Chicago Bears 2010 Season Preview, Predictions Picks & Odds
With the NFL Football season just around the corner, we are providing season previews for all 32 teams to give you the betting edge. Follow the best NFL Football Handicappers as they analyze the the Chicago Bears in this 2010 season preview. Use our comprehensive and insider info to bet successfully on the NFL in our recommend sportsbooks.View the rest of our 2010 NFL Season Previews here.
Chicago Bears 2009 NFL Record: 7-9 Home: 5-3 Away: 2-6
Chicago Bears 2010 Preview
The Chicago Bears have finished out of the playoffs for three straight seasons, and if it happens again, heads will roll. Since losing to the Colts in Super Bowl XLI, the Bears have gone 23-25. While there have been no ultimatums, it is assumed that another nonplayoff season will be the last for coach Lovie Smith and his staff, and the purge could reach all the way to general manager Jerry Angelo. The Bears made the biggest free agency splash in franchise history, going on an unprecedented one-day shopping spree that netted defensive end Julius Peppers, running back Chester Taylor and tight end Brandon Manumaleuna to contracts that could be worth as much as $119 million, including a potential $91.5 million deal for Peppers, easily the biggest prize of this year’s free agent class.
2010 Chicago Bears Quarterbacks
If he can accept the often harsh coaching of Martz, Jay Cutler could flourish in an offense that was a disappointment last year. No one was more of a disappointment than Cutler, the supposed franchise quarterback, who flung an NFL-worst 26 interceptions. But he remains a Pro Bowl talent because of his rocket arm, accuracy and knack for moving in the pocket and buying time. There isn’t a pass route in anyone’s playbook that Cutler can’t throw with authority. But he has yet to prove himself as a leader or a winner. Cutler has not led a team to a winning season in the NFL or in college. He is still seen as aloof and has a reputation as a finger-pointer. But he might have grown up some last season. Although there were many opportunities to blame an inexperienced group of wide receivers and a mediocre line, Cutler did not throw anyone under the bus. It will be interesting to see how he works with Martz, who has orchestrated some of the most productive NFL offenses in recent years, but his tough coaching could alienate Cutler, and it ren1ains to be seen if the Bears’ quarterbacks room is big enough to house two massive egos. Backup Caleb Hanie, entering his third year out of Colorado State, has impressed with his athleticism and ability to make plays on the run, but most of that has been demonstrated in the preseason.
2010 Chicago Bears Running Backs
Taylor was brought in to complement and compete with Matt Forte, whose production plummeted last season after an encouraging rookie campaign. Forte seemed a step slower than he was in 2008, but he didn’t get much help from his blockers. He still caught 57 passes for 471 yards, but he needed 258 carries to gain 929 yards (3.6-yard average). Taylor is 30 but has low miles because he has been the feature back in only one of his eight NFL seasons. Like Forte, Taylor is a versatile back, combining inside and outside running skills with good hands and blocking ability. Kahlil Bell was activated off the practice squad after 10 weeks last season and impressed in limited duty as a rookie. He rushed for 220 yards on 40 carries for a healthy 5.5-yard average. Bell could move past Garrett Wolfe, who has struggled to find a niche, as the team’s No.3 runner.
2010 Chicago Bears Receivers
The Bears resisted the temptation to bring in a veteran wide receiver last year, instead letting their young players get valuable playing time. That approach seemed to work. Devin Hester caught 57 passes for a team-best 757 yards; Earl Bennett caught 54 passes for 717 yards; Johnny Knox caught 45 for 527; and Devin Aromashodu emerged late in the season. The arrow is still pointing up on all four players. Hester might never become a No.1 receiver in the NFL, but his speed and elusiveness will always make him a big-play weapon. Bennett, who played with Cutler for one season at Vanderbilt, was vastly improved in his second season. His 54 catches were 54 more than his rookie season. Knox combines excellent speed with soft hands. The second-year player still has much to learn about route-running, but he answered questions about his ability to take a hit. Aromashodu is one of the Bears’ tallest receivers at 6’2″, and Cutler has made it known that he values a big target who can stretch the field. Manumaleuna is the big, blocking tight end Martz wanted. Greg Olsen is the tight end the Bears drafted in the first round in 2007 with the idea of making him one of the centerpieces of the offense. But the tight end has not traditionally been a staple of Martz’s passing offense, so it remains to be seen if Olsen’s role as a pass-catcher diminishes.
