Gabriel: Bears-Cardinals Review

By Greg Gabriel--

(CBS) We knew Sunday's game wasn't going to end well for the Bears when Cardinals rookie running back David Johnson returned the open kickoff 108 yards for a touchdown at Soldier Field. It's hard enough for good teams to recover from a start like that, let alone an average or below-average team.

All through training camp, I felt that this excellent Bears coaching staff would be enough to make a team with average personnel play beyond its means. After sitting through two games, I was wrong. In order for this Bears team to win, they have to be just about perfect in every phase of the game. In the first two games, including Sunday's blowout 48-23 loss to Arizona, that hasn't been the case.

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On defense, the Bears haven't been able to generate any kind of pass rush, and that has left a secondary that lacks top talent defenseless. Against the Cardinals, the Bears were able to get a little pressure, but through two games they haven't registered a sack. There has been no consistency on third down as far as being able to stop either the run or the pass.

On offense, Chicago's biggest problem has been its inability to finish drives. Settling for three points when seven is there won't win a team many games.

In fairness, the Bears had a good offensive game plan Sunday, throwing short passes and mixing in some read option. Jay Cutler was having an excellent day early, completing his first eight throws and leading the Bears on touchdown drives of 89 and 80 yards. They were in the game until on his ninth pass Cutler threw an interception that was returned for a touchdown. Whether it was a poor read by Cutler or a poor route by Martellus Bennett doesn't matter. The result was a touchdown by Arizona. To make it worse, Cutler was injured on the play and was out for the rest of the game.

What happened after Cutler's injury brings up a lot of questions. It became obvious that backup quarterback Jimmy Clausen wasn't prepared to play in the game. Twice, Chicago had the ball in the Arizona red zone and was unable to finish the drives, walking away with field goals. The play-calling was far different from what was being called with Cutler at quarterback.

Did Clausen not get any reps during the week or is he incapable of running the offense? Either answer doesn't work for me.

Every year a struggling team faces a crossroads. After only two games, that crossroads is here for the Bears. Next Sunday, the Bears face the two-time defending NFC champion Seattle Seahawks on the road. This is a Seahawks team that's currently winless but will be playing its home opener. You know that they will be looking to turn their season around against a hapless Bears team. From what I have seen the first two weeks, this Bears team isn't up to that challenge of playing a team like that.

Who will be at quarterback? If Cutler can't play, is there any confidence that Clausen can lead a team to victory? If there isn't, then why is he here? Maybe David Fales should come off the practice squad and start the game if Cutler can't go.

There have been other disappointing players, and decisions have to be made on whether to still play them. Other than his interception Sunday, linebacker Jared Allen has done nothing in two weeks. Maybe Sam Acho, who played well early in the preseason, should take over that position.

Last year's top draft choice, Kyle Fuller, doesn't look as if he has the traits needed to play cornerback in this new Bears defensive scheme. He's much better as a zone corner than playing press. So should Terrance Mitchell replace him? Mitchell was more adapt at playing press Sunday than Fuller has been.

If the defense is going to be strong against the run, there has to be a presence in the middle. In two games, neither inside linebacker has shown that kind of presence. Is it time for rookie John Timu -- who was excellent in the preseason -- to play? He seems to have that aggressive presence that's needed.

This team needs a spark, and changing the personnel could be a way of providing that spark. I have a strong feeling that there will be some roster changes in the next day or two.

General manager Ryan Pace and coach John Fox were dealt a poor hand when they took over this Bears team in January. They've made some questionable decisions early with the Ray McDonald signing and not going trying to find a veteran right tackle, which made their hand even worse. While this team isn't a playoff team this season, it's not too late to find the right players who can make it a playoff team in the future.

That time to do that starts now.

Greg Gabriel is a former NFL talent evaluator who is an on-air contributor for 670 The Score. Follow him on Twitter @greggabe.