FanPost

The Perfect Bears Off-Season, Part 1


The 2017 regular season is over and for most fans of teams that were basement dwellers, let alone the teams not making the playoffs, the end couldn't have come soon enough. For the Bears, the season was over relatively early in the campaign, making the rest of the season seem, to Bears fans, like being slowly lowered in to a vat of lemon juice after receiving paper cuts head to toe while Brett Hundley farted in their faces to the cadence of the Vikings fight song as Lions fans clapped and laughed along. To be told that the Bears were statistically still in the playoff hunt with a hand-cuffed Trubisky throwing the 3 yard out and abandoning their pro bowl run game, was truly torture. Yes, the end finally came and with a sputtering fizzle that had myself, and I'm sure other fans, panting with "I can't believe I could actually endure that much pain," sort of self evaluation. And in the immediate aftermath, Pace acted.

Like many teams that were in the doldrums at the end of the season, the Bears fired their HC, John Fox, on Black Monday and treated the majority of his offensive staff like a bad smell. Which they had earned. Pace immediately hires Matt Nagy as HC and they go to work assembling his staff while still being able to retain Vic Fangio, who was responsible for one of the few bright spots on the Bears in his top 10 defense. Some fans like the new staff and are very optimistic and some fans are more dubious about them. I am cautiously optimistic but have a wait and see attitude about them, reserving my opinion of them until they have put a team on the field and played some games. But they look good on paper and you can't help but think that the offense will be more dynamic and less predictable. So, Pace has done what I thought he should and I am hopeful.

It is impossible to accurately relate just how important the coaching changes for the Bears are or how big the impact of them will be. Most fans and writers concentrate on the lack of offensive weapons for the Bears but even they will admit that scheme is at least as important, if not more so than absolute talent. Have Jerry Rice just run go routes and see how difficult it is for the defense to defend if they know what's coming and adjust to it. The talent is wasted if the scheme isn't there. The addition of Helfrich, Hiestand, and the retention of Ragone all point to an upgrade in coaching quality and modern offensive concepts. That being said, once a scheme is in place, it is vital that talent be there to exploit the scheme to it's maximum advantage. And that brings us to the roster end of things. I'll tackle the Bears current roster and free agency first because it happens, chronologically, before the draft. There will be a Part 2 of this article to cover just the draft and final roster for the Bears. Covering the coaching changes, free agency, the draft, and final roster is a bit much for a single fan-post.

Pace has taken a "fill holes in free agency with team friendly deals," in the past which allows him to act freely in the draft. That was a useful strategy when the team was bereft of talent at every spot. Now, however, with a competitive talent bench, Pace can go after some names in free agency that will be play makers, elevate those around them, and take the team to the next level. So, this is what I think the Bears will do and I will explain the reasoning behind each.

Quarterback

The starter is set in Mitch Trubisky. His back up is what needs to change. Mike Glennon is cut. With a 2018 cap hit of $16 mil, the Bears will not carry a back up at that rate, to say nothing of how much he sucked this last season. He will carry a dead cap of $4.5 mil, so the total cap savings for cutting Glennon is $11.5 mil. The Bears like the relationship that Mark Sanchez has with Trubisky and choose to re-sign him. But, Sanchez is no viable backup. The Bears then sign Chase Daniels to a 3 year, $16.5 mil deal for two reasons. First, he's a damn good backup. Secondly, his familiarity with Matt Nagy and his offense will be a boon to further help Trubisky and for if he ever (knock on wood) has to take the field.

Offensive Line

There are changes that Pace wants to make on the O-line. Particularly at RT. However, negotiations with Byron Bell from the Cowboys fall through and Pace will have to wait and see what opportunities present themselves in the draft and other places. There are other concerns that Pace has with the O-line. There are age and injury issues with both of his pro bowl guards. Josh Sitton hasn't suffered a major injury but age is catching up to him and while he is still playing at a high level, his availability is steadily declining. Long is still relatively young but is coming off of two simultaneous, major injuries. It is unknown if he'll be back to his former self or if he'll continue to be healthy once he comes back. There aren't options in free agency that Pace is willing to consider here and the position is secure for the time being with high quality starters and decent depth....but not perfect.

Running Back

Not a lot needs to change here. The pieces are already there. The Bears re-sign Benny Cunningham and let FB Burton go. This gives them roster space to bring Taquan Mizzell up from the practice squad for a permanent roster spot. The idea is that this gives the Bears more weapons and dynamism on offense. Burton under-performed in blocking and was used as a weapon less than you have thumbs. Mizzell is a shifty runner with good hands out of the backfield. The combination of Howard, Cunningham, Cohen, and Mizzell in the backfield says "effective ground game with danger out of the backfield." Difficult to defend if used properly. Now, they could choose to retain Burton if he proves that he was just misused last season but that would involve cutting how many TEs the team carries down to 3 from 4 because they won't carry less than 6 WRs on the roster. Burton would have to prove more useful to the team than the fourth TE.

