Post by JABF on Sept 11, 2016 8:05:56 GMT -6
I just came across this. It does make some good points. Love it!
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10 Reasons The Chicago Bears Will Win The NFC North
by Erik Lambert
The respect league-wide isn’t there yet for the Chicago Bears. They have a lot of proving to do, but there are reasons for optimism.
The NFC North remains in flux like any other division. Anointing the winner in September is never a wise decision. There are plenty of reasons to think the Bears can be in that conversation for winning the division title by the end of the season. It doesn’t even have to involve hallucinogens. Here is a list of 10 reasons why it’s a possibility.
Bigger and more explosive defensive line
Based on off-season moves and brief previews during the preseason, it’s evident that the Bears accomplished one of their primary goals this year. They got their defensive line to the type of talent they wanted to properly execute a 3-4 defense. Eddie Goldman is of course the centerpiece at nose tackle, not only big and strong to stop the run but a far better interior pass rusher than he gets credit for. He’s also flanked by high-effort veteran Mitch Unrein.
Yet it’s the new arrivals that should have the team excited. Akiem Hicks came in as a free agent from New England, boasting a rare mix of giant size and nifty athleticism that makes him a handful for any blocker. Then there’s rookie Jonathan Bullard who showcased an impressive explosion in preseason that could make him a devastating backfield penetrator who gives opponents fits. One must also not overlook former 6th round pick Cornelius Washington. He seems to love the new scheme and has proven very disruptive when able to stay healthy.
Beefed up offensive line
Less than a week ago there was no doubt in the minds of fans and experts alike that the Bears offensive line was the primary weak point of the roster. It was evident from how much it struggled in preseason, looking lost at times against aggressive pressure teams like Denver and Kansas City. The loss of starting center Hroniss Grasu was especially telling as it forced veteran Ted Larsen into the lineup, who was expected to be the primary backup.
Thankfully the team got a reprieve from none other than the Green Bay Packers. They caused a stir by releasing veteran Pro Bowl guard Josh Sitton barely a week before opening day, citing money disagreements. Chicago pounced on the opportunity, signing him to a three-year deal to become their new left guard and sliding rookie 2nd round pick Cody Whitehair to center. Suddenly the line looks like it may have gone from being a weakness to a potential strength.
Healthy wide receivers
It’s so easy to forget that Jay Cutler threw for 3,600 yards and 21 touchdowns last season with basically backup receivers half the year. Alshon Jeffery, Eddie Royal and Kevin White are expected to start the opener. Combined all three missed a total of 34 games in 2015. White was out for the season with a fractured shin. Jeffery and Royal had to deal with a myriad of nagging ailments that kept them in and out of the lineup.
Signs point to them being healthy. Jeffery hasn’t had any issues throughout the preseason and is focused more than ever on having a great year. He’s playing under the franchise tag and knows a strong showing will net him a lucrative contract extension. Royal is motivated by trying to keep his job. He missed the preseason with a concussion problem and at age 30 doesn’t have time on his side. As for White, he’s anxious to show people the 1st round pick spent on him wasn’t wasted. If they play up to their potential, that is a formidable trio.
Deep backfield
There is no denying the loss of Matt Forte has put a damper on the Bears running back position. For years he was a stable fixture the team knew they could look to on Sunday. With that security blanket gone, it’s created a veil of uncertainty that not everybody is ready to believe in. All they know for sure is the new trio of backs the team has assembled is very young and diverse. Whether they can fill in for what Forte did is another story.
Still it’s not a big stretch to believe the Bears have a deep array of talent with high potential. Jeremy Langford has already shown promise after filling in for Forte at times last year. His speed is something the team can’t wait to exploit. Then there is Ka’Deem Carey, the tough, relentless kid from Arizona who has a good mix of power and vision that makes him difficult to bring down. Last but not least is rookie Jordan Howard, a big back with power and sneaky quickness who dominated the preseason finale.
Put them under the guidance of respected coach Stan Drayton and behind a solid offensive line? Things should go well.
