Hot: Matt Forte
Matt Forte has accounted for 52 percent of the Bears’ offense, and the running back is far and away the team’s leading receiver. It leads to an interesting question. What has made Forte more valuable — his strong start or the poor production of players around him? Coach Lovie Smith said it best Monday when sifting through the wreckage of the loss to the Saints — Forte was the only bright spot on offense. Former Packers safety LeRoy Butler said, “Just take (Forte) away and tell me what that offense is all about. Now you’ll be puking up your coffee.” No arguments here on either point.
Cold: Kellen Davis
Greg Olsen was dumped because he wasn’t an ideal fit for Mike Martz’s scheme and the team didn’t want to extend his contract. Everyone understands that. But it’s an issue because Kellen Davis, in a more prominent role, hasn’t played well. He nearly allowed a safety in the opener against the Falcons and was late getting out of his stance on a play against the Saints that led to a sack/strip of Jay Cutler and put the team in a hole. Davis needs to be more productive, or the trade of Olsen will look like a short-sighted decision made by an offensive coordinator given too much sway in personnel.
Ice cold: Mike Martz
It was tough to buy everything Mike Martz said Wednesday when he explained he got into a two-minute mode too soon against the Saints. The second quarter would qualify as entirely too soon for a pass-happy attack in any game. It was virtually the same mea culpa Martz delivered a year ago when the play-calling was unbalanced. It’s difficult to believe him. Sure, the run/pass ratio will be evened out in the weeks to come, but when does it shift again? No more evidence is needed to know the Bears don’t have the personnel Martz enjoyed when he operated the Greatest Show on Turf.
