soulman Posted May 23, 2021 Share Posted May 23, 2021 Things worth ponderingHere are 20 questions for team to answer ahead of 2021 season https://digitaledition.chicagotribune.com/html5/desktop/production/default.aspx?edid=2bb9dfbd-c9db-4eb5-aa3f-0391e1701a03 Bears outside linebacker Khalil Mack tries to work his way around Saints offensive tackle Ryan Ramczyk during a 2020 game at Soldier Field. Jose M. Osorio / Chicago Tribune The only thing everyone wants to know about the Bears is when the Justin Fields era will begin. The rookie quarterback’s time figures to come this season, so however coach Matt Nagy and his staff arrange reps in training camp with veteran Andy Dalton will be under the microscope. Perhaps it will turn into a full-fledged competition for the starting job from Day 1, in which case Fields could state his case with a strong preseason. Maybe the plan is for Dalton to start initially to ensure Fields isn’t pushed into action before he’s ready. Either way — and Nagy has been short on details to this point — there’s growing intrigue regarding how this will unfold, and the questions surrounding Fields’ development plan are endless. Plenty of other storylines will begin to play out in the remainder of the offseason program and heading into training camp. Let’s play 20 questions — of the non-quarterback variety — divided into four categories: offense, defense, special teams and overview. Offense 1. Can second-round pick Teven Jenkins nail down the left tackle job and excel?: Jenkins better be able to take the job and run with it because it’s unclear what the fallback plan would be after the Bears released veteran Charles Leno, designating him as a post-June 1 cut to clear $9 million in cap space. There isn’t a player on the roster with an NFL start at left tackle, and the Bears are placing a great deal of faith in Jenkins — who primarily was a right tackle at Oklahoma State but did make seven starts at left tackle — to emerge as a frontline player as he takes over for Leno, who made 93 consecutive regular-season starts at the position. Jenkins clearly has the size to be a physical presence, but it’s yet to be seen if he has the athleticism to fit in a scheme that wants to be wide open running RPOs and zone reads. If not, the Bears could consider Alex Bars, who otherwise could be ticketed for a super sub role, or potentially try Cody Whitehair, who has played all three interior spots but likely is earmarked for left guard right now. This is Jenkins’ job to lose and the Bears are betting on him working out; otherwise, line coach Juan Castillo will be forced to do some juggling. 2. What will the depth chart look like at wide receiver after Allen Robinson and Darnell Mooney?: A ton of playing time is up for grabs, and the Bears are expecting big things from Mooney, who set a franchise record for receptions by a rookie wide receiver with 61 in 2020. Nagy has compared him to DeSean Jackson and Tyreek Hill, and that has created expectations for a big step forward in Year 2. There were 996 snaps that went to wide receivers other than Robinson and Mooney last season, excluding Cordarrelle Patterson, who was on the field for 201 plays but lined up in the backfield a fair amount. Nagy has tried pumping up Anthony Miller as he enters his fourth season, but it’s best to take a believe-it-when-you-see-it approach with him. Damiere Byrd could push for time along with rookie Dazz Newsome. Riley Ridley barely could get on the field the last two years, so expecting a breakthrough might not be realistic. Personnel groupings in training camp and preseason are worth tracking. 3. Can Sam Mustipher build off the second half of last season?: The Bears stumbled into a pleasant discovery when Mustipher was forced into action at center midway through 2020, playing so well it led to a starting job the rest of the season. Mustipher was able to get everyone on the same page. The former undrafted free agent has a great opportunity to settle into the job. 4. How will Tarik Cohen fare returning from a torn ACL?: Cohen was lost for the season in Week 3, so barring something unexpected, he should be good to go in training camp. He was a dangerous player in 2018, when he averaged 4.5 yards per carry and 10.2 yards per reception, but he couldn’t get loose the next season. It will be a challenge for Nagy to take advantage of Cohen’s open-field ability as he returns to health. 5. Will Germain Ifedi be a steady option at right tackle?: When the Bears signed Ifedi a year ago, they did so with the idea of moving him inside to right guard. They thought he would be better there than at right tackle, where he spent most of four seasons with the Seattle Seahawks. After Bobby Massie went down with a knee injury and more dominoes fell on the line, Ifedi found himself back outside at right tackle, where he started the final six games. He played well enough to earn a one-year, $4.25 million contract, and with fifth-round pick Larry Borom in the mix, he will have to hold off the rookie, who could be part of the plan moving forward. 