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They don't strike me as a bounce back on long notice group. They've had 11 months and a full offseason to bounce back and haven't.

That makes more sense. But honestly, if they pick a QB at all, he should be playing. It's not like Fields is proven to win you games or get you to offensive respectability (like an Andy Dalton). And there's really no reason to have a horrible roster again. Even if they take a QB top 10, they're likely going to have another top 10 pick, and 2 other picks in the top 70 along with 90Mil in cap space, not to mention players like DJ, solid TE, a couple solid RBs, a potential franchise OT, a promising DB group and some well paid LBs. Obviously, they won't be a great, and maybe not even a "good" roster, but if they are "we can't throw this kid in there" bad, then it's probably more bad GM'ing.

I mean, they gushed over him all offseason and even the things in camp about he looks so much more comfortable and in control year 2 of the offense. That stuff was coming all the way down from the top. And obviously, you don't pick up the 5th year or anything. But I wonder if Fields shows something for a similar stretch he did last year, do they try to see if another GM can support him better or if another coach can get him to take another step. Again, it's probably pretty stupid to give him a 3rd offense in 4 years, but this org. has been pretty stupid for decades.

Am I crazy for thinking there's a scenario where Eberflus and Poles are gone and Fields is given another year? The top of the organization was said to love Fields from his first year through at least before Week 1 started. Conceivably, they hired Poles based on him agreeing to keep and build around Fields. It's possible he could have been pressured to keep Fields instead of taking a QB 1st as well this year. There's also the history with Kevin Warren. Obviously, that would probably take something like Getsy being fired in the near future and the team being bad, with Fields improving a bit and the Bears and Carolina not being top 4 pick bad. So, obviously a long shot on all parameters. But I could see Warren and McCaskey being like, "hey we wronged you Justin, we'll give you one more shot". And this is not a support post for Fields, moreso a belief that the organization won't get this right and get GM, offensive HC and QB all coming in together.

Just catching up on the last few pages.... Justin not holding back. I never thought there could be any in-season major moves made, but if Fields isn't happy with Getsy, I'd venture to guess there's other players on the offense not happy. Could see a midseason move if things don't improve soon. Deion said he isn't coming to the NFL. He cited not being able to motivate NFL players. But I've heard the NFL isn't as interested as fans are. He's a "bigger than the team" type personality, and teams don't typically go for guys that take away attention from the team/players. The best bets would be teams like the Raiders, Cowboys or Jags who have either made these type of hirings before, have a larger than life owner or could use the attention (Jags have a likely long-term coach though).

It's not really about missing out on anyone. If Poles kept Fields, his reasoning better be that he truly believed Fields could be the best QB in franchise history, and one of the best in the league. If the reasoning is that he wasn't in love with these prospects or that he wanted to get a bunch of assets to then go for a QB, then that's asinine reasoning. If that is the case, Poles not only wasted 2022, but also 2023. It's just not acceptable to waste 2 years waiting on this mythical QB prospect you may or may not even have a chance to draft.

I guess it's possible. But it's insanely stupid if he that was the line of thinking. The Bears had a lot go right to get that #1 pick. And unless you're getting the #1 pick (Williams), I think you're getting a lesser QB than Fields....AS A PROSPECT, and you don't even know who's coming out, taking a step forward. Actually, now that I think about it....I don't think that's possible. In that case, you take extra picks over DJ Moore. You don't trade for Claypool midseason. You may even take Jalen Carter over Darnell Wright.

The Bears never do anything in the right order. Just going back to the recent guys..... Cutler- traded for w/ Lovie, a defensive coach. Came in on Lovie's 2nd OC hire, played for 2 additional OCs under Lovie, then Trestman as an offensive HC, and 2 OCs in 2 years under John Fox. Trubisky- drafted with a lame duck at HC, who didn't even know they were picking him. So they knowingly were going to teach him 2 offenses in 2 years to start his career. Fields- drafted by a lame duck GM, who had a lame duck HC, who failed with the previous QB that was the supposed reason he took the HC job. IDK that Pace went in thinking Fields would have to also learn 2 offenses in 2 years, but whoever let him trade multiple picks had to take this possibility into account. So all these moves had either the QB coming in to an established head coach and/or were already there when a new coach came in. Just once, you'd think they'd hire a GM who has an offensive plan and hires a coach that shares that same plan, and together they select a QB that can carry out their plan.

I thought Carter passed block pretty well. IDK the stats, but I personally counted 2 pressures and 1 sack allowed (Fields running into Vea after 20 seconds). His run blocking upon re-watch was abysmal. And to be fair, Whitehair, the expect C, can't snap either. Also the backup C, Feeney, came in for 2 plays and had a rolled snap.

