LAKE FOREST, Ill. (670 The Score) -- There's a prevailing thought out there that Bears general manager Ryan Pace and coach Matt Nagy bought themselves job security by trading up to draft quarterback Justin Fields.
Truth be told, there's no way of knowing that answer because the Bears have proved time and again they don't react like most NFL teams. Of the 12 lead football executives in the NFL going on their seventh season or more, Pace is one of just two to have never produced a playoff victory. The other is Bengals owner Mike Brown, who leads the team's football operations.
Nagy joined the Bears in 2018 touted as an offensive innovator, yet his units haven't cracked the top 20 in total yardage over his first three seasons. Both Pace and Nagy have been granted longer leashes than their industry peers. So who's to know what their futures hold beyond 2021?
That would be Bears chairman George McCaskey, a patient man in the search for success. Though he prides himself on his family's football legacy, McCaskey has also avoided being reactionary as the team's chief decision-maker. Because of that, the Bears didn't clean house after their second consecutive 8-8 regular season in 2020.
McCaskey has made this much clear to Pace and Nagy -- he wants to see progress in some form this season. He must be honest in defining that.
Even with an expansion to a 17-game regular season in 2021, the Bears will be hard-pressed to surpass their eight victories of each of the last two seasons. The offense still holds great uncertainty, and the defense is another year older. Though there's plenty of parity in the NFL, the Bears face a daunting schedule in 2021, beginning against the Rams on Sunday night at SoFi Stadium.
Absent of an improvement in record, the Bears must prove they're an organization on the rise with Fields, the 22-year-old whose jerseys are flying off the racks around Chicago area sports stores. Just as this city believes in Fields, so too does the organization that brought him in. It seems his time as the starter will inevitably come sometime this season. If veteran quarterback Andy Dalton is leading victories, the Bears can draw inspiration in what Fields could bring to further their future hopes.
If McCaskey means his plea for progress, he will hold Pace and Nagy to that standard -- however it may look.
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4-down territory
1.) Waiting is the hardest part
Come Sunday night on a national television broadcast, the NBC Sports production crew will surely have a camera elevated opposite the Bears' sideline ready to pan to Fields.
Every time Dalton throws an incompletion or the Bears walk off the field with a stalled drive, that camera is likely to immediately shift to Fields on the sidelines. Analyst Cris Collinsworth might have a witty comment about how Chicago is ready for its future at quarterback. And Dalton will continue on with the most uncomfortable starting job in the NFL.
The Bears have shifted their priority at the quarterback position from the rookie Fields to 11-year veteran Dalton, as Pace made clear last week. Now, the inevitable transition is a matter of when Dalton loses the job rather than anything Fields might do behind the scenes.
Chicago fans have no choice but to go along for the ride on which the Bears are setting course, waiting for the 22-year-old Fields to finally get his chance. Dalton, 33, won't bring excitement to Soldier Field -- but he's at least an upgrade at quarterback compared to Mitchell Trubisky or Nick Foles.
Ignore the narratives that Fields might feel rushed into a starting job or stalled out of success. He's a bright prospect with an excellent mindset who has proved he can handle whatever the Bears plan for him. Ultimately, Fields will either thrive or fail regardless of how this timetable plays out.
For now, Fields can be seen watching from the sidelines -- with a camera at SoFi Stadium ready to pan his way.
2.) 2000-and-late?
To a man, the Bears have expressed a belief that their defense can return to its dominant 2018 form. That was three years ago -- and for some starters on the defense, enough time to pass their prime.
When they were fully healthy, the Bears were set to start five key players 30 or older -- defensive lineman Akiem Hicks (31), edge rusher Khalil Mack (30), edge rusher Robert Quinn (31), linebacker Danny Trevathan (31) and safety Tashaun Gipson (31). Recapturing any bit of that 2018 performance will require not only stellar performances on the field but also good health.
Those hopes have already encountered a setback with nose tackle Eddie Goldman in jeopardy of missing the opener with a knee injury that he suffered during a lighter practice Monday at Halas Hall. Meanwhile, Trevathan (knee) is starting the season on injured reserve, while Mack (groin), Quinn (back) and Gipson (back) each landed on the injury report this week.
What made the Bears' defense dominant in 2018 was the collective nature of the success. To replicate that, the Bears need Mack and Hicks to be disruptive presences up front, Quinn to be active, a young cornerback trio to hold up strong and Jackson to be a ballhawk.
Any one piece missing from this defense casts further doubt on its chances of being dominant. Already, the Bears are facing challenges to be at their best.
3.) Here's to you, Mr. Robinson
Bears star receiver Allen Robinson finds himself in a similar place to last season, wondering about his contractual future and hopeful to keep proving himself.
Robinson is often left out of consideration with the top receivers in football. Yet only three players in the NFL have more than Robinson's 200 combined receptions across the last two seasons: Cardinals receiver DeAndre Hopkins (219), Chargers receiver Keenan Allen (204) and Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce (202).
The Bears and Robinson didn't come close to a contract extension before the July 15 deadline to reach a deal, meaning he'll play out the 2021 season under the franchise tag.
"I'm going out here this year to be the best player that I can be," Robinson said. "That's my main focus. I'm not focusing on proving anybody wrong. It's about me going out there, getting better, improving from my years prior and continue to ascend as a player in this league."
4.) View from above
First-year Bears defensive coordinator Sean Desai tried out both the sideline and coaches' booth as a viewpoint to work from during training camp and the preseason. He has opted for a place up top in the booth.
"They both have their strengths and weaknesses," Desai said. "I like the fact that I can control more of the things. I can see all 22 (players on the field). I can see what I need to see. With me being able to communicate with the signal-caller on the field, that makes it much easier than it was a few years back."
Quote to note
"Week 1, Sunday Night Football, Bears-Rams. I mean, it doesn't get better than that. So we're really excited about it. A big challenge. They have some great players in L.A. We're looking forward to showing the league what we can do against a talent like that."
-- Bears tight end Cole Kmet
Injury report
NT Eddie Goldman (knee) -- As of Thursday, Goldman hadn't practiced yet this week and was trending toward being out Sunday. In his absence, the Bears would be challenged with their defensive line depth. Look for either nose tackle Damion Square or defensive tackle Margus Hunt to be activated from the practice squad by Saturday afternoon as an insurance policy.
OLB Khalil Mack (groin) -- It doesn't seem like Mack is in jeopardy of missing the game Sunday, though he struggled at times last season with injuries. The Bears have to keep him fresh during the week before his body takes a beating each game.
OLB Robert Quinn (back) -- Any time the 31-year-old Quinn is on the Bears' injury report, it's a concern. This issue doesn't seem like one that will keep him out of action Sunday, but it could lead to a reduced role compared to if he was fully healthy.
S Tashaun Gipson (back) -- Another key veteran with a back flare-up as Gipson landed on the injury report Thursday afternoon. For any player over 30 dealing with back issues, it's a problem.
WR Darnell Mooney (back) -- It's a matter of maintenance for the second-year receiver Mooney, who could be poised for a strong sophomore season.
Prediction: Rams 31, Bears 15
One of these teams is my pick to win the Super Bowl, and it's not the Bears. The Rams are a complete team now with Matthew Stafford at quarterback, and they'll begin a championship season with a thorough victory at SoFi Stadium.
Chris Emma covers the Bears, Chicago’s sports scene and more for 670TheScore.com. Follow him on Twitter @CEmma670.