How close are the Bears to being competitive?

[Les Grossman]

Nah I think Poles absolutely knows the OL needs to be fixed this offseason and wont have many other needs to take his eye off of it.

History has shown otherwise.

 

[remydat]

History has shown otherwise.

Not sure what you mean by history. Previous years he had other parts of the team to build. Now he really only has OL and DL.

 

[Montucky]

Fixing the offensive line is much easier said than done and it can seldom be accomplished in just one offseason. The time to plant this tree was 2021 when they passed on Christian Darrisaw for Justin Fields. Now that particular blunder can’t be pinned on Poles but he seems to hardly have learned from his predecessor’s mistakes.

 

[jive]

I don't think there was a single Bears fan or analyst that didn't think we needed an upgrade at O-line when Poles was hired. Poles still hasn't found a guard as good as James Daniels in 3 seasons. We had a decent guard, and Poles let him walk.

 

[Les Grossman]

Not sure what you mean by history. Previous years he had other parts of the team to build. Now he really only has OL and DL.

Because he's shown to not prioritize OL. You could make the argument that he doesn't think OL is all that important given how he's drafted so far. But CBs, oh he loves CBs.

 

[PrideisBears]

Not sure what you mean by history. Previous years he had other parts of the team to build. Now he really only has OL and DL.

Allen needs to be replaced, I think we need another FS and ILB as well

 

[Montucky]

Because he's shown to not prioritize OL. You could make the argument that he doesn't think OL is all that important given how he's drafted so far. But CBs, oh he loves CBs.

He thinks he has some eye or talent for finding offensive linemen and that means he can buy low.

If people remember there was a lot of talk about Darnell Wright being a left tackle when they drafted him. That talk basically ended the instant they saw him practice against NFL defensive ends.

 

[PrideisBears]

Because he's shown to not prioritize OL. You could make the argument that he doesn't think OL is all that important given how he's drafted so far. But CBs, oh he loves CBs.

He’s good at picking the opposite of OL though. I like his DL picks

 

[jive]

Poles had alot to rebuild, but he also created holes he had to fill.

We had a good edge rusher in Khalil Mack, only to replace him with Sweat for another huge contract.
We had a good linebacker in Roquan, and he was replaced with ho-hum Edmunds on an expensive contract.
Daniels, Mooney and Montgomery seem to be doing well with their new teams


In terms of net improvement over 3 years, Poles improved at WR1, CB2, NB. If Brisker can stay healthy, you can add SS as well. That's 4 positions in 3 years. Jury is still out on whether we improved at DT, QB, and RT.

 

[DanielCCSBears]

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?

If the Bears were not planning on being competitive much this year, what was the point of the Keenan Alle trade?

 

[Sculpt]

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?

I think current set of players (not counting coaches) -- without the rash of OL injuries -- are competitive this year. So, yes, I think they'd be competitive next year.

Player-wise, injuries bit the Bears in the arse because they didn't out-right replace Davis.

At the moment, players like Pickens, Williams and Cowart seem unable to replace the Billings hole. Of course, it's hurting the run game to lose Brisker too.

In particular, if Bears add a couple OL and a DT, the players can compete.

 

[TheEarlofRobin]

Poles had alot to rebuild, but he also created holes he had to fill.

We had a good edge rusher in Khalil Mack, only to replace him with Sweat for another huge contract.
We had a good linebacker in Roquan, and he was replaced with ho-hum Edmunds on an expensive contract.
Daniels, Mooney and Montgomery seem to be doing well with their new teams


In terms of net improvement over 3 years, Poles improved at WR1, CB2, NB. If Brisker can stay healthy, you can add SS as well. That's 4 positions in 3 years. Jury is still out on whether we improved at DT, QB, and RT.

I agree with this, and think its the general problem with the Bears in both roster and front office. The guys coming in aren't really all that much better than the guys who have been shipped out. The Roquan move was asinine. But....even if Poles has struggled, I'd rather the Bears stick with him and let him learn from his mistakes then jettisoning him after 3-4 years and bringing in another unproven GM who will also have to learn on the job. The same would (almost) hold true for Eberflus....if he didn't have constant meltdowns....but I'd rather just stick with a HC and let him learn then getting rid of the guy and bringing in another unproven HC. Not defending Eberflus, but his first year was tanking, his 2nd year was Justin Fields, and his 3rd year he got a rookie QB. That's not really putting him in a position to succeed, IMHO.

 

[BaBaBlacksheep]

If the Bears were not planning on being competitive much this year, what was the point of the Keenan Alle trade?

Obviously they thought they were going to be. My question was about going forward

 

[SugarWalls]

Obviously they thought they were going to be. My question was about going forward

yet another indictment on poles

 

[Montucky]

yet another indictment on poles

If a GM & coach haven’t turned it around after three full years at the helm its probably not happening.

 

[baselman1974]

yet another indictment on poles

Develop Williams into a viable starting QB. That's it.

 

[remydat]

Because he's shown to not prioritize OL. You could make the argument that he doesn't think OL is all that important given how he's drafted so far. But CBs, oh he loves CBs.

Sure or you can make the argument he drafted Jones and Wright and signed Dacis, Bates and Shelton and filled other needs and now he only has OL and pass rusher left. Guess we will see this offseason. Dont see the point of premptively complaining that he may not do something when we can just see what he actually does.

Poles issue is not that he didnt address OL. It is that the guys he tried to addrsss it with have underwhlemed.

 

[Myk]

If people remember there was a lot of talk about Darnell Wright being a left tackle when they drafted him. That talk basically ended the instant they saw him practice against NFL defensive ends.

I remember the only talk about Wright being able to be LT because he was in college and went RT because his teammates could only do LT was from fans.
Cunningham squished that early claiming Wright was only a RT and only drafted to be a RT. That was well before any camp time to see him play.

 

[remydat]

Allen needs to be replaced, I think we need another FS and ILB as well

Can easily fill those without using one of the top 3 picks. A lot of veteran FA WRs also available.

 

[TL1961]

I guess its amazing how many times the Bears have been "one year away" ever since losing the Super Bowl to the Colts. You can't answer the question with so much of the season remaining, but I think its crazy at this point to think the Bears are "one year away" when its a possibility that they go 0-6 in divisional play. Are you figuring on NFL conference realignment? The Bears will still have to deal with the Packers/Vikings/Lions next year.

I think they’re not far from being competitive but don’t believe they are “one year away” from true contention and I haven’t read any posts here that make me think anyone thinks they are one year away.

And I can’t think of a single time since 2006 people thought the Bears were one year away.