What the Chicago Bears Must Do If They Keep The Status Quo
By Erik Lambert
Nobody, fan or local media wants to hear it but the possibility is impossible to ignore. There is a reasonable chance, in spite of all the trials the Chicago Bears have gone through in 2014 that ownership won’t make the move to wipe the slate clean. In other words that means GM Phil Emery, head coach Marc Trestman and quarterback Jay Cutler are all back for 2015.
It will mean some of the worst defeats in franchise history, coaches commenting on players to the media away from cameras, and the first losing season in five years won’t be enough for tearing down what the team has tried to build. If that is the case, nausiating as it may sound to a lot of people, then their off-season objectives are as follows.
Fire Mel Tucker and/or Aaron Kromer
If Trestman wants to get his teams’ attention then he needs to do so by upping the ante from last season by dismissing one or both of his coordinators. Mel Tucker is for obvious reasons. His defenses in 2013 and 2014 and have been, statistically, the two worst in franchise history. He had his second chance and he blew it. Time for a new voice in the locker room, perhaps somebody who can better elevate the talent they have.
As for Aaron Kromer, no one would be surprised if the Bears axed him as well. While he did speak the truth regarding the frustrations around Jay Cutler, he spoke at the wrong time in the wrong place to the wrong person. Players a finicky about trusting coaches. They don’t do it easily and when that trust is broken, it’s almost impossible to get back. Maybe the Bears accepted his apology. Maybe not.
Find some “Attitude”
The most troubling thing about watching the 2014 Bears wasn’t the lopsided losses, offensive turnovers or bad defense. It was the way they seem to quit on the field whenever the opponent started to turn up the heat. Even Packers receiver Randall Cobb said they would fold if they got punched in the mouth. He was right.
What Chicago lacks is no so much talent anymore, it’s attitude. It’s swagger. They need some coaches or players on the team who carry themselves with that arrogance and competitive mindset. That hate-to-lose attitude.
It’s missing and they need to find a way to get it back.
Defense, Defense, Defense
If the Chicago Bears are sticking with Jay Cutler (or just admitting they’re stuck with him) then their entire effort of 2015 must center around making the defense as strong as humanly possible. That means finding a better coordinator and using every dime and draft pick they can scrape up to load the depth chart with quality talent.
The area they need the most help is the back seven. Linebacker, corner and safety are all a mess of injuries, aging vets and inexperienced and unproven youths. They need to find more stability in those areas along with a young pass rusher to bolster the defensive front.