Week 1
DET @ CHI
09/12/10
1:00 pm
Week 2
CHI @ DAL
09/19/10
1:00 pm
Week 3
GB @ CHI
09/27/10
8:30 pm
Week 4
CHI @ NYG
10/03/10
8:15 pm
Week 5
CHI @ CAR
10/10/10
1:00 pm
Week 6
SEA @ CHI
10/17/10
1:00 pm
Week 7
WAS @ CHI
10/24/10
1:00 pm
Week 8
bye
Week 9
CHI @ BUF
11/07/10
1:00 pm
Week 10
MIN @ CHI
11/14/10
1:00 pm
Week 11
CHI @ MIA
11/18/10
8:15 pm
Week 12
PHI @ CHI
11/28/10
1:00 pm
Week 13
CHI @ DET
12/05/10
1:00 pm
Week 14
NE @ CHI
12/12/10
1:00 pm
Week 15
CHI @ MIN
12/20/10
8:30 pm
Week 16
NYJ @ CHI
12/26/10
1:00 pm
Week 17
CHI @ GB
01/02/11
1:00 pm
- The Bears junked their drafts in hopes of finally acquiring a franchise QB in Jay Cutler.
- The Bears defense struggled compared to last years with their lack of pass rush and inability to stop anyone through the air.
- Jay Cutler ended up leading the league in INTs and caused a turnover in the offensive coaching staff
- The Bears ended up finishing a depressing a 7-9 and missed the playoffs
- The team scored 327 points and allowed 375 points against
- Jay Cutler led the league in interceptions but he was kind of bi-polar in his games, sometimes he was very good others he was terrible
- Look for Mike Martz, a passing guru, to cause Cutler to spread the ball out to the RBs and the receivers as well as take more chances down field
- The Bears ranked 17th in the league in passing with 3,473 yards
- Devin Hester was the teams leading receiver, Earl Bennett, Devin Aromashodu, and Johnny Knox provided solid depth at the WR position
- Greg Olsen and Desmond Clark are also solid receivers from the TE position
- The RBs are also some of the best receivers out of the back field in the game
- The Bears ranked 29th in rushing with 1,492 yards on the ground
- Matt Forte and Chester Taylor are expected to battle for carries
- Matt Forte was the teams leading rusher last season and is expected to get the majority of the carries and hope the production follows
- Lance Briggs led the team with 118 tackles, Danieal Manning had 92
- The Bears had 35 sacks last season
- Leading sacker was Adewale Ogunleye with 6.5
- How can the Bears get a better pass rush while also being better against the run? Is Julius Peppers enough?
- Zack Bowman led the team with 6 INTs
- Team forced 25 fumbles
- Team forced a total of 38 turnovers
We are firm believers that strength-of-schedule analysis is essential when ranking players at every position. We applied this system (without the 5% NFL draft impact) in hindsight to last year's schedule as we were curious how well it could work. The notable results were that Michael Turner and the Falcons had a #32 ranked (easiest) rush schedule last season and DeAngelo Williams and the Panthers were #30.
Our SoS considers three factors when determining rankings for schedules for the upcoming year:
80% weight is applied to the quality of defense from the previous year. We determine quality of defense based on fantasy points given up (run and pass). However, before we get to that number, we factor in the quality of teams that these defenses faced (basically a strength-of-schedule for the previous year). This was all done by hand. Let's just say our boy, Stitchface, has a bit of the carpal tunnel-syndrome going on.
15% weight is applied to Free-Agent movement. We ranked each free agent's impact to their former team (2008), and then ranked each team according to whether they added or lost talent overall.
5% weight is applied to the NFL draft impact. It's tough to gauge a rookie's effectiveness which is why we valued it so low. Certain teams not only drafted defensemen well in '09, but also will be sliding those guys into highly deficient positions from '08, and usually, anything is an upgrade when you are starting a rookie.
If you trust Stitchface's formula (and you will eventually), all you need to realize is the following... The higher the SoS number, the easier the fantasy schedule.
Ranking: 1=easiest 32=toughest
- Jay Cutler will enter his second season as the teams QB but will be under his third system in 3 years
- Last season Cutler completed 336 of his 555 passes for 3,666 yards he also through 27 TDs to 26 INTs
- Caleb Hanie who only threw 7 passes last season but will serve as the teams back up
- Matt Forte had a down season last year but was still the team’s leading rusher. Last season he ran for 929 yards on 258 carries and 4 TDs. He also caught 57 passes for 471 yards
- Last season for the Vikings, Chester Taylor rushed for 338 on 94 carries 1 TD. He also caught 44 passes for 389 yards and 1 TD.
