What's been astounding to me and such a huge disappointment is under Trestman, as bad as it became, we had a #2 offense with a lesser OL and McCown sharing QB starts with Cutler due to Jay's injuries and our WR duo was ranked among the top two or three in the NFL. Now look at that offense.
The old saying about not fixing what ain't broken can't be any more apparent than what Fox and Pace have done to dismantle that offense while trying to fix what wasn't broken. While Pace has done just enough good elsewhere to justify his job Fox has done just the opposite and continues to negatively impact offensive growth.
I really don't know how anyone could see it any differently.
I agree, JABF. Pace needs to re-sign a few of our own (Fuller, Wright) and get
WR x 2 OT OLB x 2 TE
Between FA and the draft. It’s very doable. Of course the first priority before any of that is getting the proper coaching in here for Trub. Then add the weapons he needs. Just look at what Philly and the Rams have done. Both their rookie QBs struggled last year and both are making big strides this year.
+1 I agree with your entire post, but especially with that comment regarding the Philly & Rams QBs this year. Utterly amazing how they have improved. My hope is that we see that kind of improvement with Trubisky in his 2nd year. I am thankful he's starting this year, so that he can build on his experience and leverage that knowledge next season when we have better surrounding talent.
In both cases, they have better coaching and better weapons. And of course some experience under their belts.
If we can do that and get the O to middle of the road next year, this should be a really good team.
Post by MartianBearsFan on Oct 31, 2017 16:20:40 GMT -6
I really like the future of the team. The reason being is that a team like the Bears that hold down two high powered offenses (like Atlanta and New Orleans) gives me hope. The Defense is coming back to form. Now the offense has to be fixed and I think the Bears will make a run for the playoffs next season.
Wouldn't say no progress since last years wins were completed in half the time, but no progress in terms of offense even with our new QB. But there are several reasons for that.
We have a lot of young people now. I'll bet it would be huge to finish out this season with some wins - and with that type of spirit intact. Beating Green Bay in front of the Chicago fans would be a nice start to the 2nd half of this season. I believe we have a good chance of doing just that.
Agreed. I see a defense coming together now as the younger players have begun to better understand the schemes they're running and how to fit within them. What's even more encouraging is the number of mid round pick and even later round picks and UDFAs who are stepping up. The teaching skills of Vic Fangio and his staff are becoming apparent.
On the flip side this isn't happening to the same degree on the offensive side of the ball. Why? Are the schemes that bad? Does the same kind of "teaching" not exist or is it just less effective? Do we even have good coaches and if we do are they being hamstrung by an overly conservative HC who limits what they're allowed to implement?
To be honest D it's like watching two different teams. One is playing far more like the Bears of old while the other doesn't seem to have a clue as to what it's identity is. It seemed to have one at one time but that has slowly disappeared over the past three seasons. Once things are settled on that side of the ball we may have a winning team again but not 'til then.
Agreed. I see a defense coming together now as the younger players have begun to better understand the schemes they're running and how to fit within them. What's even more encouraging is the number of mid round pick and even later round picks and UDFAs who are stepping up. The teaching skills of Vic Fangio and his staff are becoming apparent.
On the flip side this isn't happening to the same degree on the offensive side of the ball. Why? Are the schemes that bad? Does the same kind of "teaching" not exist or is it just less effective? Do we even have good coaches and if we do are they being hamstrung by an overly conservative HC who limits what they're allowed to implement?
To be honest D it's like watching two different teams. One is playing far more like the Bears of old while the other doesn't seem to have a clue as to what it's identity is. It seemed to have one at one time but that has slowly disappeared over the past three seasons. Once things are settled on that side of the ball we may have a winning team again but not 'til then.
I think theres a bit of a talent difference too.
But even where talent exists they aren't getting it done. WR is the only glaring issue and I don't think we know yet whether the talent is there with some of the younger players or not. Not playing in the predictable style they have been.
