Why the Bears Will Likely Give Ryan Pace Another Crack at QB
Mitch Trubisky isn’t quite dead yet, but the former #2 pick is certainly on life support. Nine games remain in the 2019 season. His play of late suggests he still hasn’t master even the basic requirements of playing quarterback in the NFL. His fundamentals are still sloppy. He’s overthrowing wide open receivers. He can’t get the ball out on time and even worse he’s stopped using his legs to create more big plays. It feels like a change is growing inevitable. What people want to know is do the Chicago Bears dare let Ryan Pace be the man to do it?
Let’s be honest. The GM doesn’t exactly have the best reputation when it comes to that position. It’s not just limited to his selection of Trubisky either. He also handed Mike Glennon a sizable contract in 2017 with Matt Barkley, Brian Hoyer, and Chase Daniel being other notable additions. Not exactly an encouraging lineup of QBs. For all the good things Pace has done rebuilding the Bears’ roster, his lack of success at the most important position has many scared to death that he’ll have a say in Trubisky’s eventual replacement.
Would the Bears take that risk?
Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune thinks so, but not necessarily because they trust his judgment to get it right the next time. There is a more practical reason in play.
“General manager Ryan Pace is signed through the 2021 season. His top lieutenants, Champ Kelly and Josh Lucas, both got new contracts after last season. Coach Matt Nagy is signed through the 2022 season. So, barring some unforeseen turmoil, I find it hard to believe the Bears will fire a GM they have signed for two more seasons and even less likely they fire a coach who is signed for three more years. Both guys were honored for their work last season. I believe the future of the franchise, certainly in terms of the 2020 season, rests in the hands of Pace and Nagy.”
Ryan Pace is working against the clock more than ever
Pace will have two years left on his contract entering 2020. So ask this question. Would he be willing to invest one of those precious years on another season of Trubisky? That feels doubtful at this point. He must get this team back to winning and quarterback in their biggest weak point. It’s a position he has to fix as quickly as possible. Whether he can do that remains the big question but it seems like he’ll have the green light to try, if for no other reason than the organization isn’t willing to make such a huge change to their front office just yet.
The good news is this time around Pace won’t have to find that next QB alone. During his first three seasons, the GM had little input from the coaching staff. John Fox was an old, defensive mind who offered little expertise on the position. This time he’ll have Matt Nagy, a quarterback specialist in his ear the entire time. Not to mention Brad Childress and Dave Ragone as well. This doesn’t guarantee success, but it should at least give the Bears better odds at finding the right guy.