5 things we learned from Bears GM Ryan Poles

(4) Poles is impressed with the resiliency that coach Matt Eberflus has displayed since they began working together with the Bears in 2022.

“From where our roster was and for how far we knew it had to go, to set a standard and hold everybody to that is extremely difficult,” Poles said. “To keep a team together through adversity is extremely difficult. But, at the end of the day, what’s going to be awesome is that those things are going to be established. And then, when the winning comes, you have a stronger product because of it.

“I really look at the resilience piece of it. It’s so hard, with pressure, to stay the course. When there’s a lot of noise about doing different things and changes and all that, to hold the line, it takes a special man to do that. And he has done that.”

(5) The offensive line is deeper entering the 2024 season than it was in Poles’ previous two years with the club.

“I actually let one of the guys go on cut-downs and I was like, ‘Man, you did an excellent job. I wish we could keep you here,'” Poles said. “He said, ‘This is the deepest room I’ve ever been a part of.’ So we have more versatility, more depth. Shoot, we have 10 guys, so I feel comfortable. Obviously, you want your starting five to be healthy and ready to go, but I feel more confident in the depth of our offensive line than I ever have before.”

The line features tackles Braxton Jones, Darnell Wright and Kiran Amegadjie; guards Teven Jenkins, Nate Davis and Bill Murray; centers Coleman Shelton and Doug Kramer Jr.; guard/tackle Matt Pryor and center/guard Ryan Bates.

“I think that group can be really good,” Poles said. “In terms of investing in it, Darnell was a first-round pick, we traded for Bates, who has versatility, paid Nate. Coleman Shelton’s been a great addition. He’s a glue guy for up front. His ability to get everybody on the same page and execute at a high level has been really good. I think Braxton’s improved and Teven is playing his best ball too.”