Between now and the end of August, TGS will offer up a quick snapshot of every NFL team heading into the 2015 regular season. Today, the Chicago Bears.
2014 in a nutshell: After a 3-3 start, the Bears limp to only two victories over the final 11 weeks of what was their worst season since 2004. The culprit? A sloppy, injury-ravaged offense.
Why 2015 could be different: According to Football Outsiders, only five teams were hit harder by injuries in 2014. The offensive line suffered quite immensely and both starting wide receivers weren’t themselves for large chunks of the season. They also have a new sheriff in town with John Fox replacing fired head coach Marc Trestman.
Major additions: Fox, pass-rusher Pernell McPhee, linebacker Mason Foster, safety Antrel Rolle and cornerback Tracy Porter give the defense some notable boosts.
Major losses: They shipped veteran starting receiver Brandon Marshall off to the Jets, giving mistake-prone quarterback Jay Cutler even less of a chance.
Breakout watch: Top-end 2014 draft picks Ego Ferguson and Will Sutton should be better as sophomores along that defensive line. Watch for Ferguson to really explode as a more natural fit within Vic Fangio’s 3-4 defense.
Position to watch: Can first-round pick Kevin White replace Marshall right from the get-go, enabling new undisputed No. 1 guy Alshon Jeffery to keep doing his thing? There aren’t a lot of quality options beyond that at the wide receiver position.
Prediction: Despite what we saw last year, this isn’t a five-win team. Still, without Marshall and with Cutler remaining at the helm, the Bears won’t be able to compete in the improving NFC North. They’ll still be lucky to finish 8-8.
