The season is over for the Bears, finishing with a disappointing 5-11 record that resulted in John Fox getting fired. His decision of giving Dowell Loggains the play calling duties is what cost both of them their jobs. Now begins Ryan Pace's quest to find the right person for the HC position so they can start retooling the roster for next season.
The game against the Bengals was the last sighting of the bears effective running game. The last three games against Detroit, Cleveland and Minnesota, Jordan Howard got stuffed regularly and Tarik Cohen got limited to less than 4 carries a game. The defense played hard and kept the games in range for the offense to catch up against the Lions and Vikings but with a depleted injured O-line and just bad play calling, they really had no shot.
Mitchell Trubisky got hot and cold and i can understand the results he ended having being his first year, showing he can become a good QB in time. Its disappointing that he didn't have a comeback win in some chances he had, that would have been a big step forward for him. In his first game against Minnesota he forced a pass resulting in an interception , against the Packers after one 1st down it was 4 and out, against the Lions the first time around he got them into field goal range to force OT but the kick was wide right. Offensively they couldn't score in their final position to prevent the 49er's to have the comeback win.
The three interception game against Detroit is concerning, the first interception was a big play from the DB, the second one in the end zone it can be called a rookie mistake and the third one was a miscommunication but this one is the one that bothers me the most. It was just like the Saints game in almost the same field position where the pass is thrown behind the receiver for an interception, I can consider this something that needs fixing or just needs to understand his receivers better. If either of these was his last game it would be demoralizing, although the final game against the Viking wasn't the best scenario either.
The Bears got shutdown almost the entire game, but had two possessions drives that got to the red zone at the end of the game but just couldn't find the way to do it on four tries getting them 0 points. Another potential drive got killed by a personal foul and ended in the only 3 offensive points scored. Lack of discipline, bad play calling and shaky execution started and ended the season for the Bears, thus the firing of Fox being understandable.
The game against the Bengals was the last sighting of the bears effective running game. The last three games against Detroit, Cleveland and Minnesota, Jordan Howard got stuffed regularly and Tarik Cohen got limited to less than 4 carries a game. The defense played hard and kept the games in range for the offense to catch up against the Lions and Vikings but with a depleted injured O-line and just bad play calling, they really had no shot.
Mitchell Trubisky got hot and cold and i can understand the results he ended having being his first year, showing he can become a good QB in time. Its disappointing that he didn't have a comeback win in some chances he had, that would have been a big step forward for him. In his first game against Minnesota he forced a pass resulting in an interception , against the Packers after one 1st down it was 4 and out, against the Lions the first time around he got them into field goal range to force OT but the kick was wide right. Offensively they couldn't score in their final position to prevent the 49er's to have the comeback win.
The three interception game against Detroit is concerning, the first interception was a big play from the DB, the second one in the end zone it can be called a rookie mistake and the third one was a miscommunication but this one is the one that bothers me the most. It was just like the Saints game in almost the same field position where the pass is thrown behind the receiver for an interception, I can consider this something that needs fixing or just needs to understand his receivers better. If either of these was his last game it would be demoralizing, although the final game against the Viking wasn't the best scenario either.
The Bears got shutdown almost the entire game, but had two possessions drives that got to the red zone at the end of the game but just couldn't find the way to do it on four tries getting them 0 points. Another potential drive got killed by a personal foul and ended in the only 3 offensive points scored. Lack of discipline, bad play calling and shaky execution started and ended the season for the Bears, thus the firing of Fox being understandable.
Leaving the bitterness of the result of this season behind, its time to evaluate the roster and see what group got better and which needs help.
The QB position has a future in Trubisky installed and needs all the attention of the organization to back him up and get him better and ready for next season. Pace's job is on the line with the hiring of the next HC. Of the list of candidates I have seen, I incline more for the present DC of the vikings George Edwards or Vic Fangio. I am of the people who would rather have a offensive mined coach to get the job, but with what these to men have done for their teams is amazing and players respect them. The offensive candidates on the list I don't like because of personality or lack of experience (to not say they are young) for the HC job, but for OC is another story. The necessity to have the right person to improve Trubisky is priority and if this means that to get this coach means to give him the HC job, well so be it. As Trubiskys backup, and i cant believe I'm writing this, they should consider re-sign Mark Sanchez to maintain someone familiarity for Trubisky at the QB position, to maintain a veteran presence that can contribute to his improvement. Connor Shaw should be back as well so that drafting someone else should not be a necessity.
