The Chicago Bears: A Look Ahead at Training Camp

After a less than satisfying season, the Chicago Bears are preparing to head into training camp with the hopes that some of the acquisitions that they made during the offseason pan out and help lead them into the playoffs. The coaching staff is already raving about free agent acquisition Julius Peppers as well as Chester Taylor and we haven’t even started training camp yet. That says something about the talent that they have brought in.

Having Peppers as a pass rushing threat this year will most certainly help the Bears out. The Bears have lacked a pure pass rushing threat (on the outside) for several seasons and adding a proven veteran pass rusher like Peppers will work wonders for the defense. It may also help reignite former Pro Bowl defensive tackle Tommie Harris who has struggled with injuries and personal problems that have hurt him on the football field. If Harris can get back to the way he was before this team could be dangerous on defense.

The offense may be a bit of a different story. The Bears are heading into the 2010 season with a new offensive coordinator and he (Mike Martz) has a new system that is going to emphasize the passing game much more than the Bears are used to. This has a direct effect on every single member of that offense from the quarterback all the way down to the center. Obviously the quarterback is going to have to throw the ball more, the tight ends are going to have to block more, the running backs are going to have to catch more passes and the line is going to have to hold their blocks a little longer. Can it be done?

If you were looking at last year’s team the answer would be no. There would be failures at several positions and they wouldn’t be able to sustain their blocks long enough to allow Cutler to pass the ball. But many of the same players on the offensive line will be back and playing once again so what will be different?

The scheme will be different of course and the Bears, despite the fact that the scheme may be more complicated on paper, could take well to it. In a typical Martz scheme, offensive linemen are asked to hold their blocks longer to help the quarterback have time to throw the ball. If pass blocking is going to be the name of the game (or what the offense does a majority of the time) then this group should be pretty well adept at doing that.

So as the Bears head into training camp fans are hoping and praying that they don’t have to go through a repeat of what this team has given them since going to the Super Bowl just three years ago. Things, on their face, appear much better than they did a year ago and as long as the players can pick up the new system (on offense) and perform well then this should be a much better team this year.

If they can’t pick it up and don’t play well this season then there will be wholesale changes on this team come the end of the season including the firing of head coach Lovie Smith as well as possible changes in the front office. Let’s just hope, as Bears fans, that they can turn things around and get back on track again.

Can someone say "incentive-laden contract "?

Nice piece by Monte Poole of the Oakland Tribune regarding the fact the Raiders should strongly consider bringing in T.O. You figure T.O. is embarrassed that he's remained on the market this long and let's be honest Oakland doesn't care about attitude as much as the other 31 teams. One thing though I wouldn't want to be Jason Campbell if he doesn't make T.O. his #1 target.

Kelly was a tough cover in college

While the guys at Pro Football Talk are all over the rumor the Redskins might cut Malcolm Kelly and how they blew it passing on DeSean Jackson, I can say I saw Kelly dominate in college and had all the makings of a #2 WR at worst. Injuries and a lack of a consistent offense did him in but I think he'll make the roster and will be interesting to see what McNabb does with him. If healthy Malcolm Kelly could still be a breakout performer.

Tampa Bay really #12th

I have to say I was more than surprised when I saw this story this morning Forbes says Bucs are 12th most valuable team, in the world | ProFootballTalk.com. I mean the Cowboys, Yankees, Redskins and Patriots all make sense but for Tampa Bay to be in the top 20 I'd have to say I'm certainly surprised and some what skeptical on what criteria they use to figure out this list.

Special Co-Host Gig this week on "The NY Sports Blog Radio Network" with FrankieTheSportsGuy

This past Sunday I filled in as co-host with Frankie the Sports Guy on NY Football Blogs. Take a listen as we discussed Jets football (gave a plug to my friend, John Conner) and NY Giants football with John Fennelly of Giants Football.com (even got his views on Nate Collins) and talked some fantasy football with Joe Dimaio of Fantasy Players Edge.com and the great cause they are part of this year. Take a listen here and look for a lot more from the site and radio show in the coming weeks as we get ready for the best time of the year. It's almost football time!!!

Seriously JaMarcus!!!!

Somewhere Ryan Leaf is breathing a sigh of relief as he no longer is the biggest bust of a QB since he was only the second pick of the NFL Draft. After seeing the following: JaMarcus Russell arrest was two months in the making | ProFootballTalk.com there is little doubt than Ryan Leaf is off the hook as the biggest QB bust of all time that title now belongs to Mr. Cough Syrup. What a waste of talent!!! Goes to show just how difficult draft is in the National Football League.