1 reason every NFL team can win the Super Bowl
By Andrew Garda
Chicago Bears
The Chicago Bears completely fell apart in 2014. They had been dealing with defensive issues since Marc Trestman had taken over as head coach, but that side of the ball was aging anyway. The offense imploded though, and the whole thing went to pieces. Out with the old, in with John Fox.
If the Bears can manage to win the Super Bowl, it will be because Foxy managed to fix the problems on both sides with what is already there. The team brought in ten free agents—most of them on the defensive side of the ball—and jettisoned Brandon Marshall to kick things off. They allegedly tried to move quarterback Jay Cutler as well, but that didn’t work out.
On the defensive side of the ball, where they will run a 3-4, they added guys like Pernell McPhee, Antrel Rolle and Mason Foster, veterans who will step right into starting roles. Add them to Jared Allen, Ego Ferguson, Tom Jennings and Kyle Fuller and this defense looks like it could bounce back in short order if everyone is healthy.
Offensively Fox has to figure out two things: if Alshon Jeffery can be a No. 1 wide receiver and if Jay Cutler can give the team more than he has. The first question will be helped with the selection of rookie Kevin White who will start across from Jeffery. He’s going to have to prove he is a danger before the coverage evens out and away from Jeffery, but White is a tremendous player and should be fine after some adjustment.
The second question is harder to answer. While Fox wasn’t in Denver when Cutler was the Broncos quarterback, he’s heard enough around the building to be leery. Cutler is high maintenance with a less-than-high return and he costs a lot.
Fix is going to have to find a way to make him produce consistently.
If Fox can do that and the defense bounces back, the Bears could see the Lombardi Trophy and not just on TV.
Next: Atlanta Falcons