There is often a consequence when you assemble a roster of talented, competitive players. They tend not to fall in line like good soldiers when things go wrong. Many of the guys on this Chicago Bears roster have experienced mostly losing in their careers. They’re tired of it. They want to win. So, should we be surprised they may want changes if they sense a guy can’t do the job? Chicago already saw key members of the locker room stage an intervention with Shane Waldron a few weeks ago when things weren’t clicking.
For a time, proper adjustments were made, and the team started scoring points. In two games since the bye week, they have reverted right back to where they were against Tennessee and Houston. Waldron looks lost. Caleb Williams was sacked six times by one of the worst pass rushes in the league. Cole Kmet has been targeted once in the past two games. The offensive coordinator seems to have no clue what he wants to do. According to Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune, players have had enough.
“If Eberflus is feeling pressure — and I have to imagine he is — he could be at the point where he’s got to consider a significant change. I generally shy away from “fire the coach” strategies. It’s a last-ditch ploy that most times doesn’t lead to a lot of significant improvement, but the Bears are really struggling here.
There are issues the team is working through on the offensive line — and those aren’t going to suddenly disappear if someone new is calling plays — but Waldron isn’t a dynamic guy in front of the offense in the meeting room and that’s a part of it. The coach has to be able to sell the plan and the vision with energy. The sense I get is the players would welcome a change.”
Shane Waldron isn’t out yet, but he’s backed into a corner.
This shouldn’t be a surprise. His unit, which had scored over 30 points in two straight games before the bye, combined for 24 total in the losses to Washington and Arizona. Having this happen despite two weeks of preparation and facing two average defenses is a gigantic red flag. It appears the Bears players can already sense Waldron has no answers. This offense has too much talent to play so poorly, even with the offensive line injuries. If they come out flat again next week against New England? Matt Eberflus may have no choice.
If the Bears stripped Shane Waldron of his play calling duplay-callingst likely replacement would be passing game coordinator Thomas Brown. Chicago brought him in to bolster the staff and was their insurance policy in case Waldron left for a head coaching job in the near future. Ironic. Brown has experience as a coordinator from his time in Miami and, briefly, last season in Carolina. Quarterbacks coach Kerry Joseph and wide receivers coach Chris Beatty are two other potential options.
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THIS is the reason you have large coaching staffs. It’s the coaching. I noted that Luke Getsy just got fired by the Raiders mid- season. He should have been fired MID- FIRST season with the Bears except he had Fields run designed run plays which made the Bears “running game” appear to be one of the better ones in the NFL. Having a “philosophy” similar to Sean McVay’s, doesn’t mean a coach knows how to implement or teach to implement that scheme. Hiring offensive coordinators with a “scheme” is like hiring a philosophy major with a “concept” of a plan.… Read more »
You know who we need as HC, if you want a disciplinarian type coach? Hint: The only prior HC to eject one of his best players in the middle of a game for acting like a teenage girl!!! (Oh yeah, Jim Harbaugh took over the team that he built and took it to the playoffs.) Any guesses???
@Veece… I agree. With the addition that the OL missed so many assignments Williams can’t be fully blamed.
Yes, I also can’t watch anymore. Time to fall on the sword.
Hey guess what everybody? TWTY is 1000% correct. You could have had Jim Harbaugh. “He wanted too much money” You’re paying GD wide receivers in this league 20 Million a year but the single most important position of the entire franchise after GM and you can’t pay 16 Million? Out of the 100s of millions per year you rake in? Really? Do you have any idea how much MORE money the Bears would make if they had a winning coach? Guess what drive by voters- he would pay for himself and more. You get an official DURRRR. “He wants too… Read more »
Everything has gone to shit! Coaching, play calling, and player focus. I blame performance issues with the coaches.
And all these sacks are avoidable with simple check-downs.
There have been a lot of injuries. But coaches should adjust game plan to compensate for those weakened positions.
Obviously there will be many coaching changes coming as well as a lot of turnover on the roster. The OL should be priority one!
I can’t even watch anymore!
But hey, at least the meat packers got dominated by Detroit. It’s not all bad!