State of the Bears

Well i think i have come down off the ledge. I think. It has been a week since the bears lost in san francisco and i still dont know where we go from here as bears fans. Realistically, it will be hard for the bears to make the playoffs. They would have to go atleast 5-2 over their last 7 leading to a 9-7 finish. Looking at their schedule they would have to play like the team that started 3-1 and not this shit team that has showed up the last 5.

I know has not been the superman we expected but i would still make the trade in a heartbeat again. Jay is our future and that doesnt worry me. What worries me is where is the rest of the future? Forte, Hester, Knox, Bennett, and Olsen give the bears some young skill players who they can build around. They probably will need to get a big bodied WR who can help them in the redzone. But is are there good young players anywhere else on this team? The offensive line is devoid of any young talent besides Chris Williams, who has been less than impressive so far.

The defense is built to win now. Its full of veterns with big contracts that the bears really cant get away from and probably in 2-3 years wont be starters anymore if they still are. Along the D line, I think everyone can see that Mark Anderson's rookie year was a fluke and he is gone after this year. With Gaines Adams, Harrison, and the bears 2 draft picks of this year, Melton & Gilbert (who the bears took as projects), there is talent that could be developed, but no where else on the defense is there promising youth. Has Nick Roach convinced you that he is the answer at LB? He hasnt convinced me. Bowman and Alfalva might have some potential to be solid starters in this league but they dont project as stars. The stars on this defense are coming to the age where they are probably past their prime and the bears cupboard is bare of young impact players.

So, if you buy all these arguments, you realize the bears most likely find themselves in a crossroads after this season (yes, ill say that im not expecting anything but at best a 1st playoff round exit this year). With both 1st & 2nd round picks traded away next year (cutler & gaines adams trades) it will be hard/nearly impossible for the bears to find impact players in the draft especially if you take Angelo's drafting record into effect. This leaves the bears with only 2 options as i see it. First, they can throw themselves into free agency and try to sign atleast 2 O-lineman and atleast an impact safety and probably pass rusher. The NFL is not like the NBA where talented young players are available every free agency period. In the NFL, if a team doesnt lock the guy up, there is probably a reason. This would most likely be an attempt at a quick fix/win now approach because i think everyone can see that the window to win with this current team is closing quickly. Or the bears could accept that they need to get younger and look to get themselves out from under some of their bigger contracts say like tommie harris and peanut tillman and get younger. Either option scares the hell out of me and i dont know what i prefer but i think either way we will see significant movement in the roster this offseason. We know Culter & Forte are the future but will they have to struggle through a rebuilding period to get to that future?

Bears v. Eagles

Summary

Please see my ramblings above about the bears. D. Nabb comes home and always plays well against the bears. Bryan Westbrook is out with concussions but LeShawn McCoy hasnt missed a beat as his back up.

Key Factors

The bears are the 7th most penalized team. Its hard to win when you are killing yourself. The bears must cut down on penalties and maybe they can pull this one out. Also, probably the only place the bears have an advantage is on special teams. If they can control the field position with their special teams, they might also have a chance.

Key Matchups

Eagles speedy WRs v. Bears Safeties - I think Lovie will go into this game playing a lot of zone and cover 2 while blitzing the LBs which would leave the bears safeties having to cover the deep part of the field and make sure tackles. That will give the Eagles' WRs a chance to try and break something deep and over the middle. The bears safeties havent been good this year and im scared over this matchup especially with the speedy and yac-specialists desean jackson and jeremy maclin.

Forte's hands v. Eagles blitz. Does anyone think the bears O-line can block the eagles myriad of blitz looks? If cutler can't get enough time to get the ball to his WRs then matt forte's hands will be catching a lot of check down passes. Can he get the YAC the bears need like he did in the san fran game?

Prediction

I cant pick the bears, I just cant. I think it will be a close game but i think McNabb will drive down in the closing seconds and a david aker's FG will win it. Eagles 23, Bears 20.

Critical Performer

If there was ever a time for Devin to become dangerous on punt returns again this would be a the game with the bears' season on the line at home. I think he will break his streak and take one to the house against the eagles pourous coverage teams.