Chicago Bears: The Five Players to Watch This Year

Earl Bennett was drafted in the third round of the 2007 draft carrying with him some impressive credentials.

Bennett was the SEC's career leader in receptions attending Vanderbilt. He hauled in 20 touchdowns over his three-year career. Nearly half of them came from Jay Cutler, who was the Vanderbilt quarterback in 2004 and '05.

The duo is now very happy, it seems, to be re-united in Chicago. But Bennett never saw the field last year. Allegedly, he struggling to learn the playbook.

Now, very comfortable with the offense, Bennett is projected to start this year.

Once very dominant, Tommie Harris has fans worried after underachieving recently, and struggling to stay healthy.

When Harris plays well, so does the whole defense.

Harris can start all over again this season with good health and a great new mentor; Rod Marinelli.

Marinelli is known for playing a prominent role in the success of defensive linemen like Warren Sapp and Simeon Rice.

Could Harris be Marinelli's next project? Can Harris be dominant once again?

Matt Forte became an instant favorite in Chicago after he was drafted in the second round of 2007's draft.

As a rookie, he valiantly took on the responsibility of providing the only offense the team had; rushing for over a 1,000 yards, posting 477 yards receiving, and combining for 12 touchdowns total.

Forte was faced with defenses with the main intention of stopping him. He was still capable of putting up these impressive numbers on those defenses.

With the addition of Jay Cutler, defenses will now need to take away those eight-man fronts they showed Forte last year. Forte will also profit from the stronger offensive line he now has.

You gaped at Forte's success last year.

Just watch what he does this year.

From 2006, when he entered the league, the nation hasn't taken their eyes off of Devin Hester.

So, he may not be taking it to the house on kickoffs any more.

But Hester remains one of the most exciting players in the game with explosive, play-making ability.

Having been a wide receiver now for a year, the Chicago Bears coaching staff has all the confidence in the world that he can be a no.1 receiver. They say he is now comfortable with the playbook.

The play-making Hester also has the play-making quarterback now.

It seems he has no excuse for not breaking loose this season.

Jay Cutler's acquisition sparked the most excitement Chicago has experienced in a while.

The quarterback has always been the player that Bears fans are watching. Except, over the years that player was watched in fear that he would make a mistake.

In 2009 Bears fans will be expecting none from Cutler.

Cutler is viewed as the savior now in Chicago.

Of course, when you're the savior, all eyes will be on you.

Cutler's quarterback talent only comes to Chicago once in a generation.

This generation will not want to miss that talent.