Much has already been written about the Bears’ rebuild Ryan Poles began almost immediately when he was hired before the 2022 season. The roster was filled with aging veterans with expensive contracts. Poles could have decided to continue chasing victories with undisciplined free-agent spending, or he could concentrate on building the team through the draft.
Poles came to Chicago with a vision. Build a team to compete for championships year in and year out. In his mind, the only way to accomplish a winning culture is to build a team through the draft and use free agency to fill the roster. This approach would not bring immediate results, but it would bring future success.
Poles began the process by trading or releasing players over 30 years old. He traded or released players who were not considered the right fit for the schemes the new coaching staff implemented. The 2022 season, from a fan’s perspective, was painful to watch, and the Bears lost their last nine games. Thanks to former Bears head coach Lovie Smith motivating the Houston Texans to win on a last-second TD in the last game of the year, the Bears ended up with the league’s worst record (3-14) and the first overall selection in the 2023 NFL Draft.
That selection, after trading with Carolina, provided two young players that will become immediate starters for the offense. A true top-tier WR in DJ Moore, and Darnell Wright who many scouts believe was the best tackle in the draft.
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Everywhere one looks at the Bears roster finds upgraded talent. While Ryan Poles still looks to tweak the roster, the changes made to the starting 22 are impressive. We could see seven or eight new defensive starters on the field when Chicago begins the season on September 10th. The offensive line will have just Braxton Jones as the only lineman in his starting position from a year ago.
While the additions defensively will improve the unit, many think without an edge rusher to pressure the QB, the defense is still a year away from a top-ten unit. If this team is to contend for a playoff spot, the offense will be tasked with scoring more points than the opposition. Mixing a ball-controlling running game with a high-powered passing attack would help accomplish this.
The ability to both take time off the clock and put points on the scoreboard does two crucial things: It keeps the defense fresh and by allowing them to play with a lead, that makes the opponent’s offense one-dimensional.
This puts the focus directly on Jones, Jenkins, Whitehair, Davis, and Wright. Poles has loaded the offense with weapons at all three skill positions (WR, TE, and RB), but if the blocking doesn’t improve, Fields will struggle again this season. Thus it becomes imperative for the offensive line to exceed all expectations. Allowing Justin Fields the opportunity to make the expected giant leap in year three as Chicago’s starting QB.
Can the Chicago Bears be the latest team to go from worst to first? They are not strangers to the task. The 2018 team won the NFC North, after finishing last in 2017. Training camp begins later this month, and Bears fans everywhere are eagerly awaiting this season.
