Hub Arkush: What would it take to fix Bears offense? There are options worth exploring.

So the beat goes on, or should we say the beating the Chicago Bears offense is taking both on and off the field goes on.

Rightly so most of it is focused on the offensive line.

Football is the ultimate team sport and it takes all 11 guys on offense or defense for everything to go right.

Things can go south in a hurry if just a few guys struggle.

While there have been more than a few screw-ups at quarterback, wide receiver and tight end – for the most part the backs have been pretty solid – it has also appeared as often as not there is enough talent there to succeed.

But everything starts up front, and the line has been consistently mediocre to poor.

The great unknown is what are Ryan Pace and Matt Nagy prepared to do about it.

At 5-1, regardless of how they got here, the Bears' future is very much in their own hands and the possibilities are endless.

The playoffs? A No. 1 or No. 2 seed? A trip to the Super Bowl? A Lombardi Trophy? The sky’s the limit.

While I’m not saying the Bears are good enough for any of it there are only a handful of teams in the league right now that have put themselves in a position to go for it. The Bears are one of them, but are they willing to go for it, to go all out to win a championship now?

Here’s what that means.

If there is a soft spot on the Bears defense it is the run defense up the gut due to the opt out of Eddie Goldman.

Damon “Snacks” Harrison has been one of the best run stuffing nose tackles in the game in recent years and a few weeks ago he let it be known he was interested in playing again and even sent feelers to the Bears via social media.

But the Seattle Seahawks, heir main competition for that No. 1 seed, had the same issues and were much more committed to “going for it,” and they convinced Snacks to join them.

The Kansas City Chiefs just went for it, too.

The Bears are dangerously thin at running back and the ground game is awful. The Chiefs weren’t thin and can run, but when former All Pro running back Le’Veon Bell became available last week, the Chiefs went for a second straight title. The rich got richer while the Bears appeared to sit on their hands.

What would it take for the Bears to go for it and address their offensive line and what might that look like?

Cody Whitehair is a better than average center and would probably be even better at guard, a guy you can definitely win with. Germain Ifedi and Bobby Massie can be good enough with the right pieces around them.

But the left side of the line is a mess and unlikely to get a lot better without reinforcements.

Jacksonville left tackle Cam Robinson is just 26 and also a free agent next year. He is perhaps part of the Jags' future, but Jacksonville has to rebuild and would have to listen to the right offer.

With the trade deadline two weeks away, it’s possible a third- or even a fourth-round pick could deliver Robinson. The Bears should certainly be working the phones.

Atlanta is in complete turmoil, and while Alex Mack is 35, he’s still a hell of a center and free to move next season.

The Falcons would be crazy not to take a day three pick for him now.

Patriots guard Joe Thuney (28) is a Pro Bowl-level talent out of contract at the end of the season, too.

The Pats are still very much in the hunt, but with the 49ers Sunday and then the Bills the Sunday before the deadline, that could change quickly, and we know how reticent they are to do the big-money deal he will command.

A third- or fourth-round pick might do the trick.

Will the Bears work the phones and play let’s make a deal?

Wasting this start without even trying would be a real shame.