By the Numbers

Those natives by the lake known as Bears’ fans are getting restless, or at least wise to the smoke ownership is trying to blow their way.  On a beautiful crisp November Sunday, some 10,000 of them didn’t show for yet another game that got away.  In other words, nearly seventeen percent of Soldier Field stood empty for a 27-24 loss to the Lions that ended with a missed Connor Barth field goal from 46 yards out.

Because the McCaskeys are a penny-wise lot, it will take some time for them absorb the significance of the no-shows.  Right now, I suspect they think they’ve pulled a fast one over those rubes who paid for tickets but didn’t attend.  But as soon as a toady shows the McCaskey “brain trust” how fewer fans translates into less concessions’ revenue, they should get fired up.

And the Bears forever being the Bears, it’ll be a game of one step forward and one or more steps back.  In true broken-clock fashion, GM Ryan Pace looks to have gotten it right with rookie quarterback Mitch Trubisky.  The same can’t be said for Pace’s choice of John Fox as head coach or any of a slew of other personnel decisions.

Take kicker Connor Barth, (please, as the old joke goes).  Barth was brought in at the start of last season because he was younger—and cheaper, always important in Bears’ calculations—than incumbent Robbie Gould, this despite Gould’s career accuracy which may land him a spot in Canton (the NFL’s Cooperstown for anyone not in the know).  Talk about a dumb move.

This year, Gould is 19/21 kicking for the 49ers versus Barth’s 11/16 with Chicago.  The 34-year old Gould is 11/12 from 40/49 yards out.  And Barth, who at the age of 31 should be three years stronger than Gould?  Oh, he’s all of 5/9 including yesterday’s miss.  Gould is also 2/2 from 50-plus yards out vs. Barth’s 1/2.

Maybe things will really change for the better once the no-shows reach 20,000 or more, but I wouldn’t bet on it.