Offense
Chicago could not have foreseen the circumstances that surrounded the 2005 season. The drafting of Cedric Benson meant that they would finally have the workhorse they needed to support Lovie Smith's plan. They certainly got a workhorse, but it was journeyman Thomas Jones that exploded, and was the unquestioned MVP of the offense.
Benson was left as a secondary option and never got the chance to showcase himself. He may have his role increased this year, but they would be fools to go away from Jones as the main man.
I also find it funny that the team had so much confidence in Kyle Orton last year that they made it public that he would be the starter regardless of the status of Rex Grossman. Not only did Grossman come back and play in the playoffs, but Chicago also went out and overpaid Brian Griese to be Grossman's backup. This leaves Orton as the third quarterback for the 2006 season.
Were they really that confident all along? Whether they were or not, Griese was a ridiculous addition and would not give them much more than Orton would if pushed into duty. But at this point it must be assumed that Grossman cannot stay upright for an entire season. Either way the offense runs on the ability of Thomas Jones and Cedric Benson to get the tough yards and keep the chains moving. It is an identity that everyone seems comfortable with, especially the quarterbacks.
Defense There is no reason to believe that this defense will fall off at all. They have young, aggressive players at every position. Tommie Harris controls the middle and allows Alex Brown to use his superior speed to terrorize the backfield. No one could contain either one for the majority of a game last season.
Brian Urlacher was the Defensive Player of the Year last season, but many coaches and players thought Lance Briggs was just as crucial. As long as these two are paired up, the third linebacker will look good, as Hunter Hillenmeyer does in this defense.
As Nathan Vasher came into his own last year as a playmaking corner, Charles Tillman declined a little. It is surprising considering that he was looked at as a potential shutdown corner. If Tillman can rebound and Vasher can build on his 2005 success, teams will not have many options as to how to move the ball. This will again be a top-5 defense, with Tommie Harris solidifying himself as the league's best pass rushing DT.
Synopsis
Everyone knows what to expect from the defense, and they know to naturally question the competency of the offense. I have always been a huge Rex Grossman guy, but if he goes down with another season-ending injury early in the year, they may have to cut ties with him and decide whether Kyle Orton is their future guy. If the focus of the offense was centered on the quarterback all this would be a much more pressing issue, but Jones and Benson will naturally calm fears about the quarterback uncertainty.
I foresee an early tussle from the Vikings and then pulling away for another NFC North title with a 10-6 or 11-5 mark. This is one team, though, that I worry about injuries with. A key loss on the defensive side of the ball could be trouble.
