Bears 2011 Season Preview
By Benjy Lipsman in News on Sep 9, 2011 4:00PM
The Bears surprised many last year when they managed to win the NFC North with an 11-5 record and made it all the way to the NFC Championship, where they lost to the eventual Super Bowl champions, the rival Green Bay Packers. And we still weren't sold that they were all that good. But Lovie Smith, who was very much on the hot seat entering the season, ended up with a contract extension.
For all the hype surrounding Mike Martz and his supposed offensive wizardry, the Bears finished 30th in the league in total offense and 21st in points scored. Quarterback Jay Cuter was sacked 52 times behind a line that offered minimal protection. Part of the problem was their inconsistent running attack. While Matt Forte eclipsed the 1,000 yard mark, Chester Taylor was a total flop with his 2.4 yards/carry average.
Much of the Bears success was a result of the defense, which was fourth in the league in points allowed and ninth in yards allowed. Brian Urlacher bounced back from missing almost all of the 2009 campaign to have another solid year, and new addition Julius Peppers had a monster season on the line even if his sack numbers declined.
Following an off-season dominated by the NFL lockout, the Bears didn't make any huge roster moves in free agency. The most significant departures were pro-bowl center Olin Kreutz and tight end Greg Olsen. In terms of additions, the biggest names to join the team were a couple of retread offensive skill players, a replacement center and former Pro Bowl safety Brandon Meriweather, cut by the Patriots last week. Heading into last season, the Bears offensive line and wide receivers were the biggest concerns. And now? Pretty much the same. Roy Williams is not the number one receiver they need, and the offensive line lost its leader and has new faces in four of the five positions.
Key Additions:
Gabe Carimi - OL
Marion Barber - RB
Roy Williams - WR
Chris Spencer - C
Brandon Meriweather - S
Key Departures:
Olin Kreutz - C
Greg Olsen - TE
Chester Tayor - RB
Danieal Manning - S
So what do we foresee for the Bears this season? Unfortunately, we see the team slipping back into the pack because last year's good fortune just can't be expected to continue. While the defense should remain strong, we can't expect them to remain as healthy as they did a year ago. Urlacher and Lance Briggs are still elite players, but they are another year older. The defensive line looks solid, anchored by Julius Peppers. On the other hand, there are many questions about the secondary, even after Meriweather was signed last week.
On offense, we hope that the Martz system will be that much more familiar to the players, resulting in dramatic improvement. The majority of the skill players remain in place. Jay Cutler remains under center for the Bears. Matt Forte is still the primary running back, although Marion Barber replaces Taylor as his back-up. Roy Williams joins the mix of wide receivers, but he played under Martz in Detroit a few seasons ago. Of course the key to the offense is the offensive line. The newly revamped line did look better in preseason. But we'll have to see if that can carry through to the games that count, especially without the leadership Kreutz provided.
Special teams, long an area of strength for the Bears, may also be impacted in 2011. A new NFL rule regarding kickoffs moves the ball from the 30 to the 35 yard line, with the intention of cutting down on the number of returns and injuries suffered on coverage. But the Bears return game has helped make up for deficiencies in the offense by providing excellent field position, and Devin Hester was among the league's most feared players because of his return abilities. Have the new rules neutered Hester and the Bears return game? If last night's Packers-Saints game is any indication, it doesn't look good.
On paper, the Bears look like they have improved slightly from a year ago. But between an unprecedented run of good luck last year, a tough early schedule, NFL rule changes and a number of key players disgruntled with their current contracts could all act against the Bears. Additionally, their division has gotten tougher, as the Packers are healthy and hungry to defend their Super Bowl title, while the Detroit Lions looks to have turned a corner and look like possible playoff contenders. Only the Vikings seem to be on the downward slide in the NFC North.
Week-by-Week Predictions:
Week 1: Atlanta -- L
Week 2: @ New Orleans -- L
Week 3: Green Bay -- L
Week 4: Carolina -- W
Week 5: @ Detroit -- L
Week 6: Minnesota -- W
Week 7: @ Tampa Bay -- W
Week 8: BYE WEEK
Week 9: @ Philadelphia -- W
Week 10: Detroit -- W
Week 11: San Diego -- L
Week 12: @ Oakland -- W
Week 13: Kansas City -- L
Week 14: @ Denver -- W
Week 15: Seattle -- W
Week 16: @ Green Bay -- L
Week 17: @ Minnesota -- W
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Final Record: 9-7