The good news is, the Chicago Bears are 5-2 and very much in the thick of the NFC playoff picture. And I guess what also counts as good news is the Bears’ 24-10 loss to the Los Angeles Rams on Monday Night Football counts as only one loss in the standings.
But let’s be serious, it felt like the entire season crumbling before our very eyes. The thorough domination in all three phases is something not even the most cynical of Bears skeptics saw coming. But here we are, roughly 30 hours later, and the question, at least on offense, remains: Is there any hope of getting better?
Here was my post-game thread. (No, it was not fun or therapeutic to write.)
Thread: A few extra thoughts on Bears-Rams…
1. Not only was that beatdown by the Rams bad and embarrassing, but Matt Nagy admitted in his press conference that he has no answers on offense.
Know what that means? It's time to try something new: Hand over the playbook.
— Dhruv Koul (@DhruvKoul) October 27, 2020
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It appears that Matt Nagy is open to revisiting his ownership of play calling duties after that embarrassment, but at least for this Sunday’s game against New Orleans, he’ll remain the play caller and Nick Foles will remain the QB.
This is a big statement from Matt Nagy. It should be *his* decision to give it up, though. I have a hard time believing the staff will go to their boss and tell him his play-calling is the issue. I get that they're a collaborative staff, but it should come from Nagy. https://t.co/pZhP2Sq7ZX
— Dhruv Koul (@DhruvKoul) October 27, 2020
On the bright side, the Bears noticed how worthless Ted Ginn was punt returns and signed Dwayne Harris to their practice squad. I imagine it’s a matter of days before he’s promoted and the Bears get demolished on their home field by the Saints for the second straight year.
And I’m having a cheerful Wednesday morning!
With that, let’s reach into this week’s Bears Mailbag. Thanks to everyone who submitted questions. Follow me on Twitter @DhruvKoul to continue the conversation.
Bears Mailbag
Are you all ready for a fun question to start us off?
Q: Should Mitch get another shot? — @basilialukos
Yeah, we were all expecting this question to come sooner rather than later. Here’s what we know since the Bears benched Mitch Trubisky in Atlanta in favor of Nick Foles:
— Foles led an exceptional comeback to beat the Falcons.
— Foles and the offense were shut down against Indianapolis — a defense that rookie QB Joe Burrow toyed with in the first half of their game!
— Foles and the offense showed *some* potential against a tough Tampa Bay team to win.
— Foles and the offense showed *some* potential against Carolina on the road to win.
— Foles and the offense were demolished in Los Angeles.
So, all in all, excluding the wild Falcons comeback, the Bears’ offense has shown *some* potential in two games, and has been obliterated in two others. Then again, the offense showed *some* potential in wins over Detroit and New York (Giants) with Trubisky at QB before he melted down in Atlanta.
The offensive line is absolutely atrocious. The play calling, which I’ve finally come around to, is not good enough. Foles has been cerebral a few times that’s certainly helped the Bears win two of his starts, but his deep ball accuracy (which was his strength) has been very poor and he hasn’t protected the football well enough.
So, to summarize, it appears the offense isn’t going to be *better* with Foles in the game. So this is where I’m at:
I'm the furthest thing from a Mitch Trubisky stan.
But if the offense is going to be this bad no matter who is at QB, and deep shots are going to be missed no matter what, you might as well roll with the guy who can run.
Because right now, defenses aren't scared of *anything*.
— Dhruv Koul (@DhruvKoul) October 27, 2020
It really is true, though. Defenses don’t respect the Bears’ offense at all. They know they can stop the run because the OL sucks. They can focus their attention on Allen Robinson, because they aren’t worried about the Bears actually hitting their deep shots. So the offense is broken and there’s nothing that scares them. Might as well add an element that defenses can somewhat respect.
Now, for the rest of the Mailbag:
1. From what I understand, he's close. His speed is an attractive complement to David Montgomery. The Bears will benefit when he's ready.
2. Spain may not want to come to Chicago — we don't know.
3. Pace and Nagy are a packaged deal.
4. That's one I can't answer.
— Dhruv Koul (@DhruvKoul) October 27, 2020
I agree with all of those things. I have no idea if Bars will be better than Coward, but it'd be difficult for Coward to be worse.
The Bears' best personnel package is 11: Montgomery, Kmet/Graham, Robinson, Mooney, and Miller.
