Two Former Players Sing Praises Of Matt Eberflus And Bears Coaches

Most of the talk about the Chicago Bears' preseason-opening victory over the Tennessee Titans centered on player performances. Justin Fields threw two touchdowns. D.J. Moore had a long score on his only catch. Darnell Wright looked sharp blocking. Tyrique Stevenson and Zacch Pickens showcased their potential. Trevis Gipson was unblockable. There was plenty to be excited about. Yet amidst all that, it can be easy to forget about the guys responsible for making everything work. That being Matt Eberflus and his coaching staff.

Keep in mind this was a preseason game. Every player on the roster knows it doesn't count. That can make it so easy for guys not to give it 100% on the field. From watching the game on tape, it was apparent no such problem existed for the Bears. Players flew all over the field from the first snap to the last. It was evident they were motivated and prepared. Former Bears guard Tom Thayer gave Eberflus tons of credit for that on Bears Etc.

It didn't end there. Geoff Schwartz, another former offensive lineman, noticed how well the Bears front played against Tennessee. It was obvious how good of a job offensive line coach Chris Morgan has done with his guys.

Matt Eberflus appears to have assembled a competent staff.

Even last year, it was evident the Bears were well-coached. They played hard in every game and were the third-least penalized team in the league, behind only Atlanta and L.A. Their problems were mostly talent-related. GM Ryan Poles seems to have done well correcting those issues this off-season. The Bears appear deeper and more athletic than they've been in years. Eberflus' culture of H.I.T.S has resonated with almost everybody. It's starting to show results on the field.

Guys hustled. They showed intensity. They forced takeaways, and they played smart. It sounds simple, but Matt Eberflus believes this philosophy is the foundation for team success. Hard to argue with that. After all, it's a teaching tool that has origins all the way back to Chuck Noll in Pittsburgh. Tony Dungy popularized it during his Hall of Fame career. It has worked for decades. There is no reason to think it won't now. The Bears are ready to prove it. It's never bad hearing former players praise the approach.