Scrutinized Bears Receiving Core An Upgrade For Cutler

Earl Bennett. Devin Aromashadu. Juaquin Iglesias. Brandon Rideau. Johnny Knox. Rashied Davis.  Ring any bells?  If not, no one is going to blame you.  No, I'm not revealing the next popular boy band.  Nor am I trying to share with you a list of some of the coolest or most unusual names I've heard.  Instead, these men comprise what will likely be the Chicago Bears receiving core in Week 1, of course excluding the ever-recognizable Devin Hester.

While even some sports buffs may not know much about this group, Jay Cutler is well aware of what they bring to the table.  And by my account, Cutler will be better off this season throwing to these relative unknowns then if he were still in a Denver uniform.  There are a number of reasons behind my theory, I'll start with the positives I see in Cutler's new group of targets in Chicago:

• Work Ethic- Besides Hester, there is very little NFL regular season experience within the receiving core.  Some may think that's a negative, but I see it the other way.  Since everyone has to prove themselves, having a big ego isn't an option.  So far, each of these receivers haven't take a single thing for granted, working hard in the film room to learn the offense and get an edge on the competition in camp.  Most of these receivers are on the same level, so where there is competition, there is passion and plenty of hard work.  For Hester, he continues to work hard as well in an effort to improve his mechanics and route-running at the wide receiver position.   

• Speed Kills- The Bears possess a great degree of quickness at the receiver position, a luxury some teams don't get to experience.  Hester is the headliner, but Bennett, Knox, Iglesias, and Aromashadu can really turn it on, giving Cutler several deep threats.  

• Tight End Play- Cutler had a big target in Tony Scheffler last year, but with the Bears, he has two in Greg Olsen and Desmond Clark.  Olsen figures to be a huge part of the offense and brings more versatility than Scheffler.  Clark, an excellent blocker, provides another big target with very reliable hands.  Cutler won't shy away from throwing to these two trusty tight ends.  

• Vanderbilt Connection- Earl Bennett struggled to even see the field last season, slowly learning the Bears offense.  But this season, he has the offense down and is reunited with his college quarterback.  Cutler hooked up with Bennett 79 times for 9 TDs during the receiver's freshman year.  There is a very noticeable connection between these two players making them a potentially deadly duo. 

• Matt Forte- Forte proved to be one of the best receiving running backs in his rookie season last year.  Forte accumulated 63 catches for over 475 yards, and caught 4 TDs.  So he should provide a valuable check-down option for Cutler.  Not to mention the fact that his running ability will definitely open up the passing game for Cutler.  Look for play-action passes to be key for Chicago.

The positive options for Cutler in Chicago are certainly part of the equation, but so are the shortcomings in Denver this year.  There are a few reasons why Cutler may have left the Broncos at the right time.  Here's why:

• Brandon Marshall- Marshall's trials and tribulations over the course of his young career seemed to have manifested themselves this past offseason, and even in the last few days.  When the Bears faced off against the Broncos last night, Marshall wasn't available because of a suspension that will keep him out for the rest of the preseason.  Who knows how much longer his antics will go on, leaving Denver with a clown, rather than a big-time player at receiver.  

• Lack of a running game- Knowshon Moreno is about as promising of a young player as you can have, but he's already experienced the injury bug that has plagued Denver running backs for the last several seasons.  Moreno, once healthy, still has a lot to learn, so who knows how much he or any of the other backs would have helped Cutler.  I think Cutler is probably happy that the images of running backs being helped off the field are in the rearview mirror.

It may not be a popular theory, but there are a number of reasons why Jay Cutler should be happy with who he gets to throw to in Chicago.  The Bears' receivers may not have the NFL stamp of approval yet, they may not get stopped on the street nearly as much as Eddie Royal or Brandon Marshall, but they have a tremendous amount of motivation and the necessary skill sets to succeed alongside a big-time talent like Cutler.

So while the media may continue to criticize the Bears' "inability" to surround Cutler with well-known talent, the former Bronco Pro-Bowler knows that he's in a position to surprise a lot of people with several viable receiving options at his disposal.