(My Sportsbook) - The Chicago Bears know they traded for a 4,000-yard, Pro Bowl passer when they obtained Jay Cutler from the Denver Broncos in a blockbuster deal during the offseason.

What they don't know is whether they got themselves a winner.

Bears supporters who have been worn down by years and years of shoddy quarterback play, while thrilled with the acquisition of Cutler, will be quick to tell you that the 26-year-old hasn't translated his passing skills into a postseason berth since he was an Indiana high schooler.

Those fans know that no matter how great a ball Cutler throws, that those style points won't mean squat if he can't turn the Bears into a consistent winner.

While optimism abounds that the confident Vanderbilt alum can do just that, Cutler isn't going to have things easy by a long shot.

The Bears did little to upgrade a bottom-five group of receivers in the offseason, and the man protecting the franchise QB's blind side is Orlando Pace, whose many injuries and decreasing effectiveness helped to contribute to a lot of losing for the St. Louis Rams over the past couple of years.

The defense doesn't look much better either, especially with tackle Tommie Harris and cornerback Charles Tillman - two of the veteran leaders of the unit - not expected to be seen much before September following offseason surgeries.

All of the uncertainty helps place the Bears - who would have made the '08 playoffs had it not been for a Week 17 meltdown against the Texans - behind the Minnesota Vikings in the NFC North pecking order as the season begins, and there are some who will tell you that the Green Bay Packers could be further ahead than the Bears at this stage as well.

So, while Cutler may have halted the team's revolving door at the quarterback position, he hasn't yet been able to stop one negative affliction that has plagued this franchise in recent seasons...the doubt.

Below we take a capsule look at the 2009 edition of the Chicago Bears, with a personnel evaluation and prognosis included therein:

2008 RECORD: 9-7 (2nd, NFC North)

LAST PLAYOFF APPEARANCE: 2006, lost to Indianapolis, 29-17, in Super Bowl

COACH (RECORD): Lovie Smith (45-35 in five seasons with Bears, 45-35 overall)

OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR: Ron Turner

DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR: Smith/Bob Babich

OFFENSIVE STAR: Jay Cutler, QB (4526 passing yards, 25 TD, 18 INT with Denver)

DEFENSIVE STAR: Brian Urlacher, LB (93 tackles, 2 INT)

OFFENSIVE TEAM RANKS: 24th rushing, 21st passing, t14th scoring

DEFENSIVE TEAM RANKS: 5th rushing, 30th passing, t16th scoring

KEY ADDITIONS: QB Jay Cutler (from Broncos), QB Brett Basanez (from Panthers), WR Juaquin Iglesias (3rd Round, Oklahoma), TE Michael Gaines (from Lions), T Orlando Pace (from Rams), T Kevin Shaffer (from Browns), T Frank Omiyale (from Panthers), SS Josh Bullocks (from Saints),

KEY DEPARTURES: QB Kyle Orton (to Broncos), QB Rex Grossman (to Texans), WR Brandon Lloyd (not tendered), WR Marty Booker (released), T Fred Miller (not tendered), T John St. Clair (to Browns), G Terrence Metcalf (released), LB Darrell McClover (not tendered), LB Gilbert Gardner (released), S Cameron Worrell (not tendered), S Mike Brown (not tendered), S Brandon McGowan (to Patriots)

QB: It is probably safe to say that Cutler faces higher expectations than any quarterback in Bears history. Sure, Chicago has drafted some supposed first- round phenoms in the past, and has also invested in some capable veterans, but Cutler is a Pro Bowl quarterback in his prime, who rides into a town that has been ready for a true signal-calling hero for decades. The stakes will be high, and the pressure intense. If Cutler should get hurt, the Bears are in trouble. Caleb Hanie is a 23-year-old former undrafted free agent who has never thrown an NFL pass, but will likely enter the season as Cutler's backup. The other QB on the roster during training camp is former Northwestern star Brett Basanez, whose experience in the league consists of 11 throws as a member of the Panthers in 2006. Probably a good bet that the Bears are weighing their options at this position.

RB: The offensive bright spot for the Bears in 2008 was undoubtedly running back Matt Forte (1238 rushing yards, 63 receptions, 12 TD), who became just the second rookie in NFL history to post 1,000 yards and 60 catches. Though his role in the passing game could become lessened with a better quarterback in the backfield, Chicago should be able to achieve a nice run-pass balance with Forte in the lineup. The primary backup should be Kevin Jones (109 rushing yards), who has looked good in the offseason after battling injuries a year ago. Lovie Smith might have to choose between the miniature Garrett Wolfe (69 rushing yards) and long-time special teams stalwart Adrian Peterson (100 rushing yards, 6 receptions) when identifying the third running back. Peterson is probably more valuable, but he's also 30 years old and it might be time to go younger. At fullback, Jason McKie (2 rushing TD) is the incumbent but will face a challenge from Jason Davis, who played in the final five games last year after McKie went down with a quad injury.

WR/TE: If there is an area of grave concern on this team, it is wide receiver, where there isn't anything resembling a proven target. Devin Hester (51 receptions, 3 TD) wasn't nearly the difference-maker on offense that he had been on special teams, and must continue progressing during his second year in the lineup. The No. 2 receiver looks like Cutler's old Vanderbilt teammate Earl Bennett, a third-round pick in 2008 who didn't have a catch during his rookie year. Rashied Davis (35 receptions, 2 TD) has a better resume' than Bennett, but isn't a cinch to make the team after the Bears invested draft picks on Juaquin Iglesias (3rd Round, Oklahoma) and Johnny Knox (5th Round, Abilene Christian). Those two players, along with the slightly more refined Devin Aromashodu and Brandon Rideau, will press for meaningful time at wide receiver. Without question, Chicago's most reliable targets are tight ends Greg Olsen (54 receptions, 5 TD) and Desmond Clark (41 receptions, 1 TD), though Cutler never showed consistent chemistry with a tight end in Denver. Either holdover Kellen Davis or ex-Lion Michael Gaines (23 receptions, 1 TD with the Lions) will stick as the third tight end.

