Day 1 Winners and Losers

Winners

Jacksonville Jaguars

It was very surprising that Gabbert was not the 2^nd quarterback chosen in the draft, and the Jaguars benefited from him falling to them at #10. He will be able to spend time studying on the bench behind David Garrard, and will not be rushed into the starting role, something I don’t think any of the quarterbacks in this year’s draft can handle. There are many needs on the defensive side of the ball, but when a potential franchise quarterback falls into your lap, you have to pull the trigger.

Detroit Lions

I can’t think of a single draft that had Fairley going to the Lions, but now that it has happened, it looks awfully good on paper. Lining up Suh and Fairley will give Qb’s nightmares for years to come, and I wouldn’t be surprised if Jay Cutler was already actively looking for a trade out of the division. The secondary still needs work, but may not be as big an issue if the opposing quarterbacks are constantly finding themselves on the ground.

New York Giants

Your Royal Highness, Prince Amukamara, fell farther than expected and the Giants couldn’t be more pleased about it. They get a very talented corner to help a defense that was toasted by both the Eagles and Packers which left them out of the playoffs. Solidifying the secondary to compliment an already elite pass rush is just what the Giants need to get them back into the Super Bowl.

Buffalo Bills

No it’s not a mistake, the Bills this year actually managed to pick a solid 1^st round choice. After the disastrous picks that were Marshawn Lynch and Aaron Maybin in 2007 and 2009 respectively, and the misguided pick of CJ Spiller to a team that already had two solid running backs in 2010, the Bills went with Marcell Dareus, who will shore up what was an awful defense last year. Perhaps most importantly, Dareus is a guy who can start right away, and without a lot of downside, which the Bills need considering their past draft failures.

Losers

Atlanta Falcons

After having the best record in the NFC and then embarrassingly trounced at home by the Packers in the playoffs, the Falcons made a knee-jerk reaction by trading so high up in the draft. Julio Jones is a fine player and a solid pick, but the price to get him was far too high, and he isn’t a player that is the difference between perennial playoff team and Super Bowl champion. Giving up 2 first round picks, a second rounder and 2 fourth round picks is way too much for someone who isn’t even the best wide-receiver in this draft. Patience is the key in the NFL, but the Falcons want a Super Bowl now, and it may be very costly to them in the future.

Minnesota Vikings

Easily the reach of the draft, Christian Ponder wasn’t predicted to go in the 1^st round, but somehow finds himself a Viking with the 12^th pick. The Vikings desperately needed a quarterback, but if they really wanted Ponder they should have traded down. Instead they have a quarterback who is far from a sure thing, as well as an aging team that could use youth at a lot of positions. Once one play away from the Super Bowl, the Vikings have taken quite a tumble, and look like they might be in the cellar of the NFC North for at least a couple of years.

Carolina Panthers

Cam Newton is a very divisive person with about half of NFL fans believing he will be a star, and the other half thinking he will be the next JaMarcus Russell. You can count me as part of the latter half because I think there are just too many questions surrounding the character, intelligence, and ability of Newton to make him the top overall pick in the draft. To me it would have made more sense to either trade down, or go with Miller, Green, or Dareus, three players who can play right away and are about as close to sure things as you get with rookies. The Panthers just used a high draft pick on Clausen last year, and if they really feel like he isn’t going to pan out, just bite the bullet for one more year and get Andrew Luck next year, who is far and away better than any Qb in this year’s draft. I think this pick will end up setting the Panthers back for the awhile.

Chicago Bears

The Bears don’t find themselves in the “losers” list because of their draft picks, but because of the mess they caused with the Ravens. The Bears initiated a trade with the Ravens to take their spot, but somehow didn’t send anyone to inform the NFL that the trade had taken place, effectively making the Ravens run out of time and lose one spot in the draft. Not only will the Bears likely be faced with some sort of repercussion from the NFL, but it reflects terribly on them as an organization and could force some teams to shy away from trying to trade with the Bears in the future.

Does Jay Cutler Deserve to be Labeled a Quitter?

