All that said, 2018 head coach candidates will want Chicago’s job
It’s frustrating because the chances of this changing over the next 11 games is unlikely. The Bears are in for a difficult ride if that’s the case. There is one major silver lining though. There is no longer any question that this team is going to be a top destination for prospective head coaches next year. Why? Here are some key reasons.
Mitch Trubisky
Start with the obvious one. Coaches always try to steer clear of teams that have serious question marks at the quarterback position. They know it’s only going to make their jobs harder. For the longest time that was the big issue for the Bears. Not anymore. The presence of Mitch Trubisky changes that.
Despite failing to get a win in his debut, there was plenty of evidence to suggest that the rookie quarterback is going to be really good moving forward. Despite no receivers and mistake-laden execution around him, he found ways to move the offense. He’s only going to get better with experience. Coaches will be thinking just how much better he could be under their watch.
Mitch Trubisky didn't exactly get tons of help from his receivers or line on Monday night pic.twitter.com/dVcsEYtW3R
— Bears Talk (@NBCSBears) October 10, 2017
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Leonard Floyd and Akiem Hicks
It’s clearer than ever that the Bears have two studs up front on defense. For the second-straight week Leonard Floyd and Akiem Hicks made their presences felt around the line of scrimmage. Floyd had three sacks in the past two games. Hicks had two against the Vikings and was dynamic against the run as well. Of the 13 total team sacks this season, that duo is responsible for seven of them.
The best part of this is Floyd is 25-years old and Hicks is 27. This is the sort of pair that a coach can build a proper scheme around moving forward over the next four to five years. That doesn’t include Eddie Goldman or the emerging Eddie Jackson as well. There is plenty to work with on defense now too. A core that can morph into something special.
High draft position in 2018
This last part could be crucial. There is nothing better for a prospective head coach than to inherit a team that already has some young talent in place and having high draft position with an opportunity to add eve more. It’s similar to what happened with Doug Marrone. He took over the Jaguars in late December of last year when they were already 2-12. They finished 3-13 and held the fourth pick in the ensuing draft.
Jacksonville already had a wealth of young talent in place. They soon fortified it with stud rookies Leonard Fournette and Cam Robinson. Now the Jaguars are 3-2, leading their division and straight dominating opponents at times. As of this moment the Bears are holding rights to the fifth overall pick in the 2018 draft. That will definitely present them with another opportunity to add a blue chip playmaker.
With more front line talent and better coaching, there is no doubt this team can make noise next year.
