The Chicago Bears entered their bye week with good vibes after a final-minute drive for the profitable subject aim in Monday’s 12-10 highway victory over the Minnesota Vikings.
But with 5 video games remaining this season, a call looms concerning quarterback Justin Fields’ future with the workforce and find out how to use what possible will likely be two excessive draft picks. Brad Biggs kicks off his weekly Bears mailbag with extra on the QB choice.
Do you assume the Bears can win with Justin Fields? I seesaw on this always. He clearly lacks the clock in his head to know when to carry the ball and when to eliminate it. But his athleticism is so excellent that, with a fantastic offensive line and one other weapon at receiver, the Bears may preserve their high picks and say, “This is our guy. He’s a top four or five athlete at the position, he has a cannon and we’re going to make sure he gets that extra second that he requires to process and then throw.” DJ Moore, Cole Kmet, Darnell Mooney plus Marvin Harrison Jr. could be formidable if he has world-class safety. — Josh G., Deerfield
That could be a formidable group to throw to with the Bears’ present safety. Let’s recall that the offensive lineman most are speaking about changing with a first-round choose is left sort out Braxton Jones. Centers, as you recognize, are hardly ever drafted in Round 1. Excellent facilities might be found within the third and fourth rounds. When Jones has performed this season, he has finished a reasonably good job. Pro Bowl stage? Probably not. But he has been stable — it’s not such as you watch the Bears play and say the left sort out is undercutting the quarterback. As I element in a later reply, the Bears are having a troublesome time getting the ball to Mooney as it’s.
Fields was dealt a troublesome hand when the Bears drafted him in 2021 and didn’t have loads to encompass him. You could make a sound case he was set as much as fail. That’s the scenario so many extremely drafted quarterbacks stroll into. But what occurred in that rookie season and in 2022 is behind us now. It’s about evaluating the place Fields stands now, projecting forward and figuring out if he’s the long-term starter.
The draft choices are tantalizing if the Bears resolve they’re set at quarterback with Fields. Draft two studs. Draft one stud and commerce down for a load of picks. Trade the primary choose for an even bigger load of picks and gamers and draft a stud with the second choose. I may write a ten,000-word mailbag on all of the dreamy prospects. The Bears additionally may go in a ton of instructions in the event that they draft a quarterback. Let’s see how the ultimate 5 video games play out to get a greater really feel for what their choice will likely be.
Can the Bears win with Fields? When every part has been proper, they’ve been aggressive offensively. But the offense has been inconsistent and the passing sport is uneven most weeks.
How many layers are there to the 2024 beginning QB query? Is it simply if Justin Fields is or isn’t the starter? Or if the Bears get the No. 1 general choose? What if the Bears get the second or third choose and solely like one (QB) or each choices they like are gone? Rookie contract vs. fifth-year possibility? Coach determines if he likes Fields or a rookie QB? — @jtbarczak
There are loads of layers to this and far to think about, however to me it comes all the way down to a easy query: Do you consider Fields can persistently lead you to success within the playoffs? Not make the playoffs however win within the playoffs. From my perspective, the Bears need to be all in on Fields or out. All in would imply being ready to signal him to a second contract after this season. Out would imply doing no matter essential to land the quarterback they consider is the perfect within the 2024 draft class.
It appears to be like just like the Carolina Panthers will likely be delivering the No. 1 or, at worst, No. 2 choose to the Bears. I’ve been fairly clear, on this area and elsewhere, how I see this enjoying out. But there are 5 video games remaining — extra time to guage — and the Bears will decide based mostly on Fields’ total physique of labor via three seasons. I simply don’t see how a struggling franchise might be at or very close to the highest of the draft for 2 consecutive seasons and never choose a quarterback.
