2001 BEARS
	James Allen led the Bears with 1,120 yards rushing.
	Head coach: Dick Jauron (3rd year). 2000 record: 5-11. AFC East finish: 5th. 2001 preseason: 1-3. Season opener: Sept. 9 at Ravens. Schedule | Depth chart

Dick Jauron has two years remaining on his contract, but it's expected he'll get paid not to coach the Bears next season if he doesn't produce a playoff team this season, a long shot considering the questions on offense.

New general manager Jerry Angelo already has shown he won't hesitate to make moves he feels are necessary to turn around a franchise that has won just 19 games in the past four years. Still, Jauron insists that he isn't any more concerned with job security this year than he's ever been, as a coach or player.

"I don't feel any more or less pressure than I've ever felt in football," Jauron said. "You always intend to win, and you are expected to win. I don't feel any personal distraction this year."

The keys to Jauron's success will be the health of players who are coming off serious injuries. Jauron will keep a close eye on veterans like wide receiver Marcus Robinson (back surgery in late July) and quarterback Jim Miller (torn Achilles' last season, hamstring strain first day of camp).

Offense
Quarterbacks: Jauron promised an open competition for the starting job, and it took less than three weeks of training camp for Shane Matthews to win it. Miller, who was already at a disadvantage coming off last season's torn Achilles' tendon, strained a hamstring on the first day of training camp and never got into the competition, although he's expected to be ready by the start of the season if Matthews falters. Cade McNown played himself out of the running early on with his erratic control, poor mechanics and lack of leadership - which led to him being traded to the Dolphins. Matthews and Miller both run the offense efficiently, but Matthews' arm strength is marginal, and both he and Miller lack mobility. Journeyman Danny Wuerffel picked up the offense quickly enough to make him a more ideal No. 3 than McNown.
Grade: C-minus.

Running backs: James Allen is a 5-foot-10, 215-pound, blue-collar, workmanlike scrapper who runs hard and has the best make-you-miss ability on the team. But he lacks speed and size and was not an effective goal line or short-yardage runner last season, although he is more than adequate as a pass catcher. Skip Hicks has more size and speed than Allen, but he sometimes runs soft inside, doesn't block as well and gives inconsistent effort. Hicks is better equipped to get the tough yards inside, but he has usually preferred to bounce his runs outside in the past. Marlon Barnes showed an intriguing short-area burst in limited duty last season. Rookie Anthony Thomas' knee injury in the preseason opener has prevented him from having much of an impact. Fullbacks Daimon Shelton and Scott Dragos are primarily blockers who will catch the occasional dump-off pass.
Grade: C.

Receivers: Tight end Fred Baxter has the size to be an effective in-line blocker, but the best you can say about him as a pass catcher is that he's inconsistent. Last year's stopgap starter, Kaseem Sinceno, suffered a severe ankle injury in the second preseason game and was lost for the season. Athletic Dustin Lyman is still learning the position after making the conversion from college linebacker to tight end, although the light seems to have gone on for him in the passing game this year. He's a good blocker despite lacking Baxter's bulk. At wide receiver, Robinson, the Bears' only proven home-run threat, is an impact player when healthy. But he is not expected to be ready for the regular-season opener following back surgery and could miss several games before he's ready to return. Engram excels at doing the dirty work underneath and catching the crucial third-down passes. He makes players like Robinson more effective but is coming back from reconstructive knee surgery. The hope is Engram will be 100 percent by the opener, and he showed flashes of his old self in the preseason, exhibiting enough quickness to get separation and be more than just a possession receiver. Marty Booker is physical, and he has shown flashes of big-time talent, but he also has been plagued by inconsistency. The coaching staff believes this could be a breakthrough season for him. The 6-foot-3, 215-pound David Terrell is identical in size to Robinson, although he doesn't have as much deep speed. But the first-round pick is a much more accomplished all-around receiver than Robinson was at the same stage and has better hands. Terrell should make an impact immediately, even if it's as a third receiver on passing downs.
Grade: B-minus.