Kmet should be starting at this point.
— Dhruv Koul (@DhruvKoul) October 27, 2020
God, I would love that. But no, he's happily retired. And Ryan Pace wouldn't dip back into that well, nor would I expect Cutler to be interested, even if it was his childhood team he grew up rooting for.
— Dhruv Koul (@DhruvKoul) October 27, 2020
Doesn't appear that it will be next week, but Nagy did indicate today that he is open to it. If the offense struggles again the next couple games, we could see the change made either right before or right after the BYE week.
— Dhruv Koul (@DhruvKoul) October 27, 2020
Until we see tangible results, it's hard to say! I saw some glimmers on tape against the Bucs and Panthers that made me think the offense was close. What happened in LA was a massacre. The Bears have a short week and another tough DL to face. I'm concerned about it.
— Dhruv Koul (@DhruvKoul) October 27, 2020
Wrote about the Trubisky thing here: https://t.co/aNjFTKtNc0
We have to be cognizant about the perception at Halas Hall — the Bears can't even get basic things right on offense right now. Why would they incorporate defensive players to muddy things up further?
— Dhruv Koul (@DhruvKoul) October 28, 2020
I actually wrote about this a little while ago:https://t.co/aNjFTKtNc0
— Dhruv Koul (@DhruvKoul) October 28, 2020
I am too. I'm hoping this is something his staff and players will tell him — it's definitely killing the rhythm.
— Dhruv Koul (@DhruvKoul) October 27, 2020
If the Bears don't make the playoffs after *this* start, I have to imagine both Pace and Nagy are done.
Pace is working the phones, but he has to be smart. He knows the Bears aren't just one offensive lineman away.
— Dhruv Koul (@DhruvKoul) October 28, 2020
The same game plan they should've executed better against the Rams — stop the run and make Drew Brees beat them with his compromised arm.
— Dhruv Koul (@DhruvKoul) October 27, 2020
The Bears should explore signing Quinton Spain, but he's not a solution. He's a band-aid.
Leno and Massie were decent enough last year, but they've fallen off a cliff. And there's no one available to replace them with.
— Dhruv Koul (@DhruvKoul) October 27, 2020
Head coach? Yes, for now. Ask me again at the BYE.
Play caller? I've wavered.
— Dhruv Koul (@DhruvKoul) October 27, 2020
Offensive line. It is in desperate need of a talent (and attitude) infusion.
— Dhruv Koul (@DhruvKoul) October 27, 2020
It's a great question. Nagy seems to love those plays with Cordarrelle Patterson (why?) and Anthony Miller (sure), but Mooney is his fastest guy. He's made for getting the ball in space. They need to incorporate more of it.
— Dhruv Koul (@DhruvKoul) October 27, 2020
Other than signing Quinton Spain, there isn't much that can be done this season.
The Bears need to pour resources into it this offseason. I'd spend at least two (early) draft picks on the OL. At least.
— Dhruv Koul (@DhruvKoul) October 27, 2020
Packers
Someone from the NFC East
Buccaneers
Seahawks
Rams
Saints
Bears(Yes, I think the Bears can still make it.)
— Dhruv Koul (@DhruvKoul) October 27, 2020
My guess will be the Bears will (and would be better off) spending it on an offensive lineman. They may want to ride with Nick Foles and a mid-round draft pick for another year, assuming they can get the OL right.
Why take a QB if there is no infrastructure?
— Dhruv Koul (@DhruvKoul) October 27, 2020
It's pretty close. Jay Cutler had a pretty awful set of lines back in the day. He was just so good at making the best out of a terrible situation.
— Dhruv Koul (@DhruvKoul) October 27, 2020
Remember, Lamar Miller has played with Bill Lazor and Charles London, so they'll know when he's ready. From what I understand, he's getting closer to being able to play.
— Dhruv Koul (@DhruvKoul) October 27, 2020
That's a layered question. It appears to be a combination of the following:
— Defenses have picked up on his tendencies.
— Rotating personnel keeps the offense out of rhythm.
— The OL is awful.
— Nagy has a lot of good plays but a rough understanding of *how* to call them.— Dhruv Koul (@DhruvKoul) October 27, 2020
Welcome to fandom.
— Dhruv Koul (@DhruvKoul) October 27, 2020