- Kahlil Bell rushed for 220 yards on 40 carries
- The WRs for the Bears are a young and up and coming group who all put in work last season and produced solid numbers
- Devin Hester led the team with 57 catches for 757 yards and 3 TDs
- Earl Bennett caught 54 passes for 717 yards and 2 TDs
- Johnny Knox caught 45 passes for 527 yards and 5 TDs
- Devin Aromashodu had 24 catches for 298 and 4 TDs
- Greg Olsen is the teams starting TE, last season he caught 60 passes for 612 yards and a team leading 8 TDs
- Desmond Clark is the teams second TE, he had 19 catches for 145 yards and 2 TDs last season
- Robbie Gould will look to continue his solid career after another strong season in 2009 in which he made 24 of his 28 field goals attempts and also madd all 33 of his extra point attempts
Gotta feel bad for this kid, this has to be considered borderline child abuse:
May 29, 2010
Signed S Major Wright to a four-year contract.
May 19, 2010
Signed S Danieal Manning to a one-year contract.
May 1, 2010
Named Tim Ruskell director of player personnel. Signed DE Mark Anderson.
April 29, 2010
Traded S Kevin Payne to St. Louis for an undisclosed 2011 draft pick.
April 27, 2010
Agreed to terms with WR Vic Hall.
April 21, 2010
Announced the retirement of chairman Michael McCaskey and named George McCaskey chairman, effective at the end of the 2010 season.
April 19, 2010
Signed LB Nick Roach to a one-year contract.
April 12, 2010
Re-signed LB Pisa Tinoisamoa.
April 1, 2010
Released DE Alex Brown.
March 17, 2010
Released DB Nathan Vasher.
March 16, 2010
Signed CB Tim Jennings to a two-year contract. Released FB Jason McKie.
March 11, 2010
Signed S Josh Bullocks.
March 10, 2010
Signed FB Eddie Williams to a one-year contract.
March 9, 2010
Released RB Kevin Jones.
March 5, 2010
Agreed to terms with DE Julius Peppers on a six-year contract and TE Brandon Manumaleuna on a five-year contract and RB Chester Taylor on a four-year contract.
March 1, 2010
Waived T Orlando Pace, TE Fontel Mines and G Tyler Reed.
February 23, 2010
Signed TE Richard Angulo and WR Eric Peterman to one-year contracts.
February 15, 2010
Fired senior director of pro personnel Bobby DePaul.
February 5, 2010
Promoted Rod Marinelli to defensive coordinator and Eric Washington to defensive line coach. Named Shane Day quarterbacks coach, Andrew Hayes-Stoker offensive quality control coach and Mikal Smith defensive quality control coach.
February 3, 2010
Named Mike DeBord tight ends coach.
February 1, 2010
Named Mike Martz offensive coordinator.
January 15, 2010
Named Mike Tice offensive line coach.
The Chicago Bears announced today that they have signed Mike Martz to be their offensive coordinator for the 2010 season. The deal is said to be for two years and now gives the Bears four current/former head coaches on their 2010 coaching staff: Current head coach Lovie Smith, former Detroit Lions head coach Rod Marinelli (defensive line coach), former Minnesota Vikings head coach Mike Tice (offensive line coach), and former St. Louis Rams head coach Mike Martz (offensive coordinator).
Pyro's Take:
Finally the Bears have "their guy". After going through a lengthy search composed mainly of candidates who pulled out of the running before an offer was even made, Chicago ended up settling for someone who had no problem ripping Jay Cutler to shreds early on in 2009. In order to mend possible broken bridges between the two, Martz immediately flew down to Tennessee to speak with Cutler after his interview.
Animosity aside, Cutler stands to gain the most fantasy-wise from the hiring, while TE Greg Olsen stands to lose the most. Martz has never been one to integrate the tight end into his offensive schemes, but wide receivers Devin Hester, Devin Aromashodu, Johnny Knox and Earl Bennett could be in for a nice uptick in value, as should RB Matt Forte.
The Chicago Tribune reports that the Bears will ask permission to interview him early next week. "Chud" as we will opt to call him, is responsible for turning Derek Anderson into a pro bowl QB in 2007 before moving on to the Chargers organization. Colts WRs coach Clyde Christensen was also mentioned as a possible candidate.
Pyro's Take:
Anyone is better than Ron Turner. And Cutler could benefit from a guy with Chud's background. Man, would it suck to have the nickname "Chud".
Matt "Forty" Forte - having achieved the name "Forty" for how many total yards he typically put up against any team except the Browns and Lions in 2009, has something to look forward to next season. Mike Tice has been named the new O-line coach for the Chicago Bears on Friday.
