Bears Strategy at Wide Receiver a Risky One
There are plenty of good arguments on both sides of the debate regarding the Bears receiving corps. People are right when they say that Jay Cutler could use a primary receiver to take this offense to the next level. Others aren’t off base when they cite Matt Forte’s receiving ability and a tight end tandem as a reason the absence of a true number one is not a huge deal.
Looking back at recent Super Bowl winners, this might not be the best strategy for Chicago though. I mean that has to be the goal for this Bears squad, right? In a division that is up for grabs, a move like the one made for Cutler is designed to make you instant contenders. Sure, there is some time to develop some of the young guys, get Cutler settled, and get a receiver next year, but this defense isn’t getting any younger and will have to play a major role in any kind of run to and through the postseason.
There are very few champions in the last decade-plus who have had worse receiving situations than Chicago. Last year’s Steelers come to mind immediately, but Santonio Holmes and Hines Ward are much better than any of the Bears receivers, plus Pittsburgh had another factor working for them that sets teams without great receivers apart: an amazing defense.
After the Steelers, we’re looking at Plaxico, Harrison/Wayne, Hines Ward’s younger self, Isaac Bruce and Torry Holt, and a Rod Smith/Ed McCaffery combo that was solid for Denver. Even runner-ups sported guys like Fitzgerald and Boldin, Tim Brown and Jerry Rice, TO, Randy Moss, and Steve Smith.
There were also some teams that bucked the trend, but they all had something the Bears don’t. The Ravens, Steelers, and Bucs form a group of Super Bowl champs that didn’t wow anyone with their wideouts, but they had elite defenses and outstanding coaching. Throw the Patriots teams in there that won Super Bowls under the latter category as well. The point is, you need some kind of X-factor if you don’t have a great wide receiver and Forte, Olsen, and Clark only make up about an M-factor.
This isn’t to say that the Bears should sell the farm to pay for what’s left of the wide receiver free agent class, or that they don’t have a chance at a successful season. I suppose the defense has a chance to return to the form of a few years ago, but I wouldn’t count on it. They are also lacking in the special teams department as Devin Hester tries to be that number one receiver.
Thus ends your Bears doom and gloom. Go Lions.
Hey if nothing else, they still get to play Detroit twice and Brett Favre will probably be in the NFC North, so they will have a 50/50 chance of winning the division against the Packers.
Loading ...