		The Bears need a complete overhaul. They are an average football team. Their defense isn't very good, despite having one of the bright young linebackers in the league in Brian Urlacher. The Bears don't run the ball well, throw the ball well or catch the ball well. Without being disrespectful, they don't have a shot. They will play hard, but the coaches realize they need to win or they may be gone next year. The Bears have some pieces in the puzzle, but the puzzle doesn't match. The strength of their offense now is at quarterback, with Shane Matthews or Jim Miller, when he's healthy. I love a healthy Marcus Robinson on the outside. But I don't believe the team has enough weapons. The Bears better hope for some major breaks and that their quarterback throws for 4,000 yards.

Offensive linemen: Left tackle Blake Brockermeyer and right tackle James "Big Cat" Williams are solid. Brockermeyer's strength is as a pass protector, and Williams is a road-grader in the run game. Third-year players Rex Tucker and Jerry Wisne competed evenly for Todd Perry's old spot at left guard throughout the preseason, but neither played well enough to cause any excitement. C Olin Kreutz is undersized, but he is tough and nasty and is on the verge of becoming a Pro Bowl player if he can stay healthy. Right guard Chris Villarrial has excellent strength and is better in the run game. Third-round pick Mike Gandy spent much of the preseason sidelined with a high-ankle sprain, but fifth-rounder Bernard Robertson made a favorable impression with his versatility. Journeyman backup Jimmy Herndon has filled in at both offensive tackle spots.
Grade: C-plus.

Defense
Defensive linemen: With the money the Bears have spent and the talent they've accumulated, no one should be able to run the ball with much success against this line. Defensive end Bryan Robinson, the team's transition player, is excellent vs. the run but not a great pass rusher. Unrestricted free-agent DTs Ted Washington and Keith Traylor have 21 years of experience in the NFL and combined are more than 700 pounds of run-stuffing space-eaters. After signing a $24 million, five-year deal, defensive end Phillip Daniels was a disappointment as a pass rusher last season with just six sacks, but he was better than expected as a run defender. Ageless DE Clyde Simmons still can pressure the quarterback in spurts. With the release of DT Mike Wells, who was supposed to be part of a three-man rotation, the Bears must hope one of several unproven youngsters steps up. Robert Newkirk appears to be the most promising of the bunch. Robinson and Simmons often move inside in passing situations.
Grade: B-minus.

Linebackers: A youthful, active, aggressive, speedy bunch is led by middle linebacker Brian Urlacher, who was a Pro Bowl player as a rookie. The defensive scheme revolves around keeping blockers off him and letting him make plays all over the field, which he's capable of doing, while also rushing the passer and dropping into coverage. Even though Urlacher was the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year last season and set team rookie records with 165 tackles and a team-best eight sacks, Jauron believes he's just scratched the surface of his ability. Warrick Holdman has great speed and range on the weak side, but his 2000 season was cut short by knee surgery, and he required a follow-up arthroscopic procedure during camp, which sidelined him for three weeks. Rosevelt Colvin has become one of the vocal leaders of the defense, and he has backed it up with his play. Sean Harris' surprise retirement, and the Bears' refusal to take him back when he changed his mind, leaves little depth.
Grade: B-plus.

Defensive backs: Cornerback Thomas Smith did not play up to his $22.5 million, five-year contract last season after he was signed away from the Bills and was waived recently. On the other side, Walt Harris still has never played like a first-round pick and could be replaced by R.W. McQuarters, another former first-rounder. Jerry Azumah is still a work in progress as he continues his conversion from college running back. Strong safety Tony Parrish, who has all the physical tools, and free safety Mike Brown, a tough guy with brains and savvy, could be starting together for the next several years. Larry Whigham provides depth and lights-out hitting ability, but he leaves something to be desired in coverage.
Grade: B.

Special teams
Kicker Paul Edinger hit 17 of his last 19 field goal attempts last season as a rookie, including 4-of-5 from more than 45 yards. Punter Brad Maynard is a huge upgrade over the past several seasons. He has a strong and accurate leg and excels at placing the ball inside the 20. LS Patrick Mannelly is one of the best in the game and is annually among the Bears' top special-teams tacklers. Return specialist Glyn Milburn was being pressed hard by McQuarters on punts and Azumah on kickoffs.
Grade: B.

Bob LeGere covers the Bears for the Daily Herald.

Material from Pro Football Weekly.
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