UA-59049186-1 Bears Few Plays Away From Legitimacy - Good if it Goes

Bears Few Plays Away From Legitimacy

The feeling around Chicagoland before the season started was that it would take a miracle for the Bears to be a .500 team. No one knew how the new coaching staff would manage not-so-talented player personnel. No one knew how the defense would pan out after switching from a 4-3 to a 3-4 for the first time in Chicago Bears history. GM Ryan Pace and John Fox’s new coaching staff didn’t seem committed to Cutler, as they kept repeating they need to do their own evaluations (To make things worse, Fox kept calling Cutler “Jake”, adding to the notion that Cutler is not in the future plans.)

Fast-forward to week 11, some of the questions have been answered, although, the answers may not be what you may have wanted to hear, depending on who you talk to.

Here’s what we know about this team so far:

1. The Culture Change was for the Better

Last year was one of the most embarrassing seasons I have witnessed as a Bears fan. Marc Trestman was absolutely not fit to run an NFL locker room. He had no control whatsoever, as the players often had no accountability, in many aspects, on and off the field (Ratliff, Marshall, etc.) Maybe Trestman is better off being a camp counselor. Ryan Pace, John Fox, and company have instilled a new mentality that has completely changed the culture of the team. I’m talking a complete 180 in regards to the effort the players give on the field, along with the small, unnoticed media battles that the players and staff go through that can determine the aura of the locker room. There have been questionable play calls, yes, but before X’s and O’s, team chemistry and mentality HAD to be addressed.

2. Jay Cutler is a Proven NFL Starting QB

Let’s face it, QB’s aren’t an easy commodity to come by in the NFL, as we can only name a handful of “elite” players at the position. Jay has had a fairly efficient year protecting the football and running the offense. Credit Adam Gase for instilling certain traits in Cutler that we haven’t seen in years before. I don’t think Cutler will ever be considered an elite guy, but he can most definitely be a winner, as long as the right offensive minds and players are around him. The Fantasy GM in me says keep Cutler around for at least two more years, while also looking for a young QB to develop for the future.

3. The Bears are a Few Plays Away From Being Good

The Bears are 3 or 4 plays away from being 7-3. Ugly, downright hideous losses to the Lions, Vikings, and Broncos are the reasons the Bears are 4-6, but in hindsight, the Bears could’ve been a legitimate playoff and division contender, but the only problem is the weren’t good enough to win those games. Good teams find ways to win games that are toss-ups. Good teams convert 2-point conversion when needed. Good teams don’t drop catches on third down late in the game that would seal the deal and close out the game. The positive in this though, is the Bears had chances in all of these games, which tells us they are almost there. It may take another year or two, but the Monsters of the Midway will be back.

At the end of the day, us Bears fans will still watch every game if each one has real implications, but this year, pending a miracle, is just a rebuilding year. Bear Down!

[Editor’s Note – Kevin: On the podcast last week, I picked Da Bears to win the division. Then they lost to the Broncos, who were starting their backup QB, Sunday, so, so much for that, probably. Osweiler showed some real potential, but still, that’s one the Bears probably need to win if they’re going to be a contender. The division title’s probably not going to happen this year, with the Bears three back with six to play, but they still have a very real shot at a Wild Card berth. Even if they end up missing the playoffs entirely, though, I still really like what they’re building.]

Twitter: @ASAP_Tariq219

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