As creative as he likes to be, Bears coach Matt Nagy knows the difference between working hard and working smart.
Virtual meetings via Zoom have helped address the restrictions of the COVID-19 quarantine — and Nagy has raved about their effectiveness. But they can’t replace the real thing — one-on-one interaction and on-field practice reps. So, anticipating those meetings reaching a point of diminishing returns, Nagy decided to end the Bears’ offseason program Thursday — 13 days before the scheduled end of the veteran mini-camp.
“We wouldn’t do this if we didn’t think we didn’t have what we needed in offensively, defensively and special teams,” Nagy said Tuesday on a Zoom teleconference with reporters. “I meet every morning with the coordinators and we all feel we’re in a really good place right now.
“And you want to be careful … there’s a fine line of going too far. It’s great that we have the opportunity to do it. If you go too far and we’re all staring at each other for two hours and we’re going over stuff and they’re not really listening — let’s be productive. Let’s let them work out. Let’s let them train. And when we come back for training camp we’re going to be ready to rock and roll.”
Where that leaves the Bears is anyone’s guess. With every NFL team in virtually the same situation, it remains to be seen if any team could gain an advantage with its approach to the quarantine offseason. Were the Bears any better at keeping their players engaged in the program and more committed to the physical-workout requirements of an NFL offseason? Nagy’s culture-building leadership style seems suited for that. But until the players return to the field, where the Bears are is a big unknown.
“We’ve had a phenomenal nine weeks of learning,” Nagy said. “I’m proud of our guys for showing up every day. It’s all voluntary and we’ve done a lot. Emotionally … there’s been a lot in the last week and a half [in response to the civil unrest in the U.S.], but on top of that on the football side, we’ve done a lot mentally to them.”
Nagy said the time off will give players a chance to “focus on training” and coaches a chance to “really dive into the cut-ups [on tape] and preparing to help these kids out. … We feel like we’re in a really good place right now.”
Still, every team has paid a price during this awkward offseason. And while the Bears’ defense is well-established and should have little problem getting into a groove whenever training camp begins, the offense is at the opposite end of that spectrum — with a quarterback competition (Mitch Trubisky vs. Nick Foles), four new coaches, and rookie Cole Kmet and veteran Jimmy Graham heading an overhaul at the all-important tight end position.
The impact on Trubisky and Foles is, of course, a focus. “You lose reps,” Nagy said. “We’ve got to create some as much as we can during training camp.”
Nagy said he’s excited to see Trubisky’s growth when the Bears get on the practice field, but admitted it’s difficult to know where Trubisky is based on Zoom conferences.
“I can [see progress] by the questions he’s asked,” Nagy said. “But other than that, it’s really hard. I’d be lying to you if I said I could tell a major difference. But what I can tell you is he shows up every single day; he asks great questions; he’s always involved heavily — and the same goes with Nick. Both of those guys have done a really good job with that.”
