Can the Chicago Bears Get It Right at Wide Receiver?
Published by Bryan Dietzler on June 29, 2010
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Chicago Bears
Going into the 2009 season, many fans and media felt that the Bears had one of the weakest wide receiving groups in the NFL.
Many felt that despite the fact the Bears acquired a stud quarterback like Jay Cutler, the team wouldn’t get anywhere because of the inexperience and inability at the wide receiver position.
Sure, there were some problems getting on the same page with the wide receivers (and Cutler) last season, but as the season progressed, we discovered that the wide receivers were a good group, although developing, that would eventually be capable of handling the work outlined for them.
Enter offensive coordinator Mike Martz. Martz, famous for putting together the offense known as the “Greatest Show on Turf” with the St. Louis Rams, was hired to turn the Bears offense around and get it back on track. Knowing his track record, Martz is going to throw the ball a lot, and that involves this group of wide receivers.
If you talk to Martz, he says that he is very pleased with his group of wide receivers. Granted, he’s not going to say anything negative about his group of young players, but you get the feeling that big things are going to happen with the Bears in the passing game.
A lot of things have to happen in order for the Bears to have a better passing game this season, and a few of these things don’t have anything to do with wide receivers, or quarterbacks for that matter.
For one, the Bears will need to get solid play out of their suspect offensive line. The offensive line struggled with penalties, pass protection, and run blocking last season, and even though they are returning most of the same people on that unit, things should be better for them in 2010.
Another thing that must happen to make sure that the Bears offense is a success is good blocking—not just by the offensive line, but also by the running backs, fullbacks, and tight ends. All three positions must block in Martz’s offense, so it’s important that everyone does his part. If they don’t get help from those guys, then Cutler is not going to have enough time to throw the ball, and things aren’t going to work out well for the Bears.
Looking at this group of wide receivers, Devin Hester, Devin Aromashodu, and Earl Bennett look like the three guys that are going to get the most playing time.
Hester, although slow in doing it, has started to look more and more like a No. 1 wide receiver and could have a breakout season this year. Aromashodu really came on strong at the end of the season, and with more reps in training camp, he could end up being Cutler’s favorite target and may end up being one of the better receivers in the NFC North.
Cutler and Bennett had played before when they were both at Vanderbilt, so there was already some kind of chemistry there. While problems at the quarterback position hampered their development, the two did connect on several key plays last season and should be able to continue to develop further this season in Martz’s offense.
One guy that had a solid season at the wide receiver position last year and deserves more playing time is Johnny Knox. Knox has great speed, and with some of the experience gained last year (and what he will learn in training camp), he could help make defenses honest this year by stretching the field and making them worry about his speed. The new system should fit a guy like him very well, and he should be very productive in 2010.
Let’s not forget Juaquin Iglesias, a player that didn’t see any action in 2009 but could end up seeing significant time in 2010. Without having him play last year, it’s hard to tell exactly what the Bears have in Iglesias, but already Martz is saying positive things about him and says that he will get plenty of looks in training camp.
Iglesias could figure in as a backup receiver that sees some time in special packages for the Bears (and on special teams). He is definitely someone to keep an eye on in training camp.
The Bears have brought in other players at the position during the offseason and still have veteran wide receiver Rashied Davis there just in case, but in all reality, how much longer can he last with the team? This should be his last year in a Bears uniform.
Of those players the Bears have brought in (that weren’t part of the team last season), there could be one or two that may stick on the roster at the end of training camp. Those guys include Vic Hall, Freddie Barnes, Eric Peterman, and Antonio Robinson. Do any of these players have a chance at making the active roster?
Probably not. The Bears have so much talent and numbers ahead of them that it’s likely some of these guys will be relegated to the practice squad or cut to make them available to other teams in the NFL that might be able to use their services. Perhaps as training camp goes on we will be able to see more out of these guys and determine if they would be a good fit with the team.
So, looking at this group, you can say that the Bears are much more talented at the wide receiver position than many people give them credit for. This is a solid group with some experience, and with the right offense (which should be there now in Chicago), as well as solid and consistent play from their quarterback, the wide receivers for the Bears should have a great season in 2010.
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