Full Chicago Bears Midseason Awards
Following the conclusion of Week 8, the NFL officially hit the midway point of the 2015 season.
The Chicago Bears currently sit with a disappointing 2-5 record, but quarterback Jay Cutler thinks the team is heading in the right direction.
"We've got good coaches, we've got good schemes," Cutler said on Sunday, per Larry Mayer of ChicagoBears.com. "We've got to find some better ways to execute as players and find ways in the fourth quarter to close out games like this because we're not far away. We're not far away at all."
The Bears may not be exactly where they thought they would be at this point of the season, but some players have performed well despite the team's poor record.
Who has had a breakout season? Who has underachieved? Who is the team's most valuable player?
We answer those questions and more just ahead as we hand out the Bears' full midseason awards.
Best Under-the-Radar Free-Agent Signing: DL Jarvis Jenkins
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The Bears signed defensive lineman Jarvis Jenkins to a one-year deal this offseason, and the former Clemson Tiger has impressed through the first eight weeks of the 2015 season.
Jenkins recorded just 75 tackles and two sacks in three seasons with the Washington Redskins from 2012 to 2014, but this season, he has recorded 21 tackles and 3.5 sacks in seven games. The veteran defensive lineman has helped anchor Chicago's defensive line against the run, and he has made an impact as a pass-rusher.
According to Pro Football Focus, Jenkins has played 319 snaps this season, and defensive coordinator Vic Fangio has been impressed with the veteran lineman.
"He has done a nice job for us since he got here," Fangio said, per Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune. "I think he's out to prove that he's a better player than the league has considered him to be."
Jenkins was a second-round pick of Washington in 2011, and while he was a starter throughout much of his time there, he failed to live up to expectations.
“I’m going to be honest right now: The times that I’ve been called on in the past before I got here, I just did the amount to be a starter. I never took that extra push, and now I realize that,” said Jenkins, per Nate Atkins of ChicagoFootball.com. “I get here in Chicago, I have great coaches, and I’m more confident. I can go out and make those extra plays."
Jenkins has been a consistent contributor on a Bears defensive line that has had a lot of moving parts this season due to injuries and cuts, and while he will not get same praise that a guy like outside linebacker Pernell McPhee will receive for his play, Chicago's defense would look much different without Jenkins in the lineup.
Biggest Underachiever: CB Kyle Fuller
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The Bears took cornerback Kyle Fuller in the first round of the 2014 draft, and the former Virginia Tech standout broke out in a big way during the early portion of last season.
In the first three games of his rookie season, Fuller recorded 19 tackles, four pass deflections, three interceptions and two forced fumbles, but he struggled throughout the remaining 13 games of the year.
Fuller was a bad fit in former defensive coordinator Mel Tucker's Cover 2 defense because he was asked to play a lot of off coverage, but he was expected to take a big step forward with his development this season in Fangio's more aggressive scheme.
Before the season started, head coach John Fox said he viewed Fuller as a building block for the future.
"Defense, I'd say Fuller is a guy—my evaluation is more from what he did in college, where we had him in the draft process than it is completely on Bear tape—but I'd say a young guy like that, a core guy, he was a first-round pick," Fox said, per ChicagoFootball.com's Kevin Fishbain. "I think he has the right kind of tools to be a guy that can lean into that leader spot as he goes."
The young cornerback has struggled to adapt to Fangio's defense through the first seven games of the season, and while he was once viewed as a good fit in Fangio's aggressive scheme, he has struggled with his physicality at the line of scrimmage.
Fuller has often allowed opposing wide receivers to get a free release off the snap of the ball, and those receivers have been able to burn Fuller deep down the field. He has struggled with penalties this season, and he was benched earlier in the year for second-year man Terrance Mitchell.
He showed some progress in back-to-back games against the Oakland Raiders and Kansas City Chiefs earlier in the season, but he took a step back in Week 6 against the Detroit Lions. On Sunday against the Minnesota Vikings, Fuller recorded two tackles, two pass deflections and came away with his first interception of the season.
Fuller still has a chance to be a key part of Chicago's defense moving forward, but he has been the team's biggest underachiever so far this season.
Most Improved: ILB Shea McClellin
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Shea McClellin began his NFL career as a 4-3 defensive end in 2012 before moving to outside linebacker in Tucker's 4-3 scheme last season. He struggled at both positions, but he has looked like a different player this season at inside linebacker in Fangio's 3-4 defense.
McClellin has not played since suffering a knee injury in Week 5 against the Chiefs, and his absence was felt in Chicago's loss to the Lions in Week 6.
