Matt Eberflus Even Has Notorious Bears Critic Optimistic
Matt Eberflus was not the choice many Chicago Bears fans and media had in mind when the team hired him as their new head coach. He wasn’t young (51 years old) and didn’t have an extensive background on offense. He was a rock solid defensive coordinator with four successful seasons with the Indianapolis Colts. There was no applause when GM Ryan Poles introduced him. Then, when he preached his now infamous H.I.T.S philosophy, it was immediately met with sighs of exasperation. It felt to many like the Bears were going backward.
Fast forward several months, and it appears tunes have started to change. There is no better example of this than Jon Greenberg. Anybody familiar with the Bears beat knows the Athletic columnist is arguably the most cynical and pessimistic of the bunch. That is why his recent article expressing admiration and optimism for what Eberflus is doing may catch people by surprise.
Matt Nagy sometimes seemed like he was trying to outsmart the world, a man reminding himself to be himself. Was it insecurity or false bravado? Is there a difference?
Perhaps Eberflus’ simplistic approach — see ball, run to ball — could pay dividends this season and beyond. It’s not wishcasting to think, yeah, this could work.
Greenberg went on to say that some guys just know how to coach.
They may not come across as brilliant philosophers or Harvard grads, but when it comes to football, they understand what is required to win. For all the complexities it can manifest, it remains a simple sport. The team that works harder, plays faster and operates smarter almost always comes out on top.
That’s not to say Eberflus is Don Shula. I don’t even know if he’s Mike Shula. But a good coach can adapt. And a good coach has an idea about how to win. Eberflus has impressed us professional onlookers so far, but the games that count are still weeks away. It’s OK to have an open mind.
So while the national punditry, armed with stray thoughts from a player personnel executive or an assistant GM who wants the Bears job one day, are predicting the Bears will win three or four games, I’m not as sure of their imminent irrelevance.
I can see a path to the Bears winning seven games. Maybe even eight, but let’s not get crazy.
Matt Eberflus is producing results despite limited manpower.
People question the Bears’ overall talent level. That is a valid criticism. They have holes at multiple roster spots. Still, that isn’t an excuse for Eberflus. That doesn’t mean the team should play any less hard or smart. Two preseason games show he is on the right track. The team plays with clear urgency, scoring 46 points, allowing only 25, and committing six total penalties. Preseason or not, the results speak for themselves.
The start of the 2022 season will likely be rough. Chicago plays two of the best teams in the NFC right out of the gate. However, the way Matt Eberflus has them coached leads one to think this is an approach that will succeed in the long run. A team that plays hard for 60 minutes every week tends to win more games than they should. When talent can’t carry the day, effort and urgency pick up the slack. It should be an exciting season.