Bears Mailbag -- Is Nick Foles A Possible Long-Term Answer?

First, I hope everyone is keeping safe and healthy.

Now, the NFL’s schedule release is this Thursday! In anticipation of the schedule release, I have another Bears Mailbag, now that the NFL Draft is complete and the hoopla surrounding the event has subsided. I’m not entirely sure how on track this schedule will remain, but it’s still an exciting event anyway.

Thanks to everyone who submitted questions. Follow me on Twitter @DhruvKoul to continue the conversation.

Mailbag

He's a stabilizer at the position and buys the Bears time to figure out how they want to roll in the near future. Foles is, in no way, shape, or form, a realistic long-term option.
— Dhruv Koul (@DhruvKoul) May 6, 2020

If Trubisky plays well, I'd imagine the Bears drop the transition tag on him.
— Dhruv Koul (@DhruvKoul) May 6, 2020

(As a reminder, the transition tag would allow the Bears to match any offer Trubisky would receive in unrestricted free agency. But the Bears would not get any draft pick compensation for him if he were to sign an offer sheet and the Bears would choose not to match. You’ll recall, Ryan Pace used this strategy with Kyle Fuller a couple years ago, choosing to match Green Bay’s offer to Fuller. This way, you’re not negotiating against yourself.)

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I think the Bears believe a true fix at RG will help, along with Castillo teaching the real blocking schemes. Leno and Massie are solidly average tackles and they have two good interior linemen in Whitehair and Daniels. These guys didn't just forget how to play.
— Dhruv Koul (@DhruvKoul) May 6, 2020

Hiestand's philosophy (rushing attack, blocking schemes, techniques, etc.) was different from what Nagy's scheme required. A lot likely got lost in translation from Nagy to Hiestand to the players. Castillo knows the scheme. Players will hear it from the horse's mouth.
— Dhruv Koul (@DhruvKoul) May 6, 2020

They're getting there. The Jaylon Johnson pick was all about Pagano.
— Dhruv Koul (@DhruvKoul) May 6, 2020

Foles. He is smarter than Mitch. Don't underestimate the value of that for Nagy.
— Dhruv Koul (@DhruvKoul) May 6, 2020

I'll put the over/under on 18 turnovers. Just over one per game. And I'll take the over.
— Dhruv Koul (@DhruvKoul) May 6, 2020

The team does like Deon Bush, but Tashaun Gipson has a strong reputation in the game and is a solid player. I'd imagine the job is Gipson's to lose.
— Dhruv Koul (@DhruvKoul) May 6, 2020

Over. Give me 10 wins.
— Dhruv Koul (@DhruvKoul) May 6, 2020

Division games are generally front and back-loaded — that seems to be the way the league likes to schedule games. Based on the Bears' 8-8 schedule in 2019, I'll make two predictions:

– Chicago has at least 6 non-noon kickoffs.

– Bears open the season against Houston.
— Dhruv Koul (@DhruvKoul) May 6, 2020

Mitch: 7-9
Foles: 10-6

The main difference? Foles is smarter than Mitch.
— Dhruv Koul (@DhruvKoul) May 6, 2020

They had some significant injuries in 2019 and had arguably the worst starting QB in the NFL. They won 8 games, and probably should've won at least 9.

I don't see how the Bears can be worse than that.
— Dhruv Koul (@DhruvKoul) May 6, 2020

It depends on where the Bears end up in the draft and what their big board looks like. QB could certainly be up there. I'd watch these positions:

QB, LT, EDGE, S
— Dhruv Koul (@DhruvKoul) May 6, 2020