Chicago Bears: Comparing the 2018 preseason to the 2017 Rams

The Chicago Bears have spent all offseason being compared to the 2017 Los Angeles Rams. Let’s check in on how that comparison is shaking out as the regular season approaches.

Why are the 2018 Chicago Bears being compared to the 2017 Los Angeles Rams? Well, both teams had old head coaches whose best days were behind them: John Fox and Jeff Fisher. They both have quarterbacks that were drafted high but struggled at times in their rookie years: Jared Goff and Mitch Trubisky.

Both have young, innovative offensive-minded head coaches: Matt Nagy and Sean McVay. Both have feature backs that have spent their young careers near the top of the league in rushing yards: Jordan Howard and Todd Gurley.

Last but not least, both of those young coaches have a very good defense in place led by veteran coaches that can be left in sole responsibility in control of that side of the ball: Vic Fangio and Wade Phillips.

As the Bears head into their first real preseason game against the Cincinnati Bengals, a lot of Bears fans and analysts are getting too worked up over Trubisky throwing interceptions in training camp.

What people are forgetting is that Trubisky is still developing chemistry with Anthony Miller, Trey Burton, Allen Robinson, and Taylor Gabriel. At the same time, Trubisky is testing those receivers to see if they can make contested coaches while practicing the tight windows each new play brings.

This is a brand new offense for Trubisky and there are certainly going to be growing pains as he looks to take a big step forward in his second year. Certainly, Trubisky has not been perfect. I’m not making an excuse for all of his interceptions, but what fans have to realize is that interceptions are going to happen.

After Goff looked overmatched in his rookie season, he was expected to make a Trubisky-like jump in his second season. Some never saw that jump coming, but it did. Goff threw for 3,804 yards 28 touchdowns and seven interceptions in 2017.  Wow, so he must have been lights-out in training camp leading up to that huge comeback season, right? Wrong. Goff went through the same thing as Trubisky.

Don’t forget that Goff was also facing a good defense in practice. Phillips threw a lot at Goff, who made mistakes and threw interceptions. While learning a new offense and building a rhythm with a new receiving corps, a veteran defensive coordinator leading a good defense can force a sophomore quarterback into some interceptions. That’s what happened with Goff and the same thing is happening with Fangio throwing a lot at Trubisky.

Rams’ hall of fame running back Eric Dickerson is one of those reactionary guys. He went on Colin Cowherd’s show on Fox and clamored that Sean Mannion should start the season over Goff, because of Goff’s performance in training camp. Who got the last laugh in the end? That’d be Jared Goff.

Al,so another narrative going around is that the Bears’ offense is going to take a year to get accustomed before they start lighting up the scoreboard. Do people forget what the Rams did last year?

The Rams averaged 29 points per game in 2017 while scoring at least 35 points in three of their first four games of the season. Never say never. Just relax, Bears fans. If you want to make snap judgments about Trubisky in the regular season, fine. Please, just don’t overreact to training camp practices where he is testing out a brand new offense that is not even fully installed.