Greater Demands from Bears This Time

It's July, so naturally the heat is on.

This isn't a description of the weather but the building pressure for the Bears as they approach the start of practices in 10 days.

Last year the franchise skated through a 3-14 season with a handful of disappointing late-game finishes and the city of Chicago was very understanding of their situation.

There were some minor complaints but by and large the Bears fan nation behaved while seeing their team absorb loss after loss after they had little salary cap space and no first-round draft pick with only three picks within the first four rounds.

Now, there is a four-letter word Bears fans don't want to hear from the coaching staff and from GM Ryan Poles when he addresses media on reporting date July 25.

The word is T-I-M-E.

They can't be pleading for more time to forge a team because 10 straight losses and 14 for the year after numerous changes requires at least some immediate returns to maintain interest.

Losing the opening game to Green Bay, for instance, won't sit well after all the patience Bears fans have shown.

The Bears won't really need the fans. They have been cranking up the pressure on themselves.

1. Experience from Last Year

The course of 17 games last year and two attempts in the draft and free agency have brought the team along. Defensive end DeMarcus Walker recognized this when he came to Chicago from Tennessee.

"When you look at some of the guys that in particular the head coach and you know what they had and that they developed, why wouldn't you want to be a part of something like that?" Walker said.

They've already been through the rough part, and players expect more.

2. Team Chemistry Improved

Matt Eberflus brought this up himself, without being asked specifically about it during off-season work. That's inviting pressure.

They have worked in the off-season together at Halas Hall and even away from it, especially the receivers, backs and quarterbacks.

"We have a lot of new faces on our football team the last two years—like 35 different guys that have been coming through the draft and free agency," Eberflus said. "It's important to build that chemistry and I think we've done an outstanding job of that this offseason."

The quarterback-receivers and offensive line positions are those requiring the mix to work right away.

Players say they see the offensive line chemistry solid even though there are four different players for four starting positions this season.

"I think we’re in a really good spot," guard Nate Davis said. "The communication in the field, at least between the O-line and even the quarterbacks and wide receivers, has been really good.

"Even off the field, the types of conversations we're having, too, about different types of schemes and what to look for, we're in a good spot."

DJ Moore had the easy out of saying they would need plenty of time for the connection to solidify with Fields in the passing game, but he wouldn't take it. He thinks it happens much faster.

"Going into training camp, probably about two to three days to get back on track where we ended in OTAs," was when Moore said they'd be on the same page.

3. Bigger Names Acquired

Nothing ups the pressure on a team more than hype from bigger-name talent. No one last year was going to get too excited about their free agency signing of defensive tackle Larry Ogunjobi because he's not exactly a household word in the NFL even if he is a solid player. Still, that signing never came down, so they had to turn to someone well down the pay scale in Justin Jones. And he was their biggest off-season acquisition.

Now, however, there the signings stoke the coals so to speak: DJ Moore, Tremaine Edmunds, even T.J. Edwards coming in after the season the Eagles had last year.

With bigger names comes bigger responsibility.

Quarterback Justin Fields did nothing to diminish the expectations when he was talking about Moore's potential impact on the offense. He isn't expecting Moore to need a grace period.

"He's been in the league for a good period of time now," Fields said. "He's played a lot of football so he knows different coverages really well. That's one thing that I was kind of impressed about, like, with the offense coming in and just understanding, seeing coverages really well on short routes and stuff like that.

"He's been great. And you know, the chemistry has really picked up."

4. Justin Fields

Nothing pulls a team together faster than a quarterback operating efficiently and effectively. If he's also taken leadership like it's his own property, it helps all the more.

Fields has been the catalyst for the off-season work Bears players have done.

When you even have offensive linemen noticing about how much better you're playing and also leading, then it is going to build anticipation.

"I just think he's going to be more comfortable from certain reads, certain passes that he's seen before, certain coverages," center Cody Whitehair said. "It all ties together. He's doing really well right now. He’s very commanding in the huddle. His leadership has just taken a next step. I'm really excited to see him this year."

Fields easily rates as one of the most-hyped quarterbacks in the league. It's been two full seasons and now he should be able to live up to it.

5. Hyping Themselves

The Bears could have taken the quiet route, come in under the radar so to speak. They're not, and an off-season of heightened expectation was probably best summed up by Darnell Mooney's comments to WGN during a youth football camp a week ago.

"Get ready to win. Tired of losing," Mooney said.

It was somewhat comical when he followed up with: "Don't go for any hypeness or anything like that. Just get ready town."

You can't put it back in the tube now. The "hypeness" is already out there from all the players about being better.

It's what is expected.

Twitter: BearDigest@BearsOnMaven

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