Tag: Bill Lazor

Bears rookie QB Justin Fields will start vs. Lions, Andy Dalton doubtful

Bears rookie Justin Fields will make his second NFL start against the Lions on Sunday as Andy Dalton has been downgraded to doubtful.

Despite Matt Nagy’s intention to make the Bears’ starting quarterback a game-time decision, it’ll be rookie quarterback Justin Fields starting Sunday against the Lions.

Andy Dalton, who Nagy reiterated would be the starter when healthy, was downgraded to “doubtful” against Detroit, as Dalton continues to nurse a bone bruise in his knee. This will be the second straight game Dalton has missed for an injury that takes several weeks to recover from.

Fields will make his second NFL start on Sunday with hopefully a better game plan than Nagy designed last week against the Browns, which didn’t cater to any of Fields’ strengths.

While Nagy refuses to say who will be calling plays, there’s a belief we could see offensive coordinator Bill Lazor calling plays in place of Nagy. Which would be good news for Fields and this Bears offense, which is looking to rebound following the worst offensive outing in the franchise’s last 40 years.

With Dalton doubtful, it’ll likely be Nick Foles backing up Fields once again.

The Bears and Lions kick things off at Noon CT on FOX.

It sounds like Bears HC Matt Nagy is considering handing over play-calling duties

When Bears HC Matt Nagy was asked specifically about whether or not he’d give up play calling, he said, “everything’s on the table.”

New year, same problems with Bears head coach Matt Nagy.

The Bears put up their worst offensive performance in 40 years with a putrid 47 yards in a 26-6 loss to the Browns, which shined a spotlight on the issue that is Nagy.

Nagy was hired to fix the offense in Chicago. Instead, the offense has gotten progressively worse over the course of four seasons. Sunday’s brutal outing came at the expense of rookie quarterback Justin Fields, whose first NFL start was disastrous. Fields was under duress all afternoon, where he was sacked nine times, and Nagy did nothing to help his young quarterback.

“When you don’t have the success we had on offense [Sunday], with a rookie quarterback in Justin, of course it keeps you up at night, because you want to figure out why,” Nagy said. “So we’re looking at everything right now. Looking at everything — I think that’s being completely honest with you, and real. I care about this situation immensely. Our players care. Our coaches care. So we gotta figure it out and we’ve got to figure it out fast.”

When Nagy was asked specifically about whether or not he’d give up play calling, he said, “everything’s on the table.”

Nagy’s play calling nearly got Fields killed in his NFL debut behind a battered offensive line, where Nagy never rolled Fields outside of the pocket to give him a chance.

While there were plenty of fans and media calling for Nagy’s job on Monday, the Bears were never expected to make that move. Still, it’s clear that there needs to be some big change heading into Week 4.

Perhaps it’ll be Nagy handing over play-calling duties to offensive coordinator Bill Lazor for the second time in two years. While Lazor isn’t the best play caller in the NFL, the Bears offense showed a lot of improvement once he took over the reins last season.

And considering Nagy has actually gotten worse as a play caller, the change needs to be made as soon as this week.

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Here’s what Bears coaches, players have said about Justin Fields ahead of first NFL start

Justin Fields’ coaches and teammates have praised the Bears’ rookie quarterback for his confidence, poise and playmaking ability.

Justin Fields is gearing up for his first NFL start when the Bears travel to Cleveland to face the Browns on Sunday, where Chicago will be looking to make it 10 straight wins against the AFC North.

With Andy Dalton sidelined with a bone bruise in his knee, Fields gets a chance to make a strong case for why he should become the permanent starter. Listening to what Fields’ teammates and coaches have said about the rookie heading into Sunday’s game, it’s hard to ignore the respect they have for Fields.

Here’s what Fields’ coaches and teammates have said about him ahead of his first start:

What Bears coordinators are saying ahead of Week 2 matchup vs. Bengals

From Justin Fields’ readiness to getting Khalil Mack going, here’s what Bears coordinators had to say ahead of Week 2.

The Chicago Bears are gearing up for their Week 2 matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals, where Chicago will be looking for their first win of the season.

The Bears offense and defense have plenty to prove in their home opener following some disappointing performances. While the offense showed encouraging signs, they need to score more than 14 points to win a game, especially with a declining defense. But running back David Montgomery certainly provides some upside to this offense.

All eyes will be on the defense, who is looking to overcome an embarrassing outing where they allowed 34 points and struggled with missed tackles and blown coverages. They’re going to need to fix things up heading into Sunday’s game, where they’ll face a Bengals offense coming off a solid outing.

Here’s a look at what Bears offensive coordinator Bill Lazor, defensive coordinator Sean Desai and special teams coordinator Chris Tabor had to say during their weekly press conferences with the media.

Bears OC Bill Lazor believes Justin Fields is ready to go, so what’s the holdup?