OL: The Bears have the definition of a risk-reward situation at the tackle spots. On the left side, Pace is a former All-Pro but has played in just 23 out of a possible 48 games over the past three seasons due to injury. He must show that he can stay healthy, and also that he has something left. On the right side, 2008 first-round pick Chris Williams played in just nine games, starting none, due to a back problem that followed him from college. Given the situations with Pace and Williams, veteran swing tackle Kevin Shaffer had better be ready. At the guards, free agent and converted tackle Frank Omiyale should be able to beat out incumbent Josh Beekman. The most stable situations up front are at center and right guard, respectively, where Olin Kreutz and Roberto Garza aren't going anywhere. Holdover Dan Buenning has a beat on the final o-line roster spot.

DL: League scouts have long heralded Tommie Harris' (37 tackles, 5 sacks) potential to become one of the elite defensive players in the league, but the tackle hasn't been able to fully deliver on the promise due to nagging injuries. Harris was sidelined early in camp following offseason knee surgery, and the line will be in trouble if he can't fully recover. Israel Idonije (24 tackles, 3.5 sacks) will start when Harris is unavailable, and will be in a rotation with Dusty Dvoracek (29 tackles) and Anthony Adams (21 tackles) at the other DT spot. Adewale Ogunleye (62 tackles, 5 sacks, 1 INT) and Alex Brown (44 tackles, 6 sacks, 1 INT) will continue to be the starters off the edge, but the team would like to get significantly more contribution from former double-digit sack man Mark Anderson (18 tackles, 1 sack) as well. Third-round pick and YouTube sensation Jarron Gilbert (San Jose State) could play a utility role up front.

LB: Brian Urlacher and Lance Briggs (110 tackles, 3 INT) might be one of the most recognizable linebacking tandems in the league, but the duo must dispel the myth that their unit has peaked. The 31-year-old Urlacher simply hasn't been making the big plays in the middle that were once his hallmark, and though Briggs has continued to be a playmaker, he's clearly more effective when Urlacher is on his game. Perhaps a shake-up at the strong-side linebacker spot will lift the entire unit. Ex-Ram Pisa Tinoisamoa (104 tackles, 3 sacks with St. Louis) has the early lead in a contentious race for that spot that also includes longtime lineup staple Hunter Hillenmeyer (18 tackles, 1 sack), Nick Roach (37 tackles) and Jamar Williams (14 tackles). If the veteran Hillenmeyer can't win a starting job, don't be surprised to see the Bears cut him in favor of a younger player like fifth-round draft choice Marcus Freeman (Ohio State).

DB: A secondary unit that was once a Bears strength is now a question mark. At cornerback, Charles Tillman (93 tackles, 3 INT) could miss the entire preseason following back surgery, and another starting hopeful, Zack Bowman (2 tackles, 1 INT), had his chances scuttled by a hamstring problem. That situation means that the inconsistent Nathan Vasher (21 tackles, 1 INT), fellow holdover Trumaine McBride (11 tackles, 1 INT), and would-be nickel back Corey Graham (91 tackles, 1 INT) could be pressed into prominent roles. The safety spots are up in the air as well. The team finally parted ways with Mike Brown after he couldn't stay healthy, and could be in the process of demoting Danieal Manning (33 tackles, 1 sack, 1 INT) for the same reason. With Manning bothered by a hamstring issue in training camp, Kevin Payne (88 tackles, 4 INT, 1 sack) was moved to free safety, and sixth-round draft choice Al Afalava (Oregon State) was seizing his opportunity at strong safety. Other backup candidates at safety include holdover Craig Steltz (18 tackles, 1 INT) and ex- Saint Josh Bullocks (41 tackles, 1 INT with New Orleans).

SPECIAL TEAMS: Perhaps the most disconcerting element of the Bears' 2008 season was the disappearance of Devin Hester's former electricity on punt returns. The Bears' effort to get Hester (21.9 kickoff return avg., 6.2 punt return avg.) involved in the offense would seem to have had an adverse effect on his work on special teams, but there is hope that he'll get his mojo back this year. Manning was actually more effective than Hester, leading the league with a 29.7 kickoff return average and returning seven kicks of 40 yards or more. Chicago is set in the kicking game, with Robbie Gould (26-29 FG) on placements and Brad Maynard (41.2 avg.) still a fixture at punter. Pat Mannelly returns for another season as the team's long-snapper.

PROGNOSIS: Cutler will undoubtedly make the Bears a better team, but he won't make them a Super Bowl contender by himself. If Chicago wishes to take that step, the team will need some major luck at receiver, along the offensive line, and on a battered defense that hasn't been nearly as good as its reputation in recent seasons. If they get lucky with injuries (and early indications are that they won't), the Bears can threaten Minnesota in the division and be a Super Bowl sleeper in a wide-open NFC. But the more likely scenario has them playing second banana to the Vikings in the NFC North and scratching and clawing in an effort to reach the 10-win mark and be a part of the Wild Card picture.