Where is the general manager of the Chicago Bears? After a 5-1 start to the 2020 campaign that saw fourth-year QB Mitchell Trubisky benched halfway through Week 3, it seems the man at the forefront of the half-decade roster overhaul is staying in the shadows, behind the scenes. Not typically prone to commanding the spotlight, it just feels odd that we haven’t heard much at all from the Bears front office.
From a fan’s perspective, it surely feels like the Matt Nagy Show thus far in 2020. Maybe the benching of Pace’s 2nd overall pick in the 2017 NFL Draft was a strong signal for the GM to stay hidden for the time being. That said, the roster at hand claims possession to numerous holes, mostly surrounding an already weak offensive line, now injury stricken with the loss of James Daniels at left guard.
Perfect Timing
The Bills cut lineman Quinton Spain on Wednesday afternoon and Bears fans and free-agent recruiter/special teams extraordinaire Cordarrelle Patterson immediately went on the offensive in making a push for Chicago and Spain to connect. Maybe wishful thinking, but if Spain, who’s dealt with minor foot issues in the early going of the season, is healthy, he’s a better plug on the left side than the ragtag tandem of Rashaad Coward and Alex Bars.
Coward spent the 2019 season in Chicago, starting ten games on the right side of the line in place for the injured and now retired Kyle Long. Coward barely stayed upright on the right side, so to expect the embattled guard to pick up quickly on the footwork shift the left side might be a stretch. The struggles were a glaring issue for the Bears offense on Sunday in Carolina, Coward’s first start of the season.
Bars doesn’t provide much support between Whitehair and Leno, either. The immediate replacement for Daniels after the starter left with the pectoral issue found himself constantly on his back at the hands of a stout defensive line with Tampa Bay. It might make one assume the only reason Bars saw the field on that Thursday night was because his helmet was closest when the call rang out for an emergency lineman.
Slam Dunk Signing, Mr. GM…
Meanwhile, Spain only found himself on the free agent market after Buffalo realized they could save a buck and stick it out with second-year guard Cody Ford. He’s the perfect candidate for a fresh start resurgence to his career. The best part? As a free agent, there’s no trading away draft capital, just trying to sign a player to fill a major hole in an inconsistent-at-best offense. This still allows Pace the flexibility necessary if the general manager had plans to improve another area of need ahead of the Week 8 trade deadline *cough* wide receiver *cough*.
Spain likely falls into fan-favorite material immediately upon arrival in Chicago, too, if Pace is able to secure a deal. The reasoning for that? If you can protect our quarterback, you honestly deserve the world at this point. Keeping Nick Foles upright is Objective #1 in Chicago.
Genuinely never thought something involving “upright” would be a goal for the Chicago Bears, but 2020 wasn’t wacky enough.
