Bears 4th in Power Rankings

by MuleTrain on May 11, 2009 1:03 PM CDT Comment 37 comments

Of all the surprises I've seen, Peter King of SI, actually put the Bears 4th in his power rankings. He has questions about Cutler's leadership and how he'll mesh with Urlacher as the team leader. But he doesn't deny Cutler's talent and ability to put up 400 points even while throwing to Hester and Davis.

More after the jump...

Here's what he had to say of the Bears' D:

But then I went back and looked at their 2008 numbers. The bedrock stats for a good defense, I've always thought, are opponents yards per rush, turnovers forced and opponents' yards per pass. The yards per rush, 3.4, was excellent, third-best in the league. Turnovers forced, 32, was very good, second in the league. And yards per pass play by foes, 6.20, was eighth in the league. All good. If Cutler can lead an offense that puts up 400 points, only a point and a fraction more than a year ago, the Bears should win 12.

Well, there are so many naysayers out there it was kind of a shock to see a national sports writer (even a poor one), to predict the Bears at 12 wins. Personally, I see 10 or 11 but I'll take 12 thank you very much.

Now if we can just cut Rashied Davis and Jason McKie, then 14-2 is within reach.

King's top ten: New England, Pitt, NYGiants, Bears, Indy, Philly, SD, Balt, Dallas, Tenn.

NFC North: Bears (4), GB (14), Minn(15), Det (31)

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Comments

I don't care for Peter King

the year we went 11-5 the 2005 preseason outlook by Peter King said we would be lucky to win 3 games. That’s why all throughout that year you heard on 670 the Score the commercial where it’s like Sports Illustrated can suck it

If you want to crown em...

by JohnnyTruant on May 11, 2009 9:13 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I agree

Just thought it odd, that such a devout lover of all things NFC East gave some love to the Bears.

by MuleTrain on May 11, 2009 9:21 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I thought that was Dr. Z

Not King?

by GallopingGhost on May 11, 2009 10:29 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Dr Z has been partially paralyzed since suffering 3 strokes last November.

Paul Zimmerman hasn’t been able to talk or write and is in pretty bad shape since suffering 3 strokes in less than a week. He hasn’t written an article since then.

by BigGeorgeTX on May 11, 2009 3:41 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Pretty good excuse.

WBULTV - BDale TV Prod

by bs.uf15bosox9bears23 on May 11, 2009 4:36 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

doesn't answer the question

pretty sure it was z

by mike b on May 12, 2009 11:10 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I thought

that it was Dr. Z that had us going 3-13 that too, but maybe not, it was four years ago lol

(Asshole Sr) "If you learn one thing here, NEVER pass out in Ohio."

by ThorCo on May 11, 2009 10:36 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

12-4 folks.

North Champs. Book it. Done.

Be nice. Flag comments that you think are offensive. Use the "reply" button. Drink plenty of water. Compliment others. Rec comments and posts you like. Don't call people names. If you don't like someone's comment, attack the comment and not the commentor. Learn the difference in your/you're, then/than, to/too. Exercise. Relax. Stretch often. Find good in the world.

by Dane Noble on May 11, 2009 10:44 AM CDT reply actions 2 recs

12 wins???

Strikes me as a bit inflated, but I’ll take it. Maybe King is just fishing for free drinks when he comes to Chicago.

by lookingdeadred on May 11, 2009 6:02 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

A shocker

Well, at least King actually did some research rather than spew out numbers without something tangible. Those defensive numbers do show the Bears defense wasn’t as bad as previously thought.

"I'm not so mean. I wouldn't ever go out to hurt anybody deliberately - unless it was, you know, important, like a league game or something." - Dick Butkus

by propheteer on May 11, 2009 11:30 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

It just seemed like we were bad

when we needed the defense to step it up the most. Good defense? Yes. Gave up big plays when it counted? Yes.

by Dane Noble on May 11, 2009 11:32 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Definitely

There were several games where they needed to stop the opposing offense on just one play and failed (TB and Atlanta). I believe their pass-rush will be better this year, which will improve their secondary as well.

"I'm not so mean. I wouldn't ever go out to hurt anybody deliberately - unless it was, you know, important, like a league game or something." - Dick Butkus

by propheteer on May 11, 2009 1:18 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

TOP and # plays

The averages are good but the total yards were not so good, because of the number of plays the other team runs against the Bears. The Bears offense was 27th (28:36) last year in time of possession. So flip it and the Bears defense was on the field for 31:24 a game (I was told there’d be no math). Those extra plays make a difference. In fact, the Bears defense saw 1,087 plays last year. The most in the NFL by a margin of 29 plays! The Bears offense will be better this year, and time of possession should improve. Our passing game is obviously better with Cutler so drives will be extended. Our run game should improve with the additions to the offensive line and the elimination of the McKie FB dive.

The Tampa-2 is a bit of a bend-don’t-break kind of defense so I don’t expect a dramatic improvement. But, any improvement in our defensive line will make a big difference in our overall defense imho.

by MuleTrain on May 11, 2009 11:53 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yes I'm replying to my own post

The Bears defense was actually on the field for 32:27 per game not 31:24 a game. With the added overtime minutes, TOP is not 60 minutes. My bad.

by MuleTrain on May 11, 2009 11:59 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

bend don't break?

