[bears9]

4. Chicago
I may not like how Jay Cutler babied his way out of Denver, but by Labor Day, the football world will have forgotten, and by Thanksgiving, the most popular baby name in Chicagoland will be Jay. (Unless it's Jerry, as in Angelo, the man who stuck his neck out and made this deal.) Cutler's a big-time player, and I suspect we'll find out over the next few years if he has nerves of steel and can win the big game.

Now, there's two things we don't know about Cutler and this offense. There's not a great receiver in the house and no promise of one on the way (Angelo should have guaranteed Torry Holt more money to get him to come to the Windy City). So Cutler's going to have to make do with the Devin Hesters and Rashied Davises, apparently. (Not that there's anything wrong with Hester. But he should be a third receiver, using his speed to game-break.)

Two: How good of a leader can Cutler be, coming in with the knock that he chafes on some teammates. It'll be interesting to see if he meshes well with Brian Urlacher; I don't take for granted that he will. Because of the Cutler factor and because I don't love the defense the way I did two or three years ago, I didn't want to leap the Bears over so many other teams. But then I went back and looked at their 2008 numbers. The bedrock stats for a good defense, I've always thought, are opponents yards per rush, turnovers forced and opponents' yards per pass. The yards per rush, 3.4, was excellent, third-best in the league. Turnovers forced, 32, was very good, second in the league. And yards per pass play by foes, 6.20, was eighth in the league. All good. If Cutler can lead an offense that puts up 400 points, only a point and a fraction more than a year ago, the Bears should win 12.

Pittsburgh Steelers,*N.Y. Giants*atop early NFL power rankings - Peter King - SI.com

I talk myself into pretty much everything the Bears do and I don't even think the Bears are the fourth best team in football. I have them about 7th or 8th. Anybody agree with the MMQB?

[Bette]

hmm, I dont see them as 4th best yet.
Tell me about your defense, what changes were made.

[bears9]

Originally Posted by Bette

hmm, I dont see them as 4th best yet.
Tell me about your defense, what changes were made.

Not many changes at all, basically the only new additions are the defensive players they drafted. Jason Gilbert and Henry Melton on the D-Line and DJ Moore the corner from Vandy. So it's basically the same defense as last year with Tommie Harris healthy. I think the big thing that could get them up to 4 is all the reciever question marks are good. I'm pretty sure Hester and Earl Bennatt will be good, Johny Knox the rookie for Abalein Christian has look great. But other than those three I'm not sure. I went over it in my head and I had them 9th.

[Bette]

According to your first post and King's words, the defense was pretty darn good last year.
Cutler has the same problems Orton did last year, still not a great receiver. So I dont think their offense will be able to improve them as much as King says.
Your number is probably closer.

[Full Cougar]

All you need to know is that the Giants are top 3.

[bears9]

Originally Posted by Bette

According to your first post and King's words, the defense was pretty darn good last year.
Cutler has the same problems Orton did last year, still not a great receiver. So I dont think their offense will be able to improve them as much as King says.
Your number is probably closer.

I think the key differnce between Orton and Cutler is Cutler make good reciever great because he's so good. Orton needed them thrown in his lap or they had no elite wideouts. Eddie Royal doesn't half the season he does last year without Cutler. I think Hester will be better because all of the deep balls won't five yards short. Earl Bennatt and Cutler were teammates at Vandy they will be a good duo. Than once again, watch out for Johny Knox. The offense will be a lot, but 4th in the league better? No

[Bette]

Originally Posted by Full Cougar

All you need to know is that the Giants are top 3.

No, without Burress and Toomer, Eli is going to look like the Eli of a couple of years ago.