Never before has the football world seen anything like this. Fans, current and former players, former coaches, and analysts are all lining up to call out a player’s toughness. Publicly his teammates have shown support for Jay Cutler, but privately some teammates don’t believe Cutler did everything he could to go back out onto the field.

Chicago is a city that doesn’t let its scapegoats off very easy (See Steve Bartman). Cutler wasn’t exactly the most popular Bears player on the team before this incident, due to his high interception totals and off-putting personality, and surely now after the NFC Championship game he is the most despised. Cutler may not survive the offseason as a Chicago Bear, but is it really fair that he is receiving all this criticism?

As a lifelong Packers fan, I have seen my share of Jay Cutler. Throughout his career he has reminded me of Brett Favre without any of the leadership ability. He relies a lot on his arm strength and has a complete lack of fundamentals. His decision making ability leaves a lot to be desired, and he defiantly said after throwing 4 interceptions to DeAngelo Hall in Week 7 that he’d, “Still go after (him).” He has gotten the reputation of a jerk, which is probably part of the reason so many NFL players were quick to call out his toughness. Quite frankly Jay Cutler has a lot of traits that I would not want my starting quarterback to have, but I don’t think Cutler possesses a lack of toughness.

While most fans idolize the players who will do everything they can to play through injury, few people stop and think of what is best for the team. It’s one thing to play through an injury, but a completely other thing to be able to play well through an injury. Many analysts are comparing Jay Cutler’s situation to that of Philip Rivers’ AFC Championship game where he played on a partially torn ACL. I even listed it as the 7^th toughest performance by a player this decade. However what most people forget is that Philip Rivers had a terrible game, going 19 of 37 for 211 yards and 2 interceptions with no touchdowns. Perhaps the injury really hampered Phillips’ ability and the Chargers would have been better off going with a backup.

Same thing goes for the NFC Championship game. Before coming out of the game, Cutler had gone 6 of 14 for only 80 yards and an interception. There was no indication from watching the game that Cutler was going to figure it out in time to lead the Bears to victory. It doesn’t really matter if Cutler came out of the game because of injury or ineffectiveness, because the Bears were not going to win the game the way Cutler was playing. Maybe Cutler could have stuck it out there and played through the pain like his peers would have done, but doing so likely would have been going against what’s best for the team. Bringing in 3^rd string QB Caleb Hanie actually sparked the offense and gave the Bears a legitimate chance at winning the game.

Maybe if Cutler was more concerned with public perception, he would have hobbled along on the sidelines and done everything he could to look injured like a certain quarterback did this year. But that’s just not Cutler’s personality. You can blame the Bears’ loss on Cutler’s performance and I would agree, even though a terrible offensive line didn’t do him any favors. You can also admire a player’s determination to do anything he can to stay on the field and play through injury and conversely despise a player who is not willing to do so. But before people crucify Cutler, I would argue that Cutler’s rational and selfless decision to let a healthy QB play didn’t hurt the team, but ultimately gave the Bears a chance at winning. Maybe Cutler doesn’t have what it takes to be a QB in this league, but he doesn’t deserve to be given the worst label you can give to an athlete in a team sport: A Quitter.

Retrospective Look: Jay Cutler-Kyle Orton Trade

Here is a piece I wrote in the middle of the 2010 summer for my SMWW Football GM and Scouting Course. I review the trade of Jay Cutler and Kyle Orton, the context of the trade, and future possibilities.

Enjoy...

Denver Broncos give Chicago Bears Jay Cutler, and 2009 5^th round draft pick 

In return

Chicago Bears give Denver Broncos Kyle Orton, 2009 and 2010 1^st round draft picks, and 2009 3^rd round draft pick.

