Jeffrey Becker/USA TODAY Sports
Going into the 2024 NFL season Chicago Bears‘ GM, Ryan Poles, was thought of in some circles as being somewhat of a boy wonder. He fleeced the Carolina Panthers when he traded the Bears first overall draft pick in 2023 for a host of draft picks and star WR, D. J. Moore. One of those draft picks was converted into QB, Caleb Williams.
Poles also pulled off a savvy trade when he sent a second-round pick to the Washington Commanders for DE, Montez Sweat. Going into the 2024 season Bears’ optimism was rampant. There was still a nagging feeling that maybe Matt Eberflus should have been sacked. There was a wealth of potential new head coaches available, including Jim Harbaugh and Mike Vrabel. But that didn’t happen. On to the 2024 season.
Optimism is rapidly fading
The Bears currently sit with a record of 1-2. The offense has been dismal. Caleb Williams has not proven to be the savior the franchise had hoped for. In fairness to Williams, the Bears’ offensive line has been terrible. More on that later.
For the second season in a row the Bears have come out of the shoot seemingly ill prepared. For a young team like the Bears, it’s especially important to get off to a good start. While Bears’ fans have generally been patient with Poles, that could change rapidly.
The Bears have never fired a coach midseason. That could change this year. Mike Vrabel currently has a front office job with the Cleveland Browns. He would seem to be a great fit as the Bears’ head coach.
Ryan Poles has undeniably made some excellent moves, but they could be negated with the wrong choice of head coach. Rather than resign themselves to another lost season, maybe a quick change of head coach could help salvage the situation. If nothing else, it could give the 2025 season a jump start.
About that offensive line…
Ryan Poles played in the offensive line during his college career. Theoretically, the offensive line should be his strength in talent evaluation. And yet the offensive line stinks yet again. Center has been a particular area of need. The Bears’ signed former Rams’ center as a free agent in what is generally viewed as a stop gap measure.
The signing of Nate Davis also isn’t aging well. For whatever reason, Davis has had a hard time making onto the practice and playing field. Davis has missed time due to personal issues as well as injuries. There is some question about how much Nate Davis wants to play football. That is not a question you want to come up AFTER you pay a guy.
Darnell Wright is also battling with a shoulder injury. His ability to play Sunday is in question. He can’t go Sunday, rookie Kiran Amegadjie is an option.
Matt Pryor could see time at tackle and/or guard. He was relatively effective, especially in pass protection against the Colts.
Cobbling together a decent offensive offensive line against a Rams’ defense that has been weak against the run is paramount if the Bears are to win Sunday. And Sunday is more important to the Bears than most NFL teams.
In defense of Ryan Poles
While Poles has made some missteps as the Bears’ GM, he has, overall, done a good job. The team was a trainwreck when he took over. There were a ton of holes to fill. Many of them have been filled. The most glaring area of need, at least in terms of player personnel, is the offensive line. Look for the offensive line to be the center of Ryan Poles focus in the future.
Perhaps, an even more pressing question is what to do about head coach, Matt Eberflus. Sunday’s game looms large.
