After an offseason that has produced a new head coach and a revamped offensive scheme, added new players in free agency and the draft, the Chicago Bears have all the reasons in the world to be brimming with optimism.
Hope springs eternal at Halas Hall and it starts with Matt Nagy, who feels good about the offense he will soon be orchestrating: “We certainly have enough – without a doubt,” Nagy said, via Adam Jahns of the Chicago Sun-Times. You’re at a point right now where there [are] really good numbers in regards to all the positions. Whether it’s running-back position, the tight-end position, wide receiver and then the depth at o-line, we’re in a really good spot. That was the goal going into free agency, going into the draft. I feel like we accomplished that.”
While I’ll come short of raising the “Mission Accomplished” banner, but Nagy does have the right to feel good about what has happened in Chicago – particularly on the offensive side of the ball.
The Bears maintained their running back depth, added two quarterbacks (Chase Daniel, Tyler Bray) to aid in teaching Mitch Trubisky the system, brought in six new pass catchers (wide receivers Allen Robinson, Taylor Gabriel, Marlon Brown, Anthony Miller, Javon Sims, and tight end Trey Burton), and a new projected starter at left guard (James Daniels) who helps solidify the offensive line by putting Cody Whitehair back where he belongs at center.
Sure, Chicago has finished in the bottom 10 in scoring in each of the last three years and hasn’t fared much better when it comes to total offensive yards, but 2018 is a new year, with new coaches, and a new-look roster, and the Bears offense projects to be better than what it was when Dowell Loggains was running thing (even if that’s a pretty low bar to clear).
It’s now up to Nagy to clear said bar and put the pieces he likes so much in the best position to succeed.