The Greatest Bears Turnaround Ever Came With a Worse Roster than This

The greatest Chicago Bears turnaround in franchise history remains a treasured memory for many fans. Back in 2001 hopes weren't high for the season. The team was in the middle of another transition period and were coming off a frustrating 5-11 finish the year before. Expectations were for incremental improvement at best. Maybe a .500 mark if they're lucky. Instead what people got was four months of utter lunacy that featured miracle moments mixed with a classic Chicago-style of physical football. It was beautiful and reinvigorated the city after years of disappointment in the 1990s. The Bears finished 13-3 and won the division title. An eight-game swing that didn't need a star quarterback to accomplish. So it begs the question. If that team could pull it off, why can't this 2017 group? Maybe 13-3 is asking a bit much but not a playoff push, right? In fact no it isn't. If one were to seriously compare the two rosters up against each other they might be shocked at how favorably this new squad measures up.

Biggest Chicago Bears turnaround came with an average roster

QB: 

• Jim Miller vs. Mike Glennon
• Advantage - 2017

Of course Miller remains a local fan favorite as the man who directed that unlikely run 16 years ago, but look at his numbers. It's easy to see why Glennon can be ranked higher. Miller had his best season in 2001 with 2,299 yards passing and 13 touchdowns.

RB: 

• Anthony Thomas vs. Jordan Howard
• Advantage - 2017

Both players were tremendous in their rookie seasons. Thomas got 1,183 yards and won Rookie of the Year. Howard got 1,313 yards and reached the Pro Bowl. So why is Howard better? He got more yards on fewer carriers (252 to 278) and was also a better receiver.

WR:

• Marty Booker/Dez White/David Terrell vs. Kevin White/Cameron Meredith/Markus Wheaton
• Advantage - 2017

We can just go ahead and say both units don't inspire a ton of confidence. Booker was pretty much a one-man show in 2001 while White and Terrell were backup dancers. The 2017 crop wins for two reasons, more talent and a deeper group. [video width="400" height="480" mp4="https://www.sportsmockery.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Cameron-Meredith-fights-his-way-for-a-32-yard-catch-NFL-Videos.mp4"][/video]

TE:

• Fred Baxter/John Davis/Scott Dragos vs. Zach Miller/Dion Sims/Adam Shaheen
• Advantage - 2017

This really isn't a hard one to argue. The tight ends were barely used at all beyond blocking during the 2001 season. This 2017 group has far more experienced with being used as receivers, in addition to being faster and more athletic as well.

OL:

• Blake Brockermeyer/James Williams/Olin Kreutz/Chris Vallarial/Rex Tucker vs. Charles Leno/Josh Sitton/Cody Whitehair/Kyle Long/Bobby Massie
• Advantage - Draw

Both offensive lines have two Pro Bowlers in them. Kreutz and Williams for one while Sitton and Long for the other. The remaining three of each consist of solid blockers in their own right such as Tucker or Whitehair. Both groups are/were really good, therefor no winner emerges.

DL:

• Ted Washington/Keith Traylor vs. Akiem Hicks/Eddie Goldman
• Advantage - 2001

Hicks and Goldman have the potential to reach the same level of Washington and Traylor, but aren't there yet. Hicks might be, but Goldman has been beset by far too many injuries. The Bears defense back then was suffocating against the run, and it was because of those two. [video width="400" height="480" mp4="https://www.sportsmockery.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/Keith-Traylor-Trucks-for-67-Yards.mp4"][/video]

EDGES:

• Bryan Robinson/Phillip Daniels vs. Leonard Floyd/Pernell McPhee
• Advantage - 2017

How the 2001 Bears rushed the pass was geared more around heavy blitzing that pure four-man rushes. Still, Robinson and Daniels were decent at their jobs. That said Floyd and McPhee are simply a more dynamic pairing as the second half of last season showed.

LB:

• Brian Urlacher/Rosevelt Colvin vs. Danny Trevathan/Jerrell Freeman
• Advantage - 2001

No contest. Even in that second year Brian Urlacher was emerging as a superstar. Colvin had 10.5 sacks as the extra pass rusher while also being a solid all-around tackler. Trevathan and Freeman are effective enough, but aren't at that same level.

DB:

• Mike Brown/Walt Harris/R.W. McQuarters/Tony Parrish vs.  Prince Amukamara/Marcus Cooper/Quintin Demps/Adrian Amos
• Advantage - 2001

Brown was an All-Pro for the first time that season, eventually becoming the best safety the Bears have had this side of the milennium. Harris made the Pro Bowl a few years after leaving Chicago. McQuarters and Parrish were serviceable. The 2017 group is almost all new.

Head Coach:

• John Fox vs. Dick Jauron
• Advantage - 2017

Fox went to two Super Bowls and won a number of division titles over his 14 previous years as a head coach. The 2001 run was in fact the only playoff appearance Jauron ever made in 10 seasons at the job. Pure domination here.

Offensive Coordinator:

• Dowell Loggains vs. John Shoop
• Advantage - 2017

There are some veteran Bears fans who continue to hate John Shoop with a fiery passion to this day. The mans' conservative nature is legendary. Easy to understand since his offense never ranked higher than 26th in three seasons. Loggains topped that in his first try.

Defensive Coordinator:

• Vic Fangio vs. Greg Blache
• Advantage - Draw

In this case Fangio and Blache can't be separated. The two men share a legacy of proven excellent as play callers on defense. In fact their first two years at the job weren't that great, though Fangio has a slight edge in that department. Even so, this one is a draw. So for those keeping track the 2017 Bears roster hold the advantage in seven areas. The 2001 teams took home three while the remaining ones were declared draws. Still, even if those three were given to the '01 team they'd still be behind 7-6. The point of all this being there is no reason to think this team that Ryan Pace has spent three years building can't defy the doubters. All it takes is hard work, effort, and a bit of good luck. The first two shouldn't be a problem. So this season will be about taking advantage of the fortunate bounces if and when they arrive. There is enough talent to make it happen. Now they just need to do it.