Chicago Bears: 5 quick steps to fix the offense immediately
By Ryan Heckman
1. Go get offensive line help
This is the time to do it. It’s the first thing that comes to mind when talking about the offensive woes for Chicago, and plenty of teams will be selling at the trade deadline.
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The Bears could look at a bunch of different options. Quite frankly, getting just about anyone else in place of Rashaad Coward would be an upgrade. That’s where Ryan Pace needs to start — at the guard position.
With Cody Whitehair banged up but likely to be OK, the Bears could look at someone like Atlanta Falcons center Alex Mack. The center-quarterback exchange is not something you would ideally switch up midseason, but at this stage, it might be worth it.
Sliding Whitehair back to guard in place of Coward would give the Bears an upgrade at that position, and adding Mack would give the Bears another tremendous lineman up front. The Falcons will undoubtedly be sellers at the deadline, and Mack is a fantastic option.
Aside from a potential trade, Chicago could also go out and sign newly-released Quinton Spain, who was cut by the Buffalo Bills last week. That’s a guy who didn’t give up a single sack last year, and the Bears don’t have to give up any draft capital to bring him in, unlike a trade.
Regardless of who Pace targets, it’s clear he needs to go out and get another lineman or two in order for Nick Foles to have more time to throw. Not to mention, the run game is suffering the most from having no blocking up front. This is the number one priority.