So much to look forward to

[SoxFan1]

After thinking about our team as a whole, it's essentially a giant question mark. It's really interesting because there are question marks at literally every position. We have such huge potential with this team, but they need to pull it together. How weird is it that the only really solidified positions are QB, P, K, and maybe RB.

 

QB: Cutler, you know what you're going to get, but can he continue to get better with this group of receivers?

 

RB: Will Forte continue to grow or will he regress in his sophomore year? Could he be our franchise guy for a long time? And who the hell is going to back him up?

 

FB: Will McKie actually do anything? Will Gaines take over?

 

WR: The biggest question mark of them all. Can Hester learn the playbook for good and improve his catching abilities? Can Bennett learn the playbook and break out with a familiar QB? How long until Rashied Davis is purely a special teamer? Can any of the rookies step up and become a reliable receiver? Will we bring in a veteran like Toomer or Harrison to solidify the position? Plaxico?

 

TE: Will Olsen take the next step to becoming a perennial Pro Bowler? Can he improve his blocking? How much more does Dez Clark have left in the tank? Can we expect anything out of Gaines or Davis?

 

OL: Can Pace finish his career strong? How much does he have left? What will happen between Garza/Omilaye/Shaffer/Beekman/Buenning? Can Williams recover from the injuries and prove his worth as a 1st rounder?

 

---

 

DL: Can Rod Marinelli work some magic on these guys? We have a plethora of athletic lineman, but it seems that none of them played well last year outside of Alex Brown? Can Ogunleye show up and be a force on the end in his contract year? Can Anderson show those crazy rushing abilities from his rookie year? Can Tommie Harris stay healthy? Will Idonije play inside or outside? What can we expect out of the rookie Jarron Gilbert? Will Adams and Harrison continue good play as backup DT?

 

LB: Briggs seems to be a sure thing if he stays healthy but can Urlacher rebound from a tough season? Will Roach or Hillenmeyer step up and take the outside role? Can Freeman show anything as a rookie? Do we bring in Tinoisamoa for competition?

 

CB: Absolutely nothing is set in the secondary. We have tons of talent but they need to put it together. Can Tillman rebound and be that shut-down CB on the bigger receivers? Can Vasher stay healthy and be a Pro Bowler again? What can we expect from Danieal Manning? Is he a CB or safety? Ditto Graham. Ditto Bowman. Can Moore come in as a rookie and be a solid nickel back or more? Can we expect anything from McBride?

 

S: A clusterfuck of guys who seems to all be SS. Bullocks, Steltz, Payne, Afalava. I like Payne at SS but who can step up and be the FS? Will one of Graham, Bowman, Manning, Steltz or Bullocks be that guy?

 

P: Brad Maynard. 'Nuff said.

 

K: Robbie Gould. 'Nuff said.

 

I love the potential that this team has, especially at the CB position. There is so much talent there that if healthy, we could have a MUCH improved secondary. With Tillman, Vasher, Graham, Moore, Bowman, McBride, and Manning, we have depth and talent. The WR position is obviously also a toss-up but I'm very excited about Iglesias and Bennett. If things work out well, we could have a really REALLY good team.

[madlithuanian]

Nice write up!

 

I impatiently await the answers to your questions!

 

After thinking about our team as a whole, it's essentially a giant question mark. It's really interesting because there are question marks at literally every position. We have such huge potential with this team, but they need to pull it together. How weird is it that the only really solidified positions are QB, P, K, and maybe RB.

 

QB: Cutler, you know what you're going to get, but can he continue to get better with this group of receivers?

 

RB: Will Forte continue to grow or will he regress in his sophomore year? Could he be our franchise guy for a long time? And who the hell is going to back him up?

 

FB: Will McKie actually do anything? Will Gaines take over?

 

WR: The biggest question mark of them all. Can Hester learn the playbook for good and improve his catching abilities? Can Bennett learn the playbook and break out with a familiar QB? How long until Rashied Davis is purely a special teamer? Can any of the rookies step up and become a reliable receiver? Will we bring in a veteran like Toomer or Harrison to solidify the position? Plaxico?

 

TE: Will Olsen take the next step to becoming a perennial Pro Bowler? Can he improve his blocking? How much more does Dez Clark have left in the tank? Can we expect anything out of Gaines or Davis?

 

OL: Can Pace finish his career strong? How much does he have left? What will happen between Garza/Omilaye/Shaffer/Beekman/Buenning? Can Williams recover from the injuries and prove his worth as a 1st rounder?

 

---

 

DL: Can Rod Marinelli work some magic on these guys? We have a plethora of athletic lineman, but it seems that none of them played well last year outside of Alex Brown? Can Ogunleye show up and be a force on the end in his contract year? Can Anderson show those crazy rushing abilities from his rookie year? Can Tommie Harris stay healthy? Will Idonije play inside or outside? What can we expect out of the rookie Jarron Gilbert? Will Adams and Harrison continue good play as backup DT?

 

LB: Briggs seems to be a sure thing if he stays healthy but can Urlacher rebound from a tough season? Will Roach or Hillenmeyer step up and take the outside role? Can Freeman show anything as a rookie? Do we bring in Tinoisamoa for competition?

