CHICAGO BEARS
2009 RECORD: 7-9-0
(3rd in NFC North)
HEAD COACH: Lovie Smith
Key Additions: DE Julius Peppers (FA/Carolina), RB Chester Taylor (FA/Minnesota), TE Brandon Manumaleuna (FA/San Diego), S Chris Harris (trade/Carolina)
Key Losses: DE Adewale Ogunleye (FA), LB Jamar Williams (trade/Carolina), RB Kevin Jones (FA), CB Nathan Vasher (FA/San Diego), DE Alex Brown (FA/New Orleans)
Offense: Jay Cutler had an up and down season in 2009, throwing for 3,666 yards and 27 touchdowns, but had 26 interceptions.
Enter Mike Martz as the new Offensive Coordinator.
Martz loves to spread the ball around and with Cutler at the controls, the Bears QB will have many targets to throw to, including Devin Hester (57 catches for 757 yards and three TD in '09) and Greg Olson, who led Chicago with 60 catches a year ago, including eight for touchdowns.
Other receivers in the plans for the Bears are Johnny Knox (45 catches, 527 yards and five TD), Devin Aromashadu (24 grabs for 298 yards and four TD) and Earl Bennett, who made 54 catches for 717 yards and two touchdowns.
The Bears running game needs a boost after ranking 29th in the league a year ago with just 93 yards per game.
Chester Taylor was signed from Minnesota where he ran for 389 yards as a backup and averaged a whopping 8.8 yards per carry. Matt Forte' is the starter after running for 929 yards and averaging 3.6 yards per carry last season and also had 57 catches.
The offensive line sees Olin Kreutz returning at center with Josh Beekman and Roberto Garza at guard and Frank Omiyale and Chris Williams at tackle.
Defense: The team signed Julius Peppers to a big contract to play Defensive End and he will team with tackles Tommie Harris and Anthony Adams and end Israel Idonije up front.
The linebackers are Lance Briggs, Pisa Tinoisamoa and Brian Urlacher in the middle.
Urlacher missed all of last season after injuring his wrist in the opener at Green Bay.
The secondary, which helped the defense rank 13th against the pass in '09, has Charles Tillman and Zack Bowman at the corners and newly signed Chris Harris at strong safety while Major Wright will play free safety.
The defense struggled to stop the run last season, allowing 126 yards per game, which ranked the Bears at 23rd overall.
A healthy Harris up front and Urlacher will be a big plus for Chicago in 2010. Peppers, who led the Carolina Panthers with 10.5 QB sacks a year ago, will definitely help to bring pressure on opposing quarterbacks.
OUTLOOK: The heat is on Head Coach Lovie Smith and company to make a run to the playoffs after a three year absence.
Mediocrity is getting old in Chicago and the Bears added some new names to the mix to go with Cutler, last year's top free agent signee.
Playing in the always tough NFC North will push the Bears, where they went 3-3 a year ago, including a big late season win against the Vikings.
The schedule they face is pretty tough and Smith knows the team has to deliver sooner rather than later.
With Urlacher back healthy and Peppers added to the mix on defense, look for the Bears to get back to respectability against opposing rushing attacks. The secondary gets torched on occasion, but a more fierce pass rush does wonders for that area as well.
If Cutler can cut down on the picks, especially at inopportune times, the offense will improve. The Bears averaged 20 points per game last year and with offensive "guru" Martz now on the sidelines running the offense, look for the team to spread the ball around and open it up more often, especially with rifle armed Cutler at quarterback.
If the Bears can cut down on the turnovers and improve their offense, especially the running game, they can expect better things in 2010. If not, well then expect more of what happened a year ago.
The Bears should improve, but a lot of questions loom as the 2010 NFL season gets started. An 8-8 finish for the Bears is the likely outcome this season.
TEAM SCHEDULE:
Week 1- vs. Detroit
Week 2- at Dallas
Week 3- vs. Green Bay
Week 4- at NY Giants
Week 5- at Carolina
Week 6- vs. Seattle
Week 7- vs. Washington
Week 8- Bye Week
Week 9- at Buffalo
Week 10- vs. Minnesota
Week 11- at Miami
Week 12- vs. Philadelphia
Week 13- at Detroit
Week 14- vs. New England
Week 15- at Minnesota
Week 16- vs. NY Jets
Week 17- at Green Bay
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