monsters than the original.
Since adding Cutler and Mike Martz the Bears' offense is supposed to carry the team. Matt Forte didn't get as many touches but improved slightly as a receiver, upping is average yards per catch by nearly a yard. In Martz's offense he'll be asked to catch the ball frequently, but even if he does poorly they have Chester Taylor. Either back can succeed this year, and having multiple backs should keep them fresh enough to help the club. At wide receiver, the Hester experience has largely been a disappointment. He should probably go back to strictly returning kicks, but they want to make him into a feature wide receiver. Word from camp is that he's been doing well in the offense and running quality routes, but Johnny Knox has been the stud. The wide receivers have played a secondary role all around as Cutler has been focusing on his tight ends, so there will be more pressure on Greg Olson, free agent Brandon Manumaleuna, and Desmond Clark to preform. Compared to Jay Cutler however, other performers mean peanuts. If he can't bring it this team will lose. It's as simple as that. He loves throwing to the guys in the wrong jersey so much that it's hard to imagine much change or another season of Lovie in 2011.
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