Tight Ends

This position will have some turnover, necessarily. Zach Miller is done playing football. The Bears do, however, retain him as a Bears ambassador. He is much loved on the team and universally respected on all teams and the media and has a good end story to his playing career. It couldn't hurt the Bears brand to have a congenial face on talk shows and interviews plugging the Bears, and for the fans, to retain a popular Bear in a capacity that still helps the team. Dion Sims is also gone. There isn't one aspect of the TE position that he didn't under-perform in and is a swing and a miss for Pace and his free agency scouting. Sim's cap savings will wind up being $5.666 mil.

These two represent the two starting TEs from this last season. However, Shaheen was under-used to "bring him along," and he will have a larger role under Nagy as he is a beast of a specimen and I feel that there's a pro bowl level TE lurking in there. That still doesn't replace the two departed TEs. The Bears sign Trey Burton from the Eagles. He performed admirably backing up Ertz when he was injured and Ed Dickson from the Panthers. He's a little older but at 31 he is still performing at a high level. This gives the Bears 3 move type TEs that can all block and are viable weapons in the pass game while cutting the dead weight from the position. Brown will be re-signed but his place on the roster depends on his competition with Burton as to who is more valuable to the team. Braunecker goes back to the PS.

Wide Receiver

This is one of the biggest areas of the team that needs improvement. And if you ask some, it's the most important taken in context with the hiring of an offensive guru in Nagy and a hand-cuffed QB in Trubisky. Pace cuts one of his three big free agency misses from last season in Marcus Wheaton and saves $5 mil in cap space. This is an area that Pace feels he needs to invest in to help the Nagy offense and his young QB. First he re-signs the talent that he wants to retain on the team in Meredith, Wright, and Inman. He then goes out and lands Jarvis Landry on a 5-year $70 mil deal with $40 mil guaranteed, who has been the most productive WR in the first part of his career than any other in NFL history. Sure hands, good route running, and dangerous after the catch, Landry is a huge add to the Bears. The term and guarantee make the Bears an irresistible lure for Landry plus working with an offensive mind and a promising young QB.

Pace has a lot of options for a second WR signing with Paul Richardson, Albert Wilson, John Brown, and Taylor Gabriel all being available. All are burners, all play mostly out of the slot, and all will go for roughly the same money. Pace chooses Wilson for his hands, route running, and familiarity with Nagy's offense with a 3-year, $20 mil deal with $11 mil guaranteed. That finishes Pace's forray in to the WR free agent market landing one of the biggest names available and an additional quality receiver. Josh Bellamy, however, is not re-signed. Nagy just can't justify his spot on the roster just for STs. And the last piece to fall in to place at WR, Kevin White is cut at the end of camp. He just doesn't come up to the standards that the new coaching staff and improved talent level of the position group has come to. The only good thing about it is that his dead cap hit is offset exactly by his cap savings and doesn't adversely affect the cap.

Defensive Line

The DL has some needs on it but with young talent still developing and pieces to build around in Akiem Hicks and Eddie Goldman, Pace will stand pat with what he has for now on the line. They could use a piece starting opposite of Hicks that is as much of a disruption as he is and they could use a viable rotation piece for Goldman to give him some breathing space and keep him healthy in the long term. Pace re-signs Mitch Unrein and John Jenkins as stop gaps. They were good against the run (most of the time) and have been consistent. But there isn't anything available in free agency at a price that Pace is comfortable with to make a move on. That being said, however, Sheldon Richardson is available, the Seahawks are cash strapped, and Richardson won't be as expensive as he would've been 2 years ago. Who knows? Pace could sign him. It could happen but it's unlikely.

Outside Linebacker

OLB is the other big area on the team that needs a huge influx of talent and youth. Purnell McPhee was supposed to be the piece to build around but age coupled with gradually declining consistent health has hobbled his game. Likewise, both Willie Young and Lamarr Houston have age and health concerns. Sam Acho is good enough to be re-signed and a great locker room presence and a very good OLB against the run and pretty good on STs but he isn't the long term solution as a pass rusher opposite Floyd. Leonard Floyd is the undisputed piece to build around but his development has been curtailed by health concerns of his own. The lack of a consistent pass rush opposite of him could be (hopefully is) the culprit. The opposing O-line can key on him knowing that there is no serious threat coming from the opposite side. The others at OLB are practice squad members brought up to cover for injuries.