Ryan Pace said we’ll know when Justin Fields is ready. Well, players know. Now, the offensive coordinator knows. So what are we waiting for?

From the moment the Chicago Bears traded up for quarterback Justin Fields, the world has been waiting for him to make his debut. And Fields made his NFL debut Sunday against the Rams, to the beat of five plays.

Fields completed 2-of-2 passes for 10 yards and added a 3-yard rushing touchdown. He didn’t set the world on fire with those five plays, but he showed exactly what he brings to this offense.

While it wasn’t a surprise to hear Matt Nagy name veteran Andy Dalton the starter from the get-go, the expectation was that would change as training camp and preseason went along, especially after what Fields showed he can bring to the offense, even as a rookie.

Instead, we’ve had to listen to Nagy and GM Ryan Pace say, in regards to when Fields is finally ready, “We’ll know when we know.”

Well, the players know. Fans know. Analysts know. Now, the offensive coordinator knows. So what exactly are we waiting for?

“From the outside looking at it, he looked like he belonged, ” offensive coordinator Bill Lazor said about Fields’ mini-debut. “He looked like he could be successful. Nothing was too big for him, which we didn’t think it would be. Looked like he had fun.”

While Fields got some experience on the field, five plays didn’t seem like enough, especially when you have someone as talented as him who adds an extra layer to this offense.

When asked whether Fields could handle a full series — or least more than a small package of plays — Lazor said nothing’s changed with his belief that Fields is ready.

“I would have said after the preseason that he’s moving quickly and ready for whatever’s thrown at him,” Lazor said. “So I don’t think anything’s changed.”

If Lazor believes he’s ready, what’s the holdup?

“I think Matt has probably addressed what his philosophy is on the quarterback position,” Lazor said. “I don’t think that’s any different. I don’t think there’s any reason for me to answer that.”

Simply put: It’s not my call.

Lazor has made it clear he believes Fields is ready to go — he’s felt that way since preseason — but he’s not the one in charge. Whenever Fields eventually gets the green light to step in as starter, it’ll require a final sign-off from Nagy.

While Nagy might be attempting to prolong Fields’ introduction into the NFL, there’s only so long he can keep his prized rookie on the bench if the losses and poor offensive outings pile up.

Fields will be starting sooner rather than later, even though he should’ve been the starter from the beginning.

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Matt Nagy will be back calling plays for the Bears in 2021

With his job on the line in 2021, it’s not a surprise to hear that Matt Nagy will once again be calling plays in 2021.

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Chicago Bears head coach Matt Nagy did the unthinkable last season when he handed over playcalling duties to offensive coordinator Bill Lazor.

But don’t expect Nagy to hand over the responsibility during a make-or-break season with his job on the line. Nagy confirmed on Friday that he will be the one calling plays in 2021.

“I’m going to be the one calling the plays this year, and so I know that you’ll probably be asking that, so we can just let you know that from the front end,” Nagy said on a video call, via ESPN.

Chicago’s offense struggled to find any semblance of rhythm last season when Nagy was calling players, which prompted the former Coach of the Year to hand over playcalling duties to Lazor.

The Bears offense did put together an impressive four games, where they scored more than 30 points in each, against some bad defenses. But it was the only time that Chicago’s offense looked like an effective offense for an extended period of time in two years.

While the Bears would like to replicate that success for the duration of the 2021 season, things are going to look different. Former No. 2 overall pick Mitchell Trubisky departed in free agency, where he joined the Buffalo Bills. Chicago, after failing to trade for Russell Wilson, inked veteran Andy Dalton to a one-year deal, where he’ll serve as the starting quarterback with Nick Foles as the back-up.

“Some things will be a little bit different [on offense],” Nagy said. “There’s going to be some things that Andy likes that Mitch and Nick hated, and vice versa. But we’re going to work together to figure out what that is. So you know, as a personnel department, as Ryan Pace as the GM, myself as the head coach and a coaching staff, when we collectively came together and said, hey, when you go through free agency and you look at everybody that’s available, it was really a consensus for us to get Andy in here and move forward as the starting quarterback.”

While Trubisky and Foles — along with other players on offense — contributed to the struggles, Nagy was as much to blame. Chicago’s offense seemed to find balance with Lazor calling plays. And it’s hard to imagine that will be the case with Nagy back calling the shots in 2021.

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Looking back at the top Chicago Bears headlines of 2020

In many ways, this year has felt like 3 different seasons with the Bears. As we kick off 2021, let’s take a look back at the top headlines.

In many ways, this year has felt like three different seasons with the Chicago Bears. It’s certainly been a rollercoaster of a ride — from an unlikely offseason to a 5-1 start to a six-game losing streak to a late playoff push in Week 17.

As we kick off 2021, let’s take a look back at the top Bears headlines from 2020.

5 takeaways from Bears’ 41-17 win against the Jaguars

The Bears-Jaguars game went as many expected, but there was still a few takeaways when it was all said and done.

