Why "they" didn't make my Top 10 Most Important Bears

I went with Tommie just because I think he is going directly affect Peppers, Anderson, Urlacher, and the secondary with his play….or lack thereof.

I’m cutting Cutler a little slack because learning and implementing a new offense for any team is a big undertaking and growing pains may not be entirely his doing. That doesn’t mean he gets a pass or can throw into coverage, but there are more factors outside of his control that can affect the entire offensive performance. Tommie and the Defense are playing the same scheme so he should know his job and the level he needs to play at.

If he can draw a double team, Peppers will succeed, and the DBs will suceed. If Tommie doesn’t draw a double team, that means Peppers will, and less QB hurries.

Less QB hurries = more opportunities to get shredded through the air like 2009.

You know, maybe I put Tommie at #1. Maybe Cutler #1 and Tommie 1A.

Major Wright is our only hope of fielding a legit Free Safety this year (a position that has been a weakness since Mike Brown got hurt in 2006).

Major deserves top 10 status before Kreutz does. Kreutz is not a difference maker anymore — though, he is a good bet to commit more stupid penalties. Honestly, I’d rather Beekman start at Center.

Cutler is easily the most important player on our team this year. Not only does he play the most important position in the game, but he’s got the most room for improvement of anyone on Lester’s top 10 list.

If he can minimize his INT’s the offense will be fine. Also, it will improve the defense, because they won’t be on the field as much and hopefully with better field position that they were in last year.

As for Tommie, I think he will be fine this year…Peppers will draw the extra attention, therefore Harris, Anderson, etc. will have the one on one battles, if they can’t get pressure facing one o-lineman then we are in trouble, but I think with Peppers on the field things will open up for the rest of the line.

I kept it on the players as the coaches are CERTAINLY important to the planning, but the players must make the plays.

1. Cutler— The high number of interceptions in 2009 resulted in many missed opportunities and taking the Bears right out of the game. Factor in the fact that a lot of those interceptions were late in the game and in the red zone and you can see just how big a difference maker he was in 2009. Plus, the QB position is the most important position on the football field as it touches he football 100% of the time (except in the event of a direct snap).

2.) Chris Williams— If we haven’t learned anything from the Vikings acquisition of Jared Allen or the Giants fortune of having a Strahan-followed-by-Osi Umenyora (sp)…

… Being able to protect your QB from the blind side speed rusher is a VERY important piece to being successful. Also, consider that the Bears OL allowed 35 sacks in 2009. And there is much speculation about how many of those 26 interceptions were caused by missed blocks (ask Jaws).

3.) Julius Peppers— You gotta get pressure on he opposing team’s QB. Period! You can’t expect to win football games and not have any pressure on the QB. Enter Peppers who has made a living off of doing just that in Carolina. And now he is being tasked to do that for the Chicago Bears, who haven’t had a consistent pass rusher of his type in some time. He’s got to show up big in 2010 in order for the Bears to have success. Consider the fact that Adawale and A.Brown would give you 10+ sacks (12?) on average a season— if Peppers gets anything less than 10 he will be considered a failure by most Chicago sports analysts.

4.) Zack Bowman— The Bears have not had a solid corner in years (arguably 2006?). The pass defense has been horrid and not just because there is a less than stellar DL over the past 3 years. It’s also because the secondary has been subpar to horrible as well. 40 year old Gus Frerotte and a spurned Brian Griese among countless others has been able to find receivers for over 300+ yds in the past 3 seasons. Also, teams used countless formations to offset pressure from the front 7 to give the receiver in an extra moment to get free from the CBs (i.e.— shotguns, hurry-ups). If Bowman can give the Bears some competency at the CB position against the opposing teams no. 1 option, we should see less 300 yd games and more turnovers.

5. Earl Bennett— I say Bennett over Hester, because I think Hester will be more of the X-factor on offense than the no. 1 option. Bennett was the receiver Cutler found when he needed a big play or a 3rd down conversion. I think Hester and D.Aromashodu will have good seasons and be big parts of a Martz offense (for various reasons), but I thin Bennett will be the go-to receiver in 2010 and will have to step up to the next level for Cutler and the offense to be successful.

6. Matt Forte— Forte was Angelo’s 2nd round pick and entering his 3rd season in an offense that uses the RB in various ways; including straight out of the backfield into a deep route. I think that he has to step up and provide that consistent yardage whether it be from the run or the catch. He will be the safety outlet in an offense that will see more mid-to-deep patterns that take time to develop.

7. Brian Urlacher— His leadership on defense is undeniable as its a HUGE drop off in offensive recognition when he is not in the huddle. I think having him back leading the huddle will provide the fire and experience that they were missing in 2009.

8. Olin Kreutz— Given the fact that he is the traffic-controller of the offensive line (as the Center), also given that the NFC North has some of the best DTs in the league in Suh, Raji, and the Williams Wall… And, also, given that Kreutz has been hobbled for the past two seasons I think Kreutz is a big part of the success of this OL.

9. Lance Briggs— I always wonder what would the Bears be without Briggs consistent play on the weak side? He’s a consistent tackler and he provides some of the best pass coverage from the LB position in the NFL. He’ll be playing underneath Charles Tillman this year who will probably have Chris Harris over the top of him. The coverage that should come from the combination of that 3 should make that side of the football field pretty well covered if all things remain consistent (i.e.- no injuries to any).

10. Tommie Harris— The Bear have to get some kind of secondary force from the DL after Julius Peppers. Peppers will get the best opposing OL and will get doubled and chipped at every twist and turn. THat means there will be plenty opportunities for Harris, Harrison, and Anderson to get one-on-one coverage against opponents. They have to get into the backfield in a division that will be more passing than running given the offensive weapons and schemes.

Have at it. haha!

His offense will make or break this team this year. Whatever tweak of his scheme he implements will be huge. I think the scheme and play calling will be huge as well will the adjustment and learning curve for the entire O. That is why I would put Martz over Cutler, it will be the whole offense, not just the main player.

Add in Martz’s scheme is notorious for high picks and sack numbers and there might not be much Cutler can do if the OL does not gel.

The D should be solid (bearing injury…knock knock on wood).

The O-line may be more important as a whole, but Cutler is the most important individual.

The success or failure of this team rides on his arm. If he has a crappy season he may never recover and the house cleaning will begin. Unless Caleb Hanie is the next Kurt Warner the most important Bear is #6.

though I may have a different perspective.