After reaching the Super Bowl in 2006, the Chicago Bears have progressively regressed. They have averaged under eight wins a year in the three years since their loss to the Indianapolis Colts in the big game. So, for the second year in a row, the Bears have once again became the big story of the free agency period.
Last year, the team made its big move by trading for disgruntled Broncos quarterback Jay Cutler. Unfortunately, Cutler turned out to be a turnover machine in Chicago and the team stumbled to a third-place finish in their division. But it wasn’t just Cutler who failed the team. Matt Forte’s steady runs of his rookie year seemed like a distant memory, as he faltered in a sophomore slump. And the team’s defense suffered injuries all year, none more critical than the season-ending one suffered by Brian Urlacher.
Perhaps with all these problems on the back of his mind, Chicago general manager Jerry Angelo signed Julius Peppers, the prize defensive end of the summer, Chester Taylor, a running back who thrived in a backup role in Minnesota for the past three years, and Brandon Manumaleuna, a tight end mainly known for his pass blocking.
Now the Peppers signing was addressed earlier, and if the Bears did indeed tamper it will be a costly contract for them. But the other two moves were both good, and somewhat underrated, moves. The offense should be vastly improved by an improved running game and better blocking.
But the Bears have yet to address their most pressing issue; which is to find Cutler a reliable wide receiver. In Denver, Jay had both Brandon Marshall and Eddie Royal. Cutler’s struggles were not caused by a lack of help, but it sure didn’t help him to go from that pair to Devin Hester and Johnny Knox.
If there is anything clear about Cutler, it is that he cannot thrive in a short-pass offense. He gets too impatient and throws bad passes. Rather than trying to change his mentality, which is very difficult to do, the Bears should bring in personnel to help him. The aforementioned Marshall is on the trading block and available. And even without a first-round pick, the team could find help in the draft as well.
But for now, this is a good start.
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