The Chicago Bears offense is somehow worse than it was last year. That is impossible to fathom after all the moves they made this off-season. Two talented new receivers, Keenan Allen and Rome Odunze. An explosive running back in D’Andre Swift. A deeper offensive line. Even with a rookie quarterback, it should not look this bad. What happened? Injuries have played a part, especially up front. However, most agree many of the problems stem from a baffling situation with the coaching staff.
Adam Hoge of CHGO mentioned something alarming in his recent column. Given how disjointed things look, suspicions are rising that the problems stem from a rift amongst the coaching staff. This would explain why the unit lacks an identity and can’t decide what it wants to run.
The Bears didn’t even show up in Arizona, and yes, that told us a lot. But if there’s anything I’ve learned in 14 seasons covering the NFL, it’s that a win can fix a lot — or at least put a temporary band-aid on cracks in the foundation…
…From what I see on film, Shane Waldron’s offensive scheme has zero identity. In the run game, there appears to be an awkward struggle between gap schemes that don’t fit the personnel, and zone schemes, which the Bears ran the past two years. It’s a mess. And that’s usually a result of coaches haggling over what a team should be running.
In hindsight, the Chicago Bears created this situation themselves.
Head coach Matt Eberflus had the right idea by firing Luke Getsy. He clearly wasn’t up to the task, as his brief foray in Las Vegas hammered home. The problem is that Eberflus may have created the perfect situation for division when he constructed the new staff. While he brought in Shane Waldron as offensive coordinator, he didn’t give the new assistant full control of who to put on his support staff. Specifically, he decided to keep offensive line coach Chris Morgan. Not only that, but the Bears promoted him to run game coordinator.
Not only that, but the Bears also brought in Thomas Brown as passing game coordinator. He and Waldron did work together before, but that was only for one year in 2020. When a team throws together a staff like this, it can sometimes lead to competing voices on what an offense should be. Morgan may want to be a more run-oriented team like the Chicago Bears were the past two years. Waldron is known more as a pass-first guy. While specifics aren’t available, it appears there is a disconnect somewhere.
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Based on what Brad Biggs mentioned last week, it sounds like players might be siding with whoever is competing with Waldron. Either way, this doesn’t bode well for the Bears’ immediate future.
The hardest thing to change in the world, is your mind.
The easiest thing to change in the world, is your mind.
When a manager walks into an organization, the easiest thing to change, is his mind. Demanding that everyone else change, and that you change personnel is a waste of time, because no one knows if YOUR mind, can adjust.
They are idiots.
How about POLES:
P – Putrid
O – Offensive
L – Line
E – Earns
S – Sacking?
Depth in the OL doesn’t mean a thing if the overall skill level remains substandard. It’s insane that Poles drafted a generational QB, then failed to acquire talent to protect him, both during the offseason, then again at the trade deadline.
@David I flew to Amsterdam and back on Friday and to Dublin and back today. Solidarity! We just got off the tube for fun in Soho. You really should get out more often at your young age and condition, silly. Contact me later.
Eureka!
R-areely
I-n
F-ieldgoal
T-erritory
HITS didn’t work as players keep quitting on plays. RIFT!