Fast linebackers
Among the things that made the 2015 defense difficult to watch at times was the constant inability of the linebackers to chase down ball carriers before they made big gains. Guys like Shea McClellin and Christian Jones were slow to react and slow to make the play. It’s for that reason the team overhauled a large portion of the depth chart at that position. A big emphasis during the process was speed. The coaches wanted guys who could cover lots of ground.
They succeeded in that regard. Danny Trevathan and Jerrell Freeman are two inside linebackers known for range both as run defenders and in coverage. Joining them is rookie 1st round pick Leonard Floyd at outside linebacker who has one of the quickest first steps in the draft, not to mention a speed and fluidity that is pretty remarkable for a guy his size. Getting that onto the field will help the defense because they can clean up a lot of the minor mistakes.
John Fox and Vic Fangio
Have people forgotten that this isn’t the Marc Trestman and Mel Tucker show anymore? Those dark days are long gone. For the first time since Lovie Smith the team has credibility at head coach with John Fox, a man who has already turned around two franchises and taken them to the Super Bowl in his career. He’s joined by defensive coordinator Vic Fangio, a man with decades of experience who has built a top 10 defense for two other teams as well.
These guys are no strangers to the situation before them. The Chicago Bears are a young team that has undergone a major roster transition in the past calendar year. Nothing is going to surprise them in turns of peaks and valleys. It comes down to teaching these players to get better and their track records say plenty about there capacity to do that. It’s okay to have faith the progress will continue in Year 2 of this project.
The fall of Teddy Bridgewater
Trading for Sam Bradford was a last-ditch ploy that at least steadies the ship for the Minnesota Vikings, but there is no question they lost something when Teddy Bridgewater dislocated his knee. Not only was he a dependable quarterback on the field who made the Pro Bowl last season, he was also their leader. It’s not a shock that the air went out of the locker room when he went down. The odds that Bradford will replace that are remote.
Make no mistake they still have a good team. Adrian Peterson remains a big factor and that young defense is among the best in football. Even so the Bears showed last year they can hang with the Vikings when they’re giving a full effort. Now take Bridgewater out of the equation and their chances just improved. If they put the game on Bradford, who can’t be expected to learn the offense that fast, then this is a team Chicago can beat.
Aging Packers
This is going to sound unusual. How can one say the Packers are aging when recent calculations indicate they actually have one of the youngest rosters in the NFL? That’s true, but not where it counts. Examine it again and the truth is the majority of the top players on the Green Bay Packers are on the wrong side of 30. Aaron Rodgers turns 33-years old in December. Jordy Nelson just turned 31. Clay Matthews is 30 and Julius Peppers is 36.
That is a large part of their core that is facing the prospects of declining ability, not to mention an increase in injury risk. It’s no accident the Packers are hoping Eddie Lacy, Randall Cobb and Ha Ha Clinton-Dix take the next step. Otherwise their sizable lead in the NFC North will continue to dwindle as it already has. Chicago beat them once last year and had a chance to in the other matchup. This is not a team the Bears fear anymore.
Easy schedule
Of course what happened the year before doesn’t always translate to the next season but even so first impressions say the Bears have a much easier schedule than they did in 2015 (which was the most difficult). According to the breakdown nine of their opponents this season failed to make the playoffs the year before and eight of those nine finished with a losing record. The odds that all of them will suddenly turn things around and become good are remote.
Sure there are some teams to be wary of. Jacksonville looks much better on paper than they did last season while the Giants and Eli Manning are always dangerous. The key is for Chicago to not take any game for granted. Last year they had a run of very beatable teams down the stretch and lost too many games they should’ve won. That valuable lesson should serve them well as they prepare to take advantage of his schedule.
Good luck
Already the Bears have been the benefactors of some good fortune that they can’t let go to waste. Josh Sitton falling in their laps is one instance. His arrival not only strengthens them but weakens the Packers. Bridgewater going down is another. It goes further than that though. There is the fact that wide receiver Calvin Johnson retired, a long-time tormentor of Chicago. Then they host the Eagles who will be starting a rookie quarterback in Carson Wentz.
A week later they visit Dallas who won’t have Tony Romo due to a back injury and face a defense without its two best pass rushers because of suspensions. Lastly a couple weeks later they head into Indianapolis against a Colts team that may not have their best defensive player in Vontae Davis because of a bad ankle. Opportunities like this don’t come around often and if the Bears really believe they’re a playoff team, they have to take advantage.
by Erik Lambert
The respect league-wide isn’t there yet for the Chicago Bears. They have a lot of proving to do, but there are reasons for optimism.
