[CBFF] Why the Bears Window Is Just Starting To Open

[Steve Behrens]

I keep hearing that the Bear's window is now, and I agree with that.  They
have a great opportunity to, at the very least, make it to the Superbowl,
and once you make it, who knows what will happen.  I don't think any
Superbowl has been a foregone conclusion since the Bears steamrolled the
Pats some 20 odd years ago.

But I don't think this is their swan song by any means. either...  In fact,
I think the Bears window to win Superbowls is just starting to open.  Some
of my reasoning:

* Jones, Benson, Peterson;  Benson has shown his start is just starting to
rise.  Whether Jones sticks around next year as his back-up of Peterson
takes that job, we will arguably be better, maybe much better, at a very key
position, and better for quite a while.

* QB;  This position, I know, is debatable by a few of you, but my opinion
is that Rex will only get better as he continues to get more and more
experience.  He was pretty dreadful in a few games this year, but his great
games have outnumbered the pathetic ones, and I expect that trend to
continue as he seasons.  I truly think Rex will become a pro-bowl player
sooner rather than later, hell, he should have been one this year. Think
about that... He arguably could have been a pro-bowl QB this year.... and
he's going to get better... Bank on it.

*  Barrian, Bradley, Moose; Granted, Moose is getting a bit long in the
tooth, but honestly, you could arguably say the he's also the least
effective of the 3, which isn't dissing Moose as much as what it says about
the other two.  If Moos takes a hike next year, we either find another FA or
draft a blue chipper, but I finally see a solid receiving core for years to
come... And they'll only be getting better.

* TE;  Desmond Clarke has been outstanding this year, and when he hasn't,
it's been play calling rather than his play that has held him back.  He's an
8 year vet, so I think we can reasonably expect another year, maybe two, but
we'll have to address this, eventually, but this isn't a huge concern.

* O-line:  one of the better o-lines in the league, but one that we'll need
to reinforce this draft and off-season.  Good enough to be better than
average next year while getting our next generation o-line some experience.
But if we do it right, we're set.

* Special teams:  Do I need to elaborate?  Set for the foreseeable future.
Top 5 for the foreseeable future.

* Brown, O-gun, and Anderson:  Can't help but smile when I look at that
line-up.  Who starts next season?  Great problem to have, isn't it?

* DL:  No doubt, the line took a hit this year with the loss of Harris and
the problems with Tank.  Unfortunate.  The upside is the experience we get
the back-ups.  Next year, with Harris back, and with Tanks and whoever shows
to have provided the the best back-up contributions, I see this DL coming
back and being extremely effective for years to come with an occasional
draft pick for depth.  Harris is just getting started.  Tank, hopefully has
his problems behind him, and I see good things with Scott.

* LB's;  I wish I could just pencil in Urlacher *and* Briggs, and who knows,
maybe we'll get Briggs back.  If we do, problem solved and we have one of
the best linebacker squads in the league once again...It's not a done deal
that we won't.  If not, we'll have another priority to take care of, one
that will probably be the toughest to fix.  But how bad can a linebacker
squad be with Urlcaher?

* DB's;  When this unit is healthy, and when we have a pass rush (see;
Harris; missing), this is a very good, ball hawking unit that will ring an
opponents bell given the opportunity.  Manning, the FA, has looked awesome
this year, while Manning, the rookie has shown potential.  Vasher and
Tillman are still young and above average (IMHO).  I don't see any drop-off
next year or the year after.  If Brown comes back, I think he can contribute
for at least one more year... but his days are probably numbered and we may
have seen the last of him.  Too bad, because a healthy Brown would have been
a consistent pro-bowler and defensive QB.

Well, that's the way I see it.  If Angelo has another draft like the one he
had last year, look out, it's really going to interesting.

Go Bears!!!

-Behr