Column: Chicago Bears’ defensive unraveling in their Week 1 loss hints at a worst-case scenario — that the supposed team strength is fading faster than anyone considered By Dan Wiederer - September 13th, 2021
INGLEWOOD, CALIF. — A little more than 10 minutes remained Sunday night at SoFi Stadium when Chicago Bears coach Matt Nagy made an unorthodox call.
Fourth-and-15? At the Los Angeles Rams 30-yard line? Against a defense that led the NFL in yards and points allowed last season?
Nagy didn’t hesitate to give his offense the green light, passing up a 48-yard field-goal attempt for a long-shot do-or-die passing play. Unsatisfied with the prospect of pulling within 27-17 with plenty of time left, Nagy put the game in Andy Dalton’s hands for one desperation snap, then felt the deflation when the low-percentage gamble resulted in an incompletion along the right sideline to Darnell Mooney.
Turnover on downs.
“Some of it is just a feel for where you’re at,” Nagy half-explained after the game.
Once upon a time, such a decision might have deserved harsh criticism. It has been a long, long time since the Bears defense couldn’t be trusted to keep them alive.
Column: Chicago Bears’ defensive unraveling in their Week 1 loss hints at a worst-case scenario — that the supposed team strength is fading faster than anyone considered By Dan Wiederer - September 13th, 2021
INGLEWOOD, CALIF. — A little more than 10 minutes remained Sunday night at SoFi Stadium when Chicago Bears coach Matt Nagy made an unorthodox call.
Fourth-and-15? At the Los Angeles Rams 30-yard line? Against a defense that led the NFL in yards and points allowed last season?
Nagy didn’t hesitate to give his offense the green light, passing up a 48-yard field-goal attempt for a long-shot do-or-die passing play. Unsatisfied with the prospect of pulling within 27-17 with plenty of time left, Nagy put the game in Andy Dalton’s hands for one desperation snap, then felt the deflation when the low-percentage gamble resulted in an incompletion along the right sideline to Darnell Mooney.
Turnover on downs.
“Some of it is just a feel for where you’re at,” Nagy half-explained after the game.
Once upon a time, such a decision might have deserved harsh criticism. It has been a long, long time since the Bears defense couldn’t be trusted to keep them alive.
I am totally done with Nagy and his arrogant ego driven failures. Then we get to hear that incompetant SOD spoon feed us worthless word salads where he clearly shows he has no F'ing clue. This team is headed for a long season methinks.
Impossible question for us to answer: How do we fix this? I mean, like, this season? How do we salvage what we got to have an, at least, mediocre D?
If we can't, who to we try to trade before trade deadline?
I'd try to trade Hicks, Jackson (assuming it's possible with his contract)...
Basically, anyone besides: Quan, Johnson, Nichols, and... I think Mack is untouchable bc of his contract and the assets given up to get him, right? That's a short sad list.
Impossible question for us to answer: How do we fix this? I mean, like, this season? How do we salvage what we got to have an, at least, mediocre D?
If we can't, who to we try to trade before trade deadline?
I'd try to trade Hicks, Jackson (assuming it's possible with his contract)...
Basically, anyone besides: Quan, Johnson, Nichols, and... I think Mack is untouchable bc of his contract and the assets given up to get him, right? That's a short sad list.
With the pricier vets you could do Post June 1 2022 cuts to spread the dead money over 2 seasons but yeah it is ugly.
Impossible question for us to answer: How do we fix this? I mean, like, this season? How do we salvage what we got to have an, at least, mediocre D?
If we can't, who to we try to trade before trade deadline?
There's no "salvage" of this season.
Bears D is a shell of its former self from 2018 with an aging front-7 and an awful secondary. Bears O is a mediocre unit, particularly with a game manager QB like Dalton under center. Against a good D, they're gonna struggle to score 20 points and it takes 25 on average to win (avg total ppg is 50).
Trade who? Mack is the only one who might have some value at this point. Trevathan, Hicks, and Quinn are all on wrong side of 30 and Jackson is playing like ass while carrying a big contract.
This isn't some hot-take meatball assessment after a loss. The loss was expected. This was my assessment back in January and it holds even after getting lucky enough to move up for Fields.
Bears should have cleaned house (older players, HC, and GM) right after the 2020 season ended but ownership was too cowardly to start what was clearly needed--a rebuild to coincide with a new QB. Now they are gonna have to start that process--players at least--after this season which means a year of Fields rookie contract will be wasted. Typical Bears...