The LIONS, Seahawks, and Jags have made significant improvements since 2021. They didn’t do it with some magical formula. They have kicked ass against Poles in free agency and the draft, even though Poles had $100M and #1 pick by decimating the roster of nearly all talent.
The Texans drafted Stroud and Poles stuck with Fields in the 2023 draft, so they are now a significant step ahead of the Bears in rebuilding, and will likely finish ahead of us in 2023.
The Giants, Panthers, and Bears still suck, and will likely battle once again for the worst record and top draft picks in 2024.
I voted 1. He didn’t draft Fields. Ownership definitely wanted Flus to be their HC and it is well known we were going to blow it up and rebuild the team that was a crap fest left by Pace.
I voted 1. He didn’t draft Fields. Ownership definitely wanted Flus to be their HC and it is well known we were going to blow it up and rebuild the team that was a crap fest left by Pace.
This “he didn’t draft Fields” argument is strange. The fact is, EVERY new GM begins with a QB he didn’t draft. One of his first, and most important, tasks is to decide whether to go forward with the current QB or try to upgrade the position.
After observing Fields for over a year, Poles praised Fields as his “guy” going into the 2023 draft, although most of us were still skeptical about Fields. What does that say about his ability to evaluate QBs? And so do we really want him to choose the next QB? This is just one of the reasons why he needs to be gone.
Wasn't he given a list of potential HCs by the McCaskey "committee"? He chose Flus. He said he fell in love with Flus at first sight.
You can't read too much into public relations type statements. "Fields is the guy." "Fell in love with Flus at first sight." Those are things people say in public. What they're really thinking is likely different.
"Honey, I'll be yours forever" = "Hey babe, you're the hottest thing I've seen since fire and I want to rip your clothes off now. But I'll never call you again after."
After observing Fields for over a year, Poles praised Fields as his “guy” going into the 2023 draft, although most of us were still skeptical about Fields. What does that say about his ability to evaluate QBs?
I can understand giving Fields 2023 to prove himself (he had just come very close in 2022 to setting an all-time NFL record for QBs rushing, and '23 was to see if he could be a good passing QB too). So, he gave Fields an opportunity to prove himself. The organization had just invested a high 1st round draft pick in Fields so, of course, you want to be certain about the guy before you move on from him. That's just being a responsible manager of a team's resources. As far as being positive publicly about Fields going into this season, that's what he should be doing.
You can't read too much into public relations type statements. "Fields is the guy." "Fell in love with Flus at first sight." Those are things people say in public. What they're really thinking is likely different.
You can't read too much into public relations type statements. "Fields is the guy." "Fell in love with Flus at first sight." Those are things people say in public. What they're really thinking is likely different.
"Honey, I'll be yours forever" = "Hey babe, you're the hottest thing I've seen since fire and I want to rip your clothes off now. But I'll never call you again after."
Don't pay much attention to what they say. Watch what the DO. In the end, that is what matters.
I voted a 4. I'm not saying fire the guy, but Warren needs to sit this guy down and tell him that his job is on the line if he can't build a modern NFL offense here. It begins with an offense head coach and then bringing in the rock-solid talent that will enable a young QB to come to Chicago and succeed. No more of these "hope and a prayer" guys, but rather REAL talent on offense - that is coaching AND players. The Bears talk a good story when it comes to offense... and then lose focus with hiring a D coach and they put resources into a defense that could have gone to support a viable offense. How did we NOT bring in a center on that OL? How does that even happen that we trot a Patrick out as our C, or Whitehair who is clearly a bad player now? D.J. Moore was a nice acquisition for sure. Where is the talent around him though? Poles invested resources in defense instead of going all-in on offense (coaches and players).
Warren needs to hold Poles' feet to the fire until he is all-in on offense. I hope Pole's seat is white-hot. Talk is cheap, let's see if Poles does anything here to finally fix the O woes here in Chicago.
I generally think Poles has done a good job and its way too early to judge him anyway. Drafts need at least 2 years, prob 3, to really know.
I disagree with the notion that he has favored the defense too. Of his 4 biggest acquisitions in the last year, 3 were on offense (Edmunds being the only D player). The overall numbers of new players are roughly equal between offense and defense but the highest priority/highest "cost" players were mostly on offense. Simply facts there.
Now there are legit things to bitch at him for and I think we agree on what they are. I bitched like a teenage girl at him for not signing or drafting a C last spring. I wanted Tippman but JMS was available as were several FAs (Bozeman, Pocic, etc.). They thought between Whitehair, Patrick, and Kramer that they had it covered. That hasn't worked out at all. He deserves criticism for that mis-evaluation.
And one more thing I am still pissed at him for and I said this here at the time--a 26yo healthy multi-Probowl LT his the open market (a truly rare event), Poles was sitting on more cap space than any other team, and he let Orlando Brown slip right through his fingers. The excuse was "scheme fit". %^$#^$!!!, I hate when we pass on good players cuz of "scheme fit". Find a way to make it work. Adjust your damn scheme! If Poles had pulled the trigger, we would have two young bookend OTs with Brax Jones as the prefect #3/swing guy. Yeah he missed a great opportunity there too.
Still, all in all, this debacle boils down to Fields and Getsy. We said in August 'no more excuses' so lets not make any. These two were tasked with getting the passing offense going and they both have flopped badly. Please don't blame the surrounding cast--CJ Stroud has LESS talent to work with on Houston and he's outperforming Fields.
Sorry, Justin and Luke take the fall. They haven't stepped up to meet the moment.
Wasn't he given a list of potential HCs by the McCaskey "committee"? He chose Flus. He said he fell in love with Flus at first sight.
The choices were two defensive coordinators (Flus & Dan Quinn) and one offensive guy (Jim Caldwell)
If I were to choose, I would have picked Caldwell. Flus must have interviewed well and his pitch including Getsy seemed to solidify the OC position, with an up and coming positional coach.
It looks like a mistake. I do believe Getsy has a future in the NFL and isn't a complete bum, it seems he and Fields aren't a good match.
Fields has been unable to solve his biggest issue coming out of college. Is that a coaching issue or is that an issue that Fields will never grow out of? Time will tell, but unless he learns to consistently hit receivers before they are open, he'll never be a successful starting QB.