6. What is the next step for Cole Kmet?: The second-round pick showed incremental growth last season that can be tracked by his playing time, which steadily increased. Kmet has the ability to help in the running game and be an effective passing target in the middle of the field. “We have outlined some things in our Zoom calls during the Phase 1 part of OTAs,” tight ends coach Clancy Barone said, “and going back looking at all the snaps and things he can certainly get better at, everything from technique to seeing what the defense is pre-snap and post-snap. Those are things that often times the guys get figured out during preseason and didn’t have that chance last year.” If the Bears are to make major advances on offense, Kmet needs to be part of increased production from the position. Defense 7. What tweaks will first-year coordinator Sean Desai make?: The Bears turned to a Vic Fangio pupil in Desai to lead the defense after a two-year run by Chuck Pagano. The hope is the move will restore some of the mojo the unit last experienced in 2018. The Bears defense was dominant at times under Pagano but fell off during the second half of last season. Desai won’t be reinventing how the unit plays — and Mike Pettine was hired as a senior assistant to lend a hand to the first-time coordinator — but there should be some slight modifications. 8. How big of an impact will the return of Eddie Goldman make?: The Bears have said only positive things about the nose tackle, who opted out because of COVID-19 last year. He’s an elite run stuffer, and when he’s in the middle of the line the Bears are significantly better against the run. That’s key as the defense slumped to No. 15 against the run last year. Goldman should be in the prime years of his career at 27, but after taking a year off, it will be interesting to see how he returns. 9. Will Robert Quinn bounce back from a disappointing season?: The Bears’ major offseason plan a year ago was to ramp up the pass rush, and the key move was swapping out former first-round pick Leonard Floyd for the free-agent addition Quinn (five-year, $70 million contract with $30 million fully guaranteed). That never panned out as Quinn, who was joining his fourth team in as many seasons, had only two sacks while Floyd had 101/2 for the Los Angeles Rams. The 31-year-old Quinn should have some gas left in the tank, but the challenge is on Desai to bring out the best in Quinn, who had four consecutive seasons with 8 1/2 sacks or fewer before posting 11 1/2 with the Cowboys in 2019. 10. Will a healthy Khalil Mack be a dominant force again?: Mack showed up on the injury report last season with four different issues, and at the end of the year the team said a shoulder injury was problematic but did not require surgery. Mack still is going to command extra attention from offenses, but as one of the highest-paid defenders in the league, he needs to be able to take over games. If not, the Bears are going to have a ton of money sunk in a very, very good player who’s being paid at an elite level. 11. Is Eddie Jackson primed for a bounce-back season?: It stands to reason that Desai, who served as the safeties coach last season, will know better than anyone how to position Jackson to best use his abilities. Jackson emerged as a legitimate ballhawking center fielder in 2018, when he made six interceptions, but he has just two since (both in 2019) and sloppy open-field tackling plagued his 2020 season. The Bears rewarded Jackson in January 2020 with a contract that made him the highest-paid safety in the league, so he needs to play as one of the game’s best. 12. Who will start at cornerback opposite Jaylon Johnson?: This could linger as the biggest question on defense heading into the preseason after the Bears cut Kyle Fuller in a salary-cap move, did not draft a cornerback until the sixth round (Thomas Graham Jr.) and didn’t make a splash in free agency to get a starter. That leaves veteran Desmond Trufant, who has battled injuries the last two seasons, and Kindle Vildor, who is entering his second season, as the top options currently on the roster. 13. Who replaces Buster Skrine at the nickel position?: Piggybacking off the above question, the Bears also need to identify a slot cornerback. Duke Shelley was the first man off the bench to replace Skrine when he was sidelined by a concussion last year, and Shelley could get the first crack at the job. Graham could figure in the mix, too, as he lined up as the nickel during rookie minicamp. Maybe DeAndre Houston-Carson merits a look as well after playing well in the dime package in 2020. This is no small decision considering how much teams lean on a third cornerback. 14. Is Danny Trevathan on his last legs?: The venerable inside linebacker got off to a slow start last season and didn’t show the sideline-to-sideline range that made him a valuable member of the defense. He got a little bit better as the season went along, but he’s near the end of a good career. When speed and short-area quickness start to go for a guy who is 31 years old, it’s difficult to recapture. Veteran Christian Jones was brought back in free agency, but there isn’t a clear transition plan in place. 