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NFL Live today focused on the NFC North conference and how things will break down in that division. Mike Golic (former DT on the Philadelphia Eagles) and Marcellus Wiley (former DE with the Bills and Chargers) were the two former players who served as analysts for the division. A far cry from the two bozos that Bears fans have learned to loathe during the Jay Cutler hype, Mark Schlereth and Trent Dilfer.
So kicking off the segment the question was asked of the two man panel, who is the most important offensive player in the NFC North?
A no-brainer for both panelists in saying Jay Cutler is the most important guy offensively in the division. How to argue that point given the large injection of hope Jay Cutler has brought into the Windy City since his arrival. The pre-season only seemed to cement the large block of hype that has come with Cutler. Cutler when he played important snaps in the pre-season during the second and third pre-season games commanded this offense, and made big throws.
There is typically a certain level of over hype that goes with this type of transaction, but Cutler has shown to Bears fans what they have been lacking for generations. Cutler's ability is for real, it's not just a Mike Mayock film review generated ability he came in and made the offense look good. Look no further than the 98-yard touchdown drive in Mile High stadium in the most important pre-season game in the history of the NFL. To quote many media types who were there, it was a playoff atmosphere in August, which is never seen and the crowd was VERY anti-Cutler. Cutler showed the poise and presence necessary to open up strong in week one against the Packers on the road in Lambeau. Things won't get anymore hostile in Lambeau, the limit was reached in Denver.
The segment shifted to the most important defensive player where Mike Golic weighed in with Aaron Kampman of the Green Bay Packers and his switch to LB in the 3-4 defense. Kampman according to Golic will face better blocking match ups by at times only facing a blocking TE. While this is a favorable match up in rushing the passer, Kampman will also have to show the athletic ability to match up with TEs in pass coverage. What makes the 3-4 defense work is having athletic LBs who can drop into coverage in zone blitz packages and prevent the TE from making plays.
Kampman will have to show some sort of ability to cover Greg Olsen AND Desmond Clark, a huge match up advantage that figures to favor the Bears in week one. Kampman has never looked like a LB or played like a LB and as was pointed out numerous times during the NFL combine if you're going to play that hybrid 3-4 OLB pass rush threat spot, you still have to be able to back pedal and play in coverage. Kampman in my opinion will struggle mightily with that responsibility and it could also help to slow his pass rush if an offensive coordinator is able to key in on him with an OT, or force him to play coverage against a TE.
Wiley's most important defensive player in the conference, Brian Urlacher of the Chicago Bears. Wiley's logic the Bears got to the Super Bowl on the strength of their defense and to return they need the leader of that defense to step up. I don't think it's by coincidence that the defense has faltered over the past two years with both Brian Urlacher and Tommie Harris fighting the injury bug. With Urlacher healthy and back in playing shape he has shown better ability in the early parts of this season than he has the last two seasons. Granted Urlacher is not the player of old, but he is a new player than what he has looked like in '07 and '08.
Urlacher has shown the speed to be able to slip blockers and in game three of the pre-season showed a better ability to take on blockers than he has in the past. He was able to shed a blocker and make a tackle on a few occasions. Having your two best defensive players, playing back up to speed on defense will go a long ways towards the Bears winning more than nine games in '09.
Next the crew shifted to break out player in the NFC North. Again the analysts were kind to the Bears by selecting Devin Hester (Golic) and Greg Olsen (Wiley) as their break out players. Golic said what we saw from Hester should only be the beginning and with Cutler throwing him the ball he should only get better. Hester is a deep threat and Cutler can get the ball deep to Hester. He expects Hester should be able to make more plays in the open field because Cutler will more easily deliver the ball to Hester so he can make plays after the catch.
 Again it's hard to argue that point when taken at face value. The only question will be the consistency of Hester catching the football. If he plays like he did the last six games of 2009, Devin Hester will prove to be a number one receiver, and very worthy of that designation. Over the last six games Hester averaged had 30 catches for 408 yards for a 13.6 yard per reception average. If Hester can duplicate that level of production over a 16 game season it will put him among the best receivers in the league. That would be 80 receptions for 1,088 yards a very acceptable level of production for a number one wide receiver. That level of production is possible with Jay Cutler throwing him the football and if you feel that Hester will only get better as he gains more experience as a receiver.
Wiley's pick of Greg Olsen is another no-brainer as most every pundit in the NFL has gone with Olsen having a break out level performance. Olsen's production alone will go up with just another year of experience in the NFL and his work habits he developed throughout the off-season. In the pre-season Olsen showed another level of consistency and an ability to go up and get the ball between double coverage and make jaw dropping athletic plays. Never mind Jay Cutler's arrival, Olsen was slated for becoming one of the best TEs in the league based on his developmental path and obvious talent as a TE.
So even with all the love thrown the way of the Chicago Bears in the segments leading up to the record predictions, neither Golic or Wiley has the Bears in the playoffs. Golic has the Vikings winning the division at 10-6 and the Bears finishing 9-7 second to the Vikings, while Wiley has the Vikings winning the division and the Bears finishing third with an 8-8 record behind the Packers. Their simple logic the defense isn't ready and Cutler doesn't have enough time in the offense to make enough plays. Cutler will have growing pains in the Bears offensive scheme.
How the Bears will be worse off or the same record wise as last year with a much easier schedule and Jay Cutler running the show is beyond me. The Bears already proved that they are more than a little improved on defense and that Cutler has enough command of the offense to put them in position to win games.
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