Players stuffed giant cardboard packing containers with exercise gear Monday morning at Halas Hall, a ceremony of passage into an unsure offseason for the Chicago Bears.
Many took a couple of minutes to speak concerning the 7-10 season that ended Sunday with a 17-9 loss to the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field. They talked about how the Bears, after a tough opening month and a tumultuous collection of workers departures, rebounded to change into aggressive over the ultimate two months.
“We had two or three games where, if the outcome was different, we wouldn’t even be at this day right now,” large receiver DJ Moore mentioned. “We’d still be going strong into the playoff picture.”
Added edge rusher Montez Sweat: “You’ve seen how the defense performed when we’re on all cylinders. You’ve seen how the offense could perform when they’re on all cylinders too. There’s definitely a foundation here that we’re building upon.”
A timeline stays unclear for when Bears management will select a path heading right into a pivotal few months. Coach Matt Eberflus joined common supervisor Ryan Poles in conducting exit interviews with gamers Monday, and that signifies Eberflus no less than has a shot to return for a 3rd season in 2024.
Chairman George McCaskey, President/CEO Kevin Warren and Poles could have moved to the following section of the decision-making course of Monday night, or they may wait till Tuesday to start sifting via evaluations which have been fashioned over the course of the 12 months.
The Bears improved by 4 wins over 2022, however that bar was set ridiculously low throughout a season during which they stripped down the roster and reset the wage cap. More vital than getting caught up in win totals, the Bears must take a step again and consider the workforce’s trajectory for 2024, with loads of sources to fortify the roster in free company and the draft.
This would require sober conversations and brutal honesty.
“The hardest thing for an organization to do is evaluate itself,” former Bears GM Jerry Angelo as soon as mentioned. “I discovered that to be true in each program, school or professional. It’s very arduous to do as a result of once you’re taking a look at it internally, there’s extra feelings concerned. There are agendas. People typically don’t need to be truthful.
“It’s easier for me to clean up your backyard than it is mine. Yours looks like junk. Mine looks like art.”
Eberflus can level to large strides on protection, the aspect of the ball the place his experience lies. The Bears completed twelfth in complete protection, No. 1 versus the run and in interception charge and seventh in first downs allowed. They’ve made main investments in Sweat, linebackers Tremaine Edmunds and T.J. Edwards and a younger secondary. With a brand new contract for cornerback Jaylon Johnson, the protection needs to be stable subsequent season in any scheme.
To Eberflus’ credit score — and Poles referred to this Sunday in a pregame interview with WMVP-AM 1000 — he maintained a gradual hand in tough instances when some simply may have panicked. The workforce performed arduous all through the season, and opponents mentioned as a lot.
A call on Eberflus probably shall be intertwined with a path for an offense that did not make acceptable positive aspects at the same time as newcomer Moore had the most effective seasons in franchise historical past, catching 96 passes for 1,364 yards and eight touchdowns. Do the Bears really feel assured in Eberflus’ capacity to supervise important offensive enchancment with the probably addition of a rookie quarterback — both with the No. 1 draft choose or probably after a commerce down?
Vocal participant assist for quarterback Justin Fields is respectable, nevertheless it’s additionally essentially the most overblown storyline because the thought Eberflus may very well be fired midseason. Players genuinely like Fields. That’s abundantly clear. They’re additionally conscious selections involving roster strikes are made approach above their heads. And what do you count on them to say about somebody they share a locker room with?
Ownership and administration want to find out in the event that they concern one other season of stagnant offensive efficiency may deliver the workforce again to the identical place 12 months from now.
Unless the Bears are going to heap the overwhelming majority of blame for the league’s Twenty sixth-ranked passing recreation on Fields’ shoulders, it stands to purpose Eberflus — if he’s retained — can be ready to exchange offensive coordinator Luke Getsy.
The Bears can’t wait too lengthy to start a head teaching search in the event that they select that path. But if that occurs Tuesday or Wednesday, they wouldn’t be far behind the Carolina Panthers, Las Vegas Raiders, Atlanta Falcons and Washington Commanders — 4 groups the Bears defeated this season — and the Los Angeles Chargers.
Here’s one thing to contemplate if the Bears retain Eberflus: If they’re looking out just for coordinators — Eberflus must discover a defensive coordinator, even when he continues to supervise that aspect of the ball — they really can be forward of plenty of groups leaping into the hiring cycle that first have to rent a head coach. They additionally can be forward of groups whose coordinators get poached as a head coach (suppose the Detroit Lions with scorching teaching candidate Ben Johnson).
The Bears may take their time, consider a small handful of candidates and attempt to get a dedication from attainable hires earlier than some groups have gotten to the purpose of filling out their staffs.
If the Bears determine to exchange Eberflus, they higher have a excessive stage of confidence they’ll get their first or second selection. Few common managers get a shot at hiring a 3rd head coach, no less than not with out some actual successful first, and Poles’ future little question shall be linked intently to an anticipated quarterback transfer.
One factor is evident: If you get the quarterback resolution proper, a path to competition can transfer into the HOV lane. Look no additional than C.J. Stroud and the AFC South champion Houston Texans for proof.
First, as Angelo mentioned, the Bears need to make some arduous calls on the junk and artwork of their yard.
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Source: www.bostonherald.com