NFL Betting Online: The Bears underwent a complete organizational overhaul and should be better for it.
However, with Jay Cutler under center, don’t look for them to reach the .500 mark.
2014 Season Record: 5-11 SU, 7-9 ATS, 8-8 O/U
2015 Regular Season Wins Total: 7, +135 O, -165 U
Odds to Win Super Bowl: +6396
Odds to Win NFC: +3992
Odds to Win Division: +1373
The Bears cleaned house after their five-win disappointment of 2014, bringing in new head coach John Fox along with defensive coordinator Vic Fangio and offensive coordinator John Gase. The club also hired highly-regarded first-time GM Ryan Pace.
Chicago then shook up its roster in the offseason and will look much different in 2015 than it did last year.
But the Bears couldn’t do the one thing they probably wanted to do most – get rid of quarterback Jay Cutler, who’s maddeningly inconsistent play sunk the team in 2014
Receiver Brandon Marshall is no longer around as Cutler’s comfort blanket, which could be more troublesome for the much-maligned signal-caller. The Bears drafted Kevin White early in the first round and signed Eddie Royal to fill the void, and along with Alshon Jeffry and tight end Martellus Bennett, give Cutler a nice group of receivers.
New center Will Montgomery teams with guards Matt Slauson and Kyle Long to form a solid group in the middle, but there remain questions at the tackle spots.
The Bears were horrific on defense last season forcing changes at every position. Fox and Fangio made the switch to a 3-4 scheme requiring shifts on that side of the ball but the Bears don’t have the players Fangio had in San Francisco last season.
Lamarr Houston, Willie Young and Jared Allen all move to outside linebacker in the alignment with free agent Pernell McPhee. The inside is a joke with Mason Foster and Jon Bostic not ready and Christian Jones and Shea McClellin unproven.
The worst secondary got a face lift with safey Antrel Rolle and corner Alan Ball coming over as free agents. Rolle is a significant upgrade from Chirs Conte and Ball should be an improvement if he’s recovered from an injury that cost him the second half of last season.
The Bears made significant upgrades, especially on defense, and should be an improved team. However you just don’t know what to expect from Jay Cutler and his poor play seemingly brought the rest of the team down with him last season. Jimmy Clausen and former San Jose State star David Fales better get some snaps with the first unit in camp.
KEY ADDITIONS: LB Pernell McPhee, LB Mason Foster, S Antrel Rolle, WR Eddie Royal, CB Alan Ball, C Will Montgomery, DE Jarvis Jenkins, RB Jacquizz Rodgers,
KEY LOSSES: WR Brandon Marshall, DT Stephen Paea, LB Lance Briggs, S Chris Conte, CB Charles Tillman, C Roberto Garza, LB Darryl Sharpton.
The Bears did a nice job in free agency and a promising draft brings hope with several building block pieces, but they still have Cutler at QB and he will most likely find a way to sink the team once again.
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