Bears Training Camp Questions

With training camp starting this week, the Bears coaching staff have some questions to answer.

Receiving Corp: I list this first because I’m tired of people talking about it. Every time analysts talk about the Bears, they bring up the lack of receivers. Not taking into account that Bears already have a franchise back in Matt Forte, a match up nightmare in Greg Olsen, and a game changer in Devin Hester.

While I admit after Hester and Olsen Jay Cutler doesn’t really have much to throw to the rushing game should alleviate some of the pressure on the passing game.

O-Line: The addition of three free agents looks good on paper getting them to gel and work as an effective unit is something we won’t find out until week 1 of the regular season. There’s a lot of talent on the offensive line, both old and young, to protect Cutler and open holes for Forte.

If it were up to me, I would’ve had all the offensive lineman report to training camp a week early just so they can get started working together.

D-Line: The biggest disappointment from a year ago is the defensive line. I have to believe unless your name is Tommie Harris your job is on the line this season. There are a lot of talented players, but they simply didn’t produce last year. The Bears were anemic at getting to the quarterback last year, and if they want to make a run at the division title, they can’t let opposing passers sit in the pocket.

In the tough losses last season, the biggest cause was not being able to pressure the quarterback. At least three close games could have been won last year if the Bears got a sack at a key moment. Rod Marinelli has his work cut out for him when he attempts to light a fire under some of the veteran defensive lineman the Bears have in camp.

Rookies: I don’t expect the Bears draft picks to make an impact this season. The reason for that is none of them are being asked from the start of training camp to be they guy to start Week 1 (Unlike Matt Forte, Greg Olsen and Tommie Harris). I think Jarron Gilbert has tremendous upside if he can be disciplined and learn to play his position at the pro level, but none of the other draft picks strike me as players the Bears will use or even be forced to use this season.

So the emphasis will be on getting them ready for next season which relies solely on the position coaches. I think if these young players, especially the receivers Iglesias and Knox, work hard and don’t feel the pressure of the NFL right away, they’ll be much better off next season.

Safeties: The loss of Mike Brown hurts the entire defense for there isn’t someone back there to help call the plays. The Bears DB’s got butchered last season, but it wasn’t entirely their fault. The lack of a pass rush didn’t help matters.

The current roster seems filled with specialty players not 4-down defenders. Steltz, McGowan (EDIT McGowan is no longer on the Bears, my mistake), Manning, and Payne all have certain things they’re good at but not one of them is the total package. Working on defensive schemes will be paramount this training camp to shore up some of those holes.  

Though all these positions are key, I think the person with the most pressure on them this season is Head Coach Lovie Smith. Since taking his team to the Super Bowl, he’s experienced a serious lack of effort from key members of his team. The Bears have big money players who haven’t been playing that way and I don’t know how any coach can listen to his players constantly say “we can play better.”

Not playing better this season could start the talk of Lovie being replaced.