The Chicago Bears franchise is in turmoil at the moment following a loss to the Cleveland Browns in Week 3 that can only be described as a train wreck.
The Bears looked incompetent at times, uncompetitive at others but worst of all, unprepared and that is on head coach Matt Nagy.
Nagy was hired as coach of the Bears for the 2018 NFL season, replacing John Fox. His coaching career got off to a fantastic start with the Bears going 12-4 in the regular season behind their dominant defence and a second-year quarterback named Mitchell Trubisky. This fantastic regular season led to Nagy receiving the NFL coach of the year award and things were looking fantastic in Chicago.
Unfortunately, the Bears lost in the 2018 wildcard game to reigning Super Bowl champions Philadelphia at home thanks to a missed field goal to end regulation by Cody Parkey and that was the beginning of the end.
The Nagy led Bears would go on to 8-8 records in both 2019 and 2020, making the playoffs in 2020 but getting beaten by the old and wounded Saints. The defence was the strength of this team, but Nagy was hired for his offensive expertise and changes had to be made, starting at quarterback.
Mitchell Trubisky was not given his fifth-year option to stay in Chicago and would end up signing with Buffalo to backup Josh Allen, so the Bears were on the hunt for their future quarterback. They were rumoured to be connected to players like Russell Wilson and DeShaun Watson all off-season but finished with Andy Dalton. Yes, Andy Dalton. They were looking at Bondi mansions but settled for a one-bedroom Footscray apartment.
They weren’t done yet though, holding their first-round pick in a draft class rich with talent and they selected Ohio State prospect Justin Fields and Bears fans rejoiced, knowing Chicago finally had a franchise QB.
Quarterback Justin Fields of the Chicago Bears runs the ball. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images)
However, instead of spending the off-season devising a game plan based around Fields’ unique strengths, Nagy simply ignores him, developing a fundamentally boring offence based on Andy Dalton’s strengths, short passes.
Now yes, if Fields wasn’t ready, then starting Dalton is the right call. But at least put some time into making sure he is ready. Because it was inevitable that Fields was going to start at some point in 2021 and it was quite obvious that the game plan was poorly executed, which is the basis of the argument.
In this start against Cleveland mentioned earlier in the piece, the Chicago Bears had one net passing yard. One. Fields finished the game with 68 passing yards but was sacked nine times for a total of 67 yards lost. Incredible numbers and an indication of complete incompetence by Matt Nagy in developing young talent and scheming to individual strengths.
Dan Orlovsky said on ESPN’s Get Up that it was “the worst offensive game plan he has ever seen in his life” and had the stats to back it up which are the following:
Fields was pressured on 60 per cent of dropbacks, which is the highest in an NFL debut since the statistic has been kept.
On 20 of 31 dropbacks, the Bears had the minimum five offensive linemen pass protecting.
There were only two designed quarterback runs called for the whole game.
Fields was sacked nine times.
Orlovsky also went on to say that his game plan was “either negligent or intentional” saying it was “embarrassing” and that after “149 days of preparation, his job is to have Fields ready” and I couldn’t agree more with his sentiment.
NFL fans know what Justin Fields is good at and Matt Nagy did the exact opposite. For a man who was hired to be an offensive guru coming from the Andy Reid Kansas City coaching factory, he has fallen on his face as an offensive play-caller.
I truly believe the disaster in Cleveland was worthy of Nagy being fired, but if the Bears can’t beat divisional rival Detroit Lions at home, expect a new head coach in Chicago for Week 5, because it’s simply not good enough and this proud franchise and fanbase deserve a lot better.
no one in particular
Roar Guru
Russell Wilson was never leaving Seattle. DeShaun Watson probably won't ever play another NFL game. Those names were unrealistic. Maybe Field just isn't that good. Field comes from Ohio State. It's easy to look like a great QB when your team has the talent advantage at nearly every position. The last great OSU QB in the NFL was ...???? Not everything here is on Nagy.
Paul
Roar Guru
If the issue is a QB coach for Fields versus Nagy coaching the rest of the team, perhaps thats a path the Bears need to try first. I'm not defending Nagy, but getting rid of a head coach after 4 or 5 games pretty much means the season is over in Chicago. Getting someone to really work with Fields sends a very different message and if it works, is both a cheaper and sounder option long term.
Jake Smith
Roar Rookie
While i agree that Fields needs to process faster, if Nagy knows how bad the offensive line is it's on him to give them help, not block 5 on 20 of 31 dropbacks. He has shown an inability to cater for individual skill sets, it happened with Trubisky and there are signs its happening again with Fields If they lose against Detroit, they need to find someone else of it will be two first round QB's wasted because of his incompetence
Paul
Roar Guru
Hmmmm, not sure it's all on Nagy. Field was really slow with nearly aspects of his decision making, which wasn't helped by a pretty ordinary offensive line. I don't think there's a quarterback in the game who could have done a whole lot better given the room the Browns defence had to make plays on the quarter back. All that said, the Bears were still in that game until 3/4 time. I think your call on whether Nagy stays as head coach past next game is a tad hasty. If the team has a train wreck loss, he might be punted but otherwise I reckon he'll stay.