Chicago Bears: Ranking the Strongest Areas of the Bears Roster

The Bears' preseason is at an end.  All that's left are the cuts and the crying before the Bears face Atlanta on their September 11th season opener.

And now we have enough evidence to weigh the talent and rank the the position groups.

Who lands where?  Which groups will be a strength for the Bears, and which just might weigh them down?  What groups have the potential to lead the Monsters of the Midway to glory and who could cut their dreams short?

Because there will be far less surprise at the best group selections than the worst group selections, we will go in reverse order, starting with the best and finishing with the worst.

Follow me, and we'll delve into the depth chart and let the chips lie where they may.

No. 1: Running Backs

Matt Forte looks like he plans to show the Bears why they should show him the money.  He's looking faster, running harder and shedding more tackles than he has since he's come into the league.

Marion Barber has looked like a monster, and his calf injury is reportedly not serious.  The Barbarian has solidified himself as the second back in Chicago.  His vicious running style has already earned him high praise from Chicago fans and fits with what you expect from a Bears rusher.

Kahlil Bell looks like he took the next step.  Originally a player most expected to miss the final cuts, Bell has made Chester Taylor completely expendable (not that it took much) and helped make Harvey Unga look like a wasted supplemental draft pick.

In all, this group looks built to run over and around defenders.  This type of rushing attack will ensure that defenses can't cheat back but will have to respect the run.  And that will help open up the passing game for the Bears.

No other group looks as deep or as good as the running backs.

No. 2 : Defensive Ends

Julius Peppers leads the top defensive group, and his presence alone would almost be enough to make this the second-ranked position group.  But Peppers isn't alone.

Isreal Idonije has blossomed since the Bears settled down and allowed him to play one position.  He took advantage of Pep on the other side and made himself a destructive force in the backfield.  And like Peppers, Idonije is a complete player, defending the run just about as well as he defends the pass.

Corey Wootton will have to recover, but will provide a significant pass-rusher in the rotation.

Who plays behind Wootton is still up in the air, with either Mario Addison or Nick Reed being the most likely options.  Both made a good impression in the preseason, with Addison being more physical, but Reed being more mentally ready.

This is a solid group that will give offensive lines fits throughout the year.

No. 3: Linebackers

Last year, this was the Bears top group.  But with Hunter Hillenmeyer's unfortunate concussion-forced retirement and Pisa Tinoisamoa gone after another injury-riddled season, the depth at this position isn't what it used to be.

That being said, Brian Urlacher and Lance Briggs are among the best linebacking tandems in the league.  Both are over 30, but both are still making defenses pay weekly.

Beyond them, Nick Roach will—barring a surprise FA signing—get his chance as the unquestioned starter on the strong side.  Roach shouldn't be underestimated.  He has good skills, as well as four years and 30 starts.  Roach will back up the Bears' decision to re-sign him instead of overpaying for another linebacker.

Brian Iwuh will be the Bears' top backup, and they could do a lot worse.  Iwuh put up 10 tackles in his only start in 2010, a relief effort for an injured Lance Briggs in Week 6.  He also added three tackles, a sack and a forced fumble the following week in rotational duties.

Rookie J.T. Thomas will make the roster and will mostly be a special teams player.  The remaining spot could either go to undrafted rookie Dom Dicicco or a recently cut player from another team.  Either way, the Bears could be deeper at the position, but the starters are solid enough to keep the linebacking corps from dropping beyond the No. 3 spot.

No. 4: Defensive Tackles

Short on star power, the defensive tackle group is no less effective.

Anthony Adams is not a household name.  He will not strike fear in the heart of quarterbacks.  But he is still one of the best in the league at his job.

In an age where sacks are all fans care about from defensive linemen, Adams is one of the best "boogers" in the league.  He clogs the middle like few DTs can.  How well?  Football Outsiders ranked the Bears defensive line No. 1 in the league in adjusted line yards allowed mid/guard (runs ranging from behind the left guard to behind the right guard).   And Adams is one of the primary reasons for that.  And stopping the run is one of the reasons the Bears defense is so consistently good.

