QUARTERBACK
C+
Rex Grossman’s season has been a case of one hand in the oven, one in the freezer, so on average you’re comfortable. But not really. Grossman’s seven games with a 100-plus passer rating led the NFL. So did his five sub-40s. Grossman’s early season was superb. He posted ratings of 80 or better against three of the four playoff teams the Bears faced and had no turnovers in four of the six games before the Packers. It was a learning time for a young quarterback in his first 16-start season.
RUNNING BACKS
A-
Thomas Jones rushed for 1,210 yards and Cedric Benson for 647. Each averaged 4.1 yards per carry and ran for six touchdowns. Jones had four 100-yard games, and Benson had his first in Game 16. Jones also caught 36 passes while starting 16 games for the first time in his career. The backs combined to carry 453 times, catch 44 passes and fumble just once. Training camp was a testy time, with both injured and in an awkward competition. But the Bears have two elite tailbacks behind one of the NFL’s best blocking fullbacks in Jason McKie.
RECEIVERS
B
Bernard Berrian established himself as one of the NFL’s most dangerous deep threats, with six catches of 40 or more yards. Muhsin Muhammad caught 16 passes of 20 yards or longer despite a relatively quiet year of 60 catches, high for the Bears but his third-lowest total in his nine years as a full-time starter. Desmond Clark made tight end a force in the passing offense, with 45 catches and six touchdowns. He and John Gilmore were integral parts in the success of the running game.
OFFENSIVE LINE
A-
Somebody was opening holes for Benson and Jones while limiting Grossman’s sacks to one or none in 11 games. Center Olin Kreutz was voted All-Pro, and his contract extension underscored what he means to the line and the locker room. Left guard Ruben Brown is a Pro Bowl alternate, and the Bears simply have no weak links up front with right guard Roberto Garza and tackles Fred Miller and John Tait. The group has stayed healthy, and few units blend protection and run blocking as well.
DEFENSIVE LINE
B+
The front four and rotation were among the NFL’s best through the first half of the season, ranking third against the run. Losing tackle Tommie Harris to injury for the final quarter of the season was costly. But Mark Anderson had 12 sacks and was runner-up as defensive rookie of the year. He added a major outside threat to Pro Bowl alternate Alex Brown, who had seven sacks, and Adewale Ogunleye, who had 6.5. Ian Scott played well in place of Tank Johnson, and Alfonso Boone was a steady veteran replacement for Harris.
LINEBACKERS
A-
Brian Urlacher finished fourth in voting for defensive player of the year and was dominant at key points, leading the Bears with 142 tackles to go with three interceptions. Lance Briggs joins Urlacher at the Pro Bowl with 134 tackles, two interceptions and a sack. The two combined for 22 tackles for loss. Hunter Hillenmeyer tied for seventh on the team with 45 tackles. The question: Will Briggs be back and keep this elite trio together?
SECONDARY
B-
Mike Brown’s loss to injury was devastating to the entire defense, though Todd Johnson was a solid replacement at safety before missing time to injury late. Cornerback Charles Tillman was strong all season in coverage and run support, and he matched nickelback Ricky Manning Jr. with a team-high five interceptions. Nathan Vasher’s interception total dipped to three, and he struggled badly in run support at times. Danieal Manning was impressive early as a rookie starter but was exposed later and needs to improve at a difficult position.
SPECIAL TEAMS
A+
Devin Hester became the talk of the league with six kicks returned for touchdowns despite some shaky decisions early in the year and sometimes iffy hands. Robbie Gould is going to the Pro Bowl after converting 32 of 36 field-goal attempts (88.9 percent), and Brendon Ayanbadejo was voted to the Pro Bowl after leading the NFL’s top overall coverage units. Brad Maynard averaged 44.2 yards per punt and placed 24 of 77 inside the 20.
COACHING
A-
Lovie Smith dealt well with myriad distractions and kept his team pointed in the right direction and prepared for games that mattered in the standings or for playoff seedings. Offensive coordinator Ron Turner and quarterbacks coach Wade Wilson kept firm hands on Grossman, and Turner consistently developed game plans based on the running game. Coordinator Ron Rivera injected fire into the defense when needed and managed despite the loss of two Pro Bowl starters. Dave Toub’s special teams were the most consistent high-impact unit all season.
