Everybody would assume Ryan Poles is safe since he drafted Caleb Williams. He deserves a chance to build around his quarterback. Except history shows that isn’t how things work, especially in Chicago. Ryan Pace drafted Justin Fields in 2021. That didn’t stop the Bears from firing him anyway. Picking a good quarterback is not enough to justify keeping a GM in charge. Or at least it shouldn’t be. General managers must know how to construct an entire roster, especially in regards to maximizing the young quarterback.
In that regard, Poles has been a failure. He kept Matt Eberflus despite significant concerns about his ability to develop a quarterback with his defensive background. However, that isn’t the most damning evidence against Poles. It is his mystifying inability to stabilize the offensive line. Williams has now been sacked 56 times this season, which is now the most in franchise history. There are still four games left. At this current Pace, Williams will be sacked 73 times, which would be the second-most in NFL history behind only David Carr’s 76 in 2002.
Poles has zero excuses for what he’s done to Caleb Williams.
There is no other explanation for this debacle than a failure by the GM. Since arriving in 2022, Poles has invested just one high draft choice in the offensive line. That was 1st round pick Darnell Wright last year. He’s been very good. Braxton Jones was a 5th round pick. He has clear weaknesses in his game. Teven Jenkins was a holdover from the previous regime and has ongoing health issues. Coleman Shelton is a cheap free agent addition. Ryan Bates, their big trade acquisition from Buffalo, has missed most of the season with injuries. Last but not least, you have Nate Davis, a pricey free agent last year who barely practiced, couldn’t stay healthy, and was cut before the end of his second season with the team.
It’s mind-boggling. Since Poles took over, he has held and utilized seven picks in the first two rounds of the NFL draft. Only one of them went to the offensive line. This doesn’t include his recent selection of Kiran Amegadjie in the 3rd round, who hasn’t been much of a factor. All of this begs the question. Why should the Bears trust Poles to fix the offensive line since he’s failed to do so for three years? Caleb Williams needs as much help as humanly possible. If this GM isn’t willing to utilize the resources necessary to make it happen, the Bears must find someone who will.
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Here’s an interesting nugget.
A source told SM recently that Poles admitted behind closed doors that the offensive line is his biggest regret. He should’ve invested more in it. Now, there is a realistic possibility that failure will cost him his job.
I think it’s crystal clear to anyone with an open mind that this rebuild has been an utter and complete disaster. Games are won/lost in the Trenches, this team is weak in the Trenches all due to mismanaging the rebuild.
It amazes me how much support Ryan Poles has on this message board, so many have his nuts hanging out the side of their mouths, Ryan Poles supporters need to take the blinders off, he should be shown the door right along with his fake O-Line expertise.!
The game is won or lost in the trenches, and if Poles couldn’t figure that out, he should be let go or resign. I’ve been saying this for almost 3 years now…trenches, trenches, trenches, and trenches! It seems a good chunk of resources went into the defense, especially the secondary. Maybe Eberflub had influence in that, but they should’ve spread it out more evenly. They should have not flubbed on the Nate Davis signing and went on the cheap with free agent OL signings, drafting an injured lineman, and trading for an arthritic lineman. That was a complete waste of… Read more »
@Arnie — You seem to “blame” Lions GM Brad Holmes for having four, former first round NFL picks on Detroit’s OL; while you absolve GM Ryan Poles from any accountablity for employing seven, former UDFAs in their OL room — and expecting stellar results. But, you didn’t stop there. The following appear on the PFF site, today (12/11/24): ▪︎._____ ▪︎ Jared Goff ▪︎ Caleb Williams Dropbacks: 418 ▪︎ 528 Sacked: . 23 ▪︎ 56 Scrambles: 12 ▪︎ 37 Attempts: 381 ▪︎. 324 Completions: 276. ▪︎. 270 Pct. 72.4. ▪︎. 62.2 Yards: 3,265. ▪︎ 2,746 TDs: 25. ▪︎. 16 INTs: 10.… Read more »
Poles will probably move on on his own with fat head Warren mugging for the cameras all the time. Warren likes to play big man…let everyone know he’s in charge. Treat everyone under him like children. What does he know about football? Nothing. Poles should quit. Let Warren F up the next coach hire. Put it all on Warren. Then he won’t have anyone to blame. That’s why Warren said Poles would head up the search for the new coach. Then he will pick who he wants but have Poles to blame when it goes bad. Poles didn’t get to… Read more »
Arnie, both lines are bad. The Oline and the Dline. Time to throw is not the end all be all to measuring an effective line. The line can’t even run block worth a shit. C Mo is an awful coach. I Been downvoted for 2 years for pointing that out. And CW certainly isn’t helping himself by holding the ball and refusing to just throw it away. I’m sure with experience he will get better with that. But point blank, both lines get bullied each week. Both lines lack talent, severely. Yes coaching is an issue. I 100% agree. But… Read more »