For the first time in a while, there seems to be a fair amount of positive energy surrounding the Chicago Bears. The team has had a very tough time over the past five years - and that's putting it lightly. 

POOR RECORDS

The last time Chicago finished the regular season with a winning record was back in 2012. 

Since then, they've come rock bottom of the NFC North in four of the five years that followed - but in 2018, fans are hoping things will change. 

CHANGES AT SOLDIER FIELD

After a very disappointing 5-11 finish in 2017, the Bears fired head coach John Fox after three seasons with the franchise. 

He left with an overall record of 14 wins and 34 losses, which is the second lowest win percentage in Chicago's history. 

The team decided that Matt Nagy is the perfect man to replace Fox - and they'll hoping that he'll bring a new outlook with him.

OFFENSIVE IMPROVEMENT

Since 2011, Nagy has served in an offensive capacity for two NFL teams.

With the Philadelphia Eagles, he was an offensive quality control coach, while in Kansas, he worked as the Chiefs quarterback coach and offensive coordinator. 

Bears fans will be hoping he can bring some of his offensive expertise to help the team in 2018 - especially as they've signed new players and a new coordinator themselves. 

But if early reports from practice are to be believed, that may not happen straight away. 

CONCERNING OFFENSE REPORTS

Despite the expectation that the Bears would improve on offense, reports from their pre-season practice sessions have suggested the opposite. 

Apparently, quarterback Mitchell Trubisky has struggled up to now and he's thrown multiple interceptions since the sessions started a few days ago.    

But it's not just him that's been disappointing on the field. Wide receiver Kevin White has had a number of drops while working deep routes, which is not what fans want to see.

AN IMPROVEMENT ON PAPER 

Even though they've struggled to get going early on, make no mistake - the Bears have made personal improvements in the offseason. 

Allen Robinson and Trey Burton are two of the biggest names that have been brought in to make the team's passing game a real threat. 

Of course, it will take them - and all of their teammates - a little while to adjust to new coordinator Mark Helfrich and his schemes. 

Arguably, the offensive performances that have been seen so far in Bears camp aren't the end of the world - but it's certainly not what the fans were hoping for.