Henry Melton somehow managed to add 35 pounds to his frame with seemingly no adverse effects to his initial burst or his speed.  He's an effective pass-rusher and he's decent against the run as well.

Matt Toeaina is another middle-clogging type DT that the Bears use frequently in the rotation.  He's not horrible as a pass-rusher, either.

Newcomer Amobi Okoye has an explosive first step and a ton of power and when the Bears add him to a lineup of Peppers, Melton and Idonije, quarterback pressures are soon to follow.  Expect him to make a splash on 3rd downs this year.

Rookie strongman Stephen Paea won't be much of a factor early, as the shortened offseason damaged the rookies quite a bit and made their first-year effectiveness quite a bit lessened.

There's still an outsider's chance that Marcus Harrison remains on the roster, at least for a few weeks if Anthony Adams' calf isn't ready to go to start the season, but don't expect much out of Harrison.

This is a good group that could become great.

No. 5: Quarterbacks

I'm probably going to take heat for placing this group around the middle of the pack, but I almost think it's generous there.

Jay Cutler has elite potential, but has failed to reach it so far.  Not all of that is his fault, and he's worked hard this offseason to fix the problems that are attributable to him.  If the Bears can protect Cutler and if his receivers can find the handle on the ball, Cutler could just reach that potential in 2011.

Caleb Hanie is just maddening.  He will look so good, and then look so bad.  In truth, he reminds me a lot of Rex Grossman.  His decision-making just stinks but his ability is worth taking a risk on.  I know, I know—he nearly won the NFC Championship Game after Cutler couldn't move the ball.  Of course the fact that Green Bay's defense started playing safety football might have had something to do with that.  Also, he threw away the game when he failed to see BJ Raji standing right in front of him.

Nate Enderle is still unknown, but then, so are most third-string quarterbacks in the league.  His mobility is going to be a problem if he ever gets into a game.

Cutler is enough to keep this group in the middle of the pack, but if Jay falls, we should be seriously worried.

No. 6: Cornerbacks

Charles "Peanut" Tillman is the definition of a Tampa 2 corner.  He seldom gets the recognition he deserves for his contributions.  But Tillman is fantastic in the press, tackles with the best corners in the league, works beautifully in his zones to create interception opportunities and is among the top ball-strippers in the game.  He might slip a lot, and he may not be the best man-coverage guy in the league, but the system doesn't require him to be and he can still hold his own.

For all of the lack of credit Peanut gets, Tim Jennings gets flat-out disrespected.  It's almost forgotten in fans' minds that it was Jennings, not Tillman, who was the No. 1 corner last year.  And in that role, Pro Football Focus ranked Jennings the 12th-best of the 100 corners in the league who played at least 25 percent of their team's defensive snaps.  Tillman ranked 21st.  But because he doesn't get the interceptions, fans overlook the fact that he was the best coverage back on the team last year, as well as the best corner against the run.

DJ Moore emerged last year as a strong nickleback with a nose for the ball, intercepting the ball four times, forcing a fumble and scoring a defensive touchdown.

Zach Bowman has fallen out of favor with coaches, but is still a solid cover corner who makes for a solid corner in passing situations.  He needs to stay healthy, and learning to tackle would probably help a lot, though.

Josh Moore rounds out the group and is still a relative unknown after the Bears redshirted him last season.

Overall, the corners aren't a great group, but they aren't bad either and their strengths fall in line with what Lovie Smith's defense requires from a corner.

No. 7: Wide Receivers

Well, the experiment is on.

Roy Williams will attempt to restore his roar, so to speak.  He hasn't had a decent season since he worked under Mike Martz in Detroit.  But that's not to say he doesn't have the skills.  

He was misused in Dallas and was never a match for their team.  And reuniting with Martz could resurrect his career.  But if the preseason diva show he put on was any indicator, the Bears are going to get hosed in this deal.  Will Williams be a boon or a bust (again...still?) for the Bears

Devin Hester came into the season earning high praise from Mike Martz who proclaimed Devin to be the Bears best receiver after studying the film from the 2010 season.  Devin's preseason was a mixed bag, though.  He put himself in position to make plays, creating separation and running better routes than anyone except maybe Martz expected of him.  But then he managed to take himself right back out of those opportunities with simple head mistakes like drops and slips.  If Devin can fix those very repairable issues, he could end up being a better receiver than anyone not coaching the bears offense thought he could be this year.

