Luke Getsy was brought to Chicago with a clear goal in mind. Do everything possible to help Justin Fields become a better quarterback. Obviously, most of that plan will involve playing the position with better efficiency and awareness. Something all young QBs must learn. Fields is ready to put in the work to do that. However, it isn’t all on the man under center. As the Cincinnati Bengals proved this year, a man is only as good as his weapons.
The Bears didn’t have the best arsenal in 2021. Darnell Mooney was the only receiver they had to cross the 500-yard mark. Allen Robinson struggled. Marquise Goodwin and Damiere Byrd were disappointing free agent additions. This team is in desperate need of a talent upgrade. With Mooney the only notable name under contract going into this offseason, it feels like the perfect time for an overhaul.
This is where the arrival of Getsy becomes a factor.
During his steady ascent in the coaching ranks, the 37-year old spent several seasons in college and the NFL as a wide receivers coach. It proved to be a specialty of his. In 2013 he helped recruit a young man to Western Michigan named Corey Davis. The Illinois-native was an instant sensation as a freshman and became the 5th overall pick in the 2017 NFL draft. He credited Getsy as a huge factor in his success.
“He was my freshman wide receiver coach and he’s helped me out a lot,” Davis said Friday at the NFL scouting combine. “He was pretty much the first guy to believe in me besides (Western Michigan head coach) P.J. Fleck and trust my abilities.”
“He was one of the guys that took a chance on me,” Davis said. “He believed in me. He saw the talent before anyone else did.”
Green Bay put that eye to good use when Getsy first joined them in 2014 as an assistant coach. That same year they drafted a young talent out of Fresno State in the 2nd round named Davante Adams. He is now arguably the best wide receiver in the NFL. While not having a direct say in either decision, it’s evident the new Bears offensive coordinator has an eye for talent at the position, which bodes well for this offseason.
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Luke Getsy has connections to some interesting names
Both of them come from Green Bay. Adams is the most obvious as he’s set to become a free agent. People can’t help but imagine what happens if the Bears lure him to Chicago. That seems unlikely given the financial difficulties. That said, another interesting name is Marquez Valdes-Scantling. The former 5th round pick has been one of the better big-play threats in the league over the past couple of years. While Adams gets most of the attention from Aaron Rodgers, Valdes-Scantling often delivered dagger moments with his down-the-field ability.
The Bears are putting a big emphasis on speed moving forward. There is no doubt the 6’4 kid can run. His problem isn’t athleticism. It’s his hands. Valdes-Scantling caught just 49.8% of his passes in Green Bay.
That includes 15 drops his first three seasons.
He did have zero in 2021 though, so he may be starting to mature at the right time. Coming to Chicago to rejoin Luke Getsy and get out from under Adams’ shadow might be a worthwhile gamble. There will be other options to monitor free agency and the draft. If GM Ryan Poles takes the advice of his new offensive coordinator to heart, then the Bears should be able to find somebody that can play.
