The 10 Most Important Bears for 2011 - #8 Earl Bennett

by Lester A. Wiltfong Jr. on Jul 5, 2011 11:00 AM CDT in Roster Analysis

Trying to weigh one players worth over another is a difficult exercise. When the topic is as subjective is this one is, it's more of a jumping off point for good discussion with our readers than it is a set in stone ranking. But, I give it the old college try.

Up at #8 is the best wide receiver on the roster, Earl Bennett. All the talk about him being a good fit to play in the slot does a disservice to his skills. Bennett is a starting quality in receiver in the NFL, and he very well could be the #1 the Bears are lacking. I would be surprised if he isn't a starter come week 1.

Mike Martz's recent comments about getting Bennett more involved in the offense and his being able to play outside tells me they realize how important he is to the offense. I still expect him to line up in the slot on occasion, but he should be a starting receiver for the Bears. He runs good crisp routes, he has great hands, he has deceptive speed, he'll fight for the ball, he'll block his ass off in the run game, and he'll fight for yards after the catch. Sounds like the description of a number one receiver to me.

Even if a wide out is acquired via free agency, I think Bennett will step up to be that guy for the Bears, and be that guy for Jay Cutler. He started 15 games in 2009 and caught 54 for 717 yards, and I do expect him to get starters reps in 2011 so a thousand yards with about 80 catches is in his sights.

You say you want a #1 with a little more swagger, a little more bravado? Bennett is a confident player, but he's not really diva-like, but if you remember he did switch his jersey number in 2009. From the Bears official site:

"It wasn't anything specific," Bennett said. "I just wanted to change my number. I feel like ‘80' fits me a little bit better. I think it's in my character. I didn't really think ‘85' really fit it.

"Number 80 has so much tradition behind it with Jerry Rice and Cris Carter and those guys, and hopefully I can become one of those guys and be a legend like they were."

You hear that Bears fans? Legen...

wait for it...

...Dary!

* Special thanks to David B. Bass of Vanderbilt University for the photo above. It was taken at Bennett's Pro Day, and it was a week before Cutler was diagnosed with Diabetes.

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Assuming that there IS a Week One in our future...

I’d be stoked to see Bennett at the #1 WR spot. Hester and Knox have greater big play potential because of their speed, but Bennett seems far more reliable with his hands and with being the kind of “go get it” guy that Cutler needs. Speed is pretty meaningless if you don’t have the ball in your hands when you’re using it.

by oripunk3485 on Jul 5, 2011 12:12 PM CDT reply actions 1 recs

I'd be happy with Bennett as the #1 receiver

Assuming the Bears can’t grab someone really really good like Chad Ochocinco, then Bennett would be the #2. Either way, he should be starting after how awesome he was in the Philly and second Detroit game last year.

Violence is the last refuge of the incompetent - Salvor Hardin

by badsamaritan on Jul 5, 2011 12:15 PM CDT reply actions

80 does fit him better than 85.

IMO…….

"I wouldn't ever set out to hurt someone deliberately unless it was, you know, important - like a league game or something." - Dick Butkus

What's the difference between a 3-week old puppy and a sportswriter? In six weeks the puppy will stop whining." - Mike Ditka

by Cutler6fan8 on Jul 5, 2011 1:31 PM CDT reply actions

Bennett will do well this year

. "Most football teams are temperamental. That's 90% temper and 10% mental."
--Doug Plank

by ed_brown on Jul 5, 2011 2:14 PM CDT reply actions

I think both Bennett and Knox are in for big years going into year 2 of this offense.

by Dominique Blanton on Jul 5, 2011 2:57 PM CDT reply actions

Bennett looks a lot like Michael Irvin in that pic.

www.twitter.com/DaneNoble

by Dane Noble on Jul 5, 2011 3:18 PM CDT reply actions

yes he does...

If you go in the bathroom, turn off the lights, and say "Da Coach" 5 times while facing the mirror... Ditka will appear and slap the wussy right out of you.

by Lester A. Wiltfong Jr. on Jul 5, 2011 4:43 PM CDT up reply actions

No wonder Jay looks so skinny

I lost 25 lbs in a month when I was diagnosed.

Bennett is going to continue his success and become a monster of a possession WR with some occasional explosiveness and game-breaking ability.

"Our ideas held no water but we used them like a dam" - Modest Mouse

by propheteer on Jul 5, 2011 11:09 PM CDT reply actions

Bennet is bar far the best WR...

on this Bears offense, IMO. I am a huge fan of Bennett and I hope he has all the success he has earned over the past few seasons. I think he is a solid character guy who puts forth quality effort and has the skills to start in the NFL. But the fact that he’s not already an unquestioned starter, let alone widely acknowledged great WR, says volumes about his ability to be the elite WR the Bears, again IMO, need. He is a great compliment WR in the style of a Engram or Driver. He will catch most everything thrown his way and blocks like a TE. I’m not saying he’s a bad WR, just simply that the Bears need a better WR to compliment his abilities and move the offense into a more effective passing orientation. Yes, the Bears need other pieces on offense, but none of the WRs currently on the roster is good enough to bring the offense to the next level.

by LostInSTL on Jul 6, 2011 5:57 AM CDT reply actions