IF the Bears can stay healthy for the most part, how far can they go?
Before making a bold statement about the 2016-17 Chicago Bears I want to say that I knew coming into the 2016 season the Bears were going to be bad. However, if this team did not have a staggering 19 players on injured reserved, they would not have gone 3-13. The injury bug has been a theme of the team for the past three years and it has plagued them in their development process, Kevin White being the biggest example. Coming into mini camp, the likes of Kyle Long , Danny Trevathan, and Kevin White did not participate due to their injuries, which is clearly a cause for concern for a team desperately trying to improve. This begs the question to be asked; IF the Bears can stay healthy for the most part, how far can they go?
Health on offense has been an glaring issue for the past two years. Kevin White played four games before he fractured his fibula in his left leg, and was placed on injured reserved. That has been the theme for White in his early career. His left leg has been injured in both years of his career so far. However, he knows, in his 3rd year in the NFL, he has to “turn it up”:
"“It’s got to happen now,” White said Tuesday after practice. “I’ve got to turn it up.“You know, even in Year 1, Year 2, I always want to turn it up and show what I can do. So to me, Year 3, it’s time.”"
Offense
The importance of Kevin White staying healthy speaks for itself, but what about the rest of the offense? Whom ever is leading the charge, whether if it is Mike Glennon, who is better than people think, or second overall pick Mitchell Trubisky, they will be in good shape. I know what you are thinking, the wide receiving corps of the Bears is not ideal, which is true.
Despite that, either Trubisky or Glennon will be joined in the backfield by one of up and coming running backs in the league in Jordan Howard, and occasionally by the human joystick, Tarik Cohen. Also, it can not be forgotten that the Bears have one of the best offensive lines in football. With Cody Whitehair, Josh Sitton, and the returning Kyle Long at the helm this is a great interior when healthy. Say what you want about the quarterbacks of this team, they are not the major key to the team, the receiving corps is.
Defense
The defensive side literally speaks for itself. The Bears are still in recovery mode from the dumpster fire that was the Marc Trestman-Mel Tucker era, but strides have been made. Despite the slew of injuries the defense suffered, the Bears defensive unit finished 15th in total defense. It could have been much worse considering the circumstances the team faced. With offseason additions of Prince Amukamara, Jaye Howard, Marcus Cooper, and Quintin Demps, the defense should undoubtedly improve.
Sure, the secondary is still questionable, and Danny Travathan and Pernell McPhee’s injuries are concerning. However, Nick Kwitkowski and Lamarr Houston can fill the roles respectively. Just imagine, Eddie Goldman, Jaye Howard, and Akiem Hicks all healthy, with Cooper and Amukamara on both sides with the likes of Cre’Von LeBlanc, Bryce Callahan, and Adrian Amos improving, the Bears defense could be working with something special.
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Can the Bears contend for a playoffs spot in 2017? Realistically, no. However, crazier things have happened. No matter who starts for the Bears at quarterback, they will be in good shape. Heck, even Matt Barkley made strides under center in 2016, despite the beat up receiving corps. It is dangerous to put all this stock into the Bears, but true fans know that injuries have demolished any chance they had at contending in both 2015 and 2016. The Free Agency period was not ideal for the Bears, but being under the radar, and most importantly, healthy could be the difference in 2017.