Top Ten things the Bears should do this offseason

On one hand, I’m glad the Bears choked against the Texans and didn’t make the playoffs. For one, they would have taken a beatdown next week in Minnesota anyway. And more importantly, winning 10 games and making the playoffs may have given the organization and coaching staff a false sense of security, thinking that they are close to getting back to their 2006 Super Bowl form when they really are light years away.

Even though the Bears probably overachieved after most people pegged them for around six wins at the start of the season, let’s be honest: the immediate future doesn’t look very good. This is a team that will go into the offseason with far more questions than answers.

Everyone wants a massive overhaul, but like it or not, this is pretty much the same team that will be coming back next year, with the exception of hopefully two major acquisitions on offense (read below), and whomever they take in the draft.

Here are ten things the Bears should do this offseason if they want to have any shot of competing in the NFC North next year.

10. Re-sign Mike Brown to a one-year deal
How bad was Danieal Manning yesterday? Manning’s performance should have Jerry Angelo on Brown’s front doorstep as soon as the NFL free agency period starts on February 28. Welcoming Brown back for a 10th season is a worthwhile risk, especially when you consider that the options in-house to replace him are Manning and Craig Steltz. The market for Brown will be small, if there is one at all, and they could offer him the veteran’s minimum or load up another deal with incentives.

9. Move Brian Urlacher to strong-side linebacker
The Bears are stuck with Urlacher and the ridiculous new contract extension that he demanded and got right before training camp. It’s time to finally take Urlacher out from the middle and move him to the strong-side to take better advantage of his speed and give him more opportunities to blitz off the edge. Keep Lance Briggs at the weak-side spot, and either try Jamar Williams or Nick Roach at middle linebacker. Drafting a middle linebacker in the third round or so wouldn’t be a bad idea either.

8. Give Chris Williams every chance to earn the starting spot at left tackle
John St. Clair filled in admirably this season, but assuming Williams reports to training camp healthy, he should be the starting left tackle on opening day. That would leave St. Clair as a backup at either tackle or guard spot, where he is best suited.

7. Make Danieal Manning the full-time kick and punt returner
Let Devin Hester concentrate solely on turning into one of the better number two receivers in the league, which I think he can become. In just a handful of games, Manning showed he can be one of the league’s better returners. Like I’ve been saying the past couple weeks, Manning is the best athlete on the team, but he’s clueless on defense, so why not utilize his athleticism as much as possible? This decision should really be a no-brainer.

6. Draft a defensive end or safety with your first-round pick
Choosing a wide receiver in the first round is too risky because there isn’t much depth in this class, and the top guys should all be gone by the time the Bears pick. Someone like LSU defensive end Tyson Jackson, South Florida defensive end George Selvie or USC safety Taylor Mays would be great. With their second-round pick, then the Bears should look for a wide receiver.

5. Try to trade Rashied Davis, Mark Anderson, and Dusty Dvoracek
The Bears have a lot of depth on their defensive line, so losing either Anderson or Dvoracek wouldn’t have a major impact. Davis is an obvious candidate to go with all his dropped passes. Each has some trade value, because they all are relatively young and each has had his moments in the league. Bring back Brandon Lloyd, who was great before he got injured in week 5, and let Marcus Harrison start next to Tommie Harris. Maybe you can get a backup running back to Matt Forte or an adequate offensive guard in return.

4. Sign or trade for an elite wide receiver
If one of the following players isn’t in a Bears uniform next season, I will be pissed; Anquan Boldin, T.J. Houshmandzadeh, Plaxico Buress, Braylon Edwards or Chad Johnson. I would gladly give up a first-round pick for any one of these five guys (Houshmandzadeh is the only one who is a free-agent). The Bears current group of receivers is a joke. Up until Hester’s catch at the one-yard line yesterday, the Bears had gone all season without a pass completion over 30 yards, an amazing stat when you think about it.

3. Fire Bob Babich
Only the Ravens have invested more money in their defense than the Bears, yet the Bears only ranked in the middle of the pack in total defense. You could use injuries to key players as an excuse last season, but what was the excuse this season? Babich has failed to make adjustments all year. Guys always seem to be out of position, and that’s attributable to coaching. Someone needs to take the fall for how bad the defense has been the last two years. I’m just worried Lovie doesn’t have it in him to fire his friend.

2. Fire Ron Turner
I know Turner hasn’t had a lot to work with on offense, but his play-calling in key situations this season cost the Bears. There were several games where the Bears failed to establish an identity on offense. Sure, it’s hard when you have a mediocre quarterback, no wide receivers, and a shaky offensive line, but too often Turner didn’t put the ball in the hands of his best players, Forte and Greg Olsen, when the circumstances called for it.

1. Do whatever it takes to trade for or sign Donovan McNabb (but don’t go for Matt Cassel)
This won’t be easy by any means. Considering McNabb’s popularity in Philadelphia, and the fact that Kevin Kolb is completely unproven, I have a hard time seeing the Eagles trading or releasing him since he’s still under contract with them. However, McNabb represents a serious upgrade over Kyle Orton, who failed to throw one good deep ball all season. Even though McNabb is 32 and not the player he once was, the Bears instantly become a better football team with him under center, and anyone who doesn’t agree with that assessment is totally clueless.