QB, RB changes haven’t paid off for the Bears

By TONY GROSSI

CLEVELAND — Chicago Bears fans thought all their team needed was a blue-chip quarterback to return to the Super Bowl this year.

So the team traded three high draft picks and Kyle Orton for Jay Cutler. Now Orton is outplaying Cutler and leading the Denver Broncos to a 6-0 record.

The Bears gave up on troublesome running back Cedric Benson a while back. His teammates reportedly despised him. Now Benson is leading the NFL in rushing after a 189-yard game against the Bears. His replacement, Matt Forte, is struggling to find the form that made him a rookie sensation.

These developments might not be the reasons the Bears are 3-3 and looking up at Minnesota and Green Bay in their NFC North division. But they are reminders that the best-laid plans often go awry.

Three years ago, coach Lovie Smith became the toast of Chicago for guiding the Bears to the Super Bowl with Rex Grossman at quarterback. The almost weekly focus on the hot-and-cold Grossman obscured how good the Bears were at running the ball, playing defense and playing special teams.

Now Smith is catching some flak, and offensive coordinator Ron Turner is under fire.

Smith has had the same offensive staff since 2005. At the same time, he has tinkered almost every year with the defensive staff. This year he named three new position coaches on defense and appointed himself the defensive play-caller.

It’s conceivable the Bears can make a run at the division title. They still have two games against the Vikings — and may catch Brett Favre in both meetings with a sore arm — and a home game against Green Bay.

But their inexplicable 45-10 loss in Cincinnati was a cold slap in the face.

Some believe the strong-armed Cutler needs a more vertical offense than the precision, West Coast-style favored by Turner.

They point to the top-end speed of wideouts Devin Hester and rookie Johnny Knox. Turner has tried to alter his routes to take advantage of the firepower. The Bears have 20 pass plays of 20 yards or more.

But Cutler has a lot of Brett Favre in him and often makes throws that cause Turner indigestion. He’s a turnover machine in the red zone.

There are three new starters and newcomer left tackle Orlando Pace isn’t what he used to be in his heyday in St. Louis.

Smith’s Tampa-2 defense depends on the front four generating the pass rush. When it doesn’t, it doesn’t have a chance of working.

Tackle Tommie Harris hasn’t done much all year because of a lingering knee injury and was benched against Cincinnati.

Injuries knocked out two starting linebackers for the year — Brian Urlacher (wrist) and Pisa Tinoisamoa. Smith has used six different players as starting linebackers and has had five different combinations in six games.

The lack of pressure up front has caused Smith to blitz more, and that is against his nature. The results have been some big plays for opponents.