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NFL Chicago Bears

Chicago Bears Need To Flip the Switch On Potential

By @edpvideo

Jay Cutler Chicago Bears

Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports

When you review the preseason expectations for the Chicago Bears, how did so many get it so wrong? Most power ranking lists placed the Bears in the league’s top 10 teams. One site went as far as saying that 2014 would be the year Jay Cutler finally puts it all together. Since these rankings were put out by league writers and NFL analysts rather than Bears fans with blind ambition, there must have been something behind the expectations.

Flash forward to Week 13 and the opinions around the league have drastically changed — this time based on reality rather than preseason hype. Nothing sums up that reality better than what Michael Irvin said on NFL GameDay Morning today when discussing Calvin Johnson‘s nagging injuries and lack of production this season. Irvin said, “Nothing makes you feel better than this Chicago Bears’ secondary.” Reality hurts, but there is no arguing the facts that led to Irvin’s statement. The Bears’ defense ranks 28th against the pass and has given up the second-most points in the league; that should make Megatron feel very good.

While reality has played out and proven all the predictions and expectations wrong, the potential was based on the current roster and current coaching staff, so why can’t the Bears flip the switch and live up to their hype? Although that question sounds laughable given their 5-6 record and some of the historic losses they have suffered this season, it’s a legitimate question.

Didn’t we see epic catches and offensive performances in 2013 with the exact same group of receivers playing today? Don’t the Bears still have Matt Forte, arguably the most complete running back in the league? Didn’t the Bears upgrade their defensive line with All-Pro Jared Allen? The answers to all the questions is yes. So what is preventing them from going out and finally playing to their potential?

When the roster doesn’t change but the results do, it’s easy to focus the blame on the coaching staff. Marc Trestman, as head coach and offensive play-caller, has certainly come under heat for the Bears’ downfall. But even the change of heart regarding Trestman is hard to understand. At the end of 2013 and leading up to the 2014 season, the consensus was that Trestman was an offensive wizard and quarterback whisperer. After all, career backup Josh McCown thrived in his offense last season, and talk was that Cutler would experience the same in 2014. Have 12 games this season completely changed the outlook on Trestman? Could everything we saw in 2013 have been so wrong? I’m sure there is plenty of blame to spread around, but at some point you have to blame the players on the field more than the coaches. And those players need to step up and prove all the analysts right by playing to their potential.

Can the Bears flip the switch on Thanksgiving against the Detroit Lions, or are we going to witness another epic loss in the national spotlight?

Paul Kakert is an NFL and Chicago Bears writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter, Facebook or add him to your network on Google.

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