Bears head coach Matt Eberflus isn’t ruling out major changes to his offense after putting up just three points in Chicago’s Week 10 loss to the Patriots.
“We’ll look at everything,” said Eberflus, per Marquee Sports Network’s Scott Bair, including taking play-calling duties away from offensive coordinator Shane Waldron.
The Bears entered Week 10 with the fewest total yards (2,357) and fourth-fewest yards per play (4.6) in the NFL, though their 21.5 points per game ranked 19th. The offense looked even worse against the Patriots, averaging 2.4 yards per play, allowing nine sacks, and converting one of 14 third downs. No. 1 overall pick Caleb Williams completed 16 of 30 passes for just 120 yards, while D’Andre Swift only managed 59 yards on 16 carries.
Waldron insisted that he would not make any changes just to keep the support of the locker room and showed confidence in his personnel.
“I do believe in those guys. They have faith in us,” said Eberflus, per Bair. “And it’s working together. I believe in our football team. I believe in the leaders on our football team. And we’ll just have to get back to work.”
The Bears host the 6-3 Packers next week in their next opportunity to get their offense back on track. Green Bay ranks just outside the top 10 in points per game, yards per game, and yards per play allowed, giving Chicago a stiff but not unconquerable challenge in Week 11.
Everyone assumed a quick turnaround this year, but it’s clearly not so easy in the NFL. Will take a few years to build the lines & a winning tradition, which will require at least a different staff, if not new GM.
Bears are clearly cooked & it was lost before the season, imo, when Poles traded away Fields. Jumped the gun a year early and divided the clubhouse. Caleb didn’t have a chance, and while he may be better eventually, the franchise would’ve been better off trading the chance for a lot more picks to build a winner. Maybe the next GM can get Manning in a couple of years with solid Oline already in place.
Nah, you don’t pass on a QB prospect of Williams’ caliber unless you have your guy. Fields wasn’t the guy. No one in this next draft class is as high caliber a prospect as the top three in the last one. The mistake—for a third straight time!—was bringing their lame duck coach back with a new quarterback, only to inevitably move on and change offenses after one year in the NFL.
This is primarily about Eberflub, who has been over his head since day one. He’s horrendous. Poles is taking heat about bringing him back, but this week we found out Eberflub has a 5 year contract. And that folks has all the stench of McCaskey refusing to fire a clown with 3 years left on his deal. I don’t think Poles even had a choice. It’s sooo McCaskey to take something promising and blow it with a cheap, stupid football decision.
I think it’s more of a case of how the Bears do things. This is about the fourth time in recent history the Bears have hired a HC , THEN hired a GM. Going all the way back to Lebeau, Trestman , Rod Graves fiascos. THE BEARS ACTUALLY LET A GUY THEY FIRED, GRAVES CONDUCT THEIR DRAFT AFTER THAT!!! WHO DOES THAT? Nobody good I can tell you that. Jesus Mirimba.
It’s not like Fields was tearing it up in PIT. The only thing he would bring to the table is his running ability. Other than that, he lost his job because he wasn’t throwing the ball well.
Fields was never the answer. Williams has all the tools and ability to succeed-if Eberflub and Waldron don’t ruin him first.
I’d disagree. DC went from ‘south of heaven’ to most likely winning the NFC East. It helps to scout college players. It’s always about the quarterback. In fact, everything I read today said Drake outplayed Calib, and every game I’ve seen from Chicago has been average at best, missing open reads, sacks, etc.
Maye outplayed him because Williams was sacked 9 times and was running for his life all game. Coaching had taken over quarterback as the most important aspect to get right. This inept franchise is the embodiment of it.
Its no different than last year. Carolina chose poorly. Stroud is clearly the better QB than Young as is Jayden to Caleb.
Not one NFL GM would’ve taken Daniels over Williams. Not a great take there.
Then those 32 GMs should be fired. If you think Caleb is even close to competing with Jayden, you’re not watching the games this year. Caleb flat-out sucks.
That’s not what I was implying. Caleb hasn’t been good at all the last 3 weeks. But you’re talking about picking guys in the draft. Two totally unrelated things.
Same thing. Stroud is infinitely better than Young, as is Jayden to Caleb. Caleb has looked bad all season, not just the last 3 weeks. Bad scouting from Carolina & the Bears.
Your Bears need offensive lineman… Odunze looks nice on paper… but you have to have time to get him the ball. The Lions turned it around because FIRST they put an elite O-line together… Goff has success because he knows he’ll be upright most of the time… you win in the trenches – period
Stupid take. Fields can’t even beat out Russell Wilson with a top notch defense and supporting cast. It was the right call, the wrong call was McCaskey picking Eberflus to begin with before Poles was hired, and then both of them keeping him b/c he won some meaningless games end of last season. Cherry on top was Flus picking Waldron over Kingsbury for OC when Kingsbury was already familiar with Caleb from USC.
Supposed to be @rotofool.
