2003 BEARS
	Brian Ulracher led the Bears with 152 tackles last season.
	Head coach: Dick Jauron (5th year). 2002 record: 4-12 NFC North finish: 3rd Season opener: Sept. 7 at 49ers Schedule | Depth chart

Bad breaks can't possibly be as all-encompassing as last season, when 19 players who started at one time or another missed games because of injuries.

The Bears also have a friendlier schedule than last season, when they essentially played 16 road games while Soldier Field was being rebuilt and the University of Illinois' Memorial Stadium in Champaign, Ill., served as home field.

Strong-side linebacker Rosevelt Colvin, the team's leading sacker with 10½ in each of the past two seasons, was a big loss in free agency. But quarterback Kordell Stewart should be an upgrade at a most important position, even though no one knows for sure which way the arrow is pointing with him. Tight end Desmond Clark is being counted on to return to his 2001 form, when he had 51 catches for 566 yards and six touchdowns with the Broncos.

Offense
Quarterbacks: Stewart has better durability and better running ability than anyone the Bears have had at quarterback in decades. But he may not be any more consistent or productive than the journeymen who have come and gone since Jim McMahon was in his prime. Injury-prone Chris Chandler is still capable of launching an impressive air attack if he's given time and if he stays healthy. But he was never on the field long enough last year to be much of a positive factor, and he'll be 38 a month into the season. The Bears used their second first-round pick (No. 22 overall) on Rex Grossman. The plan is to bring the rookie along slowly and not rush him onto the field as they did with Cade McNown in 1999, but Grossman looked much more like an NFL quarterback in training camp than McNown ever did. Grade: C.

Running backs: After winning Offensive Rookie of the Year honors in 2001, Anthony Thomas didn't look like anything special last season, an opinion shared by general manager Jerry Angelo. The Bears were 32nd in rushing yards and 30th in average gain per rush last year. Adrian Peterson, a sixth-round pick last year, will get an opportunity to challenge Thomas for playing time. As a rookie, Peterson showed more quickness, wiggle and tackle-breaking ability than Thomas, and Peterson continued to show flashes in the preseason. Sixth-round draft pick Brock Forsey has versatility and better quickness and speed than expected. Fullback Daimon Shelton is a solid blocker but doesn't bring much else to the table. He could lose out to Stanley Pritchett, who is a better runner and receiver but not as effective blocking. Grade: D.

Receivers: Marty Booker was forced to do just about everything in the passing game the past two seasons, catching 197 passes for 2,260 yards and 14 touchdowns. The Bears still are waiting for Dez White to emerge as a consistent complement. He showed flashes last season, while catching 51 passes for 656 yards and four touchdowns. While White has yet to show game-in, game-out starting ability, he's been more productive than David Terrell. But Terrell could challenge White this year. At the least, the Bears hope the eighth overall pick in the 2001 draft can develop some consistency and show some of the big-play ability he has only flashed so far. Rookies Justin Gage and Bobby Wade will have to earn playing time, but both have potential. Clark has a good chance to become the team's best pass-catching tight end since Mike Ditka. Dustin Lyman has come back much quicker than expected from a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament graft in his left knee and will play in two-tight end sets. Young John Gilmore has the best size of the bunch and showed last season he could catch, too. Grade: B-minus.

Offensive linemen: Mike Gandy, a guard who had never played left tackle, wound up starting six games there last year and performed well enough to keep the job. Last year's first-round pick, Marc Colombo, went to camp as the projected right tackle, but he is still not ready to play and is likely headed for the physically-unable-to-perform list. That leaves twice-cut Aaron Gibson in his place. Gibson, a former first-round pick of the Lions, has tremendous size, but has gotten too big in the past and been plagued by injuries. The interior was more than solid, until left guard Rex Tucker suffered a torn tendon in his right ankle in the final preseason game. Now he's out for the season. Converted tackle Steve Edwards, recent acquisition Corbin Lacina and rehabbing Terrence Metcalf are the leading candidates to replace Tucker. Center Olin Kreutz is the anchor and a Pro Bowl regular, and right guard Chris Villarrial is strong, solid and steady.Grade: C-minus.

Defense
Defensive linemen: Defensive end Alex Brown was a pleasant surprise last season in a sea of injuries and disappointment. He needs to take another step and provide a boost in the pass rush. Defensive end Phillip Daniels suffered through a subpar season after an early sprained ankle hindered his effectiveness, but he's the best all-around player on the line. Rookie defensive end Michael Haynes will get work on both sides and could push Brown for playing time. He was a factor in the pass rush during the preseason. Defensive tackles Ted Washington and Keith Traylor keyed the success of 2001, when the Bears allowed the fewest points in the NFL. But Bryan Robinson moves inside from end and will start with Traylor now that Washington has been traded. Grade: B.

Linebackers: Bryan Knight was slated to succeed Colvin, but rookie Lance Briggs was the more impressive player in camp. Brian Urlacher provides an all-around difference-maker in the middle, and he could be used more as a pass rusher, a role that he has played well in the past when given the opportunity. Warrick Holdman, perhaps a more valuable all-around 'backer than Colvin, is expected to be 100 percent recovered after having cartilage surgery on his right knee and missing 12 games last year. Grade: B-plus.

Defensive backs: At right cornerback, Jerry Azumah continues to improve, but unless cornerback R.W. McQuarters reverts to his playmaking, ballhawking '01 form, this could be a trouble spot. McQuarters was out or playing hurt for most of '02, and the results were disastrous, although second-round draft pick Charles Tillman may provide the depth that was missing last year. Strong safety Mike Green was second on the team in tackles last season, but he needs to make more plays on the ball. Free safety Mike Brown didn't have as many game-deciding plays as a year earlier, but he's smart, tough and a great quarterback in the secondary. Grade: C-plus.

Special teams
The Bears had to ante up to retain placekicker Paul Edinger when the Vikings signed him to a five-year, $7 million offer sheet as a restricted free agent, but he's worth it, even though his kickoffs aren't great. Punter Brad Maynard slipped after a great season in '01, his first with the Bears after leaving the Giants. Long snapper Pat Mannelly is like clockwork, and he's also one of the team's top special-teams tacklers. Ahmad Merritt can return punts and kicks, but rookies Wade (punts) and Forsey (kicks) could challenge him. Grade: B-minus.

Bob LeGere covers the Bears for the Arlington Heights Daily Herald.

Material from Pro Football Weekly.
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