The Chronicle

Perhaps the song Bears fans should be singing is not “Bear Down,” but Frank Sinatra’s classic, “High Hopes.”

Hopes for a successful NFL season have never been higher since the Bears were bounced in Super Bowl XLI by the Indianapolis Colts in the 2006-2007 season.

Since then, coach Lovie Smith’s crew has compiled a paltry regular season record of 23-25 and failed to reach the playoffs each year. Last season they went 7-9.

2010 marks the dawn of a new decade. It could also mark the dawn of brighter days for the Monsters of the Midway.

The Bears offseason was also unlike any other in recent memory.

The biggest off-field addition for the Bears was adding offensive coordinator Mike Martz. Martz was brought in to jolt a Bears offense that, for the majority of the 2000’s, has been inept and unproductive.

The Bears offense was ranked 23rd in total offense in 2009.
Martz won Super Bowl XXXIV as an offensive coordinator for the St Louis Rams in 1999, and led the Rams back to Super Bowl XXXVI, in 2001, as the head coach. From 1999 to 2004, he was the architect behind some of the greatest offenses the NFL has ever seen, known as “The Greatest Show on Turf.”

The other part of Martz’s job description is arguably the most important part of the equation for a Bears postseason berth. That is the development of Quarterback Jay Cutler.

Cutler did throw 28 touchdowns last season. However, he also threw a league high 26 interceptions.

Any number of interceptions close to 26 will shred any chance the Bears have of playing into January.
Martz will also be responsible for providing rapid development to what is still a very raw receiving corps.

The receiving corps is very optimistic they can make themselves household names this season when talking about the leagues very best receiving groups.

In 2010, the receiving corps will be headlined by wide receivers Devin Hester and Johnny Knox. Hester led the team last season in receiving yards with 757, while Knox made the Pro Bowl last season, his rookie year, as a kick returner.

The Bears will also be looking for production from wide reciever Devin Aromashodu. Aromashodu, who is a big target, having 24 receptions, 298 yards, and four touchdowns, including a seven reception, 150 yard, one touchdown game, in an upset victory over the Minnesota Vikings last December. If this is any indication of his performance, in this reporter’s opinion, he will definitely be seeing plenty of footballs coming towards his 6-2, 200 pound frame.

Greg Olsen will be another beneficiary of Mike Martz’s offense, though it has been noted that the tight end was simply a sixth lineman in Martz’s passing game. Martz knows exactly what he has in Greg Olsen, an athletic tight end that can cause matchup problems in the middle of the field. With all the balls that will be flying around on offense, Olsen could be looking at a year better than the 60 catch, eight touchdown season he had in 2009.

In one breathtaking 89 yard gallop to the end zone two Saturdays ago versus the Oakland Raiders, a healthy Matt Forte    showed the kind of burst and explosiveness that was lacking in 2009.

Forte, in an unimpressive and injury laden sophomore season, gained 929 rushing yards and four touchdowns on a pedestrian 3.6 yards a carry. In 2010, the Bears are highly optimistic that the third year running back from Tulane will be the back that gained 1,715 yards from scrimmage in his rookie year.

Forte will not be alone in the backfield in 2010. One of the other acquisitions the Bears made this offseason was signing running back Chester Taylor. Taylor, who came from the Minnesota Vikings via free agency, was brought in to be the change of pace, receiving threat out of the backfield to complement Matt Forte.

Look for both Forte and Taylor to be greatly involved in the passing game through a myriad of screens and swing passes in 2010.

If Mike Martz is the salt that adds flavor to the stale Bears offense, then Julius Peppers is the spice that needed to be added to the Bears defensive recipe.
Peppers, the highly versatile defensive end, was the crown jewel of free agents in the NFL offseason. While Peppers’ arrival in Chicago did not grab as much attention as a certain hoops star who took his talents to South Beach in July, the Bears are hoping Peppers will have a similar presence that will help them regain their status as one of the top defenses in the NFL.

Peppers spent his first eight years in the league with the Carolina Panthers. During his stint with Carolina, he amassed 381 tackles, 81 sacks, six interceptions, was named defensive rookie of the year and was a five time Pro Bowl selection.

Peppers has played well this preseason and his ability to make plays and tear down opposing backfields should be well worth the $91.5 million over six years that the Bears signed him for.

Tommie Harris looks healthy and will likely benefit from the presence of Peppers. Peppers will no doubt demand double teams, which will allow for one on one matchups in the interior, this could get Harris back into Pro Bowl form.

Brian Urlacher is also healthy once again, despite suffering a calf injury against the Raiders two weeks ago. It appears he will be ready for the September 12 opener versus the Detroit Lions.

Urlacher dislocated his wrist in last season’s opener against the Green Bay Packers, and it was an injury that caused him to miss the rest of the 2009 season.

The combination of Peppers, Urlacher and a healthy Harris easily makes the Bears front seven one of the best in football.

The secondary of the Bears is still a mystery. The Bears drafted former Florida safety Major Wright in the third round. Wright played well in his preseason debut a few weeks back against the Chargers but is now hampered by a finger injury.

Wright is also expected to become the eventual starter at one of the safety positions.

For the meantime, the safety positions are being held down by Danieal Manning and Chris Harris.

At cornerback, Zack Bowman, who had six interceptions in 2009, has shown a lot of playmaking abilities in training camp and was placed on the left side of the defense, while crafty veteran Charles Tillman will play the right corner slot.

Time is not on Lovie Smith side this season. With all the aggressive play by Bears’ top brass, this could be a make or break year for the stoic head coach.

Anything less than a playoff berth in Chicago could result in a change of zip codes for Lovie Smith.

This team has plenty of talent to make noise in 2010.

However, the Bears have too many pressing issues to make an impact this season.
Their pass protection this preseason has been below average, at best.
Timing between quarterback and receiver, which is required in a Mike Martz offense, is far from being a finished product.

Cutler still makes some questionable decisions with the football, as seen in the game against Arizona Saturday.

The offense still does not have a definitive play maker at wide receiver.

Their defense right now is unable to get off the field in third down situations.

The secondary cannot seem to keep the football from reaching receivers hands.

The Bears also have one of the toughest schedules in the NFC. Not only do they get their annual two game affairs with both the Packers and the Vikings, Chicago gets the privilege to play against what will be two of the more competitive divisions in the league, the NFC and AFC East. 

The Bears also have a murderer’s row of a schedule in the final quarter of the season. It includes, in order, the Patriots, at the Vikings, the Jets, and the regular season finale at Green Bay.