"Bears fans probably don’t want to hear this, but Shea McClellin’s absence has been very noticeable today," tweeted WGNRadio.com's Adam Hoge in Week 6.
The former Boise State Bronco made all the calls on the field for Chicago's defense when he was healthy, and the Bears struggled to get lined up in the right spots at times against Detroit.
In the five games he played this season, he recorded 33 tackles, and according to Pro Football Focus, he has a plus-1.5 overall grade and has been credited with seven quarterback hurries.
McClellin has not been the flashiest player on the field for the Bears this season, but inside linebackers coach Glenn Pires has been impressed with the young linebacker's play.
“It’s on the upswing. His arrow is up. He is going in the right direction,” Pires said, per Fishbain. “There’s no doubt. I would hope if you asked him, I’m sure he would say the same thing. He is working extremely hard. His preparation habits in that are excellent. Excellent. Very good.”
McClellin has played well against the run this season, but he needs to improve against the pass. He has the speed and athleticism to keep up with most running backs and tight ends, but he needs to work on his technique.
The first three seasons of his NFL career were a disappointment, as he struggled to develop as a defensive end and as an outside linebacker, but he has looked like a solid NFL player this season at inside linebacker.
The Bears have not said when they expect McClellin back on the field after he missed Week 6 against Detroit and Sunday against Minnesota, but he showed through the first five weeks of the season that he is the team's most improved player.
Rookie of the Year: FS Adrian Amos
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The Bears have struggled to identify talent at the safety position for years, but it looks like they have found a long-term solution at free safety in rookie Adrian Amos.
Chicago selected Amos in the fifth round of this year's draft, and Fox was excited about the young defensive back's skill set.
"I think he’s very smart. He’s got good height. He’s got good speed," Fox said after the draft, per ChicagoFootball.com's Arthur Arkush. "He’s got a lot of the measurables, and he’s got the ability to cover, which in this league now is a big part of the job description."
Amos began the offseason behind second-year safety Brock Vereen on the depth chart, but he put together an impressive training camp and preseason and began the year as Chicago's starting free safety opposite of veteran strong safety Antrel Rolle.
According to Pro Football Focus, Amos has played every snap on defense this season, and he has recorded 28 tackles in seven games.
Rolle went down with an injury earlier this season, but defensive backs coach Ed Donatell has been impressed with how Amos has reacted since the veteran safety's injury, per Jeff Dickerson of ESPN.com:
"Amos has been just so steady and mature beyond his years. He’s been that way 24/7 in everything that he does and in every meeting. He’s very calm. And you can see he was listening to Antrel. You can tell that when Antrel went out there wasn’t as big of a drop off in communication as there might have been. There was some drop off, but Amos is a real student of the game and very composed.
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Amos has not been challenged often in the passing game, but he has been effective in the box against the run. He has played with physicality, and he has been one of Chicago's best tacklers. He has yet to come away with a big play in the passing game, but his consistency against both the run and the pass has helped stabilize the back half of Chicago's secondary.
The Bears have gotten contributions out of other rookies like center Hroniss Grasu and nose tackle Eddie Goldman this season, but Amos has been the team's best rookie so far this year.
Defensive Player of the Year: Pernell McPhee
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The Bears needed to find a pass-rushing outside linebacker in the offseason to build their new 3-4 defense around, and they signed former Baltimore Raven Pernell McPhee to a five-year deal in March.
McPhee quickly asserted himself as both a leader on and off the field, and he has been Chicago's best defensive player this season.
Through seven games this year, McPhee has recorded 33 tackles, five sacks and one interception. He has been the team's most consistent pass-rusher, and he has also played well against the run.
Before Sunday's contest against Minnesota, All-Pro running back Adrian Peterson had nothing but praise for McPhee, per Dickerson:
"No. 92 [McPhee], when he's out there playing football, he is not playing around, that's one thing I do know. Avoid him, and when I run into him, I need to make sure I bring everything I have.
He is a man among children out there. He's fast, he's strong. He gets to the ball. He has a nose for the ball, and he's trying to make you feel him on each and every play. So I love guys like that, that goes out and competes like that. I'm looking forward to playing against him.
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Chicago has struggled on defense at times this season, but McPhee has been one of the team's lone bright spots. He plays with a relentless motor, and he has still been productive even when opposing teams opt to double-team him in pass protection.
According to Pro Football Focus, he is currently listed as the third-best outside linebacker in the NFL with a plus-24 overall grade. He currently has 27 quarterback hurries and seven quarterback hits.
