The Chicago Bears offense was not good in 2019. In fact, it was bad. Sometimes really bad. Finishing 29th overall in the league pretty much cemented that reality. The ineptitude they showed at times was hard to watch and incredibly frustrating after such high expectations were built from the previous year. So why should people get their hopes up now?
ESPN analyst and former personnel director Louis Riddick understands the pessimism. He saw what happened last season like everybody else. He was a big believer in what head coach Matt Nagy was trying to build. Sadly it didn’t work out and Riddick believes there were several reasons why. The biggest being the mind-numbing inconsistencies at quarterback.
That said, is he letting last year affect his overall view of the offense? Not according to what he told Waddle & Silvy on ESPN 1000.
“So not a lot of people are giving the Bears credit for the things they tried to correct this offseason. Do they have Tyreek Hill? Do they have Mecole Hardman? No. Do they have Odell Beckham Jr. and Jarvis Landry? No, but they do have some very, very good players. Look let’s not discount how good Allen Robinson is and will still be going forward because I do think there’s going to be a different player pulling the trigger at quarterback.
Let’s not forget David Montgomery will be going into his second year and let’s not forget that Juan Castillo is now the offensive line coach. There’s going to be a marked difference in terms of the way that team comes off the ball and running the football. Make no mistake about it Matt Nagy learned a lot last year as far his natural growth and maturation process of being a head coach.”
Combine that with a defense loaded with “ballers” as he put it? This team should not be ignored.
“I’m not that pessimistic about them. As a matter of fact, I think there are some very, very motivated people on this football team.”
Chicago Bears offense did make considerable changes
So Riddick’s optimism comes from three factors. Belief that Nick Foles will be the starting quarterback come September. The defense continuing to be dominant and the impact of offensive line coach Juan Castillo on the running game. Keep in mind the analyst knows Castillo quite well. The two worked together for years with the Eagles in Philadelphia. Castillo as a coach and Riddick as a scout and personnel director. That familiarity adds weight to his opinion.
Combine that with the obvious motivation of how bad they were in 2019? It’s perfectly reasonable to think they will be better this season. Not to mention the considerably improved situation they have at tight end with Jimmy Graham and Cole Kmet. This is not a statement that the offense will suddenly become a top 10 juggernaut. Riddick is stating that they will be good enough to compliment a great defense and win a lot of football games.
That is what truly matters.