Watching Tyson Bagent lead the Chicago Bears to victory on Sunday was so much fun. It’s not every day you get to see an undrafted rookie quarterback from a Division II school like Tyson Bagent defy the odds. That is especially true since he did it for the Bears, a team with the ugliest quarterback history in the sport. Still, that victory hasn’t changed the status quo. When Justin Fields has recovered from his dislocated thumb, he will resume his role as the starting quarterback. Nobody is surprised by this. His physical upside is still worth exploring. Those two games against Washington and Denver showcased what he can be.
However, Olin Kreutz isn’t of that same mindset. The former Bears center has seen enough football to recognize when something isn’t working. In his mind, it’s becoming evident that this new regime led by Ryan Poles and Matt Eberflus doesn’t see him as the type of quarterback they want. Yes, he’s a phenomenal athlete with tremendous improvisational skills. At the same time, he’s too reckless with the football, leaves himself open to too many hits, and is inefficient. That is why he told Parkins & Spiegel of 670 The Score that the team should stick with Bagent.
While he may not be the long-term solution they seek, he plays the way they prefer far better.
Tyson Bagent does offer a different view of this offense.
For the first time, it felt like you were watching the Bears’ scheme under Luke Getsy how it was meant to be run. Bagent executed the footwork and process exactly how it was drawn up. Everything clicked. While Bagent didn’t throw for many yards, he was efficient. He didn’t turn it over, kept the chains moving, and let the productive running game wear the Raiders out. The offense scored 24 points, and Chicago cruised to a 30-12 victory. While Fields might’ve made more big plays with his creativity, it’s hard to imagine things running that smoothly under his watch.
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Kreutz is correct. The Bears want a quarterback that can win from the pocket. This isn’t a bad thing. Go around the league, and most of the contending organizations have ones that can do that. Having mobility to escape trouble is important, but every Super Bowl champion quarterback going back decades has been able to make their biggest plays from the pocket. Fields can sometimes do it, but he hasn’t done it enough. Tyson Bagent might not have his ceiling, but he already plays the position with far more efficiency.
That says a lot.
