Chicago Bears Season Recap

NFC North	Finished 4th in Division
Overall Record: 3-13 (2-4 in division)	Draft Position: 3rd
Head Coach: John  Fox	GM: Ryan Pace

Pro Bowlers

• RB Jordan Howard

2016 Rankings

	Yards/Game	Points/Game	Passing Yards/Game	Rushing Yards/Game
Offense	15th	T-28th	14th	17th	TDs – T-27th
Defense	15th	24th	7th	27th	Sacks – 12th	INTs – T-29th

Top Passers

Name	Games Started	CMP. PCT.	Yards	TDs	INTs	Passer Rating	QBR
Matt Barkley	6	59.7	1,611	8	14	68.3	39.7
Brian Hoyer	5	67.0	1,445	6	0	98.0	61.5
Jay Cutler	5	59.1	1,059	4	5	78.1	33.1

Top Rushers

Name	Rushing Yards	Y/A	TDs
Jordan Howard	1,313	5.2	6
Jeremy Langford	200	3.2	4

Top Pass Catchers

Name	Receptions	Yards	Y/C	TDs
Cameron Meredith	66	888	13.5	4
Alshon Jeffery	52	821	15.8	2

Top Defensive Players

• LB Jerrell Freeman - 110 total tackles, 7 tackles for loss
• S Harold Jones-Quartey - 78 total tackles, 2 tackles for loss, 1 INT
• LB Willie Young - 38 total tackles, 3 tackles for loss, 7.5 sacks
• CB Tracy Porter - 48 total tackles, 2 INTs
• CB Cre'von LeBlanc - 44 total tackles, 2 INTs

Impending Free Agents

• WR Alshon Jeffery
• QB Brian Hoyer
• T Matt McCants
• G Ted Larsen
• G Eric Kush
• CB Johnthan Banks
• K Connor Barth
• OLB Sam Acho
• SS Chis Prosinski
• WR Donte Thompson
• TE Logan Paulsen
• T Mike Adams
• DE C.J. Wilson
• T Nick Becton
• QB Matt Barkley
• DE Carnelius Washington
• WR Marquess Wilson
• LB Josh Shirley
• G Manuel Ramirez

What I Said About Them Before the Season

• I thought that the Bears were going to regress slightly from the 6-10 record that they had last season and projected them going 5-11.  I was wrong, however, as injuries hampered their on-field product, and the team ended up going 3-13.  

Success/Failure

• Failure - Although the Bears took some significant steps forward in their development, ranking in the middle in many categories, but that didn't translate to wins.  With as much talent as they have at key athletic positions, Chicago should have been able to get closer to a .500 record. They struggled with injuries all season long, especially at quarterback, where they had a trio of starters, with only Brian Hoyer playing well.  They didn't have a problem moving the ball or even hindering opposing offenses from moving the ball, but they struggled mightily to score points and prevent the other team from scoring points.  On defense, the Bears had problems against good rushing attacks and didn't force many turnovers, ranking 29th in the league in interceptions.

Offseason Needs

• The Bears have a lot of needs to address this offseason to get themselves back into the same category with the rest of the division.  They struggled to get to opposing quarterbacks and could use a pass rusher, they had problems protecting their own quarterbacks to offensive linemen could be targeted, they need secondary help to create turnovers, and lastly, they need a quarterback desperately.  They should have a lot of options with their first pick, third overall.  If the 49ers take a quarterback with their pick at number two, the Bears could end up with Jonathan Allen, who could help them as an edge rusher in a 3-4 scheme or as a defensive tackle in a 4-3 system.  If San Francisco takes Allen with the second pick, then that allows the Bears to either take Mitch Trubisky or Deshaun Watson at quarterback.  Either of these two quarterbacks could be the type of player to spark a franchise.  For me, I'd take Watson if the Bears feel the need to take a quarterback that early, but I would rather take a defensive end, or a player to fill their other needs.  They could take safety Jamal Adams or cornerback Jalen Tabor to help their secondary or take tackle Ryan Ramczyk.  I'm of the mindset that a team should take care of the needs around the quarterback before drafting the quarterback so that he has the best opportunity to excel immediately.  Since none of the quarterback prospects are universally-accepted as a franchise quarterback, I think they should work on the other needs and maybe take a qb with a third or fourth-round pick.

*All stats and information come from espn.com, nfl.com, pro-football-reference.com, rosterresource.com, spotrac.com, overthecap.com, and cbssports.com