2010 Chicago Bears Offensive Line
Chris Williams, a first-round pick out of Vanderbilt in 2008, is now entrenched at left tackle, Olin Kreutz is back for his 13th year at center and right guard Roberto Garza is back for his fifth straight year of playing next to Kreutz. Garza is a blue-collar journeyman who works well next to Kreutz, the six-time Pro Bowler whose play was adversely affected last year by an injured Achilles’ tendon that required offseason surgery. Frank Omiyale started the ’09 season at left guard, was benched for four games, came back and showed improvement. But he has been switched to right tackle, which is where he has the most experience and should be a better fit. That leaves the left guard spot open. Josh Beekman has started 20 games there but lacks some size and ability to anchor. Experienced Kevin Shaffer filled in at right tackle last season but is no longer considered a quality starter. James Marten adds depth at right tackle.
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2010 Chicago Bears Defense
Peppers is expected to make everyone on the defense better. He has 81 sacks in eight seasons, including 25 in the past two, giving the team an immediate upgrade in a deficient area. It remains to be seen whether the Bears will use Peppers exclusively at one end spot or move him back and forth to exploit matchups. But the departure of last year’s starting ends, Alex Brown (cut) and Adewale Ogunleye (free agency), leave some holes to fill. Occasional pass-rush pressure comes fronl Mark Anderson, who will probably share with Israel Idonije whichever end position Peppers doesn’t claim. Anderson has not been a consistent threat since getting 12 sacks as a rookie in 2006, and Idonije has been a solid backup but never a full-time starter. Marcus Harrison is expected to push for the starting job at nosetackle, next to 3 technique tackle Tommie Harris. But Harrison will have to play much better than he did last year to take the job from Anthony Adams, whom the Bears try every year to replace, but who ultimately plays better than his challengers. The Bears will continue to hope for a return to Pro Bowl form frOlll Harris, but they’ve been waiting for about three years now.
This was the deepest position on the club last season, and that depth was put to the test when opening-day starters Brian Urlacher (dislocated wrist) and Pisa Tinoisamoa (knee) combined to play approximately one full game all season between them. Nick Roach, on the strong side in place of Tinoisanloa, and Hunter Hillenmeyer, in the middle for Urlacher, stepped in and performed well, but the Bears still missed Urlacher’s leadership and big-play ability. The Bears are counting on his return to form. Tinoisamoa will have to win the job back from Roach, who tied for the team lead with 10 tackles for a loss. On the weak side, Lance Briggs has been voted to four straight Pro Bowls and stepped up as a leader in Urlacher’s absence. He shows great range against the run and can rush the passer and drop into coverage when necessary.
The Bears have endured 40 lineup changes at the safety positions since Smith became head coach in 2004, and they are eager to achieve some continuity there. The post-draft trade for Carolinas Chris Harris probably means he’ll be the starting strong safety. Al Malava started 13 games last season as a rookie, including 10 at strong safety, but he’ll have to win the job again this time around. Malava is a physical player but somewhat lacking in coverage. Danieal Manning started 10 games at free safety last year and has 40 starts since moving into the lineup as a rookie in 2006, but his performance has not matched his excellent physical tools. Third-round pick Major Wright will compete at free safety, but he’ll have to climb over such veterans as Manning, Josh Bullocks and Craig Steltz. The corners are set with Charles Tillman and Zackary Bowman, who are big, physical hitters who will help in run support and have the size to match up with bigger receivers. Depth isn’t great, but Corey Graham and undersized Tim Jennings both have starting experience.
Chicago Bears 2010 Season Prediction
The Bears are a better team than last year, but they might not be good enough to get to the postseason from a division that also includes the Vikings and Packers.
We predict that the Chicago Bears will finish 3rd in the NFC North, with a record of 8-8.
Chicago Bears Betting
NFC North Odds: +300 NFC Conference Odds: 16-1 Super Bowl Odds: 35-1
Chicago Bears Five-Year Win Betting Trends
2005: 11 2006: 13 2007: 7 2008: 9 2009: 7
Bet on the Chicago Bears
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