Biggest Questions Going Into Camps

[dll2000]

Including training camp and pre-season - to me.

Nationally everyone wants to know if Fields can throw and not be just a runner.  That is not really a concern for me.   Below are my concerns, not in order of importance:

1.  Can Braxton handle a strong bull rush or speed to power this season?

2.  Can Whitehair play center effectively?

3.  Can Whitehair, Jenkins and Jaylon Johnson stay healthy?

4.  Do we have any viable safety after Jackson and Brisker?  It doesn't look like it.  

5.  Can O line coaches figure out their relationship and how to coach Jenkins so we can unlock his full potential?  

6. How much will move to left guard, his 3rd position, affect Jenkins?

7. Where is our edge pass rush going to come from?  Who will lead this team in sacks/pressures?  Poles said he is bringing in someone else.  Wonder who that will be and who odd man out will be when that happens.

8.  Are we going to extend Mooney, Claypool or Kmet?  Who? When?  

9. Is Claypool going to take a jump forward this year or was Pittsburgh right to want him out the door?

10. How long before Mooney is back to 100%?

11.  It appears our starting corners are most likely to be Johnson and Stevenson with Gordon playing NCB.   I think Gordon and Stevenson are still unproven.  Will they, as a group, be good?

12. It appears we are doing RB by committee.   Still one guy will get bulk of early carries.  Who?  Guessing it will be Foreman and Herbert almost alternating series early.

Position groups as I see them and ranked going into camp (not including special teams): 

1. LBs - Edwards, Edmunds, Sanborn.  That is one of best and most talented groups in entire league.  

2. QBs (all Fields)

3. Safety (Brisker and Jackson are good - no depth though)

4.  WRs (Moore, Mooney, Claypool, St. Brown, Jones, Scott - quite the jump in talent overall and when you factor in that it is 2nd year here for most of them)

5.  OL (Jones, Jenkins, Whitehair, Davis, Wright) - most talented starting 5 Bears have had in many years.  Like WR adding 2 talented guys to a mix of 5 makes a large different to other   But they still have to gel together.   4 of 5 guys are new to their spot on Bears OL, it could still look bad early on).

6. RBs (Herbert, Foreman, Johnson - man we have a lot of Johnson's on this team) -  Foremen is a classic middle of pack NFL RB, Herbert is most explosive player, Johnson has best all round ability and will probably take over number 1 late this year or next year).  Blasingame will be largely forgotten again this year.   

7. CBs (Johnson, Gordon and Stevenson) talented but Gordon and Stevenson are unproven players still.

8. DL (Billings, J. Jones, Dexter and Pickens and I think Walker will split time inside and outside) Adding Billings and two rookies will make this most improved overall unit on team.   It will not be easy as cake to run between tackles like it was last year.   That is a 3 win difference by itself in my mind.   We gave every team in league an easy path to victory most of season.   But this is not an elite or even good group at this point by any means.   They are just not historically bad anymore like 2022.   They are competent, maybe average or even good if stars align as a group now. 

9. TE.  (Kmet and Tonyan) - average group.  Nothing special, but not bad.  Serviceable.  Not much behind these two.  

10.  Edge (Walker split with DL, Gipson, Robinson, Green and mystery box player to be named later) - worst position group on team based on last years play.   Gipson and Robinson could be dark horse surprises.    Gipson because he looked like an up and comer two seasons ago and Robinson because he is/was a project thrown to wolves.   But Robinson remains a project with athletic upside that has an outside shot at working out.

 

Edited May 22, 2023 by dll2000
forgot RBs

[JibjeResearch]

1.  Can Braxton handle a strong bull rush or speed to power this season?

If he can cut down the loss by 50%, it's a win for the Bears

2.  Can Whitehair play center effectively?

Not much of an upgrade, IMO. 

3.  Can Whitehair, Jenkins and Jaylon Johnson stay healthy?

I hope the Bears and JJ can agree on an extension.

5.  Can O line coaches figure out their relationship and how to coach Jenkins so we can unlock his full potential?  

Yes, Jenkins is a force to be reckoned with.  The assistant coaches must not push the issues too much.  Flus will keep the peace lolz😁

8.  Are we going to extend Mooney, Claypool or Kmet?  Who? When?  

The best 2 that elevate the Bears and Fields get the extension.  The Bears must do all can to keep the 3rd guy.

