Questions Ryan Poles must answer after the Chicago Bears season ends
After the Chicago Bears gave a valiant effort against Super Bowl contenders Philadelphia Eagles and Buffalo Bills to close out the 2022 calendar year, they welcome in the new year with a humiliating loss against the Detroit Lions 41-10.
The injuries and lack of depth finally caught up to the team that had been very competitive until the last possession in several games this year giving fans some hope for the future.
But after what must be their most lopsided loss in recent memory, the optimism surrounding the Bears was replaced with anger and despair towards the team that showed no effort and energy throughout the game.
The Chicago Bears end-of-the-year press conference will be full of questions
While head coach Matt Eberflus and his staff deserve the brunt of the criticism, General Manager Ryan Poles does not get a pass either.
The end-of-the-year press conference will be very interesting when the preverbal honeymoon period comes to an end for both Eberflus and Ryan Poles the day after Sunday’s game against the Minnesota Vikings. They smell blood and are ready to unload a series of questions.
Here are questions the Chicago media needs to ask Ryan Poles in his end-of-the-season press conference.
1. Ryan Poles: Are you committed to building around Justin Fields?
Following the Lions game, Brad Biggs from the Chicago Tribune posted this quote from General manager Ryan Poles, who was asked what he hoped to see from Fields in the final weeks during the WBBM-AM 780 pregame show prior to the Lions game in his column.
"“I think just elevate his game in the passing game, the two-minute drills, end of the half,” Poles said. “Obviously to start games, he’s been outstanding. He’s shown the ability to make a ton of plays with his legs. No one questions his playmaking ability, but really growing as a passer is going to be the next step. And we can accomplish that now and obviously into the future as we continue to grow.”"
It is a quote that will surely raise an eyebrow. Some may take his quote as a lack of support towards Fields, who inherited him from the previous regime. Or some will say Poles is ready to move on from him and the Chicago Bears will draft either Ohio State QB, C.J. Stroud or Alabama QB, Bryce Young.
The biggest gripe the fans have against Poles is the way he constructed the team this season. A shoddy offensive line with rookie Braxton Jones starting at LT. Plus, despite acquiring Chase Claypool at the trade deadline, they still have no decent receivers to throw to due to injuries, inconsistencies, or inability to create separation from the defenders.
After giving up seven sacks against the Detroit Lions last Sunday, Fields is now the most sacked QB in Bears history at 55, surpassing the old record held by Jay Cutler in 2010 with 52. The offensive line needs a massive makeover. You can make the argument they might need at least three starters for 2023 (C, RT, and LG). Because he was a former offensive lineman himself, what he had to witness this season had to be alarming. But is he able to upgrade them in one offseason?
And how will the team upgrade the receiving core? The reason the trade for Claypool was made was that the receivers available in this year’s free-agent class were not appealing. However, he is far from a sure thing and Darnell Mooney suffered an injury. They are entering a contract year, so both players need to perform next year for Fields to be successful.
Does Justin Fields need to improve? Absolutely. He will be the first one to tell you. But the Chicago Bears have holes on offense. Until Ryan Poles surround him with adequate talent this offseason and give him a fair shot, bailing out on him after a disastrous season won’t be well received.
2. Ryan Poles: Is 2023 another lost season for the Chicago Bears?
With over $100 million dollars in cap space heading into free agency, perhaps more could be available depending on the players they decide to cut or not re-sign, and holding either a No.1 or No. 2 overall pick in the NFL Draft in April, Ryan Poles will probably never have another offseason like this one. His scouting skills in both free agency and the draft will be put to the test.
The question is how his approach in free agency this year compared to his first off-season.
The Bears will likely finish with a franchise worse 3-14 record and a 10-game losing streak after the Vikings game. Both Ebeflus and Poles will forever be attached to the dubious record. The lackadaisical loss to the Lions gave us all a grim reminder that rebuilding could take much longer.
Will Poles use this season as an excuse that rebuilding will take longer than he anticipated or is there a heightened urgency within the organization after the worst record in franchise history?
The Jacksonville Jaguars did that last offseason when they had to overpay for players like Christian Kirk, Jay Zones, Branden Scherff, Evan Engram, and Foye Oluokun in free agency, which drew quite a rumbling around the league circle. However, they are only a win away this Sunday from winning the AFC South, thanks to the emergence of QB, Trevor Lawrence.