What occurred to Darnell Mooney? — @tg96911
The Bears have been unable to get their second possibility at broad receiver going this season. It’s not like anybody has changed Mooney. After targets for No. 1 broad receiver DJ Moore and tight finish Cole Kmet, there merely haven’t been many balls to go round. Mooney has been focused greater than 4 occasions in solely three video games:
- Week 1 vs. Green Bay Packers: 7 targets, 4 catches, 53 yards, 1 TD
- Week 7 vs. Las Vegas Raiders: 5 targets, 4 catches, 32 yards
- Week 9 at New Orleans Saints: 6 targets, 5 catches, 82 yards
Rookie Tyler Scott isn’t taking alternatives from Mooney. He has been focused greater than twice in solely 4 video games (three video games with three targets and a season-high 4 targets versus the Minnesota Vikings in Week 6). It’s value noting two of the video games during which Mooney was focused greater than 4 occasions got here when rookie Tyson Bagent was beginning at quarterback.
The upshot is with opponents focusing protection on Moore, the Bears have struggled to persistently join with one other broad receiver who ought to, in idea, have advantageous matchups. I don’t assume it’s something Mooney is failing to do. He has 42 targets (3.5 per sport) for the season with 25 receptions for 351 yards (14 per reception) and the one landing towards the Packers. It hasn’t added as much as preferrred alternatives as he prepares free of charge company.
Is Ryan Poles secretly upset that the Bears received Monday evening, dropping them within the draft order? — @mate01701
The Bears didn’t drop within the draft order with their win Monday evening in Minnesota. They entered the week sitting at No. 4 and exited at No. 4 with a 4-8 report. They are one in every of seven four-win groups and based mostly on the present strength-of-schedule tiebreaker would have the fourth choose. With six weeks remaining (5 video games for the Bears), loads can shift. If they get on a mini-heater, swiftly that draft choose may very well be exterior the highest 10.
I significantly doubt many individuals inside U.S. Bank Stadium on Monday had been happier with the result than Poles. As I’ve written repeatedly, the worth of the Bears’ younger roster starting to play higher and produce optimistic outcomes is way extra essential to Poles proper now than whether or not the workforce is choosing No. 4 or No. 11. They have younger gamers throughout the depth chart on each side of the ball who weren’t enjoying constant profitable soccer the primary two months of the season. They want these guys to show the nook and play persistently in order that they really feel like there’s reliable momentum heading into 2024 — not the pretend momentum so many wrapped their arms round final offseason.
Anyone who doesn’t consider Poles desires to see the Bears win as many video games as attainable is deluded. He has to point out his bosses — Chairman George McCaskey and President/CEO Kevin Warren — that progress is being made. And he wants these working for him to see outcomes from their labor.
What share of Luke Getsy’s screen-heavy sport plan on Monday evening was a results of enjoying chess and (over)reacting to the Vikings’ sturdy go rush or a telling lack of belief in Justin Fields’ capacity to push the ball downfield towards them or anyone? — @iammikewhite
As is usually the case, evaluation of the Bears’ offensive sport plan Monday evening took on a lifetime of its personal with out the nuance required to essentially perceive what was happening. It’s too dangerous Getsy doesn’t have his common media session this week, with the workforce on its bye, as a result of I’d have an interest to know the way lots of the screens and throws on the line of scrimmage had been main calls or run-pass choices.
After rewatching the sport, my interpretation is loads of these performs had been RPOs, that means Fields had the chance to run, hand the ball off or throw a display screen. When he was checking to screens, it was a easy presnap numbers sport. The Vikings had been overloading the line of defense all through the sport, and whether or not they had been coming with strain or dropping out, it didn’t matter. That’s a presnap rely and with seven within the field on loads of events, there was no place to run.
Throwing the ball on the perimeter is a fast and simple reply to strain, and the Bears had been completely overmatched by Minnesota’s strain within the first assembly this season. Fields and the offense had been paralyzed into the third quarter of that sport earlier than he was injured. Throwing screens doesn’t require studying the protection. Count the numbers earlier than the snap and let it rip. On among the screens that didn’t work, it was a mixture of lack of execution by the Bears and an excellent play by the Vikings on the sting as a result of the numbers had been there for the offense.