11.  It appears our starting corners are most likely to be Johnson and Stevenson with Gordon playing NCB.   I think Gordon and Stevenson are still unproven.  Will they, as a group, be good?

If Stevenson wins the spot on day1, then Yes.  I think he will.

12. It appears we are doing RB by committee.   Still one guy will get bulk of early carries.  Who?  Guessing it will be Foreman and Herbert almost alternating series early.

Yes.😁

[Ty21]

22 hours ago, dll2000 said:

Including training camp and pre-season - to me.

Nationally everyone wants to know if Fields can throw and not be just a runner.  That is not really a concern for me.   Below are my concerns, not in order of importance:

1.  Can Braxton handle a strong bull rush or speed to power this season?

No. he’ll be better but he didn’t magically turn into an elite LT. He’s certainly serviceable at the spot and more trustworthy than we’ve had in a while, but his flaws will likely stay his flaws, just a little smoother 

2.  Can Whitehair play center effectively?

Effectively, no. I expect an uninspired average performance but it’ll look better cause it won’t be Mustipher, who’s the worst center I’ve watched 

3.  Can Whitehair, Jenkins and Jaylon Johnson stay healthy?

Is the question will they be able to play 17 games or will we only get half a season out of them? I’m never going to bet on Teven to stay healthy 

4.  Do we have any viable safety after Jackson and Brisker?  It doesn't look like it.  
So let’s hope they stay healthy 

5.  Can O line coaches figure out their relationship and how to coach Jenkins so we can unlock his full potential?  
His full potential will always be locked behind his injury wall 

6. How much will move to left guard, his 3rd position, affect Jenkins?

I can’t imagine it’ll be smooth but RG looked good on him  

7. Where is our edge pass rush going to come from?  Who will lead this team in sacks/pressures?  Poles said he is bringing in someone else.  Wonder who that will be and who odd man out will be when that happens.

Could still be coming in but I’m hoping the inside is competent enough that there’s less pressure on the edges. I think Dominique Robinson is a touch better than he looked last year too. The better we are around him the better he should play

8.  Are we going to extend Mooney, Claypool or Kmet?  Who? When?  
Mooney when he shows he recovered from the ankle. Kmet I’m kinda surprised hasn’t happened already. He probably wouldn’t even cost that much 

9. Is Claypool going to take a jump forward this year or was Pittsburgh right to want him out the door?

The latter. I’ve been saying it since he was a steeler  

10. How long before Mooney is back to 100%?

Will he be? His ankle injuries in his career have been the same injury to the same ankle. ESB said he had the same injury and now his ankle is stiff and unbendable

11.  It appears our starting corners are most likely to be Johnson and Stevenson with Gordon playing NCB.   I think Gordon and Stevenson are still unproven.  Will they, as a group, be good?

Good? Are we expecting good or are we expecting promising? I’ll at the very least say if/when Johnson goes down again, I’m more comfortable with what we have for depth than I have been in a while. Smith and Stevenson could be duking it out for CB2

12. It appears we are doing RB by committee.   Still one guy will get bulk of early carries.  Who?  Guessing it will be Foreman and Herbert almost alternating series early.

Whoever has the hot hand. Notre Dame does a rb committee with a roster of competent backs and they feel out which rb is showing out that day and they feed him.

Position groups as I see them and ranked going into camp (not including special teams): 

1. LBs - Edwards, Edmunds, Sanborn.  That is one of best and most talented groups in entire league.  

2. QBs (all Fields)

3. Safety (Brisker and Jackson are good - no depth though)

4.  WRs (Moore, Mooney, Claypool, St. Brown, Jones, Scott - quite the jump in talent overall and when you factor in that it is 2nd year here for most of them)

5.  OL (Jones, Jenkins, Whitehair, Davis, Wright) - most talented starting 5 Bears have had in many years.  Like WR adding 2 talented guys to a mix of 5 makes a large different to other   But they still have to gel together.   4 of 5 guys are new to their spot on Bears OL, it could still look bad early on).

6. RBs (Herbert, Foreman, Johnson - man we have a lot of Johnson's on this team) -  Foremen is a classic middle of pack NFL RB, Herbert is most explosive player, Johnson has best all round ability and will probably take over number 1 late this year or next year).  Blasingame will be largely forgotten again this year.   

