Chicago Bears Address Their Least Valuable Players from 2012 With Big Upgrades
I was tasked to come up with the Chicago Bears’ 2012 least valuable players. Where do I begin? Over the course of the season, the Bears have a myriad of players who specialize in making fans angry. Most of these players seem to be completely worthless. However, this list is not for the worthless players; it is for players below the level of worthless. Players who are better off not being on the team. Players who I legitimately feel like my mother can play better than. Who better to start with in a list of pitiful players with tight end, Kellen Davis?
1) Kellen Davis
Nov 11, 2012; Chicago, IL, USA; Houston Texans safety Danieal Manning (38) forces Chicago Bears tight end Kellen Davis (87) to fumble during the first quarter at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports
Kellen Davis was one of the main s0urce of Chicago Bear fan aggravation during the 2012 season. He played all 16 games, but only caught 19 balls despite being targeted 44 times. There is no excuse for only catching 2 touchdowns either, especially considering one of them was in garbage time against Green Bay. Perhaps the most aggravating thing about Davis is the fact that he looks like he should be a great tight end; he is 6’7″, 267 pounds, and he appears to be physically dominant. He’s not. He has hands of granite.
I expect new acquisition Martellus Bennett to fill the void that’s been around since Greg Olson left as a legitimate pass catching tight end who can actually block.
If I were Jay Cutler, I would not have been able to take a snap last year if I knew that this guy was protecting my back. He did only give up 9 sacks this season, which for him is a career high. But for even a borderline mediocre left tackle, that is inexcusable. Seriously, the guy wrote a poem rhyming the words “taco” and “tackle.” Why this poem didn’t become a national joke for a week I will never know. The worst thing about it is, he didn’t back it up. Hopefully, we will soon find a way to give J’Marcus a new job, where he is free to think about all the tacos he wants.
Jermon Bushrod offers an immediate upgrade. Drew Brees dropped back about 700 times last season and Bushrod was on an island a majority of the time, committing minimal penalties while protecting Brees’ blindside.
3) Mike Tice
Dec 9, 2012; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Chicago Bears Offensive Coordinator Mike Tice congratulates his players after they score against the Minnesota Vikings in the second quarter at the Metrodome. The Vikings win 24-14. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports
Mike Tice was just about as bad as most of the other offensive coordinators the Bears have had in recent years. The only difference is, he had a few more weapons. Granted, yes, when Kellen Davis is your starting Tight End, things are not always going to be easy. But there were times during the year where the offense looked completely out of sorts by the 2nd or 3rd quarter. Brandon Marshall frequently made great plays, but they was usually not a result of any brilliant play calling. Tice failed to use Matt Forte properly, and his play calling is partly to blame for the lack of success on the ground. Though he may not be a player, his abilities were so poor that he did not get the best out of his players, which is what being a coach is all about.
Aaron Kromer promises to be everything that Tice was not. He has consistently developed offensive linemen while coordinating the Saints’ suprising under the radar running game.
The good news is, these problem areas have already been addressed. It is good that Emery knows what the main areas of concern are. In all honesty, I think the signings of Bushrod, Bennett, and coordinator Kromer were excellent. The Bears now have solid replacements for the previous LVP’s. So far, the team is heading in the right direction.
BEAR DOWN!!!!!!