I’m undecided what of us sad with Getsy’s strategy wished. Have Fields stand within the pocket like he did within the first assembly? What would their response have been if the Bears struggled with that like they did at Soldier Field? Dunk on Getsy for working again the identical sport plan? I do know it’s typically coordinator searching season round Lake Forest, however typically it’s not all on the man who designs the plan and calls the performs.
There’s clearly loads of speak proper now about what the Bears ought to do at quarterback. I’m questioning, why not take a multipronged strategy? I believe it was former GM Ryan Pace who as soon as stated, “We need to take as many swings at the quarterback position as possible until we get it right.” He clearly didn’t try this, however that’s irrelevant. I do know that is possible by no means going to occur, however only for dialogue functions, why wouldn’t the Bears preserve Justin Fields, draft a quarterback with their high general choose and, since they’ll possible have two high picks, additionally draft a second first-round quarterback? In my thoughts, it accomplishes that “as many swings as it takes” strategy. Now you’ve received three potential franchise quarterbacks and you’ll see which one shakes out. It would additionally get rid of the infinite debates over which franchise QB a workforce ought to absorb Round 1 since you possibly can take a number of and work to determine which one may ultimately develop. Is there any historical past within the league of a workforce doing one thing like that whether or not at QB or one other place? The Chargers with Drew Brees and Philip Rivers come to thoughts. Any others? — Brandon H., Grandville, Mich.
This is a non-starter for me similar to the questions I’ve gotten that counsel the Bears draft one quarterback and have him compete with Fields for the job or commerce Fields and draft two quarterbacks and allow them to battle it out. If the Bears draft a quarterback, they’re doing so as a result of they don’t consider Fields is the man for them. If Fields isn’t the man for them, there’s no motive to maintain him round. Trade him and get what you possibly can — most likely a Day 2 choose.
Drafting two quarterbacks doesn’t make sense to me. That would create a whole circus at Halas Hall. If the Bears are going to interchange Fields, they should determine one quarterback who’s their man, do no matter required to amass that participant after which construct your entire operation round him. It’s onerous sufficient to develop one quarterback prospect. Multiply that if you wish to attempt to develop two.
The Chargers state of affairs was somewhat completely different as a result of Brees was a second-round choose in 2001 earlier than the workforce made a draft-day commerce for No. 4 choose Rivers three years later. The Washington Redskins doubled down on quarterbacks in 2012 once they drafted Robert Griffin III at No. 2 within the first spherical and got here again in Round 4 and selected Kirk Cousins. That’s a completely completely different ballgame from taking two quarterbacks in Round 1.
I’m inquisitive about Doug Kramer. He spent his total rookie 12 months and a piece of this season on injured reserve. Then the Bears waived him a number of weeks again to make room for Braxton Jones. Arizona picked him up, launched him and now the Bears have introduced him again to the observe squad. Lots of late-round picks don’t pan out, however the Bears clearly like him. What’s his lifelike potential going ahead? — Derek B.
It most likely would require some accidents to the inside of the offensive line for Kramer to get on the sector down the stretch except the workforce decides it desires to throw him in and provides him a shot. The Bears felt like Kramer made good progress through the offseason and seemed stable in coaching camp and the preseason, however he doesn’t have any actual sport motion at this level. Given that, a best-case state of affairs for Kramer might be to compete with no less than one and probably two gamers (one could be a draft choose) for a roster spot in 2024.
Why was Roschon Johnson enjoying forward of Khalil Herbert? — @matanaya
Herbert began Monday’s sport with Johnson coming in on third down after which getting extra work, and within the second half it was virtually solely the Johnson present. Johnson wound up with a season-high 52 snaps whereas Herbert had 15. I don’t assume Herbert has seemed proper but since returning two video games in the past from a excessive ankle sprain. Clearly the Bears wished Johnson on the sector in third-down conditions and his function expanded from there.
The bye week most likely comes at an excellent time for Herbert. Hopefully he’s again to 100% quickly after which the Bears can have a extra geared up backfield. D’Onta Foreman additionally has been dinged up, and the additional time to relaxation ought to profit him.
