Chicago Bears starting quarterback Andy Dalton took a direct approach when speaking about what the Bears’ offense could accomplish throughout the 2021 season. Dalton, who spent last season with the Dallas Cowboys after spending nine seasons as the starting quarterback of the Cincinnati Bengals has continued to command respect throughout the offseason in Chicago.
Despite Bears’ fans’ desire to see rookie Justin Fields start, something cannot be denied when analyzing Dalton: Experience. Dalton has started 142 games since 2011 and has been to three Pro Bowls. Despite never having won a playoff game, the 11-year veteran has seen enough football to know what the Bears offense is capable of.
“I feel like with this offense and the players that we have, I think we can be pretty versatile,” Dalton said via the Bears official YouTube Channel. “We can run the ball, tight formations, we can spread you out and throw the ball. So I that’s the different things. We don’t want to have one identity of this is exactly what we are, we want to be able to be multiple and do different things.”
Chicago does have versatility at its disposal. Between running back David Montgomery, wide receivers Allen Robinson and Darnell Mooney, tight ends Cole Kmet and Jimmy Graham, along with speedsters such as Tarik Cohen, Marquise Goodwin, and Damiere Byrd, Chicago can play multiple styles of offense.
The key aspect to keep in mind is whether or not Dalton will be able to ensure that the Bears offense executes at a high level, rather than resembling the 2020 Bears offense, which seemed to limp to the finish line at times.
“The best thing you can do is play,” Dalton said. “That’s the best experience you can get. You’re seeing new looks each week, you’re learning different defenses, learning different schemes, learning all the different pressures teams are going to be throwing at you. You’re going to know the offense. You’d better know the offense.”
As Dalton continues to help build the Bears offense, it’s clear that he’s got high expectations for an offense that underwent a major overhaul throughout the offseason, setting up for what should be an intriguing unit heading into 2021.