Matt Eberflus Answered Why Chase Claypool Is Off To Slow Start

The Chicago Bears traded a 2nd round pick to the Pittsburgh Steelers in exchange for wide receiver Chase Claypool. GM Ryan Poles stated his belief the deal was worth it because Claypool is a unique talent. His blend of size and speed is something the Bears don't have enough of. He represented the kind of target Justin Fields could use to continue getting better. There have been flashes of this since his arrival, but not nearly enough to justify the price tag in the minds of many fans. Claypool has 12 catches for 111 yards in five games. Perhaps Matt Eberflus shares the same feelings.

That isn't entirely true. The Bears' head coach has shown himself to be patient with players that might not be progressing at the speed everybody prefers. Fields himself is the perfect example. The young QB was struggling through the first month of the regular season. Eberflus preached patience, insisting with enough time, Fields could turn it around. Now he's playing like a budding star. He expressed a similar message when it came to Claypool. He isn't where he needs to be, but he'll get there with time and hard work.

“I wouldn’t say he’s there yet. I would say he’s getting there. He’s getting there and working there just like everybody else. But again, it’s all new to him and there’s a lot of volume of offense that he has to learn and he’s getting there.

He needs alignment, assignment and get all the things down, the route depths and the routes, the discipline of running the routes. He’s in a good spot. He’s in a good spot. We’re looking forward for him to get better every single week.”

Matt Eberflus is eyeing the future with Claypool.

Everybody knows the Bears aren't going anywhere this year. They're 3-10 and out of the playoff race. The goal now is getting the receiver acclimated in the offense. That is why these final four games are crucial. It offers a big chance for Claypool to build chemistry with Fields while mastering the intricate route combinations the system demands. It's clear he doesn't yet grasp where to line up in certain situations and what routes to run. That shouldn't be unexpected. Going from one playbook to another midseason isn't easy.

It doesn't help that the Bears are a run-first team. They barely throw the ball 20 times per game. That doesn't give many opportunities for a wide receiver to make plays. Fans may want big plays and numbers, but sometimes it's unrealistic. Matt Eberflus isn't focused on what Claypool is right now. He is thinking about what Claypool can become in the near future. The Bears were always thinking long-term with this move. They will work through the obstacles with him and expect he'll be in a far better place by next fall.