15. Can Roquan Smith build off a breakthrough 2020 season?: The Bears picked up the fifth-year option in Smith’s contract, a no-brainer because he’s far and away the best first-round pick Ryan Pace has made. Smith is coming off a season in which he played extremely well with 139 tackles, four sacks, two interceptions, six QB hits, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery. The key is for Smith to remain at a dominant level — something the Bears are banking on as they likely consider a long-term extension. Special teams 16. Can the kickoff return game remain strong after the loss of Cordarrelle Patterson?: Coming off consecutive seasons with the best kickoff returner in the league, the Bears will be challenged to provide quality field position for the offense. Patterson was a threat to score every time he caught the ball — even deep in the end zone — and there isn’t a clear replacement on the roster. Special teams coordinator Chris Tabor will have to sort through a variety of options, and ball security will be his first concern. It’s worth mentioning Patterson was an elite gunner on the punt coverage team, another hole created by his departure. 17. Can Cairo Santos keep his hot streak going?: Santos finished last season connecting on 27 consecutive field-goal attempts, which set him up for a payday before free agency. Re-signing Santos ended the merry-go-round the team has had annually at the position. Now he has to continue to perform so the Bears can stop hearing about what would have been had Robbie Gould remained in place. Overview 18. Is there any cap flexibility for another addition?: The Bears are pressed up against the salary cap, and that will make roster maneuvers challenging. Of course, space can be created if it’s really needed. Would Pace consider making a play for the right backstop at left tackle or cornerback? It’s worth pondering. 19. Matt Nagy has made it clear he’s calling plays again. What will that mean for the offense?: The answer probably hinges more on how Fields performs than anything else. But Fields has a diverse skill set and the ability to do damage with his legs and gives Nagy a QB he has handpicked. It’s up to Nagy to maximize things for an offense that has had a tough time reaching the end zone. 20. How close to normal will training camp be this summer?: Hopefully very close to normal. The Bears moved their summer operation back to Halas Hall to take advantage of their facilities, and if COVID-19 restrictions are not burdensome, it should be a benefit — but not as great as actually having a preseason to put young players such as Fields to the test. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heinz D. Posted May 23, 2021 Share Posted May 23, 2021 So...Biggs has been hibernating for a while? Or what? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soulman Posted May 23, 2021 Author Share Posted May 23, 2021 53 minutes ago, Heinz D. said: So...Biggs has been hibernating for a while? Or what? I don't think he's been on many other beats except the Bears so until there's more action he's been scarce. Plus he's kinda the "senior" guy now so others seem to contribute more often but not with the kind of lengthier pieces Biggs writes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dll2000 Posted May 24, 2021 Share Posted May 24, 2021 19 hours ago, soulman said: Things worth ponderingHere are 20 questions for team to answer ahead of 2021 season https://digitaledition.chicagotribune.com/html5/desktop/production/default.aspx?edid=2bb9dfbd-c9db-4eb5-aa3f-0391e1701a03 Bears outside linebacker Khalil Mack tries to work his way around Saints offensive tackle Ryan Ramczyk during a 2020 game at Soldier Field. Jose M. Osorio / Chicago Tribune The only thing everyone wants to know about the Bears is when the Justin Fields era will begin. The rookie quarterback’s time figures to come this season, so however coach Matt Nagy and his staff arrange reps in training camp with veteran Andy Dalton will be under the microscope. Perhaps it will turn into a full-fledged competition for the starting job from Day 1, in which case Fields could state his case with a strong preseason. Maybe the plan is for Dalton to start initially to ensure Fields isn’t pushed into action before he’s ready. Either way — and Nagy has been short on details to this point — there’s growing intrigue regarding how this will unfold, and the questions surrounding Fields’ development plan are endless. Plenty of other storylines will begin to play out in the remainder of the offseason program and heading into training camp. Let’s play 20 questions — of the non-quarterback variety — divided into four categories: offense, defense, special teams and overview. Offense 1. Can second-round pick Teven Jenkins nail down the left tackle job and excel?: Jenkins better be able to take the job and run with it because it’s unclear what the