At receiver the Bears have better options than you would think

With Jay Cutler, anything can happen, good or bad. He could play like he did the final two weeks of the season, accumulating a total of 519 passing yards, eight touchdown passes, and just one interception. However, he can also play like he did before that, compiling a ratio of 19 touchdowns to 25 interceptions. As a whole, the velocity and accuracy with which Cutler throws the deep ball while on the run is outstanding, but he is careless in his reads and mechanics on quick underneath routes. Until he improves in this area, he will continue to be a talented but inconsistent quarterback. His development will be accelerated if his offensive line improves upon its 2009 performance, when Cutler was brought to the turf 35 times, hit 79 times, and often hurried into making an ill-advised pass before the pass rush got to him. Former Minnesota Vikings head coach Mike Tice was brought to Chicago as the Bears' new offensive line coach, and he has shuffled around some of his starters to help bring about the change the Bears wish to see on the line.

For most of 2009, the Bears' starting offensive lineup had Orlando Pace at left tackle, Frank Omiyale at left guard, Olin Kreutz at center, Roberto Garza at right guard, and Chris Williams at right tackle. Towards the end of the year, Williams was moved to his old college position of left tackle in lieu of Pace, with veteran backup Kevin Shaffer manning the right tackle spot. This year, new offensive coordinator Mike Martz has confirmed that Williams will start at left tackle, and Omiyale, who spent time playing tackle for the Carolina Panthers, will be the team's starting right tackle. Martz's offense frequently employs seven-step drops, which means that if the line couldn't protect Cutler when he was taking three-step drops last year, he's going to get killed by the pass rush if the Bears' pass-blocking doesn't improve. Williams and Omiyale are more athletic linemen, so at tackle they are a better fit Lance Briggs for Martz's plans to move the pocket with Cutler this season.

Garza and Kreutz were the bright spots on the line last year, and it is a likely bet that their jobs are safe for at least this year. At left guard, though, it is unknown who will be the Bears' starter. Currently, there is an open competition between Johan Asiata, Kevin Shaffer, and possibly Jonathan Beekman, who's been playing center at minicamp while Kreutz recovers from a minor bone spur removal. Shaffer, meanwhile, has been playing second-team right tackle in camp. Asiata, born in New Zealand, never played football until he was 19 years old, but he has the early edge, as he has been lining up as the first-team left guard, meaning he's the only player of these three who was been receiving practice reps at the position for which the three men are competing. To further solidify the line, the Bears signed San Diego tight end Brandon Manumaleuna, a six-foot-two, 295-pound mauler who will be a major asset in improving the Bears' running game. .

Running back Matt Forte suffered a major drop in performance last year due to an MCL sprain suffered in Week 3 that caused him to lose a lot of speed and all of his cutback ability. In early January, Forte had his knee cleaned out, and from all accounts is progressing well in his recovery. If Forte has permanently lost a step thanks to the MCL sprain, he will not be very effective in the Bears' new offens sive scheme. Martz's offense relies on lots of cutback runs and pitches to the outside, which will not work unless Forte is back up to full speed. Former Viking Chester Taylor was signed to be paired with Forte, but Taylor lacks the quick first step necessary to get to the hole before defenders do, and his contributions will lie mostly in pass-blocking and receiving checkdown passes on third downs. Harvey Unga, picked in the supplemental draft out of Brigham Young University, lacks the speed necessary for the Bears football jerseys to consistently run the ball effectively, and doesn't look to factor into the game plan except in the occasional goal-line situation. Forte is going to have to carry most of the load and return to his pre-injury level of performance.

At receiver, the Bears have better options than you would think. Devin Aromashodu doesn't have the speed of a deep burner and cannot be effective as the target of a screen pass, but he has phenomenal instincts for catching the ball, maintains excellent body control near the sidelines, and does a great job of holding onto the football while taking a hit. Similar to Isaac Bruce and Torry Holt in Martz's "Greatest Show on Turf" offense, Johnny Knox is a small but speedy receiver who runs extremely precise routes, and he makes great adjustments to the path of the ball. Although Devin Hester isn't the best route-runner and lacks physicality, his speed still makes him a threat because he is capable of outrunning the entire defense on any given play. Cutler has great chemistry with his former Vanderbilt teammate Earl Bennett, and Martz insists that tight end Greg Olsen is still going to be a component in the passing game. As a whole, the Bears' receiving corps is in much better shape than it gets credit for, and the offense's success will hinge on the play of the line and the running backs.

Cleveland's rookies reported to training camp last Friday, but the veterans don't report until late this week. So Hardesty, who the team announced signed a multi-year deal on Monday, will have plenty of time this week to show what he can do before the rest of the squad arrives.

While exact figures weren't immediately available, a source said Hardesty signed a four-year deal worth over $3 million. Last year's 59th overall selection (S Sherrod Martin Carolina Panthers) signed a four-year deal worth a maximum value of $3.2255 million with $1.4755 million guaranteed. Martin's deal included a signing bonus worth $944,000, a source said.

Hardesty, who NFL Films' Greg Cosell called the second best feature back available for this year's draft, will compete for playing time this season against veteran Jerome Harrison and second-year pros James Davis.

My Official new Chicago Bears jerseys Garden Gnome got broken today.  I felt like I'd lost a member of the family.  Well, not my immediate family but like that cousin you met that one time at the big reunion and you kind of hit it off with but then you never saw each other again.  That family member.  My poor gnome was gone.  The wind blowing in the curtains knocked it off the shelf.  At least it didn't take the bobble heads with it.  They survived the zephyr.  Then I started to take a long look at the "collection."   I have too much Bears crap.