I think most of expect and certainly want Mitch Trubisky to make great strides this season. Playing under a young, offensive minded coach presumably in tune with what is trending in the NFL these days should have a very positive impact. He has two good running backs...better weapons than last season...and providing they stay healthy the interior of the offensive line should be really good. But after Trubisky....who is the player you most expect to make a jump forward? For me....it's Nick Kwiatkowski. He's a popular name in camp so far and by all reports he has been working his ass off. He has the inside track to more playing time at the moment with Roquan Smith still not signed. He's got speed...he's got pop....he always seems to be around the ball. Even after Smith signs....Trevathan's health isn't a guarantee and with the Bears being thin at OLB...Vic Fangio is going to probably have to get creative and move some bodies around a lot. Kwiatkowski should see the field a lot and play a good amount of snaps without any injuries to other players. I've liked this guy since the Bears drafted him. I don't expect him to be a Pro Bowler or anything of that nature but I do think he can find a really good role with this team and make a sizable impact given the chance.
I want Mitch to take a step or five forward, but I’m too much of a pessimist to expect it. Cohen is the guy I’m genuinely excited to see what Nagy can do with. On the D, I’d love to see Floyd step up and earn his draft spot, but again, I’m not expecting it.
I really think the offense will step forward IF Mitch does. But one guy I would love to see benefit from that is Tarik Cohen. The more that guy gets the ball in his hands out in space, the better this team will do.
Well this is already unoriginal, but my first call would also have been Cohen. When you consider what he was able to do in an archaic system like last years, in this Offense he could go off. Production on a par with Kamara's last year is asking too much probably, but having that same transformative effect on the Offense as a genuine dual-threat back, very realistic. But to name another..... if he can stay healthy(which at this point has been a problem), i think Roy Robertson-Harris could make a big step forward. I think he has real potential. The Bears are gonna need him and everyone else, cos i think the pass rush could be in real trouble this season. I like Kwit too. Prob right not a pro bowl talent, and he's never made a giant leap forward. But what the guys done is just keep getting steadily better. His blitzing was clearly better last year and i do wonder if that played a role in this move to OLB that i've heard reported. Personally i think there's a big dif between blitzing the A/B-Gap from ILB and trying to consistently win on the edge, but what do i know. Either way, its hard to see Kwit making a big jump cos he will either not be playing his best position or he will struggle for playing time. Me personally i would've prob stuck with Kwit this season as the starter and not drafted Smith at all. You draft a LB(or anyone else) in the 4th round you know you're investing in some development time. So they invested the time, and two years later Kwit is looking like a starter...... so you go and draft another starter? Don't get it.
I want to see what Trey Burton can do since he will be the lead fiddle now. Trub's is still settling into the position and it will be imperative that Mitch has a big body to lean on as a safety valve when the deep ball isn't there and someone to be there to help build the young QB's confidence.
Like others have said I'm looking forward to Cohen and Floyd. But going outside the big name players I've got my eye on Parkey. Since Robbie has left I've cringed every time they lined up for a field goal. In the past 2 seasons missed FGs have been big factors in a number of games. When the team isn't that good you can't leave the easy points out there .
Im on the Cohen train as well I think you guys are going to see great things from him. Even though he had a good season last year I expect Howard to benefit from Nagy too.
I expect the running game to benefit from the other weapons they have now. I think teams will be more reluctant to stack the box and we have seen that all too often last two years, but much of that will be determined by the play calling and how well these other pieces fall into place and how well Trubisky responds to the new weapons.
Yeah, I think I'm also looking at Floyd to make a big jump. We knew he was going to have growing pains early in his career, and those were made worse by injuries. But as the Bears near the point where they have to decide to use the 5th year option / extend him or let him play out his deal and negotiate later / at all, not only is he going to play a pivotal role in the success or failure of the defense, he's going to be a big question mark for this franchise going forward. OLB is so bleak that Floyd needs to be a star on his end. Moreover, he needs to play like the high draft pick that he was. This would also be another black mark on Pace's record, if Floyd's ceiling stops well short of where it was projected. Loving all the suggestions, though. If the majority of these young guys take significant steps forward, this roster will look to be in good shape for now and later.
I’m looking for Eddie Jackson to make a big leap. He played well as a rookie and with the entire defensive backfield coming back I look for him to take advantage of the continuity.
I’ve been very high on Eddie Jackson since day one. He looks like Ed Reed to me in many ways. Not saying he will have that level of success, but I could see a pro bowl or two in his future for sure.
