The Chicago Bears are entering their second year with Ryan Pace at general manager and John Fox as head coach. The two have set out to recreate the Bears roster and turn the team back into a contender in the NFC North. While a division crown seems unlikely for the team, staying competitive late the season does not.

The Bears success this season will hinge greatly on the play of quarterback Jay Cutler, who is coming off his best season as pro. Cutler entered the Fox era at the lowest point of his career – benched a season earlier for backup Jimmy Clausen. Yet, under Fox and offensive coordinator Adam Gase, Cutler cut down on his interceptions and posted a quarterback rating of 92.3 – the best of his 10-year career. Cutler’s overall production numbers were down but his efficiency was up, an important step in the turbulent career-year of the 33-year-old.

Cutler's 2015 improvement

 
Year CMP ATT CMP% YDS TD/G INT/G RAT
2014 370 561 66% 3,812 1.87 1.2 88.6
2015 311 483 64.40% 3,659 1.4 0.73 92.3
Career 2701 4354 62% 31,408 1.52 1.05 86
 

Maintaining his level of play from a year ago, and perhaps improving upon it, will be key for Cutler this season if the Bears hope to remain in the playoff race. Just how much of Cutler’s success can be attributed to Gase’s offensive system will be revealed as Cutler works under his former quarterback coach, Dowell Loggins. Gase was hired as head coach of the Miami Dolphins in January, his work with Cutler among the accomplishments on his résumé.

Cutler’s success with Gase came despite having to deal with a carousel of receivers due to injuries. Top receiver Alshon Jeffery dressed in just nine games, while first-round pick Kevin White failed to see the field because of a shin injury. Marquess Wilson and Eddie Royal, third and fourth on the depth chart respectively, missed a combined 12 games. 

This season, both Jeffery and White enter the season healthy and with plenty of motivation. Jeffery is playing under the Bears’ franchise tag after failing to come to terms on a long-term contract with the team. Knowing free agency is ahead of him, Jeffery should play with a head of steam and could have a career year as the top option for the team.

As for White, the 24-year-old was electric at West Virginia University and should show the benefits of a full season with the team when he hits the field for the first time in Week 1. There may be some rust for White shake off early in the season; he reportedly dealt with drops while flashing his during the offseason.

The team’s depth behind the starting two is once again questionable, though. Royal is competing with seventh-round pick Daniel Braverman for the team’s slot job and Wilson has yet to be activated off the physically unable to perform list due to a broken foot.

The changes under Pace and Fox will be perhaps most evident at the tight end and running back positions. At running back, the team decided to move on from veteran Matt Forte after eight seasons as the team’s starter. The torch has been passed to second-year back Jeremy Langford, who earned two starts as a rookie last season.

Forte signed with the New York Jets in the offseason, and though the Bears felt a need to get younger at the position, his loss leaves the team thin at the position.
 

2015 Bears RB Stats

 
Player ATT YDS AVG TD
Matt Forte* 218 898 4.1 4
Jeremy Langford 148 537 3.6 6
Ka'Deem Carey 43 159 3.7 2
Jacquizz Rodgers 14 41 2.9 0
 

*Signed with New York Jets in free agency

At tight end, the Bears traded Martellus Bennett to the New England Patriots in March. Bennett spent the previous three seasons as the Bears starter but had reportedly become unhappy with his contract and role with the team. The Bears failed to replace Bennett through free agency or in the draft, leaving 31-year-old Zach Miller as the team’s starter. Miller caught 34 passes for 439 yards and five touchdowns last season after failing to make an NFL roster in any of the previous three seasons.

On defence, the Bears added Super Bowl winner Danny Trevathan and Jerrell Freeman form a new duo at inside linebacker. Trevathan spent his previous four seasons with the Denver Broncos, three of which came under Fox. The team also used their first-round selection on outside linebacker Leonard Floyd from the University of Georgia.

The Bears rebuild is well under way in Year 2 under Fox and though not complete, the team is beginning to take the shape of a contender. Depth remains an issue for the team and plenty of question marks remain on defence – especially in the secondary – but equalling their 6-10 mark from a year ago is an attainable goal for the Bears.

Key Notes

Cause for Concern: Coming off his promising first season with Fox, Cutler struggled in the preseason, completing just 54 per cent of his passes without a touchdown. Cutler avoided throwing an interception but was sacked five times.

Slow Starter? Along with Cutler, White failed to make an impact in his first preseason, catching just three passes for 12 yards. White reportedly had a strong camp, but has yet to show off his skills in a game setting.

Missing McPhee: Pass rusher Pernell McPhee is expected to miss at least Week 1, and likely more, due to an offseason knee scope. McPhee missed all of training camp and all four preseason games for the Bears. The team produced just 35 sacks last season, six of which McPhee contributed.