Bears
Team will examine health improvement with hopes of repeating it in 2019
As the Bears formulate their offseason plans, they will examine elements that helped their worst-to-first breakout in 2018 and identify how repeatable each one is.
One of the most important factors was good team health. This season was a remarkable contrast from each of general manager Ryan Pace’s first three.
The Bears finished with only four players on injured reserve — slot cornerback Bryce Callahan, outside linebacker Sam Acho, tight end Dion Sims and undrafted rookie linebacker Andrew Trumbetti.
Consider the improvement from 2015-17, when the Bears finished the season with 14, 19 and 15 players, respectively, on injured reserve or the physically unable to perform list.
“We had the fewest players on IR in the NFL,” Pace said Monday at his postseason news conference. “In previous years, we were up near the top. Same thing with games missed by starters. I think there’s a couple factors that go into that.”
Pace first mentioned the Bears’ concerted effort to account for players’ durability during the acquisition cycle last offseason.
However, they clearly did not rule out signing those with an injury history.
For instance, the Bears’ highest-paid outside free agent was Allen Robinson, who missed all of 2017 with a torn ACL in his left knee. Rookie receiver Anthony Miller, a second-round pick who broke his shoulder in 2014, was affected by multiple left shoulder dislocations during 2018. Free-agent reserve linebacker Aaron Lynch missed four games, commensurate with his poor durability history.
Pace also cited procedural changes the Bears implemented under first-year coach Matt Nagy. They hired head athletic trainer Andre Tucker and strength coach Jason Loscalzo. While those two didn’t reinvent the wheel, there’s no arguing with the results.
Injuries suffered by outside linebacker Khalil Mack (right ankle), quarterback Mitch Trubisky (right shoulder) and Robinson (groin) sidelined them each for only two games.
Finally, Pace emphasized the Bears’ luck avoiding injuries. He brought it up twice, in fact. That’s a good indication of how influential he considers that factor.
So, is it all repeatable?
“It’s tough because I think there is a little bit of good fortune that comes your way, there’s no question.” Pace said. “But I think we’re doing things right now that help put us on the right track. I really like where we’re at in the weight room, in the training room and what we’re doing with our schedules.”
Pace didn’t divulge more specifics about changes from coach John Fox’s regime. But a couple of pieces of evidence point to Nagy’s influence.
He kept his starters out of the penultimate exhibition game, which most coaches treat as the final tune-up for the regular season. Under Fox and many other coaches around the league, starters played at least the first half and sometimes into the third quarter.
Also, Nagy communicated with veterans during training camp to ensure he didn’t wear players out.
The Bears did more live tackling in the summer than any of Fox’s three teams. And Nagy began camp by promising players it would be the most demanding of their careers. But he tried to dial back when he was told players needed it.
It all added up to the NFL’s healthiest team.
Ironically, the luck ran out in the playoffs against the Eagles. The offense badly missed the dimension tight end Trey Burton (groin) provided the passing game. His surprising and sudden absence helped the Eagles limit Tarik Cohen’s impact.
Callahan’s absence stood out twice, in particular. The Eagles threw at his replacement, Sherrick McManis, for the game-winning touchdown on fourth-and-goal from the 2. Also, it appeared the Bears were missing a defensive back when they had only 10 men on the field on the Eagles’ first touchdown.
The Bears also missed All-Pro safety Eddie Jackson (ankle), as the Eagles converted 7 of 14 third and fourth downs.
So the 16-15 defeat only reinforced how important the Bears’ improved health was to their success. Similar good fortune and oversight would help them stay atop the NFC North in 2019.
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