The 2008 edition of the Chicago Bears should be an exciting event to watch. While the quarterback position will again be a huge question mark (as with every NFC North team), this team has one of its most exciting players in Devin Hester. He will get more on offense as a wideout and be trained, and if he can get the offense going, Hester could have a tremendous time: look around late fantasy sleeper football could pick on him….in the line of a terrible year.
KEY ADDITIONS:
1) Lance Briggs (Resigned) – While Briggs is not necessarily an addition, he is a key component along with Brian Urlacher on defense close to the Bear This weak linebacker works wonders in the Bears system, and likely won’t flourish anywhere else like he does in Chicago. Anchora supports a very competitive defense.
2) Marty Booker/Brandon Lloyd – Lloyd and Booker (along with Hester) will look to replace former Bears receivers Bernard Berrian and Muhammad Mushin this season. Booker makes his way to Chicago after a more esteemed visit to Miami. The Bears are hoping to regain their form before they were traded to Miami. Brandon Lloyd came to the Bears as another quarterback who never reached his full potential. While he has shown signs of potential at times with the 49ers and Redskins, he must prove that he is a legitimate No. 2 receiver and do so with consistency.
KEY DAMAGE:
1) Bernard Berrian – One of the few offensive players in Chicago last year, division rival Minnesota was throwing. Berrian had the ability to capture difficult trades and expand fields. The lack of a running game offense as well as a consistent quarterback has prevented Berrian from reaching his full potential.
2) Brian Griese – Chicago needs to find stability at quarterback, and Rex Grossman and Kyle Orton are not the answer. Brian Griese was the most polished passenger of the three, but Chicago fell out of favor. Griese has given the Bears their best chance to win now, and Chicago will be on the quarterback carousel again this season.
3) Cedric Benson – The NFL’s disappointing Bears running backs project that never lived up to the first round draft status, being the only number 4 overall they collect With Walter Payton, the Bears fired first-round picks on Curtis Enis, Cedric Benson, and Rashaan Salam, only to have each fail miserably despite expectations. Could the sweetness of his bears curse his bears?
4) Mushin Muhammad – While Muhammad is getting older, he would still be a veteran receiving presence for this young wide receiver. Instead of Muhammad teaching Hester how to be a top notch wide receiver, the Panthers hope to do exactly that in Carolina with Dwayne Jarrett. The lack of quality experienced wide receivers on this team will make it difficult to win.
Key Weaknesses:
The entire offense of this Bears team is going to be weak. The QB, running back, and wide receiver positions are all up in the air and are all considered wild cards. The Ravens have proven that offense is not needed to win the Super Bowl, although the Bears defense is not. Defense of the old crow. The best plan for this team may be to have Hester line up at quarterback and pull the run all day. Not many others look to be able to put points on the board on a consistent basis.
Key Strengths:
The heart and soul of this team rest in central defence. Brian Urlacher and Lance Briggs help make up one of the best backfield partners in the NFL, and if the 2008 Bears are going to have success, it will have to come from them.
2008 Predictions
The 2008 Chicago Bears appear ready for a rebuilding process. The number one receiver and running back left last year, and the number one quarterback wasn’t there for long. The Bears need to hire their entire roster, and start rough on players who play hard And to perform from the constant. Look for the Bears to finish at the bottom of the NFC North and get a top 10 pick in next year’s draft.
Here’s how the Bears’ 2008 schedule looks:
Week / Opponent
1 @Indianapolis
2 @Carolina
4 of Philadelphia
5 @Detroit
6 @Atlanta
7 Minnesota
8 bye
9 Detroit
10 Tennessee
11 @Green Bay
12 @St. Lewis
13 @Minnesota
14 Jacksonville
15 New Orleans
16 Green Bay
17 @Houston
The tight parts of the division are very competitive. Expect them to win home games against Minnesota and Detroit. They figure to catch the Packers and win home games against the Vikings and Lions. A 2-4 division record is to be expected (maybe 1-5).
For the rest of the games, against Atlanta and Houston, they were also brought up. Expect a 4-12 or 5-11 record round, and a possible top 5 pick from the Bears.