fallback plan would be after the Bears released veteran Charles Leno, designating him as a post-June 1 cut to clear $9 million in cap space. There isn’t a player on the roster with an NFL start at left tackle, and the Bears are placing a great deal of faith in Jenkins — who primarily was a right tackle at Oklahoma State but did make seven starts at left tackle — to emerge as a frontline player as he takes over for Leno, who made 93 consecutive regular-season starts at the position. Jenkins clearly has the size to be a physical presence, but it’s yet to be seen if he has the athleticism to fit in a scheme that wants to be wide open running RPOs and zone reads. If not, the Bears could consider Alex Bars, who otherwise could be ticketed for a super sub role, or potentially try Cody Whitehair, who has played all three interior spots but likely is earmarked for left guard right now. This is Jenkins’ job to lose and the Bears are betting on him working out; otherwise, line coach Juan Castillo will be forced to do some juggling. Pace needed the 9 million to sign the draft class. Leno was on team one year too long in my opinion and saving 9 million was a near no brainer. Not sure why every Bears blogger laments his leaving. Jenkins may struggle in pass pro as most rookies do, if fact it is likely, but he is bigger, stronger, faster and more nasty than Leno ever was. Not sure why narrative is he is a bad athlete - I think its because he played RT and there is a stereotype. To me this is an upgrade in making and isn't likely to be much worse than what we got from Leno last two years 19 hours ago, soulman said: 2. What will the depth chart look like at wide receiver after Allen Robinson and Darnell Mooney?: A ton of playing time is up for grabs, and the Bears are expecting big things from Mooney, who set a franchise record for receptions by a rookie wide receiver with 61 in 2020. Nagy has compared him to DeSean Jackson and Tyreek Hill, and that has created expectations for a big step forward in Year 2. There were 996 snaps that went to wide receivers other than Robinson and Mooney last season, excluding Cordarrelle Patterson, who was on the field for 201 plays but lined up in the backfield a fair amount. Nagy has tried pumping up Anthony Miller as he enters his fourth season, but it’s best to take a believe-it-when-you-see-it approach with him. Damiere Byrd could push for time along with rookie Dazz Newsome. Riley Ridley barely could get on the field the last two years, so expecting a breakthrough might not be realistic. Personnel groupings in training camp and preseason are worth tracking. I think as long as ARob and Mooney are healthy the number 3 isn't that important. Montgomery or old Cohen should be #3 receiving option and Graham or Kmet #4. 19 hours ago, soulman said: 3. Can Sam Mustipher build off the second half of last season?: The Bears stumbled into a pleasant discovery when Mustipher was forced into action at center midway through 2020, playing so well it led to a starting job the rest of the season. Mustipher was able to get everyone on the same page. The former undrafted free agent has a great opportunity to settle into the job. Mustipher being adequate revitalized the Bears O line last year. Whitehair moving to guard where he is really good, from center where he is average to below average makes everything better. Adding Jenkins and getting Daniels back should take it to another level hopefully. 19 hours ago, soulman said: 4. How will Tarik Cohen fare returning from a torn ACL?: Cohen was lost for the season in Week 3, so barring something unexpected, he should be good to go in training camp. He was a dangerous player in 2018, when he averaged 4.5 yards per carry and 10.2 yards per reception, but he couldn’t get loose the next season. It will be a challenge for Nagy to take advantage of Cohen’s open-field ability as he returns to health. Cohen is nice to have, but he isn't that important. A one cut inside runner like Bears drafted will be more useful. 19 hours ago, soulman said: 5. Will Germain Ifedi be a steady option at right tackle?: When the Bears signed Ifedi a year ago, they did so with the idea of moving him inside to right guard. They thought he would be better there than at right tackle, where he spent most of four seasons with the Seattle Seahawks. After Bobby Massie went down with a knee injury and more dominoes fell on the line, Ifedi found himself back outside at right tackle, where he started the final six games. He played well enough to earn a one-year, $4.25 million contract, and with fifth-round pick Larry Borom in the mix, he will have to hold off the rookie, who could be part of the plan moving forward. Ifedi isn't great, but he is a far better athlete than Massie, he is stronger and has better feet. He can be really good. Ifedi problem is he goes for stretches where he lacks concentration and focus. If it comes at key moments or key stretches in a tight game it is very memorable and makes coaches/fans crazy. May be he just needs a doctor. 