Stupid take? A championship is rarely if ever built on a rookie QB to a team with major flaws. Top QBs picks fail, especially when the team has no established system in place. They chose to keep a holdover Headcoach which nearly everyone in the city wanted fired headed into the offseason. The wisdom of the crowd is a thing that Chicago franchises continually get wrong.
Also, pretty easy to see:
They had an offensive line that was wafer thin, lacking talent, and among the worst in the league. An offensive system/staff with little proven history, blind to its personnel and unable to adjust both in game and week to week. A special running QB high in character, skill & grit that everyone on the team loved, someone they dumped for very little compensation which alienated a number of their best players (ie, DJ Moore & their Defense).
Instead, they could’ve acquired 3 #1 picks and multiple other picks trading away the first pick and run back Fields in a walk year. The two firsts could’ve been invested the line. Fields signing elsewhere after the season would’ve yielded a 3rd comp pick to add to additional firsts & seconds in 25 & 26. A rookie QB added in 25 or 26 to a team with several all-pro type lineman, offensive weapons & a strong D could win consistently.
That’s how to build a perennial winner like KC, BAL, DET, SF — each took this route (minus the rookie QB in some cases).
The right decision was made drafting the quarterback. The wrong decision was made bringing the coach back.
Let’s hope for Caleb’s sake, that’s true. But he will never throw for 4000 yards in a season for Chicago, like everyone before him.
Imagine, Harley, Emery, Pace and now Poles have failed to synchronize HC, OC & QB starting together. New HC, OC & system for year two & by three Caleb will be wrecked & they’ll sputter, Poles then fired. Next GM will hire a staff, keep Caleb around a year then draft another QB.
Rinse, repeat…forever.
That’s not the problem entirely. The problem is the Bears philosophy of hiring Coaching staffs. You need one guy with a vision to run things. He drafts the players he wants and hires the coaches to get it done. Every time the Bears make a move they get burned and they keep half of the coaches and fire the other half. 2 of Eberflus coaching hires got fired so now you’ve already got substitutes. Then you fire Getsy and and now you have a new QB and more new people. When Poles decided to fire coaches he should have fired them all and hired a coach who has his philosophy. Poles didn’t really hire Eberflus it was basically done before he got here and then they made him take credit for it. They do this constantly. Another thing they do constantly is fire some coaches and keep some. When has that ever worked? The only time it5 ever worked is with Ditka and Buddy Ryan and that got the result but split the team in half. So they keep doing it. It’s stupid. We’ll find out who’s running the Bears this off season. If it’s Poles he’ll clean house and get Williams what he needs a HC and an O Line. If not, God knows what we’ll see next year. Another thing they need to know is fire the HC now. Another tradition they need to break. They need to keep Williams in one piece. He’s the future, Nothing else matters. Couldn’t believe they didn’t at least try to get an OLineman at the deadline. I think anybody would have been an improvement. Poles now has the time and should be able to conduct a PROPER search for a HC. He should be doing that right now. Players have quit on Eberflus. Management should also. HITS isn’t a hit. NFL players don’t play for corny sayings.
The head coach Eberflus is the primary problem here followed by a terrible offensive line which has impacted the play calling and ultimately poor quarterback play.
Doesn’t matter who is calling the plays when the GM ignored upgrading the O-line.
Waldron will be the scapegoat this year, followed by Eberflus next year.
Both should be gone at seasons end. The problem that some aren’t talking about is that Chris Morgan was a hold over. He runs a different style of zone blocking that Waldron does. So there’s a disconnect there. This team has been poorly unprepared for the whole season.
Scapegoat?? Are you crazy, Waldron is terrible and was Eberflus’ hire. Eberflus was hired by McCaskey not Poles (interviewed flus twice before Poles was hired).
No way they keep the HC…Waldron is going to be demoted tomorrow and Flus is gone come January 6th.
Hopefully the Bears are open to a Matt Eberflus replacement option as soon as tonight/tomorrow.
Sadly, we all know that’s not going to happen.
If Poles won’t fire Eberflus, Warren needs to walk into the GM’s office tomorrow morning and fire Poles, then walk to Eberflus’ office and fire him and then finish that up with Waldron, the OL coach and just about the rest of the staff! Keep the DC, make Washington the Interim HC and see what you can figure out before the end of the season.
Might need to think about sitting Williams and playing Bagent. What’s the good in Williams possibly getting seriously injured for the next HC to inherit!
This is live???
link to si.com
Brave guy. I’m not sure I’d want to look at anything associated with that game, or that team.
There was a “Fire Eberflus” chant in Soldier Field as the Bears capitulated vs. New England. That chant could get louder next week when the Packers come calling.
The coach has lost the locker room.
That’s the problem you risk if you try these younger, less heralded coordinators as head coaches. They’d better have very strong and magnetic personalities, because otherwise they might not win the respect of the locker room when things go sour.