 

CB: Absolutely nothing is set in the secondary. We have tons of talent but they need to put it together. Can Tillman rebound and be that shut-down CB on the bigger receivers? Can Vasher stay healthy and be a Pro Bowler again? What can we expect from Danieal Manning? Is he a CB or safety? Ditto Graham. Ditto Bowman. Can Moore come in as a rookie and be a solid nickel back or more? Can we expect anything from McBride?

 

S: A clusterfuck of guys who seems to all be SS. Bullocks, Steltz, Payne, Afalava. I like Payne at SS but who can step up and be the FS? Will one of Graham, Bowman, Manning, Steltz or Bullocks be that guy?

 

P: Brad Maynard. 'Nuff said.

 

K: Robbie Gould. 'Nuff said.

 

I love the potential that this team has, especially at the CB position. There is so much talent there that if healthy, we could have a MUCH improved secondary. With Tillman, Vasher, Graham, Moore, Bowman, McBride, and Manning, we have depth and talent. The WR position is obviously also a toss-up but I'm very excited about Iglesias and Bennett. If things work out well, we could have a really REALLY good team.

[Stinger226]

Nice write up!

 

I impatiently await the answers to your questions!

Every team has questions marks at the begining of the year.

Is Tom Brady ready to play after a year off?

Can Adrian Peterson stay healthy for a full year?

 

You have to look at the overall picture and take a reading on it. Going into last year we had more questions than this year and was one play away from being a playoff team.

 

Look at the brightside

 

We have a capable qb that can win us some games with the outcome on his shoulders, instead of hoping Orton could do it.

 

Our OL with be better than last year, as we have added more beef and better players and more depth. Much less of a question than last year. Plus we have a qb with feet.

 

We have more talent at WR than last year, which brings with it question marks, but we now have a better qb to help those WRs play better.

 

Our RBs will no longer see 8 man fronts, and with Jones being healthy, our RB committee will be much more effecient.

 

Our defense has some new blood and depth and an offense than will put them on the field less, and other teams playing from behind will add to our overall effiency.

 

Our coaching staff is now off the big head they got from an apperance in the Super Bowl and can get back to proven themselfs once again.

[madlithuanian]

Every team really has question marks continuously in all reality...

 

(As much as we were a few plays from being bounced out in the first round of the playoffs last year, we were also a few playes from being well below .500.)

 

But I think the big difference with the Bears' situation this year compared to last is that the questions this year are of a more positive nature compared to more negative last year. It's hard not to fall into being more positive with the addition of Cutler. His arrival here changes the entire landscape. To what degree, we'll find out.

 

 

 

Every team has questions marks at the begining of the year.

Is Tom Brady ready to play after a year off?

Can Adrian Peterson stay healthy for a full year?

 

You have to look at the overall picture and take a reading on it. Going into last year we had more questions than this year and was one play away from being a playoff team.

 

Look at the brightside

 

We have a capable qb that can win us some games with the outcome on his shoulders, instead of hoping Orton could do it.

 

Our OL with be better than last year, as we have added more beef and better players and more depth. Much less of a question than last year. Plus we have a qb with feet.

 

We have more talent at WR than last year, which brings with it question marks, but we now have a better qb to help those WRs play better.

 

Our RBs will no longer see 8 man fronts, and with Jones being healthy, our RB committee will be much more effecient.

 

Our defense has some new blood and depth and an offense than will put them on the field less, and other teams playing from behind will add to our overall effiency.

 

Our coaching staff is now off the big head they got from an apperance in the Super Bowl and can get back to proven themselfs once again.

[AZ54]

Can't answer that many questions but they bring up a few comments:

 

Urlacher looks more ripped than I've seen him in years. He's had a full offseason working out and it shows, hopefully this translates to the field.

 

Cutler, he'll be shaky early on and fans will have to temper expectations. However, we have lots of shiny new toys in the offensive toy box this year and we will see many more exciting big plays this year than in the last two combined.

 

Backup RB, I believe Kevin Jones will prove to be a very capable backup for us. I expect he'll be lighter and quicker this year than last. IMO His willingness to play special teams at the end of last year showed a lot of character from a former first round pick. That type of character usually turns into hard work in the offseason with results on Sundays.

 

editing post I just found this tidbit:

http://www.suntimes.com/sports/football/be...-052109.article

• Running back Kevin Jones looked fluid running around with no brace on the right knee that he was rehabbing from a torn ACL a year ago.

 

 

Hester's playbook will actually shrink this year and he will run more go routes than in the past.

[defiantgiant]

Hester's playbook will actually shrink this year and he will run more go routes than in the past.

 

I hope this happens. Hester still doesn't seem like a guy who's going to master a complicated playbook. I think you just have to give him a relatively small route tree, let him beat his guy, then get him the ball and let him improvise. I think the Bears would be wise to check out how the Panthers use Steve Smith, who's got similar RAC ability. A lot of Smith's big plays are either from relatively short curl/comeback routes or from a simple go route where he can beat the corner. Hester obviously isn't as physical as Smith, but he's more explosive. I think Smith could be a good template for how the Bears try to use Hester.