7. CBs (Johnson, Gordon and Stevenson) talented but Gordon and Stevenson are unproven players still.

8. DL (Billings, J. Jones, Dexter and Pickens and I think Walker will split time inside and outside) Adding Billings and two rookies will make this most improved overall unit on team.   It will not be easy as cake to run between tackles like it was last year.   That is a 3 win difference by itself in my mind.   We gave every team in league an easy path to victory most of season.   But this is not an elite or even good group at this point by any means.   They are just not historically bad anymore like 2022.   They are competent, maybe average or even good if stars align as a group now. 

9. TE.  (Kmet and Tonyan) - average group.  Nothing special, but not bad.  Serviceable.  Not much behind these two.  

10.  Edge (Walker split with DL, Gipson, Robinson, Green and mystery box player to be named later) - worst position group on team based on last years play.   Gipson and Robinson could be dark horse surprises.    Gipson because he looked like an up and comer two seasons ago and Robinson because he is/was a project thrown to wolves.   But Robinson remains a project with athletic upside that has an outside shot at working out.

 

 

[JibjeResearch]

1 thing is always bugging me is CB Gordon.  I've never liked him as a CB or his draft position.

I hope T-Smith beats him out in the slot and the Coaches move him to Safety.  I think he's better at safety for some reason.  May be I'm just dumb lolz🤣

If he dominates in the slot this season, then I will STFU lolz😁

 

[Sugashane]

On 5/22/2023 at 10:49 AM, dll2000 said:

Including training camp and pre-season - to me.

Nationally everyone wants to know if Fields can throw and not be just a runner.  That is not really a concern for me.   Below are my concerns, not in order of importance:

1.  Can Braxton handle a strong bull rush or speed to power this season?

Kid is 24 and from Southern Utah, so I am hoping the Bears Strength and Conditioning program is significantly better than what S.U. had. That being said I still think that will be a rather frequent problem. Not as bad as last year but enough many will have issues with him. 

On 5/22/2023 at 10:49 AM, dll2000 said:

2.  Can Whitehair play center effectively?

I think he plays at a Garza level, but I worry about his errant snaps. He won't be someone people will greatly miss like they did with Long (pre-injury woes) but following the Mustipher act will absolutely put him in the easiest spot to improve from 2022.

On 5/22/2023 at 10:49 AM, dll2000 said:

3.  Can Whitehair, Jenkins and Jaylon Johnson stay healthy?

"AND"... I will guess no. I think only one ends up playing all 16. To be honest I hope if it is just one that is is Jenkins. Highest ceiling and protecting the potential franchise. Even the reserves should be able to step up from what Mustipher presented in Whitehair goes down too. Johnson I am a big fan of but its hard to be paid like a #1 CB and only play 75-80% of the games each year. If he plays at his normal level and plays in 17 then I think he earns a damn nice payday though.

On 5/22/2023 at 10:49 AM, dll2000 said:

4.  Do we have any viable safety after Jackson and Brisker?  It doesn't look like it.  

I am hoping Williamson is able to at least rely on his athleticism to be a decent depth player. But nothing proven whatsoever. I actually feel better about giving Terrell Smith reps as a backup S right now.

On 5/22/2023 at 10:49 AM, dll2000 said:

5.  Can O line coaches figure out their relationship and how to coach Jenkins so we can unlock his full potential?  

I am pretty consistently a hopeful skeptic.

On 5/22/2023 at 10:49 AM, dll2000 said:

6. How much will move to left guard, his 3rd position, affect Jenkins?

I don't think it will make a difference in the long run. He should be locked into his spot now though.

On 5/22/2023 at 10:49 AM, dll2000 said:

7. Where is our edge pass rush going to come from?  Who will lead this team in sacks/pressures?  Poles said he is bringing in someone else.  Wonder who that will be and who odd man out will be when that happens.

I'm not sure but this is still the biggest question mark I have with the team. Our DL looks more like an aggressive attacking 3-4 group than a 4-3, with the actual EDGE looking more like OLBs, but that is just my opinion. With this LB corps I'm not sure the LBs don't have more sacks than the DEs.

On 5/22/2023 at 10:49 AM, dll2000 said:

8.  Are we going to extend Mooney, Claypool or Kmet?  Who? When?  

All three need to show their value. Mooney has to show his ankle is going to be good to go and still can be a solid #2, Claypool was a guy brought in by Poles but was rarely really used in the tank that was 2022, and Kmet had a stellar year but is a one year wonder at this point. He has been a terrific TE2 prior to last year but is more of a throwback TE, hopefully he shows he can still find the endzone. If he does he may get an easy top 10 deal from Poles, who seems to love the kid.