19 hours ago, soulman said: 6. What is the next step for Cole Kmet?: The second-round pick showed incremental growth last season that can be tracked by his playing time, which steadily increased. Kmet has the ability to help in the running game and be an effective passing target in the middle of the field. “We have outlined some things in our Zoom calls during the Phase 1 part of OTAs,” tight ends coach Clancy Barone said, “and going back looking at all the snaps and things he can certainly get better at, everything from technique to seeing what the defense is pre-snap and post-snap. Those are things that often times the guys get figured out during preseason and didn’t have that chance last year.” If the Bears are to make major advances on offense, Kmet needs to be part of increased production from the position. Kmet doesn't have that high a ceiling IMO. He did show that he can be potentially be a solid player though. 19 hours ago, soulman said: Defense 7. What tweaks will first-year coordinator Sean Desai make?: The Bears turned to a Vic Fangio pupil in Desai to lead the defense after a two-year run by Chuck Pagano. The hope is the move will restore some of the mojo the unit last experienced in 2018. The Bears defense was dominant at times under Pagano but fell off during the second half of last season. Desai won’t be reinventing how the unit plays — and Mike Pettine was hired as a senior assistant to lend a hand to the first-time coordinator — but there should be some slight modifications. Pagano sucked as bad you as you can suck last year. It appeared to me he didn't care or really want to be there, he was mentally retired already. Desai should have some hiccups, but I think will be bring better creativity and game planning. But having no DC at all would be an upgrade over 2020. 19 hours ago, soulman said: 8. How big of an impact will the return of Eddie Goldman make?: The Bears have said only positive things about the nose tackle, who opted out because of COVID-19 last year. He’s an elite run stuffer, and when he’s in the middle of the line the Bears are significantly better against the run. That’s key as the defense slumped to No. 15 against the run last year. Goldman should be in the prime years of his career at 27, but after taking a year off, it will be interesting to see how he returns. Goldman was missed as many of DL got pushed around in run game and go put in Roquan Smith's lap. Hopefully he used the year to heal and comes in motivated rather than acquiring lazy habits or a non professional athlete. 19 hours ago, soulman said: 9. Will Robert Quinn bounce back from a disappointing season?: The Bears’ major offseason plan a year ago was to ramp up the pass rush, and the key move was swapping out former first-round pick Leonard Floyd for the free-agent addition Quinn (five-year, $70 million contract with $30 million fully guaranteed). That never panned out as Quinn, who was joining his fourth team in as many seasons, had only two sacks while Floyd had 101/2 for the Los Angeles Rams. The 31-year-old Quinn should have some gas left in the tank, but the challenge is on Desai to bring out the best in Quinn, who had four consecutive seasons with 8 1/2 sacks or fewer before posting 11 1/2 with the Cowboys in 2019. One of Desai's biggest goals should be to properly utilize Mack and revitalize Quinn. 19 hours ago, soulman said: 10. Will a healthy Khalil Mack be a dominant force again?: Mack showed up on the injury report last season with four different issues, and at the end of the year the team said a shoulder injury was problematic but did not require surgery. Mack still is going to command extra attention from offenses, but as one of the highest-paid defenders in the league, he needs to be able to take over games. If not, the Bears are going to have a ton of money sunk in a very, very good player who’s being paid at an elite level. See above. 19 hours ago, soulman said: 11. Is Eddie Jackson primed for a bounce-back season?: It stands to reason that Desai, who served as the safeties coach last season, will know better than anyone how to position Jackson to best use his abilities. Jackson emerged as a legitimate ballhawking center fielder in 2018, when he made six interceptions, but he has just two since (both in 2019) and sloppy open-field tackling plagued his 2020 season. The Bears rewarded Jackson in January 2020 with a contract that made him the highest-paid safety in the league, so he needs to play as one of the game’s best. Eddie needs some help from refs who keep calling back his big plays. I think he would feed off them more. He has never been a good open field tackler. I don't know what Biggs has been watching. Bears need to play Jackson deep more in cover 1 or 3. He is no good in box. 19 hours ago, soulman said: 12. Who will start at cornerback opposite Jaylon Johnson?: This could linger as the biggest question on defense heading into the preseason after the Bears cut Kyle Fuller in a salary-cap move, did not draft a cornerback until the sixth round (Thomas Graham Jr.) and didn’t make a