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Why Christian Hackenberg May Be Chicago Bears Ideal Solution

By Erik Lambert

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Oct 3, 2015; University Park, PA, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions quarterback Christian Hackenberg (14) calls a play at the line against the Army Black Knights during the first quarter at Beaver Stadium. Penn State won 20-14. Mandatory Credit: Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports

The question of whether or not GM Ryan Pace intends to draft a quarterback early in the 2016 NFL draft is impossible to answer at this point with so many months still to go.  However, already the Chicago Bears have had representatives spotted attending games with some of the top prospects expected to declare such as Jared Goff of Cal and Connor Cook of Michigan State, a player Pace actually went to see personally.

The reasoning behind this is simple enough.  This new Bears regime wasn’t he one who traded for Jay Cutler.  It wasn’t the one who handed a $126 million contract to him either.  Feelings are strong that Pace and head coach John Fox want their own guy who fits the image of the team they’re trying to build.

Here’s the problem.  Goff may likely be out of their reach come draft day.  He’s expected to go somewhere in the top 5 and unless the Bears suffer a prodigious collapse down the stretch that isn’t likely to be within their reach.  As for Cook, he is considered the most pro-ready and in all likelihood would be expected to start right away if drafted.  This would put the Bears in a difficult position since it might force them to dump Cutler.

Granted, this is something many fans have clamored for but here is the rub:  the 32-year old is playing some of the best football of his career.  Sure, the stats don’t entirely show it but from the tape it’s clear Cutler has finally found an offensive system under Adam Gase that he loves and is executing it at a higher level each week.

Are the Bears prepared to just let that walk before they give it an honest exploration?  Thus we come back to the conundrum.  Is there a way Pace and Fox can get their young guy without feeling the pressure to play him right away in favor of Cutler?

The solution lay in Penn State quarterback Christian Hackenberg.

By now most have gotten their ideas and assessments of the junior.  From a talent perspective there is tons to like.  He’s big, strong, more mobile than many realize and features a pro arm that can deliver with velocity and accuracy.

The problem is he’s wildly inconsistent.  This is brought on by poor mechanics and fundamentals but also poor coaching and a general lack of talent around him.  For all the flak he draws for not looking more like the 1st round pick everybody expects him to be, it’s important to point out how much he has meant to the program.

Ben Jones of State College puts it in perspective.

"“But Christian Hackenberg is a martyr for the cause. The program finds itself in an ambiguous position somewhere between legitimate offensive issues and the fallout of a sanction era. Everyone deciding on the fly if any given drive is the result of mismanaged assets or simply the fact the assets aren’t good enough yet for consistent play. Until Penn State has a benchmark season after the sanctions, it will forever be battle to find the line between bad play and bad circumstance.So as Penn State struggles, fans look to the one thing that is easiest to understand: Hackenberg, a quarterback whose alleged status as a No. 1 overall pick paints him the savior of the cause. Fans put their belief in him. You can point to that projection and say “Why aren’t you better? Why have you not lived up to ever ounce of the hype?”Penn State’s seasons under sanctions were rocketing towards an epic collapse. Everything was working against the Nittany Lions and yet each season was a winning one. Each year Penn State came out on top despite insurmountable odds.Why? Because that same kid came along and made key late game plays to help Penn State win seven games that it could have just as easily lost. Of the 19 wins under his watch, Hackenberg’s skill helped will at least seven of them into existence if not more.”"

Another point made is how in the midst of these struggles, Hackenberg showed a remarkable resilience and loyalty to the Nittany Lions by choosing to stay despite multiple chances to leave.

Put in simpler terms, Hackenberg is not ready for the NFL, even if he declares for 2016.  That doesn’t mean he won’t be a great player.  He certainly has the talent and carries himself with that leadership and responsibility the great ones have.

There in lay the Bears’ answer.  Give the offense to Jay Cutler for the next couple seasons, let him play out his string and stash Hackenberg away for later.  Chicago’s version of the Aaron Rodgers plan.  It keeps the Cutler supporters happy and gets the organization that young building block they want for the long-term.

Next: Chicago Bears: 7 Takeaways Going Into Bye Week

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