Final thoughts on the Bears 2023 season.
First, it amazes me that some people here don't have heart issues or have been diagnosed as bipolar with the extreme swings that have happened throughout the year. The team starts 0-4 and people want to take a match to Halas Hall and burn it all down and start over. Then they level off and win 5 out of 7 games through November and December and all of a sudden it changes to hey, this team isn't so bad and they're putting it together and they're only a few pieces away from being a contender. Then yesterday happens and it's back to tear it all down and they need so much in order to be competitive. It's a long season, you need to remain calm and even keel or you'll go crazy.
In my eyes this team is still only a few pieces away from being a contender. I don't know what happened with the coaching and a lack of any semblance of a game plan. People are complaining about the OL, which was an issue, but you also have to remember that one of their starters went down early. Also, Romo mentioned after one of the sacks that GB twists with their DL more than any other team in the league so why didn't the Bears factor that into their protection schemes? I swear all they do is copy and paste their game plan from one week to the next and don't factor in who they're playing whatsoever. The DL couldn't get pressure, so I don't know, how about throw in a blitz here and there?! Other than that the defense did enough to win. This was the only game all year GB won when scoring 17 or fewer.
For the season, they went from 3 wins to 7, which could have easily been 10 wins. There's been improvement, most notably on the defensive side of the ball. If they can continue that growth the defense will keep them in every game next year. The offense is terrible, Getsy has got to go, he still calls a game like Aaron Rodgers is the QB. I'm fairly intelligent, but there is no chance that I should be able to call out the majority of the Bears plays on a consistent basis when watching the games. If I can do that, imagine what the team they're playing can do.
I feel that Fields is the most polarizing QB the Bears have ever had, half the fan base wants to stick with him and the other half can't stand him. I honestly fall somewhere in the middle. He should be farther along in his advancement after year 3, but at the same time I would have liked to see what he would have looked like if his progress this year wasn't interrupted by missing 4 games in the middle of the season. Can he or should he be better at this point in his career? More than likely. Has he been put in the best situation? Absolutely not. For those of you who want to replace him, which rookie QB is going to come in and perform better? This year he had DJ and Kmet that he could reliably go to, and then who? Mooney was 3rd on the team in receiving with 414 yards and no one outside of DJ or Kmet had more than one receiving TD. Forget rookies, name me any QB that would be put in the Bears situation this year and be successful.
Going into the offseason the Bears currently have $64 million in cap space which is still top 10 in the league, so they have money to spend. They need to extend Johnson for sure, other than that it's too early to say who they should go after because we don't know who will be available. That being said I would like them to go after an interior DL, depth on the OL, depth in the secondary, and a safety to replace Jackson who needs to be fired into the sun.
For a quick positional breakdown, here's what I got.
QB- If they get a new OC, I say stick with Fields.
RB- I'm happy with Herbert and Johnson. I think they can be a good tandem.
WR- Let Mooney walk as he was basically non existent this year. I want them to draft Harrison at #1, but if they trade it then look for Nabers or Odunze to be available. Maybe pick up another WR in free agency depending on who's out there.
TE- Love Kmet. Maybe resign Tonyan who is a good blocker or find another back up in free agency or the middle of the draft.
OL- Needs a starting Center and depth. Other than that they weren't as bad as people here think they were. Wright was one of the best RTs in the game as a rookie. Jenkins just needs to stay healthy and he's turning into a great option at Guard. Jones has been a great find at LT. Davis needs to stay healthy to have a real opinion on him. All of these injuries is why I say they need depth but for the handful of games all the starters were healthy they were a solid unit.
DL- needs at least one more solid DT, possibly in the middle of the draft. I want the Bears to use their other 1st round pick on the best Edge available. I like Turner or Verse.
LB- I like the core they have there and they stayed healthy for the most part.
DB- Extend Johnson. Get rid of Jackson. Hopefully they can find someone to trade him too so it's not cap hit like they would take if they cut him. I like Brisker, Gordon, and Stevenson so maybe look to add some depth.
Coaches- Getsy's gotta go. I think Eberflus needs to go based on his entire body of work. If you want to make the argument to keep him because of the improvement of the defense I can respect that. So who do they bring in? My top choice for HC would be the Lions OC, Ben Johnson who has done good things up in Detroit or the OC from Houston. If they keep Eberflus, I would like the Eagles OC/QB coach to be brought in or maybe the Ravens QB coach, Tee Martin. If Eberflus is kept he would oversee the defense but he still needs to bring in a solid DC who has the same defensive philosophy as he does. Possibly someone off his previous staff.
Poles is going about the rebuild the right way, it just takes patients, it doesn't happen over night. If they can get a WR, a Center, and an Edge this team is a playoff team, especially given next year's schedule. Won't know the dates until around the time of the draft but here is who they play and where next year.
Home
- Detroit Lions
- Green Bay Packers
- Minnesota Vikings
- Los Angeles Rams
- Seattle Seahawks
- Jacksonville Jaguars
- Tennessee Titans
- Carolina Panthers
- New England Patriots
Away
- Detroit Lions
- Green Bay Packers
- Minnesota Vikings
- Arizona Cardinals
- San Francisco 49ers
- Houston Texans
- Indianapolis Colts
- Washington Commanders
The Chicago Bears are on the clock...