The NFC North remains in flux like any other division. Anointing the winner in September is never a wise decision. There are plenty of reasons to think the Bears can be in that conversation for winning the division title by the end of the season. It doesn’t even have to involve hallucinogens. Here is a list of 10 reasons why it’s a possibility.
Bigger and more explosive defensive line
Based on off-season moves and brief previews during the preseason, it’s evident that the Bears accomplished one of their primary goals this year. They got their defensive line to the type of talent they wanted to properly execute a 3-4 defense. Eddie Goldman is of course the centerpiece at nose tackle, not only big and strong to stop the run but a far better interior pass rusher than he gets credit for. He’s also flanked by high-effort veteran Mitch Unrein.
Yet it’s the new arrivals that should have the team excited. Akiem Hicks came in as a free agent from New England, boasting a rare mix of giant size and nifty athleticism that makes him a handful for any blocker. Then there’s rookie Jonathan Bullard who showcased an impressive explosion in preseason that could make him a devastating backfield penetrator who gives opponents fits. One must also not overlook former 6th round pick Cornelius Washington. He seems to love the new scheme and has proven very disruptive when able to stay healthy.
Beefed up offensive line
Less than a week ago there was no doubt in the minds of fans and experts alike that the Bears offensive line was the primary weak point of the roster. It was evident from how much it struggled in preseason, looking lost at times against aggressive pressure teams like Denver and Kansas City. The loss of starting center Hroniss Grasu was especially telling as it forced veteran Ted Larsen into the lineup, who was expected to be the primary backup.
Thankfully the team got a reprieve from none other than the Green Bay Packers. They caused a stir by releasing veteran Pro Bowl guard Josh Sitton barely a week before opening day, citing money disagreements. Chicago pounced on the opportunity, signing him to a three-year deal to become their new left guard and sliding rookie 2nd round pick Cody Whitehair to center. Suddenly the line looks like it may have gone from being a weakness to a potential strength.
Healthy wide receivers
It’s so easy to forget that Jay Cutler threw for 3,600 yards and 21 touchdowns last season with basically backup receivers half the year. Alshon Jeffery, Eddie Royal and Kevin White are expected to start the opener. Combined all three missed a total of 34 games in 2015. White was out for the season with a fractured shin. Jeffery and Royal had to deal with a myriad of nagging ailments that kept them in and out of the lineup.
Signs point to them being healthy. Jeffery hasn’t had any issues throughout the preseason and is focused more than ever on having a great year. He’s playing under the franchise tag and knows a strong showing will net him a lucrative contract extension. Royal is motivated by trying to keep his job. He missed the preseason with a concussion problem and at age 30 doesn’t have time on his side. As for White, he’s anxious to show people the 1st round pick spent on him wasn’t wasted. If they play up to their potential, that is a formidable trio.
Deep backfield
There is no denying the loss of Matt Forte has put a damper on the Bears running back position. For years he was a stable fixture the team knew they could look to on Sunday. With that security blanket gone, it’s created a veil of uncertainty that not everybody is ready to believe in. All they know for sure is the new trio of backs the team has assembled is very young and diverse. Whether they can fill in for what Forte did is another story.
Still it’s not a big stretch to believe the Bears have a deep array of talent with high potential. Jeremy Langford has already shown promise after filling in for Forte at times last year. His speed is something the team can’t wait to exploit. Then there is Ka’Deem Carey, the tough, relentless kid from Arizona who has a good mix of power and vision that makes him difficult to bring down. Last but not least is rookie Jordan Howard, a big back with power and sneaky quickness who dominated the preseason finale.
Put them under the guidance of respected coach Stan Drayton and behind a solid offensive line? Things should go well.
Fast linebackers
Among the things that made the 2015 defense difficult to watch at times was the constant inability of the linebackers to chase down ball carriers before they made big gains. Guys like Shea McClellin and Christian Jones were slow to react and slow to make the play. It’s for that reason the team overhauled a large portion of the depth chart at that position. A big emphasis during the process was speed. The coaches wanted guys who could cover lots of ground.
