It was on the identical stage in the identical room and in the identical setting — the end-of-season wrap-up — when Chicago Bears normal supervisor Ryan Poles mentioned a 12 months in the past that he must be blown away to make use of the No. 1 choose within the draft on a quarterback.
Ultimately, Poles wasn’t moved to decide on a QB, and one he handed on, C.J. Stroud, is main the Houston Texans into the wild-card spherical of the playoffs this weekend. He’s going to be the runaway winner for offensive rookie of the 12 months after throwing for 4,108 yards and 23 touchdowns.
In an analogous media session Wednesday afternoon, after one other last-place end within the NFC North, Poles defined it was his name to retain coach Matt Eberflus for a 3rd season. He listed causes he’s assured the staff will entice high quality candidates to exchange the vast majority of Eberflus’ offensive workers that was fired, together with coordinator Luke Getsy and quarterbacks coach Andrew Janocko. Poles championed the thought of continuity and pointed to an bettering roster on a younger staff that carried out higher in the course of the second half of a 7-10 season.
It stays to be seen how convincing Poles, Eberflus and President/CEO Kevin Warren, who spoke for a mixed 90 minutes, have been for a fan base that fears the group might stay caught in a cycle of drafting a quarterback, firing a coach, hiring a brand new coach for the QB, mixing in a brand new GM after which beginning once more. Rinse. Repeat.
It’s a good concern. The Bears personal the primary and ninth picks within the draft, and there’s a robust likelihood the staff will use a excessive choice on a quarterback. If tangible features aren’t made in 2024, will the staff be within the hunt for a brand new coach to pair with a younger quarterback getting into Year 2? We’ve seen that film — and the a number of sequels — and we all know the way it ends.
“I’m not worried about the history of different things,” Poles mentioned. “It’s a different situation. This roster is built on really solid ground. It’s a little bit of a different situation in my mind.”
He pushed again on the thought the Bears essentially made an error in analysis when it got here to Stroud, whom the Carolina Panthers handed over earlier than the Texans took him at No. 2.
“I think you have to take in what’s best for your team,” Poles mentioned. “So when you look at that situation and how it ended up playing out, to have DJ (Moore), to have Darnell (Wright), to have (Tyrique) Stevenson, to have the first overall and to have the second (-round pick) next year, I feel like that’s the best for our organization.”
That’s all a part of what the Bears hope makes the roster engaging to candidates they wish to converse with to fill out Eberflus’ workers. They’re going to place an emphasis on adaptability as they meet with candidates, and the Bears ought to be forward of groups searching for a coordinator as a part of a workers turnover. The membership improved in numerous areas from the primary season underneath Poles and Eberflus, and which is able to give the brand new coaches and quarterback they wind up with a greater alternative to succeed.
Poles and Eberflus had optimistic remarks about Justin Fields, which is to be anticipated. They can’t say if Fields shall be within the combine in 2024. If he’s not, they want him to have stable commerce worth. If Fields had thrived, they wouldn’t have fired Getsy and Janocko, and Poles wouldn’t primarily made no remark about what’s going to occur with the fifth-year possibility within the quarterback’s contract. A call on that possibility is due May 3.
“We love where Justin is right now,” Eberflus mentioned. “He’ll continue to grow as we grow as a football team.”
Added Poles: “I did think Justin got better. I think he can lead this team. But at the same time there’s a unique situation.”
Fields was within the backside third of the league in too many key statistical metrics for the Bears to decide to the thought of buying and selling down from the primary choose for a bundle of future belongings after which constructing round him. It’s a time for info gathering, with Poles making it clear essentially the most vital piece of the puzzle is studying what makes the prospects tick and attending to know them totally.
How this performs out — with a brand new offensive workers and Eberflus needing to proceed displaying upward trajectory — shall be one thing to observe. Poles initially bought the McCaskeys on a methodical course of to ascertain sustained success. No one ought to have been anticipating that on the finish of Year 2.
“We’re playing the long game,” mentioned Eberflus as he cited rising younger gamers.
Said Warren: “We’re impatiently patient but we also understand the importance to build a champion, it does take some time. I’m not saying a lot of time but I strongly believe that going into this third year is going to be a critical time for us to take a major jump.”
Warren was requested how he felt in regards to the modifications — and the large ones that weren’t made.
“Fortunately, I’ve been here,” he mentioned. “My first year in the NFL, we were 5-11 at the St. Louis Rams. Second year we were 4-12. Then the third year we ended up going 16-3 and winning the Super Bowl. And I remember many of those days having conversations with John Shaw, our president, Jay Zygmunt, our executive vice president, coach (Dick) Vermeil, is that the questions that I would ask them of making sure the worst thing you can do on an organization that is making progress is to turn around too quickly.”
Those 1999 Rams occurred to discover a Hall of Fame quarterback who was sitting on the bench. Eberflus has some essential choices, and workers hires shall be key. One means to make sure the Bears escape the cycle that has plagued them, effectively, nearly ceaselessly: Pick the proper quarterback come April. The proper coordinator and quarterback coach are going to assist. Another big-time extensive receiver can be nice. A greater middle is required.
The key to sustained success is fixing the quarterback place, and the Bears are, certainly, in a singular scenario. Poles is correct: The roster is healthier than it was when he held the No. 1 choose a 12 months in the past — adequate that this staff could possibly be a contender with the proper man.
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Source: www.bostonherald.com