With the Bears set to kick off training camp this week, there’s an excitement surrounding the team that hasn’t been present in quite a long time.
And rightfully so. This is a team coming off an impressive 12-4 season, including a division title and the team’s first playoff berth in eight years.
That, and they had arguably the best defense and one of the more innovative offenses in the NFL. And given they return most of their starters on both sides of the ball, the expectations are quite high for what this team can accomplish.
But just like with any season there are always storylines that will garner a ton of attention at training camp, including most notably the kicker competition.
Here are five storylines to keep an eye on at Bears training camp:
1. Mitch Trubisky’s mastery of the offense
All eyes will be on third-year quarterback Mitch Trubisky, who’s coming off a Pro Bowl season with still plenty to prove. Trubisky showed growth in his second season, his first in Matt Nagy’s offense.
But this season is all about Trubisky making an even bigger leap from Year 2 to Year 3 (or Football 101 to 202) as he’s now more comfortable and confident in this offense. He needs to prove he can more consistent — think less, react more.
Having a season in this offense under his belt should be helpful, as should the plethora of offensive weapons that the Bears have surrounded him with.
2. The kicker carousel continues
The talk of the offseason has been the kicker competition, which is far from resolved and only serves to be the focal point heading into the regular season.
A kicker competition that had as many as eight contenders during rookie minicamp, the race is down to two, in Elliott Fry and Eddy Pineiro. Both have been inconsistent during the offseason, but GM Ryan Pace sees potential.
Pace said that the Bears will be scouring the wavier wire for potential kickers, saying that every option is on the table. So don’t be surprised if the starting kicker isn’t on the roster yet.
3. All eyes on the rookies
While the Bears don’t have any glaring issues on their roster, they’ve added rookies that only serve to make their team better. And they’ve found them both through the draft and undrafted free agency.
Running back David Montgomery will no doubt draw the most attention, as he looks to battle for the starting job in a backfield that consists of veterans Tarik Cohen and Mike Davis. Montgomery has turned heads throughout the offseason, and everyone will be watching for more of the same in training camp.
Also turning heads this offseason has been receiver Riley Ridley, who has impressed with his route running and on-field speed, as well as undrafted receiver Emanuel Hall, whose ability to stretch the field vertically makes him an asset. But after sports hernia surgery, Hall has been on the sidelines since rookie minicamp.
Other rookies of note include cornerback Duke Shelley, tight end Dax Raymond, running back Kerrith Whyte Jr. and offensive lineman Alex Bars, among others.
4. Defense under Chuck Pagano
The Bears defense put on a clinic last season, and despite losing Vic Fangio to Denver, there’s a belief that this unit can be just as good, perhaps even better with new defensive coordinator Chuck Pagano.
While there are sure to be learning curves as the defense adjusts to Pagano, this is a unit that returns 10 starters, including three All-Pros in Khalil Mack, Eddie Jackson and Kyle Fuller.
Then you have guys like Pro Bowler Akiem Hicks, Roquan Smith, Danny Trevathan, Eddie Goldman and Leonard Floyd. This is a group that’s developed a good chemistry, and given Pagano’s penchant to be more aggressive than Fangio, it’ll be exciting to watch.
5. Chasing Great
Last year, it was about being “obsessed to be the best.” This season, it’s about “chasing great.” But Matt Nagy is making sure he’s keeping his team hungry and motivated heading into a 2019 season where expectations are incredibly high.
Following an impressive season where they went 12-4, won the division and made the playoffs, it’s hard to top a season like that. But this team isn’t getting complacent, rather choosing to focus on how they can get better in pursuit of their ultimate goal, a Super Bowl.
With the Bears celebrating their centennial season, they are under many watchful eyes who are looking for this team to leave a lasting legacy of its own. The Bears have Super Bowl aspirations, and the work continues in training camp.
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