Picks to Improve:

[DESERTDWELLER]

Shea McClellin

Past Performance:

2012: 13 games, 7 tackles, 7 assists, 2.5 sacks

Not quite the rookie season one might expect out of a first round pick, but McClellin was a project player when he was brought in, whose skill set best lent him to getting after the quarterback. And pressure the quarterback he did. I saw some things in McClellin that needed work last year, but I think the Bears still have themselves a solid defensive end in the making.

What's New?

One of those things is his lack of opportunity. McClellin was primarily a rotational guy last year, brought in in special packages like the Boise package (which had McClellin roaming the line of scrimmage like a rushing linebacker) and the Dan Ryan of bringing Julius Peppers inside and McClellin with Corey Wootton as the bookends to maximize the speed of the defensive line.

This year, with Isreal Idonije presumably booking a room somewhere except Chicago, McClellin moves to the third end and should be the first one in when Peppers needs a breather. This should get him more chances to develop against pass protectors and develop a counter move.

McClellin's also going to be a few pounds heavier without sacrificing any of his speed, which should help him make more plays in the run game.

The 2013 Season

McClellin will be closer to a finished product, but still not quite there - we probably won't see everything McClellin has to offer until year three. That's okay, but McClellin needs to have more production now, particularly sacks, to quiet his doubters to a dull roar. I think we'll see some growth from Shea. The question is, will it be enough?

Early 16-Game Prediction: 5.5 Sacks, 20 Tackles, 15 Assisted, with no move to linebacker.

http://www.windycitygridiron.com/201...shea-mcclellin

Alshon Jeffery

Past Performance:

2012: 10 games, 6 starts - 48 targets, 24 receptions, 367 yards, 3 touchdowns, 17 first downs

Jeffery's 2012 was a mixed bag of results. He had some solid play and flashed the ability that made the Bears spend a fifth-round pick to jump up in the second round to grab him (such as when I wrote after the Jaguars game that he'd taken over the #2 receiver role before he got hurt), but he also had some "WTF" moments such as, oh, the three-Offensive-Pass-Interference-Game for one.

The second-round rookie missed time with a knee surgery and a hand injury suffered in the Jaguars game, but prior to that caught a pass in every game and led all rookies in receiving (also until Justin Blackmon remembered he was supposed to be Justin Blackmon). Was Jeffery productive? Oh yeah. Could he have been more so? Oh hell yes.

What's New?

As with Shea McClellin, more opportunity, though Jeffery had already started to take hold of a starting role. Step one is learning what he can and can't get away with at the NFL level - the Green Bay game was a harsh awakening to that, but watching Brandon Marshall should give him some pointers for year two.

But if that's step one, one-A has to be having more time and more offensive throws in his direction. Marshall's still the undisputed number one of this offense and will be as long as he's in town, but Jeffery's going to get his over the course of the year as well. 48 targets was fourth on the team behind Marshall (194!!), Matt Forte (60!!) and Earl Bennett (49), which should tell you about the state of the Bears' offense last year.

With the improvement in the offensive line and that had Jeffery not been injured for six games those target totals would have been second on the team, Jeffery should get more throws in his direction in year two.

The 2013 Season

Trestman's offense will make sure more throws get around to whoever gets open wherever they line up. The offensive line should give Jay Cutler more time to find open targets when Marshall is actually covered. Jeffery should be able to get open more in year two.

The one question I have is if the Bears have a legit receiver corps yet. The answer is, well, I'm not sure. Marshall and Jeffery are a very nice one-two combo (Marshall's a one-two all by himself sometimes), but behind that, there's still no "speed" threat to "stretch the field." Do the Bears need that, though? It helps, but the point is more "Catch ball, move ball downfield." You want the big, streaking-downfield, 60-yards-in-the-air throw, but if a ten-yard catch and move gets that accomplished, that works too - and it's not like anybody's slow on the roster.

The Way-Too-Early 16-Game Prediction In May: 90 Targets, 48 receptions, 600 yards, 7 touchdowns

http://www.windycitygridiron.com/201...hon-jeffery-wr

I expect both of these guys to step up this season. Shea needs to prove himself as a 1st rounder and Jeffery, with any luck, may become BMarsh 2.0.

What are your thoughts?

[BcEuAbRsS]

I'd be fine with 2nd year production like that from those guys, I do think we see better stats for both though.

[Jordan Rules]

Not having Rod here, I wonder how much of his potential will Shea reach. Added playing time should help a lot.

Jeffery should be a lot more effective in the WCO with his size. With the emphasis on spreading the ball around, I expect a good, solid year out of him.