Does the Bears arrow point up or down?

Oh, what a difference a quarterback makes.

Typically after the awkward and controversial press conference at the end of January, where the Bears patted themselves on the back by climbing out of a dug hole into the playoffs at 8 to 8 after losing six straight games, many Bears fans were far too awkward and in a controversial situation: rooting for system change in.

Then came the draft.

Bears CEO Ryan Paces is trading to move from 20th to 11th place in the first round and by choosing Ohio state quarterback Justin Fields changed everything. With one bold bet, Pace reversed the course of fan base dissatisfaction and offered the best salvation this franchise could hope for instead of success: hope and excitement.

Fields ’sketch caused an exhaustion that never existed with Mitch Trubisky, who was the choice of peoples as rookies in 2017, but largely because he wasn’t Mike Glennon. Fields has loyal credentials with a 20-2 record in the state of Ohio, and he won a signature against Clemson in the College Football Playoff. The experts who bet Paces up to take Trubisky gave him the A-pros in the Fields gambit.

Three years ago, Pace created a refreshing buzz when he traded to Khalil Mack, but Fields ’sketch dwarfed it. As good as Mack is, the Bears have had elite defenders before many of them, in fact. But they have never had a quarterback opportunity like Justin Fields in the modern NFL era.

When Fields buzzes at an early fever, dissenting notes are pushed into the background. Why did 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan prefer the relatively unproven Trey Lance? Why did teams in need of defensive help, such as the Broncos and Eagles, move the fields forward? Former NFL quarterback Chris Simms, an analyst with an impressive performance team potential assessment, ranks Fields sixth in this year’s draft, even behind Mac Jones and Kellen Mond, and has problems with Fields ’throwing mechanics. It’s going to be a tough solution, Simms said in a YouTube video evaluating Fields, which he ranked 39th among the NFL’s top 40 defenders.

We will see about that. Or will it come? Fields is set to spend his newcomer in apprenticeship training behind veteran Andy Dalton. History says that hell is likely to play at some point in its infancy. But whether he does or not, the Bears ’outlook for 2021 is vastly unknown. While the offensive songs are in place, Does Matt Nagy know what to do with them? Is the line of attack better without starting battles with Charles Leno and Bobby Massie? Is the ghost defense once improved or just parental?

The bears are upside down, but also a lot of doubts. They are 50-1 to win the Super Bowl (40-1 last year). Their over / under wins are 7-7 1/2 during 17 seasons. Based on the major outlet power ratings for the outlet, they range from 16th (Chicago Sun-Times) to 24th (Chicago Sun-Times).espn.com). They are the team to be watched along with the Chargers, Cardinals, 49ers, Raiders and Vikings among the unbeaten teams in 2020. But a lot depends on when Justin Fields steps into the huddle.

With that in mind, here’s our annual test of Bears fans ’optimism / pessimism for the coming season. Evaluate these categories: 10 points for an optimistic vote, minus 10 for a pessimistic vote, and zero for a neutral vote.

Scoring

90-100: Remove the Kool-Aid.

70-80: Must be new in town.

30-60: Realist.

20 minus-20: Seeing is believing.

Minus-50 minus-70: Waiting for Ditkas to return.

Minus-80 minus-100: Packers fans.

JUSTIN FIELDS

Optimist: The announced newcomer thrives in the spotlight, learns quickly, and pushes Andy Dalton almost from the start with impressive pre-performance performances that ignite the offense and make it clear in just a matter of time. He starts mid-season and almost immediately, the Bears win games because of him.

Pessimist: The NFL learning curve also proves problematic for talented fields. He gets a chance to start when Dalton wobbles, but as it turns out, the rookie isn’t ready to lift the offense on his shoulders yet and his struggles cause more suspicion than excitement.

ANDY DALTON

Optimist: Playing with a better hand, the veteran turns out to be an upgrade from Nick Foles, winning the matches he’s supposed to win, and keeping the Bears striking in the playoffs before Nagy turns to Fields for a mid-season spark.

Pessimist: At the age of 33 and six years away from his final victory, Dalton only ends up on the Fields road by robbing a rookie of a valuable learning experience until Nagys ’hand is forced into a stalled insult that Dalton is unable to inflict.

THE MAT IS BIG

Optimist: Skillfully manages an awkward midfielder as he keeps his promise to Andy Dalton, but is also open-minded enough to realize that Fields is his best defender. Moving at the right time, the attack sets in motion and with the wind finally on its back, Nagy is back in Willy Wonka mode in 2018 and looks like Andy Reid’s disciple he was expected to be.

