Well fans another Bears season has come to an end with no postseason play. Although The season wasn't a total loss, there are some issues that need to be resolved. However it is now time to prepare for the monotonous routine of off-season chaos. The owner's meetings start next month, followed by the rookie combine, and then the draft is right around the corner. plus we must not forget the free agency calamity that ultimately finds out who has the deepest pockets.
Anyway, the Bears desperately need a Quarterback. It's amazing that in the past 15 years the Bears have started more players at quarterback than any other team in the league, yet they cannot seem to find ONE good one. Don't get me wrong, Kyle Orton showed a lot of progress this year, and could perhaps be the guy in Chicago... eventually. In the mean time what do we do. While Orton is not as inconsistent as Rex Grossman, if Orton should go down, we're stuck with Grossman. Either way there needs to be some effort in acquiring a seasoned quarterback that doesn't turn the ball over.
Moving on, is Matt Forte going to be the ground hog we all hope, or will he join the long list of promising running backs who disappear in Chicago. Rashaan Salaam, Curtis Enis, Cedric Benson; ring any bells? Why the Bears elected to go with Benson instead of Jones after their Super Bowl run two years ago is beyond me. I think that Forte shows high aspirations of filling his shoes. While he seemed a bit banged up towards the end of the season, I think that he is a solid back that could leave Chicago as one of the greats in team history. I'm not sure he would rank with the likes of Jim brown, or Walter Payton, but only time will tell.
It may also be time to start looking at some secondary players and a possible replacement for Brian Urlacher. Urlacher will be entering his tenth season with the bears and may only have a few years left. While urlacher's departure is a ways off, it is still eminent. Why wait until the last minute to start looking? The Bears have also struggled in the secondary since their Conference Championship year of 2006. Mike Brown went down again last year, along with Nathan Vasher. Daniel Manning showed promise as Devin Hester's replacement for kick returns. It will be interesting to see if he can stay healthy playing both positions every game.
In all, the Bears had a season that started with disappointment, showed a glimpse of hope, and ended with their hopes of making the playoffs crushed after blowing a 10 point lead in Houston in week 17. Other than their Super Bowl appearance 2 years ago, this has been the story in Chicago for over a decade. Other than the 06 season, the Bears hadn't won a Playoff game since 1993. With a few off-season additions, the progression of Kyle Orton and Matt Forte, and the support of the Bears fans across the world, the Bears can once again restore the old legacy of "Monsters of the Midway," and make Chicago a tough place to play because of the team, not the weather.