Pace decides to clean house and not re-sign Houston and cuts McPhee and Young saving a grand total of $12.5 mil in cap space. Pace then signs Matt Longacre from the Rams and Shaq Barrett from the Broncos to the same deal of 3 years, 21 mil with $12 mil guaranteed. Both are restricted free agents but neither team has the cap space to match the Bears offer and they become new Chicago Bears. Pace also hits pay dirt with a prove it deal signing of Alex Okafor from New Orleans for 1 year, $5 mil with $2 mil guaranteed. Ziggy Ansah was never serious about leaving Detroit and they re-sign him.

Inside Linebacker

Inside linebacker has been an up and down sort of position for the Bears in recent years. I'm sure we all remember (and would prefer to forget) what the position looked like when Pace first got here. Massive strides have been taken to improve it. But all has not gone smoothly at the position and it is in need of attention. Pace decides to re-sign Jon Timu and Jonathan Anderson. Two good, young, athletic LBs with high motors. He also decides to re-sign Christian Jones for 3 years, $6 mil with $3 mil guaranteed. Jones has steadily improved every year he's been with the Bears and is turning in to a force. But there isn't a lot of tape on him so he flies under the radar and Pace is able to sign him relatively cheaply.

But the most effective LB on the roster, Freeman, is cut. He's had too many suspensions for PED use and that is not something that the team will brook. This saves the team $3.5 mil in cap space and opens a hole on the roster. This leaves the ILB depth chart at Kwiatkowski, Trevathan, Jones, and Timu. Anderson is suspect as even a backup considering the other talent on the team and goes back to the PS. There is need for long term help of starting quality at this position and none are available in free agency. The position is set, for the time being, but like the O-line, improvements can be made.

Cornerback

Cornerback has been a difficult problem for the Bears to solve under Pace. Fangio prefers CBs that are tall, athletic, and raw so that he and DBs coach Ed Donnatell can mold them in to what they want. That also means that they don't believe in taking CBs high in the draft. Pace decides to let Amukamara walk in free agency. While playing well, he didn't quite measure up to what they wanted and they take advantage of the 1 year prove it deal by saying, "You didn't prove it."

Pace also lets Sherrick McMannis go in free agency. Nagy's belief that roster spots shouldn't go to players with only STs value hits McMannis. Pace cuts one of his other off-season mistakes from last year in Cooper and saves $4.5 mil in cap space. Pace then moves to re-sign Fuller and Callahan. Fuller re-signs for 4 years, $42 mil and $25 mil guaranteed. Callahan is a retention deal for 2 years and $3 mil with no guarantee. Both certainly earned the new deals.

While that is happening, a search for a replacement for the spot Amukamara is vacating is under way. There are two candidates that Pace is considering. E.J. Gaines from Buffalo and Bashaud Breeland from the Redskins. They are both about equal in ability but Pace goes after and signs Breeland for 3 years, $21 mil and $10 mil guaranteed. Gaines is higher profile because he comes from a team known for good CB play, and is, therefore, more expensive and has more teams trying to court him. Pace also goes after and signs LaMarcus Joyner from the Rams for 3 years, $10 mil with $5 mil guaranteed. He has switched to safety after being one of the best slot corners in the league. The Rams can't afford him and misused him anyway. These signings not only bolster an already improving CBs group, but gives quality depth and speed to the unit.

Safety

Safety is a position that is pretty set for the Bears.....at long last. They have a thumping SS in Adrian Amos and a star in the making with Eddie Jackson at FS. Behind them is not bad either. DeAndre Houston-Carson is an able SS backup and Deondre Hall is more than capable of being whatever DB the team wants him to be. That is not to say that Pace doesn't make changes to the position. Another signing from last season is let go in Quintin Demps saving $3.3 mil in cap space. Deon Bush is also cut saving another $500k in cap space. Neither measured up to expectations, their places are superfluous on the roster as others are performing at levels that they can't touch, and their roster spots are needed for other, better performing players.

Final Analysis

The cuts that Pace has made here added to the already available cap space puts the grand total at about $87 mil in cap space. But just as important, it reasserts the notion that mediocrity won't be tolerated and those who under-perform will be held accountable. It is a vital tool to use when motivating the players on the team and that excellence is expected. But his signings have also eaten most of his cap space. Pace has, once again, filled holes, opening up his options in the draft while simultaneously adding talent and ability to the team. The team is in pretty good shape and a good draft could put them in excellent shape.

This Fanpost was written by a Windy City Gridiron member and does not necessarily reflect the ideas or opinions of its staff or community.