splash in free agency to get a starter. That leaves veteran Desmond Trufant, who has battled injuries the last two seasons, and Kindle Vildor, who is entering his second season, as the top options currently on the roster. I don't think it is between just Trufant and Vildor. I think Robeson and Burns are legit competing for that spot as well. I think they want Vildor to win, and perhaps expect Trufant to. But I think Burns and Robeson may have something to say about it. 19 hours ago, soulman said: 13. Who replaces Buster Skrine at the nickel position?: Piggybacking off the above question, the Bears also need to identify a slot cornerback. Duke Shelley was the first man off the bench to replace Skrine when he was sidelined by a concussion last year, and Shelley could get the first crack at the job. Graham could figure in the mix, too, as he lined up as the nickel during rookie minicamp. Maybe DeAndre Houston-Carson merits a look as well after playing well in the dime package in 2020. This is no small decision considering how much teams lean on a third cornerback. Probably Shelley or Graham. If other guys look good at outside CB Vildor may get it by default. 19 hours ago, soulman said: 14. Is Danny Trevathan on his last legs?: The venerable inside linebacker got off to a slow start last season and didn’t show the sideline-to-sideline range that made him a valuable member of the defense. He got a little bit better as the season went along, but he’s near the end of a good career. When speed and short-area quickness start to go for a guy who is 31 years old, it’s difficult to recapture. Veteran Christian Jones was brought back in free agency, but there isn’t a clear transition plan in place. Trevathan looked like he should have been cut for first half of season. Started playing better at end. Maybe he just wasn't in shape. Who knows. 19 hours ago, soulman said: 15. Can Roquan Smith build off a breakthrough 2020 season?: The Bears picked up the fifth-year option in Smith’s contract, a no-brainer because he’s far and away the best first-round pick Ryan Pace has made. Smith is coming off a season in which he played extremely well with 139 tackles, four sacks, two interceptions, six QB hits, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery. The key is for Smith to remain at a dominant level — something the Bears are banking on as they likely consider a long-term extension. I think Smith is a specialist. Protect him and he can really help you. Let him run around free. Design your defense accordingly. Also he is under utilized blitzer. 19 hours ago, soulman said: Special teams 16. Can the kickoff return game remain strong after the loss of Cordarrelle Patterson?: Coming off consecutive seasons with the best kickoff returner in the league, the Bears will be challenged to provide quality field position for the offense. Patterson was a threat to score every time he caught the ball — even deep in the end zone — and there isn’t a clear replacement on the roster. Special teams coordinator Chris Tabor will have to sort through a variety of options, and ball security will be his first concern. It’s worth mentioning Patterson was an elite gunner on the punt coverage team, another hole created by his departure. People underestimate loss of Patterson. Patterson was best non kicking special teams player in league last two years. 19 hours ago, soulman said: 17. Can Cairo Santos keep his hot streak going?: Santos finished last season connecting on 27 consecutive field-goal attempts, which set him up for a payday before free agency. Re-signing Santos ended the merry-go-round the team has had annually at the position. Now he has to continue to perform so the Bears can stop hearing about what would have been had Robbie Gould remained in place. Who knows? Kickers are weird. Awesome one year, sucky the next. 19 hours ago, soulman said: Overview 18. Is there any cap flexibility for another addition?: The Bears are pressed up against the salary cap, and that will make roster maneuvers challenging. Of course, space can be created if it’s really needed. Would Pace consider making a play for the right backstop at left tackle or cornerback? It’s worth pondering. No, because their schedule is just too brutal to compete in while playing Dalton and bringing Fields along slow. Maybe if Rodgers leaves GB they take a shot at bringing in another piece. 