Bears GM Ryan Poles has strong take on the job Matt Eberflus is doing so far
Matt Eberflus hasn't coached a regular season game yet for the Chicago Bears, but he's already made a big impression on general manager Ryan Poles. When Poles hired Eberflus earlier this year to replace Matt Nagy, he was hoping to hire a coach that could bring a certain intensity to both sides of the ball. […]
Matt Eberflus hasn't coached a regular season game yet for the Chicago Bears, but he's already made a big impression on general manager Ryan Poles.
When Poles hired Eberflus earlier this year to replace Matt Nagy, he was hoping to hire a coach that could bring a certain intensity to both sides of the ball.
And that's exactly what he's got so far in Eberflus.
Poles recently spoke to The Athletic about his journey to becoming the Chicago general manager and he made it clear how he feels about Eberflus after their first eight months on the job together.
Poles said he can already see a difference in the way the Bears compete during practice, saying the players are on a "different level" under Eberflus.
“From the time that Matt and I got here to now, just to see that style of football back, you can’t deny that the way these guys are playing these preseason games is at a different level,” Poles said.
“Does that mean that that’s a direct correlation to success? Right now, I don’t know.
“But I do know that the standard of how we’re going to play football here has already changed and adjusted.”
Eberflus’ HITS philosophy — hustle, intensity, takeaways, (playing) smart — has been a hit. Poles feels that.
“It’s how we’re doing it,” Poles said. “It’s not fluffy or phony, it’s real. And I think everyone can feel that. And that to me, that’s the foundation we had to set first and then we go from here, and we continue to add talent.”
The first objective for Poles and Eberflus after arriving in Chicago was to change a broken culture.
Based on Poles' comments, I'd say the culture has been changed.
Now the Bears just need to add some talent. And that'll happen over the next year. Poles had to go with a hard reset this offseason to atone for the sins of the previous front office.
Next offseason, however, should be a fun one for Bears fans.
Featured image via Jamie Sabau-USA TODAY Sports
