10 Things That Will Decide the Future of the Chicago Bears

(Photo by Jim Prisching/Getty Images)

With all the hype surrounding Jay Cutler, several key issues have been thrown to the wayside this offseason. As a die-hard Bears fan, I'm not only interested in the 2009-2010 season, but also the seasons that follow. So, without further ado, here are 10 things that will decide if the Bears are a dynasty or a dud in the coming decade:

10. Is Brian Urlacher finished?

At age 31, a premium, healthy linebacker could easily finish out his remaining years (the contract extension he signed last offseason keeps him wearing orange and blue through the 2012 season) while still playing at a reasonably high level.

Neck and back issues have fans worried that the days of Urlacher dominance have passed and he has become, at best, a shell of the former defensive wrecking ball he was in 2006. The team has career projects behind Urlacher and could take years to replace one of the more important positions in Lovie Smith's antiquated cover-two defense.

9. Is this secondary for real?

We've been fooled in the past, and a lack of defensive line pressure isn't the only reason this group has been tragic the last two seasons (Mike Brown being hurt didn't help, although he was in for 15 games last season) Charles Tillman belongs at FS, Corey Graham was a corner last year, Josh Bullocks looked completely lost at times with the Saints, Al Aflava is yet another strong safety (no matter how physical Al may be, Jerry needed to draft a true free safety this offseason).

So, we've got Tillman who is chronically over-matched against the likes of Greg Jennings (Packers), Bernard Berrian (Vikings), and Calvin Johnson (Lions), all of whom are in our division, Vasher, who is suddenly seriously weakened by his lack of size, and Trumaine Mcbride, who seems to be an up-and-coming star at corner and who will likely take Vasher's job within the next season or two.

Then there's Manning, a return man who has been switched between nickel back and free safety so many times it has severely stunted his growth, Graham, a project at free safety who will likely take at least a season or two to develop into a solid starter, and Payne, an in-the-box coverage liability. 

Marcus Hamilton has been a bright spot at corner in OTA's, but he was injury prone in college and got injured in his rookie season last year. Craig Steltz is another liability in coverage. It seems Steltz, Payne, and Bullocks all come with hard-hitting and coverage headaches. 

The only way this group works out is if Tillman can get help over the top from a reasonably talented and smart FS, Payne isn't asked to drop back into coverage, Bullocks never sees the field, McBride takes Vasher's job, Manning finds his niche at nickel back and isn't moved back to FS, and rookie DJ Moore develops into a strong back-up with starter potential.

If Steltz or Bullocks takes the field this season at free safety, get ready to do some serious screaming at your TV.

8. Is Tommie Harris finished?

One scout said Harris had the body of a 35-year old pre-draft, and several teams had the young defensive tackle taken off their draft boards because of serious injury concerns.

Those teams have been proven right by Harris's bum knee and inability to stay on the field long enough to be the disruptor he was in seasons past. If he can somehow regain form, this defense will dominate again.

Lovie Smith has said consistently that the three-technique defensive tackle position is what moves his questionable cover-two defensive, so we shall see. Marcus Harrison was a bright spot in a limited role last season as a rookie, and he could take Harris's job by 2012—or at least a majority of his snaps.

7. Is Devin Hester a No. 1 wide receiver?

Count me as one of the minority that believes Hester will dominate for several years. He better soften his hands by 2015, as his elite speed will start to go as he approaches 30, but he will be a highlight reel for years to come.

If the cynics are right (they're always quick to point out that he was a man without a position in college and spent his first NFL season learning the corner position), he could be a full-time return man again by 2012, but let's hope he and Jay Cutler form a Montana/Young-to-Rice sort of connection.

6. Will a legit defensive end please stand up?

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