Chicago Bears 2011 Report Card: Grade for Every Starter This Season

Today we look back on the 2011 season and judge our Beloved Bears. We'll hand out grades and give some insight into why those players graded where they did.

Seven Chicago Bears were announced as members of the 2011 Pro Bowl roster today, but the big question is "Did they deserve it?" In fact, did anyone on the Bears team grade out and deserve a Pro Bowl nod?  

First, play has been anything but consistent from most of the team. Week-to-week performances have been so up and down that it's hard to get a bead on exactly where some of the problems sit, as well as where praise actually belongs for the successes of this team, in some cases.

Secondly, does a team that will not finish with a winning record really deserve to send seven players to the Pro Bowl? Football is a team sport, and while individual effort might be great, if the team loses, how much did those efforts help the team?

So I'll try to sift through the rubble of the season and give you my take on a position-by-position basis, looking at each player who started at that position this season.

Quarterback

Jay Cutler: From sending Mike Martz "F*** him!" messages to helping his replacements settle down, Cutler has done it his way all season. And his way worked to the tune of a 7-3 record through the toughest part of the Bears schedule before he fell making a defensive play. The Bears have not had a quarterback of this caliber since Jim McMahon was healthy and young. He made some mistakes along the way, but the Bears were one of the best teams in the league with him and have lost five straight games without him. Grade: A-

Caleb Hanie: In January, many wanted Hanie to be given an opportunity to start. Such is the life of the Chicago Bears backup quarterback. Turns out that Caleb wasn't very good, as we watched him throw nine interceptions to just three touchdowns as he marched the Bears right down the drain. Grade: F

Josh McCown: The next in a long line of backups everyone loves. Just as Hanie was loved after he threw two interceptions in a loss to the Packers that ended the season, so is McCown after he threw two interceptions in a loss to the Packers that also ended the season. McCown is better than Hanie, but only slightly. Still, if he had been at the helm after Cutler fell the Bears might have......awww, forget it. Grade: D-

Running Backs

Matt Forte: Ah, our first Pro Bowler. Did Forte deserve the nod? Damned right he did. Forte is the best running back Chicago has seen since Walter Payton, and fans need to understand that a player doesn't have to be the same type of rusher as "Sweetness" to be a great back. Before he fell to injury, Forte was a legitimate part of the MVP discussion. Grade: A+

Marion Barber: Yes, Barber made a couple of mistakes. Yes, Barber is a bit injury prone. And yes, Barber is a good back anyway. Barber is the answer to the one flaw Forte has: short yardage. Is he going to suffer injuries? Of course. His viscous running style opens him up to that possibility. But he is well worth it on 3rd-and-1. Grade: B

Kahlil Bell: Honestly, Bell surprised me with his growth and progress. While I'm not ready to crown him a legitimate NFL back after one great performance as a starter, he earned a lot of respect. Grade: B

Fullback

Tyler Clutts: I wonder. When the Bears grabbed Clutts up at the start of the season, did they realize he would be as important to the success of the Bears running game as he was, or did they just luck into this kid? Clutts has been a blocking stud in an era when blocking fullbacks are all but extinct. Even a blind squirrel.....Grade: B+

Wide Receiver

Roy Williams: He was supposed to know the Martz offense and be an immediate upgrade. Instead, he didn't know Jay Cutler and took a long time to adjust. At times, he's been clutch, and at other times, he's looked just in time to see that "brown thing coming at" him before dropping it into a waiting defenders hands in the end zone. He's been far too inconsistent. Grade: D

Johnny Knox: Coming off a 2010 season that should have gotten him sent to the special teams unit in spite of his yardage, Johnny grew a lot this year and proved that he can be a solid No. 2 receiver. Get well soon, Johnny. Grade: B

Devin Hester: Injury and inconsistency marred the third straight year that Devin was supposed to take that next step. Can we see if he can still be a good corner, or do we have to keep pretending that Devin will be the receiver he never wanted to be? Grade: F

Dane Sanzenbacher: Sanzenbacher is a fan favorite for whatever reason, but for all the talk of Roy Williams and his drops, this young receiver who reportedly never dropped a pass in training camp leads the team in drops.  Still, he showed some promise and might deserve another look next season. Grade: D+