Let's used Fuller and Amos as an example. As short a time ago is this past summer we'd probably swear Fuller was on trading block and Amos's days as a starter were about to be over. Both appeared to lack talent. What about now? Fuller is playing lights out even in man coverage and Amos is getting All Pro type grades at SS.
Christian Jones has filled in for Freeman and Kwiatkoski so well it would be hard to take him off the field right now and Bullard is beginning to overtake Unrein whose also been playing well.
These guys all seemed to lack something at some point in time prior to this season but through better coaching and a better understanding of their roles and a scheme that's working all of a sudden we aren't talking about a defense that's lacking talent any longer.
I'm gonna stick with my thinking that we have more talent on offense than we've been able to show simply because it's poorly schemed and he play calling is so limited it's a snap to defend.
Clearly the team has made a lot of progress. But we are not at the destination yet. This is tough for all of us fans. We don't like to wait for the end result. The defense has been restored to being like great defenses of the past. That is an incredible accomplishment from being a team that was getting hammered with 50-point curb stompings before John Fox arrived here.
I agree with @belliot that Vic Fangio wouldn't be here if John Fox were not the head coach at the time he agreed to come to Chicago.
Now the team is in the process of rebuilding the offense. When healthy, we have a decent OL. Something we did not have before John Fox arrived - it was a joke, a bad joke each game day to watch Cutler get killed behind some of those OL's of the past (Suh loved 'em though). We have a franchise QB now. This is a HUGE step in the right direction for our offense. Huge step. We also have an amazing run game. One of the better run offenses in the entire NFL. Now we need to get the offense some solid WRs. This will happen next. And next season we will have Trubisky in his 2nd year here, and have solid WRs to throw to. But this year the offense simply doesn't have those weapons. This is the reality we find the team in this year. Only an idiot would think the existing WRs are even adequate. Hard to pass effectively with a rookie QB and no WRs to throw to. Right?
The team has come a long ways in the right direction. But the journey isn't over yet. I do believe next season will be a great year for this team. The offense will be solid at that point, and coupled with this great defense, we should be a playoff caliber team for the first time in years. No small accomplishment.
But even where talent exists they aren't getting it done. WR is the only glaring issue and I don't think we know yet whether the talent is there with some of the younger players or not. Not playing in the predictable style they have been.
Let's used Fuller and Amos as an example. As short a time ago is this past summer we'd probably swear Fuller was on trading block and Amos's days as a starter were about to be over. Both appeared to lack talent. What about now? Fuller is playing lights out even in man coverage and Amos is getting All Pro type grades at SS.
Christian Jones has filled in for Freeman and Kwiatkoski so well it would be hard to take him off the field right now and Bullard is beginning to overtake Unrein whose also been playing well.
These guys all seemed to lack something at some point in time prior to this season but through better coaching and a better understanding of their roles and a scheme that's working all of a sudden we aren't talking about a defense that's lacking talent any longer.
I'm gonna stick with my thinking that we have more talent on offense than we've been able to show simply because it's poorly schemed and he play calling is so limited it's a snap to defend.
Well...we have talent at the running back position...is Howard not getting it done? I think we know what the talent level is at receiver, and it's pretty bad. Is made to look worse than it is because of the inexperience we have at the QB position? Sure. Could the play calling be part of the issue? Sure...but I'd say if we had talent there the play calling be predictable wouldn't matter as much.
Fuller was on the trading block for a multitude of factors, including his health and seeming unwillingness to play or practice last year. He had talent...remember he was named to some publications all rookie teams, and after starting his second season slow picked it up towards the end of the season. 2016 was abysmal for him because he wasn't on the field. Amos is a guy who was talented but I think we'd all agree was misused as a free safety. All the guys you mentioned didn't lack talent...they just were either being misused, or the light bulb took a while to go on.
I don't think all the coaching in the world is going to make some of these receivers into contributors. Of course I could be wrong...hopefully I am.
I would like to see the offensive play calling changed up...as many have mentioned...it's predictable. Run on 1st and second, dial up a pass on third down.