19 hours ago, soulman said: 19. Matt Nagy has made it clear he’s calling plays again. What will that mean for the offense?: The answer probably hinges more on how Fields performs than anything else. But Fields has a diverse skill set and the ability to do damage with his legs and gives Nagy a QB he has handpicked. It’s up to Nagy to maximize things for an offense that has had a tough time reaching the end zone. I don't care who calls plays. I'd rather they executed their plays better. Most of play calling is decided during week anyway and applied situationally. But I don't think HC should call plays. Too many other things to do. 19 hours ago, soulman said: 20. How close to normal will training camp be this summer?: Hopefully very close to normal. The Bears moved their summer operation back to Halas Hall to take advantage of their facilities, and if COVID-19 restrictions are not burdensome, it should be a benefit — but not as great as actually having a preseason to put young players such as Fields to the test. Covid wise should be pretty close to normal at camp. Even CA is saying back to normal by July. Restaurants and parks are already full in Chicago area right now. Most people have gone back to normal despite any official policies. I see neighborhood parties all over the place now that weather is nicer as I walk around. Half of stores are essentially maskless starting this weekend. Nobody is wearing masks in restaurants or bars except right when they walk in. I got invited to a club on Sat. and nobody there was wearing masks. I have already been invited to Memorial day weekend BBQs. I understand that some people think that is wrong and irresponsible at this time, not here to debate that. It is just what is happening. Who knows what else could happen in meantime. Some new disaster may strike. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G08 Posted May 24, 2021 Share Posted May 24, 2021 19 hours ago, Heinz D. said: So...Biggs has been hibernating for a while? Or what? He is/was on 670 the score every morning and does some podcasts as well. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soulman Posted May 24, 2021 Author Share Posted May 24, 2021 40 minutes ago, dll2000 said: Pace needed the 9 million to sign the draft class. Leno was on team one year too long in my opinion and saving 9 million was a near no brainer. Not sure why every Bears blogger laments his leaving. Jenkins may struggle in pass pro as most rookies do, if fact it is likely, but he is bigger, stronger, faster and more nasty than Leno ever was. Not sure why narrative is he is a bad athlete - I think its because he played RT and there is a stereotype. To me this is an upgrade in making and isn't likely to be much worse than what we got from Leno last two years Other than he didn't need anywhere near $9 mil of cap to sign the draft class I agree. Fields and Jenkins are the only contracts that will count towards the cap but they won't even have the space for those 'til Leno's release hit the cap June 1st. It was time to replace him end of story. Nothing about him says "bad athlete" and while it's always gonna be a "thing" to question rookie OTs starting the majority of those drafted in the first two round do start. It's why there's always a run on them in both of the first two rounds. No one is spending higher draft picks on OL depth. 48 minutes ago, dll2000 said: Mustipher being adequate revitalized the Bears O line last year. Whitehair moving to guard where he is really good, from center where he is average to below average makes everything better. Adding Jenkins and getting Daniels back should take it to another level hopefully. Mustipher's greatest strength may be his football intelligence. He's the one who finally seemed to get the OL back on the same page. If he fails I would move Daniels back to OC before moving Whitehair yet again. Let the guy settle in at LG where he can help Jenkins and probably get an All Pro nod. I think Daniels struggles were due to two things. His youth and NFL inexperience and his size. The first is no longer and issue and we know that he added both bulk and strength last offseason. He looked like a different player when he arrive at camp. 58 minutes ago, dll2000 said: Ifedi isn't great, but he is a far better athlete than Massie, he is stronger and has better feet. He can be really good. Ifedi problem is he goes for stretches where he lacks concentration and focus. If it comes at key moments or key stretches in a tight game it is very memorable and makes coaches/fans crazy. May be he just needs a doctor. I consider Ifedi an upgrade over Massie at RT with a + + for his versatility. The kid is a former 1st round pick and he's only 26 years old so if Castillo can help him conqueror his worst habits we may have a solid RT or RG for another 5 years and Borom seems to have promise. 3 hours ago, dll2000 said: Eddie needs some help from refs who keep calling back his big plays. I think he would feed off them more. He has never been a good open field tackler. I don't know what Biggs has been watching. Bears need to play Jackson deep more in cover 1 or 3. He is no good in box. I'll combine this with a response to several above it. Was Pagano checked out? Probably. His defense didn't play with the same kind of passion and aggressiveness we're used to seeing. I'm much happier to have a Fangio acolyte who can put things back in order. Playing Jackson out of position is one of many things I disliked about Pagano's approach. He's an All Pro FS if allowed to use his skills playing on the back end. Better scheming for both Quinn and Mack are also needed. 