Changes are coming to the Chicago Bears after this season. Or at least it feels that way. Rumors persist that team president Kevin Warren is planning adjustments to the football operations. It could involve a full house cleaning with GM Ryan Poles and head coach Matt Eberflus gone. Another tricky question is Justin Fields. The quarterback hasn’t morphed into the franchise player everybody hoped for since he was drafted in 2021. However, he has played considerably better in three of his last four games. Maybe it’s a sign that he has adjusted to the NFL and merely needs a coaching upgrade to finally get over the hump.
At the same time, the Bears currently hold the rights to the #1 pick in the 2024 draft. Many believe this gives Poles, or his replacement, the perfect excuse to make a change at quarterback. However, the response from several people suggests that wouldn’t be the wisest decision. That is especially true with former players. Former Bears guard Kyle Long and future Hall of Fame left tackle Andrew Whitworth have already gone on record saying they should keep Fields and focus on adding more top talent to the roster.
Add former quarterback Ryan Leaf to that list. He told NBC Sports Chicago that drafting a quarterback into the Bears’ current situation would be asking for trouble.
Chicago Bears face a familiar scenario with Fields.
While the Bears offense has improved its personnel in the past year, it still has flaws that can’t be ignored. They could use another infusion of blue-chip talent. The bigger problem is coaching. Eberflus and his staff haven’t done a great job working to the strengths of their players. Offensive coordinator Luke Getsy only recently tweaked the scheme to better utilize Fields’ athleticism. The fact it took him this long is a reminder of how lacking in self-scouting this staff is. Maybe a new group can finally turn him around.
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The problem is this is the same exact problem the Chicago Bears ran into with Jay Cutler. He’d show constant flashes of brilliance but always failed to find consistency. Chicago changed head coaches twice and offensive coordinators four times, trying to find the winning formula. It never happened. Sometimes, the best decision is to move on. Fields may find success elsewhere, but it might be too late here. Still, the calls are out there for the Bears to stay the course. Keep building around him. The breakthrough isn’t that far away.