Earl Bennett: Bennett is an enigma wrapped in a football wrapped in orange shoes. No, it's really pretty simple, actually. When he's left in the slot to perform, he does wonderfully. When the Bears try to make him an outside receiver, he is exposed. Let's hiope the Bears figure it out. Grade: C

Tight End

Kellen Davis: Another surprise. Five weeks ago, I would have graded Davis a D. Since that point, he has rattled of a couple of really good games both as a blocker and an end zone target. Maybe he does belong after all. Grade: C+

Left Tackle

J'Marcus Webb:  After allowing six sacks in the first seven games of 2011, Webb has allowed just two in the last eight games. Some of this is due to an increase in help on the outside, but some is due to development by Webb as well. It should also be noted that the Bears run for more yards behind Webb than at any other point on the line. Grade: B-

Left Guard

Chris Williams: Williams was having a breakout year before suffering the same injury that kept Brian Urlacher out the entire 2009 season. His move to left guard seems to have been great for both him, and the Bears and Williams allowed only one sack in nine games. Grade: A

Edwin Williams: When one Williams goes down, the Bears have a backup Williams. And this one was pretty impressive himself. In fact, he hasn't allowed a sack in his seven games at left guard. Pretty solid. The Bears may have found their guard tandem once Spencer takes over the center position. A new Williams Wall in the making. Grade: B

Center

Roberto Garza: As Cris Collinsworth so astutely pointed out, Garza is exceptional at pulling to the outside. Now, if he could just block the center position that well, he'd get an A. Unfortunately, he hasn't. In fact, he forces the Bears to give him help way to often. He is a fantastic signal caller and gets very few penalties, though. Grade: C 

Right Guard

Lance Louis: Louis is a scapegoat at tackle, but it should be remembered that he is playing out of position and that he started out as the Bears right guard, where he allowed no sacks and did a fine job run-blocking. Grade: B

Chris Spencer: Spencer is also playing out of position, though not so heavily as Louis. But he's done well in the spot while he waits for the Bears to send Garza to the pasture. How well? He hasn't allowed a sack all season. But his run-blocking could definitely use some work. Grade: C+

Right Tackle

Gabe Carimi: The young tackle started out well, and while he did allow one sack in his first two games, he was regularly attacked because of his youth. Also, his run blocking was some of the best the Bears have seen since Roberto Garza was young. Grade: A-

Frank Omiyale: Gate 68. I shouldn't have to say any more than this. Why the Bears continue to play this poor man out of position and make him look absolutely worthless is beyond me. In his three starts, he allowed four sacks. Oh, but he happens to be the best run-blocker on the team. It's the only reason he doesn't get an F (though it should go to the coaching staff for misusing this true guard so often). Grade: D-

Lance Louis: Another example of misplaced talent. Why the Bears refuse to carry extra tackles on the roster is beyond me, but Louis has been abused at tackle. The seven sacks he's given up in nine starts is evidence of that. Grade: F

Right Defensive End

Julius Peppers: This man is simply the best defensive end in the game. I thought so when he was a Panther, and I believe it even more today. He is exceptional at every aspect of his game, from pass rush to run defense to dropping into coverage in zone. Without Peppers, this whole line fails. Period. Grade: A+

3-Tech Defensive Tackle

Henry Melton: Melton is the most underrated player on the Bears team. He has given the Bears the replacement they needed for Tommie Harris without having to dump a first-round pick into the position. While there are a few players who made the Pro Bowl that probably shouldn't have, Melton and his seven sacks are really the only missed player from the Pro Bowl roster. He'll get there eventually if he keeps playing like this. Grade: A

Amobi Okoye: In his one game replacing Melton, he proven why Melton is so valuable. The Bears whole line struggled that day. Okoye has been solid from the nose tackle spot and has done well in relief of Melton, but he isn't suited to start there. Grade: D

Nose Tackle

Matt Toeaina: It's been nice watching "Big Toe" reach his potential this season, and while he hasn't been as effective as Anthony Adams was last year, he has still been a decent starter at the spot. Grade: C

Anthony Adams: Age seems to be finally catching up to Spice Adams. But while he may not have much of a pass rush left in him, he's still the best run defender on that line without a doubt. In fact, you could argue that Adams is still among the best run defending tackles in the league. Grade: C

Amobi Okoye: The photo negative of Adams, Okoye is horrid as a run-stopper, but is the Best pass-rusher at the position. Grade: C

Left Defensive End

Israel Idonije: I hate to say this about Izzy, but the Bears have no business renewing his contract. Even with Peppers drawing constant attention on the other side of the ball, Izzy gets half of the pressure and a third of the sacks. It's unacceptable.  

