How close are the Bears to being competitive?

[BaBaBlacksheep]

At least two drafts and a different coaching staff away from the playoffs.

Damn

 

[NCChiFan]

I mean it is possible, but do the Bears brain trust have the balls to hire a defensive minded HC that brings in a real OC?

Real OC's tend to become Real HC's....

 

[NCChiFan]

I have always said next year was when “the window” opens and they wouldn’t truly be competitive until then.

I still feel that way. Build the lines some more this offseason. Get a new HC. CW keeps improving.

It’s not a given. They still have to make the right moves. But nothing that I’ve seen so far has dissuaded me from thinking good times are a year away.

Am I wrong?

(For the purpose of this discussion I will define competitive as a team that can make the playoffs and have a shot at winning a game)

If I am wrong how far away are the Bears? Total tear down stage? Two years?

Believe Poles was granted 3 years to turn things around. Was hired in '22 wasn't he? Pretty sure he has one more year to figure the O line out. Can he do it? No clue, but I do like a litany of other decisions he has made, including the firing of Waldron (to this point in time). New OC has proven he can make an adjustment to save Caleb from getting killed every 3 seconds post snap.

 

[Heidenlarm]

The lines need to be addressed. Even with the garbage OL the Bears have been trotting out, I wonder where the team would be if Waldron was never here.

And yeah, the team is a hail Mary and blocked kick away from being 6-4.

 

[BradyJay]

Considering the question gets asked every season, I'd say it'll be a while....

 

[onebud34]

Real OC's tend to become Real HC's....

Bears fans would much rather have that than them getting fired every year

 

[1COBearsfan]

In a perfect-ish scenario? Better OC, OL coach, and some decent O and D line pickups

In the Bears reality scenario?

 

[Toast88]

I mean, theoretically, they're not far away from having:

-a good QB on his rookie contract
-offensive playmakers
-a good, sustainable defense
-good coaching

They're missing, like, one-and-a-half of those things.

 

[baselman1974]

I mean, theoretically, they're not far away from having:

-a good QB on his rookie contract
-offensive playmakers
-a good, sustainable defense
-good coaching

They're missing, like, one-and-a-half of those things.

Missing O-line and D-line.

 

[BaBaBlacksheep]

Considering the question gets asked every season, I'd say it'll be a while....

This is fair

 

[bearsfan1977]

The problem with the team isn’t primarily the roster. With even average coaching and play-calling, this team is likely 7-3, and possibly 8-2.

But the OL obviously sucks. But I think it can be fixed quickly if attacked aggressively. Open the checkbook for Trey Smith at RG and a proven C like Ryan Kelly. If the top 2 LTs are gone when they pick in the draft, take EDGE. Then take a good T like Wyatt Milum and the best G available in the 2nd.

Solidify the coaching debacle by getting someone like Vrabel to take the helm if they miss on Ben Johnson. Let him fill out his staff with competent professionals. I have no doubt he can do that.

I honestly think those steps can make a drastic difference and make the team very competitive next season.

 

[E.F.Hutton]

If the problem areas are addressed (primarily the lines on both sides of the ball) this team should be able to compete next year. My fear is that they keep Eberflus and the next few years are a replay of the Lovie Smith years; good but never good enough to get to the promised land. And yes, I know the 2006 Bears went to the superbowl but I think most fans would have preferred a win. Side note: Smith made some bonehead decisions in that game as well. To sum up, beef up the line and get a new, professional, coaching staff and you're good to go.

 

[Aquineas]

Damn

Is that too negative? I honestly wasn't trying to be. Here's my thinking.

I figure each draft they will "hit" on 3 players and miss on all the rest, so that's 6 players who will stick to the roster. We know from past drafts that they won't spend picks on the largest positions of need which IMHO are oline, d-line, and receiver. If we're lucky, two of those positions of need will actually be addressed out of the six draft picks that will likely make the team.

So that means one area will likely still suck, but I am counting on the future development at the QB position. I think 11-6 could very possibly make the playoffs in two years.

 

[ThatGuyRyan]

I have always said next year was when “the window” opens and they wouldn’t truly be competitive until then.

I still feel that way. Build the lines some more this offseason. Get a new HC. CW keeps improving.

It’s not a given. They still have to make the right moves. But nothing that I’ve seen so far has dissuaded me from thinking good times are a year away.

Am I wrong?

(For the purpose of this discussion I will define competitive as a team that can make the playoffs and have a shot at winning a game)

If I am wrong how far away are the Bears? Total tear down stage? Two years?

Imo a good 3T and a few pieces on the OL. The tackles are serviceable but not great. Upgrading both interior DL/OL should be number 1 priorities this offseason. I think with that in place and CW growth they should be able to compete as early as next season. I fully expect George to **** this up again.

 

[Myk]

While I would like the bears to get an offensive head coach, I don't want to see the defense go from respectable to royally sucking ass. Is that too much to ask?

And that is why I say it's going to take 50 years. 50 years is being optimistic.
Maybe if we just keep repeating the same mistakes long enough it will work.

Why does it matter if we have a defense or not as long as we're winning???
The Bears being that heavy on defense at the cost of offense never happened until this 40 year suck by McCaskey rule.

Defensive football was fun when we could win against a high powered offense 3-0. Those days are over.

 

[Nads786]

Contingent on who the new coach is. He will need to create a new culture and be a difference maker.

We have talent for sure which isn’t being maximized. The biggest gap talent wise is interior line.

 

[Discus fish salesman]

I would seriously cut Edmunds and draft his replacement. ILBs are dime in a dozen. Use that extra savings for DL or OL. That's more important.

Agreed. Edmunds is pretty mediocre. He rarely makes plays at the LOS and doesn't do a ton in the passing game either.

So who does Trace Armstrong have available?

Joe Brady and Lincoln Riley. Give me Brady if those are the options.

 

[SugarWalls]

Bears need a real coach, this is truly the biggest issue.

As far as the roster goes - the bears have almost 0 pass rush, feels like they can never get pressure, or at least they can never threaten the qb when needed unless they bring a blitz. They need at least 1 legitimate pass rush threat that the other team would have to consider double teaming.

On offense - they need 2 starting caliber OL on the interior. I really like what Pryor has done overall, he’s been the biggest surprise for me. Teven has to go, Shelton has been better. If the bears could get a starting guard and maybe another guard or more dominant center I think the OL would be okay with Kiran in year 2, and some of the other depth pieces they have.

 

[PrideisBears]

Sorry but unfortunately I don’t see firing the HC as the end all be all. New HC equals new system for everyone. Maybe in two seasons

 

[abegibronreborn]

Next year, but only with a new coaching staff.

I think it's already been shown that a new staff with the right concepts/system can turn around a team in one offseason. See WAS and HOU.

It seems to me that every time they replace the HC, the "window" resets.