Matt Eberflus and his coaching staff managed to stop the bleeding before things got too bad last year. However, 2023 didn't come with high expectations. That was different this year. The Chicago Bears had loaded up on front-line talent for their offense. They took Caleb Williams #1 overall. Eberflus even overhauled most of his offensive staff, opting to bring in the more experienced Shane Waldron. Veteran players like Cole Kmet were assured that things would be better. This team was ready to win.
Three weeks into the season, Chicago is 1-2, and their offense might actually be worse than it was last season. They're averaging less than 13 points per game and have the third-worst rushing attack in the league. It has been a sequence characterized by plentiful mistakes and highly suspect play calling. The 21-16 loss in Indianapolis might have been a breaking point for some. Teven Jenkins and Coleman Shelton had already hinted at concerns with the coaching they were given.
Add Kmet to that list.
Cole Kmet is struggling to hide his anger.
He's made it clear his window actually to win something isn't limitless. There are maybe five good years left for him. The Bears can't keep wasting them with all of these self-inflicted wounds. He already had to endure the end of the Matt Nagy era. Now it is Matt Eberflus and his underwhelming stint. Kmet is a professional. He is doing his best not to say anything inflammatory. No question it is proving difficult. Eberflus promised the Waldron hire would change things. Instead, it's more of the same.
The fact Cole Kmet and others are already grumbling about the coaching is a bad sign. These guys know this team is way too talented to be 1-2 and probably should be 0-3 if not for that crazy comeback against Tennessee. When a team underachieves, that points to a coaching problem. Unless Eberflus can right the ship again, things will only get worse from here.
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