RB position is set with Jordan Howard and Tarik Cohen, although in the last couple of years the RBs coming off the draft have been very impressive and the Bears could do better by selecting someone with the skill set of a Fournette or Elliott, but the team can't be using a high pick on a position that is solid with holes to be filled elsewhere.
WR is the group that has been criticized to be the number one priority position to get better talent, but with the return of Kevin White and the positive progress of Cameron Meredith from injury, one can debate that it's really not that crucial. It does depend on if White is an injury prone player and if Meredith didn't loose a step due to his injury. Being positive i believe that the team is one player missing, they need speed at the position that Marcus Wheaton and White haven't shown. There are some FA to be this year that can bring that needed speed. Dontrell Inman and Kendall Wright should be considered to return to the team. Josh Bellamy can be let go and Wheaton can be considered a liability or maybe have him take a pay cut.
TE is set even if I don't count the return of Zach Miller, its not that I think that Miller is not good enough but his history of injuries, especially his last one, and the talent already on the roster for next season, i don't see him returning as a starter or getting paid what he deserves. With a full preseason as the number one TE, Adam Shaheen should get the job done along with Dion Sims and Daniel Brown. With Ben Brauneker still on the team for depth, this position can be overlooked.
OL is the group that really needs to be evaluated thoroughly. The OT position is above average at best, Bobby Massie has moments that question his stability at RT and Charles Leno Jr. is serviceable but the Bears can do better and should if possible for Trubiskys sake. Josh Sitton and Kyle Long are solid but one is getting old and the other has a long injury history that is getting concerning if it will begin to hit on his game. Cody Whitehair is solid as well but needs to get better with shotgun snaps. What is worrisome is the backups, where aside from the return of Erick Kush and maybe Tom Compton at guard, there is no one else who showed that deserves to be back on the team, so that leaves the OT and C positions in a critical state.
DL is practically solid, lead by Akiem Hicks and Eddie Goldman and with increased play by Johnathan Bullard and Roy Robertson-Harris. The aging Mitch Unrein will become a FA that could be re-signed for depth along with John Jenkins, but I would like to see the team getting someone better at Free Agency or the draft.
ILB needs Christian Jones back with Jerrell Freeman getting cut. With Danny Trevathan paired with Jones or Nick Kwiatkoski backed up by someone already on the team like John Timu or Jonathan Anderson or get someone else, this group looks ready and shouldn't be considered a critical need.
OLB needs to get younger and give a partner to Leonard Floyd. Willie Young and Pernell McPhee are serviceable veterans and Sam Acho or Lamar Houston can be re-signed for depth but there is a need for speed in this position.
DB position can take a break in the searching for S with Adrian Amos and Eddie Jackson set for next season backed up by Deon Bush and Deiondre Hall. They can invest the time to get the CB position in order by first signing Kyle Fuller ASAP so they can have one side filled and worry what to do at the other side by maybe re-signing Prince Amukamara or buy hard for the best one at free agency because you cant trust Marcus Cooper with it, he can still be a backup although the Nickel should be Bryce Callahan to lose followed by Cre'von LeBlanc. Sherick McManis should be re-singed simply because of his great ST play and leadership.
K position is open but Mike Nugent should get re-singed because he is healthy and made all his kicks except one that was blocked. They can bring someone else to try out.
P can be filled by re-signing Pat O'Donell if there is no one better.
So the Bears will pick 8th in the first round of 2018 and if possible hey should trade down depending on how they do on free agency filling their needs. If they stay put I prefer they go for a rushing OLB like Bradley Chubb , Clelin Ferrell or maybe Arden Key if they like him. They can also go OL with Mike McGlinchey or even Nelson if the worries of Sitton or Long are real. If WR is the decision of need which I don't value this high, then Courtland Sutton or Calvin Ridley should be the choice, the one that is faster should get picked.
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