AZ54

With this likely scheme change and the Goldman question we still have Khyris Tonga for those times we want to go heavy up front. I don't think Tonga will ever have the endurance needed to be a full-time starter but in a rotational role he's a beast especially against short yardage situations. That combination might be exactly why the new GM will prefer the $6.6mil in cap space to sign a FA who's a better fit, or even just Akiem Hicks. Even in his injury limited season Hicks had far more impact plays than Goldman.

Gonna fix this for ya: At that point in Nagy's tenure he should have been fired.

I'm squarely in the frame of mind: Fool me once shame on you, fool me twice shame on me. And the Bears have fooled me far more than twice. I'm very curious who Getsy pulls in to fill out his coaching staff. If he can get some good veteran coaches to follow him then I'll have hope because those guys should know when someone is BSing them. If he starts pulling coaches out of college, or we get the scraps who just need a job after all the other teams got their coaches set, then it's over before it started.

High risk. Not at all what I was expecting.

I understand the concept and the logic behind it. While I'm not totally against this I can confidently state I have zero interest in watching a cover-2 coverage scheme with no pass rush upfront. I'd quietly float that these players are available and if someone were to give me an offer I couldn't refuse I'd take it. I wouldn't be actively shopping them. Otherwise I'm keeping both and i think they are very good fits for what Eberflus wants on D.

For those of us old enough to remember when Ditka joined the Bears as HC that quote is very much along the lines of what he told the players when he arrived.

https://www.windycitygridiron.com/2022/1/29/22908056/report-chicago-bears-philadelphia-eagles-hiring-ian-cunningham-into-front-office-nfl-offseason-2022 Another former Olineman joining the front office?

Eberflus has to have worked with him somewhere. Otherwise I can't see how he'd know the backup to the backup to the play caller (HC) is any good at designing and calling an offense.

I haven't had time to dig into the Cover 2 vs. Cover 3 (Seatlle/NE concepts) transition he made at Indy. I only know that based on this he's definitely not married to scheme and adjusts based on talents of his players.

Seems like this deserves its own thread as we enter the FA and draft season. If this is the direction Eberflus wants to go it's hard to say how much he can implement this offseason. https://www.stampedeblue.com/2020/10/2/21497914/colts-scouting-journal-time-to-stop-calling-the-colts-a-cover-2-defense

How is McVay going to develop a QB when he's in his ear telling him exactly where to throw on each play? Which worked well until defenses figured out McVay's tendencies and they just needed to disguise better, at least until his conversation with QB was cutoff.

Hmm. stay in GB and run the offense with Jordan Love and where your HC is still "the guy" for the offense or go down the road and run the offense with Justin Fields and blaze your own path?

I could see that being how he won the interview: "Under my leadership we're sticking with the Bears long tradition of outstanding defense and occasional offense." I can see George smiling as he recalls all the failed offensive experiments with Martz, Trestman, and now Nagy and saying to himself yeah, that Fox-ball stuff wasn't all that bad.

I'm not giving up my cushy job as a critic where it is much easier to be correct after the coaches are wrong. I wouldn't mind one of those consultant roles but I hear it only pays $15/hr.

Is this your list or some rumor you picked up regarding who Eber (Flussie?) is looking at?

Wishful or not I'd still prefer Desai running the D over Lovie regardless of scheme. One has shown the ability to adapt scheme to take away something from an offense the other just focuses on "better" execution of the same thing over and over. From the article link I posted earlier Eberflus appears to have the same trait of scheming against an offense where he can find an advantage, or to create an advantage. Marinelli I'd be happy with but at 71 he might be past his retirement date. Maybe a younger DC to carry the heavy workload and Marinelli as Dline coach/assistant DC?

Eberflus was the passing game coordinator for 2 years in Dallas. How many times have you seen a LB coach add that responsibility? He has to understand the offensive side of the ball well enough to help build a game plan to attack a defense.

https://www.nwitimes.com/sports/football/professional/what-chicago-bears-see-in-coaching-candidate-matt-eberflus/article_8a457478-2fb4-51b6-af8d-c2d486546dc1.html

No. I’d much Prefer to keep Desai before going back to routinely beaten cover 2.

I expected Quinn so curious to see what he brings to the table. Steady veteran coach complete opposite of the whiz kid Nagy who was going to revolutionize the offense.

No need for Sorenson, we already have Jackson back there in poor coverage and ready to miss tackles.

Between the potential changes in scheme and new GM evaluations Goldman is definitely on the bubble. $5mil dead money but $6.6mil in cap savings

And maybe teach a protégé to take over for him? if this is being explored it would also mean Quinn would have to talk with those coaches he aligned with beforehand. Plus is Caldwell deadest on being HC? Seemingly the other teams are waiting on the Bears decision. At least the Jaguars might be since Eberflus is on their short list. I assume the Giants want Daboll so that’s a clear path. First time it’s felt like the Bears were in the pole position. No pun intended.

The crickets around all this means something is up.

Is the new GM trying to put together a HC with Caldwell as OC? Can be some delicate conversations working around that scenario.