2008 Chicago Bears: Trying to Find Hope in What Looks Like a Dismal Season

The Bears now have two preseason games under their belt and, we are seeing the makings of a long, painful year. 

The starting offense has looked horrendous, to say the least.  With the coaches having an open competition at almost all the skill positions in training camp, it looks like they forgot to find NFL caliber players to block up front.  This fact will make the skill positions null and void. 

Whoever wins the QB competition will win the right to get pummelled on a weekly basis.  And whoever starts at receiver will spend their Sundays running routes, just to look back for the ball and see what pretzel position the QB will be in.  And Matt Forte will be welcomed to the NFL by getting stuffed at the line, or as soon as he gets the hand-off. 

Yes, it looks that bleak right now, but I am trying to find some shred of hope that the Bears can turn it around in the next two weeks and give fans a reason to hope for a good season.  Here's what needs to happen...

Seattle exposed the O-line last Saturday, but they did blitz an awful lot for a preseason game.  They had the fourth most sacks in the NFL last year.  They were also facing Rex Grossman, and every defense in the league knows that if you pressure Rex, he will turn the ball over.  It's such a given it's like a mathematical equation.  1 + 1 = 2.  Blitz Rex = Turnover. 

Now in his limited time, Kyle Orton has shown the ability to avoid pressure by moving in the pocket and getting rid of the ball quickly.  IF he can continue to make his hot reads when the defense blitzes and get rid of the ball, it will force the D to blitz less.  The offensive line will then be able to block the D-line one and one, giving the Bears a better chance to complete a pass. 

Of course the TE and RB will have to help out in pass protection, but the Bears would actually have time to throw the ball.  Orton will have to win the job for this to happen, and at this time, it looks like he will.

The O-line will also have to go back to practice and re-dedicate themselves to run blocking.  This will just take old-fashioned hard work.  If they can improve themselves to be an AVERAGE unit, the running game should be OK.  Forte has shown the ability to be a very good back, and Garrett Wolfe has shown play-making ability when given space to run.  Add Kevin Jones and the "other" Adrien Peterson to the mix and that's a solid group of running backs. 

The Defense and Special Teams have shown that they can score.  The D is back to being an opportunistic unit that creates turnovers.  The ST looks like it is the best in the league.  They are both capable of scoring points.  

All the Offense needs to do is put drives together, give the Defense time to stay fresh, score a TD or two, and let Robbie Gould put his golden leg to use kicking field goals.   This formula has been the Bears' recipe for success since what seems like forever, and it can work again this year. 

With an average Offense the Bears can be back in the playoff hunt.

There are many IF's for this to be successful.  At this point in the preseason, good teams are fine tuning their offense and scoring points quickly, then getting off the field.  The Bears are struggling and showing they are not yet ready for prime-time. 

It is looking very dismal for this offense, but there might be a small shred of hope that the Bears can do what's necessary to improve their offensive line and move the ball this year. 

Orton needs to win the job and get rid of the ball quickly.  The running game has to step up.  Otherwise it's going to be a long year of swearing at the TV and feeling sick watching this team bumble away another season.

Go Bears.