5 disappointments halfway through Chicago Bears season
These five players have not lived up to the Chicago Bears expectations
Sitting at 5-3, the Chicago Bears are still in competition for a playoff spot and so much more. However, many fans feel as though a few wins were left on the table, and that this team could still be playing better. With the Bears losing to the Saints heading into the halfway point, this was a good chance to look back at the five biggest disappointments on the roster so far. Which 5 players need to step up?
5. Robert Quinn usage
Robert Quinn signed a 5-year, $70 million contract this offseason. That is a hefty price and significant years, but the Chicago Bears saw an upgrade over Leonard Floyd and thought it was a no brainer.
The issue with the move is that Quinn gives them a drop off in coverage and against the run. However, the Bears have not worried about that much as they have made Quinn a rotational player. Quinn and Barkevious Mingo essentially split snaps, with Quinn playing almost solely to rush the passer.
Somedays this works out better than others. When Quinn produces, it is fine. However, he has not done that nearly enough to make the role worth the money. Beyond that, his snap counts have no risen at all.
He has played over half of the defensive snaps just twice this season. He missed one game, but still is seeing the field on 40% of the defensive snaps.
Having a rotational pass rusher is fine, but paying him $14 million a year in average salary is ludicrous.
Worse than that is that he is not even an elite pass rusher right now. Quinn has one sack, two forced fumbles, and 12 pressures. Leonard Floyd has four sacks and 20 pressures. If the Bears wanted a limited pass rusher they could have kept Leonard Floyd and still been strong in coverage and against the run.
To be fair, Barkevious Mingo has been great in that role, but Mingo outplaying Quinn is not what the Bears signed up for. Quinn is barely playing, he only has one job, and he has been average at best at that job. He has been an overpay.