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Another new era will begin for the Chicago Bears, as for the second time in three years, the organization is in search of a new head coach. Head coach Marc Trestman's time with the team is over, and out the door with Trestman went GM Phil Emery. Once the power structure is in place, that group will have some major decisions on how best to move forward after a disappointing 5-11 season. Significant on that list will be what to do at the much discussed quarterback position.
Here are the Bears' top offseason priorities:
1. Settle on a new coach and GM
Emery and Trestman bet big on Jay Cutler when the team signed the quarterback to a costly extension before the 2014 season, a bet that helped sink Emery and Trestman when Cutler led the league in turnovers and was benched after 14 games this season. The Bears need to quickly figure out their leadership situation, and assemble a staff. Once they do, they can answer the biggest personnel question facing this roster.
2. Is Cutler the long-term QB?
Cutler has $15.5 million in guaranteed salary for 2015. Another $10 million in 2016 salary becomes guaranteed if he's on the roster March 12. More than a few decision-makers around the league think the Bears need to cut their losses by either releasing Cutler or trying to trade him. They see Cutler as a lost cause, and think the Bears would be better off starting over with whatever alternatives they can find. (For a detailed look at Chicago's options with Cutler, you can read my article from earlier in December.)
Teams often operate out of fear, however, and a case can be made that the fear of going into a season without an established NFL quarterback is what led the Bears to re-sign Cutler in the first place. The hiring of Cutler's first NFL coach, Mike Shanahan, could be an option for the Bears if they decide to stick with Cutler.
3. Re-evaluate the offensive philosophy
The 2014 Bears were a pass-happy team, frequently leading the league in dropback rate on early downs, including when the score was close. Is that the best approach in the future for a team with an elite running back in Matt Forte and a shaky defense? The Bears might point out how frequently they threw the ball to their running backs. Indeed, the screen game can be an extension of the running game. But with a recommitment to the ground game working so well for Dallas, perhaps the Bears could benefit from a similar shift. It's something to consider, at least.
4. Rebuild the defense
The Bears do not do much, if anything, consistently well on defense. Lance Briggs, Charles Tillman and Jared Allen are all 32-plus years old and declining. What are their futures? Willie Young will be coming off a torn Achilles tendon. Lamarr Houston will be coming off a torn ACL. The safety position remains a weakness with Chris Conte, Brock Vereen and Ryan Mundy. Emery's initial first-round pick, Shea McClellin, is not an impact player. The Bears could be tempted to consider drafting a quarterback early, possibly with the No. 7 overall pick or early in the second or third rounds, but they need defensive starters, too.
5. Remember that change doesn't always mean change for the better
The Bears did not get better when they changed from Lovie Smith to Trestman. There are no guarantees they would improve at quarterback if they replaced Cutler. They would not necessarily improve on defense by replacing coordinator Mel Tucker. Getting rid of players and coaches is the easy part. Finding upgrades is the hard part. The Bears haven't done a good job upgrading. Is that going to change?
Offseason fixes for Chicago Bears - NFL - ESPN
By Mike Sando
Here are the Bears' top offseason priorities:
1. Settle on a new coach and GM
Emery and Trestman bet big on Jay Cutler when the team signed the quarterback to a costly extension before the 2014 season, a bet that helped sink Emery and Trestman when Cutler led the league in turnovers and was benched after 14 games this season. The Bears need to quickly figure out their leadership situation, and assemble a staff. Once they do, they can answer the biggest personnel question facing this roster.
2. Is Cutler the long-term QB?
Cutler has $15.5 million in guaranteed salary for 2015. Another $10 million in 2016 salary becomes guaranteed if he's on the roster March 12. More than a few decision-makers around the league think the Bears need to cut their losses by either releasing Cutler or trying to trade him. They see Cutler as a lost cause, and think the Bears would be better off starting over with whatever alternatives they can find. (For a detailed look at Chicago's options with Cutler, you can read my article from earlier in December.)
Teams often operate out of fear, however, and a case can be made that the fear of going into a season without an established NFL quarterback is what led the Bears to re-sign Cutler in the first place. The hiring of Cutler's first NFL coach, Mike Shanahan, could be an option for the Bears if they decide to stick with Cutler.
3. Re-evaluate the offensive philosophy
The 2014 Bears were a pass-happy team, frequently leading the league in dropback rate on early downs, including when the score was close. Is that the best approach in the future for a team with an elite running back in Matt Forte and a shaky defense? The Bears might point out how frequently they threw the ball to their running backs. Indeed, the screen game can be an extension of the running game. But with a recommitment to the ground game working so well for Dallas, perhaps the Bears could benefit from a similar shift. It's something to consider, at least.
4. Rebuild the defense
The Bears do not do much, if anything, consistently well on defense. Lance Briggs, Charles Tillman and Jared Allen are all 32-plus years old and declining. What are their futures? Willie Young will be coming off a torn Achilles tendon. Lamarr Houston will be coming off a torn ACL. The safety position remains a weakness with Chris Conte, Brock Vereen and Ryan Mundy. Emery's initial first-round pick, Shea McClellin, is not an impact player. The Bears could be tempted to consider drafting a quarterback early, possibly with the No. 7 overall pick or early in the second or third rounds, but they need defensive starters, too.
5. Remember that change doesn't always mean change for the better
The Bears did not get better when they changed from Lovie Smith to Trestman. There are no guarantees they would improve at quarterback if they replaced Cutler. They would not necessarily improve on defense by replacing coordinator Mel Tucker. Getting rid of players and coaches is the easy part. Finding upgrades is the hard part. The Bears haven't done a good job upgrading. Is that going to change?
Offseason fixes for Chicago Bears - NFL - ESPN
By Mike Sando
