It is okay to have both these feelings about the Chicago Bears new regime

It is also okay to be skeptical about the Chicago Bears new regime

It would be amiss for me to sit here and try to spin the new regime as a home run. To be frank, I view this new regime as an automatic double. However, it doesn’t mean that the double can’t turn into a run. It also doesn’t mean that the double doesn’t end up leading to an out. Alright, enough baseball references. Just know, if we are being honest with ourselves, we have no idea how this group of executives and coaches will work out for the Chicago Bears.

This is why, while even feeling hope that the new regime brings change to the organization, Chicago Bears fans can also feel skeptical. George McCaskey brought in a 79-year-old Bill Polian to help in the team’s search. He also brought in guys like Tony Dungy to help look at the team from within and identify areas that need to be changed. Many have pointed out that Polian is a bit out of touch with the league. I don’t fully agree, but they do have a point.

Polian has been on record, granted he admitted to being wrong, that Lamar Jackson wouldn’t work out as a quarterback, but should rather be a wide receiver. Jackson earned MVP honors in just his third year. That is also an area of concern. Polian believes it takes four years for a quarterback to reach his full potential. We have seen guys like Joe Burrow, Patrick Mahomes, Lamar Jackson, and Justin Herbert all show signs of great success within a year or two of entering the league.

Bill Polian is also on record that he likes Justin Fields and thinks he can be a great quarterback. Well, let’s hope he at least got that right, but this organization cannot wait four years for Fields to find that success. This team needs Fields to hit his stride as soon as this year and continue to develop and improve as he grows while on his rookie contract.

The point is, that while this general manager and head coaching search feel a little different, there are also warning signs that the team isn’t doing enough to change its approach. The team brought in another defensive-minded coach, while recent history has shown that offensive-minded head coaches have had more success.

What should give Bears fans even more pause though is that Matt Eberflus is a first-time head coach. This is not a bad thing, but it’s okay to feel skeptical about it. Not only is Eberflus a first-time head coach, but Ryan Poles is a first-time general manager. Their new offensive coordinator, Luke Getsy, is a first-time OC and play-caller. That’s a lot of firsts. It could work out, but it could easily not work out. Skepticism should be expected.

Now, couple that with the fact that they hired Alan Williams to be the defensive coordinator and play-caller. He isn’t a first-time DC, but this will be his second stint and that comes after working for Leslie Frazier in Minnesota. The first year (2012) went okay, but the defense quickly stumbled under Williams in 2013 and that was the end of Leslie Frazier (and Alan Williams) in Minnesota.

Finally, I think it is perfectly acceptable for Chicago Bears fans to feel skeptical about Justin Fields in year two. I saw plenty of great things out of Fields last year, but we cannot ignore he struggled too — especially in securing the football. The hope is that a better offensive approach and some key changes on the offensive line allow Fields to play to his strengths. I still have hope (see there is that word again) that Fields becomes the superstar I expected him to be while studying his film as a draft prospect.

As you can see, it is perfectly acceptable to feel both hopeful and skeptical of the changes taking place at Halas Hall this year.