For 11 minutes Wednesday morning, Chicago Bears coach Matt Eberflus met with reporters at Halas Hall and tried to spin the yarn of an NFL crew on course.
Eberflus described the tradition he has been making an attempt to determine for nearly two years in Lake Forest as “awesome,” asserted that the last-place Bears are “turning a corner” and, on a number of events, pointed to the crew’s .500 document during the last month as proof they’ve authentic causes to really feel inspired and optimistic.
But that messaging won’t resonate with most of an outdoor viewers that has watched the Bears frequently discover the sphere — they’re 5-20 underneath Eberflus — whereas experiencing repeated tumult behind the scenes, the newest being Wednesday’s sudden firing of operating backs coach David Walker for what’s believed to be regarding misconduct.
“As the head coach,” Eberflus stated, “we are building a program and have standards to uphold as a staff and organization both on and off the field. And those standards were not met.”
Eberflus stated the choice to fireplace Walker was made after he consulted with and gained the assist of basic supervisor Ryan Poles and crew President Kevin Warren.
“It’s disappointing from my vantage point,” Eberflus added. “But we have a standard to uphold. When that standard is not met, we act accordingly. And that’s what we did today.”
Walker is the second member of Eberflus’ employees to exit Halas Hall within the final six weeks following the abrupt late-September resignation of defensive coordinator Alan Williams, whose departure from the group, based on a number of sources, was conduct-related.
With a lot failure on the sphere and a lot instability within the teaching ranks, does Eberflus consider there’s a tradition downside together with his crew? “Absolutely not,” he stated. “The tradition in our constructing is excellent. The guys work exhausting each single day. The relationship piece is there. We care about one another. We’re working diligently to get this factor turned (round).
“We’re 2-2 in our last four (games). One game (against the Vikings) was real close. We had a chance at that one. We really feel we’re turning the corner and we are excited about this week. But to answer the question, our culture is awesome.”
The Bears stay in final place within the NFC North and are coming off a 30-13 blowout loss on “Sunday Night Football” to the Los Angeles Chargers. That was the crew’s third loss this season by not less than 15 factors and the ninth throughout Eberflus’ tenure.
The Bears employed Walker to teach their operating backs in early February 2022, lower than two weeks after Eberflus got here aboard as head coach. Walker had been out of teaching for the earlier three seasons together with his most up-to-date NFL cease coming with the Detroit Lions from 2016-18.
Now 53, Walker was in his ninth season as an NFL assistant together with his first such gig coming with the Indianapolis Colts from 2011-14.
After main the NFL in speeding a yr in the past — propelled largely by an explosive 1,143-yard season from quarterback Justin Fields — the Bears rank sixth this season, averaging 132.8 speeding yards per recreation.
Still, Eberflus dodged direct questions Wednesday about whether or not Walker’s removing was for behavioral causes and never linked to his soccer teaching skill.
Eberflus was requested Wednesday about his vetting course of for hiring coaches.
“The evaluation process is what it is,” Eberflus stated. “You make your phone calls. You do your due diligence. You bring them in for an interview. You have phone conversations. You ask people who are associated and so forth and so on. So that’s that.”
With Walker gone, Omar Young will oversee the operating backs. Young, who’s in his second season with the Bears, was an offensive high quality management coach in 2022 and transitioned into being an assistant quarterbacks and receivers coach this yr.
This has been one other rocky trip for the Bears with a few October victories hardly sufficient to offset the crew’s dispiriting 0-4 begin.
The Bears had been trounced 38-20 by the rival Green Bay Packers to open the season at Soldier Field. Two weeks later, they trailed the Kansas City Chiefs 41-0 halfway by way of the third quarter in an eventual 31-point loss. And in Week 4, they blew a 28-3 lead at dwelling in a 31-28 loss to the Denver Broncos.
The Bears’ two wins, in the meantime, had been towards the Washington Commanders and Las Vegas Raiders, a pair of groups experiencing their very own turbulence.
The Commanders held a fireplace sale earlier than the league’s commerce deadline Tuesday, dealing away defensive ends Montez Sweat and Chase Young and backup quarterback Jacoby Brissett. And the Raiders, coming off consecutive losses to the Bears and Detroit Lions, fired basic supervisor Dave Ziegler and coach Josh McDaniels late Tuesday.
Still, Eberflus was clinging to positives Wednesday, expressing confidence within the enchancment of his protection, the reliability of the operating recreation on offense and the Bears’ skill to safe a Week 7 win over the Raiders with beginning quarterback Justin Fields injured and rookie Tyson Bagent beginning in his place.
“The guys are positive, upbeat and looking forward to New Orleans,” Eberflus stated.
Still, with Walker’s firing affecting the constructing and overshadowing the commerce for Sweat, Eberflus acknowledged the /sullen temper.
“We’re all disappointed,” he stated. “It’s never good when this has to happen. Certainly a disappointment. But I do know this, adversity does make you stronger in your personal life, in your team life. It’s just how you come through it. It’s how you respond to it.”
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Source: www.bostonherald.com