The Bears hired Mike Martz to run their offense today, which I think was a solid move for the talent the team has on the field. But there is so much other than the the guy in the press box to fix with this group, the best we can do for Martz right now is give him a somewhat-honest thumbs up.
So what else should the Bears do to fix the offense for 2010? Let's look at some options.
Answer the Olsen Question
Greg Olsen was selected with the 31st overall pick in the 2007 draft, and was supposed to carry on the ling line of exceptional tight ends coming from The U (Miami, that is). He's big (6'6, 254 lbs), fast (infamously ran a 4.54 in the 40 at the combine), and allegedly has great hands.
And yet, in the three seasons he's now played in Chicago, he's only caught 153 balls, 15 of which have been in the end zone. There were fans and analysts that were saying this guy would catch 15 touchdowns in one season when the Bears picked him.
Olsen is coming off his best season, with eight touchdowns and 612 yards receiving. But with Martz bringing a more receiver-oriented offense into Chicago, the question now becomes how, and where, Olsen's skills fit the mold. He isn't a very good blocker (that's being generous), and doesn't get off a jam at the line when he's split out.
There would absolutely be a market for Olsen if the Bears made him available, and he might be able to get the Bears back into the high-second round after his productive 2009 campaign. If Olsen doesn't fit the offense, then moving up in the draft to add a difference maker that fits the team makes sense.
Martz will now have to answer the Olsen question.
Find Someone Who Can Block
In 2009, the Bears offensive line was... bad (again, being generous). Yes, Cutler threw 26 interceptions last year, but he was also sacked 35 times. Of those 35, not many were light little love taps, either. If quarterbacks take their line out for dinner after a great game, there were five guys in front of Cutler that owed him a massage 16 times this year.
Consider that Peyton Manning was sacked 10 times this year. Impressive, right? Now consider that Indianapolis' offensive line consists of one fourth round draft pick, one sixth round draft pick and three guys the Colts took off someone else's scrap heap.
Talent evaluation hasn't been great for the Bears this decade, and the offensive line might be the biggest, dare I say it, hole on the roster that they've failed to address. While former Chicago failure Marc Columbo's starting for the Dallas Cowboys, the Bears line is watching Cutler get lit up like a Christmas tree for 16 weeks.
It's possible for the Bears to draft a decent lineman, but it's more likely that they'll have to spend more money to fix the problem. It doesn't matter where help comes from, the Bears need to address the issue. Depending on the severity of Kreutz's achilles' injury, the Bears might need to add two or three linemen to keep Cutler off his tail.
Add Depth
This is a problem that doesn't seem to go away for the Bears. They thought they had depth in the backfield with Kevin Jones and Garrett Wolfe, and then Jones was lost for the year in the final preseason game and they Wolfe was ineffective before also getting hurt. Matt Forte will probably have a lighter work load under Martz, but that doesn't mean he can handle the same percentage of the offense he has for the past two years.
I know this might be obvious to everyone but Jerry Angelo, but Wolfe is not the next Warrick Dunn. And Jones has never stayed healthy. And the line that struggled last year is getting older. And the team still doesn't have someone on the roster that's played receiver in the NFL for more than three years other than Rashied Davis; Rashied Davis doesn't belong in the NFL.
But because Angelo has dealt away the Bears first two picks in this spring's draft, the options to add quality depth are limited... unless a veteran is dealt to add picks.
By adding a few offensive linemen and depth across the board, the Bears offense could improve dramatically under Martz's leadership. If Angelo listens to my advice on how to improve the defense, and now how to fix the offense, the Bears could compete in the NFC North in 2010.
Filed under: Chicago Bears
Tags: @Featured, Chicago Bears, Jay Cutler, Mike Martz
Agree with everything there. A little kind to Olsen if anything, the guy needs to be airlocked. Lacks toughness, can't block, hands aren't that solid, promoted to staring TE for no good reason. Even Kellen Davis has better hands, blocking and he's 6'7. Trade him while he's worth something and somebody is impressed with those 8 TDs. He was useless this year.
And yeah, we need a monster back on the roster like a Mike Bell, somone like that - hell, Ricky Williamns, go get him. Also a monster receiver like Marshall from Denver, grab a decent guard and we're good to go on offense ..
The problem w/ Marshall is, if he becomes a restricted free agent because the CBA is expired, the Bears have no trade pieces in the form of draft picks to use because they used their One on Cutler and their Two on Gaines Adams. This is a TERRIBLE offseason to not have draft picks as a team needing depth/talent, and Angelo has handicapped himself to the point that he's going to likely have to either trade players off the roster (Olsen, Hester) or overpay for older veterans.