Taking Stock of Chicago Bears at Halfway Point of Season
The Chicago Bears aren't the most surprising team in football—but Mitchell Trubisky and crew come quite close to earning the label.
That's impressive considering 2017 has been one of the oddest seasons in recent memory, a fact highlighted by strong campaigns from both the Jacksonville Jaguars and New York Jets.
But the Bears' surprising return isn't a product of an odd season. General manager Ryan Pace's roster building and strong play from notable young players have the team on an upswing and looking like the franchise is ready to head out of a rebuild.
While only 3-5 overall, the record far from explains everything about these Bears. Let's take stock of Chicago as it comes out of a bye week and gets ready to collide with the Green Bay Packers for a second time.
Injury Bug Running Wild Again
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The Bears just can't seem to escape the injury bug, which is a big reason the three-win mark doesn't speak to the ability of the team.
A year ago, injuries ran rampant in Chicago, and this term hasn't been much different. It started before the campaign too, when the team lost key offensive line depth in the form of Eric Kush.
The bug has continued well into the season, with rotational defenders like Willie Young, Quintin Demps and Deiondre' Hall going down for the season. As has starter Jerrell Freeman. Offensively, the team lost top wideout Cameron Meredith and the high-upside Kevin White—and injuries have forced the starters along the line to play in uncomfortable positions.
The above makes the surprising start for the Bears all the more impressive, though the team has to cross its fingers the bug has run its course and won't stall the development of the young core.
The Defense Is Once Again Strong, If Not Elite
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Even in the face of injuries, the Bears once again boast a strong defense.
The numbers didn't end up showing it last year as much as they should have because of the silly number of names on injured reserve (Chicago ended up with some of the most salary on IR of any team), but this year is different.
To date, the Bears allow 21.4 points per game (14th in the league through eight weeks), 207.6 passing yards (10th) and 104.4 rushing yards (12th). The unit also has 23 sacks, four interceptions and seven forced fumbles while holding six opponents to a maximum of 24 points.
The unit is far from perfect, but strong trench play from Akiem Hicks next to a healthy Eddie Goldman has made a big difference. Leonard Floyd continues to look like one of the best young edge-rushers in the league, and a new-look secondary paired with a resurgence from Kyle Fuller has stabilized the unit overall.
Put another way, the defense is the Bears' strength and should only improve as young guys develop.
Akiem Hicks Is Arguably League's Most Underrated Player
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Hicks is at it again.
Anybody who watched the Bears last year knew he was one of the most underrated performers in the league, making play after play despite a stunning lack of talent around him.
Now the rest of the league has started to catch on to the idea Hicks is one of the biggest steals in recent memory.
Journalist Gregg Rosenthal put it best recently: "Akiem Hicks might be the best interior lineman in the NFL this season, non-Aaron Donald division."
Numbers don't do Hicks' play justice, but it's still impressive he has 20 solo tackles and seven sacks to his name already. He's a force in all phases of the game, and the Bears were smart to reward him with an extension earlier this year.
That, folks, is what we call a franchise building block.
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The Offensive Line Is a Problem
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Here's an evergreen comment for almost every team in the league: The offensive line is an issue.
Injuries haven't helped. Both Kyle Long and Josh Sitton on the inside have dealt with issues. And as previously mentioned, Kush isn't around to ease some of the pressure on the interior.
Speaking of the interior, after being a breakout rookie a year ago at center, Cody Whitehair has struggled to play consistently while moving around the line.
It's quite apparent the Bears need to focus on the offensive trenches next offseason. The staff thinks it has something with Charles Leno on the left edge. But Whitehair needs to be consistently at center, and right tackle needs an upgrade. Long is 28 and often hurt. Sitton is 31.
An infusion of youth and perhaps a free-agent add or two will go a long way toward providing the Bears with necessary reinforcements. That said, how the line plays the rest of the season with the more mobile Trubisky under center is something to watch.
Mitchell Trubisky Looks the Part
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This should go without saying, right?
Still, Trubisky's play is the not only the brightest part for the Bears this season—it is the talking point surrounding the team.
Trubisky has been far from perfect while letting his running game and defense do the bulk of the heavy lifting. The numbers show it too, based on his 47.5 percent completion percentage with two touchdowns and interceptions.
Even opponents see beyond the numbers, though. Here's what New Orleans Saints coach Sean Payton—who knows a few things about quarterbacks and the job Ryan Pace can do—had to say, according to Zach Zaidman of WSCR 670: "I think he's got a bright future."
Short and sweet. It's not hard to see how different the Bears offense looks with Trubisky under center compared to Mike Glennon. His big arm and mobile base make him a threat in more ways than one, which defenses respect.
If he keeps building off these encouraging signs, the Bears won't have to worry about the position for a while.
The 2017 Class Is a Success...so Far
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Pace nailed the 2017 draft class.
It seemed fun from a national perspective to poke fun at Pace as he seemingly relied on an unconventional approach with small-school prospects.
He's probably laughing now.
Pace traded up for Trubisky, and he looks good. Second-round pick Adam Shaheen out of Ashland hasn't seen a ton of playing time yet, but he was stuck at one of the deepest spots on the depth chart. He's a 6'5", 270-pound tight end, so it's hard to imagine he won't have a big impact when given a chance.
Then there is fourth-round pick Eddie Jackson, a versatile safety who has locked down a starting spot in the secondary and has two defensive touchdowns to his name. The other fourth-round pick, Tarik Cohen out of North Carolina A&T, has been a great change-of-pace option for Jordan Howard when used well by the coaching staff.
Add it all up, and the Bears have massaged a few major needs with young players. Sprinkle in some smooth play by veterans, and it's not hard to see where the Bears need to attack the roster next offseason—which is a good thing because before it was an anything-goes attitude.
The rebuild has clearly taken a step in the right direction.
All contract information courtesy of Spotrac unless otherwise specified. Stats courtesy of NFL.com. All advanced metrics courtesy of Pro Football Focus.
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