Ryan Pace and the Chicago Bears seem to have gotten off to a strong start this offseason. They are operating like a team that has a plan in mind and are executing it rather than simply amassing their resources and firing it wildly in all directions. A welcome sign since they don’t have to. This is a good football team.
It’s no longer their job to keep overturning the roster. They have a core in place. The job now is to keep it strong and see if they can add some herbs and spices to the mix that will add to the flavor. Have they accomplished any of that and if so, what else is there for them to do before training camp arrives this summer?
Here is a rundown of the objectives they’ve met and those that remain unresolved.
Chicago Bears offseason objectives completed:
Get a replacement for Bryce Callahan
Callahan was somebody the Bears had hoped might stay but it became clear early on that he had a strong enough market that they weren’t comfortable competing with. He ended up signing in Denver for $7 million a year to rejoin Vic Fangio. Chicago didn’t wait long to secure his successor, adding veteran slot corner Buster Skrine from the Jets at $5.5 million a year. While most would say he’s not Callahan, he is a good fit for this defense.
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Get a replacement for Adrian Amos
Another hidden gem the Bears developed into a solid starter since 2015. Amos was coming off his best season in 2018. He was 25-years old. It isn’t a surprise teams were interested in him. However, the Bears again weren’t interested in making a harder push to keep him. Not with Eddie Jackson having a contract looming in the near future. They chose to take a calculated risk on former Pro Bowler Ha Ha Clinton-Dix. While he may not be as steady as Amos, his instinct and coverage prowess offer more playmaking potential.
Fix the kick returner spot
Chicago ranked dead last in kick return average last year at 19.1 yards per game. This often put them at a disadvantage in terms of field position. It seems Pace and Nagy weren’t wild about doing that again this year. So they went out and grabbed Cordarrelle Patterson for $5 million a year. A man who averaged 28.8 yards per return for New England last season. One might call that a significant upgrade.
Offseason objectives that remain:
Find help at edge rusher
Khalil Mack and Leonard Floyd remain in place as the starters. However, last year proved neither can be entirely trusted to stay healthy for 16 games. This team desperately needs more depth at outside linebacker. Right now all they have are Isaiah Irving and Kylie Fitts who combined for eight total pressures in 2018. Knowing this league as it is, having two viable pass rushers won’t be enough to maintain dominance for this defense.
This video is unsuitable for many. CAUTION. Aaron Lynch’s elbow sprain injury looked much worse! Coach Nagy says it is not season ending. Lynch did not practice today and it’s a good bet that Isaiah Irving and Kylie Fitts will see increased snaps pic.twitter.com/mzfi9LRff4
— Bears Barroom (@BearsBarroom) December 19, 2018
Make a decision on Jordan Howard
Adding Mike Davis was an underrated move at running back by the Bears, but it doesn’t change the status quo. Jordan Howard is still their starter and they haven’t made their intentions clear on whether they wish for it to stay that way. Will they actually trade him or will they hold fast and keep him one more year? It’s likely there won’t be an answer to that question until the NFL draft.
Fix the specialist positions
Right now the entire specialist contingent of the Bears roster is gone. Cody Parkey was cut. Pat O’Donnell and Patrick Scales both became unrestricted free agents. The Bears did sign two new kickers in Redford Jones and Chris Blewitt but neither can be called the guy at that position just yet. It’s imperative the Bears get all three of those slots filled by the end of the draft at the latest.
