Watch this video from the Bears’ press conference shortly after their 41-21 loss to the Arizona Cardinals. Listen closely to Coach Lovie Smith and quarterback Jay Cutler.

Does it look like they even care?

Imagine playing for a team that’s been blown out twice in the past three games. Wouldn’t you be ready to tear a door off your locker? Not these two. They looked like they just woke up from a nap.

That pretty much summarizes  the Bears’ play during their 4-4 start. They were sleepwalking in wins over Seattle and Cleveland. They played just good enough to beat Pittsburgh and Detroit. But put them on the field with an Green Bay, Atlanta, Cincinnati or Arizona, and they are toast.

We’ll be a little more passionate in our midseason Bears report card. Because, like most Bears fans, we give a damn:

Offense:  No running game. The right side of the offensive line needs the Army Corp of Engineers to plug all those holes. Cutler’s bleeding and is showing signs of brooding. Has anything gone right this season?

The lone bright spot has been the development of young wide receivers Johnny Knox and Earl Bennett. And Devin Hester has proven to be reliable, catching more than 74 percent of all balls thrown to him. That places him among the league’s top receivers in that category.

Devin Hester has become a much more reliable receiver in 2009, making that position group a relative strength on the offense.

But the key is the offensive line, and Cutler’s ability to take a pounding game after game. He’s already taken eight more sacks than he had all of last season, and he has 12 interceptions through eight games. The Bears need more from him, but does he have the resources available to deliver? We say no. Grade: C-minus

Defense: Yes, there have been injuries. Brian Urlacher’s broken wrist. Hunter Hillenmeyer’s ribs. Peanut Tillman’s back. Tommie Harris’ ego. Harris has barely played in two of the past three games. Lovie Smith consistently fails to make key matchup adjustments (see Coaching section). The secondary is struggling with both cornerbacks getting torched by Chad Ochocinco, Greg Jennings and Larry Fitzgerald.

Remember Tony Gonzalez running by the linebackers? How about that “vaunted” Arizona running attack doubling its season average (a whopping 64.9 yards per game) with 131 yards in the first half against the Bears. As we’ve said before, Lance Briggs can’t do it alone. Where’s the great depth the Bears supposedly had at linebacker? We’re not seeing it. Grade: D

Special Teams: So far, special teams has been the highlight of the season. Punter Brad Maynard is having a Pro Bowl year, and with the struggles on offense, he’s getting plenty of work. Johnny Knox, Devin Hester and Danieal Manning have been electrifying on returns one game, then average the next. Coverage teams have been solid and haven’t given up too many big plays. Robbie Gould has been consistent and showed some range over 50 yards, finally. Grade: B-plus

Coaching: Defense: I’ve been soft in grading Smith through the first five games, but the Cincinnati and Arizona games have exposed his inability to adjust his Cover-2 philosophy. Example: Why did cornerbacks Peanut Tillman and Zack Bowman not get enough help with Arizona’s Larry Fitzgerald? You can’t cover him one-on-one. But Smith never adjusted. His grade: C-minus

Offense: Coordinator Ron Turner has been much too conservative, needs to scrap the attempts at Wildcat offenses and needs to let Cutler air it out. Turner has weapons. Use them. His grade: D

First-Half MVP: Cutler, only because this team would be 2-6 or 1-7 with Kyle Orton behind center.

Second-Half Outlook: From we stand, there are only three winnable games in the second-half of the season: at San Francisco on Thursday night, the Rams on Dec. 6 at home and at Detroit on Jan. 3. Losses: Eagles, both games against the Vikings, the Packers and Baltimore. There are no quick fixes with the offensive line and certainly not on defense, which has come out flat against Cincinnati and Arizona. It’s a sign of things to come.

The good news: A 7-9 finish will force management to sit down with Cutler and chart a real course for the team’s future, starting with the right side of the offensive line, bringing in a new offensive coordinator and luring free-agent wide receiver Brandon Marshall.

--MIKE REILLEY
Follow him on Twitter @bearsblogblitz