We’ve had enough from this coaching staff.
The Chicago Bears have tried their hardest to destroy another quarterback in just three weeks.
Now, before you make snap judgements, let me clarify that I’m not saying that Caleb Williams, the rookie quarterback, will suffer the same fate as his predecessors. Williams has the potential to become the best quarterback this team has ever seen, and the Bears will work to develop him.
But it won’t be this season, and it won’t be with the present coaching staff either.
I’ve seen enough after three games in this sample size. However, this isn’t simply a sample size of three games from players like Matt Eberflus. Under Eberflus, we have witnessed the same tendencies emerge from Day 1.
“But, he turned around the defence!”
Although that is somewhat significant, this team is still unprepared to play on either side of the ball. As a tiny illustration: The Bears were tagged for the sixth-most offsides penalties and the fourth-most offensive holding flags during the previous season.
No, things haven’t gotten any better in 2024. More on that later.
Many people have expressed to me on social media that there is no need to look ahead because the season is still early.
However, I’m here to pose the query: why not?
One national expert who has a soft spot for Chicago seemed to perceive this organisation as continuing the one issue.
As Danny Parkins puts it, Matt Eberflus is the main culprit.
Between Caleb Williams and the Bears coaching staff, there is a lack of trust.
It’s difficult not to feel this way. Not only is Parkins absolutely correct to point the finger upon Eberflus, but I wouldn’t be surprised if Williams had zero faith in his coaching staff.
Why ought he to?
Fans have witnessed Eberflus mishandle a number of challenges that most of us might have completed from the comfort of our own couches in just three weeks. In addition to calling some of the most puzzling plays, offensive coordinator Shane Waldron has a history of not getting the plays to Williams in time, which prevents the rookie from making necessary play adjustments at the line of scrimmage.
Similar to how Waldron experimented by outright declining to play Roschon Johnson or Khalil Herbert, Gerald Everett did the same when he stole passes from Cole Kmet.
Indeed, Waldron appears to be making progress in redressing those injustices. But how in the world did he not just play the greatest ability right away? Was he so devoted to “his guys” that he wouldn’t give the better players the necessary snaps?
In just three weeks, Williams has also seen his offence called for two delay-of-game penalties. In comparison, during the entire season of the previous year, the Bears were called for four of those. Six false starts and five holding penalties have been called against the offensive line, which has also been badly penalised due to their lack of preparation.
The fact that Waldron was able to mishandle so many facets of this offence and there was a general lack of preparation speaks much about the head coach.
Maybe Eberflus is a nice guy. In fact, he might make a great defensive coordinator.
As a head coach, though? The Bears ought to improve greatly, and they should do so as soon as possible.
That’s what Williams’ future holds.
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