On 5/22/2023 at 10:49 AM, dll2000 said:

9. Is Claypool going to take a jump forward this year or was Pittsburgh right to want him out the door?

He will go with Fields, but the lion's share of targets goes to Moore. A healthy Moore, Claypool, and Mooney is one of the best trios in the league though.

On 5/22/2023 at 10:49 AM, dll2000 said:

10. How long before Mooney is back to 100%?

Hope soon, hell I had no idea the injury was lingering or even had screws involved until it was posted here.

On 5/22/2023 at 10:49 AM, dll2000 said:

11.  It appears our starting corners are most likely to be Johnson and Stevenson with Gordon playing NCB.   I think Gordon and Stevenson are still unproven.  Will they, as a group, be good?

Talented and productive, yes IMO. But there is still a lack of talent at the EDGE IMO. That will be some hard work to cover for what the Bears might have to. At the moment I feel like Dexter is the best DE they can field, which is rough.

On 5/22/2023 at 10:49 AM, dll2000 said:

12. It appears we are doing RB by committee.   Still one guy will get bulk of early carries.  Who?  Guessing it will be Foreman and Herbert almost alternating series early.

I think Herbert gets it initially, but hopefully Getsy is fine with rolling with the hot hand. Also they will need to show they can be reliable dump off options too, if one shows they are significantly better than the other in that role then they will start IMO. Both can run, both will put their heads down for hard yards, but who isn't a one trick pony? I don't care for the obvious duos like Howard/Cohen so I lean towards at least having some ability at both rushing and receiving.

[beardown3231]

3 hours ago, JibjeResearch said:

1 thing is always bugging me is CB Gordon.  I've never liked him as a CB or his draft position.

I hope T-Smith beats him out in the slot and the Coaches move him to Safety.  I think he's better at safety for some reason.  May be I'm just dumb lolz🤣

If he dominates in the slot this season, then I will STFU lolz😁

 

You're not dumb, but what shred of evidence do you have that he's better at safety? An opinion is fine but that's like saying Fields is better at RB than QB. What proof is there?

A lot of people thought Gordon got picked too late. I'd like to see him have a good year- we all would- otherwise taking two DB's with your first two picks is a rough way to start your tenure as GM

[JibjeResearch]

2 hours ago, beardown3231 said:

You're not dumb, but what shred of evidence do you have that he's better at safety? An opinion is fine but that's like saying Fields is better at RB than QB. What proof is there?

A lot of people thought Gordon got picked too late. I'd like to see him have a good year- we all would- otherwise taking two DB's with your first two picks is a rough way to start your tenure as GM

He's a zone CB.  He can't keep up with WR.  He's quick, not fast.  He reads/reacts better to zone.  He has the size to make tackles.  That to me is a better S.

A safety who can cover is better than a CB who can play good from 0 to 15 yards.

I don't think CB Gordon can be as good as CB Kyle Fuller.

And, it's my opinion...and I'm no pro ... just a thought

 

[AZBearsFan]

16 hours ago, Sugashane said:

On 5/22/2023 at 10:49 AM, dll2000 said:

12. It appears we are doing RB by committee.   Still one guy will get bulk of early carries.  Who?  Guessing it will be Foreman and Herbert almost alternating series early.

I think Herbert gets it initially, but hopefully Getsy is fine with rolling with the hot hand. Also they will need to show they can be reliable dump off options too, if one shows they are significantly better than the other in that role then they will start IMO. Both can run, both will put their heads down for hard yards, but who isn't a one trick pony? I don't care for the obvious duos like Howard/Cohen so I lean towards at least having some ability at both rushing and receiving.

Yeah, this is one thing I don’t really care about just so long as someone is effective every week. If the group as a collective has 1500-2000 yards on the season then who gets what portion of that is irrelevant to me. 

[Sugashane]

15 minutes ago, AZBearsFan said:

Yeah, this is one thing I don’t really care about just so long as someone is effective every week. If the group as a collective has 1500-2000 yards on the season then who gets what portion of that is irrelevant to me. 