After a very successful season as offensive coordinator for the New England Patriots in 2008, with fill-in QB Matt Cassel at the helm, Josh McDaniels gained national attention for his abilities as a coach. During the offseason the Denver Broncos surprisingly fired their longtime coach Mike Shanahan, and hired the young Josh McDaniels from the Patriots organization. In an effort to implement the same offense he ran at New England with Tom Brady and Matt Cassel, McDaniels needed to go out and acquire a very smart QB to run his offense. With Matt Cassel on the trade block in New England, McDaniels sought to attain Cassel due to his familiarity in previous years running the very same offense. Being the complex and intricate offensive scheme it is with multiple sets and packages, McDaniels knew that the top priority would come from a management standpoint at the quarterback position, and what better way to address this need than to get someone who already knows the offense? McDaniels however failed to make this acquisition, and immediately afterwards had to deal with a disgruntled Jay Cutler who had heard of the attempted trade. Josh McDaniels understood Cutler’s extreme talent, yet felt as if the Broncos could use a different skill set from the quarterback position. With Cutler on the move, the Broncos could now get the smart quarterback they wanted in Kyle Orton, while also adding two 1^st round draft picks (2009 & 2010) and a 3^rd rounder (2010).

On the flipside, the Bears desperately needed a franchise quarterback whom they could build their team around in the coming years. Due to Rex Grossman’s lack of productivity following the team’s Super Bowl loss to the Indianapolis Colts, the Bears front office decided it was time to make a move on Jay Cutler. By holding numerous draft picks, the Bears were able to acquire their franchise QB in Cutler. Bears GM Jerry Angelo’s area scout in Nashville had developed what Angelo described as a “great rapport” with Cutler. So obviously the Bears liked what they saw from Cutler early on.  Jerry Angelo went on to say of the situation, “We felt that [Cutler] is a very good person, a good leader, he had some things that happened in Denver. We recognized those, but we treated them as just speed bumps, part of the growing process. He's highly competitive, he's highly emotional. That just comes with the territory. “ The Bears got the QB they sought out by giving up a lot of draft picks and their own starting QB Kyle Orton. This trade provides extreme potential and talent to a team who has lacked in those areas at the quarterback position for the last three decades.

In retrospect a year later, I believe that both organizations have benefited from the trade. Kyle Orton has proven himself a capable leader and ran the McDaniels system very well in the 2009 NFL season; also the draft picks allowed the Broncos to upgrade the pieces around Orton. With 4 1^st rounder’s in the past two drafts, the Broncos have acquired Knowshon Moreno, Robert Ayers, Demaryius Thomas, and Tim Tebow. All in all a very smart trade for the Broncos.

For the Bears, Season 1 of the Jay Cutler Show revealed that the team has some glaring holes and weaknesses to fill. First off Cutler needs to be groomed into making smarter decisions with the football and avoid stupid mistakes; too many forced passes that led to interceptions. Secondly, the Bears need to upgrade Cutler’s weapons in the passing game from a Wide Receiver standpoint. With the cannon that Cutler has attached to his arm, he needs a deep threat badly;  Devin Hester was the team’s leading WR receiver with a mere 757 yards and only 3 TDs. One bright spot is the TE spot which is occupied by Greg Olsen; Olsen churned out 8 TDs on 60 catches and 612 yards. A healthy Johnny Knox and Devin Aromashadu look to make more of an impact as well in 2010. Nevertheless, Jerry Angelo made a brilliant move this offseason of 2010 in bringing in offensive mastermind Mike Martz. Martz hopefully can control the testy Cutler and mold him into an elite level QB for the Chicago Bears. 

It will be interesting to see how all this will pan out in the coming season, and I want to know what you guys thought about this trade? Winner? Loser? Or good for both teams? In my opinion both organizations accomplished what they were trying to do and got the players they wanted. If Mike Martz can turn a grocer stocker named Kurt Warner into a Hall-of-Famer, and an undrafted free agent named Marc Bulger into a Pro-Bowler, it will be special to see what he can do with a blue chip prospect like Jay Cutler. This will be the most talented QB he has dealt with and I bet that Cutler will perform very well this season. 

Now let's look at what happened... 