Pyro's Take:
This news is HUGE if you are a Bears fan and of course, take any interest into the prospects of pretty much anything that the Bears have to offer from a fantasy perspective. His track record as an O-line coach is stellar - just take a look at the Jags rushing totals from 2006-2008.
Bears wide receiver Devin Hester (calf) has been declared inactive for the game against the Vikings tonight.
Pyro's Take:
Hester just can't seem to get over his lower leg injury, so he'll take yet another seat in Week 16. Hopefully you weren't depending on the speedster in your fantasy Super Bowl tonight.
According to Bears coach Lovie Smith, wide receiver Devin Hester (calf) is "getting better" and could come back to action this week.
Pyro's Take:
We would say that the Bears desperately need Hester back, but with as bad as QB Jay Cutler is playing, it doesn't really matter. He used to be a nice WR3 on your fantasy team, but has become a flex play at best over the last month and a half.
Bears wide receiver Devin Hester (calf) missed practice again on Friday and is listed as doubtful for the game against the Ravens this Sunday.
Pyro's Take:
It doesn't look like Hester will play, so look elsewhere on your bench for a WR3 play this week.
Bears wide receiver Devin Hester (calf) was declared inactive today for the inner-division matchup against the Packers.
Pyro's Take:
The Bears chances at taking this game just took a severe nose-dive with this news. Make sure Sugar Foot is out of your fantasy football lineup.
Bears wide receiver Devin Hester missed practice again on Thursday due to the calf injury he sustained last weekend against the Rams. It's still unknown whether he will play this Sunday.
Pyro's Take:
Even if Hester does make it out there against the Packers in Week 14, he'll likely have Charles Woodson on him, so you might as well forget playing him on your fantasy football team for now.
Bears wide receiver Devin Hester suffered a mild calf strain on Sunday and is expected to miss practice today to rest it. He is likely to return to practice on Thursday, but might be limited.
Pyro's Take:
Hester has turned into a decent WR3 for your fantasy football team this year, but with this new injury he becomes a risky play next weekend going up against a good Green Bay pass D.
Bears wide receiver Devin Hester came out of the game early in the third quarter yesterday with a mild calf strain. It kept him out of the rest of the win over the Rams, but it doesn't look like it will keep him from playing against the Packers in Week 14.
Pyro's Take:
We're guessing that with the cold weather and all, it probably felt worse than it actually was. Hester won't need an MRI and will be testing it out at some point today.
The speedy receiver won't be more than a low-end WR3 on your fantasy football team next week.
Bears running back Matt Forte said after the game that he sprained his hand at some point against the Rams but that he should be able to play in Week 14 against the Packers.
Pyro's Take:
Forte had a decent game going for 91 yards on 24 carries including a 1-yard touchdown run. These games, however, are few and far between as Forte has become no more than a so-so RB2 on your fantasy football squad.
Bears quarterback Jay Cutler injured his throwing hand on Sunday when he was driven to the ground by the Rams Leonard Little. When asked if the injury would affect his game going forward, Cutler said, "I just dinged it a little bit... I will be fine."
Pyro's Take:
The Bears needed that victory in a big way yesterday, even though it was a sloppy one. If Cutler's confidence is back, you should continue to be able to use him on your fantasy football team. If not, we hope you have a backup as it's getting down to crunch time.
Vikings backup running back Chester Taylor (ribs) went through a limited practice on Wednesday.
Pyro's Take:
Taylor should be just fine for the Sunday night match-up, but is no more than a weak flex play for your fantasy football team.
An unnamed source told the NFL Network that the Chicago Bears would be one of the few teams that would excite current CBS television analyst Bill Cowher into coaching next year. Two sources close to Cowher also said that the former coach is more ready now than at any time since retiring, but that he will remain very selective about his next move.
Cowher has also made it known he will not make a decision on a team until after the 2009 season out of respect for coaches and CBS.
Pyro's Take:
Holy shit! Cowher is exactly the type of coach the Bears need!
Chicago fans deserve more than having to hear another year of Lovie Smith saying "there's still a lot of football to be played", or "I still feel like we're in the mix", or "there's just a few small things we need to correct".
Mr. Cowher, we certainly understand and appreciate the respect you have for all those involved, but please, here's a pen, and in fact, here are the keys to the Bic factory... please, for the love of George Halas, please please please just sign on the dotted line.
Bears tight end Greg Olsen (ankle) is active and ready to make his usual start against the Cardinals today.
Pyro's Take:
Feel free to get Olsen in your starting fantasy football lineup today as the Bears will likely be passing the ball a bunch with that Cardinals stout rush D staring them down all day long.
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