Poles must go above and beyond in fixing this roster after he inherited the mess created by Ryan Pace and completely tore it down. They will likely have to overpay to convince players to come to Chicago and what Matt Eberflus is trying to build. But that has always been the case in free agency.
And just last month, this year’s top free agent tackles, Cleveland’s Jack Conklin and Green Bay’s Elgton Jenkins both re-signed. The free-agent market for offensive linemen took a big hit. If top defensive free agents like Washington’s DT, DaRon Payne and Denver DT, Dre’Mont Jones do the same, or even worse, sign elsewhere, it could significantly damage any hope for a turnaround in 2023.
For Ryan Poles, tearing down the roster was the easiest part. Now comes the hard part: Fixing it.
3. Ryan Poles: What is his message to the frustrated Chicago Bears fans?
As losses continue to pile up, the fans’ confidence in both Matt Eberflus and Ryan Poles is starting to dwindle.
And Poles’ offseason moves so far have not inspired confidence. The roster throughout the season consisted of a bunch of players on one-year deals and a bunch of practice squad players. While also getting rid of key players from the previous regime like Khalil Mack, Robert Quinn, and Roquan Smith.
The trade for WR, Chase Claypool with their own second-round pick and drafting of Velus Jones raises further questions about his ability to identify skill position talent.
The irony in all of this is Steelers got rid of Claypool because rookie George Pickens has emerged, and the Bears could have drafted him with one of their second-round picks in last April’s NFL Draft.
Meanwhile, as the Lions game had gotten out of hand, Claypool was seen expressing his frustration on the sideline, raising questions ranging from his commitment to football, his football IQ, or is he just another long line of receivers who tends to show diva-like personality when he is not involved in the game.
The loss to Detroit Lions really struck a nerve with Chicago Bears fans and drew quite a reaction on Chicago sports radio postgame and on Monday after a lackluster effort.
Ryan Poles sounded very articulate and honest whenever he has spoken or was interviewed. But with all the losses he had to endure this year, he should not shy away nor offer vague answers. He must be forthright about his vision and what he intends to do this offseason with conviction. He should not underestimate the frustration this fanbase had to endure.
4. Ryan Poles: Are you satisfied with the job the coaching staff did in 2022?
This question might be more suited toward Matt Eberflus. But Ryan Poles hired Eberflus and he assembled the coaching staff. When a team is 3-13 and possibly 3-14 after Sunday, it is natural to think the entire staff is on the hot seat.
Matt Eberflus is an exception at least for this year. Being a first-time head coach should not absolve him from criticism, but no coach could do anything with this roster. For a rookie coach to keep his team competitive throughout the season like he did deserves tons of credit.
But the team completely checked out for the 2022 season during the Lions game. On Wednesday, he already announced that Justin Fields will not be playing this Sunday due to a hip strain. And given what happened to Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin on Monday night after he suffered cardiac arrest on the field, you wonder if any players are mentally prepared to play on Sunday.
This Sunday’s game will be a huge test for him and his staff not only on how hard his players will play but if his message still resonates with them.
Eberflus was already showing signs of losing patience with his players after the Philadelphia Eagles game when rookie safety Jaquan Brisker blitzed the wrong gap and allowed QB Jalen Hurts to go untouched for a touchdown near halftime.
He also indicated after the Eagles game that position coaches are equally responsible for mistakes like the one made by Brisker as they are equal partners with players and share equal credit and blame together. With the regular season finally coming to an end, some of his coaching staff could pay the price.
It is easy for fans and media to target both Alan Williams and Luke Getsy. Getsy might face more scrutiny regarding the usage of Claypool since the trade and not moving Fields in the pocket more given how poor the offensive line is when it comes to pass protection. It is quite clear he neither trusts the protection nor the receivers.
Without any talent to work with, it is probably unfair to boot one or even both. Even if they are brought back, Poles must make sure his coaching staff is given ample talent that fits the scheme and can be developed into solid contributors for the Bears to have any hope of a turnaround next year.
What other questions do you think Chicago media must ask Ryan Poles in his end-of-the-season press conference? Let us know in the comment section below.