Adam Gase hiring comes with questions

The Bears’ hiring of Adam Gase is great for an offense that is in dire need of a spark after a disastrous 2014 campaign. However, there are a few interesting “Devil’s Advocate” points to keep in mind before getting too giddy with excitement.

I’ll start out by saying this: I’m a fan of the Chicago Bears hiring Adam Gase to be their new offensive coordinator.

Gase coordinated a Denver Broncos offense that led the NFL in scoring offense (34 points per game) and total offense (430.1 yards per game) in 2013. In 2014, they finished second in the NFL, scoring 482 total points and accumulating 6,446 total yards.

Though Gase enjoyed the privilege of working with the great Peyton Manning as his quarterback, Manning’s quadriceps injury led to some passing game struggles in the second half of 2014. Gase was forced to shift to a run-first philosophy which led to the emergence of C.J. Anderson as his feature back.

That bodes well – it shows that Gase possesses the capability to adjust and enable team success, something Marc Trestman couldn’t do to save his job. Also, the Bears have arguably the best all-round running back in the NFL in Matt Forte, and we may finally see him utilized properly for the first time in his Bears’ career.

However, hiring Adam Gase raises a few interesting questions …

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First question: How is Gase going to do without Peyton Manning?

We don’t even know who Chicago’s quarterback is going to be yet. There’s the issue of what the Bears are going to do with incumbent starter, Jay Cutler. Keep him? Trade him? I, personally, think he’s the best option to lead the Bears next year.

The free agent market is, for lack of a better word, a joke. Brian Hoyer? Mark Sanchez? Please. I’d prefer they line me up under center instead.

The draft doesn’t inspire much confidence, either. The best prospect, Jameis Winston, has myriad issues off the field. Keep Cutler, at least for one more season. With Gase adapting to a run-heavy scheme towards the end of 2014 and given John Fox’s preference to run the ball, Cutler might finally have a scheme that asks him to do less, and take his rifle shots down the field off play-action. One can hope.

Second question: Will he still be the Bears’ offensive coordinator after this season?

Gase signed a three-year contract with the Bears, but he was one of the hottest head-coaching candidates in the NFL. The Bears interviewed him for their head-coaching job before hiring John Fox. The Broncos, his former team, interviewed him for their vacant head-coach position, and decided to go elsewhere. As did the Falcons and 49ers.

Though he didn’t land a head-coaching gig this year, it’s safe to assume that he’ll once again be a sought-after candidate next year. If he does get hired and bolts, it will mean starting over for the Bears’ offense, yet again.

Last thought: Before he signed with the Bears, he also interviewed to be the offensive coordinator for multiple teams, including the Baltimore Ravens. He was reportedly the front-runner to land the Ravens’ gig before, amazingly, they hired Marc Trestman instead.

Yes, the Bears’ former head coach, THAT Marc Trestman!

After watching a Trestman offense go up in flames in 2014, why exactly would the Ravens think he’s a better fit than Gase? Is there something we don’t know? Bears fans know how predictable Trestman’s playcalling became, so maybe he’s just a terrific interview. He did beat out Bruce Arians too, after all. I’m just not sure of that logic.

Overall: The Bears are in much better shape this coming season. Gase is a young, innovative offensive mind who is bound to make the Bears’ offense better. There’s no doubt about that. The Bears have upgraded their coaching talent tremendously, and the optimism surrounding the Bears right now is something Chicago hasn’t seen around their football team in quite some time.

Yet, those questions make you wonder just a little bit, don’t they? Offseason food for thought, if you will.

Jan 11, 2015; Denver, CO, USA; Denver Broncos offensive coordinator Adam Gase before the 2014 AFC Divisional playoff football game against the Indianapolis Colts at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports