This morning, Chicago Bears Head Coach LQNoble announced that he will be stepping away from the team and entering the coaching carousel to focus on his baseball career. PML wishes him the best. PML also never stops, which means that a coaching vacancy equals an opportunity for one of the many carousel coaches to step in and prove why they belong. This league has never been as loaded with quality coaches as it is now, meaning that it will be a battle to fill teams with the best fits. With this being said, today we are going to take a look at the state of the Chicago Bears as coach Noble will be leaving them.
Young Stars
Justin Fields
Undoubtedly, the focal point of this team is Justin Fields. The former Ohio State signal-caller has racked up about 100 touchdowns in his first two seasons, showing that his potential is through the roof. He has everything you look for in the prototypical quarterback: good size, a live arm, and is an incredible athlete. With 94 throw power and 90 speed, he is not a one-trick pony. His rushing ability definitely could’ve been more utilized these past few seasons, but the previous coaching staff did a great job maximizing his passing abilities and building an offense that caters to his arm. Fields is the clear-cut face of the franchise for the foreseeable future, and the next coaching staff should make every possible effort to invest in his success.
Darnell Mooney
The next building block for the future is Fields’ go-to target, Darnell Mooney. What Mooney lacks in stature, he makes up for with incredible speed and skills. He has had an incredible breakout season this year, racking up nearly 2000 yards and 14 touchdowns through the air. He has quickly become one of the league’s most electrifying receiving targets and should be a priority in this roster’s management. Paired with the veteran Brandin Cooks, he has a perfect mentor to shape his game around and learn from.
Jaylon Johnson
Despite not having elite top-end speed, Johnson is a physical corner who excels in man coverage. He is not quite yet at the level where he can comfortably shadow the opposing team’s number one receiving threat, but he is well on his way. Johnson should be one of this team’s primary focuses when it comes to roster development. He is one great season away from being one of the league’s elite cornerbacks. This team has a strong defensive line, and though they lack an elite edge rusher, this line should give him opportunities to make plays in coverage. Look for him to continue to develop into one of the best corners in the NFC North as we move forward.
Veterans to keep around
Eddie Jackson
Jackson has been one of the premier playmakers in the Chicago secondary for quite a few years now, and he should continue to be a valuable piece of this roster long-term. Though he is not a flashy athlete, he is a ballhawk in coverage and is beyond capable in run support and tackling in the open field. He is a jack of all trades who a defensive coordinator can trust to protect the team in any situation. Despite not being an elite athlete and starting to age a bit, he is a valuable piece of this team that the next coaching staff needs to keep around and allow him to lead.
Brandin Cooks
The ultimate journeyman wide receiver, Brandin Cooks seemingly has a new home every season despite consistently being a solid producer at a high-value position. It would be wise for the next coaching staff to not continue the trend of making Cooks a one-year rental and instead keep him around long-term. His veteran presence is invaluable to their locker room and he provides a much-needed mentor for Mooney, who has a similar skill set. Cooks is a versatile threat in the offense and will give flexibility and adaptability to the playcalling as this team figures out how to cater to Justin Fields best.
Cody Whitehair
Developing solid offensive linemen is one of the more difficult tasks in the Premier Madden League, and Whitehair is just that. He is not elite by any stretch of the imagination, but he is a very solid offensive lineman who brings stability to an important position group. This offensive line unit is on the weaker side, and they can use any help they can get. If they can find one or two other solid contributors, this offensive line could very quickly be transformed into a solid unit.
Contracts to run from like the plague
Robert Quinn
Quinn is well past his prime and truthfully does not add much value to this current roster. In addition to being a poor contributor on the field, he also boasts the team’s largest cap hit of the roster. He has no pass rushing moves above 70 and is equally weak in defending the run. At this point, the only thing keeping him on the roster is his enormous cap penalty if he were to be cut. The next coaching staff will have to make a quick decision if they are going to ride this contract out or take the hit short term in order to free up cap space in the future.
Positions of strength
Skill positions
This roster is filled with dynamic playmakers are running back and wide receiver, with four running backs 72 overall or above, and five wide receivers greater than 90 speed. This roster is built well to have an offensive attack that doesn’t feature any single player above the rest and allows Justin Fields to always find the best option for any given situation. They do lack a true red zone threat, but tight end Cole Kmet is a developing option as a receiver. This team is a few pieces away from having an elite offense, but with proper cap management and some key roster-building decisions, they can improve quickly.
Secondary
This secondary has a great veteran (Eddie Jackson), an established young threat (Jaylon Johnson), and a handful of players who are well on their way to becoming mainstays of the roster. Free safety Mykael Wright is a very good athlete who does well in coverage. If the next coaching staff invests in him well, he can be a very solid option for the long term. Cornerbacks Emmanuel Moseley, Grant Haley, and Kindle Vildor are all guys who play their roles very well and it is easy to see the potential they have. This unit isn’t fully established yet, but they are moving in the right direction and a definite strength of the team.
Positions of need
Linebacker
This roster is hurting at the linebacker spot. After moving on from Roquan Smith and Khalil Mack in some controversial moves, this roster lacks an elite edge rusher and a true field general who can go sideline to sideline and fill any gaps. Tanner Muse and Brandon Smith are elite athletes at linebacker, but need some time to refine their skills. Those guys have sky-high potential and they are going to need a coaching staff willing to develop them at all costs. Every team needs a premier edge rusher, and that is a position that has yet to be filled since the departure of Khalil Mack.
Offensive Line
This offensive line definitely isn’t the worst unit you will see in the league, but it leaves much to be desired. Developing linemen from the draft is a tall task, so improving this position group would take savvy moves in free agency or a silver tongue in trade talks. Offensive line is one of the most difficult positions to talk coaches into trading, so good luck to whoever takes over the Bears with their efforts to rehaul the line.
Final Thoughts
This is a very solid roster that may not completely stand out in most areas, but is pretty complete. While they leave a bit to be desired at a few positions, this roster is overall well built. Justin Fields gives this team much-needed stability under center for years to come, and that is the most important thing any team could ask for. They have some weapons on offense and a very good secondary that has elite potential. If the next coaching staff can invest in current youth and make some smart decisions in their first offseason, this team could contend for the NFC North title potentially.