If Eberflus isn’t fired and every available draft pick and FA dollar isn’t spent on getting an OLIne next year, Then Poles should be fired too. I said not to play musical chairs with OC’s but Waldron might actually be worse than Getsy. The Bears should do what they should have done last year , Fire Eberflus and Hire Kingsbury as Head Coach. They need an Offensive minded HC next year or Williams will be wasted like the last 2 QB’s they drafted high. I’ve seen enough. They need to draft a whole new OLine. I don’t see anybody worth keeping.
Waldron, Getsy, Nagy, were f’ing cursed. McCaskey needs to be checked-in to an assisted living home and get away from anything to do with football operations. I actually agree on sitting Williams, the problem is it will become such a media circus otherwise I’d do it for next game. Williams has no confidence in the line or play calling and DJ is too busy pouting every play it’s a terrible situation for a rookie QB.
Kingsbury is a good OC not a good HC. Gotta stop hiring “yes men”.
I said it before the draft even happened…Caleb Williams will be and already is a BUST…I saw enough of him at USC and he is a “Bo Callahan” clone.
Yep. They didn’t even show up today. Eberflub has been over his head since day one and no one knows it better than the players.
You’re a tool
Hard to evaluate a rookie quarterback when he’s running for his life back there. The coaching staff had failed him. Gotta get some competence there.
I responded to the wrong comment. I absolutely believe Williams, with the right coaching could be very special. Eberflub and Waldron have completely let him down.
“Waldron insisted that he would not make any changes just to keep the support of the locker room”
That ship has sailed. All the finger pointing following the last second loss in Washington destroyed any trust in that locker room. Bears going winless the rest of the season wouldn’t be a surprise. Perhaps Eberflus could have better luck managing the White Sox.
A bad kid “time-out” for OCs, taking play calling duties away. De-masculating in a very masculine sport. “Now give me your playbook n u go to your room n think about what u did.” Eberflus seems lil wishy-washy being a take control kinda guy. Already seems defeated.
Williams has two former all pro WRs and a 1st round pick. More than half the sacks were his fault by not picking up the hot read and throwing the ball and letting his WR win the one on one battle. To not throw a INT or get a PI shows where the problems lies.
The problem is he has no time. He’s pressured more than 50% his dropbacks, which is near the worst in the league. The o-line is pitiful.
Both starting tackles were out and they played Bates, a career backup. Not surprised at all. NE +6.5 was gravy.
Both starting T’s were out and the guy they drafted to help has basically been injured since college. At least he’s had time to finish his studies I guess. Playing football doesn’t seem to be his thing. I think he’s played one half since they drafted him and that’s counting the preseason. Eberflus doesn’t believe in preseason. Eberflus thinks you can learn by watching and practicing. Eberflus is a moron. Best Lineman they’ve had all year is Matt Pryor and he was supposed to be a B/U and is. But he should be re signed. At least he showed up. Teven( I’m hurt every other game ) Jenkins should also be allowed to walk. He’s a walking injury. You basically have an O Line that should be the guys with the fife and drum from the Civil War. They have as many bandages. You basically need a total re boot. Luckily they have the draft picks and money to get it done. Maybe Jones and Wright are at least competent? Is it coaching that makes them mediocre or are they mediocre? Time to find out.
But you didn’t want Jim H
: )
And still don’t.
Enjoy the merry go round then!
Yeah because Jim Harbaugh is the ONLY head coach who can win a game in the NFL. When you’re done don’t forget to flush.
Chargers are 6-3 and haven’t been blown out. Enjoy Odunze!
If “we’ll look at everything” means you haven’t tried that this season then might be an idea to do that with ‘eyes open’ and maybe use you glasses cause you ain’t been seeing what everyone else finds obvious.
The Bears have been dysfunctional since Lovie Smith was fired. Now, Lovie and that front office were not perfect. But you can comfortably say the attitude was different and the players they had were leaders. That just seems to be the difference since Lovie left. Personally, I just don’t see any light at the end of this dark tunnel. Kevin Warren and Mike McCaskey had the opportunity last off season to completely reset the team by replacing the GM and the coaching staff. Didn’t happen. I can recall when many fans blamed Ted Phillips for his decisions. Kevin Warren seems similar as he is a business and financial guy. So here they go again stuck in the mud. No one knows if a complete overhaul with a new GM and coaching staff would be beneficial. But at least you start with a clean slate.
I think you are close. The Lovie era was their most stable largely due to his character & competence as HC. However, they also had essentially 4 HOF caliber defenders (Urlacher, Briggs, Peanut, Brown) & a legit offensive line with Olin Kreutz, their best captain in the modern era, if not since the 85 Bears.
Those guys would go to war with Lovie to this day. Bears unable to duplicate that dynamic because it is RARE. It takes luck to get the right executives, coaches, players & strategies aligned. Ownership hampers every effort to get it right, AND made the stupid decision to fire Lovie in the first place, deciding a winning season & playoff berth wasn’t enough.
Lovie’s big win last year over Carolina, handing the Bears the #1 overall was his revenge. Sit back & watch the organization bumble its way through yet another failed QB, season, rebuild, era…it’s entertainment, as in Horror!