Yep. I'd take 2000 yards between 3 guys rushing before 1700 yards between 2 with one guy having 1500. The best player might be in the latter but I prefer overall production (with the exception of Fields, I'd take a 4300 passing/100 yard rushing season over a 3300/1500 total) 

[AZBearsFan]

21 minutes ago, Sugashane said:

Yep. I'd take 2000 yards between 3 guys rushing before 1700 yards between 2 with one guy having 1500. The best player might be in the latter but I prefer overall production (with the exception of Fields, I'd take a 4300 passing/100 yard rushing season over a 3300/1500 total) 

I think that Getsy will value the stylistic differences too. Both Aaron Jones and AJ Dillon are more than capable receivers, but they’re far different runners too. Getting that versatility for situation without making it an obvious tell to run/pass has a ton of value. 

[Madmike90]

I love hearing some of the really simple things coming out of these OTAs...

1. They aren't trying to pretend to anyone that Darnell Wright isn't the starting RT or trying to make him "earn it" he is a top 10 pick at a massive position of need...don't play about with him...plug him in with the 1st team and get him as many reps as possible...even without the pads.

2. Playing Ja'Tyre Carter at RG with Nate Davis not being at OTAs instead of Lucas Patrick...see what you have in the younger higher upside guy over a vet who's ceiling is better known...again it's on the OL so you don't get the full effect but it's still a better plan than the alternative.

3. Focusing on the passing game more than the running game...you learn next to nothing about the running game without pads on so why not try and focus on the pass attack where you can at least get some value.

4. Splitting the teams...the guys on the Athletic were talking about this being easier said than done but that the Bears were achieving it at OTAs...with the two fields and being about to put the 1st & 2nds on different fields it doubles the amount of reps you can get and allows you to look at some value reps for guys who maybe you didn't see previously making the team.

5. Not starting the rookie DTs...unlike RT we have some solid vets there with Jones & Billings...let those guys start then rotate in Dexter & Pickens who the guys described as looking big/powerful/athletic...letting these young guys pick their spots early would be the best way to help their development given both are still raw prospects.

All these things are pretty simple but with past regimes we have not done the simple things well...Flus is just a ball coach who understands the fundamentals.

[StLunatic88]

1 hour ago, Madmike90 said:

2. Playing Ja'Tyre Carter at RG with Nate Davis not being at OTAs instead of Lucas Patrick...see what you have in the younger higher upside guy over a vet who's ceiling is better known...again it's on the OL so you don't get the full effect but it's still a better plan than the alternative.

Ive heard they really Like Carter, which may be why they didnt go after another OL in the draft, and are planning on Carter being the first OL off the bench (other than Center). And maybe even hoping he is the next guy after Jenkins (who I just have a hard time seeing him be here long term)?

[AZBearsFan]

16 hours ago, StLunatic88 said:

Ive heard they really Like Carter, which may be why they didnt go after another OL in the draft, and are planning on Carter being the first OL off the bench (other than Center). And maybe even hoping he is the next guy after Jenkins (who I just have a hard time seeing him be here long term)?

This, plus we saw a whole bunch last year that, while Lucas Patrick may be capable at center, he can’t play guard. 

[Madmike90]

20 hours ago, StLunatic88 said:

Ive heard they really Like Carter, which may be why they didnt go after another OL in the draft, and are planning on Carter being the first OL off the bench (other than Center). And maybe even hoping he is the next guy after Jenkins (who I just have a hard time seeing him be here long term)?

I think for a zone scheme that makes a ton of sense…he might have played at a small school and been drafted pretty late but there is no doubt he has all the physical tools needed to develop into a starter in this league.

[StLunatic88]

4 hours ago, AZBearsFan said:

This, plus we saw a whole bunch last year that, while Lucas Patrick may be capable at center, he can’t play guard. 

He's absolutely Center ONLY. It was valiant of him to try to be a productive member of the line, but it just didnt work at Guard. We did need him to assist in the installation, but he didnt have to be on the field for that.

Unless we somehow make a move for a young Center before the season starts, It seems like Whitehiar/Patrick will be the guys their, and for one final season (where we need to spend the cash) we could do alot worse. But make no mistake, we need to have a longer term answer going into 2024

14 minutes ago, Madmike90 said:

I think for a zone scheme that makes a ton of sense…he might have played at a small school and been drafted pretty late but there is no doubt he has all the physical tools needed to develop into a starter in this league.

Agreed. It seemed uncharacteristic for us to pay a Guard in  Nate Davis, but the more I look at it, it seems like they allocated a certain dollar amount to the OL and found the best fit from there regardless of position. He is also only on a 3 year deal, which is really only 2 with that final year really needing to be earned. $9.5m cash for a RG seems like a whole lot in 2025 for this system (especially when Braxton may also end up being a Guard on this roster)