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My favorite teams
Pretty much what I said. .500 for the next 5 years
Fowler: What I hear about Eberflus is he's organized and projects well in interviews. New GM Ryan Poles was looking for someone with whom he can build. The connection had to be there, and the two hit it off in their interview. Plus, attention toward the defensive side of the ball always plays in Chicago. I'm curious what happened with Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn, who informed teams he's returning to Dallas. He was an attractive candidate. But teams seem to be leaning toward first-time coaches and fresh ideas. Dan, did Chicago get the best guy?
Fowler: Absolutely. The hiring of the Bears' offensive coordinator is crucial. There are no obvious ties here. I don't expect Eberflus to dip into the Scott Linehan tree from his Dallas days. But he must have a good one lined up in order to sell the job. Fields' second-year development will help define the Poles-Eberflus tandem, so not only is the coordinator hire crucial but the team's vision for adding weapons around Fields will also be important. The defense should be fine, and Eberflus will most likely bring Colts linebackers coach Dave Borgonzi with him, either as a coordinator or in the same position he held in Indy.
Graziano: C+. Similar to Hackett in Denver, it's impossible to know whether the guy is a head coach -- and we will all find out together. Eberflus' reputation is strong, and the Bears obviously saw something they liked. But I'd still feel better about it if either the GM or the coach weren't doing this for the first time.
Matt Eberflus to the Bears
NFL background: Defensive coordinator for the Colts (2018-21); linebackers coach for the Cowboys (2011-17); linebackers coach for the Browns (2009-10)Fowler: What I hear about Eberflus is he's organized and projects well in interviews. New GM Ryan Poles was looking for someone with whom he can build. The connection had to be there, and the two hit it off in their interview. Plus, attention toward the defensive side of the ball always plays in Chicago. I'm curious what happened with Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn, who informed teams he's returning to Dallas. He was an attractive candidate. But teams seem to be leaning toward first-time coaches and fresh ideas. Dan, did Chicago get the best guy?
Graziano: I thought it was going to be Jim Caldwell or Quinn, as pairing a first-time GM with a first-time head coach feels a little bit risky. Eberflus has been kicking around the head-coach interview circuit for a while, and he has certainly worked and trained under the right people. As you mentioned, he is very organized and detailed, and he should run a tight ship. But the obvious question is who's coming with him on the offensive side of the ball to oversee the development of quarterback Justin Fields, who's arguably more important to the success of the franchise than any head coach or GM would have been.
Fowler: Absolutely. The hiring of the Bears' offensive coordinator is crucial. There are no obvious ties here. I don't expect Eberflus to dip into the Scott Linehan tree from his Dallas days. But he must have a good one lined up in order to sell the job. Fields' second-year development will help define the Poles-Eberflus tandem, so not only is the coordinator hire crucial but the team's vision for adding weapons around Fields will also be important. The defense should be fine, and Eberflus will most likely bring Colts linebackers coach Dave Borgonzi with him, either as a coordinator or in the same position he held in Indy.
Grades for Chicago hiring Eberflus
Fowler: B-. This is an understated hire -- solid but not overly exciting. And that's OK. Eberflus might turn out to be great. If you're looking for a home run plan around Fields, this probably isn't it. But Eberflus is a good chemistry guy who should engender trust rather quickly.Graziano: C+. Similar to Hackett in Denver, it's impossible to know whether the guy is a head coach -- and we will all find out together. Eberflus' reputation is strong, and the Bears obviously saw something they liked. But I'd still feel better about it if either the GM or the coach weren't doing this for the first time.