His play on the field has also impressed some of his teammates on offense, including tackle Kyle Long, per Patrick Finley of the Chicago Sun-Times:
"You’re going to get a guy who is going to try and terrorize the offense. In practice, in games, he’s a guy you have to account for at all times with sometimes two, maybe three guys because he’s such a dominant force.
You see what happens when he’s by himself, when he’s given an opportunity to have a one-on-one situation and play real football for once. He gets some wins.
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McPhee has consistently been the best player on defense for the Bears this year, and if he continues to produce like he has up to this point this season, he will be the face of Chicago's defense for years to come.
Offensive Player of the Year: RB Matt Forte
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No player on the Bears has been as consistent this season as running back Matt Forte.
Forte is in the final year of his contract and is set to turn 30 years old in December, but he currently is eighth in the NFL in rushing yards with 548.
The veteran running back has been terrific with the football in his hands both between the tackles and outside of the tackles, he is one of the league's best pass-catching running backs and he is an underrated blocker in pass protection.
"He's a three-down back," said Cutler about Forte, per Mayer. "He does so much protection-wise. He does so much in the passing game. You can line him up in all different scenarios, all different sets. He gets the job done. He's kind of a security blanket for us."
Forte was used more as a receiver out of the backfield than he was as a runner in former head coach Marc Trestman's offense, but offensive coordinator Adam Gase understands just how good of a runner Forte is with the ball in his hands.
"Everybody forgets how good of a running back he is," Gase said, per Rich Campbell of the Chicago Tribune. "He's not just here to catch the ball. He can run downhill. He can be outside, gap scheme—the guy's got the whole thing."
Forte carried the ball 10 times for 41 yards in Week 8 against the Vikings before suffering a knee injury in the second half, and Fox did not say much about Forte's condition after the game.
"They did the evaluation and they have an idea, but I hate to speculate until they get medical evidence," Fox said, per Dickerson. "We'll keep you posted on that."
There is currently no timetable for Forte's return, but he has been the team's most consistent weapon on offense in 2015. He is still dangerous once he gets to the edge because of his speed, but he is also a strong back who is not afraid to drop his shoulder to pick up additional yards.
Forte has only been to two Pro Bowls in his career, but if he can get back on the field soon and produce like he has up to this point in the year, he has a good chance to make his third Pro Bowl after the season concludes.
Chicago's offense can function without Forte in the lineup, but it is much better when he is lined up in the backfield.
MVP: QB Jay Cutler
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Both McPhee and Forte have been integral parts of both the defense and offense this season in Chicago, but Cutler has been the team's most valuable player.
Chicago's offense played well in Week 1 against the Green Bay Packers, and it was moving the football well in Week 2 against the Arizona Cardinals before Cutler went down with a hamstring injury. Cutler missed the rest of that game and all of the team's Week 3 game against the Seattle Seahawks, and Chicago's offense struggled in his absence.
The Bears turned to backup quarterback Jimmy Clausen to take over for Cutler, and he threw for just 121 yards on 14 completions with one interception in Week 2 and completed just nine of his 17 passing attempts for 63 yards against Seattle.
Cutler returned in Week 4 to help lead the Bears to a victory over the Oakland Raiders, and he threw for 281 yards with two touchdowns and one interception. In Week 5, he threw for 252 yards with two touchdowns in a win over the Chiefs, and he completed 26 of his 41 passing attempts in Week 6 against the Lions for 353 yards with one touchdown and one interception.
In Week 8 against the Vikings, Cutler completed 22 of his 33 passing attempts for 211 yards and one touchdown.
The veteran quarterback has been maddeningly inconsistent since joining the Bears, but the team has gone 5-10 in games that Cutler has missed due to injury since 2009.
Cutler has thrown just four interceptions this season, and Gase thinks his quarterback has improved his decision-making.
"He has done a good job of being patient," said Gase, per Biggs. "He did a really good job of going through his progressions and when No. 1 was there, taking No. 1, not getting greedy and trying to go for the home run with, 'Well, if I skip 1 and take 2, maybe I will get a bigger play.' Instead, he said, 'I'll just keep taking the profit.'"
Cutler has the tendency to frustrate fans with his ill-timed interceptions, but he has shown progress this season. McPhee and Forte could both be viewed as the team's most valuable player, but there is no denying how important Cutler is to this team. Without Cutler in the lineup, the Bears would have struggled to get to two wins this season.
Statistical information courtesy of NFL.com unless otherwise noted.
Matt Eurich is a Chicago Bears featured columnist for Bleacher Report and a member of the Pro Football Writers of America.
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