Jay Cutler in 2010, threw his least pass attempts since his 2nd half rookie season in Denver. This was possible due to the improved running attack of Matt Forte, who rushed for over a thousand yards for the 2nd time in his 3 year NFL career. Cutler dropped his interceptions from 26 down to 16, and still kept his passing TDs above 20 (23 in 2010).  Chicago finished the season 11-5 and earned the #2 seed in the NFC. The work that Lovie Smith has done as head coach, bringing in d-coordinator Rod Marinelli and o-coordinator Mike Martz, ought to be commended. The defense now is one of the most feared in the NFL, and Martz has made incredible strides in the growth of young quarterback Jay Cutler. Cutler is making less mistakes, and is learning how to efficiently attack defenses. 

Josh McDaniels had a disastrous 2010 season, filled with losses and off-field distractions, culminating in his mid season termination. The Broncos finished the season 4-12, John Elway essentially became the head of the franchise, and most recently John Fox former HC of the Carolina Panthers, was named head coach of the Denver Broncos.

Kyle Orton turned in his most productive season to date; in only 13 games he threw for 20 TDs and only gave up 9 interceptions. Although he was among the NFL leaders all season long in passing categories, a late season injury led to 3 Tim Tebow starts. An apparent change at the helm is in order for the young franchise; John Elway seems likely to stick with Tebow in 2011 as his QB, and Kyle Orton will be looking for employment elsewhere. Orton is a draft day trade possibility at this point, and there could be a long calling list for Orton's talents as he proved himself to be a more than capable quarterback in 2010.

Playoff Preview: Chicago Bears

Offensive MVP: RB Matt Forte

Forte is a versatile back whose impact is felt in both the running and passing game. He reached 1000 yards rushing this year and also had 500 yards receiving. While Cutler’s dedication to preventing turnovers this season greatly helped the Bears win the division, Forte’s play has been crucial to the offense especially over the 2^nd half of the season.

Defensive MVP: DE Julius Peppers

The Bears got their money’s worth by adding Peppers over the offseason. His presence on the team has elevated the defense and is reminding people of the Bears defense that led the team to the Super Bowl in 2007. He had 8 sacks this year which was lower than expected, but constant double teams allowed for teammate DT Israel Idonije to register 8 sacks as well. While LB Brian Urlacher remains the team’s heart and soul, the addition of Peppers had made all the difference for this Bears team.

Best Win: Week 12 - Against Philadelphia Eagles

It wasn’t too long ago that most people (myself included) thought the Bears weren’t a very good team, and likely would not make the playoffs. Before the game against the Eagles, their record stood at 7-3 and had a very tough schedule ahead of them. But against the Eagles, the Bears showed that they weren’t pretenders and defeated a tough Philadelphia team. Cutler had a great day, throwing for 4 touchdowns with no interceptions, and Forte had a 100 yard day on the ground. The defense, while not spectacular, did just enough to stop Vick, and the team held on for a 31-26 victory. The win gave them sole possession for the NFC North and the Bears never looked back.

Rookie Grade: C-

With no picks in the first 2 rounds and a relatively healthy year for the Bears, the rookies did not get to see a lot of playing time. 3^rd round pick S Major Wright has played sparingly, but the big surprise has been the amount of playing time given to 7^th round pick RT J’Marcus Webb. The Bears have him as their starting RT, and while his play has been very inconsistent, he has shown that he might have what it takes to be a decent starter in the league. The Bears have a terrible pass blocking line, so Webb has a chance to be a starter again next year for the Bears, but he will definitely have to keep improving to show he is better than the typical 7^th rounder.

How Can They Make It To The Super Bowl: Jay Cutler limiting his turnovers

Jay Cutler has made improvements in Mike Martz’s offense, but he still throws too many interceptions to feel confident about this team’s chances to make it to the Super Bowl. In the Bears’ 5 losses, Cutler has thrown 9 picks, compared to only 7 picks in their 11 wins. Getting Cutler to make smart decisions will be key for this team if they want to advance to the Super Bowl, and with a solid running game and one of the better defenses in the league, there is no reason this team can’t get there.

