Before the Bears’ season began, I had a disagreement with my roommate about Matt Forte’s role this year. I argued that with Jay Cutler behind center — a gunslinging quarterback — Forte was bound to see less carries this year, and thus less yards and TDs. He was the focal point of the offense last season, as he accounted for the highest percentage of downs usage for any player in football. No way that was going to happen again this year.

His argument was that with Cutler, the running game would open up more, and Forte would be just as good or better.

So far this season, looks like we’re both wrong. (Though, I’m more right. OBVIOUSLY.) The offensive line, for now, is being held most accountable for his demise. Over at Windy City Gridiron today, they have a nice breakdown of how many times Forte has run with a specific lineman as his lead.

LE: 12 rushes/ 64 yds/ 1 TD/ 1 first down run/ 5.33 yd avg. (includes a 37 yard TD run)

LT: 12 rushes/ 23 yds/ 0 TD/ 0 first downs/ 1.92 yd avg.

LG: 16 rushes/ 85 yds/ 0 TDs/ 2 first downs/ 5.31 yd avg. (includes a 61 yard run)

Mid: 18 rushes/ 40 yds/ 0 TDs/ 2 first downs/ 2.22 yd avg.

RG: 14 rushes/ 40 yds/ 0 TDs/ 3 first downs/ 2.8 yd avg.

RT: 5 rushes/ 24 yds/ 0 TDs/ 1 first down/ 4.8 yd avg.

RE: 9 rushes/ 19 yds/ 0 TDs/ 0 first downs/ 2.11 yd avg.

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A few weeks ago, I wrote that everybody needed to calm the eff down about the Bears’ offseason. It was early. There was time to do things, time to acquire some pieces that would make this team better. Just because they hadn’t done anything yet didn’t mean they weren’t going do anything. I preached patience.

And this patience payed off yesterday, as they not only have a franchise quarterback in Jay Cutler*, but they signed Orlando Pace to a three-year, $15 million deal. Pace is certainly not the player he was, but his signing should at least, in part, shore up some of the offensive line holes the Bears became saddled with this season.

*Some people outside Chicago think the Bears got absolutely raped by Denver on this trade. And while there is some validity to that, trust me: No one here cares about losing some first-round draft picks. A good lot of the Bears talent in the draft has come from later rounds, and guys like Rex Grossman and Cedric Benson come to mind when I think of Bears first-round picks. I’ll sacrifice a few of them to actually have a competent quarterback behind center for the first time since I’ve been alive. If you’re not a Bears fan, you don’t know our plight.

So where do the Bears go from here? With Cutler in place, I think it makes a hell of a lot sense to go get one of those aging, yet talented receivers that are available: Torry Holt or Marvin Harrison. If Kyle Orton was still this team’s quarterback I don’t know if it makes sense money wise. But that changes with Cutler. Couple one of those guys with Devin Hester going deep and Matt Forte in the backfield, and the Bears’ offense could actually be good.

This, friends, is something to look forward to.

My affinity for the Bears need to sign veteran free agents is well known. But unlike Jeff Garcia, Chicago’s favorite football team actually took a look recently at two guys that do make a lot of sense: Ken Lucas and Orlando Pace. (Oh, and I’m kidding … I still think Garcia would work fine.)

Pace, obviously, is a former franchise tackle for the Rams cut for salary cap reasons. Lucas was an All-Pro cornerback made famous by a Steve Smith jab to the face and released by the Panthers for the same reason.

But both signings make sense from the perspective of the Bears, money notwithstanding. The logic of inking Lucas has already been covered by MDS at FanHouse, but he’s exactly right: Lucas is an upgrade for the Bears at corner, and he’s still young enough where a shorter deal makes absolute sense.

As for Pace, the Bears could certainly pass … if they think that offensive tackle is a need that they can definitely fill in the upcoming NFL Draft. And by “fill” I mean “find a starter.” Which may be a problem, because it’s looking increasingly likely that Jason Smith, Michael Oher, Eugene Monroe and Andre Smith will not fall to the Bears at 18, though if Smith keeps doing what he does best (initiating a chubby freefall), it’s entirely possible.

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