53-year old Bears’ head coach Lovie Smith had the Bears on the brink of getting back to the Super Bowl last year.  But, Jay Cutler got injured and the Bears lost the NFC Championship at Soldier Field to the Packers, 21-14.  The Bears had a huge year in 2010 as they were 11-5 during the regular season.  They still have the talent to compete for a NFC North title again in 2011.  The Bears are now 63-49 (56.3%) under Lovie Smith during the regular season in his first 7 years on the job.  The Bears are also 3-3 (50%) on Smith’s watch in the playoffs.  I think Smith is going to coach up his Bears once again in 2011.

I just can’t see an scenario where offensive coordinator Mike Martz will run the ball more in 2011 than they did in 2010.  That being said, 25-year old Matt Forte is likely to have a heavy workload.  Forte played in 16 games (all starts) for the Bears last year and he carried the ball 237 times for 1,069 yards (4.5 ypc) with 6 TD runs.  He also caught 51 passes for 547 yards (10.7 avg) with 3 TD grabs last year.  Forte is a great all-around player as he is a good runner and receiver, which allows the Bears to keep him on the field most of the time.  Forte has now played in 48 games (all starts) in his first three years with the Bears and he has carried the ball 811 times for 3,236 yards (4.0 ypc) with 18 TD runs.  He has also caught 171 passes for 1,495 yards (8.7 avg) with 7 TD grabs so far in his NFL career.

28-year old Marion Barber will likely give Matt Forte a break whenever he needs one in 2011.  Barber played in 13 games (10 starts) for the Cowboys last year and he carried the ball 113 times for 374 yards (3.3 ypc) with 4 TD carries.  He also caught 11 passes for 49 yards (4.5 avg) last year.  Barber could thrive with a change of scenery and that is what the Bears are hoping here.  Barber has now played in 88 games (41 starts) in his first six years in the NFL and he has carried the ball 1,042 times for 4,358 yards (4.2 ypc) with 47 TD runs.  He also has caught 174 passes for 1,280 yards (7.4 avg) with 6 TD grabs in his NFL career.  The Bears will likely benefit from signing this battering ram.

31-year old Chester Taylor might have a hard time getting on the field in 2011.  He played in 16 games (1 start) for the Bears last year and he carried the ball 112 times for 267 yards (2.4 ypc) with 3 TD carries.  Taylor also caught 20 passes for 139 yards (7.0 avg) last season.  He looks like he’s running out of gas very quickly.  Taylor has now played in 139 games (33 starts) in his first 9 years in the NFL and he has carried the ball 1,140 times for 4,663 yards (4.1 ypc) with 25 TD runs.  He also has caught 285 passes for 2,233 yards (7.8 avg) with 6 TD grabs in his NFL career.

24-year old Kahlil Bell is trying to get back into the good graces of the Bears.  He didn’t play at all for the Bears last year.  He has played in 7 games (0 starts) in his first two years with the Bears and he has carried the ball 40 times for 220 yards (5.5 ypc).  Bell has also caught 1 pass for 4 yards in his NFL career.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE BEARS RBS IN 2011:  B

The Bears have improved in the off-season on both the offensive line and at WR, which should make 28-year old Jay Cutler a better QB.  He took a lot of heat for not coming back into last year’s NFC Championship Game after he was injured.  I look for him to be very motivated this year to have a great season for the Bears.  Cutler played in 15 games (all starts) for the Bears last year and he completed 261 of 432 passes (60.4%) for 3,274 yards with 23 TD passes and 16 INTs (86.3 QB Rating).  Cutler also carried the ball 50 times for 232 yards (4.6 ypc) with 1 TD run last year.  Cutler won’t likely get treated like a pinata in games this year, and if he has time to throw the ball, he’s going to make a lot of big plays for the Bears this year.  Cutler has now played in 68 games (all starts) in his first five years in the NFL and he has completed 1,359 of 2,207 passes (61.6%) for 15,964 yards with 104 TD passes and 79 INTs (84.3 QB Rating).  Cutler has also carried the ball 203 times for 828 yards (4.1 ypc) with 5 TD runs in his NFL career.  Cutler is 34-34 (50%) during the regular season as a starting QB so far in his NFL career.

