INDIANAPOLIS (670 The Score) -- When Bears general manager Ryan Pace and coach Matt Nagy began to reassess their team's disappointing 2019 season, they shared a goal of unbiased evaluation.
"Like you work for another team," Pace said.
As Pace, Nagy and the Bears' restructured coaching staff searched for answers as to why their offense averaged only 4.7 yards per play last season, honesty was needed. They knew they had to be critical of a listless offense that ranked 29th in yards per game and 29th in scoring in 2019. They understood they had to be open to change -- and perhaps a complete overhaul of Nagy's system.
"We need to figure out offensively what is our identity," Nagy said.
The Bears began their offseason with changes on Nagy's staff, firing offensive coordinator Mark Helfrich, offensive line coach Harry Hiestand and tight ends coach Kevin Gilbride.
Nagy reassembled his staff with Bill Lazor hired as offensive coordinator, former quarterbacks coach Dave Ragone assuming the new role of passing game coordinator and John DeFilippo -- whom Pace interviewed to be the Bears' head coach in 2018 -- taking over as quarterbacks coach. They also hired a pair of coaching veterans in new offensive line coach Juan Castillo new tight ends coach Clancy Barone. Both men will oversee the running game.
Nagy will continue as the Bears' play-caller on offense, but he plans to lean on his staff for greater input. The Bears want to utilize a collaborative effort to build a more productive offense.
To make that happen, Nagy is willing to alter his scheme.
"It's not fair to force them into something that I do," Nagy said. "If you can get some of it that you do well, let's keep it going. But this is a clean slate and we want to make sure we give everybody the best opportunity."
As Pace addressed reporters at the NFL Combine on Tuesday morning, he reiterated what was said during a season-ending press conference on Dec. 31: The Bears are backing Mitchell Trubisky as their starting quarterback in 2020.
But Pace also expressed his hope to create competition at quarterback. While the Bears' preferred scenario is for Trubisky to break through in his fourth season and earn a future in Chicago, Pace also hinted at contingency plans at quarterback.
"We believe in Mitch," Pace said of Trubisky. "Mitch knows he needs to be better. We need to be better around him. And that's our goal.
"We're going to support him. We're going to be better around him. But I think competition brings out the best in everybody."
With the Bears likely to give Trubisky his last chance at the starting job, Nagy and his staff are tasked with figuring out what suits their quarterback best. That could mean committing more to David Montgomery, Tarik Cohen and the running game and playing to Trubisky's strengths with a play-action offense that better utilizes his mobility.
In such a scenario, if Trubisky fails to lead the offense effectively in 2020 -- currently his last under contract in Chicago -- the Bears could still have a quarterback replacement ready via an addition through the draft, free agency or the trade market.
For now, the Bears are re-evaluating their offense and determining what Trubisky still could be. Nagy and his staff are working through the disappointment of last season and figuring out a path forward.
As they do, the Bears are aiming to remove biases in their search for an offensive identity.
"I'm doing a lot of listening and I think now is the time to do that so we can collaborate, figure out what went wrong last year and let's fix it," Nagy said. "Let's be about solutions."
Chris Emma covers the Bears, Chicago's sports scene and more for 670TheScore.com. Follow him on Twitter @CEmma670.
