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Brian Urlacher Jonathan Daniel/Getty Projected starting lineup Offense No. Player Pos. 83 David Terrell WR 69 Mike Gandy LT 79 Steve Edwards LG 57 Olin Kreutz C 74 Ruben Brown RG 76 John Tait RT 88 Desmond Clark TE 86 Marty Booker WR 8 Rex Grossman QB 22 Thomas Jones RB 47 Bryan Johnson FB 2 Paul Edinger K Defense No. Player Pos. 97 Michael Haynes LE 91 Tommie Harris LT 98 Bryan Robinson RT 96 Alex Brown RE 59 Joe Odom WLB 54 Brian Urlacher MLB 55 Lance Briggs SLB 33 Charles Tillman LCB 23 Jerry Azumah RCB 43 Mike Green SS 30 Mike Brown FS 4 Brad Maynard P 2004 Draft Rd. Player Pos. School 1 Tommie Harris DT Oklahoma 2 Terry Johnson DT Washington 3 Bernard Berrian WR Fresno State 4 Nathan Vasher CB Texas 4 Leon Joe OLB Maryland 5 Claude Harriot DE Pittsburgh 5 Craig Krenzel QB Ohio State 7 Alfonso Marshall CB Miami Outside the Huddle Show me the money The Bears made John Tait the most lucrative offer ever for a right tackle when they agreed to a six-year, $34 million contract with a $14 million signing bonus this offseason. Like father, not like son The Bears passed up two sons of former Bears players who starred on the 1985 Super Bowl team in this year's draft. Jarrett Payton, a running back from Miami, is the son of the late running back Walter Payton. Quincy Wilson, a running back from West Virginia, is the son of former linebacker Otis Wilson. Payton went undrafted. Wilson went to Atlanta in the seventh round. Road luck Three of the Bears' toughest road games this season -- at Green Bay, Minnesota and Tampa Bay -- will come the week after their opponents play on Monday night. The Bears' trip to Washington will come after the Redskins' Sunday night game at Baltimore. Dr. Victory The Bears' fifth-round draft pick, quarterback Craig Krenzel, was a molecular genetics major with a 3.68 grade-point average at Ohio State. The first question Bears director of scouting Greg Gabriel asked Krenzel on draft day was, "Do you want to be a doctor or quarterback?" Krenzel answered, "Quarterback." 2003 Revisited The Prophecy: "The Bears are again searching for a pass rush in wake of linebacker Rosevelt Colvin's departure." The Lie: "Bears GM Jerry Angelo put a quick and decisive end to the quarterback merry-go-round that plagued the Bears the last three years by signing Kordell Stewart ... " --Athlon Sports Pro Football 2003

Lovie Smith said all the right things this offseason. He said he was thrilled to make his head coaching debut with the historic franchise. He said he would bring winning back to the Midway. And at spring workouts he said he was like a kid at Christmas trying to turn around this football-obsessed city's fortunes.

"Football is going to be fun," said Smith, who left his job as defensive coordinator with the St. Louis Rams to come to Chicago. "But you don't have any fun until you win and have some success."

That has been the problem the last decade. Smith's two predecessors, Dave Wannstedt and Dick Jauron, went a combined 75–101 with two playoff appearances since 1992. After a sixth losing season in seven years, everyone agreed change was in order for the Bears.

So Smith came in and not only scrapped the corporate, button-down feel around team headquarters in Lake Forest but also scrapped the offense and defense. Known for his aggressive defenses, Smith installed an up-tempo style of play with plenty of old-fashioned discipline. It's more Ditka than Dave or Dick, and that alone may be just what fans have desired.

Smith cleaned house and installed 2003 draft pick Rex Grossman to lead new offensive coordinator Terry Shea's attack.

Gone is last year's failed free-agent experiment, Kordell Stewart. Gone is veteran backup Chris Chandler. And in is the least-experienced group of quarterbacks in the league with Grossman, Jonathan Quinn and two rookies. But if Smith has any worries at this spot, he is hiding them well. "They all know Rex is going to lead the team," Smith says. "He's doing everything right to get the offense down. There's a lot, of course, that goes into being a quarterback in this system, but Rex is catching on quickly."

Grossman played only a little more than nine quarters in his rookie season and gave no indication of future stardom in those brief performances.

Quinn will get a chance to throw his first NFL pass in three years. The seventh-year pro has just three career starts.

To make Shea's offensive visions a reality, the Bears have to find a running game, something they lacked with Anthony Thomas, who has had two disappointing seasons since earning Offensive Rookie of the Year honors in 2001.

