Chicago Bears: Players under the most pressure in 2019
The kicker to be named later
Was there really any doubt who would be the player under the most pressure in 2019? Of course, there wasn’t. Unfortunately, there is no name to assign to this position at the moment. While the Bears have two kickers in camp, neither one has been inspiring confidence amongst the coaching staff.
There is still a fair amount of time to fix the situation, but at least with respect to Eddy Pineiro and Elliott Frye, they are who they are at this point. So it is unrealistic and unfair to expect wholesale improvement over the next 6 weeks.
If the Bears truly want to upgrade the position, it may have to come via free agency — after roster cuts — or via a trade with a team like — oh I don’t know — the San Francisco 49ers for Robbie Gould.
Regardless of who is lacing it up and trying to kick the ball through (and not directly into) the uprights next year for the Bears, they are going to be under enough pressure to turn a lump of coal into a diamond. You can already hear the moans as the kicker trots out for their first attempt against the Green Bay Packers in Week 1. And heaven help them if it’s anywhere near a 43-yard attempt.
It will be a storyline all season long that will be talked about during every telecast. Even if the kicker hits 100 percent of his kicks through 15 weeks, it’ll be a storyline in Week 16 — a constant reminder.
Next. The solution to the team's kicking problem. dark
So whoever the Bears select to assume that role is going to have to have nerves of steel and skin thicker than the Michelin Man. I know I would not want to be in their shoes.