They succeeded in that regard. Danny Trevathan and Jerrell Freeman are two inside linebackers known for range both as run defenders and in coverage. Joining them is rookie 1st round pick Leonard Floyd at outside linebacker who has one of the quickest first steps in the draft, not to mention a speed and fluidity that is pretty remarkable for a guy his size. Getting that onto the field will help the defense because they can clean up a lot of the minor mistakes.
John Fox and Vic Fangio
Have people forgotten that this isn’t the Marc Trestman and Mel Tucker show anymore? Those dark days are long gone. For the first time since Lovie Smith the team has credibility at head coach with John Fox, a man who has already turned around two franchises and taken them to the Super Bowl in his career. He’s joined by defensive coordinator Vic Fangio, a man with decades of experience who has built a top 10 defense for two other teams as well.
These guys are no strangers to the situation before them. The Chicago Bears are a young team that has undergone a major roster transition in the past calendar year. Nothing is going to surprise them in turns of peaks and valleys. It comes down to teaching these players to get better and their track records say plenty about there capacity to do that. It’s okay to have faith the progress will continue in Year 2 of this project.
The fall of Teddy Bridgewater
Trading for Sam Bradford was a last-ditch ploy that at least steadies the ship for the Minnesota Vikings, but there is no question they lost something when Teddy Bridgewater dislocated his knee. Not only was he a dependable quarterback on the field who made the Pro Bowl last season, he was also their leader. It’s not a shock that the air went out of the locker room when he went down. The odds that Bradford will replace that are remote.
Make no mistake they still have a good team. Adrian Peterson remains a big factor and that young defense is among the best in football. Even so the Bears showed last year they can hang with the Vikings when they’re giving a full effort. Now take Bridgewater out of the equation and their chances just improved. If they put the game on Bradford, who can’t be expected to learn the offense that fast, then this is a team Chicago can beat.
Aging Packers
This is going to sound unusual. How can one say the Packers are aging when recent calculations indicate they actually have one of the youngest rosters in the NFL? That’s true, but not where it counts. Examine it again and the truth is the majority of the top players on the Green Bay Packers are on the wrong side of 30. Aaron Rodgers turns 33-years old in December. Jordy Nelson just turned 31. Clay Matthews is 30 and Julius Peppers is 36.
That is a large part of their core that is facing the prospects of declining ability, not to mention an increase in injury risk. It’s no accident the Packers are hoping Eddie Lacy, Randall Cobb and Ha Ha Clinton-Dix take the next step. Otherwise their sizable lead in the NFC North will continue to dwindle as it already has. Chicago beat them once last year and had a chance to in the other matchup. This is not a team the Bears fear anymore.
Easy schedule
Of course what happened the year before doesn’t always translate to the next season but even so first impressions say the Bears have a much easier schedule than they did in 2015 (which was the most difficult). According to the breakdown nine of their opponents this season failed to make the playoffs the year before and eight of those nine finished with a losing record. The odds that all of them will suddenly turn things around and become good are remote.
Sure there are some teams to be wary of. Jacksonville looks much better on paper than they did last season while the Giants and Eli Manning are always dangerous. The key is for Chicago to not take any game for granted. Last year they had a run of very beatable teams down the stretch and lost too many games they should’ve won. That valuable lesson should serve them well as they prepare to take advantage of his schedule.
Good luck
Already the Bears have been the benefactors of some good fortune that they can’t let go to waste. Josh Sitton falling in their laps is one instance. His arrival not only strengthens them but weakens the Packers. Bridgewater going down is another. It goes further than that though. There is the fact that wide receiver Calvin Johnson retired, a long-time tormentor of Chicago. Then they host the Eagles who will be starting a rookie quarterback in Carson Wentz.
A week later they visit Dallas who won’t have Tony Romo due to a back injury and face a defense without its two best pass rushers because of suspensions. Lastly a couple weeks later they head into Indianapolis against a Colts team that may not have their best defensive player in Vontae Davis because of a bad ankle. Opportunities like this don’t come around often and if the Bears really believe they’re a playoff team, they have to take advantage.