The Bears brought in free agent Thomas Jones from Tampa Bay. Jones, a fifth-year pro, is a powerful runner and catches the ball well but has just three 100-yard rushing games in his career.

Thomas came on strong late in the season, rushing for 141 yards against Washington in the second-to-last game of the season.

Shea's new offense also necessitates a strong fullback, leading the Bears to trade a draft pick to Washington for Bryan Johnson.

The Bears' search for a big-play receiver continues, especially with Shea's plans for an up-tempo offense. Marty Booker, who went to the Pro Bowl two years ago, and David Terrell turned into reliable possession receivers but combined for just five touchdowns in their 95 catches.

The most exciting developments have been with second-year players Bobby Wade and Justin Gage. Both saw significant playing time last year, and Gage led the Bears with a 19.9 yards-per-catch average. Five of his first six NFL catches went for more than 20 yards. The Bears expect similar explosiveness from third-round draft pick Bernard Berrian, perhaps the fastest player on the team. Tight end Desmond Clark should get more looks in Shea's new offense.

Smith is confident the Bears have good depth along the line, but he is not ready to say where all those pieces will fit.

The only locks for starting spots are three-time Pro Bowl selection Olin Kreutz at center and free agent pickup John Tait at right tackle. The Bears made Tait one of the highest-paid offensive linemen in the NFL this offseason, hoping he can help cut down on the 43 sacks the Bears gave up last year.

The other three spots along the line are up for grabs. Another free-agent signee, eight-time Pro Bowler Ruben Brown, likely will supplant Mike Gandy at right guard. That will move Gandy to left tackle, where he will compete with Qasim Mitchell. Bears management is high on Mitchell's talent but knows protecting Grossman's blind side may be better left to Gandy, a veteran who has some experience at left tackle.

Smith demands better defense. That means plenty of personnel changes for a unit that allowed more than 21 points per game and had a league-low 18 sacks last season. For the second year in a row, the Bears used the draft to address the defensive line troubles. This year that meant adding two athletic tackles who fit the Smith mold -- fast, agile and quarterback-hungry.

Fans already have high expectations for Tommie Harris (first round) and Terry Johnson (second round). Both will compete for a starting spot immediately. Returning starter Bryan Robinson and backup Alfonso Boone should also figure into the rotation.

Last year's first-round draft pick, end Michael Haynes, is supposed to be the "double-digit sack guy" Smith covets. Haynes had just two sacks in part-time duty last year but slimmed down to 270 pounds to improve his quickness. Haynes should start on the left side opposite Alex Brown, who was the Bears' leading sacker last year with 5 1/2.

Much of the blame for the Bears' defensive struggles last year fell on Brian Urlacher, the team's only true superstar and a four-time Pro Bowler. Smith has put even more heat on Urlacher this offseason, pointing out that Urlacher did not have a single interception last year and only 2 1/2 sacks. In Smith's new cover-two scheme, the Bears hope to get Urlacher into the 55 club this season -- 5 interceptions and 5 sacks.

"We're going downhill and making a lot of plays in the backfield," Urlacher said after running through the new system in spring workouts. "I like it."

Urlacher's partners on the outside, Joe Odom on the weak side and Lance Briggs on the strong side, are both second-year players who saw playing time right away last season. Rookie Leon Joe will back up Briggs and play special teams.

The Bears have plenty of depth in the secondary but are still trying to find that one stopper at cornerback who can match up with the tall, athletic receivers in the NFC North.

Charles Tillman showed some of that big-play ability last year as a rookie and should return to the starting lineup. Jerry Azumah tied Tillman with a team-high four interceptions last year and also returns to the starting lineup. Free safety Mike Brown and strong safety Mike Green also return after solid seasons. Brown is the Bears' emotional leader and has ranked among the team leaders in tackles and interceptions the last four years.

The Bears added to their secondary, re-signing Todd McMillon and drafting Nathan Vasher in the fourth round.

Azumah made his first Pro Bowl appearance as a kick returner after averaging a league-best 29.0 yards per return and scoring two touchdowns. Punt returner R.W. McQuarters also ranked among the league leaders. Placekicker Paul Edinger will start out as the Bears' most consistent offensive weapon.

If Smith can do any one thing to calm anxious Chicagoans it is beat the Packers, something the Bears have done just twice in the last 10 years. Despite a late flourish last season, a Week 13 loss to the hated Cheeseheads eliminated the Bears from the playoffs yet again.

With his new young quarterback, a retooled defense and a serviceable run game, Smith has a chance to turn around the Bears' fortunes right away. A fast start against three division rivals -- the Lions, Packers and Vikings -- would prove Lovie is in the air.

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