All Activity

Im saying if they are close, and their weaknesses are different, you go with your 2nd round pick. I think everyone in the locker room knows Jones has a weakness for bullrushes. Remember a few years ago when we started all the rookie DBs? There was no scandal. If Jones is clearly better then sure, but if its close, Trapilos got the job.

If ifs were fifths we'd all be drunk. How do you think it would play in the locker room? (Three year starter supplanted by a rookie that is not better) There's a reason SF had to trade Joe Montana away. If 71 is gonna get to 76, he's gonna have to do it in practice first. That's the depth we want to build, where the young bulls start moving out the old bulls. You gotta beat him first or the rest of the bulls don't buy it.

and what if 71 is gonna be a 76 by midseason because hes getting experience, whereas Jones is already experienced and not getting better? Teams play rookies all the time, and they know the rookies need some trial by fire, so they are necessarily not seasoned when they start?

Nope. 73 always beats 71. Contract doesn't matter at all. The only way 71 takes over for 73 is injury or trade. Then you decide to sign, trade or let walk.

right! They get to see the situations they need without exposing the players to additional snaps like in a game when youre waiting for scenarios to happen.

cool - I dont think its that big of a deal, but it certainly isnt wrong or anything.

If Braxton is a lot better than Trapilo of course he will start, but if it's close, like Trapilo is a little rough, but Braxton is weak on the bull rush Trapilo has a little trouble to the outside, but Braxton's issue is up the middle, and let's say Braxton is a 73 and Trapilo is a 71 then Trapilo will get the job. Unless Braxton is a beast like weve never seen him be before, he is not getting a second contract, and they will let Trapilo play because he is more likely to get better over the season than Jones.

Heard Wright and Gordon were hurt today cant find much about that.

It all comes down to protecting the QB. Who can do it best deserves the job. Having depth that can is even better and seeing whole lines get decimated through a season means the position needs to be at least 8-9 deep.

Side note: BJ said the Friday joint practice have been scripted, following several conversations with McDaniels.

I completely disagree. You must play the best player, period. That's football 101. Everyone is building for a Superbowl, so that analogy just doesn't fit. And We are currently ranked fourth in our division, so every win counts just to make it one rung higher to a wildcard. Having a ready player waiting in the wings is not a bad thing. The eagles had a young Cam Jurgens sitting behind an old Jason Kelce. Some could argue that Jurgens made the OL better. I know he was damn good in the Superbowl, plus he was all pro. He was a second rounder just like Trapillo. I also think Kelce was a fifth rounder like Braxton. Howie Roseman is showing the league how it's done. Maybe Poles is catching on and drafting them before you need them.

No, it's Zacheaus and Duverney as of now. They are clearly showing Scott the door. Now, I'm not saying they'll get more reps in games than Burden. But those dudes will get the start if of one of the first stringers go down. Once Burden gets his reps in, he should push one aside. Love the depth at the position. Back to OL. Many believe Trapillo will win the LT spot due to his draft status. We need to remember that he was moved to RT in college because he struggled at LT. Yes, that was early in his college career and he never moved back, so we don't know if he would've excelled there or not. He's gonna get a good long look Sunday and I can't wait to observe. I personally think Braxton should be the day one starter if 100! It's the safest choice.

I wouldn't be surprised if Braxton doesn't play this week.

How do you know that BJ will go with a rookie changing positions over a 3 yr starter? Its just mine and your opinion. I go by what BJ said that every position was open competition and best man wins. If Jones does win the competition and I am not saying he will, BJ will play Jones. Every year there are injuries and Ozzy will get playing time. Jones has missed games the last two years. Ozzy will get to show his stuff.

Agree with all that, but in one interview BJ did mention about not having to sharing practice tape, so that is why I brought it up.

I agree, the scrimmages are very important. But I think it's less about protecting tape and secrets, and more about putting your players in scripted and controlled situations to see what you need to see, avoid exposing them to injury on reps that arent worth it. You get what you need to get, rather than hoping it comes up in a game. And you dont need to risk players on any extra plays. I wouldnt be shocked to see the #1s out there in the game for one series, and i wouldnt be shocked if they dont play at all either. We'll see how Johnson wants to play it, but I wouldnt expect a quarter or a half from the #1s when as you say the scrimmages are already so valuable.

how do you know that? i contend that if Jones is slightly better than Trapilo he will still play Trapilo so that Trapilo grows and the line gets experience going forward into the future. They're building toward a Superbowl, and so every decision has to be in line with that. Not winning one more game this year, and then starting over next year. That's poor strategy. And ask yourself, who would be better by week 6 if you start them each from week 1? What if Jones is a little better now, but by midseason you think Trapilo will grow into a better option if he plays? I think that's how football teams look at this stuff, especially when it comes to rookies who can change their level of ability quickly from green to getting it in a few games. Weve all seen it before, playing the green rookie with upside over the known vet who might be better right now. Now if Trapilo is terrible, or Jones is amazing, then all bets are off. But if they are at all close, Trapilo gets the job.

I think the play between both teams we practice with will go a long way on determining who starts. I read where the Bears dont have to share practice tape but all teams have access to the preseason games.

He will play the best player at each position, If its Jones, he wont care about whether he will be here next year. BJ doesnt have a (I drafted him bias). Its who performs better now. He has praised Ozzy, so that may give a hint on who is ahead but it will be the preseason play that dictates that.

Thats an interesting battle. We know what Braxton is and isnt, but you gotta test Trpilo under fire to see if he can handle it. I feel like this is Trapilos job to win or lose on his own merit, I dont imagine Jones coming out radically different than he's been and playing himself into a new contract. I mean just the fact that Poles has spent a 3rd rounder and then a 2nd rounder on the position the last two years should tell us what they think of Braxton's future. If Trapilo cant handle the upper tier of NFL Edge rushers, then maybe Jones gets the job, but if Trapilo shows anything at all, it's his job. Jones is almost certainly gone by next year, so even if Jones edges Trapilo out by a little, it'll still be Trapilo's job - and he will grow and gain chemistry with the other guys going into the future.

I agree on the message. We haven’t been talking about the battles at backup. Even our two starting LBs don’t know who is MLB who is WLB. I think that one is because Allen is just going to rotate them throughout a game or maybe week to week depending on opponent. We have 3 players competing for CB2. There is a 4th CB who’s Ben Johnson singled out as playing well too. RB2? At the bottom of the roster does JP Richardson have a shot? Tysheem Johnson? This is the week we start to sort that out.

We have the LB, battle for 3rd vs 4th wideout, Lt, 2nd corner plus depth. But I think it is more the message and tone but also the way he reinforces the standard.

It’s great to see him pushing players. However there just aren’t that many jobs up for grabs among our starters. LT and CB2. There’s a ton of competition for the backup roles almost everywhere on our roster.

Right, plus they can watch Braxton game one play against Miami's best. Trapilo has and can use the time. As all rookies can.

totally agree, and I think thats why the order here is purposefully not making any real comment on who is winning or losing the camp battles. I mean no way Monanagi is behind Homer. The league makes them put out a depth chart, and so they did, but i think they did it in a way that tells everyone "none of this is necessarily real"