LeGere: Bears haven't made the grade after 8 weeks

Two of the Bears' three victories at the halfway mark are against the 1-7 New York Jets and the 2-6 Atlanta Falcons, and head coach Marc Trestman's team has yet to win a home game.

The offense, allegedly the strength of the team, is significantly worse than it was at the end of last season.

The defense is improved, for the most part, except when it comes to the points allowed category. After getting bombed by the New England Patriots for 51 points, this season's defense isn't far off the pace of last year's squad, which allowed the most points in franchise history.

And more often than not, special teams have been a part of the problem.

Here's a look at the midseason grades:

• Quarterback: Jay Cutler's numbers have been the best of his career, but he still makes too many game-changing mistakes, especially considering the strong cast of skill-position players that have been assembled on his behalf. In the Bears' five losses, Cutler has turned the ball over 11 times on 8 interceptions and 3 fumbles. In the three victories, he has zero interceptions and 1 lost fumble.

Grade: C.

• Running backs: The Bears have put the ball in Matt Forte's hands as often as they ever have, and he has been productive as a runner and receiver. But Forte has yet to break a run longer than 19 yards, and his pass-blocking has occasionally been lacking. In limited duty, rookie Ka'Deem Carey has impressed with his quickness and tough running.

Grade: B-plus.

• Wide receivers: Alshon Jeffery has been a bit inconsistent, and his production is down from last season's breakout effort, but he remains the team's best big-play threat. Brandon Marshall's production has plummeted, partly due to a sprained ankle that he played through. Given the number of times he has been targeted (66), Marshall's 34 catches are unimpressive, as is his 11.3-yard average per catch. Santonio Holmes and Josh Morgan have not been fully incorporated into the attack, which is only partly their fault.

Grade: C.

• Tight ends: Martellus Bennett's production stacks up with any tight end in the game. He's on pace for 94 catches, 1,034 yards and 10 touchdowns. Bennett lacks the speed and elusiveness of Jimmy Graham or Greg Olsen, but he has become a tackle-breaking terror after the catch, and he blocks better than the glamour players at his position. Backup Dante Rosario (9 catches, 70 yards) has been an infrequent contributor

Grade: A.

• Offensive linemen: The continuity that defined this group a year ago has been absent because of injuries and illnesses that began in training camp (right guard Kyle Long's pneumonia) and will continue for the remainder of the season because of the year-ending chest injury suffered by left guard Matt Slauson.

Center Roberto Garza missed four games with a sprained ankle, left tackle Jermon Bushrod missed two with knee and ankle injuries and Slauson missed three games with a sprained ankle, returned for three games and then suffered the chest injury. Right tackle Jordan Mills has been a disappointment at right tackle, partly because of a recurrence of the foot injury he suffered in the 2013 season finale.

Brian de la Puente filled in admirably for Garza, and Michael Ola has been a pleasant surprise, starting games at left guard, left tackle and right tackle. Cutler is on pace to be sacked 40 times, which would be his most since 2010, his first season in Chicago.

Grade: C.

Defensive linemen: The Bears are better up front than last year's banged-up and talent-challenged group, but the results are a major disappointment. Of the three defensive ends that arrived via free agency, Lamarr Houston was a disaster, Jared Allen has been a disappointment and Willie Young has been exceptional.

Houston suffered a season-ending torn ACL in Week 8 celebrating his only sack of the season. Even worse, the guy who came advertised as one of the NFL's best run-defending defensive ends, finished the year with 12 tackles. Allen leads the team with 17 QB pressures and has upgraded the previously horrendous run defense, but he has just 1½ sacks, not what the Bears expected after seven straight double-digit sack seasons.

Young leads the team with 7 sacks and is second with 30 solo tackles, an amazing combination for a player who was almost exclusively a backup in the first half of the season.

At tackle, Stephen Paea has been solid and has a career-best 4 sacks. Jeremiah Ratliff had all 3½ of his sacks in the loss to the Miami Dolphins and missed three games with a concussion. When healthy, the 32-year-old veteran is still a force inside. Rookies Ego Ferguson and Will Sutton have logged significant snaps and flashed production, especially Ferguson.

Grade: C.

• Linebackers: Injuries have resulted in six different starting combination through eight games, and not one group has impressed.

The supposed leader, seven-time Pro Bowler Lance Briggs, has already missed three games with “sore ribs.” Even when healthy, the longtime, weakside standout appears to have lost at least a step.

On the strong side, Shea McClellin hasn't been anymore impactful than he was at defensive end, although a broken hand derailed his progress, sidelining him for four games. MLB D.J. Williams still has some value as a run defender, but he hasn't made any flash plays. Jon Bostic got three starts when injuries hit but has missed two straight games with a back injury.

Veteran Darryl Sharpton showed up as a physical presence when he got a start vs. the Falcons, but then suffered a hamstring injury. Khaseem Greene got two starts because of injury and proved that he's better off on special teams. Big, athletic undrafted rookie Christian Jones looks like a future starter.

Grade: D.

• Defensive backs: Rookie CB Kyle Fuller showed big-time play-making ability early on with 3 interceptions in the first two games after replacing injured starter Charles Tillman, but he has tapered off and is battling hip and hand injuries. Tim Jennings hasn't made as many plays on the ball as the past two seasons, and he won't be going to the Pro Bowl for a third straight time.

Free safety Chris Conte has played better than last season's disastrous campaign and has been a physical presence, but he can't seem to stay healthy. Strong safety Ryan Mundy has provided stability and consistency in the secondary. Safety Brock Vereen has been the best of a young group of backups.

Grade: C.

• Special teams: This unit has produced more bad plays than big plays with an ever-changing cast of characters, which has made it difficult for coordinator Joe DeCamillis to develop a strong core or build any continuity. At least kicker Robbie Gould remains reliable, hitting 8 of 9 field-goal attempts. Rookie punter Pat O'Donnell has a big leg, but he needs to become more consistent.

Grade: D.

• Coaching: As a group, Trestman's team didn't seem prepared to play in the last two weeks, losing by a combined 78-37. The offense has regressed in Year 2, frequently struggling early in games to get in sync and sustain drives.

Mel Tucker's defense hasn't shown enough of the anticipated improvement after major additions through free agency and the draft. It has allowed an averaged of 32 points in the previous five games, which included four losses. Kickoff- and punt-return teams have provided no help.

Grade: D

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