25-year old Caleb Hanie will be the Bears’ #2 QB in 2011.  He gave a good effort in the NFL Championship Game last year when Cutler went down to injury but it just wasn’t good enough to win the game.  Hanie played in 2 games (0 starts) for the Bears last year and he completed 5 of 7 passes (71.4%) for 55 yards with 0 TD passes and 0 INTs (94.3 QB Rating).  He also carried the ball 1 time for -1 yard last year.  Hanie has now played in 5 games (0 starts) in his first two years in the NFL and he has completed 8 of 14 passes (57.1%) for 66 yards with 0 TD passes and 1 INT (39.6 QB Rating).  He has also carried the ball 1 time for -1 yard in his career.

23-year old rookie QB Nathan Enderle was hand picked by offensive co-ordinator Mike Martz as a developmental project.  Enderle was a fifth round pick out of Idaho in last April’s NFL Draft.  The Bears are hoping to be able to bring Enderle along slowly.

23-year old undrafted rookie Trevor Vittatoe out of UTEP will be the #4 QB when training camp begins.  The only way he likely moves up is if one of the other QBs on the roster get injured.  If he impresses in the pre-season, the Bears might ink him to the practice squad.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE BEARS QBS IN 2011:  B

23-year old WR Johnny Knox was outstanding on kickoff returns last season.  He played in 15 games for the Bears last season and he returned 32 kickoffs for 927 yards (29.0 avg) with 1 TD (it was a 102-yarder).  It will be interesting to see if the special teams coach or the offensive co-ordinator win out about Knox.  After all, Knox could be the Bears’ #1 WR in 2010.

28-year old safety Danieal Manning is a back up safety for the Bears and he’s also a solid return man.  He played in 15 games for the Bears last season and he returned 28 kickoffs for 744 yards (26.6 avg).  Manning has now played in 61 games in his NFL career and he has returned 68 kickoffs for 1,895 yards (27.9 avg) with 1 TD return.  If the Bears choose to only play Johnny Knox on offense then Manning will be the starter on kickoff returns.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE KICKOFF RETURNERS OF THE BEARS in 2010:  A

Only three positions on the offensive line appear to be locked up before training camp with battles looming at left guard and right tackle.  The left tackle will be Chris Williams.  Williams started part of the season at RT before moving to left tackle to replace the injured Orlando Pace.  Williams had a lot of penalties last season and he will need to improve his pass protection or Jay Cutler is going to need eyes in the back of his head.  But, Williams is a very good run blocker which is something to build on.  LG will feature a battle between Josh Beekman (who started all 16 games for the Bears two years ago) and Johan Asiata.  Center Olin Kreutz is the anchor of the offensive line as he has been one of the best centers in the NFL for a long time.  RG Roberto Garza is a masher in the run game as he’s just plain nasty.  At right tackle the Bears will decide between Kevin Shaffer (a superior run blocker) and Frank Omiyale (a better pass blocker).  With Mike Martz calling the plays I would put my money on Omiyale starting the year at right tackle.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE BEARS O-LINE in 2010:  C

52-year old head coach Lovie Smith needs to get the Bears back on a winning track if he’s going to keep his job.  The Bears were a huge disappointment last season as they were 7-9 (43.8%).  Smith has now compiled a 52-44 (54.2%) record during the regular season and he’s 2-2 (50%) in the post season.  Smith did lead the Bears to a Super Bowl in 2006 but that can only buy him so much time if the Bears continue to underachieve.

27-year old kicker Robbie Gould has been fantastic over the years despite having to kick in some really rough conditions.  Gould played in 16 games last season for the Bears and he connected on 24 of 28 field goals (85.7%).  He also made all 33 of his extra point attempts as he finished up with 105 points last year.  Gould has now played in 77 games in his NFL career and he has made 134 of 156 field goals (85.9%).  Gould is also 173 of 174 on extra points as he has 575 points in his career with the Bears.  With Mike Martz now calling the plays this season look for Gould to be very busy again in 2010.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE BEARS KICKERS in 2010:  A

24-year old Devin Hester will likely be the Bears’ #1 WR in 2010.  He played in 13 games (12 starts) for the Bears last season and he caught 57 passes for 757 yards (13.3 avg) with 3 TD grabs.  He has now played in 60 games (20 starts) in his NFL career and he has caught 128 passes for 1,721 yards (13.4 avg) with 8 TD grabs.  Hester has also carried the ball 19 times for 50 yards (2.6 ypc) in his NFL career.  He has only played 3 years at WR for the Bears and I think this season could be his best to date.

