The Nose Test

There used to be a big sign on the outfield wall at Philadelphia’s Baker Bowl.  “The Phillies use Lifebuoy [Soap],” it read, “but they still stink,” fans joked.  Off of yesterday’s 41-21 loss to the Washington Redskins, the Bears must be using a lot of Lifebuoy.

Never has an NFL team tried to play without a secondary.  (I was forced once as a coach in Pony Ball to do without a shortstop; it didn’t go well.)  Washington quarterback Kirk Cousins threw at will (the Bears also aren’t big on pass rushing), and his receivers pretty much caught his passes the same way.  Cousins passed for 270 yards while his backfield ran for another 208 yards.  At the same time, Bears’ quarterback Matt Barkley threw five, yes, five interceptions.  But don’t expect Bears’ coach John Fox to criticize his players, or his coaching.  Why, the players work their tails off, as Fox likes to say, and tailess players could be part of the problem, along with a lack of talent and sideline preparation.

The Bears could draft as high as third in the spring. (Oh, imagine the excitement downtown if only the NFL had decided to hold up Chicago a third straight year for the “honor” of hosting the draft.)  Of course, two out of the last three of the team’s number ones played a total of four games combined this season, so you have to wonder about talent assessment.  But, hey, even a stopped clock gets the time right twice a day.  Maybe the 2017 draft will be one of those times.

And I do know this--there were close to 22,000 no-shows at Soldier Field yesterday.  The McCaskeys don't like it when the sheep start thinking for themselves and stay away.  For better or worse, there will be changes at Halas Hall come the offseason.