Chicago Bears: 9 Things Experts Got Right & Wrong About This Team

After a shortened camp and preseason and two actual games, we are starting to learn more about the Chicago Bears. What we've learned is that, in the immortal words of Dennis Green, "They are who we thought they were!"

Or are they?

Is the offensive line as bad as it looked in New Orleans, or is what we saw against Atlanta more accurate?

Meanwhile, is the pass rush as explosive as it looked versus the Falcons, or as impotent as they were against the Saints?

Naturally, as Bears fans, it's always fun to compare what we think we know with what the so-called "experts" predicted for this team.

The Bears were not picked to be a playoff contender by many prognosticators. They were widely thought to be lucky last season and not given much credit.

But I'm here to debunk that myth. Yet not totally, as the experts appears to be right on target with some of their concerns. It's early, but this is based on what we have seen so far.

Join me in my pursuit of the truth, giving those experts the what-for they deserve and a couple of kudos.  

Lucky Bears: RIGHT (and Wrong)

This one is a right and a wrong.

Right in the sense that the Bears were very healthy last season, but wrong to say that it was only "luck" that made this team as good as they were in 2010.

Yes, the Bears had some good fortune last season, but what winning team does not get at least a little bit of the old horseshoe up the you-know-what?

While it's true that the Bears were relatively very healthy last season, it wasn't all luck that led them to an 11-5 record and trip to the NFC Championship game.

No, it was a combination of talent and an ability to adjust in midseason that helped them more than just plain old dumb luck.

So far this season, the health of the team is taking a bigger hit than in 2010. But they have some depth to help deal with those injuries.

The place where that depth is very questionable, however, is on the offensive line, and unfortunately, that is the area that just happens to have experienced two key injuries (Lance Louis and Gabe Carimi).

But to consider the entire Bears' success to be luck was debunked by the fact that they beat a good Atlanta team handily in the opener. True, they looked awful against the Saints, but you will see a much better effort versus Green Bay.

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Jay Cutler Is the Next Jeff George: WRONG

Jay Cutler may be a lot of things, but Jeff George he is not. The only comparison to George is the strong arm. Other than that, I do not see Cutler's career paralleling the Illinois product at all.

Yes, they both have or had great expectations and could not fulfill them. But Cutler has had some good seasons plus he is only 27-years old, so there is plenty of time for him to get it right.

But you hear this all the time from the so-called "experts" and even fans who hate Cutler–He is such a polarizing figure.

The truth is, Cutler is not an elite QB, but he is a good QB given the right players around him. He has elite talent, however, and can take a team to the Super Bowl. But he's not Jeff George.

Cutler played very well in the opener but did not stand a chance against the Saints. I expect a better game this weekend, but only if the line blocks for him.

He occasionally holds the ball too long, but no QB in history can do well without protection.

Jay Cutler Quit on the Team in the NFC Championship: WRONG

To question Cutler's toughness is stupid. The man was sacked 52 times during the regular season, yet only missed one game and that was due to a concussion.

Admittedly, the Bears handled the whole injury situation poorly by not announcing that he would not return.

Plus, Cutler didn't help himself by not looking injured on the sidelines. But that is just the way he is, he does not care what you think.

Actually, I suspect he does, but at least outwardly, he has no desire to hide frustrations or to let you into his world.

But Cutler was hurt. He had a Grade 2 sprain and that is a slight tear, my friends. And he tried to go back out there.

Look, I understand current and former players saying that they would have played no matter what. But that only hurts the team, first of all, and second, only Cutler can know what kind of pain and instability issues he was dealing with.

Cutler didn't quit. Shame on those who think he did.

The Offensive Line Is a Concern: RIGHT

Yes, that offensive line is still a sticky issue even after going through an offseason of improvement. Well, so-called improvement anyway.

They let Olin Kreutz go, but he was likely just about done anyway. They did lose some leadership and continuity, however.

But the real crime is that they did not get anyone good to replace him. Roberto Garza is doing alright, but he was moved from guard to make this happen and that weakens another position.