3 hours ago, dll2000 said: Trevathan looked like he should have been cut for first half of season. Started playing better at end. Maybe he just wasn't in shape. Who knows. DT was retained because of his leadership. He and Hicks are the defensive spark plugs yet neither had a particularly good season in 2020. To wrap up I'd say it's gonna be an interesting year and one we hope will be profitable in the long run but not necessarily a successful one as far as wins and losses. If we can go 10-7 that should satisfy most people but we could just as easily go 7-10 or somewhere in between. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dll2000 Posted May 24, 2021 Share Posted May 24, 2021 49 minutes ago, soulman said: To wrap up I'd say it's gonna be an interesting year and one we hope will be profitable in the long run but not necessarily a successful one as far as wins and losses. If we can go 10-7 that should satisfy most people but we could just as easily go 7-10 or somewhere in between. I would be shocked at 10-7 to be honest. I think the Bears are better than last year, but the schedule makers kinda screwed them. I guess they are making up for cake walk they gave them last year. Rams, Browns, Packers x2, Vikings x2, Bucs, 49ers, Steelers, Ravens and maybe even Cardinals and Raiders are playoff contenders. Packers, Bucs and Rams are probably amongst NFC favorites. 49ers are returning a lot of guys from team that went to SB just 2 seasons ago and dominated Packers twice. Browns and Ravens are SB contenders in AFC. Steelers started 11-0 last year. Packers slaughtered Bears twice last year. Vikings will be better this year. Surprised they didn't put KC on schedule too. Offseason joy could be short lived. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soulman Posted May 24, 2021 Author Share Posted May 24, 2021 (edited) 1 hour ago, dll2000 said: I would be shocked at 10-7 to be honest. I think the Bears are better than last year, but the schedule makers kinda screwed them. I guess they are making up for cake walk they gave them last year. Rams, Browns, Packers x2, Vikings x2, Bucs, 49ers, Steelers, Ravens and maybe even Cardinals and Raiders are playoff contenders. Packers, Bucs and Rams are probably amongst NFC favorites. 49ers are returning a lot of guys from team that went to SB just 2 seasons ago and dominated Packers twice. Browns and Ravens are SB contenders in AFC. Steelers started 11-0 last year. Packers slaughtered Bears twice last year. Vikings will be better this year. Surprised they didn't put KC on schedule too. Offseason joy could be short lived. I'm giving us at least one against Detroit and Minny and one against GB even with Rodgers to get to 8-9. 9-8 would mean a 4-2 NFCN finish and 10-7 a 5-1 NFCN finish which is highly doubtful but a sign of potential future dominance. 7-10 mean GB spanked us twice again. Edited May 24, 2021 by soulman Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dll2000 Posted May 24, 2021 Share Posted May 24, 2021 13 minutes ago, soulman said: I'm giving us at least one against Detroit and Minny and one against GB even with Rodgers to get to 8-9. 9-8 would mean a 4-2 NFCN finish and 10-7 a 5-1 NFCN finish which is highly doubtful but a sign of potential future dominance. 7-10 mean GB spanked us twice again. I think we beat Detroit twice. Not a fan of Goff and the gang. Detroit drafted much better though. They could be scary in a few. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soulman Posted May 24, 2021 Author Share Posted May 24, 2021 14 minutes ago, dll2000 said: I think we beat Detroit twice. Not a fan of Goff and the gang. Detroit drafted much better though. They could be scary in a few. But we play them in Detroit on Thanksgiving Day don't we? Seems to me we often choke in that game. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dll2000 Posted May 24, 2021 Share Posted May 24, 2021 6 minutes ago, soulman said: But we play them in Detroit on Thanksgiving Day don't we? Seems to me we often choke in that game. No. I think Nagy and Trubisky have pretty owned Lions up to the last game when Stafford lit them up in 4th. I don't even remember Detroit winning any for a long time before that last game. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dll2000 Posted May 24, 2021 Share Posted May 24, 2021 Just now, dll2000 said: No. I think Nagy and Trubisky have pretty owned Lions up to the last game when Stafford lit them up in 4th. I don't even remember Detroit winning any for a long time before that last game. I think even Daniel beat them on a short turnaround with MT hurt. Patricia was terrible versus Bears. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soulman Posted May 24, 2021 Author Share Posted May 24, 2021 38 minutes ago, dll2000 said: I think even Daniel beat them on a short turnaround with MT hurt. Patricia was terrible versus Bears. But Patricia isn't there now. I'm giving us a high probability of 4-2 against the NFCN so someone gets beat twice. I'd prefer GB but will take Detroit or Minny....LOL. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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