23-year old Johnny Knox was a nice surprise for the Bears last season as a rookie.  He played in 15 games (0 starts) for the Bears last season and he caught 45 passes for 527 yards (11.7 avg) with 5 TD grabs.  Knox might really explode in his second season for the Bears with Mike Martz calling the plays.

26-year old Devin Aromashodu really stepped up late last season for the Bears.  He played in 10 games (2 starts) for the Bears last season and he caught 24 passes for 298 yards (12.4 avg) with 4 TD grabs.  Aromashodu has now played in 16 games (3 starts) in his NFL career and he has caught 31 passes for 394 yards (12.7 avg) with 4 TD grabs.  Jay Cutler was on the same wave length with Aromashodu late last season and I expect that to carry over in 2010 for the Bears.

23-year old Earl Bennett really stepped up last season for the Bears.  He played in 16 games (15 starts) for the Bears last season and he caught 54 passes for 717 yards (13.3 avg) with 2 TD grabs.  Bennett didn’t catch any passes in 10 games as a rookie in 2008 for the Bears.  The Bears hope Bennett’s play last season was just a glimpse of things to come.

31-year old Rashied Davis didn’t do much last season for the Bears.  He played in 16 games (0 starts) for the Bears last season and he caught 5 passes for 35 yards (7.0 avg).  He has now played in 76 games (15 starts) in his five years with the Bears and he has caught 79 passes for 948 yards (12.0 avg) with 4 TD grabs.  Davis might have a tough time making the Bears out of training camp.

Juaquin Iglesius didn’t show much as a rookie last season.  He played in only 1 game (0 starts) in which he didn’t catch any passes.  He does have nice size at 6’1″, 205 pounds but he will have to show something this season if he wants to keep getting paid to play football.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR BEARS WRs in 2010:  C+

One of the first things new offensive co-ordinator Mike Martz had his hands in was signing 30-year old Brandon Manumaleuna who played for him with the Rams.  Manumaleuna played in 16 games (5 starts) for the Chargers last season and he caught 5 passes for 13 yards (2.6 avg).  He has now played in 142 games (90 starts) in his NFL career and he has caught 110 passes for 965 yards (8.8 avg) with 2 TD grabs.  Manumaleuna was brought in because of his blocking both in the passing and the running games.

25-year old Greg Olsen had a really solid season for the Bears in 2009 but Martz’ new offense doesn’t call for a lot of catches out of the TE.  Olsen played in 16 games (15 starts) for the Bears last season and he caught 60 passes for 612 yards (10.2 avg) with 8 TD grabs.  He has now played in 46 games (26 starts) in his 3 years with the Bears and he has caught 153 passes for 1,577 yards (10.3 avg) with 15 TD grabs.  It will be interesting to see how Olsen is used by the Bears in 2010.

33-year old Desmond Clark is likely #3 in line for P.T. at TE in 2010 for the Bears.  Clark played in 11 games (7 starts) for the Bears last season and he caught 19 passes for 145 yards (7.6 avg) with 2 TD grabs.  He has now played in 157 games (105 starts) in his NFL career and he has caught 322 passes for 3,579 yards (11.1 avg) with 27 TD grabs.  Clark will likely only get a few crumbs from the table with those two guys in front of him.

24-year old Kellen Davis is a player the Bears like.  He played in all 16 games (2 starts) for the Bears last season and he caught 9 passes for 75 yards (8.3 avg) with 3 TD grabs.  2009 was Davis’ second season as he didn’t register a catch as a rookie despite playing in all 16 games (mostly on special teams).

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE BEARS TEs in 2010:  B

The Bears are going into the 2010 with two fullbacks who have never played in an NFL game.  22-year old, 6’1″, 249 pound, Eddie Williams heads into training camp as the starting fullback.  He didn’t play a down in his first year out of Idaho.  He has the reputation of being a good receiver which lends well to Mike Martz’ offensive style.  24-year old, 5’11″, 247 pound, Will Ta’ufo’ou is second on the depth chart right now.  He also didn’t play a down last season in his first year out of Cal.  New Bears’ offensive co-ordinator Mike Martz doesn’t use a fullback much in the offense so don’t look for the inexperience to hurt the Bears.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE BEARS FBs in 2010:  F