I'm guessing a large part of this is on Fields himself. He ran to save his life last year. He's trying to be a pocket passer to preserve his body of the hits he will take as a runner. But it's kind of funny. Last year it was Fields ran too much and that wasn't sustainable. Fans complained about the lack of pass attempts, saying they should "just let him throw it". There was also a lot made that he needs to stop holding onto the ball and look for the checkdowns after his first reads are not open. Well, he's not running as much and everyone's like, "why isn't he running?" He's had more pass attempts each game than he had in any game last year, "well, Herbert avg 6 ypc, Roschon 8 ypc, why aren't they running the ball more?" Week 1, he checked down almost exclusively, "well why isn't he throwing it down the field?". Week 2, he kept looking to go down the field, "why is he holding onto the ball so long?" Obviously, the answer is a healthy balance of all of this. Sometimes they need to run the ball more with RBs. Sometimes Fields needs to go deep (like typically when guys are open and you're staring at them, Justin). Sometimes Fields needs to check down. Sometimes he needs to take off running. And I know we all want that healthy balance right now and for downfield, checkdown, run, handoff to all be done with 100% perfection and efficiency.....but it's 2 games in. Two games of the team around him actually trying to put a winning product on the field. I think some expectations have been unfair (part of it is the crap from the building saying how much he has improved w/ the playbook). Fields is still throwing to mostly new WRs (DJ, 100 snaps in 22 w/ Claypool, Scott), he has a whole new OL from C to RT. We still see guys flashing in the backfield immediately. We still see receivers running the same route in the same place. We still see them behind the chains due to (almost exclusively Braxton Jones') penalties. This is not to absolve Fields of blame. He's still terrible out there. He shouldn't have to overcome everything being thrown at him, but he has to be able to overcome the basics. See guy open, throw to open guy. See no guy open in 3 seconds, you are now a runner. QB is a tough position, but make the layups. I do think he has shown enough ability to do all these different things, but all at different times. He just has to put it all together, all of the time.

Hey the Bears kept all playoff teams within 1 score last year, except SF (a win), Week 18 Minnesota (tanky mctank game), and Buffalo (which was within 1 score with 4 minutes left). I think the Bears will surprise and be within 1 score at the end of the game......ahem, typo, I mean end of the opening kickoff

Yeah, and it doesn't even matter if he's ever a good pocket passer. He just needs to be adequate there (and I think he was other than the 4 sacks he took for no apparent reason, which is obviously not acceptable), but that's only if he's adding his natural ability to do everything else. You're trying to make him Joe Burrow, without Joe Burrow ability. There were some Bucs that commented after the game they knew what was coming on all of those screen passes. So predictable offense is very fair. And yeah, it's been mentioned by the QB guys (JT O'Sullivan, Tim Jenkins) his drops are too casual, too slow. If he takes quicker drops, he would be more ready to throw quick. He does appear to be thinking too much and focused on getting his feet right. You see this even on the quick screens, they are so mechanical.

I actually agree with every word of this. IDK if they are forcing Fields to be a pocket passer (1 designed run) or if Fields is trying to prove he can do it from the pocket, but it's clear this ain't the horsefeathers they did successfully in the middle of last year.

They have Kevin Warren now. He'd be doing the hire. Maybe he knows what he's doing, after all, he is a "football guy".

I see no reason why Poles should be able to pick another coach and QB, if Fields fails. I know he didn't draft Fields, but he picked him twice. Once when he decided on the Bears job over whatever else he was offered. And again when he decided to keep Fields over drafting a QB with the #1 pick. If Fields fails, it's at least in part because Poles himself threw away an entire year of his development by tanking and hired a defensive meatball coach, who hired all first time offensive coaches who don't know what they are doing.

Claypool will be active. D'Onta Foreman a healthy scratch. Nate Davis officially out, after being called doubtful.

I watched it. There were 3 plays he failed to throw down the field.

Yes, but it's also against everything the Tampa-2 scheme prides itself on. This "scheme" is designed to get pressure with the front 4 only. Of course, you'd think they'd actually put more resources into said area if that is the case.

There's videos of Mooney & DJ celebrating. Mooney, DJ and Nsimba racing to see who has the best get off. I'm going to write this off as much ado about nothing.

Edmunds and Edwards were top 10 LBs last year. In fact, PFF (I know) ranked them both as top 10 guys for this year. https://www.pff.com/news/nfl-linebacker-rankings-2023-nfl-season

Big news! https://x.com/AlyssaBarbieri/status/1702012913806950740?s=20

I'd have no problems with that. But the issue is, you don't have anyone better. You're talking about 2 WRs that were inactive for a reason (ESB, Velus) or a tiny WR like Scott who doesn't have that skillset. If they are going to continue to run 100 screens, then ESB makes sense to block, but that's not the best way to help Justin. Obviously, I don't know the guy personally, but if they think they can motivate him by sitting him, then by all means, do it. But I don't see him as that type. I see it as sitting him = losing him from the outside looking in. And I don't think it's worth losing him this early in the year.

I mean, it's not, but I get it. He still has the same attitude. I read from someone at the game he had a temper tantrum early when he didn't get the ball and his effort was pretty bad after that. But he has too much talent to just toss aside when he's had exactly 1 game while healthy and (supposedly) knowing what he's doing on offense. I'd give it til the deadline or so. If he's still bad and you can move him for anything, do it. Give those reps to Velus, Scott, or St. Brown. If no takers and he's bad. Sit him down. But no reason to move on Week 1.

I'm going to lay off the coaching a bit.....for now. LOL. It's tough to coach guys who aren't out there. Like if I had to pinpoint the worst 2 players on the field Sunday, it was Claypool and Nate Davis. And they missed the most practice of the starters. Obviously, there were other bad performances from people that haven't missed days but it really seemed like these dudes were just thrown together to play this game. Which I guess is on coaching too, but I'll give it a few more games for them.

Well yeah, if Claypool isn't going to get his head out of his ass he is. But Claypool SHOULD be a better option based on skillset and the attention that should be paid to the top 2 guys.