Flash Tizzle

Poles should consider stepping down as the GM. There is a very narrow path to success for him. He has to oversee all of the following in one season: successfully pick the next HC (and its accompanying staff), draft/sign through FA a collection of talent who will bring immediate success, take a huge step forward with Williams’ development, all the while competing in the toughest division in football. Impossible. Especially when he hasn’t checked any of those requirements to this point! Why would anyone believe he could somehow make it work? A important question for me is try to decide is, what is our metric for deciding if Poles was successful or not? Is it as black and white as, playoffs or he’s fired? What about if the Bears finished 9-8 but missed out on a final playoff spot? Or, a scenario where Caleb and the offense looks great overall but the defense continues they slide and they finish below .500? I wouldn’t be surprised if both Johnson and Vrabel did not select the Bears. The Jets will entice Vrabel with a voice in the GM search. Even with their meddling owner and Rodgers drama, having your voice heard is a powerful selling point. There’s a possibility the Cowboys also pivot towards him. With Johnson, the Jags will offer him more roster control than he would get here. Also, are you sitting across the sidelines watching this disaster of a team thinking you can fix it? Then whatever relationship you have with Poles, you have to deal with another GM the following season. The easiest path forward for the Bears starts with firing Poles. Then, we immediately become a more attractive option for all of these coaches.

We all know damn well if the Chicago Bears were in that situation, there’s no way they would bench a quarterback they just signed to a huge off-season deal. Regardless of who was waiting in the wings, or how he was performing.

Penix replacing Cousins. I was a huge fan of his before the draft, and really believe the national title game squashed his value just a little bit. Enough to knock him out of the Top 3 slot.

Poles should be devoting 80+% of his draft AND FA funds to upgrading the offensive line. Yes, there are upgrades needed on defense as well; but think about the #1 metric by which Poles will be judged - the development of CW. Poles must do everything he can, even if it borders on tampering, to let Trey Smith know the Bears will reset the market and give the man his bag. When you envision the different scenarios for 2025, one where the Bears are in a Bengals situation (Top 10 offense, bottom 5 defense, in the playoff hunt, but possibly below .500) would be my goal. If we have to forsake defense for offense, it’s a risk I’m willing to take. Get the most important position, right, then worry about the other pieces in the upcoming seasons while he is still cheap.

Caleb deserves some blame. He had some bad O lines at USC and still wasn’t missing receivers by 10 yards, or just not recognizing open receivers directly in front of him.

We never know whose turn it is, but Williams, Amegadije, and Kramer have stepped up to do their part today.

Aikman has been rightfully critical of Williams. Usually we get the 3rd string announcers who hold back, but this game has really shown how far off he is. Caleb looks terrible. If he doesn’t drastically improve next season, we may need to have some uncomfortable questions about his future.

Opposing teams have figured out this defense. My god, reception after reception uncontested.

Caleb cannot even see Odunze wide open right in front him!?

I can’t even be excited for that interception, because I doubt the ability of this offense to move the ball 80 yards (in the 1st half)

I wasn’t hoping for that either. Only that with the lack of front line protection, Caleb’ well being depends on quickly releasing the football. And if those quick throws lead to interceptions, so be it. I imagine we will know early how the line holds up. BIG assignment from Kiran today filling in for Braxton.

This is a game where I wouldn’t even mind if Caleb threw 5 interceptions. It’s about survival more than his development at this point. That ball needs to thrown in under 2.5 seconds. Whether to a receiver, out of bounds, or buried in the ground.

It really seems like such an obvious decision to move on from him. If you were Poles, and understood next season determines your fate, what would you do? You would likely put every resource (FA/draft) into making sure you win right away. I wouldn’t be surprised to see them offer Trey Smith a record deal. Additionally, if they question their position in the draft to pick up Will Campbell, trade up using their #1 and #2 to snag him. Poles is fighting for his career here. There are no long term repercussions to worry about if the Bears have losing season and you’re fired.

For evaluating Poles, the entire Flus experience (from beginning to end) cancels out the Carolina heist, IMO. Both are extreme examples of a historic success and failure. Now, after reading that article, I come away feeling less confident than ever about Poles. I would have honestly felt better knowing the decision to hire and retain him was influenced by ownership and/or Warren. The information we have available now, I would not allow Poles a chance to remain the GM. I cannot trust him to make the necessary roster and personnel decisions. Imagine what hangs over his head entering 2025. Is anyone willing to bet he is fired with anything less than a winning record? (Only caveat to that being Caleb shows amazing progress in a losing season). Now, someone who probably over analyzes every decision will have to draft and sign the right players to immediately turn around the roster in one season. In an incredibly difficult division. I just don’t see it for Poles. Then we’re telling ourselves after the fallout how obvious of a decision it was all along to fire Poles. Let’s not make that mistake. Fire him, find a replacement, move on.

I meant of the 8 remaining games, 4 are at home; and in that hypothetical scenario if they were to go 4-4, I could see those 4 wins coming at home. I was throwing out a, “most realistic” best case scenario