Come To Think Of It...Chicago Bears Are In Hibernation

The Bears have lost their growl.

Once dubbed the Monsters of the Midway, the Chicago Bears are a shell of their former selves. Once identified by cigar chomping tough guy Iron Mike Dtka, and a Super bowl participant as recently as 2006-07, this team now finds itlself struggling to find an identity as the 2008-09 season approaches.

Coach Lovie Smith and GM Jerry Angelo insist they are a running team first and foremost. Yet by most accounts, their highly-touted No. 1 draft pick Cedric Benson is a bust. He doesn't seem to run hard and can't stay healthy. Last offseason they traded the more productive Thomas Jones because the two of them couldn't co-exist peacefully and because they wanted Benson to earn his higher salary. (That, by the way, is a real problem in the NFL - here's a guy in Jones who has rushed for 1,000 yards in a season multiple times yet makes less money than a guy like Benson who has done nothing). There was also the issue of protecting Angelo's draft legacy by proving he made a good choice in Benson. Well, that strategy has certainly backfired thus far.

The team's offensive line seemed to get real old real quickly last season. And unless they target that need in the draft, they have done nothing to improve this area.

And with a starting QB like Rex Grossman, a strong running game is essential. For when 'bad' Rex shows up, as he does more often than not, watch out, as he can be historically bad. Having traded Brian Griese, there is said to be an open competition between Kyle Orton and Rex this summer.  But don't believe that. As new WR Brandon Lloyd misstated, "Rex Grossman is the starter." Oops, say the Bears, that's not what we said. But no matter whom you choose to believe, it's clear the coaching staff continue to prefer Grossman warts and all, over Orton.

And even if they had a decent QB, (this by the way is another thing—why the heck can't the Bears ever draft and develop a franchise QB?), their already thin receiver corps took a hit with the loss of Muhsin Muhammid and Bernard Berrian this offseason. While they reloaded with Marty Booker and Lloyd, neither of those guys are even true No. 2 receivers at this point. Devin Hester can't seem to pick up the offense, so he will only be good for fly patterns, where, with his speed, he may catch a few long ones, but it is doubtful he will catch enough balls to have an impact. And their other speed guy, Mark Bradley can't stay healthy.

So that leaves the defense as the only thing standing in the way of the Bears being the 2008-09 version of the Miami Dolphins. But even there, they have lost their ferocious bite. Brian Urlacher is coming off a bad season, and has neck and back troubles. And while they surprised by re-signing Lance Briggs, this is not the attack style of defense that they enjoyed under Ron Rivera and especially under Buddy Ryan. The current coaching staff, basically inexperienced, mostly collegiate parts assembled on the fly, isn't going to give them that edge. But they kiss the backside of Coach Lovie, so he's down  with that  Personally, I'd back up the track and dump them all and start over.  How about Mike Singletary as the next coach of Da Bears? Bring back Ron Rivera? Coach Ditka? Dig up Papa Bear Halas, for crying out loud!

So, are the Bears that three yards and cloud of dust, grind it out, in your fact offense? Hardly. Are they a high flying Don Coryell, quick strike offense? Don't think so. Well, then, are they at least a feared group of grizzly bears ready to chomp down on the opponent's throat, reeking havoc at every turn? Not quite, they bend but don't break too often, which is hardly a rallying cry.

So just what is Da Bears identity? The answer, of course, is they don't have one, unless you count hibernation as a slogan. I can see it now: Da Bears will Hibernate in '08.  But sssh, they're sleeping right now, be careful not to wake them. They get grouchy when they haven't had their rest.