When the
Chicago Bears made Luke Getsy their new offensive coordinator, people were intrigued. Scuttlebutt around the NFL insisted the 37-year old is a rising star. His impact on the Green Bay Packers offense since 2019 couldn't be understated. He is an intelligent, sharp, and detailed coach with a knack for teaching. Yet some remain skeptical because Getsy, for all his recent success, has never called plays outside of one season at Mississippi State in 2018. Is this a concern? Not to Lucas Patrick.
The veteran offensive lineman was one of the Bears' first free agent
additions. He is a versatile blocker with experience at both guard and center. Last season saw him do excellent work filling in at the latter for the injured Josh Myers in Green Bay. So he had a front-row seat for the Getsy experience up there. When asked about the play-calling questions during his introductory press conference, Patrick didn't sound concerned.
After all, he's seen Getsy work the call sheet before.
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Obviously, the preseason isn't the same as the regular season, but it at least offers an idea of whether a coach has an aptitude for calling plays. It is about understanding situations, clock management, flow, and establishing an identity. These are all things Matt Nagy routinely struggled with during his tenure in Chicago. Lucas Patrick seems to think Getsy won't have similar issues. He understands his job responsibilities and will put his players in the best position to succeed.
It may take time though. The Bears need to retool their roster offensively. It lacks talent in several areas. That is why Patrick was signed in the first place. They hope he can be a credible option at center. If they find one or two more blockers and another weapon in the passing game, Getsy might be able to work some magic this season. He has a lot on the line. Elevating Justin Fields at quarterback would give him an almost guaranteed track to a head coaching job elsewhere soon.
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