The Chicago Bears defense needs to find some shiny new players under their Christmas tree. The need for strong defensive players is one of the reasons why the Bears will spend yet another season watching the NFL playoffs from the couch.
While the holiday season is on its way out of our consciousness, there are still teams that have needs to fulfill. The Bears are no exception. They have a few serious needs to address if they want to change their fortune next year to be different from this year and seasons prior. All season long, the holes on the Bears were a disadvantage. Presently, in Week 16, the Bears have their wish list prepared and ready. Once the offseason takes place, this team may take on a dramatic change.
An ill-timed losing streak guarantees that the Bears will finish the season under.500. It was promising that they entered Week 13 with a 5-6 record, welcoming the San Francisco 49ers in a game that they were favored to win for the first time.
Three losses in a row exposed a problem on both sides of the ball. The Chicago Bears wish list is a lengthy one.
Finding an Inside Linebacker to Lead in the 3-4
The Shea McClellin experiment has failed miserably.
Considered a reach when the Bears drafted him four years ago, McClellin had the upside that makes teams want to take a chance on him. Why he has not worked out at this point could be tied to the previous coaching regimes.
This is the only thing Shea McClellin is good for: cheap entertainment https://t.co/DLquHHgJow
— Justin Breen (@BrEpicBreen) December 20, 2015
Shea McClellin was an outside linebacker coming out of Boise State. The Bears coaches at the time, namely Lovie Smith, saw him as a pure pass-rusher. McClellin never fit into the 4-3 based Cover-2 defensive scheme. The Bears reaching on McClellin and not putting him in his position that best suits him, set the franchise back a few years. Outside linebacker Chandler Jones was on the board when the Bears reached for Shea McClellin. Jones has turned into an All-Pro player, while McClellin has been just another guy.
This upcoming offseason is when the Bears must address their biggest need: outside linebacker. Christian Jones will likely return and get pushed for one of the spots on the defensive front-seven. He should still remain with the team because of his inexpensive contract and his potential value on special teams. Shea McClellin is a free agent, one that the Bears could bring back on a “prove it, or else” mantra. Just because they may bring him back it does not change the obvious. There is a guarantee that the top draft priority will be an inside linebacker to wreak havoc on an opposing team’s offense.
A Salute to the 2015 Alabama Seniors: Reggie Ragland https://t.co/FYwYNzo2UT pic.twitter.com/8pNn9BLxwF
— Roll ‘Bama Roll (@rollbamaroll) December 19, 2015
According to Walter Football, Notre Dame’s Jaylon Smith, Alabama’s Reggie Ragland and Scooby Wright III from Arizona are the top 3-4 inside linebackers in the upcoming draft. Expect the scouting team for the Bears to be very busy during the next three weeks as college bowl season really kicks into gear.
Figuring Out the Offensive Line
This is how #Bears LG Matt Slauson warms up in 80 degree temperature in Tampa pic.twitter.com/bC5oKr2m8u
— Zach Zaidman (@ZachZaidman) December 27, 2015
Left guard Matt Slauson is getting praise for keeping the Bears’ offensive linemen together. The times when Slauson had to move over to center seemed to solidify the line. First, opening day starting center Will Montgomery went down and Slauson pitched in until third round draftee Hroniss Grasu was ready to step in. Grasu gets in, struggles, then gets hurt and Slauson steps back in at center.
This was around the time when the Bears started reeling off victories. Quarterback Jay Cutler stayed upright with Slauson under center, telling the rest of the offensive line what to watch out for. Once Slauson moved back to left guard, with Grasu snapping the Football to Cutler, the offensive line instantly got worse, leading Bleacher Report to believe that it is actually the O-line which is the Bears’ weakest link .
Kyle Long tells us he thinks OG Matt Slauson deserved to make the Pro Bowl.
— Jeff Dickerson (@DickersonESPN) December 23, 2015
The problem with the O-line is that beyond Matt Slauson, there are players who are learning on the job. Even two-time Pro Bowler Kyle Long is learning how to handle the right tackle spot – a position he has never played.
Left tackle Charles Leno Jr has filled in decently playing a position that he has limited experience in. Nobody expects him to become an All-Pro anytime soon.
Then there is Hroniss Grasu. It is the center who makes the calls for the offensive line, usually. The rookie has sometimes seemed overwhelmed by the responsibility, while being too light to play the position. He will have to gain about 15 pounds of muscle to get stronger, and especially have a stronger base. That way he will not be a pushover for opposing defenders. Look for the Bears to also add offensive linemen to their wish list of holes to fill during the offseason.
Finding a Receiver Help
Say what you will about the Bears’ receivers. Even with adding the franchise tag to Alshon Jeffrey and the pending debut of a healthy Kevin White, the Bears must give Jay Cutler some help.
When Jeffrey is able to play, he is one of the top wide receivers in the league. His talent is undeniable. The soft tissue injuries make you wonder if he will ever be worth a huge investment. As for White, he is an unknown at the position.
Adding a veteran receiver via free-agency or selecting one in the draft should be a priority here. The Bears need to find a receiver who can add depth and handle the return duties. It would not be a surprise if the Bears sign a free agent and use one of their nine draft picks on a pass-catcher. They are in the position to shore up an area that could help Cutler be at his best.
The Chicago Bears are not far off of where they want to be. They just have to fill out a few holes. As the season is coming to a close, their offseason wish list is growing. This will be an interesting time for the Bears’ front office.
[Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images Sport]