MNF: Bears Perspective

Players to Watch:

QB Jay Cutler - The Vikings pass defense this 2010 season simply put has been "suspect". To my surprise, the Vikings are favorably ranked as the #10 best pass defense statistically in 2010, allowing just under 210 yards passing per game NFL.com. Moreover the defense has allowed only one 300 yard passer this entire season. Yet they still have managed to stumble to a 5-8 record with no real shot at the postseason. Now why is this? Well the Vikings and DE's, Jared Allen and Ray Edwards notably, have notched a miserable 23 sacks all season. Only 3 teams, the Bengals, Bucs, and Broncos have less sacks. Now to my point, Jay Cutler has been one of the most sacked man in the NFL (the Bears leading the NFL in sacks allowed with 47 this season alone). Something has got to give, and if the Bears want to get back on track, they will need to protect Jay Cutler.

RBs Chester Taylor and Matt Forte - Although afore mentioned protection of Jay Cutler will be necessary, due to the weather conditions, it is imperative that the Bears get the ground game up and running. One of only 9 teams averaging less than 100 yards on the ground, the Bears must keep the Vikings defense honest. In all reality, Martz should plan on at around 30 touches to Matt Forte and somewhere around 15 touches for Chester taylor.

DE Julius Peppers - Upgraded to questionable, the Ironman himself, Brett Favre, may have an opportunity to start versus "Da Bears". That being said, I can bet that Peppers is licking his chops. One of the most dominant down lineman this season, Peppers has tallied 8 sacks and ranks inside the top 20 in the NFL in sacks. If Peppers can really get after the QB and get a lot of hits on Favre/whichever QB is playing, the Bears will be in a great position to win the football game.

Key Matchup: Vikings QBs versus the Bears Pass Defense - Surprising as it may sound, I will talk about passing here. Last week Chicago had Tom Brady and the Patriots come into town in similar weather as tonight, and were absolutely torched through the air (as well as the ground). Nevertheless this week involves the Bears being the visitors to a homeless Vikings squad. Whichever QB comes out and starts tonight will need to be on top of their game versus a Bears secondary that allows just 225 ypg and has 16 interceptions on the year. ( UPDATE I just received a text update saying that will be Brett Favre, and Adrian Peterson is out, meaning Toby Gerhart will start. Gerhart will likely be counted upon to shoulder the load, however Brett Favre will need to be careful with the football and play mistake-free football.) 

Why the Bears Will Win - The Vikings have found ways to lose this season, and the Bears simply have found ways to win. The Bears have won 5 games by 5 or less points, and the Vikings have lost 5 games by 10 points or less this season. They Bears will be storming out of the gate after last week's utter disappointment on the national stage against the Pats. 

Prediction: Bears 31 - 27 Vikings 

MNF: Bears Preview

Players to Watch:

RB Matt Forte- The field is likely to be in terrible condition, and there are reports that there could be as much as 6 inches of snow on the ground by kickoff. Throwing the ball through the air is going to be a tough task, so look for the Bears to lean on Forte. He is a threat both on the ground and as a receiver, and rushes and screens are a good game plan to combat the elements tonight.

TE Greg Olsen- He’s been a major disappointment this year, and only has one catch in each of his last 3 games. Olsen was predicted to be a major part of Mike Martz’s offense, but Cutler has found Johnny Knox and Earl Bennett to be more reliable targets. Olsen will have to step up in this game if the Bears want to be successful in the passing game. Footing will be tough, but if Olsen can find open spots in the flats and middle of the field, he could have a big game.

LB Brian Urlacher- The undisputed leader of the team has put in another fine season, and has shown no ill effects from missing almost the entire season last year with a dislocated wrist. He’s played in harsh conditions before, and the Bears will need him to rise to the occasion. Tackling in the cold isn’t the easiest job in the world, but if anyone excels at doing so, it’s Urlacher.

