As I See It: Chicago's Top 5 Positions To Improve On..

  In this segment of "As I See It," I will break down Chicago's professional sports franchise's and compose a list of the top 5 positions that need the most improvement. To everybody's satisfaction I have included front office positions as well in my evaluations. "Bear" with me, my grieving is still fresh, so through careful research and evaluation I completed the list for you.. Feel free to express your opinion as well.... I will! 


( Note that as an original, "As I See It" will be in order from 1 to 5, being that all these changes are of equal importance. Some just are more upsetting than others.)

So here is my list of the Top 5 Positions Chicago needs to improve on. Enjoy!

image courtesy of The Pigskin Doctors

1. Offensive Tackle - Chicago Bears
   
   
     Due to the untimely exit of the Chicago Bears in the NFC Championship, I have now the obligation (self entitled) to critique the 2010-11 roster. You would have had to lived underneath a rock for the last 18 weeks to not know the biggest glaring flaw in the Bears roster. Offensive tackle. There are many stats you could look at that directly link the line to poor production and injuries. Starting with 52 sacks in 16 games, leading all other quarterbacks by at least 12 sacks, the concussion of Jay Cutler that lead to the Todd Collins debacle in New York and Carolina where the line allowed 9 sacks in one game.  
   
   
     Mike Tice and Jerry Angelo would be the excrement on top of the hill and Roberto Garza, Chris Williams, Frank Omiyale, and Brandon Manamelaeuma are those in which it rolls downhill upon. To say that with a better echelon of talent on the line, the Bears would have made it to the Super Bowl is a bit absurd, but an interesting enough statement that it must be entertained. Front office officials have tried many ways to upgrade the talent on the line, but to no significant avail. Last year they brought in veteran future Hall of Famer Orlando Pace to bring some experience to the line, but all we got in return was a veteran lineman with Alzheimer's. Deja-vu' Todd Collins. 
     

     As I See It, the only way to improve this upcoming off-season is through the draft and free agency. By drafting good young talent that can develop and instill a trust factor with Cutler is only beneficial to the continuity of the Bears offense. Jerry Angelo & Co. should try to trade up in the draft for superior talent that can manifest immediately. Also with the impending lockout looming and many front offices unsure of what to do with expiring contracts on marquee players. That could work out to the Bears advantage. 

    Using fear and uncertainty Chicago could quite possibly land the likes of a Nick Mangold purely because teams are afraid to commit to contracts that might not be fully satisfied. Fortunately for the Bears, we will take 2 of 3 years of good play instead of none. To say the least the O-line "IS the weakest link". Goodbye...

   
   

   
   

   
   

   2. General Manager - Chicago Cubs
   

   
   

   
   

     The Chicago Cubs have been in desperate need of alot of things over the past decade, but none more important than the general manager position. Currently held by Jim Hendry, the Cubs have saw both peaks and valleys during Hendry's 9yr tenure. Mostly valleys... Jim Hendry was promoted to Cubs General Manager on July 5, 2002. Since taking over the helm, the Cubs have had mixed results. In 2003, the club came as close to a World Series as any Cubs team since 1945, but after the fall of 2003, the club struggled for several seasons with a worse record in each successive season until the end of 2006. 

   
   

     However, after not renewing manager Dusty Baker's contract, the resignation of long-time team President Andy MacPhail, and the significant increase in player budgets, the Cubs went from last to first in 2007. Through mid-June in 2008, the Cubs had the best record in baseball. 

      

     Hendry has made some splashes in the market from time to time. He managed the first of several 'remarkable' trades during his tenure. Hendry traded unpopular catcher Todd Hundley to the Los Angeles Dodgers in return for Eric Karros and Mark Grudzielanek. Thought of as a salary swap at the time, Karros and Grudzielanek played major roles in the Cubs playoff success. He would also strike gold again trading Bobby Hill and Jose Hernandez for Pirate third baseman Aramis Ramirez, Kenny Lofton, and Randall Simon to shore up the bench. 

   
   

   

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     On the last weekend of the 2003 season, the Cubs clinched the NL Central Division title, their first division title in 14 years. And, as the Cubs entered game 5 of the NLCS with a 3-1 series lead over the Florida Marlins, it appeared that the Cubs were on the verge of their first World Series appearance in 58 years. However, the Cubs dropped three straight and were eliminated from the post-season. Some say it was Bartman, I say it was the Cubs choking. Just a REAL fan's perspective. 

   
   

     After the disappointing end of the 2004 season, Hendry addressed his roster again. He traded disappointing prospect Hee Seop Choi to the Marlins in exchange for Derrek Lee, and later sent catcher Damian Miller to the Oakland Athletics for Michael Barrett. On the free agent market, Hendry signed veterans Todd Walker and Greg Maddux.

   
   

     That is about as good as it gets for the rest of the 'still being written' story of the one they call "Jim". Since 2003, it has been nothing but overpayment's and rush judgments. After Acquiring Derrick Lee it is very safe to say Jim Hendry has given up more talent than he has spent money on. The short list of players that have been given up for nothing is: Ricky Nolasco, Matt Lawton, Greg Maddux, Todd Hollandsworth, Phil Nevin, Scott Williamson, Todd Walker, and Neifi Perez. His mishandling of contracts is without a doubt what put him in bad graces with the fans of Chicago extending the contracts of Carlos Zambrano, Alphonso Soriano, and Koske Fukudome. 

