The Chicago Bears Have Work to Do

The Chicago Bears are a talented team. But they need some work.

Lance Briggs' re-signing was a big move that should help out the team in a major way, but there is still more improvements to be made before the Bears get back to their Super-Bowl caliber of two seasons ago.

Work is most needed at the safety spot, where the Bears lack depth.

If Mike Brown can stay healthy, then there will be no questions at that position. But his track record of staying healthy is not good; he has been injured the last few years.

The other position that needs improvement is running back.

Cedric Benson turned out to be a bust as a draft pick. The Bears need to make a trade for a running back, but the options out there are slim.

When free agency started, Julius Jones of the Dallas Cowboys was very interested in joining the Bears. But the Bears did not make a play, so Jones went to Seattle.

The Bears can not rely on the draft or their current backs to take charge and make something happen. They need to make a trade for an established back soon.

And for their new back to be successful, the Bears need to rebuild the offensive line. Their current line is old and beat, and needs fresh bodies to reujvenate it.

After the Bears went to the Superbowl in 2007, there was high hopes for the line. But in 2008, that proved not to be the case.

The offensive line needs to improve if Chicago wants a stable quarterback in the pocket. It does not matter if your quarterback is Peyton Manning or Tom Brady, he still needs a strong line to survive.

Surprisingly, the quarterback position is shaping up well with versatile Rex Grossman at the helm.

Many think he is a bust, but his problem thus far has been lack of time. He cannot see what his options are, and no one should have expected him to perform without the ability to know what was going one. The best quarterbacks in the league have lots of time to locate their options.

That comes back to the offensive line. Either Grossman or Orton would perform much better if they got protection.

If the Bears start small and build up with good picks and a few more free agency signings, they will be in good position to make some noise again.