They Are Who We Thought They Were (or Weren't)

by Joe Persinger
@Brew_Mastr_Joe on Twitter


Chicago Bear's football.  Run the ball and great defense.

Is that why we only see middle linebackers and running backs make the hall of fame? 

If this worked for the Bear's, then what have the Bear's been up to for the last twenty-five years??   

Brian Urlacher is Hall of Fame bound, but where's that running back to compliment him?
 
Butkus had Sayers.  Singletary had Sweetness.  Urlacher hasn't been so fortunate.  

In his tenure with the Chicago Bear's he has had five running backs play on the other side of the ball (And I'm just counting the starters).  Matt Forte is his fifth and hopefully last.

But this is all of a bunch of hooey.  

The NFL is now a passing league and the Bear's are now a passing team.

And why does it seem every quarterback we bring in, forgets how to plant their feet and throw the "rock" accurately??

Rick Mirer

After Ditka was fired, Jim Harbaugh leaving via free agency, and Erik Kramer going down with a neck injury, the Bear's were desperate for a quarterback.  Let's take a look back at some of the desperate moves dating back to recently resigned Pitt coach Dave Wannstedt.  

In 1997, the Bear's traded away a first round draft pick for Seattle Seahawk's quarterback Rick Mirer and signed him to a three year deal.  He completed 51% of his passes for 420 yards and threw six interceptions in his one season with the Bears.

The Bear's cut him the following season. 

Wasted Draft Pick Cade McNoun

Cade McNown  was drafted 12th overall in the 1999 draft and projected to be the next "Jim McMahon".  

This moron couldn't plant his feet and lacked arm strength.  Dick Jauron didn't help by having him rotate offensive series with Jim Miller either.  After being declared a bust, he was traded away in 2001, and like Mirer, faded into obscurity.

D'oh! 

The next two quarterback moves were made in 2003 by now, general manager Jerry Angelo. 

Kordell Stewart was released by the Pittsburgh Steelers and paid a visit to Chicago and signed a two year deal.  

Kordell Stewert

A mobile quarterback with a decent throwing arm, he played his way to the bench and out of Chicago by throwing a game changing interception against the Green Bay Packers.  Ending the Bear's playoffs hopes for the year.

He was released by the Bear's the following season.  
 
Rex Grossman took over as quarterback and found himself on the injured list for all sixteen games in the 2004 season, leaving the defense to carry it's three no name quaterbacks.  The Bear's were out of playoff contention by week eight.

Over the next two seasons we started to learn who Rex Grossman really was.  Or who he wasn't.  You never knew which Rex was going to show up,  injured Rex?  Good Rex?  Bad Rex?    

It seems the Bear's have tried everything to find a consistent quarterback in the last thirteen years and have nothing to show for it.

That is, if you don't count the wasted draft picks and millions of wasted dollars.  

After the 2008 season, things were looking grim quarterback wise.  With Rex on his way to free agency and Kyle Orton lacking the arm strength to throw a good vertical pass, the Bear's were at a crossroad.

Then Josh McDaniels gets hired by the Broncos.  This was a key move for the Bears.

The Bears traded Kyle Orton 2009 and 2010 first round draft pick and another 2009 third round draft pick for Pro-bowl quarterback Jay Cutler.  (Thank you Josh McDaniels)

Finally, a PROVEN pro-bowl quarterback who can throw the ball down field and most importantly, make an impact on offense.    

After the acquisition of Jay Cutler, the culture toward the "Chicago Bear's quarterback" changed.

Jay Cutler

Without a offensive line and run game to keep defenses on their toe's, the Bear's just sat back in the pocket and let Cutler sling the ball.  

Many bad decisions and twenty seven interceptions later, it was time to find another approach.   

Rick Mirer, Cade McNown, Kordell Stewert, and "bad" Rex Grossman.  Now, Jay Cutler?
 
As week thirteen in the NFL rolls by, the Bear's are beginning to find their identity on offense.  A balanced run and pass attack that is in the game to chew time off the clock on NOT turn the ball over.  

The only thing we ask, as fans, is to see small bursts of improvement every week.  

The defense looks as fresh as ever, creating turnovers, and taking the ball back at key points in the game. 
 
Just don't tell me the Bear's are a rush first team anymore.  If anything, we use the run to set the pass up and try to keep a balanced rushing/passing attack.
 

The original home of the Chicago Bears, Wrigley Field.

 It's all about the pass.




The Bear's are just one offensive weapon away from having an explosive offensive attack.  If we had that "big" guy that could go up and get the ball, were talking about adding another dimension to this offense in a third down and red zone situations.   

I hear Larry Fitzgerald's contract is up after 2011 season.  I'm just saying.