Why do I hate to say it? Because Idonije is a fantastic person, and I've personally seen how his charity work affects people. By all accounts, he is just a wonderful human being.  

But football is a business, and while he defends the run well most of the time, his pass rush is hurting the Bears defense. Somebody has to take advantage of the double teams Peppers draws, and Idonije is failing at that task. Grade: D-

Strong Side Linebacker

Nick Roach: Another player who's done a lot fo developing this year is Roach. He still needs some work, and his mistakes in coverage have forced the Bears to rely on their nickle package more than they would like.  

But Roach is coming along, especially in pursuit, but maybe most importantly in his patience in staying with his assignment on the back side of some runs. He's prevented a few big plays by staying where he was supposed to be on the back side when rushers have bounced outside. Grade: C-

Middle Linebacker

Brain Urlacher: Another fine season for Urlacher, though he seemed to slow down towards the end of the season. Was this just his disappointment in the collapse of the Bears, or is age finally starting to catch up to the Bears franchise face? Grade: A-

Weak Side Linebacker

Lance Briggs: Here, we have one player I felt didn't earn his Pro Bowl berth. In fact, Briggs had his worst season this year. While he did lead the team in tackles, he's done very little as far as turnovers go, and we all know how important that is to this defense. He also leads the team in missed tackles and his coverage skills have been horrid, allowing his targets to catch 81.9 percent of there passes, including four touchdowns and allowing a 102 quarterback rating when his man is the target. Grade: C-

Right Corner

Charles Tillman: This Bear has been kept out of the Pro Bowl far too long due to scheme. No more! Tillman has his first nod. And it was earned. He's the best corner in the league in run defense and among the best press corner, as well. And he is one of the best fumble forces to ever play the game. Peanut has consistently held Calvin Johnson in check. What more do you need to know? Grade: A-

Left Corner

Tim Jennings: The benching of Jennings for Bowman should be a point of shame for Lovie Smith. Jennings is one of only 10 corners in the league who has allowed one or fewer touchdowns this season. He has the best quarterback rating allowed in the secondary and has been one of the few consistent players on the defense. Grade: B

Zach Bowman: Zach Bowman allowed three touchdowns in his one start. That says it all. Grade: F

Nickle

D.J. Moore: You don't usually consider a nickle a starter, but Moore has done just that.  He's been a solid defender in coverage, and his three interceptions and one defensive touchdown have helped this team win ballgames. He needs to work on his tackling and his run defense, though. Grade: C+

Free Safety

Major Wright: Wright was just horrible when he manned the free safety spot. In fact, I wouldn't have been opposed to the Bears cutting him midway through the season. He was that bad. Grade: F

Chris Conte: The third-round pick everyone hated but Angelo scouted personally, Conte took over the free safety spot and held it until he was injured. While he definitely looked raw and needs some serious fundamental work—leaving your feet for a tackle is bad, Chris—he showed a ton of promise, and his athleticism made up for his fundamental shortcomings quite often. Grade: C+

Brandon Meriweather: This guy went to the Pro Bowl last year? Wow. Grade: F

Strong Safety

Chris Harris: Tweeted himself out of favor over locker room and contract issues and then gave the Bears a couple of stinker games to justify jettisoning the 2010 second-team All-Pro safety. Grade: F

Brandon Meriweather: See his profile under free safety. No different here. Grade: F

Major Wright: As bad as he was a a free safety, Wright totally redeemed himself when the Bears moved him to the strong safety side. Wright has been almost an extra linebacker in the box and has performed well there. He seems to have a chemistry with Chris Conte when they cover deep together. Grade: B

Craig Steltz: Every year, there's that guy that everyone wants to see cut. Steltz is that guy. Yet, when Wright fell to a shoulder injury, Steltz took a break from being a fantastic special-teamer to help the Bears by being a fantastic strong safety. What he lacks in athleticism, he makes up for in football IQ. The guy has been money.  Grade: A-

There you have it, ladies and gentlemen. Your 2011 Chicago Bears starters and their report card grades. Step up to the soapbox below and let your voice be heard.