Key Matchup: Jay Cutler vs. Vikings Secondary– After a rough first 2 seasons in Chicago, Cutler has finally shown why the Bears gave up 2 first round picks to get him. Cutler has cut down on the unadvised long passes and made smarter decisions. He will need to do the same in this game if the Bears want to win. His last game in the snow against the Patriots left a lot to be desired, and will need to limit his mistakes tonight. The Vikings secondary will be hungry for picks, something Cutler must be aware of.

Why the Bears Will Win-The Vikings will either be starting an injured Brett Favre or an inexperience Joe Webb. Neither QB is well-suited to be playing in this game, as conditions will be brutal. The Bears have a very good defense, and will be able to key in on stopping the run, and try to make the Vikings beat with their passing game. The Vikings season is over and their best weapon Adrian Peterson is out. The Bears on the other hand can NFC North crown with a win tonight, so they will be going all out tonight. Weather is the great-equalizer, but I expect a battle-tested Bears to win out in the end.

Prediction: Bears 17, Vikings 13

MNF: Green Bay Packers vs Chicago Bears

Packers Key Players:

QB Aaron Rodgers - The Packers are looking like super bowl contenders so far and the main reason is because of the play of Aaron Rodgers. I’m looking forward to watching him in a big Monday night game.

OLB Clay Matthews – Matthews leads the NFL with 6 sacks in only 2 games. He quietly put up 10 sacks last year as a rookie. I’ll be looking to see if Matthews is real deal and can continue to put pressure on the QB in this game.

TE Jermichael Finley – He is becoming one of Aaron Rodgers favorite weapons averaging 18.8 yards per reception so far. It will be a good matchup between him and the Bears talented linebackers

Bears Key Players:

QB Jay Cutler – Off to a great start so far, will he crack under the pressure of Monday night?

DE Julius Peppers – Just a fun player to watch, he is going against a poor Packers offensive line so he could have a field day.

WR Devin Hester- He has really become a very good receiver. He is so fast that he draws a lot of double teams and he forces a lot of pass interference calls, I think he could become a Steve Smith (Panthers) type player.

The Pick: Green Bay -3, I like the Packers a lot, I think the only way they end up losing this one is if the Bears defensive line gets to QB Aaron Rodgers early and often.

Clip of the Day 9/17/10 - Devin Hester

Devin Hester You are Ridiculous!



Quote of the Day: "In the end, it is important to remember that we cannot become what we need to be by remaining who we are." 

~Max De Pree

Chicago Bears 2010 Preview and Predictions

Last Years Record 7-9

Wins: Steelers, Seahawks, Lions, Browns, Rams, Vikings, Lions

Losses: Vikings, Packers (x2), Lions, Falcons, Bengals, Cardinals, 49ers, Eagles, Ravens

Biggest Playmaker Matt Forte

RB, Tulane, Drafted #44, 3rd Year

Forte tore apart defenses both rushing and receiving, finishing in the top 5 of total yardage, during his 2008 rookie season. To follow up that season, Forte disappointed fantasy football owners with a major drop in production in 2009. With Coach Mike Martz being hired as the team's new OC, expect Forte to be more involved in the passing game, and more touches altogether resulting in increased production. Note: Forte showed his receiving week 1 with 2 TDs in the passing game, look for a continued stat line in the pass game for Forte.

Impact Player Brian Urlacher

MLB, New Mexico, Drafted #9, 11th Year

Due to an injury last year, Urlacher missed most of the Bears dismal defensive 2009 season. Urlacher is the general and captain of the defense, placing his teammates into position to make plays. His leadership was sorely missed last year, and with his return and the addition of Julius Peppers, the Bears look to rebound after a miserable 2009 campaign.

Biggest Offseason Addition Julius Peppers

DE, North Carolina, Drafted #2, 9th Year

Possibly the NFL's most talented defensive end, Peppers over the past few seasons has established a reputation for taking plays off and his inconsistent play. After a Super Bowl appearance versus the Patriots in the earlier part of the past decade, Peppers has failed to return his Carolina Panthers defense to glory. The organization decided to dump off his salary and move in a new direction, opening the route to Chicago where Peppers will instantly impact Lovie Smith's defense. If Peppers can consistently play hard nosed football, I believe Peppers could re-establish himself amongst the league's best ends.

