Chicago’s lack of depth at CB a cause for concern

By Julie Eguchi  |   Monday, February 27, 2006  |  Comments( 0 )

Chicago Bears
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According to the stat sheets, strong defensive play was the hallmark of the Chicago Bears' 2005 campaign. The team held opponents to an NFL-best 12.6 points per game and allowed just 281.8 yards of total offense per game, which was second-best in the league. In fact, it was largely due to the consistency and dominance of the defense that Chicago was able to make it to the playoffs despite being hampered by an inept offense that turned in one lackluster performance after another throughout the year.

However, all sports fans know that numbers alone rarely tell the whole story, and a closer examination reveals that this is the case in Chicago. There are actually several problem spots in the Bears' defensive unit, with one of the biggest being at the cornerback position. This was made painfully clear during Chicago's 29-21 loss to the Carolina Panthers in the playoffs when Jake Delhomme and Steve Smith exploited the secondary all game long.

Though the early exit from the postseason was certainly disappointing, at least it served as an eye-opener for the coaching staff and management. Defensive coordinator Ron Rivera and GM Jerry Angelo have both acknowledged that solidifying the secondary will be a primary offseason objective.

Out of the six corners on the Chicago roster last season, only Pro Bowler Nathan Vasher is assured of having a job next year. Vasher, a fourth-round pick out of Texas, has quickly developed into one of the premier cornerbacks in the league. In just his second season as a pro, he racked up 41 tackles while recording 8 interceptions and two forced fumbles.

After Vasher, the cornerback picture grows pretty dim. Charles Tillman and Chris Thompson are the two guys that were embarrassed by Delhomme and Smith in the playoffs. While there is a certain amount of upside to both of these players (they are young and have the skills necessary to improve with time), they clearly aren't ready to be starters in the NFL at this point. Jerry Azumah, a 7-year veteran who has been a solid contributor for the Bears throughout his career, has been hampered by nagging injuries for some time now. He's due to become a free agent on March 3, which means that it's highly unlikely he will be back in a Chicago uniform next season. This leaves the Bears in dire need of help at cornerback.

The Chicago Bears probably won't dip into the free agent pool for a corner. Buffalo's Nate Clements, who would have been one of the more interesting possibilities, was tagged with the franchise label, so he'll be with the Bills for at least one more season. Charles Woodson is another big-name corner scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent. However, his price tag is bound to be more than the Bears are willing to spend, especially for a player that has had so much trouble staying healthy for an entire season.

So that leaves the draft. The Bears have the 26th pick in the first round, and will likely use that to bring in a tight end. If Angelo wants to pick a cornerback, it will probably come in the second round. By that time, Jimmy Williams of Virginia Tech will be long gone, but there are several other up-and-coming players that could give the Bears the depth they need. Antonio Cromartie of Florida State, Johnathan Joseph of South Carolina, and Tye Hill of Clemson are all guys that could come in and have an immediate impact on the team.

In order for the Chicago Bears to build on last season's success and make it back to the playoffs, they're definitely going to need to plug some holes on defense. Selecting a top cornerback in the draft would be a good start.
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