For the first time since early November, the Chicago Bears are above .500 and control their own destiny in the playoff race after they dismantled the Jacksonville Jaguars 41-17 in the penultimate game of the 2020 regular season.

While Chicago got off to a somewhat slow start in the first half on both offense and defense, they remedied their woes in the second half thanks to key adjustments to make for a convincing win ahead of their daunting week 17 matchup against the Green Bay Packers.

This game went as many expected, but there was still a few takeaways when it was all said and done. Here are mine from Sunday’s win.

Bears QB Mitchell Trubisky is taking control of his own destiny

This season has been a whirlwind in many ways, especially for Bears QB Mitchell Trubisky, who has stepped up his performance.

This season has been a whirlwind in many ways, especially for Chicago Bears quarterback Mitchell Trubisky, who has experienced a lot over the last year.

After winning the starting job over Nick Foles in training camp, Trubisky led his team to a 2-0 record before being benched midway through the Atlanta Falcons game in Week 3, where Foles took over for the next seven weeks.

But Trubisky got another chance to prove himself when he took over for an injured and struggling Foles just four weeks ago, and this offense has looked different ever since.

Over the last four games, the Bears offense has gone from one of the worst to one of the best units in the NFL. Chicago is averaging 31.0 points during that span, and they’ve found an offensive identity that starts with running the football, which can alleviate pressure off any quarterback.

“I feel very comfortable right now,” Trubisky told reporters Wednesday. “I think we keep getting better each week as an offense, which is important. We’re gaining confidence as a unit and right now, we’re executing at a high rate, which helps consistency across the board. And we’ve been efficient. So I definitely feel comfortable. And I’m very confident with where we’re at, mindset with the guys and how we’re handling each week.”

It certainly helps that head coach Matt Nagy has taken a step back, handing over play-calling duties to offensive coordinator Bill Lazor with the Bears catering the offense to fit their players’, including Trubisky’s, strengths.

Trubisky has looked more confident and more decisive in his play, where his input in how the offense should run has been huge for the turnaround. This year has been a learning experience for Trubisky, who realized the importance of speaking up to his coaches and letting them know these are the things he does well and that running the football more with David Montgomery, getting tight end Cole Kmet more involved and utilizing Trubisky’s mobility are things this offense should’ve been doing.

“I would say I just wanted to control my own destiny,” Trubisky said. “I’m controlling what I can control at this point and I’m just trying to take control of my career and put it in the direction I want it to go. Sometimes you’ve got to be a little more assertive and speak up for what you want to happen, for what you believe in. And just go out there and continue to put the team first, like I have. Just continue to work hard, try to perfect my craft, keep getting better each and every day. But there was a little switch that flipped in the beginning where I just had to get that edge a little bit to where I’ve got to take control of my own destiny at this point.”

The Bears declined Trubisky’s fifth-year option earlier this offseason, which made his future in Chicago uncertain. But Trubisky’s play over the last month has many wondering if the Bears would re-sign him to a short-term deal in 2021. Especially considering this Chicago offense has looked so good over the last few weeks.

At this point, it feels like Trubisky is playing himself into a new contract — whether that’s with the Bears or elsewhere in 2021.

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Mitchell Trubisky says Bears offense is doing things he’s been asking for

Bears QB Mitchell Trubisky said the offense is finally doing things he’s been asking them to do, which has led to success for the unit.

The Chicago Bears offense looked the best it has all season with a dominating 36-7 victory over the Houston Texans. The offense got off to a fast start and never looked back with the success of the run game and Bears coaches utilizing Mitchell Trubisky’s strengths to the offense’s advantage.

The question remains — where the heck has this been all season?

Well, according to Trubisky, the coaching staff is finally starting to adjust the offense to fit his strengths and do the things that he’s been asking to do on offense, which include using his mobility, running play action and — shocker — using Chicago’s top draft pick in rookie tight end Cole Kmet.

“This is just kind of some of the things I’ve been asking for,” Trubisky told reporters Wednesday. “I feel like they are strengths of mine and also strengths of this offense. I just thought it was a good idea to get Cole more involved, to get David more involved, to get A-Rob more involved.”

The Bears offense has averaged over 30 points a game over the last three games, where Trubisky has completed 76-of-113 passes (67.2%) for 776 yards with seven touchdowns and two interceptions for a 103.2 passer rating.

But more than the numbers, the last two games have shown obvious improvement. Although facing two bad defenses will certainly help. Still, you can’t ignore the strides the unit has made, particularly when it comes to forging an offensive identity that starts with running the football, utilizing Trubisky’s mobility and getting the team’s playmakers going.

You’d figure it would’ve taken head coach Matt Nagy less than three years to finally realize that instead of forcing his players to fit his system that he should be adapting his offense to fit the strengths of his players.

The unfortunate thing is, just as the offense appears to be hitting its stride, it just might be too little too late.

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