Nagy's 'Offense Isn't Working,' But Some Things Never Change

Chicago IL

28 September, 2021

3:58 PM

Description

CHICAGO — Matt Nagy's offense just isn't working. That "Captain Obvious" revelation is brought to you by a Bears backup quarterback — at least, if your lip-reading skills at up to par. The moment of truth was captured by CBS Sports cameras Sunday when quarterback Nick Foles (a.k.a Captain Obvious) was caught dropping knowledge on injured starting quarterback Andy Dalton. Perhaps that newsflash should find its way to the people who matter and can do something about an offensive game plan that is putting rookie quarterback Justin Fields at risk if something doesn't change. That's the same Justin Fields who was sacked nine times during the Bears' 26-6 loss to the Cleveland Browns. That's the same rookie quarterback the Bears franchise is banking on to lead them back to the promised land. But if Nagy is allowed to continue in his role as chief play-caller and head honcho, Fields' NFL career (and health) could be at risk. "This offense just isnt working." - Nick Foles It's clear Matt Nagy has lost the lockerroom. #FireNagy pic.twitter.com/8qeOt7VTZb— Max Markham (@MaxMarkhamNFL) September 27, 2021 History tells us the Bears ownership won't fire Nagy anytime soon, no matter how loud the noise gets. But if the McCaskey family doesn't so something, they risk having players lose confidence in their head coach. When Fields wasn't on his back on Sunday, he was on the run. That had as much to do with Nagy's disastrous play-calling as it did an offensive line that was never considered steady. While Nagy's offensive game plan wasn't designed for Fields, he should have adjusted it for the clear differences between the rookie and Dalton. Because that didn't happen, the Bears averaged somewhere around one yard per play on Sunday. That takes us back to the video that surfaced during the game of Foles telling Dalton something to the effect of "This offense just isn't working." OK, that may be closer to Foles' exact words. But if the players know it, football people like the McCaskeys have to know it — even if the guy calling the plays doesn't. Or at least isn't willing to admit it. A day after Nagy said Sunday's showing was "on me," he took it a step further. He told reporters Monday at Halas Hall that "everything is on the table." That includes who starts at quarterback, who calls the plays from the sidelines and, apparently, any other aspect of the game plan heading into this week's game against the Detroit Lions. While Dalton's knee injury will likely keep him sidelined for another week, Nagy even suggested that Foles could start at quarterback. He said that everything is up for evaluation, which he surmised, is the way to keep things simple. How's this for simple? If the McCaskeys are serious about trying to win football games rather than allow Nagy's parade of excuses to continue from week to week, maybe everything should be the table. Maybe going against the grain isn't the worst option available. If nothing changes and Nagy devises another game plan that sets Fields up to fail, he and his bosses are risking losing the closest thing to a franchise quarterback the Bears have had in years. They've already presumably lost a fan base that sees Fields as the next great hope and that is now publicly pushing for Nagy and general manger Ryan Pace to be fired immediately. Short of making a meaningful move, the McCaskeys can no longer look the other way and pretend that Nagy will magically get things figured out. If they do, the losses will continue to mount, the development plan the Bears had created for Fields will be trashed, and a quarterback who lost twice as a starter at Ohio State will continue to grow weary of a franchise that is wasting his abilities. Meanwhile, Nagy promises things will get better. Where have we heard this before? "The one thing I want to make loud and clear about these players is these guys, they all care," Nagy said. "They all really care. And so what we've got to do is take that care and do it on the field offensively. We've got to produce more points and get more first downs. And we've got to coach better." Thanks, Captain Obvious.