Well, as with every off season, we are all giddy with anticipation. The offense looks great on paper and young to boot (check this link). Like your D we will simply not know what to expect until they get on the field and actually play at full speed.
Our D is in a make-or-break year. There is great hope that Marinelli will get Harris and the D line back to SB ‘06 form, but again, who knows. The big negative is that we did little to add proven defensive talent, so again the hopes are pinned on better coaching and execution.
As for Favre, he will not make the Viqueens any better, and the Bears have had his number for the past few seasons anyway.
The Bears will surely make the playoffs and I personally believe they make the conference championship game; can’t quite bring myself to believe SB yet.
The regular season record should be 10-12 wins depending more heavily on the defensive performance (especially the D-line and safeties).
As for what I see in Denver, I too expect Marshall to play for you this season. Two questions, what is your honest feeling about Nolan? (I lived in the Bay Area for a few years and watched him just not get it done); and Will the front 7 on Denver’s D really shape up to stop the run heavy AFC West?

It’s been a while my friend… thanks for stopping over.

1* Cutler/ Pace/ Kevin Jones spelling Forte/ Rod Marinelli
2* Nothing to speak of sir!
3* I would play until my arm fell off before I quit, so I can’t blame him for not being able to walk away. Can we handle him? Hopefully. With a Favre-led Vikes team, I’d hope we could just split the 2 game series.
4* Yes!
5* 12-4 baby… North Champs!

12-4 all the way…North Champs all the way…and without a doubt Cutler and Pace have been the biggest improvements. The thing that I was really shocked by this off-season was that Angelo finally did his job and went out and got a lot of talent or potential talent at numerous positions. Without a doubt we will be very good this season. If Turner can’t produce offense this year, he will be the tird in our super bowl and will need flushed.

Maybe this Carlton Powell will provide the cosmic dharma to balance out the Cutler trade. Either way I think your team is a giant question mark. You have some very valid reasons for optimism but prudence says there are more questions than answers at this point. As to your questions;
1. We got Cutler.
2. We have no proven wide receivers (but see #1)
3. We have basically had Favre’s number since Lovie took over.
4. Why not?
5. 10-6 or better.

Did you know that Carlton, in four years, held rushes against him to negative yards?

I hope, if Favre decides to play, that the Bears indeed have his number…

Brett needs to retire and prep for the HOF.

1 – Cutler, Marinelli, Pace, Omiyale,
2 – … Mike Brown no longer a Bear…
3 – yes
4 – yes
5 – 10 wins minimum, maybe as high as 13!

trade us Marshall? There are a lot of rumors going around

1. Cutler/o-line
2. Secondary, it didn’t change for the worse persay (other than Mike Brown being shown the door) but it hasn’t changed for the better, which is worse.
3. No, he’s a good player I just hate the MSM beating it to death. If he comes back, great but I don’t need “Favre Watch 2009” on ESPN 24/7. I think the Bears can handle him, they did his last few years with the Pack I think either way the best we can do is split with the Vikes, they are loaded.
4. Heck yes we will. We missed it by 1 game last year, you’d have to think that all the changes we made make us at least 1 game better than last year.
5. 11-5

Thank you Denver. Getting old, Favre is still playing because of bad financial decisions don’t be fooled. Division title , no less then a trip 2 the conference championship. Bear down.

I like you and all, but you’re lucky if Denver can win 8 games, honestly. And not to be a dick or anything but talent not tallent. (I’m a stickler on spelling what can I say).

On a positive note for Denver I was really impressed with Hillis last season.

1. What do you feel are the most positive changes to your team this year?
Probably Cutler and Oline. Marinelli will work magic and the dominant Dplay (what’s been missing these past two mediocre years on Defense) will return to form… hopefully.

2. Are there any negative changes to your team?
Any negative changes (John St. Claire) have been remedied by greater positive changes (Pace). If I would say anything it’s that our D is aging quickly.

3. Should Favre give it up..and if he doesn’t can you handle him?
Favre is coming off of shoulder surgery and even before that he liked to “throw it up.” I don’t see him being that big of addition to the Vikes and he could possibly implode later in the season (a lot like last season).
 
4. Will you make they playoffs?
Yes

5. What will be your season record?
It all depends on the Defense, anywhere between 9 wins to 14 wins. Honestly that is how important the defense is to our success.

1. Cutler, Pisa, K. Jones (healthy), Pace, Hester (another year under his belt at WR), Omiyale pickup, and drafting for good defensive depth (Moore, Gilbert, Melton).

2. Not adding a veteran WR (still able to), Chris Williams at RT?, FS position and overall pass-defense.

3. I’d prefer Favre give it up, but I’m not sure how much the Vikes are better with him.

4. If the Bears take care of business within the division, then yes (at least 4-2)

5. Realistically 10-6; hopefully 11-5 or 12-4.

Before that happens I would like to thank everyone at this site for all your contributions.

Wind City is truly a great site and you guys are nothing but pure class!

Thanks for keeping everything positive and making this such a great experience!

Until next time…
.

I’ve been a fan of his since his Purdue days. The “game manager” label was put on him, not because of his abilities, but because the Bear coaches threw him into the fire with little prep time his rookie year. Grossman got hurt and was out, then they relied on Chad Hutchison through the remainder of the pre-season, then cut him when he didn’t show anything. They had no choice but put their rookie in, even though, the majority of the work during that camp went to Rex and Chad. When the fans and media were nervous, the coaches said all they wanted him to do was “manage the game” becauseour defense was so strong that year, and the tag stuck with him. During his college career under Joe Tiller, he (like Drew Brees) were the antithesis of what we all knew Big Ten QB’s to be with the spread offense and gunslinger mentality.

Regarding his ability to throw long, it is something he can improve, but the same thing was said of Brees when he came out of school. I don’t think it’s all one-sided that QB’s make WR’s or vice versa, you need a passer who is willing to take a chance at times and a receiver who will make the adjustments and make grabs that aren’t perfectly thrown. Without that combination, you’ll rarely see one of those positions completely dominate.

In my opinion, for the last several years, the Bears have never had receivers who would consistently go up and “get the ball” or take it away from a DB. That has been one of the reasons (not the only one) that Bear QB’s never seem to improve.

Watch tape of Kyle’s 2008 season prior to the ankle injury and he was a top third QB in the NFL. Unfortunately, he didn’t recover quickly enough to fully regain that early season form.

That Kyle Orton manages the game better then McDaniels has managed the team thus far. Good Luck!