Pessimist: Fields ’apprenticeship plan goes wrong when the Nagy offense continues to spin the bike with Dalton as a quarterback and Nagy turns to Fields under less favorable conditions. Fields ’NFL presentation is rocky and at the end of the disappointing season, Bears’ biggest problem is the crime and not the quarterback.

SEAN-DESAIS DEFENSE

Optimist: After a two-year recession, led by veteran coordinator Chuck Pagano, the 38-year-old Ivy-leaguer is the right guy at the right time. His background and experience in defending Vic Fangios, as well as knowledge of his current abilities, his fresh ideas and intelligent approach provide the missing spark and set the aggressive takeaway / sack piece back in the Bears defense.

Pessimist: Desai brings a new approach, but can’t turn the clock back. The loss of Kyle Fuller and the regression of stars Khalil Mack, Akiem Hicks and Danny Trevathan, if not regression, prove too great to be overcome, and despite the best efforts of newcomer coordinators, Bears ’defense takes a second step back towards mediocrity.

ROBERT QUINN

Optimist: Finally, because of Chicago’s difficult first-year mental and physical funk, Quinn regains his spark and the assistant hand of first-year coordinator Sean Desai comes with the double-digit sack power he was expected to have.

Pessimist: Another half a step slower at the age of 31, Quinns struggles to adjust to Bears 3-4 defense, becomes mental and physical and loses his starting job to second-year linebacker Trevis Gipson.

DARNELL MOONEY

Optimist: The second-year wide receiver takes a huge leap from an impressive rookie season and gives the Bears an attack home potential with every catch. When Justin Fields takes office, he approaches a Tyreek Hill-level role that is often extensive in the open field for big plays when Fields gets into trouble.

Pessimist: Mooney is no longer a secret after an impressive junior season, but the second year comes to a halt when Javon Wims, Riley Ridley and others are unable to confirm and provide support. Big plays here and there, but his trajectory is slowed by a dormant crime.

COLE KMET

Optimist: Scratched to the surface in an unproductive attack as a newcomer, Kmet takes a big step as a multi-purpose tight head that helps unleash the running game and ignite the feed game. He is approaching Travis Kelce’s second-year figures (72 receptions, 875 yards, five touches), and room for massive growth toward 2022.

Pessimist: As Matt Nagys ’attack continues, attention and underutilization Kmet flashes at great potential, but is always well covered and rarely targeted and hits the plateau of an early career. He’s trying to cross his first-year number (28 receptions, 243 yards, two touches).

EDDIE GOLDMAN / D-LINE

Optimist: With the 20-season 2021 gone, 27-year-old Goldman will be a fresh and productive and defensive MVP. His ability to stop the run is a chain reaction effect that refreshes Akiem Hicks and refreshes pass acceleration, making Jaylon Johnson and Desmond Trufant third-level players.

Pessimist: Goldman shows a year of dismissal for rusty football and is not the player he was in for the first five seasons. When bus coach Jay Rodgers is no longer present, Hicks recedes and the supporters of touring players don’t make an earlier impact, emphasizing another defense it can’t stand.

TEVEN JENKINS / O-LINE

Optimist: The newcomer to the Oklahoma State area lives in leaps and bounds as a versatile first-round talent that the Bears acquired in the second round. He quickly adapts to the immediate upgrade to Charles Leno and creates a ripple effect that takes James Daniels, Cody Whitehair and the entire line of attack to a new level.

Pessimist: Jenkins tries to adapt to the NFL, which causes more work for Whitehair and Daniels, leaving Germain Ifed vulnerable in the right fight, making the offensive line an unfinished job that stifles a running game that ignites an opposite pass rush. , which makes it too dangerous to put Justin Fields on the field.

SCHEDULE

Optimist: The Bears get a lot of teams at the right time in Matt Stafford’s first game with Rams; Joe Burrow is injured; Packers in free fall without Aaron Rodgers; In the funk after the Buccaneers Super Bowl; Ben Roethlisberger finished and started the 7-2 start, driving them to season 12-5 and the playoffs.

Pessimist: The Bears grab a lot of teams at the wrong time Matt Stafford did exactly what the Rams needed; Joe Burrow made a huge leap toward a Brady-like greatness in 2; Baker Mayfield elite; Rodgers back with Packers; Tom Brady avenges the 2021 defeat for the Bears; Roethlisberger revived and started a 2-7 start, condemning them to a 5-12 season and outside change at Halas Hall.