We are a few weeks away from Bears mini-camp so I thought we'd do one last mailbag until then! So let's hop right in.
Offensively, I gotta go Fields. The Bears didn't out and spend big money this off-season. That will happen in 2023. In that, Fields will have to do what franchise quarterbacks do.
Make the players around him better. We've seen it time and time before where great quarterbacks turn average players good, good players great, and so on. With Luke Getsy at the helm, this offense will be tailored to speciciaflly what Justin excels at. In that, I believe Fields will show he's the guy moving forward. Even if Fields does produce and puts together a stellar sophomore season, the Bears could still be a 6-8 win team. Which is fine. At the end of the day, 2022 isn't necessarily about contending. It's about finding out what you have and then building on that through next year's free agency and draft where the Bears will have a lot of fire power both financially and draft picks wise.
To transition to the defense, I am going to go with Trevis Gipson. Can he build on the momentum from last year and replace Khalil Mack's production/presence? If Robert Quinn remains in Chicago, the pressure on him to perform won't be a high but say the Bears do find a suitor for Quinn, then it will be on Gipson to ramp up his production. The team will obviously need to find multiple ways to get pressure on the quarterback but I think it will all start and end with Gipson. Not ideal but this is what you get in a rebuilding year.
Realistic projected stats for Fields in this new offense?
Barring Fields plays a full season (knocks on wood) I think he'll put up great numbers considering where the league is at offensively. Obviously, we are talking about a team who's historically struggled on that side of the ball but I believe in Luke Getsy and the game plan he'll bring week in and week out. I think Fields become the first quarterback in Bears history to surpass the 4,000-yard mark. 4,067 passing. 24 TD. 12 INT. 700 rushing. 7 TD. 4,767 total yards. 31 total TD. Might be setting myself up for massive disappointment but that July optimism is in full swing. Let's ride.Who will be the #2 leader in receiving yards? Kmet? Pringle? Velus?
I enjoy questions like these. I think you nailed it with your first mention. Cole Kmet takes that leap in year three. Despite starting slow last season and the constant change at QB, he finished with 60 receptions on 90 targets for 612 yards. He's a big body and I believe his chemistry with Fields will be even better next season. I don't think he cracks 1,000 yards but wouldn't be shocked if he flirts with 900. I am big on Kmet and think he has the ability to be a top 12 TE in this league. Dark horses are definitely Pringle and Velus though.Who commands more targets in 2022? Byron Pringle or Velus Jones Jr?
In theory, I think it's gotta be Byron Pringle. He was targeted 60 times in Kansas City and brought in 42 receptions for 568 yards in a very crowded but talented Chiefs offense. He will obviously have a better chance in Chicago to put up even better numbers but it will likely depend on how his chemistry resides with Justin Fields. There is an established connection between Kmet and Mooney. Velus is a rookie and Pringle is a free agent addition. They both will have to gain the quarterback's trust. I think it'll take the rookie a little bit of time to adjust to the NFL and so with that you gotta put your money on Pringle here. I still believe Velus shocks people this year regarding his overall production in this offense though.Who is your X-factor for the Bears this year?
This is an interesting question. I will split this into two and give you an x-factor for both sides of the ball.Comments
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