Wondering about a player, a past game or another issue involving the Bears? Senior writer Larry Mayer answers a variety of questions from fans on ChicagoBears.com.
It doesn't appear to me that the Bears have much depth at cornerback beyond Jaylon Johnson. Do you think that's a position they'll address in the draft or free agency?
Ronald P.
Woodridge, Illinois
It's no secret that the Bears are thin at cornerback and are expected to bolster that position in free agency, the draft or perhaps both. Asked this week at the NFL owners meetings in Florida about acquiring cornerbacks, general manager Ryan Poles said: "We're monitoring that. Just like O-line, those premium positions—pass rush, corner, offensive line, left tackle—we're just going to keep our eye on it and we're going to keep monitoring it and take our cracks at getting guys in the door." Coach Matt Eberflus also discussed the need to address the position, saying: "We obviously need to add some pieces there, and we're excited about doing that." Eberflus added that he's eager for the offseason program to begin Monday so he can start working with the young cornerbacks who are already on the Bears roster, saying: "Those guys have been working hard in the offseason at the respective places they work at. And we're excited to get our hands on them and see what they could do. What's their coverage skill level? How do they operate at the point of catch? Can they time it up? Can they bust up the triangle? Can they do the things we're asking them to do in terms of coverage? Because we ask our corners to do everything. They do every coverage, they have to be able to play zone with zone eyes. They've got to be able to play man. They've got to be able to play match. They've got to be able to play everything. Those are important pieces; it's pass rushers and corners. Those are two huge positions for any defense."
With Trevor Siemian recently being signed to back up starting quarterback Justin Fields this season, do you think that the Bears will trade Nick Foles?
Stan E.
Hoffman Estates, Illinois
General manager Ryan Poles acknowledged at the owners meetings that the Bears are trying to deal veteran quarterback Nick Foles, telling reporters: "We'll see. Nothing has popped up right now. But we're working on it. Hopefully, something pops up." In the last two seasons since being acquired from the Jaguars in exchange for a compensatory fourth-round pick, Foles has appeared in 10 games with eight starts, completing 65.1 percent of his passes for 2,102 yards with 11 touchdowns, eight interceptions and an 82.6 passer rating. After playing in nine contests with seven starts in 2020, Foles appeared in just one game last season: He started a Week 15 matchup in Seattle and led the Bears to a 25-24 win by passing for 250 yards, capped by a 15-yard touchdown to Jimmy Graham coupled with a game-winning two-point conversion to Damiere Byrd with just 1:01 remaining.
With the NFL adopting a new overtime rule for postseason games that ensures both teams will get a possession, I was wondering how many times the Bears have played overtime playoff games and if any ended with a touchdown on the first possession.
Peter H.
Indiana
The Bears have played just one overtime game in their postseason history and it did not end with a touchdown on the first possession. On Jan. 14, 2007, they defeated the Seahawks 27-24 in a divisional playoff contest at Soldier Field on Robbie Gould's 49-yard field goal. Seattle won the overtime coin flip and elected to receive. After allowing a first down on Shaun Alexander's 10-yard run on the first play, the Bears stopped the Seahawks, taking possession at their own 34-yard line after a strong rush from Israel Idonije forced an 18-yard Ryan Plackemeier punt. On third-and-10, Rex Grossman completed a 30-yard pass to Rashied Davis to set up Gould's winning field goal with 10:02 left in overtime.
Chalk Talk features fan questions multiple times each week. Email your question to Larry.
