Where Did the Chicago Bears Go Wrong?

The team who "comes off the bus running" has a really big problem: the driver is crashing, getting into accidents, and leaving the scene of a crime.

That driver, of course, is Jerry Angelo. The Bears' GM has done a magnificent job of building up the once-proud franchise, having its best years in '05 and '06 with back-to-back NFC titles.

However, the last three years have been filled with turmoil...and could cost Angelo his job this off-season. What has happened so badly?

We're about to find out where everything went wrong after the Bears' loss in the Super Bowl...

Trading Thomas Jones to the New York Jets

With the fourth pick in the 2005 NFL Draft, the Chicago Bears selected Cedric Benson, running back from the University of Texas. He was supposed to become the center of an offense.

He held out for a good chunk of his rookie season and never showed the promise of a top-5 pick. In addition, he was rubbed the wrong way by teammates and never showed a great work ethic.

Meanwhile, TJ rushed for 3,493 yards and 22 TDs in his 3 years with the team. Those are really good stats, especially when he was splitting them with Cedric for the last two.

He was wanting a new contract with Chicago, but the Bears weren't budging, saying they already had a franchise runner, despite the fact that Jones was a MUCH better fit in the offense, had a better grasp of the game, and was a great pass blocker.

The Bears ended up trading Jones to the New York Jets and swapped 2nd round picks. Since his trade, through 42 games--which Jones has played all of--he has rushed for 3,315 yards and 22 TDs, including a career-high 13 in 2008.

Firing the Wrong Coordinator

The 2006 season was one to remember in Chicago; it was the first time since the infamous '85 Bears won the Super Bowl that the Bears would be returning.

After a lackluster/disappointing showing, something needed to change, according to Jerry Angelo. No, it wasn't the play-calling of Ron Turner; it was that of Ron Rivera.

A former Bear, Rivera helped shape a defense that scared people and had swagger. After supposedly butting heads with Lovie, Rivera was released by the team following the 2006 season.

Since then, the defense has not played up to its ability. Bob Babich was relieved of his duties, but Lovie Smith hasn't done a good job and hasn't brought his once proud unit back to where it should be.

Handing Jobs To Unproven Players

After Benson got his wish, he didn't do a whole lot to impress Chicago as the feature back. He rushed for 674 yards and 4 TDs in 11 games before breaking his collarbone and being placed on IR.

After a pair of alcohol-related incidents, the Bears were forced to cut the former No. 4 overall pick. He was a bad influence on the team and, most importantly, himself.

Mark Anderson was a really good player at Alabama. He fell all the way to the 5th round of the draft in 2006 because many felt he was a one-trick pony--a primary pass-rusher.

He made a huge impact his rookie season, collecting a mind-boggling 12.5 sacks and 4 FF. This was so good that the coaches felt that Anderson should be moved to starting LE at the beginning of the 2007 season.

Turns out that the scouts were right and the Bears were wrong. Anderson was a below-average run stopper, he was decent at rushing the passer, collecting five sacks.

Today, Anderson is exactly what people thought: a pass-rush specialist, but has only collected 2.5 sacks the last two years.

The Middle of the 2007 Draft

When the Bears picked 31st overall in 2007, they had no idea that a pass-catching phenom would fall into their laps.

Greg Olsen was slotted in the teens, but, somehow, fell into Chicago's lap and gave them something they were lacking, a big-play TE to stretch the field. However, the next few picks were unbelievably questionable.

After trading back, the Bears gained another pick in the late second round, where they took Central Michigan DE Dan Bazuin.

Bazuin was a classic overachiever (limited physical gifts, but outstanding college production) against average competition. It baffled a lot of people because of the depth at DE.

Why would the Bears spend a 2nd round pick on (at best) a rotational DE? Players that the Bears passed on: Laurent Robinson, James Jones, Ryan Harris, Jay Alford, Aaron Rouse, Stewart Bradley

The Bears then decided to go after another reach in the 3rd round by selecting LB Michael Okwo of Stanford and RB Garrett Wolfe of Northern Illinois.

Okwo played the same position as star LB Lance Briggs, who was in a contract dispute at the time, and could have been his successor, but the Bears had young players like Jamar Williams and Nick Roach waiting in the wings.

Wolfe was very similar to Bazuin, and he was definitely smaller than your average running back.

He hasn't shown durability in his three years in the league, being placed on IR twice and proving he cannot stay healthy. Players that were passed up: Tanard Jackson, Manuel Rameriz

Josh Beekman was an All-American but wasn't physically ready to play in the NFL. He had his chance as a starter, but has struggled with bigger DT. Players that were passed up: Clint Session, Le'Ron McClain, Steve Breaston

Taking Devin Hester Off Kick Returns

The best thing a team can do is find every way to maximize the talents of its players.

Obviously, Devin Hester's best talent is his ability to change a game in the return game.

In his first two seasons, there was no one better in the league at returning kicks than Hester. He had 12 returns for scores.

In his last two years, he has not returned a punt return for a score and has been stripped of his kick return duties. He has scored just six TDs in the last two years.

Isn't this a problem, or am I the only one who has noticed it???

Trading Chris Harris to Carolina

The Carolina Panthers ripped off the Bears once already, when they let restricted free-agent Ricky Manning, Jr. sign with Chicago, who had to give up a 3rd-round pick in the 2006 draft for a 3rd-string CB.

Manning flopped in Chicago and was cut after just two seasons. The Panthers figured they could use Harris, so they offered the Bears a fifth round draft pick in 2008 for him.

Harris racked up 96 tackles and an interception for Carolina in his first year there and was rewarded with a contract extension. Meanwhile, Danieal Manning and Adam Archuleta, who the Bears acquired for a low draft pick, made up one of the worst safety tandems in the league, with their lack of tackling skills and inability to put their bodies in the right place at the right time. So, who did the Bears get with that pick?

Zachary Bowman, CB from Nebraska. He has been starting this season, but hasn't nearly made the impact that Harris has on Carolina, and the Bears are still looking for a quality safety or two.

Not Slapping The Franchise Tag On Bernard Berrian

I was never a really big Bernard Berrian fan when he played for Bears, even though he lead the team in receptions in 2007 with 71 catches, 20 more than next place Adrian Peterson--no, not that one...

After the 2007 season, Berrian was an unrestricted free-agent and declined an offer from the Bears, who "lowballed" him. Instead, he decided to sign with division rival Minnesota for 6 yr/$42 million.

At the very least, the Bears could have slapped the tag on him, worked out a deal, or trade him. That's what the franchise tag is for, and the Bears chose to neglect it.

Not Finding A Tall, Physical Receiver

At 6'2", 215 pounds, Mushin Muhammad has solid size. However, the Bears could have always used another tall receiver to take some pressure off Moose and give the Bears a player who can go over the middle.

They chose to go with smaller receivers Rasheid Davis, Devin Hester, and Earl Bennett. The only tall receiver who showed any sort of success early on--Devin Aromashodu--was cut. Why? Who knows...

No Offensive Line Development

Olin Kreutz is one of the most decorated Centers in the NFL. Who's his backup, and what do they plan to do if he gets hurt? The Bears have been neglecting the offensive line depth for years, and it's catching up to them right now.

Chris Williams missed his whole rookie season with a back problem that the Bears knew about when they drafted him, and has been decent so far this season.

Roberto Garza has been solid, but how much does he have left in the tank? The same can be said with Olin.

The left side of the offensive line has been the biggest question mark. Before the draft, it was supposed to be the strength with the additions of Frank Omiyale and Orlando Pace.

It has been the biggest bust of the season and no one is sure where to turn for the future.