Bears Press Conference Established Blame but No Word on a QB

The new Bears coordinators' press conference provided no revelations, as both offensive coordinator Shane Waldron and defensive coordinator Eric Washington met the team's main requirement.

They communicated very little about team plans for the upcoming draft, free agency and possible trades.

So from a grading standpoint they get two grades: A D-minus from the media/fans and an A+ from the standpoint of the team.

No one can be sure how Waldron will do calling plays after three years in Seattle, and it's only partially because of the quarterback situation. He actually has a team with a running game now, but in Seattle they were last in rushing attempts in his first season before correcting this once Geno Smith was the quarterback.

What happens now in that regard is anyone's guess.

However, they can be sure Waldron is a good tap dancer. He tap-danced right around every question looking for insight into the Justin Fields/Caleb Williams quarterback decision. Whether it was approached from the angle of a the draft's QBs, what he liked about the Bears job or simply whether he had even spoken yet to Justin Fields. He had, but it was only a message exchange. Possibly texts, maybe emails ... probably not telegrams, carrier pigeons or shouting.

This definitely triggered thoughts that they're being distant because they don't want Fields back, but Waldron quickly came back off the ropes with: "I think whether it's with him or all of these guys, I think part of it's the rules and you can't go out and meet with the guys right now, but trying to reach out to each guy ..."

Then he even tossed some praise Fields' way when talking about which players he inherited who he likes best.

"I'm just excited about some of the explosive play-makers, some of the core foundational pieces that we have up front," Waldron said. "And then some of the toughness in the runners, things they’ve displayed on tape right here. And obviously at the quarterback position, with the ability to be explosive, to be a playmakers, to work off-schedule.

"Those things are all good pieces to an offense that really finished strong last year and I'm looking really to see, how can we as an offensive staff look to build upon that, how to incorporate our system with a bunch of great players that have had success in this league."

Saying last year's Bears offense finished strong was probably bending backwards a bit too far, or he just didn't watch that game film. If he did, those nine points against Green Bay must have left quite an impression.

The fact his predecessor is no longer here and he has a job in Chicago probably has more to do with a finish that wasn't so strong.

Here are other observations about the talking and the tap-dancing and one person in particular came away looking bad from the press conference.

1. Luke Getsy Took a Beating

Without mentioning his name, Bears coach Matt Eberflus told everyone why his former offensive coordinator isn't here. He did it by telling everyone what he liked about the new coordinator.

"In-game adaptability—you've gotta have in-game tactics," Eberflus said. "That's an important part during the process of hiring the coordinators."

Probably it's not so important to the defensive coordinator because Washington won't call defensive plays but for Waldron it will be big.

Luke Getsy's Bears offense in 2022 scored on 70.6% of their first drives, which ranked No. 1 in the NFL. Yet, they were only 23rd in scoring. So after their quick starts with scripted plays, the offense went into the dumpster. Last season they weren't quite as effective on first drives but did outscore opponents in the first half of games over the second half by two points on average.

Getsy, who is now the Raiders offensive coordinator, did have some instances where he adapted in games. The Bears beat Arizona by 11 in a Christmas Eve game when they lost DJ Moore for much of the time due to injury and they didn't have Darnell Mooney at all due to injury. They conjured up that win but apparently they're laying it at Fields' quick feet if not Cole Kmet's receiving ability and a resurgent defense. 

2. Getsy Took a Bigger Beating

For the last two seasons, the inability to win games at the end got placed on Fields' arm. At least his detractors put it there.

Here, Waldron claimed this as a part of the offense he can help. He is going into his fourth year as an NFL offensive coordinator. 

Getsy was only in his first season calling plays when he came to the Bears.

"You know, the more reps you accumulate, the more situations that are put in front of you, the more and more natural it becomes to react with a positive decision in those scenarios right there," Waldron said. "And so for me I'll look back at this past season and take away the amount of game-winning drives we were (able to) accomplish and thinking about it from the calmness of the play caller in those scenarios.

"Taking the information in from all of the other coaches, everything is always going to be a collaborative effort in those regards, but being able to understand those situations and react in those split seconds and making the best decisions for the team as many times as you can throughout the course of the game."

The Seahawks had six game-winning drives last year, or twice the number Fields has had in his entire three-year career and five more than last season.

So with Waldron getting credit for two-thirds of Seattle's wins last season on game-winning drives late in the fourth quarter and Getsy gone, two plus two equals four.

3. Getsy Gets Even More Blame

Matt Eberflus mentioned the need for an offense and coordinator who are multiple, adjustable in games and to the players' strengths. 

Apparently Getsy wasn't it or he'd still be here. But here's "Mr. Adjustable," the guy who won with Russell Wilson, Geno Smith and even Drew Lock at quarterback.

"For me, having a system that's speaking the same language, that's multiple in the ways it can attack a defense, then you start to get the players and start to know what your personnel is going to look like that season—then you build it around a player's skillset," Waldron said. "I think, for me, that's been a part of my core beliefs. I feel like it's worked out well with the different quarterbacks I've had a change to be around the last couple years."

4. Hold Onto Your Caleb Horses

It might be the Bears really haven't made their final decision on drafting Williams. It really could still be up in the air, although they most certainly must have a heavy lean after scouting and watching film.

Waldron repeatedly highlighted how much he's looking forward to getting to Indianapolis for the player interviews and to look at the players close up when he was asked about Williams and the quarterbacks in this draft.

Like any team would, the Bears probably need to get to know the guy first before committing the first pick to him.

What if they found his personality wouldn't fit their locker room?  

That would never happen, would it?

Last year they could have taken Jalen Carter and he would have fit a huge need as a three technique. The situation with the drag racing charges and other incidents like his lack of conditioning for pro day were definite red flags. They weren't red flags for the Eagles, but the Bears traded back rather than take him and later, when asked about it, GM Ryan Poles did talk about the importance of the fit for the locker room. Putting a player like Carter in with a group of veteran defensive linemen in Philadelphia worked out there to a degree but would it have been that way in Chicago?

So the interview and personality aspect is big and they have not had the opportunity to check all of this out yet with Williams.

The lingering question is whether they blame Getsy entirely or also put some blame with Fields. 

The coming weeks will no doubt provide the answer a press conference couldn't.