I spent most of last off-season calling for the Bears to sign free agents and make trades.  They made the brilliant Cutler deal but balked at signing Darren Sharper and Brian Dawkins – two men that would have made the 2009 Bears infinitely better.  They also attempted in vain to acquire Anquan Boldin on draft day and avoided Brandon Marshall like the plague.  All in all, they walked into the season believing the Cutler was the last piece of the puzzle.  He was.  When the team put the puzzle together, it was a gorgeous picture of 7 wins and a third-place finish.

Now the availability of Julius Peppers is sending a thrill down Lake Shore as fans are starting to believe that a premiere pass rusher may be heading to Chicago.  And while the signing isn’t likely to happen, it would be fitting.  Everything the Bears have done recently reflects a bucket listian sense of impending death.  Mike Martz may shift the offensive course but who wants to bet we’re waiting for the group to gel in late October?  Rod Marinelli was deemed the savior of the defensive line and after failing miserably at that task has received a promotion to the defense’s top spot.  These are not plans for the future, attempts to re-think the on-field philosophy.  These are last gasps by the head coach to show he knows what is correct for the ballclub.

Peppers would fit along those lines.  The once-dominant defensive end may have a year or two left in the tank but he’ll be saddling his signer with an outlandish bonus that won’t pay itself off unless he plays five years at a high level.  But neither Jerry nor Lovie can possibly believe they’ll be here in 2011 without a successful 2010.  So wouldn’t it be in both their best interests to mortgage the team’s future for their own short-term salvation?

Peppers makes the 2010 Bears better.  Without question.  And I expect every decision made between now and September to be made toward that end.  

*Thanks to the official Blog best friend and roommate for the link. The joy comes at the 2:30 mark. *

The Rod Marinelli hiring equates to one thing and one thing only: arrogance.  By promoting a coach from the staff of one of the worst defenses in the history of this organization, Lovie Smith has announced that the troubles of the 2009 campaign were not his own.  He is passing the buck of recent failures.  He has operated with the mix of stubborness and delusion that has come to define his tenure with the Chicago Bears.  This is not an unintelligent decision by a coach who has lost his way.  This is a deliberate, calculated maneuver by an individual desperate to stand behind media microphones for his “I told you so” moment.

Marinelli certainly earned a promotion, didn’t he?  The rush defense was one of the league’s ten worst and defensive line was about as intimidating as a pigeon on the yard at Riker’s Island.  (With the definitive exception of Alex Brown, a man whose motor and intensity should be an inspiration to the other ten men on that side of the ball.)  I don’t have the kind of job that takes place in an office and requires slacks but I can’t imagine this is how promotions work.

The Bears offense struggled with turnovers from the quarterback and run blocking from the offensive line.  For those two issues – both specific player issues – the offensive coordinator was fired and a new system has been instituted.  The Bears defense – in scheme, play-calling and performance – was a disaster.  For those issues, a member of the staff has been rewarded.  Say this paragraph aloud and you’ll be calling DirecTV to cancel before sundown. 

Lovie has his chance.  Sixteen games (most likely).  He’s decided if he’s going down swinging, he’s going down with his friends at his side.  I just wish his friends were better football coaches.   

This spring DaBearsBlog is going to be launching a weekly, half-hour podcast.  It will feature a short interview with a local beat writer, my brothers and I picking games, the Reverend’s Rant and it will also provide a chance for some of our readers (you) to literally have your voice heard.

I’ve come to terms with the hiring of Mike Martz as the Bears offensive coordinator.  As days have gone by, I’ve actually started liking the move.  But reading Jerry Angelo’s comments on the hiring set me back a bit.

Will you have to change the roster to accommodate the type of players who excel in Martz’s offense?

“No. We talked about that. Our roster is pretty well set. We don’t
have the first two picks in the draft. Free agency, potentially will be
very limited. It’s not like we won’t look for players like we do every
year but we’re not going into this thinking we have to have an overhaul
with our offense.”

There are eleven positions on the offensive side of the ball.  The Bears are “set” at quarterback, running back, left tackle and one of the wide receiver spots.  They have a below-average fullback (especially for a running team).  They may lack a number on receiver, though DA certainly showed glimmers of greatness down the stretch.  But most importantly no one can make a convincing argument that the Bears have top tier players at either guard, right tackle or center. 

So if “our roster is pretty well set” then we should all be pretty well resigned to miss the postseason in 2010.

ADDENDUM: Sometimes comments earn their way up here.  Albert in Tuscon:

Did he say “pretty well set”?

June 25th, 1876 –
Captain: “Shouldn’t we bring a few more men, sir?”.
Lt. Col. George Armstrong Custer: “Nah. We’re pretty well set.”

He REALLY said “pretty well set.”?

April 14, 1912:
1st Officer: “Maybe we should reduce our speed, Captain.”
Edward J. Smith,Captain, RMS Titanic: “Nah. We’re pretty well set.”

Did I hear that right? “Pretty well set.”?

December 6th, 1941 –
Port Commander: “Should be have the battleship squadron put to sea, sir?
Admiral Husband E. Kimmel, Commander US Pacific Fleet,
Pearl Harbor, Hawaii: “Nah. We’re pretty well set.”

PLEASE tell me he didn’t say “Pretty well set.” !

January 18, 2010-
Political Aide: “Shouldn’t we be campaigning harder against this Scott Brown fellow, ma’am?”
Marth Coakley, Democrat candidate for
US Senate from Massachussetts: “Nah. We’re pretty well set.”

With news everywhere that Mike Martz has finally made his way into the hallowed halls of Halas, it got me thinking a lot about the Chicago Bears’ offense.  (Note: Do not continue reading if you’re expecting to be interested or enlightened.)

Maybe I’d like Mike Martz. 

Yes he was an awful head coach in St. Louis, losing a seemingly unlosable Super Bowl to a third-rate New England Patriots team.  Yes he didn’t work out in either Detroit or San Francisco as an offensive coordinator.  Yes he is a notorious ego, attempting to use every job (including as a broadcaster) as a stepping stool back into the head coaching ranks.

But there’s a few things to like about Martz, too.  He won’t buy into Lovie’s “off the bus running” philosophy, especially when the run game struggles early.  He has a terrific track records with quarterbacks ranging from the Hall of Famer (Warner) to the third tier guys (Alex Smith and Kitna).  He’s capable of overseeing the entirety of the offensive operation and tough enough to challenge Lovie’s archaic ideology.

But more than that.  He’ll be entertaining as hell.  And right now, the way things are going, I’d sign up for 2010 being nothing more than entertaining.