In a way, yes, but it is also designed to force turnovers not just force punts.

by lookingdeadred on May 11, 2009 6:05 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

yes, but when your d-line sucks and can't get pressure,

you get picked apart and do a lot of bending…over. D-line won’t suck this year, I hope. We’ll get those turnovers and be a top 10 defense.

by MuleTrain on May 12, 2009 8:08 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

D-line

Agreed, it will all depend on the play of the D-line. If they generate pressure, they become an elite team and maybe King’s prediction comes true. If they don’t, they fall towards the middle.

by lookingdeadred on May 12, 2009 12:07 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

we got them last year- second in the league- without a pass rush.

That’s actually a bit scary if you think about it.

by uli on May 13, 2009 11:02 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I could see them in the top 8.

4 seems kinda high.

by SoulEater7 on May 11, 2009 1:08 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Brian Urlacher is an overrated team leader

There have been lots of players who have come out in recent years and said that the only real leading Urlacher does is by example on the football field. Which is obviously great. But lets not get too carried away with the wondrous leadership qualities of Urlacher. Fact is he is a signficantly diminished football player in the twilight of his career. For Peter King to suggest a potential conflict with Jay Cutler is stupid.

by BLou on May 11, 2009 3:13 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Is this something real, or is it another of your speculations? I'd love to read about that if it is real.

There have been lots of players who have come out in recent years and said that the only real leading Urlacher does is by example on the football field

by Dane Noble on May 11, 2009 3:16 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

How is Urlacher in the "twilight" of his career?

I don’t get it. Last year was disappointing given how much better he’s played in his career but how can that one off year put him in his twilight or lead you to believe his skills have significantly diminished? In ‘07 he had 123 tackles, 5 picks and 5 sacks so that’s a good year to say the least. ‘08 was bad for everybody on defense, but I’m gonna predict Urlacher rebounds in ’09. He is the leader of this football team.

"The phone's for you, I think it's the Devil."

by Acreman20 on May 11, 2009 4:28 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'm hoping for 10-6 and the playoffs

To think beyond that is silly given the profound issues with this defense last season and the rather extreme makever taking place on offense.

by BLou on May 11, 2009 3:14 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

#4 is very high

for a defense who can’t get to the passer. I would think more about 10-11. 10-6 seems about right.. If Marinelli can help these guys I would feel a lot better about it..

by tfrabotta on May 11, 2009 3:25 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

But Don Banks of SI has Bears out of the playoffs.

Don Banks of SI picks 6 teams that didn’t make the playoffs last year and explains why they will this year. The Bears are not on that list. In the NFC he picks Dallas, New Orleans, and Frisco. So as it goes with the Bears, there is no consensus as to how the team will fare next year. King has them at 4th in the league…Banks has ’em out of the playoffs.

I got the Bears at 10 or 11 wins and NFC North Champs. I think the defense is better than the numbers say. It’s not dominant anymore, but it’s not mediocre either. The offense will improve with Cutler, Omiyale, Pace, and Shaeffer on the team.

by MuleTrain on May 11, 2009 4:10 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Dallas and New Orleans

Those two teams, especially Dallas will have a very difficult time making the playoffs because how difficult their divisions are.

"I'm not so mean. I wouldn't ever go out to hurt anybody deliberately - unless it was, you know, important, like a league game or something." - Dick Butkus

by propheteer on May 11, 2009 4:47 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Oh noes!!!

Not Peter King, the author of “— Things I Think I Think”!!!

WBULTV - BDale TV Prod

by bs.uf15bosox9bears23 on May 11, 2009 4:37 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

We just signed Gaines

Link

Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways - Beer in one hand - brat in the other - body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming 'WOO HOO, What a Ride

by icarr0331 on May 11, 2009 4:59 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Thx broski.

by Dane Noble on May 11, 2009 5:04 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Very Nice

"The phone's for you, I think it's the Devil."

by Acreman20 on May 11, 2009 5:06 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Good to know there's a plan.

Now if I hear Lovie say I love it when a plan comes together, I might just die laughing.

Because as far as we're concerned, there is still no team in the history of the NFL that could beat the '85 Bears.

by Ditkavsworld on May 11, 2009 5:09 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Hey Mule Train,

SI.com picked up your story…its on the front page! Good jorb!

by Dane Noble on May 11, 2009 6:18 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Sweet that we got Gaines and I predict -

12-4 this season. We have alot more talent this year and could have easily gone 11-5 last season. Three games that should have been won but weren’t. So I added two wins instead of three to our 9-7 season last year just to make it fair. I see us going a long way this season and maybe even contenders for the big dance.

Hear about the blind hooker, you gotta hand it to her.

by Bears fan 4-ever!!! on May 11, 2009 6:22 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Defense

Our Defense was on the field to much. This year we will have a better offense which will give our defense some rest.

by theba71 on May 12, 2009 2:13 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

do not

pretend that the bears are instantly better than green bay or minnesota. what was the the margin of victory the two times the bears beat them? and how badly did they lose to them?

i know cutler changes a lot about this bears team now, but until they actually do something…

by mike b on May 12, 2009 11:17 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

There's no pretending...

because Green Bay and Minny are indeed good too. Green Bay is a young team who are set up to have success for the next several years, and Minnesota are only a few roster spots shy of being dominate.

However, both of those things can be said about the Bears as well. We may take our lumps with all of the new personnel, but our outlook is no different than Green Bay or Minnesota… the North will be a battle for the next several seasons, and should be fun to watch!

But I am not waivering on my prediction… 12-4, North Champs!

by Dane Noble on May 12, 2009 11:49 AM CDT up reply actions 1 recs