Earl Bennett is what he is, and that is a pretty fine receiver.  Earl "The Pearl" continues to make strides forward, running great routes, being where he is supposed to be and making the catches that have made him a fan favorite.  He blocks out the footsteps and adjusts to a quarterback in trouble better than any other receiver on this team.  Many are calling for Johnny Knox to take over if Williams fails early, but I think it will be Bennett who Williams has to fight off regardless of how well Williams plays.  

Johnny Knox could be a great receiver.  He just needs time to develop and he will get that time this year.  Blazing fast and adapt at getting open, Knox needs to work hard at route running and fighting for the ball if he wants to take the next step.  Hanging on to the ball would be a nice change, too.  Last year, Knox led the league in targets that went for interceptions.  That has to change.  Bet on "Opportunity" Knox to take that next step this year.  He already came to camp with flashy new muscles to help him fend off those pesky defensive backs.  Don't expect him to stop there.

Sam Hurd is a special-teamer who can contribute in the passing game if necessary, but don't expect to see him much.  He's not a special receiver, but the Bears could do a lot worse in an emergency.

As of this writing, neither Kris Adams or Dane Sanzenbacher have been cut by the Bears.  It's looking more and more likely that one will make the roster and the other will be stashed on the practice squad or red-shirted with an "injury", as the Bears like to do frequently.  Both showed a ton of promise, with Adams being more athletically gifted but Sanzenbacher looking far more polished.  Either will be a fine reserve.

If this group had played better int he preseason, they would have ended up higher on this list.  As it is, they will settle for seventh with a not that they could very well end up higher in a postseason version of this article.

No. 8: Tight Ends

The last few years this group was considered one of the deepest in the NFL.  Now?  Not so much.

The Bears traded away their best receiver in Greg Olsen, which didn't help the group.

Kellen Davis is a big target who catches well and can block.  Matt Spaeth is equally large, but doesn't catch as well as Davis.

Fan favorite Des Clark suffered an injury and isn't high on the depth chart, anyway.

Rookie Kyle Adams might hold some potential.  Hopefully he makes the team.

All in all, this group isn't exactly good, but doesn't appear horrible, either.

No. 9: Offensive Line

Yeah!  The line isn't the worst group!

Chris Williams has been a surprise player in the preseason, putting up good outings consistently and has actually been the best offensive linemen on the team through the preseason.  Maybe that move inside will pan out.

Lance Louis has also improved greatly over his preseason Week 1 performance and looks like he could be a solid right guard for a long time.

Roberto Garza is just holding the center spot down until either Chris Spencer or Alex Linnenkohl can take over, but he's doing a pretty good job of it.

Gabe Carimi looks like he is exactly what the Bears expected when they drafted him in the first round.

And J'Marcus Webb needs serious work.  He has the athleticism, but needs to work on technique if he's going to be the Bears' left tackle of the future.

Sadly, though, depth is atrocious, and as gushing as this report sounds, you have to base all of this improvement on last year.  Not exactly a high bar to clear.

No. 10: Safeties

Chris Harris is the lone bright spot on this unit.  The Hitman can bring it, and will only be better this year now that he's returned to his natural strong safety position.

Major Wright missed some pretty significant tackles in the preseason, and combined with already-questionable coverage skills, it's beginning to look like a worse and worse decision for the Bears to let Danieal Manning get away.

Chris Conte just hasn't had a chance to learn the system yet, much like Stephen Paea.

And Craig Steltz is mentally a great player, but his athleticism just doesn't get the job done.

This group is the worst unit on the team at this point, but some experience could take them up the chain quickly, especially if Wright or Conte Emerges.

And now it's your turn.  Step up to the soap box below and let us know what you think.  Sound off.