Bears eager to develop offensive strategies

By Jayce Eustice

Many questions were left unanswered with the Chicago Bears finishing 5-11 last season. With a new head coach, improved weapons and a second year quarterback, the Bears look prime to continue improving.

Matt Nagy, former Offensive Coordinator for the Kansas City Chiefs, assumed a head coaching position for the first time in his career. Nagy wants to revamp the Bears offense that finished 30th in total yards last season.

The continued development of second year quarterback Mitchell Trubisky will be the biggest key to the Bears rejuvenated offense. Trubisky indicated he’s already a fan of Coach Nagy’s changed offense.

“This offense is going to be amazing,” Trubisky said according to USA Today. “We’re going to spread the ball around, use all our playmakers, stretch the ball down the field as well as intermediate routes and we’re going to use the [run-pass option], run the ball and really just create mismatches with the personnel we got.”

The Bears front office added extra playmakers for Trubisky in free agency. Wide-Receiver Allen Robinson signed a 3-year, $42 million dollar contract with the Bears. Robinson and newly acquired tight end Trey Burton will make the Bears passing game a more potent threat.

On the defensive side of the ball, first round pick Roquan Smith has yet to be signed to his rookie contract and yet to report to training camp. While this may cause some fans to worry, General Manager Ryan Pace stated everything is business as usual. The situation is similar to Charger’s lineman Joey Bosa who held out well into the 2016 preseason over a language issue with his contract.

“We all understand this happens and isn’t necessarily abnormal around the league,” Pace said according to the Chicago Tribune. “Sometimes it’s part of the process. We’re very optimistic that he’ll be here very soon.”

Despite Smith’s absence, newly re-signed Defensive Coordinator Vic Fangio’s focus should be to improve an already successful defense that finished 10th in yards allowed last season. The Bears re-signed veterans such as DB Prince Amukamara and LB Sam Acho in hopes of maintaining success.

The Bears play in the first pre-season game of the NFL year, also known as the Hall of Fame game, against the Baltimore Ravens. The game will be held at 7 p.m. central time August 2 in Canton, Ohio.