   
   

     Most notably in recent years is his free agent acquisition of hot-head Milton Bradley. Undoubtedly, the worst move in his entire career with the Cubs; Bradley did not finish an entire season and was a constant distraction to the team. 

   
   

     I am not sure how long it will take to make my beloved Chicago Cubs the "loveable winners", but I do know that while Jim Hendry is GM, we will be on "Year __". I offer no solutions for this one, only problems.

   
   

   
   

      3. Shooting Guard - Chicago Bulls

   
   

   

     A self explanatory name for a position could not get more clear cut than this. Shooting Guard. Kind of like a point guard but scores points, or shoots the ball often. This is not the case in Chicago, whose starting SG Keith Bogans isn't giving the position much luster.. 

   
   

     Bogans, averaging just 3.4 points per game is statistically the worst starting shooting guard in the NBA. His backup, Ronnie Brewer is averaging just over 6 points per game and is statistically better in almost every category; even minutes. With a combined total of over 9 ppg, the guard combo pales in comparison to the talented roster of Derrick Rose (24.6ppg, 8.1 apg), Carlos Boozer (19ppg, 10 rpg), and Luol Deng (17ppg, 6rpg), on a team that has been touted as the youngest, most dangerous team in the East to threaten the NBA Championship. The Chicago Bulls are now in immediate need to find adequate scoring from the position that desires it the most. 

   
    Some possibilities to fill the position are:

   1. Rip Hamilton - Detroit Pistons 
   2. O.J. Mayo - Memphis Grizzlies
   3. Carmelo Anthony - Denver Nuggets (SG would come from either Denver (J.R. Smith) or third team)
   4. Stephen Curry - Golden State Warrior
   5. Courtney Lee - Houston Rockets
   6. Jason Terry - Dallas Mavericks

   
     The Chicago Bulls are in a great position. Fighting 13 games ahead of Cleveland in the Central Division without having 2 of their best players on the floor. Upgrading the shooting guard position does nothing but improve their chances of going deep into the playoffs and possibly challenging for the NBA Championship. Derrick Rose wont let us down, lets get somebody to help him get it done consistently. Even Micheal Jordan had Scottie Pippen ( Hint, hint, John Paxson...).  
   
   

   4.   Goalie - Chicago Blackhawks

  I know, I know, this can be chalked up to Stan Bowman. The one man championship constuctor and destructor. Bowman played an integral part in acquiring the talent that brought the Stanley Cup to Chicago in 2010, including the signings of Marian Hossa, Tomas Kopecky and Brian Campbell, as well as weighing in on the decisions that brought players such as Patrick Sharp to the club winning the first Cup title in almost fifty years. The aftermath has been a bit more uneventful... 

  The fear of exceeding salary cap, and the gut that developing talent and drafting would work again, the front office decided to dump significant talent on the roster, clearing space to keep higher profile talent such as Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews. To date the Blackhawks have a 26-20-4 record, scathing to get a respectable seed in the playoffs and unsure of what the current roster of talent can contribute to repeat a Stanley Cup Championship. Corey Crawford has had a very good season to this point, but there have been some cracks lately. Pucks are getting by him that haven't before. More than likely it’s a slump, but with all the pressure on his shoulders, the Hawks will need significant offensive production to help, or Marty Turco could show signs of getting hot himself.

 The way the Hawks are playing, and Turco to this point, if Crawford takes a rookie step back, the season looks as bleak as the first month after the parade. You remember, when most of the players had their "day with the cup" while budgeting moving company prices to their respective trade or free agent signing destination. 

  Also, check back for the post-season Top 5 to see if anyone from the Blackhawks front office makes the list...

  

   5. Wide Receiver - Chicago Bears

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  The Chicago Bears round out the top 5 in my evaluation of Chicago's top positions in need of a change. The wide receiver position has been one of crucial importance since the signing of Jay Cutler last season. The combination of lack of stability on the offensive line, Cutler's poor decision making and lack of talent at the receiver spot proved to be a recipe for disaster in the final ticks of the season. Devin Hester, Johnny Knox and Earl Bennett were the core nucleus of a mediocre roster. Greg Olsen, a tight end lead the team in receptions the last two seasons. Johnny Knox fell short from 1,000 yards receiving, a well deserved miss. Devin Hester proved that to be elite he needs less snaps at receiver and more opportunities in the return game. 

  Earl Bennett proved to be the only consistent receiver on the team, with his 3rd down efficiency and knack for catching the ball anywhere it is thrown. Familiarity and trust were among the many positives between Cutler and Bennett, but one guy can only do so much. With the Bears having legitimate draft picks and a few expiring contracts to free up cap space. 

  I have a feeling that with the proven success of going out and getting super free agent Julius Peppers and Chester Taylor, Jerry Angelo will follow that same mold and pick up a good "big time" receiver that Cutler can make his primary target. Now it is obvious that Cutler does not trust his teammates or his line, reaching the NFC Championship with that kind of instability says alot. Think of what the Bears can do if they spend a little more than half as much as they did with Julius Peppers....

 These are great times to be a Chicago sports fan. Hard work and best efforts are expected, winning is status quo. Be proud of your city sports. But be objective, a successful season is a championship season. Ask a champion.