2008 Chicago Bears Season Preview

2008 Chicago Bears preview from MadduxSports.com. The NFC North is a division filled with question marks. Expect the NFL odds makers to have trouble setting lines on these teams, using a proven winners NFL picks will provide dividends early and often for the 2008 campaign.

2008 Chicago Bears Predictions
By Adam Barone

Rundown
After the release of Ricky Williams’ long-lost twin, running back Cedric Benson, the Bears could have the worst offense in the NFL. Suggesting that a guy who’s rushed for just under 1600 total yards for the first three years of his career is that big a part of Chicago’s offense is pathetic. His 1,593 yards and 10 touchdowns are about what the Bears would have liked to have gotten out of him for one season, not three. Rookie Matt Forte will likely be the main back, with veterans Adrian Peterson and Garrett Wolfe also getting some carries. The Bears could also sign another veteran like Kevin Jones, Ron Dayne, Shaun Alexander or even LaMont Jordan if he’s cut, but it’s not likely.

The Bears’ top offensive playmaker, Bernard Berrian, signed as a free agent with Minnesota. If you understand sarcasm, you’ll understand how much better Tarvaris Jackson is than Rex Grossman.

Muhsin Muhammad started to look about as old as Mr. Rogers last season, and was not re-signed.
The new starting receivers are former Dolphin and Bear Marty Booker, all-world kick returner Devin Hester, and former decent football player Brandon Lloyd.

Chicago hopes that Ron Turner, Lloyd’s former coach at the University of Illinois, can turn Lloyd’s unimpressive career around. In the past two seasons combined he’s caught 25 balls. Surely defensive coordinators will loose sleep creating new schemes to stop him.

Offensive linemen Ruben Brown and Fred Miller retired. Pick your poison at quarterback: “bullet-to-the-face Grossman” or “hit-by-a-bus Kyle Orton”. Yum.

The defense was a huge disappointment last season, finishing ranked 28th in yards allowed, but should be better. Tackle Dusty Dvoracek, maybe their best run stopper, and safety Mike Brown, a team leader, return after missing all of last season.

Draft Analysis
Offense—the Bears’ offensive line has been over the hill for the past few seasons and there’s a shortage of playmakers. Going into the draft every need for Chicago was on that side of the ball.

They chose Chris Williams, an offensive tackle from Vanderbilt, no. 14 overall. Williams has plenty of size and brains, and only allowed two sacks in his last two seasons at Vandy. Matt Forte, now the starting running back, was their second selection. Forte can make things happen downfield, Benson could not.

Earl Bennett out of Vanderbilt is the SEC’s all-time leading receiver. His lack of speed could be an issue.

Fourth round pick Craig Steltz out of LSU is a safety who fits the Bears’ Tampa-2 style defense perfectly.

The Bears had 12 total picks, five in the seventh round. Six picks went to offense, five to defense, and tight end Kellen Davis could be moved to defensive end.

Wide receiver Marcus Monk out of Arkansas could be a sleeper.

After viewing the Chicago Bears preview read up on the rest of the black and blue division teams including the Packers, Lions, and Vikings.

Related Pages:
Bears Official Site
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