The primary challenge for Bears coach Matt Eberflus revolves around fundamental issues. Eberflus, who values leadership and teaching, is struggling to effectively convey his messages, and time is running out. Nevertheless, he is actively working on improving this aspect.
In a strong show of support for Coach Matt Eberflus, Bears general manager Ryan Poles endorsed Eberflus’ careful evaluation of his assistant coaches, especially after the recent departures of running backs coach David Walker and defensive coordinator Alan Williams in September. Poles emphasized Eberflus’ high integrity and commitment to bringing in individuals who meet the team’s standards.
However, the missteps made by Williams and Walker still reflect poorly on Eberflus since they demonstrated a lack of respect for their superior. Coaches, just like players, aim to command respect from their staff, and it is expected that this respect would lead to the right actions, as everything the assistants do reflects on the coach who hired them. Whether it was an issue with the vetting process or not, Eberflus takes responsibility for these situations.
Ultimately, Eberflus’ fate will be determined by the team’s performance on the field, and with a record of 2-6 this season and 5-20 overall, Eberflus needs his leadership skills to shine. To secure his position, players need to not only support him but also overachieve for him. Currently, there are few players who are exceeding expectations, and Eberflus must work on changing that.
Heading into the critical second half of his second season, Eberflus’ most significant challenge is to ensure his core values, such as the H.I.T.S. principle and his emphasis on fundamentals and scheme fit, are near perfection. So far, they have not lived up to expectations. Eberflus needs to transition from being an ordinary coach to one who can inspire his players to go the extra mile for him.
Even last season, when expectations were low due to significant player trades, the Bears did not show improvement, slipping in rankings for points and yards allowed. This season, with a stronger roster, they were expected to do better but currently stand at 2-6, with progress often thwarted by injuries and strong opposing quarterbacks.
In Eberflus’ defense, Ryan Poles sees a team that fights and doesn’t easily fold, even after a tough loss to the Chargers. However, this loss revealed defensive issues marked by missed tackles, which Eberflus attributed to fundamentals. It raises the question of why these fundamentals are not yet solid, to which Eberflus acknowledges the need to continually sharpen these skills.
Eberflus, like most coaches, sees his role as that of a teacher. To survive and thrive, he must become a better coach by becoming a more effective teacher whose lessons resonate with his players.
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