August 26, 2018

I was very disheartened when I heard Coach Matt Nagy decided not to play his starters Saturday against the Kansas City Chiefs. With a new offensive system and a young quarterback, they need to play in games and not just practice. All you’ve seen up to now, is two quarters and two series of an inconsistent offense. They’ll have 21 days off until their first game.

I understand they didn’t want to risk injuries. However, good teams beat inexperienced, healthy ones. Nagy also said in a week that they were game planning and he felt the practicing and preparation were good enough to sit his starters. Good practices against your own team in a controlled environment does not translate into victories. How many times did John Fox, after an abysmal loss, scratch his head and mumble jumble that they had a good week of practice.

Who knows for sure what to expect? The offense now has receivers to throw to and good running backs. Nagy seems to have installed a present day offense using multiple formations, running different plays off the same offensive sets.  However, there is a big difference between having the plays and sending them in from the sideline. He has only called plays five times in his career. I will admit his team scored points. The difference is he had a veteran offense and a proven quarterback. People I talk to say I should give Nagy the benefit of the doubt. That’s okay because I have a lot of doubt.

The defense can rest because theys have experience. Defensive guru Vic Fangio has been a mastermind in putting together a defense that will keep the Bears competitive in most games. Resting the defense should get everybody revved up and ready to go. Aikeem Hicks, Prince Amukamara and the oft injured Leonard Floyd, can use the time off to recover from injuries and be ready to face the Packers in the opener. Staying healthy all year is key to this defense.

If I were to grade GM Ryan Pace he would receive a D-.  Start with the hiring of John Fox for a young team. He became one of the worst coaches in Bear history. Trading up to draft Mitch Trubiisky. He was supposed to sit all year as an understudy to Mike Glennon, probably the worst free-agent signing in Bear history. Trubisky may become a real good quarterback but the Bears could have drafted a stud defensive lineman who could have made an immediate impact. This was the year to draft a quarterback, but that’s water under the bridge.  Pace was in his own world when he unnecessarily traded up in the previous two drafts. This year the biggest need was a defensive end. I wonder if a deal could have been struck to move up from the eighth pick to the fifth pick to draft defensive end, Bradley Chubb. He would been a much better fit than Roquan Smith. Smith may turn out to be a very good player. The way the Bears stupidly negotiated his contract caused him to hold out. Trying to get ready in a hurry, he had a hamstring injury.  So Bears. Mabey a D- was too high.

I hope I am wrong about this mess. Maybe Nagy and the offense can score more than the defense gives up. The problem is with the Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings and the Detroit Lions the Bears are the worst team in their conference. I haven’t seen enough to predict their record. When they hired Nagy both he and Pace said to temper your expectations. That being the case, 8-8 would be the best you can hope for.

What are your feelings and predictions for the Bears? Let me know if I am way off base.