I expect the defense to be a bit rough in the first few games. Not bad defense. But we'll see a mix of some good plays, (especially putting pressure on the QB) and some breakdowns that allow some scoring.
I expect the offense to look pretty rough in this first game too - but worse than the defense. I expect a poor running game due to the OL not getting it done run blocking. That's not good for Andy Dalton. He won't have much time to pass. I expect 3-and-outs and a few turnovers, and not much scoring. Nagy seems to implode when the run game isn't there. Expect it to get ugly with the play calling as a result.
I expect something like 27-13 Rams win. I actually think the key to any upset here by the Bears will not be Dalton passing, but rather the OL surprising us and opening up some holes for Monty. If by some miracle the Bears have a stout running game, then that is going to make Dalton's night so much more doable.
It's early but interesting so far that there's 0% votes for the Bears winning and 0% for the game coming down to the last drive or two.
100% vote so far for Bears losing handily.
I'd like our roster to be at a point where we can go into a game--even on the road--against a tough opponent and feel confident we have at least a 50/50 shot at winning. Clearly not there yet.
It's early but interesting so far that there's 0% votes for the Bears winning and 0% for the game coming down to the last drive or two.
100% vote so far for Bears losing handily.
I'd like our roster to be at a point where we can go into a game--even on the road--against a tough opponent and feel confident we have at least a 50/50 shot at winning. Clearly not there yet.
+1
The people on this messageboard here are pretty realistic overall. The team is really just beginning a journey now that they (finally) have the main roster piece in place - a franchise quarterback. There is work to do to build around Justin Fields and it is a work in progress. Some good pieces are in place. Some important pieces are not there yet. Some pieces are on the roster but they are new/young players (some have yet to play a single game in a Bears uniform yet).
I wish that more pieces had already been in place and fully developed prior to getting our franchise QB, but I'm okay if the team can finally build an offense in 2021, 2022 and probably 2023. I think we will see MUCH better football this season but not in the first game of the season against a team that looks so much farther along in development than the Bears are right now.
It took us over 60 years to get our true franchise QB (yes, I believe this Fields is the real deal). If it takes us another season or two after this one to complete the offense (truly get it to a championship level) then that's fine. I think we all want to see steady and real progress now. Progress with additional roster pieces - and just as important we need to see progress with these young/new players who are already on the roster. It could be an ugly start to the season. Probably will be. But if we see real progress with this team when Fields starts, then it's been a substantially good year for the Bears. Then build on that success in 2022 and beyond. JMO.
It's early but interesting so far that there's 0% votes for the Bears winning and 0% for the game coming down to the last drive or two.
100% vote so far for Bears losing handily.
I'd like our roster to be at a point where we can go into a game--even on the road--against a tough opponent and feel confident we have at least a 50/50 shot at winning. Clearly not there yet.
+1
The people on this messageboard here are pretty realistic overall. The team is really just beginning a journey now that they (finally) have the main roster piece in place - a franchise quarterback. There is work to do to build around Justin Fields and it is a work in progress. Some good pieces are in place. Some important pieces are not there yet. Some pieces are on the roster but they are new/young players (some have yet to play a single game in a Bears uniform yet).
I wish that more pieces had already been in place and fully developed prior to getting our franchise QB, but I'm okay if the team can finally build an offense in 2021, 2022 and probably 2023. I think we will see MUCH better football this season but not in the first game of the season against a team that looks so much farther along in development than the Bears are right now.
It took us over 60 years to get our true franchise QB (yes, I believe this Fields is the real deal). If it takes us another season or two after this one to complete the offense (truly get it to a championship level) then that's fine. I think we all want to see steady and real progress now. Progress with additional roster pieces - and just as important we need to see progress with these young/new players who are already on the roster. It could be an ugly start to the season. Probably will be. But if we see real progress with this team when Fields starts, then it's been a substantially good year for the Bears. Then build on that success in 2022 and beyond. JMO.
I will say this: the 2021 team is counting heavily on a bunch of 2nd year players stepping up big time.
Vildor Mustipher (2nd year on regular roster, spent time on PS) Mooney Kmet Jaylon Johnson Gipson Horstead (2nd year on regular roster, spent time on PS)
All these guys are slated to be 2021 starters except for Gipson who looks like the #3 guy in rotation right now (Gabriel says he expects him to be taking reps from Quinn by mid-year) and Horstead whom Gabriel also expects to supplant Jimmy Graham in a year.
As far as the non-QB roster goes, the above list is gonna play a big role in deciding whether the Bears are arrow pointing UP or DOWN going into 2022. The rest of the roster is OLDER and a number of them like Trevathan, Hicks, Peters, and Graham likely won't be here next year.
Put it this way, if the above list of players BALL OUT year 2 and you combine that with this years class of Fields, Jenkins, and Borom, we will look back years from and now and be able to say: "Pace just absolutely crushed two straight drafts and put the team on a path to consistent success".
If the opposite happens, the Bears are up the creek without a paddle. They would start 2022 with nothing at CB, nothing at TE, nothing at WR, and major holes on the OL.
In many respects 2021 is make or break year. Not in terms of W-L record or going on a run but in determining if Fields will have anything to work with going forward.
I think we’re going to get stomped this week unfortunately. D will keep it close for a while, but the oline will be a mess and it’ll show. I would expect a better showing week 2.