Last year, the Chicago Bears finished with a dismal record of 5-11 and ended the regular season bottom of the NFC North. 

Head Coach John Fox was fired one day after the team's final game against the Minnesota Vikings - ending his three-year stint at Soldier Field. 

Under Fox, the Bears were uninspired and finished the 2015 season with a 6-10 record and struggled even more a year later, ending with a franchise tied worst record of 3-13. 

A LASTING IMPACT? 

However, in 2017, the head coach made a decision that could have a lasting impact in Chicago. 

The team drafted quarterback Mitchell Trubisky as the second overall pick of the draft - and by week five, he'd replaced Mike Glennon as the starter. 

The rookie managed to lead Chicago to wins in two of his first three games under center, but the Bears won only two of the nine games following that. 

Still though, fans will be expecting big things from Trubisky as he heads into his second year. 

AN OFFENSIVE-MINDED COACH

Matt Nagy has replaced Fox as head coach ahead of the 2018 season - and the former Kansas City Chiefs coordinator has a reputation for being offensive-minded.  

In fact, he wasted no time in showing exactly why he has that reputation. 

Wide receivers Allen Robinson, Taylor Gabriel and Anthony Miller all join him in Chicago. Robinson and Gabriel were acquired in the free agency, while Miller was a second-round draft pick.  

With new receivers to aim for, Trubisky should have a lot of support out on the field each week - and Bears fans will be hoping he'll push on from his rookie year.

Unfortunately, though, it appears that his offseason workouts have been a little worrying. 

INCONSISTENT TRAINING

Rich Campbell of the Chicago Tribune has suggested that fans shouldn't get carried away with Trubisky, explaining that the 23-year-old is still very much a work in progress. 

"Mitch Trubisky’s performance to this point in camp could best be described as inconsistent. This is neither surprising nor alarming," he wrote, per Yardbarker.

"The guy has started only 12 NFL games and now he’s learning an entirely new scheme that’s filled with flexibility to change plays and options during plays. 

"But now that fans have been welcomed to practice, the public can see what was evident throughout spring practices - Trubisky riding the roller coaster on a play-to-play basis."

As Campbell suggests, Chicago fans shouldn't be too concerned about the reports coming out of their team's camp.

After all, it would be very surprising if a second-year QB could turn around the fortunes of a team that have struggled as much as this one has recently. 

Still, though, the Bears should expect at least a bit of an improvement on their 5-11 finish in 2017, surely?