ONLY NATURAL IF GASE GOES
@monsters_berry: if you were the Bears wouldn’t you tell Adam Gase that once John Fox is done he will be the head coach so he stays?
A: Why in the world would Gase want to be a coach-in-waiting when he can be an actual head coach? I don’t believe Gase, the Bears’ offensive coordinator, would take just any outside job — there are meddling owners and bad situations out there — but most head-coaching availabilities are superior to being an assistant. This isn’t college, where there are 20 blue-blood jobs and assistants can be persuaded to wait.
@RoadNinja49: When the Bears lose Gase, what’s the more plausible scenario: elevating someone from within to maintain the same system or . . .?
A: Dowell Loggains, the Bears’ quarterbacks coach and a former Tennessee Titans offensive coordinator, would be a logical choice. What if Fox’s former Denver Broncos offensive coordinator, Mike McCoy, was fired by the woeful San Diego Chargers? He’d make sense, too.
@vicbear23: Do you think David Fales has enough talent to be developed as the future Bears starter?
A: I think he’s a backup. It’s rare for players drafted so low — No. 188 in Fales’ case — to emerge as starters. This season, the Bears have played against three starting quarterbacks who were No. 1 picks, three more first-rounders and no one drafted lower than No. 88.
@joeyeoman: Out of the 22 starters, what percentage is the same next year? Who are the notable subtractions?
A: Jeremy Langford’s play seems to suggest Matt Forte will be elsewhere next year. The Bears will want another starting edge rusher, too, to pair with Pernell McPhee.
Other needs include a new defensive linemen or two, perhaps another receiver, a tackle to challenge Charles Leno, a new cornerback if Tracy Porter goes and maybe an inside linebacker. That’s eight guys.
@jtbarczak: Do you think the Bears make signing Tracy Porter a priority?
A: Good question. He has been a Pro Bowl candidate this season but has an injury history and has played for five teams in five years. That’s not the kind of profile a team covets.
We asked him Monday about laying down roots.
‘‘At this point, I just want to finish the season healthy and help this team win as many games as we possibly can,’’ Porter said. ‘‘Once the season’s over, we’ll figure that part out.’’
@claymoffatt: Should fantasy owners of [Martellus] Bennett be concerned? [Jay] Cutler seems to love [Zach] Miller.
A: I’d be more worried about Bennett’s injured ribs than Miller. When he’s healthy, Bennett gets the ball. Despite missing Sunday’s game, he leads the Bears with 50 catches and 76 targets. Among tight ends, only Greg Olsen and Rob Gronkowski have more targets.
You’re right, though. Miller has been a fantasy darling the last three weeks, with 10 of his 15 catches, 18 of his 25 targets and 164 of his 222 yards. And, because this is fantasy, three of his four touchdowns.
Follow me on Twitter @patrickfinley.