Bears Mailbag — Does The 2021 Draft Class Save Ryan Pace?
SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. — The Chicago Bears returned to work after a painful bye week. By now, we all know what happened. The referees directly turned a Monday Night Football road win into a loss with egregious called (and not called) penalties. And the Bears limped to the off week at 3-6 instead of 4-5, and firmly near the bottom of the NFC.
Considering how well Justin Fields played to get the Bears in position to win, leaving Pittsburgh with a loss was devastating. Including for him and the young players on the Bears’ offense. I made that point in “Final Take” on our last Club Dub episode:
Bye Week Is Over And First Place Ravens Are Coming To Solider Field https://t.co/xqpt4iYai3
— Club Dub Podcast (@clubdub_podcast) November 17, 2021
The Bears take on the Baltimore Ravens at Soldier Field this Sunday in yet another attempt to turn their season around.
If they can, they go into Thanksgiving in Detroit with a chance to get to 5-6 and get squarely back in the NFC playoff conversation. If they lose…
With that, let’s reach into this week’s Bears Mailbag. Follow me on Twitter @DhruvKoul to continue the conversation.
Bears Mailbag
The million dollar question.
Pace's drafting has improved since Nagy came on board. I'd argue Nagy's scouting has helped Pace.
Difficult to be sure that the run of better drafting would continue if Nagy leaves.
It's a tough decision.
— Dhruv Koul (@DhruvKoul) November 17, 2021
I think they will bring Jenkins along slowly, so no changes expected for the time being.
I do expect Mustipher to be replaced as the starter in the offseason, though. I'd watch James Daniels being re-signed and potentially switching to center.
— Dhruv Koul (@DhruvKoul) November 17, 2021
Getting difficult to see that happening this year, unfortunately. Hopefully, he is 100% for 2022.
— Dhruv Koul (@DhruvKoul) November 17, 2021
One of the toughest roles to fill.
Watch Champ Kelly, Will McClay and Rick Smith in the offseason.
— Dhruv Koul (@DhruvKoul) November 18, 2021
Peters will not play guard. He'll either remain the LT starter or go to the bench.
Realistically, I don't expect Jenkins to start for a while.
— Dhruv Koul (@DhruvKoul) November 17, 2021
Yes, and I think that was brilliant of them to incorporate against Pittsburgh.
The Bears schemed/designed the Wildcat stuff brilliantly, including the sweep to Darnell Mooney for the 15-yard TD.
As the Bears unveil wrinkles with Justin Fields at QB, I expect more of this.
— Dhruv Koul (@DhruvKoul) November 17, 2021
I still think the results of the remainder of this year will determine that.
I'll say this: Losing that Pittsburgh game after losing that awful San Francisco game seem like backbreakers for this regime.
— Dhruv Koul (@DhruvKoul) November 17, 2021
Technically it's not over. The Pittsburgh loss really killed them. But I'd say the biggest disappointment was the loss to San Francisco.
A home, NFC loss to a struggling, beat-up team? Brutal.
— Dhruv Koul (@DhruvKoul) November 17, 2021
I'd love for all of them to stay, but I prioritize Daniels. I'd probably let Robinson walk most, then Nichols.
Rough offers to each…
Daniels: 5 years, $50M.
Robinson: 4 years, $64M.
Hicks: 2 years, $12M.
Nichols: 4 years, $24M.
— Dhruv Koul (@DhruvKoul) November 17, 2021
GM candidates: Rick Smith, Will McClay, Champ Kelly.
HC candidates: Kellen Moore, Brian Daboll, Nathaniel Hackett.
If the 49ers fire Kyle Shanahan, I think George McCaskey would drive the U-Haul from San Francisco himself.
— Dhruv Koul (@DhruvKoul) November 17, 2021
At this moment, I think the Bears are entertaining going the route of promoting him to a President of Football Ops type role, rather than fire him.
They LOVE Pace and want every excuse to keep him.
— Dhruv Koul (@DhruvKoul) November 17, 2021
They *can*, but I doubt they will. He has struggled a little bit this year, but Sam Mustipher is also a below-average C. I think Whitehair's performance could improve playing next to an upgrade at C next year.
— Dhruv Koul (@DhruvKoul) November 17, 2021
If they are comfortable inserting him into the starting lineup this year, then:
Borom-Whitehair-Mustipher-Daniels-Jenkins
If we're talking next year, and I assume they re-sign James Daniels, then:
Borom-Whitehair-NewCenter/Daniels-Daniels/NewRG-Jenkins
— Dhruv Koul (@DhruvKoul) November 17, 2021
The two biggest species of bears in the world battling it out?
It's possible. Any given Sunday.
— Dhruv Koul (@DhruvKoul) November 17, 2021