Chicago Bears 2019 Season Preview
Chris Ransom follow @DraftUtopia Posted on 7/31/2019.
Chicago Bears Free Agency Recap
The Bears got running back Mike Davis in Free Agency. Chicago also signed HaHa Clinton-Dix in Free Agency to play free safety next to Eddie Jackson. HaHa Clinton-Dix is an upgrade over Adrian Amos who signed with Green Bay to replace Clinton-Dix. Chicago also got nickel cornerback Buster Skrine from the New York Jets.
Chicago Bears Draft Recap
The Bears got Iowa State running back David Montgomery in the third round of the 2019 NFL Draft. Montgomery is competing for a starting running back spot with Mike Davis and Tarik Cohen.
Chicago Bears Quarterback Summary: Mitchell Trubisky is the starting quarterback now. Chicago has head coach Matt Nagy who has experience with quarterbacks, offensive coordinator Mark Helfrich, and quarterbacks coach Dave Ragone are all there to coach Trubisky. The Bears kept their quarterback coach from last year while upgrading at both head coach and offesnive coordinator. Backup Chase Daniel showed he could be serviceable with great offensive coaches who specialize in developing quarterbacks like Nagy, Helfrich, and Ragone.
Chicago Bears Running Back Summary: The Chicago Bears have Mike Davis, David Montgomery, and Tarik Cohen competing to be the starting running back. Charles London returns to Chicago for his second season as the running backs coach.
Chicago Bears Wide Receiver Summary: Chicago has Allen Robinson and Taylor Gabriel as their top two receivers. Anthony Miller is back at slot receiver. None of Chicago's receivers dominated by getting 100 receptions, 1,000 receiving yards, or 10 receiving touchdowns, yet each receiver contributed in a big way last season. Mike Furrey isn't my ideal choice for a wide receivers coach, but he did well with this group in 2018.
Chicago Bears Tight End Summary: Chicago has Trey Burton as their starting tight end with Adam Shaheen as a backup tight end. Shaheen is already dealing with injuries in training camp. Kevin Gilbride returns as the tight ends coach.
Chicago Bears Offensive Line Summary: Charles Leno did okay at left tackle after being extended, but I still do not think he's the long-term answer. Cody Whitehair is the left guard after beginning his career as a center. James Daniel, Chicago's 2018 second round pick out of Iowa will play center. Kyle Long is moving back to his natural position at right guard, and Bobby Massie is going to play right tackle. Massie got extended too, and that is a decision I question to a point. Even though Leno and Massie were effective in 2018, you can certainly argue that both offensive tackles are overpaid.
Harry Heistand was the offensive line coach at Notre Dame before joining Chicago in 2018. Heistand is the guy who deserves a lot of credit for turning around Chicago's offensive line which was my biggest question with Chicago heading into the season.
Chicago has all of their offensive starters back at every position except running back. Trubisky claims he's even built stronger team chemistry with guys from their team last season when Chicago captured the NFC North Division. Chicago also has all of their offensive coaches back too.
Chicago Bears Defensive Line Summary: Akeim Hicks will start at 3-4 right end once again. Eddie Goldman returns at nose tackle. Bilal Nichols is expected to take over as the new starting 3-4 left end. Jay Rogers succeeded as the Broncos defensive line coach because he had great defensive linemen to work with. Rogers enters his fifth season as the Chicago Bears defensive line coach.
Chicago Bears Linebacker Summary: Khalil Mack was an awesome addition for Chicago at 3-4 right outside linebacker and that allowed Leonard Floyd to move to 3-4 left outside linebacker where he thrived. Danny Trevathian and Roquan Smith are the projected starters at 3-4 middle linebacker. Roquan Smith did well as a rookie. This linebacker core is the backbone of Chicago's defense.
With Vic Fangio and Glen Pires gone, Chicago now has an outside and inside linebackers coach along with no defensive coordinator who specializes in linebackers. If we see a drop off in Chicago's front 7 this season, it will be due to coaching and nothing else. Mark DeLeone was an inside linebackers coach in Kansas City. He worked with Matt Nagy in Kansas City and is now Chicago's linebackers coach.
Chicago Bears Defensive Backs Summary: Kyle Fuller and Prince Amukamara will compliment each other as cornerbacks on the Chicago Bears with Fuller being the field cornerback and Amukamara being a boundary cornerback. Buster Skrine is the nickel cornerback. Eddie Jackson will start at strong safety while HaHa Clinton-Dix starts at free safety.
Defensive coordinator Chuck Pagano specializes in developing defensive backs. That's one reason why Chicago could still possess a lethal defense considering what Pagano did with the Ravens as a defensive coordinator before the Colts hired him as a head coach. Defensive backs coach Ed Donnatell is now Denver's defensive coordinator. Former Steelers defensive back DeShea Townsend is the new defensive backs coach in Chicago working under Coach Pagano to take pressure off of Pagano while he calls plays on defense.
Chicago's defense was one of the best in the NFL in 2018. Chicago should continue to wield one of the leagues best defenses in 2019.
Chicago Bears Special Teams Summary: Elliott Fry is now the new kicker. Pat O'Donnell is a good punter. Tarik Cohen is the Bears kick returner and punt returner now.
Chris Tabor is now the Bears Special Teams Coordinator. Tabor did well as the special teams coordinator. Kicker is still an issue for Chicago even after Cody Parkey's kick in the wild card loss to the Philadelphia Eagles.
Chicago Bears Worst Case Scenario: Chicago goes 7-9. Chicago has a losing record and a down year due to overpaid offensive tackles and a shitty job by their kicker.
Chicago Bears Best Case Scenario: Chicago wins the NFC North again. This time the Bears actually manage to win a playoff game before losing a playoff game.
Chicago Bears 2019 NFL Schedule
Week |
Date |
Opponent |
Time |
Cable Network |
Result |
Week 1 |
September 5 |
VS  |
8:20 PM EST |
NBC |
W |
Week 2 |
September 15 |
AT  |
4:25 PM EST |
FOX |
L |
Week 3 |
September 23 |
AT  |
8:15 PM EST |
ESPN |
W |
Week 4 |
September 29 |
VS  |
4:25 PM EST |
FOX |
W |
Week 5 |
October 6 |
AT  |
1 PM EST |
FOX |
L |
Week 6 |
|
Bye Week |
|
|
|
Week 7 |
October 20 |
VS  |
4:25 PM EST |
CBS |
W |
Week 8 |
October 27 |
VS  |
1 PM EST |
CBS |
W |
Week 9 |
November 3 |
AT  |
1 PM EST |
FOX |
L |
Week 10 |
November 10 |
VS  |
1 PM EST |
FOX |
L |
Week 11 |
November 17 |
AT  |
8:20 PM EST |
NBC |
L |
Week 12 |
November 24 |
VS  |
1 PM EST |
FOX |
W |
Week 13 |
November 28 |
AT |
12:30 PM EST |
FOX |
L |
Week 14 |
December 5 |
VS  |
8:20 EST |
FOX |
W |
Week 15 |
December 15 |
AT |
1 EST |
FOX |
L |
Week 16 |
December 22 |
VS  |
8:20 PM EST |
NBC |
L |
Week 17 |
December 29 |
AT |
1 PM EST |
FOX |
L |
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