This entrance workplace clearly, like most, doesn’t know find out how to grade a quarterback. Otherwise, they’d have taken C.J. Stroud. At least if I keep in mind appropriately, Jerry Angelo admitted it was a crapshoot. Since the Bears haven’t nabbed a franchise quarterback in what will likely be 85 years (the Depression was nonetheless happening) by the point the draft rolls round, why not simply signal a free agent? It’s superior to have a franchise quarterback, however if you happen to add Marvin Harrison Jr. and one other Hall of Fame-type offensive lineman, you’ll appeal to a high free-agent quarterback. Derek Carr final 12 months or Tom Brady when he signed with Tampa Bay are good examples. A blockbuster for a still-in-prime Kirk Cousins just like the Vikings did 5 years in the past. Kyler Murray could be out there. It looks as if there are extra out there at that place, and what’s the distinction if you happen to use the cash on a certain factor vs. signing Justin Fields to a large extension? There is all the time the danger (Aaron Rodgers ran out of gasoline although in 2022) that the QB is simply too far downhill. — Jeff L., Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.
There’s loads happening right here. It will likely be fascinating when the season ends to listen to what Ryan Poles has to say concerning the Bears’ analysis of Stroud. I don’t assume the Bears had been alone if that they had some skepticism about his capacity to rework a franchise with a foul roster. They had been alone on the high of the draft and had the chance to pick Stroud earlier than buying and selling the No. 1 choose.
It’s true there was appreciable motion by veteran quarterbacks during the last couple of years, however apart from Brady — who stands alone for his achievements — none of them is seen as something apart from a Band-Aid. Carr? Get actual. The New Orleans Saints are firmly in no man’s land with him at quarterback. Evaluating the potential for a veteran with ample expertise would make sense if the Bears had been choosing within the center or finish of Round 1. It may make sense if this projected to be a foul 12 months to draft a quarterback. That’s not the case.
They possible will likely be in place to decide on the primary or second quarterback within the draft, and once you’ve been as inconsistent on offense because the Bears have been, you possibly can’t go on a quarterback once you’re on the high of the draft once more and threat lacking on the 2024 model of Stroud. I perceive the plethora of prospects — and a few are value kicking round — however too many individuals are spending far an excessive amount of time overthinking this.
Ryan Poles may have a world of prospects this offseason. He can take a quarterback together with his first choose and nonetheless have many, many choices. I’d additionally level out I’m undecided anybody sees a future Hall of Fame offensive sort out within the subsequent draft. Good prospects? You guess. I’m undecided there’s a Joe Thomas on this class, although.
Is the Bears’ draft technique leaning towards a left sort out or has Braxton Jones’ efficiency eradicated that want? — @stephenclapp1
Jones has performed fairly properly since coming back from a neck damage to start out the final 4 video games. This is an ongoing analysis and a state of affairs during which the Bears need to do a handful of issues.
- Make an trustworthy analysis of the place Jones is on the finish of his second season and, as essential, the place they consider he will likely be in 2024 and 2025.
- Evaluate choices they might contemplate with a first-round draft choose, an inventory that begins with Penn State’s Olu Fashanu and Notre Dame’s Joe Alt.
- Evaluate the opposite draft choices — assume broad receiver and different positions.
- Compare the grades on the potential left tackles versus the opposite gamers.
What you may have is kind of a sliding scale with an important piece of the puzzle being how the workforce feels about Jones. I may see it going both path. The higher Jones performs within the closing 5 video games, the higher his probabilities of being the Week 1 starter subsequent season.
What are your ideas about bringing in a co-head coach and a brand new offensive coordinator? Make Matt Eberflus co-head coach and defensive coordinator? Defense is progressing properly however I don’t assume he has all of the instruments for working a workforce. Would Flus do it? — @dkeene2016
What do you assume? Co-head coach by no means would fly. The Bears will likely be all in with Eberflus atop the teaching workers or they are going to be looking for a brand new head coach. They additionally wouldn’t contemplate making Eberflus defensive coordinator and hiring a brand new head coach over him. Whoever is head coach in 2024 will decide on the offensive coordinator.
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Source: www.bostonherald.com