Meanwhile, in preseason it appeared the line was going to be much better. But they lost Lance Louis and now they are without Gabe Carimi.

Against the Falcons, they looked good. Against the Saints, they were awful. The one constant is that J'Marcus Webb has not been good at either game.

They simply have to protect Cutler's blind side better, or this is going to be a long-season.

That, and more balanced play-calling, is desperately needed. 

Bears Lack a No. 1 Wide Receiver: RIGHT

The problem with this offense is blocking, first and foremost. But even when the blocking is decent, Cutler lacks a true No. 1 receiver to throw to.

Johnny Knox is fast, but he still doesn't know how to play the position. But he will be a solid No. 2 in time.

Devin Hester is simply a return man trying to play a position he has no business doing. Oh sure, once in awhile, but as a featured wideout? No way.

Roy Williams gives Cutler that big target he needs. But can he stay healthy and motivated? Even then, he's not a No. 1 WR.

Meanwhile, Earl Bennett is probably their best receiver, but he's hurt and not a game-changer. 

And Dane Sanzenbacher? He's an undrafted rookie for a reason. He is fine, but only with a good cast surrounding him.

When Cutler had Brandon Marshall in Denver, we saw what he could do. Sure, he was far from perfect, but at least he had that guy he could depend on when things got tough.

Last year, his "go-to" guy was his buddy Greg Olsen, but he's gone. He needs someone who he can count on every play, and that guy is not on the roster.  

Bears Defense Is Too Old: WRONG

Sure, the core of the Bears defense is 30 years old or more. And that is getting pretty long-in-the-tooth in terms of football age.

But come on, these are premiere athletes we are talking about here in Brian Urlacher, Julius Peppers and Lance Briggs. Plus, they all played well last season and in the first game this year, except for Briggs who was strangely invisible.

Look, this defense is still good, and the Bears have taken steps to ensure it's not all old guys they run out there.

Major Wright is young, as are most of the players in the secondary. They kept an undrafted rookie like Dom DeCicco with the future in mind.

Do they need to start considering a replacement for Urlacher through the draft? Yes, but there is certainly no need to panic.

The core is aging, but they have at least one more solid season left in them, so the experts saying this defense is too old to win this year are just plain wrong.  

The Lions Will Overtake the Bears: WRONG

The Lions are an up-and-coming team to be sure. And they will win their fair share of games this season. But to say that they will be the main reason the Bears fail to make the playoffs is wrong.

Sure, the Lions have looked good, and that front four is fearsome. And yes, if Matthew Stafford can stay healthy this is a team that will challenge in the division this year.

But they are just not quite ready to overtake the Bears, in my opinion.

Anyway, if the Bears fail to make the playoffs, it is more likely due to the Packers being so good and the Bears being overtaken for the wild card by improved teams such as Philadelphia.

The Bears Will Miss Olin Kreutz: RIGHT

This is not so much because I feel that Kreutz is still a difference maker–as he is not.

Yes, he looked good versus the Bears last Sunday, but he's getting old. And no, it's not even the whole leadership angle. That stuff is overrated in my opinion.

But the main reason I think the Bears miss Kreutz is that it made the Bears thin on a line that already was questionable.

The Bears wouldn't miss Kreutz as much if Jerry Angelo had gone out and signed a real center. Instead, he brought in a useful player in Chris Spencer, but not someone who was ready to play the center position as a starter.

Instead, they were forced to move Roberto Garza to center, and while he has played well, that weakens the guard position and the depth.

In the end, the experts were right but maybe for the wrong reasons. Yes, the Bears miss Kreutz, but for other reasons than the fact that he is still an elite starting center in the NFL.  

They Will Also Miss Greg Olsen: WRONG

In some ways, I'm sure Cutler would like to have his old buddy and his size to bail him out in tight situations.

But to say that any of the troubles the Bears have had so far, is in any way related to the departure of Olsen is asinine.

In fact, if Roy Williams was healthy, he essentially takes Olsen's place.

Look, I have nothing against the former Bears tight end, but he had alligator arms. They do not miss him that much.