Matt Eberflus has coached football for 30 years. He has learned a lot in that time from some really smart people. One of the most important lessons was determining the types of players necessary to win games. Everybody has their requirements. Some want speed. Others want power and toughness. Athleticism is perhaps the biggest one. For the new Chicago Bears head coach, it starts deeper than that.
During his press conference at the scouting combine in Indianapolis, Eberflus was asked about the importance of prospect interviews in the evaluation process. While talking to guys is important to him, it isn’t how he ultimately determines if a player is good or not. Actions speak louder than words. How do they look on film? Look at the tape. If it’s clear the player stands out in that regard, then the interviews can be used to determine something more critical.
Two key qualities that Eberflus views as essential.
Physical ability is vital in any professional sport. The best players are often the best athletes for a reason. However, Eberflus also knows that athleticism means little if a player either doesn’t love the game or isn’t interested in working hard. Without those character traits, the chances of somebody reaching their full potential on a football field are remote. People forget Walter Payton was not the biggest or fastest player in NFL history. His greatness came in his relentless work ethic and unbridled passion for football.
The trick is finding the players that check both boxes. They’re athletes and are willing to put in the work because they love the game. When teams find guys like that, it tends to work out pretty well. See Roquan Smith, David Montgomery, and Darnell Mooney for recent examples. A few more guys like that, and the Bears will be in business.
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Matt Eberflus will now look to weed out the weak
During his presser, the head coach made it clear that he hasn’t come in with any preconceived notions. He watched the tape and knows where the roster sits. Even so, he’s made it clear to the players under contract that they have a clean slate. Everybody is getting a new opportunity to show they belong in a Bears uniform. This is a nice open-minded perspective, but it also illustrates a point he is trying to make.
Yes, you’re being granted a fresh opportunity, but it comes with a brand new standard. The highest standard. Matt Eberflus doesn’t care about what players did before his arrival. In his mind, that wasn’t good enough. His level of expectation is and always will be the highest. Players must be willing to make the necessary sacrifices in order to fulfill his vision for the Bears.
If they aren’t, they won’t be in Chicago much longer.
This is a good thing. Eberflus doesn’t want anybody on his roster that isn’t willing to give 100%. That sets a bad precedent for everybody else. Once a coach can get everybody in the locker room pulling in the same direction with the same intensity, winning tends to follow.
