Chicago Bears: From Da to Duh?

They remain one of the most revered and storied franchises in the 95-year history of the National Football League.

And it was that long ago that the Chicago Bears were not only within one game of a third Super Bowl appearance but possibly on course for a 10th NFL title. In 2010, then-head coach Lovie Smith and his team played host to the Green Bay Packers in the NFC Championship Game. Smith’s club fell short at home that afternoon, 21-14.

Unfortunately for the Chicago faithful, the Bears haven’t been back to the playoffs since.

Jan 19, 2015; Lake Forest, IL, USA; New Chicago Bears head coach John Fox speaks during a press conference at Mugs Halas Auditorium. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports

Now the team has a new general manager (Ryan Pace) and a new head coach (John Fox), the latter Chicago’s third sideline leader in four years (Marc Trestman led the Bears to a combined 13-19 record from 2013-14).

The bottom line for the fan of the team from the Windy City is that this season, 30 years would have gone by since the Chicago Bears shuffled off to New Orleans and routed the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XX, 46-10.

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That legendary 1985 squad finished 15-1 and pitched two shutouts in the playoffs that year. It was led by head coach Mike Ditka and featured fellow Pro Football Hall of Famers such as running back Walter Payton, defensive linemen Richard Dent and Dan Hampton and middle linebacker Mike Singletary. The defense was coached by Buddy Ryan and also featured stars such as linebackers Otis Wilson and Wilber Marshall. Offensively, guard Jimbo Covert led a tough offensive line while quarterback Jim McMahon (when healthy) and wide receiver Willie Gault made their share of big plays.

Those are great memories but they keep becoming bigger ones every day. This past season, Chicago once again was loaded with talent and it all came apart to the tune of a 5-11 finish.

Fingers were pointed at quarterback Jay Cutler and a few of those were deserved. He would throw 28 touchdown passes but also turn over the football 24 times. Wide receivers Brandon Marshall and Alshon Jeffery weren’t quite themselves all year due to injuries and Matt Forte wound up setting an NFL record for receptions by a running back (102) in a season.

But let’s not bury the lead. In 2013, the Bears fell off the map in terms of defense. One year after allowing only 277 points and 25 offensive touchdowns, then-Marc Trestman’s team gave up a whopping 478 points and 47 offensive touchdowns.

Then-general manager Phil Emery was determined to fix what ailed the club, which actually scored the second-most points in the league that year. Free agency brought defensive ends Jared Allen, Lamarr Houston and Willie Young while the draft brought rookie defensive tackles Ego Ferguson and Will Sutton in the second- and third-round, respectively.

The results: Chicago allowed 442 points and 46 offensive touchdowns in 2014.

Sep 15, 2013; Baltimore, MD, USA; Cleveland Browns running back

Trent Richardson

(33) tackled by Baltimore Ravens linebacker

Pernell McPhee

(90) at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mitch Stringer-USA TODAY Sports

So here we go again. Pace and Fox are joined by new offensive coordinator Adam Gase (also coming over from the Denver Broncos) and new defensive coordinator Vic Fangio, late of the San Francisco 49ers. The team will switch to the 3-4 this season and free-agent pickups Pernell McPhee and veteran Antrel Rolle will be the new faces at outside linebacker and strong safety, respectively.

Of course, that also puts Allen, Houston and Young at outside linebacker, with Jeremiah Ratliff and Ferguson outside and Sutton at nose tackle up front. Are all of them suited for their new roles or does Pace have to look to the draft to find the right components that fit Fangio’s defense.

There’s better news in the secondary, where Rolle figures to bring little much-needed intensity. Cornerback Tim Jennings is a former Pro Bowler and 2014 first-round pick Kyle Fuller showed plenty of promise.

Still, does Fangio have the correct parts in place to chase and pressure the likes of Aaron Rodgers, Matthew Stafford and young Teddy Bridgewater?

Yes, Chicago’s offense deserves its share of the blame the last few years. But this is a franchise identified by defense and it wasn’t that long ago which linebackers Brian Urlacher (retired after 2012) and Lance Briggs (won’t be re-signed) and cornerback Charles Tillman (who missed 14 games in 2014 and is also unsigned) were leading this unit.

Then again, given the play of the Bears’ defensive unit the last two years, it already seems like ages ago. Fox and Fangio face a monstrous task indeed.

UPDATE: Late Tuesday afternoon, ChicagoBears.com announced the signings of defensive end Jarvis Jenkins and defensive tackle Ray McDonald, while Jen Lada of CSNChicago (via John Mullin of CSNChicago.com) announced the team had signed inside linebacker Mason Foster.

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