Biggest Offseason Loss Alex Brown

DE, Florida, Drafted #104, 8th Year

Besides having one of the greatest names ever, Alex Brown provided a key spark to the Bears pass rush year in and year out for the 7 years he played in Chicago. Brown played a pivotal role in the Super Bowl appearance team which lost to the Colts, and was signed this past offseason by the New Orleans Saints.

Biggest Draft Steal Corey Wootten

DE, Northwestern, Drafted #109, Rookie

After turning down the draft of 2009 following a stellar junior season at Northwestern, Wootten produced significantly less than previous year dropping him down scouting draft boards. That withstanding, the Bears were able to hold on to their future draft picks, stay put beyond the third round, and draft depth to their defense throughout these picks. Wootten is a very talented end who will likely hit the field early and often in 2010.

Biggest Draft Mistake Waiting until the last round to address OT issues

Nothing against big kids from small schools, but Chicago waited way too long to address their offensive tackle problems. The Bears next season must draft a franchise offensive tackle whom they can count upon for years to come.

Offseason Grade B

I felt the Bears did an adequate job addressing needs in an aging defense, while adding a big-time playmaker in Julius Peppers. Coach Mike Martz is sure to spark some life into the sputtering offense, and Matt Forte looks primed for a solid 3rd year. My only qualms are with the offensive line and the lack of action regarding the personnel at that position. Good, not great offseason.

X-Factor Jay Cutler

QB, Vanderbilt, Drafted #11, 5th Year

The success of the Bears offense corellates completely with the level of play Jay Cutler exhibits in 2010. If he can cut down his turnovers, and consistently move the ball, the Bears could present a major thorn in the side of the Vikings and the Packers. Cutler has all the physical tools needed, he just needs to piece this puzzle of "success" together.

Name You Should Know Devin Aromashadu

WR, Auburn, Drafted #233, 5th Year

No other receiver in the NFL, in the games which Aromashadu started, received more redzone targets over the last 5 games of the regular season. It took a long time for him to break the lineup, however Aromashadu has impressed his coaches and has a good rapport with Cutler. Look for Devin to be Jay Cutler's main downfield weapon.

Rising Star Greg Olsen

TE, Miami, Drafted #31, 4th Year

Olsen is a big target with lots of speed. Olsen has the ability of any other TE in the NFL, and its just a matter of time before he develops into a superstar. This could be Olsen's breakout year, as Martz has begun to tailor his offense to suit Olsen's skills, yet it will be interesting to see how Olsen will be utilized in 2010.

Offensive Outlook B

The Bears offense looked better than last season, however still struggled to put the ball in the endzone, especially close to the goal-line. The intricate Martz system will take time no doubt to be firmly implanted, however I feel the Bears will make considerable strides from last season.

Defensive Outlook B

On defense I may or may not be overly optimistic. Peppers and Urlacher provide a gameplanning nightmare for offenses as you cannot take either one of these players out of the game; try to run the ball and Urlacher will scrape across the line for the tackle; try to pass and Peppers 6'7 frame and quick feet will sack your QB. The only problems therein the Bears defense is the interior line and secondary. If these positions can hold up, the Bears could eek out a few wins versus the high octane offenses of Green Bay and Minnesota.

Special Teams Outlook A~B?

Devin Hester. That is all. I want a few Devin Hester special team's returns for Christmas this year...Gould is a solid kicker and has been for quite some time in Chicago, but it is very unpredictable how good or bad this unit may be this season.

Projected 2010 Record 8-8

In 2010, learning curves and bumps will plague the first half of the season. That being said, I feel this team may sneak up on divisional opponents Minnesota, Green Bay, and as evidenced by the win (should've been loss) Lions, the Bears could be on to something. Only time will tell, however Jerry Angelo has done a good job of turning this organization back to its winning traditions.