Sammich
New member
- Joined:
- May 7, 2013
- Posts:
- 978
- Liked Posts:
- 651
- Location:
- Chicago, IL
1. Is Mitch Trubisky the real deal? Every major decision the organization has made since selecting Trubisky second in 2017 has been based on building the franchise around him. There’s reason to believe he’ll be a great fit with Nagy, but there’s also a ton of unknown with Trubisky coming off a rookie season in which he threw seven touchdown passes and seven interceptions. The significance of his development cannot be overstated.
2. Can the Bears finally stay healthy? Andre Tucker was hired as the new head athletic trainer and Jason Loscalzo as the new strength and conditioning coach. They’ll be charged with maintaining a healthier roster because the most important ability is availability. The Bears had 16 players on injured reserve last season and were forced to juggle at wide receiver, offensive line and outside linebacker. Twenty-one players landed on IR in 2016, and it’s impossible to think about the Bears making major improvements if they aren’t much healthier.
3. Is there enough talent and depth at outside linebacker? Pace will likely acknowledge the position needs some overhauling in the future, and the evaluation begins with former first-round draft pick Leonard Floyd. He didn’t look particularly smooth with a large brace on his right knee in minicamp, but the hope is he’ll shed the device before the season. This probably isn’t as big of a roster issue as some make it out to be, but it’s worth watching and Floyd is the key.
4. Can Allen Robinson regain form? The high-dollar wide receiver will be more than 10 months removed from tearing the ACL in his left knee. The Bears are paying him as a legitimate No. 1 receiver, and he’s expected to be full go when camp opens. Sure, Robinson will likely be afforded some days of rest here and there, and total recovery from ACL injuries is commonplace. Still, Robinson needs to prove he’s back, and sometimes players aren’t all the way back for 18 months or so.
5. Will the secondary have stickier hands? The Bears set a franchise record for fewest interceptions in a season with eight in 2015, then tied it in 2016 and ’17. The turnover ratio wasn’t out of whack a year ago because the defense proved particularly efficient at recovering fumbles. Ideally, the number of picks doubles, which might happen if the offense can provide some leads.
6. Is Jordan Howard a good fit for the scheme? Howard might not be ideal for Nagy’s offense given his struggles catching the ball out of the backfield, particularly last year. The Bears need to tailor what they do to the strength of their players, and Howard has a chance to make his future with the organization.
7. Can Kyle Fuller replicate an outstanding season? The Bears matched the offer sheet Fuller signed with the Packers — $56 million over four years, including $29 million in the first two — and now he has to live up to that contract. The Bears weren’t sure what they would get from Fuller entering last season in what looked as if it would be his final year with the team. Fuller is the fifth-highest-paid at the position with an annual average of $14 million, so he needs to be elite.
8. Will right guard Kyle Long return healthy and remain healthy? A grisly ankle injury in 2016 and a shoulder injury that dates to the 2016 preseason have hampered Long. Nagy expects him to be full go when camp begins, and the Bears need some continuity on the offensive line as they sort out what to do at center and left guard.
9. Is Trey Burton ready to be a playmaker? The Bears were one of many teams pursuing the former Eagles tight end in free agency, projecting a big uptick in production. He went from third on the depth chart in Philadelphia to the seventh-highest-paid player at the position with an annual average of $8 million. Burton has been healthy throughout his career, and Nagy instantly identified him as an ideal fit for the “U” position. Now Burton needs to produce.
10. How will Nagy juggle play-calling duties with being a head coach? His experience calling plays in the NFL is limited to the final month of last season with the Chiefs, and now he’s going to do that full time and be the top man on the sideline. There will be an adjustment period.
-Brad Biggs
2. Can the Bears finally stay healthy? Andre Tucker was hired as the new head athletic trainer and Jason Loscalzo as the new strength and conditioning coach. They’ll be charged with maintaining a healthier roster because the most important ability is availability. The Bears had 16 players on injured reserve last season and were forced to juggle at wide receiver, offensive line and outside linebacker. Twenty-one players landed on IR in 2016, and it’s impossible to think about the Bears making major improvements if they aren’t much healthier.
3. Is there enough talent and depth at outside linebacker? Pace will likely acknowledge the position needs some overhauling in the future, and the evaluation begins with former first-round draft pick Leonard Floyd. He didn’t look particularly smooth with a large brace on his right knee in minicamp, but the hope is he’ll shed the device before the season. This probably isn’t as big of a roster issue as some make it out to be, but it’s worth watching and Floyd is the key.
4. Can Allen Robinson regain form? The high-dollar wide receiver will be more than 10 months removed from tearing the ACL in his left knee. The Bears are paying him as a legitimate No. 1 receiver, and he’s expected to be full go when camp opens. Sure, Robinson will likely be afforded some days of rest here and there, and total recovery from ACL injuries is commonplace. Still, Robinson needs to prove he’s back, and sometimes players aren’t all the way back for 18 months or so.
5. Will the secondary have stickier hands? The Bears set a franchise record for fewest interceptions in a season with eight in 2015, then tied it in 2016 and ’17. The turnover ratio wasn’t out of whack a year ago because the defense proved particularly efficient at recovering fumbles. Ideally, the number of picks doubles, which might happen if the offense can provide some leads.
6. Is Jordan Howard a good fit for the scheme? Howard might not be ideal for Nagy’s offense given his struggles catching the ball out of the backfield, particularly last year. The Bears need to tailor what they do to the strength of their players, and Howard has a chance to make his future with the organization.
7. Can Kyle Fuller replicate an outstanding season? The Bears matched the offer sheet Fuller signed with the Packers — $56 million over four years, including $29 million in the first two — and now he has to live up to that contract. The Bears weren’t sure what they would get from Fuller entering last season in what looked as if it would be his final year with the team. Fuller is the fifth-highest-paid at the position with an annual average of $14 million, so he needs to be elite.
8. Will right guard Kyle Long return healthy and remain healthy? A grisly ankle injury in 2016 and a shoulder injury that dates to the 2016 preseason have hampered Long. Nagy expects him to be full go when camp begins, and the Bears need some continuity on the offensive line as they sort out what to do at center and left guard.
9. Is Trey Burton ready to be a playmaker? The Bears were one of many teams pursuing the former Eagles tight end in free agency, projecting a big uptick in production. He went from third on the depth chart in Philadelphia to the seventh-highest-paid player at the position with an annual average of $8 million. Burton has been healthy throughout his career, and Nagy instantly identified him as an ideal fit for the “U” position. Now Burton needs to produce.
10. How will Nagy juggle play-calling duties with being a head coach? His experience calling plays in the NFL is limited to the final month of last season with the Chiefs, and now he’s going to do that full time and be the top man on the sideline. There will be an adjustment period.
-Brad Biggs
