Losing games they should win. Painful mistakes in late-game situations. Ongoing offensive ineptitude. An inability to win on the road. The list of complaints players should have against head coach Matt Eberflus is not inconsiderable. However, they’ve remained professional despite the setbacks, trying to buy into his vision for the Chicago Bears. That seems to have changed over the past two weeks. The brutal final sequence against Washington with the Hail Mary, followed by a complete implosion in Arizona, has left many wondering if Eberflus has lost the locker room.
Caleb Williams, D.J. Moore, Jaylon Johnson, and Kevin Byard have all questioned his decisions publicly at one point or another. None have given him anything close to a strong voice of support. A source contacted SM about what could have led to such a drastic shift. All the reasons listed above are part of it, but there is another people don’t know about.
The practices.
Word is that players feel “overworked” during the week. One even described it as being “tortured.” This is why many in the locker room believe the Bears are suffering such a rash of injuries. So far, 21 players have missed at least one game this season with various ailments. That number is sure to grow after the losses they suffered in Arizona.
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Matt Eberflus promised hard work. He clearly didn’t account for attrition.
There is nothing wrong with wanting to ensure players are in top physical condition for what is a long, grueling season. However, there has to be a balance between working hard and overworking. Sometimes, coaches can get so focused on drilling guys during the week that they’re spent before the next game even arrives. Tired players become careless players, and careless players get hurt. Eberflus is far from the only coach who works his players hard in practice. Unfortunately, it seems he doesn’t know when to take his foot off the gas.
Combine that with the other problems, and it’s no wonder players are starting to get tired of him. It must feel like the head coach is constantly working against them. He runs them ragged in practice and doesn’t mind pointing out their mistakes but hesitates to take responsibility for his own. On top of that, while people keep talking about his leadership qualities, he doesn’t seem to have much of a natural presence. Maybe he can still turn things around, but it sounds like he may already be across the point of no return.
Let’s embrace the obvious. Eberflus is a good maybe great Coordinator, but doesn’t have all the tools for a Head Coach. Head Coach’s must have certain personalities and “balls out” skills. Not everyone is meant to be. Ever notice how the very best HC’s don’t tend to be great long term coordinators, or never were at all? A few can do both. Like Andy Reid. I like Eberflus, he seems like a good guy, and probably has an engineering mind for defense. He makes some good calls and he doesn’t get a lot of credit for that, just the bad… Read more »
@chip Ramsey —
I wish you were wrong — but you’re not.
Even the Chicago Bears’ captains are dogging it — that’s disgraceful.
But, the NFLPA has changed the game (in an honest attempt to protect their members from the really bad things that are bound to occur in an extremely violent sport).
Google Dave Duerson for a heartbreaking account of a really good man’s life and tragic death.
Eberflus, a decent family man…simply is not a very good NFL head coach. He wouldn’t do well at the NCAA Div I level either. Perhaps Div II. His game decisions are goofy and no players want to step up for him. He’s done and the team is done – without a change.
The fact that Poles, McCaskey, Warren…are not going o make a move now seems like a slap in the face to all the players and the fans of the Bears.
So many players these days don’t like hard work and don’t like being coached. This sounds like a group of snowflakes.
@Slip Knotz You are basically correct, but they are not idiots, not even fucktards, but male Hyenas. They even voted for that label preference on Friday. Can’t you hear them laughing hysterically together, almost in unison? But just like pigs, they eat anything. They just aren’t as smart.