i'm interested in reading it.
Well, I'm leaning towards keeping it mum, but since the Bears are your team, this may be worth reading.
I will not have claimed to have watched many Bears game... since I catch whatever is available (other than the Pats games, the doubleheader games+SNF is what I get to see).
Here's my breakdown...
Offense:
Jay Cutler is this year's version of Rex Grossman (who, ironically lost against the Giants in the final game like the Bears). I think he's a serviceable QB... he can make plays, but the offense has changed since that godawful Bears-Giants game, where he was sacked out of the game. I'm not sure if he'll ever get it, since he has the Favre-like mentality (being a gunslinger, which equates to lots of deep balls and stupid+wreckless passes). What he suffers quite a bit from is that o-line... it has been a perennial problem for that team (if it hasn't been drilled into Bears fans, I don't know what the announcers have been smoking).
Matt Forte is obviously the key guy... as far as I understand it... he's a pass-catching RB. He is the outlet/screen receiver.... I'm not sure of his blocking skills tbh.
I'm surprised there has been very little use of Chester Taylor. I don't know what his role is... but when he was backing AP, he was the 3rd down back and the primary blocker (I'm not sure if AP has improved his blocking this year). It almost feels like Forte+Taylor are the same, but I think Taylor is the more physical back.... but it's hard to tell I guess from the lack of use.
Greg Olsen as far as I can tell is a solid TE.. although I don't notice his blocking (I'm sure he's alright). I don't claim to know the other TEs...
The only major WRs that the Bears have (at least when you notice them) are Devin Hester + Johnny Knox. I swear these guys are like speed receivers, but I think they have more quickness, as evidenced in special teams. They are not the ideal deep ball threat (and they shouldn't be). Everyone else feel like "meh", but as a WR core, I guess it's OK, but it ultimately matters how Mike Martz is making the play calls.
This offense is mediocre (I think the #s would bear that out), so as long as Cutler doesn't make stupid mistakes (which he's prone to do in the past), then they have a fair shot at being in the SB. However, in my own scenarios, it will require beating the Falcons in the Georgia Dome AND manage to beat the Saints in an NFC Championship rematch-like game in the division round.
Defense:
This defense is good... and it is above average. However if you are a team that can block up their primary 4-down d-linemen, that defense can be had. An above average QB that is able to look one way, and throw in the other direction can kill a team that primarily dabbles in zone coverage (watching the QB and then make a move when the ball is in the air). Lovie Smith is a good defensive coordinator, but when looking back at the SB loss to the Colts, you can see that Lovie isn't as great when the DB on that big play in the SB was just that DB's fault... As a defense against great QBs, you have to be solid in your defense (bend but don't break) and once "it broke", he played way too conservatively. Then again, why the hell did he bench Orton in the playoffs?
Special Teams: This group is one of the best, if not the best in the league. I don't think there's much to say about it.
Bears should be prepare to play against the Saints IMO. Unless the Packers make an incredible run (they have a shot at beating the Eagles, and then a rematch against the semi-overrated but solid Falcons), this shouldn't really haunt them... but then again, that would require stuffing run dependent teams (like the Falcons). The Saints are kinda meh @ the running front, like the Packers (although the Saints try to run the ball at least... the Packers started to do it again after the Lions game). The Bears are held up by their defense (except for that scorefest with the Jets, gee, I wonder why), but that offense cannot afford to make mistakes.
Poll
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