After achieving first place in the NFC North Division (12-4) and ending their eight-year playoff drought under first year head coach Matt Nagy in the 2018-19 NFL season, Bears’ nation expected their team to assert their dominance in the 2019-20 season. The reality that faced them was far from expectation, and the Chicago Bears’ 2020 campaign was a disappointment to say the least. They lost twice the amount of games than they did the previous year (8-8), they slid to third place in the division, and missed the playoffs.
The Bears, having to look their sub par 2019 season in the eyes and find ways to turn things around for next season, have been busy so far this off-season. On January 16, head coach Nagy named Bill Lazor offensive coordinator and John DeFilippo quarterbacks coach. Also on Friday, February 21st they have released CB Prince Amukamara and WR Taylor Gabriel.
The Bears releasing Amukamara and Gariel is confusing because both players were starters that made an impact on the team. Amukamara’s production last season (53 tackles, 10 pass breakups, one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery) dropped a bit from his breakout year in 2018 (66 tackles, three interceptions, 12 pass breakups, and two forced fumbles) but not enough to give him the boot. To be fair everyone’s production dropped from 2018 to last season. Gabriel’s release, however, was a bit more rational, because he missed the last five games after sustaining his second concussion that season at the age of 29. Even though Gabriel’s season was riddled with injury, he was the second productive receiver with 29 catches for 353 yards and four touchdowns. The Bears clearly released these two household names to save money on their cap space. Hopefully, this move proves beneficial to the team.
The Bears’ attention to the coaching staff this off-season leads fans to believe that coaching played a big factor in the Bears’ downfall last season. Remember, head coach Nagy won the Coach of the Year award in 2018 for the job he and former defensive coordinator Vic Fangio did in turning the team into winners. Last season the offense struggled to move the ball down the field and score touchdowns. They were one dimensional in the worst way possible, spamming slants and hitches to WR Allen Robinson to get any production out of the passing game. Nagy and the Bears organization are taking the blame in the teams setback last year. Instead of moving on from Trubisky – which is what the fans are screaming for – the team has hired people to help aid in his progression. Also hiring these coaches would take some responsibility from Nagy so that he can focus on coaching the team and not being attached to Trubisky’s hip.
Both Lazor and DeFilippo have experience and success in their time coaching in the NFL. Lazor helped Nick Foles have the best season of his career (2,891 yards, 27 touchdowns, and a league-leading 119.2 passer rating) in 2013, in 2014 Ryan Tannehill threw for the most yards and touchdowns (4,045 yards and 27 touchdowns) by a dolphins QB since Dan Marino under his tutelage, and in 2016 Andy Dalton threw the second most yards in franchise history (4,206 yards) and made the Pro-Bowl for the third time in his career. Defilippo on the other hand helped Josh McCown throw for a passer rating of 93.3 for the Browns in 2015, Kirk Cousins pass for 3,298 yards, 30 touchdowns, with a 99.7 rating in 2018, and Gardner Minshew threw for 3,271 yards, 21 touchdowns, with a rating of 91.2 last season. DeFilippo’s masterpiece was helping Foles step up when the Eagles needed him the most in 2017, when Foles led them to a Super Bowl win.
Hiring Lazar and DeFilippo looks to be a good move for the Bears organization so far. Coaching had to be amongst the main reasons for their downfall last season because their roster didn’t go under a major turnover from 2018 to 2019. The Bears offensive play calling should be more creative now that Nagy doesn’t have to take responsibility for everything on the offensive side of the ball. The Bears need to make a few more roster moves before the start of next season, mainly in the department of the offensive line and tight end. If they can accomplish that they should be in prime position to compete in the difficult NFC North Division next season.
