I went to Chicago Bears training camp this past summer. As a former football coach, it was great seeing professionals run drills at the highest level. All except one Caleb Hanie. During throwing drills, Hanie struggled to make out-routes and deep throws consistently. In fact, I didn’t see him make one good throw. Rookie quarterback Nathan Enderle was much more impressive.
Now let’s carry this over to the seven-on-seven drill. This passing drill is when the offense has it’s quarterback and skill-position players line up against the linebackers and safeties. Hanie took forever to make decisions and when he did, his throws ended up as either incomplete passes or interceptions. I said to my father that if Hanie had to play, he’d be a disaster. I think I even said it on here as well. Here’s me, a former assistant high school coach that saw Hanie for what he is; and the Chicago Bears front-office couldn’t? Even Mike Martz recognized this last season and brought in Todd Freaking Collins. Also remember that Martz actually demoted Hanie during this year’s training camp in favor of Enderle. Martz certainly deserves his share of criticism, but his concerns with Hanie were not shared by others in the organization.
With a sub-par offensive line and bad skill position players, this organization needed to recognize the importance of having a proven backup quarterback. Instead, they committed to a brutal Hanie. Notice how it takes him forever to make decisions and when he rushes throws, it’s usually a disaster? Where should this have been noticed? You mean to tell me that I saw this but the Chicago Bears front office didn’t recognize this HUGE concern? Obviously, a quarterback like Cutler cannot be replaced by someone off the streets. So instead, they signed the immortal Josh McCown. Really? Donovan McNabb may be old but I promise you he’s an upgrade. And yet, no call. Kyle Orton was never falling to the Bears in the waiver draft. And I hate to say it, but Brett Favre was a better option too if he was interested. If the Bears could have played even average football, they would have had a shot at the playoffs. Windows in the NFL open and close quickly. There was an open window that shut on the Bears season that squarely falls on the shoulders of management.
As it stands, Hanie’s poor play, McCown’s general lack of NFL quarterbacking skills and untested rookie Enderle leave the Bears with two bad choices and an unproven rookie. Enderle now deserves his shot. Even if he’s worse than the other two, it won’t be by much and the Bears will see what the kid can do. I think fans would be excited about this as well. Good organizations evaluate talent both inside and outside the organization.
The quarterback problems are a small part of a bigger concern. I’d really like to know…
Please don’t tell me that a former high school coach has more of a clue than the Chicago Bears. I’m afraid it may actually be true.
Follow me on Twitter at ChicagoBearJew.
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