REBUILD: WHERE TO START (PT 6:QUARTERBACK)
Welcome back to the sixth installment of our position-by-position rebuilding a franchise discussion. As always, we will look into what positions should be focused on; the why's and why not's. I will do my best to stay neutral and focus on the Bears' history.
PART SIX:Quarterbacks
The position that is arguably the most sought-after, the quarterback. Experts discuss who has the biggest arm, is too short, or is comparable to a former/current great. Teams bring in their first-round picks in hopes of turning their franchises around all the time. Other times they draft first-round picks to sit behind Aaron Rodgers for years. So is this the position where teams should start their rebuilds?
Quarterbacks can make and break a franchise. It's hard to have a successful offense that can put points on the board if you don't have a clear-cut leader with a good head on his shoulders. Look at the year Peyton Manning broke his neck with the Colts. They went from 10-6 playoff loss to 2-14 and they've been searching for the answer ever since Andrew Luck unexpectedly retired. Another example is Tony Romo Who, many argue, whether or not, was an elite quarterback. But after seeing what he can do in the announcer's booth, it is clear that Romo has a great mind for reading a defense as well as other teams' offense. But the Cowboys didn't draft Romo. He was an undrafted free agent signing in 2003. Finding the franchise quarterback is not an easy process.
But does the quarterback position have overall dominance? You need to remember there was literally a Super Bowl where the quarterbacks were Trent Dilfer and Kerry Collins. The Bears won one Super Bowl and made it to another with Jim McMahon and Rex Grossman. Our quarterback history has quite a few names throughout, though not as bad as the Browns' quarterback carousel.
Jay Cutler holds the team record for passing yards with 23,443 yards. The top five quarterbacks are Cutler, Sid Luckman (14,686), Jim Harbaugh (11,567), Jim McMahon (11,203), and Mitch Trubisky (10,609). That's right, in only three years and 51 games Mitch Trubisky sits number five on the Bears' all-time passing yard leader with just over 10,000 yards. Rex Grossman sits 15th on the Bears' chart for passing yards and, in just 12 games, Justin Fields is already up to number 32. Smokin' Jay, our all-time leader only made the playoffs once in seven years. Does blame go on him, the receiving corps, or a scheme issue?
What's the answer? Do teams go for a Mike Vick and end up with an RGIII or a Tom Brady and get a Josh Rosen? Do they go all in and trade up for Mahomes and not Trubisky? Or wait and pick up that lesser-known Romo guy from Eastern Illinois after the draft? They could sign a Super Bowl winning quarterback out of free agency. It almost worked for the Cardinals with Kurt Warner, but not Nick Foles and the Bears or Jags. Of all the positions in football, quarterback is the most all or nothing position there is. Outside of Taysom Hill, you don't have a special teams stud quarterback. There are starters and bench players. The Bears have hopefully found the solution at quarterback with Justin Fields. He's mobile, has a good arm, good vision, and is coachable. Ryan Poles also added Trevor Siemian to join Nick Foles in helping Fields grow in his sophomore year. If Poles can find a trade partner for Foles, does he look to add another quarterback this year?
| POLL | ||
20 AVRIL | 176 ANSWERS REBUILD: WHERE TO START (PT 6:QUARTERBACK) Who has been the most talented Bears QB? | ||
| Jay Cutler | 71 | 40.3 % |
| Justin Fields | 44 | 25 % |
| Jim McMahon | 37 | 21 % |
| Other | 24 | 13.6 % |
| List of polls | ||
