A new year and it is a new offensive system for Jay Cutler. The veteran QB is now set to learn another offense with former Denver Broncos Offensive Coordinator Adam Gase. Cutler will also have to work with a receiving corps that lost Brandon Marshall, one of Cutler's best friends and favorite target. It also doesn't help that 1st round pick Kevin White is still out with an injury. But Cutler will have the rest of his targets in Matt Forte, Alshon Jeffrey and Martellus Bennett. He will also have new slot man Eddie Royal, who can offer speed and be a Wes Welker like contributor to the Bears offense.
The offensive line will be rebuilt after longtime center Roberto Garza was let go and the athletic Kyle Long will be the superstar on the line.
But once again, the offense will go as far as Jay Cutler takes them. Matt Forte can only do so much and we have been asking the same question for a few years now and it will be asked this year. Can Adam Gase finally be the quarterback to change Jay Cutler? The preseason won't tell us the answer but it might be a look into the state of the Bears offense.
But after having a horrendous season on the defensive end last season, the Bears got Vic Fangio and he will be in charge of turning around this defense. They acquired the likes of Pernell McPhee to help the linebacker core and have added depth on the defensive line. Eddie Goldman can show he can be a steal on the defensive line and has shown he deserves some snaps. The move to 3-4 will be something new and fresh for Bears fans to see. Fangio won't show a lot of his blitz packages so take what you see with the defense with a grain of salt versus the Miami Dolphins.
But the secondary still has questions as they were cut open weekly by any team. In a division with Aaron Rodgers, Matthew Stafford, and Teddy Bridgewater, if the Bears secondary doesn't show improvement, it could get ugly.
After getting a massive contract in the off-season, it is time for Ryan Tannehill to prove he is worth the money. The Texas A&M product signed a six year, 97 Million dollar contract and the deal was immediately struck with criticism and questions about if he deserved that kind of money. But thankfully for Tannehill, he will have some weapons around him to help him out.
The Dolphins have a young receiving core but they have the chance to be explosive this year. They recently traded for Kenny Stills, a deep threat when he was with the Saints, and he will join the likes of Jarvis Landry and veteran Greg Jennings. Miami also drafted DeVante Parker but he is out due to injury. If Parker can play to his potential and they can get some solid output from the rest, including Jennings, the Dolphins will have a great wideout core.
Jordan Cameron will be Charles Clay's replacement although he is not as versatile as Clay is, Cameron is a bigger target and a more proven tight end.
Lamar Miller will be heading the rushing attack and his catching ability out of the backfield is another boost to Tannehill.
With all these players around him, it will be time for the young QB to earn everyone's respect.
The defense will be anchored by Cameron Wake on the defensive end and Brent Grimes in the secondary. Grimes really came into his own last year and showed the NFL what an athletic and good cornerback he is.
This is the first pre-season game and most of the starters won't be playing much so the spotlight will be on the backups but it will be nice for both fan bases to see their teams play football again.