The Chicago Bears will kick off their 2022 season on Sunday as they host the San Francisco 49ers at Soldier Field. One of the more anticipated aspects of the Bears this season will be new offensive coordinator Luke Getsy and his ability to be the team’s new play-caller replacing former head coach Matt Nagy. Getsy’s offensive scheme will be vital to second-year quarterback Justin Fields’ development, but Chicago’s new offensive coordinator will win fans and media over by demonstrating his in-game adjustment capabilities.

Getsy Needs To The Opposite Of Nagy When It Comes To Situational Play-Calling

When Nagy served as the Bears’ head coach and offensive play caller from 2018 through 2021, there were several recurring troubling trends in the head coach’s play designs. Chicago’s offense failed to consistently convert short-yardage situations and make in-game adjustments to counter opposing defenses’ game plans. Through Nagy’s four seasons as Bears’ head coach, he struggled to implement simple play designs to convert either third or fourth-down plays with short-yardage.

One of the most common plays an NFL head coach or offensive coordinator can call when in a fourth and one situation is a quarterback sneak behind the center or guard. Unfortunately, during Nagy’s four seasons with Chicago, the Bears’ offense rarely used that play in those specific situations. Too often did Chicago’s head coach attempt an elaborate play that would take too long to execute or have too many moving parts to it in order to be successful.

Late in the third quarter, Matt Nagy called a fourth-and-1 weakside sweep to Cordarrelle Patterson.

"There’s nothing where anyone was like, ‘Nah, maybe we shouldn’t do that,'" Nagy said.

The problem is this play breaks down with one lost defender. And every block broke. pic.twitter.com/bp0rJdQvGC

— Chris Emma (@CEmma670) October 27, 2020

One of the most common plays an NFL head coach or offensive coordinator can call when in a fourth and one situation is a quarterback sneak behind the center or guard. Unfortunately, during Nagy’s four seasons with Chicago, the Bears’ offense rarely used that play in those specific situations. Too often did Chicago’s head coach attempt an elaborate play that would take too long to execute or have too many moving parts to it in order to be successful.

A year later, in a game against the Tennessee Titans, Nagy’s offense would again fail to convert on a fourth and short-yardage situation in Titans’ territory. With Montgomery and Patterson in the backfield, Chicago’s play-caller would call for a fake toss to Patterson, only for quarterback Nick Foles to hand the ball off to Montgomery. Due to the long process of the play to develop, the Titans’ defense was able to tackle the Bears’ ball-carrier way before he could reach the line to gain.

Fourth-down situational play-calling was even an issue in Nagy’s final game as Bears head coach against the Vikings last season. During the game, Chicago had four fourth and short-yardage situations, with three taking place in Vikings’ territory, with the offense failing to convert for a first-down. Quarterback Andy Dalton was sacked three times and threw an interception that was returned for a touchdown. Nagy elected not to attempt a field goal or give the ball to Montgomery in any of those situations.

#Bears totally unprepared for that fourth-down blitz that looked like you could've seen coming from Duluth. Dalton sacked. Vikings ball.

— David Haugh (@DavidHaugh) January 9, 2022

Another aspect of offensive play-calling that Nagy consistently had trouble with was in-game adjustments when opposing defenses appeared to know how to disrupt the Bears’ game plan. In the previous two seasons, Chicago’s offense scored either one or no touchdowns in the first half of 24 of their 32 games. Nagy was constantly criticized for his lack of in-game adjustments, which also contributed to him being relieved of play-calling duties in back-to-back seasons.

In the Week 3 game against the Brown last season, Nagy failed to adjust to the Browns and their ability to sack Fields. In that game, the Browns’ defense sacked the Bears’ rookie quarterback nine times. Nagy received harsh criticism from local and national pundits as Chicago’s offense utilized a five-man blocking scheme with no additional support to protect the quarterback. Nagy continued to have Fields drop back instead of inserting short or screen passing plays to counter the consistent pressure generated by the Browns.

• 5 Rushers Vs. 5 OL.
• Justin Fields snaps the ball at 8:44.
• 2 seconds later (8:42) only 1 Bears OL is still winning his assignment.
• This was the Browns 6th of 9 sacks.
• No RB/TE's to help with chip blocks.

Clear lack of scheme where the talent was out matched. pic.twitter.com/oHWudkjsbF

— Max Markham (@MaxMarkhamNFL) September 26, 2021

Getsy Has Shown Early That He Is Keeping It Simple For The Bears Offense

During the Bears’ three preseason games this year, one of the most refreshing takeaways has been Getsy’s simplistic play-calling. Chicago’s new offensive coordinator has implemented an offensive scheme that uses bootleg and play-action passing designs to help protect Fields from opposing pressure. The offense’s goal is to get the ball out of the quarterback’s hands as soon as possible to avoid sacks.

1. People keep talking about who Justin Fields' #2 target will be after Darnell Mooney.

Stop narrowing the vision to the WR group.

It's going to be Cole Kmet.

The two have clear chemistry and the TE position thrives in this offense. #Bears pic.twitter.com/JJ2oA0ovEF

— Erik Lambert (@ErikLambert1) August 21, 2022

Through three preseason games, Fields has completed a pass for 20 yards or more each game and has only been sacked once during his limited appearances. Getsy did a great job in having a variety of different plays and formations when the Bears’ starting offense was in the game, as screen passes, play-action passes, and deep passes were all deployed and executed to success.

During the regular season, Getsy can demonstrate an ability to make necessary in-game adjustments and have go-to plays ready to deploy to convert short-yardage situations. If Chicago’s offensive coordinator can call simple plays to help his offense convert short-yardage downs to extend drives, he will succeed where his predecessor failed. Getsy can deploy Fields on a quarterback sneak or give the ball to Montgomery on a halfback blast or dive.

Justin Fields said the Cleveland game felt like a 'turning point' for the offense that they can build on going into Week 1. Luke Getsy doesn't use the same phrase but instead defers to the process/vision he's had for this unit since they began working in April.

— Courtney Cronin (@CourtneyRCronin) August 29, 2022

Chicago is in dire need of having an offense that is simplistic and utilizes basic plays to move the ball. Too often did Nagy try to have a complex and overtly exotic offensive scheme to generate scoring drives, which often led to the opposite occurring. Getsy can demonstrate his ability to be the polar opposite of Chicago’s former failed head coach starting on Sunday against the 49ers.