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oh yes we still have some holes for sure. I am not predicting a superbowl this year LOL Im just talking about the path we will want to travel.

Cushenberry would have been nice but he got a 50 mil contract. Of those 4 Brewer was supposedly the least talented and he got 3 years at 21 mil. You will have to ask Poles how he rated them, they all got signed before the draft so I'm not sure if he may wanted to get a drafted center.

Not without an elite pass rush.

I hope you are joking. Andre James, Lloyd Cushenberry, Aaron Brewer and Tyler Biadaz all could have been had in free agency.

Oh, I'm not putting a ceiling. I agree with you if things go a certain way, this team could be a super bowl level.team in December. I'm just not expecting that. I think the real window opens in 2025. But it's not because we need more players. Most of the big names on that 2025 superbowl contending squad are on the team right now. It's more a matter of them having a minute to gel. Also, I was talking about getting past Mahomes and being the top team in the league. I dont see that as likely this first year. But I am thinking that this group of players could be that soon, so if they find their rhythm right away, and gel, anything is possible. I dont think this is a lack of optimism. I feel REALLY good about this group. It's more like I realize how tall the mountain they have to climb is, and i think that journey usually comes in stages of improvement. You get to the point where you routinely beat the #8 and #7 team int he league and everyone below, and then you end up in a playoff game with someone really good, or in a SB against KC and Mahomes, and then it usually takes a defeat to show you exactly how far down inside youre going to have to reach. It's not a slight at our roster at ALL. It's more of an understanding of the process of becoming a champion has levels to it, and experience can't be sidestepped. But if theyre playing well at the end of the year and get into the playoffs, they sure do have weapons. I wouldnt be giving up hope on ANYTHING at that point.

I think the idea that having 2 top picks significantly improves a team is obvious and a no brainer. Im not sure about using the raw number of wins as the measure of improvement though for several reasons. One is that the fewer wins a team had the previous year, the more wins you can give them while they are still mediocre. It's a bigger leap from 7 to 10 wins than it is from 2 to 7 wins.Z Youd want to find a way to measure the improvement that makes moving toward an 8-9 record easier than, say getting above 10 wins? HOU went from 3-13-1 in 2022 to 10-7 in 2023. Rather than expressing that as a percentage increase, I'll say that it proves a good rookie QB can lead a team to at least 10 wins. DET went from 3-13-1 in 2021 to 9-8 in 2022 to 12-5 in 2023. it is clearly possible to get up in the 9 and 10 win territory when you add first round talent. I think it's hard to stay at the 3 win level after two high picks, that seems clear. CLE went from 0-16 in 2017 to 7-8-1 in 2018 and then 6-10 in 2019 but they are Cleveland. I think it's fair from this data to guess that 9 or 10 wins is the FLOOR for this roster. I think this roster is more stacked than any of those teams were. I dont thin 12 or 13 wins is an outrageous thing to think might happen, but until I see the pieces on the field together, I have a hard time saying more than 10 as a predicition. If the preseason or the first few games looks like we came ready to play, I would start thinking higher at that point.

that is totally fair! Listen Ryan, I'm willing to forget about Claypool and Velus, but get that OL good OK? He's made a lot of moves on the OL, let's see how they look together, I wish I had the kind of confidence on the new guys that I have in Keenan Allen, but maybe theyre gonna be great, and hopefully at least decent.

booo groan

yeah, maybe I'm drunk on blue and orange kool aid, but that's how it looks to me too. THis offense just has too many weapons, Caleb just has to operate it, and I think he will do more than that.

no doubt Calebs pocket presence and the way he moves to help his lineman will make things better even if he had the same line performance we had last year. Not saying he could thrive with that, but whatever he faces he will make at least somewhat better by his pocket skills.

I’m sure he’s still on his rookie deal and considering he was a 7th round pick not much savings there.

I'm calling 12-5, come back in December to criticize me but it's a future prediction.

Do not discard the ceiling of what we can do this year even with a rookie QB. We are a few players away from being dominant. With 2 teams in the playoffs, if we win our division, we can make a run to the SB. Caleb will no longer be a rookie after 12 games so his true talent will start to shine. I'm an optimist, if you can be optimistic for this year, you're not capable of a glass half full.

When Poles is upgrading the STs, you know he totally expects them to be in play of winning the division and capable of more. Was he a free agent? Or do we save some money?

Injuries are the only thing in the way of a winning record. Something people keep forgetting is a generational QB lifts the players around him. Even as a rookie ( will make mistakes) you will see him give the OL a boost and help make the weapons better if that is possible.

Unless you were getting JPJ or Frazier, a rookie wouldn't be starting anyway. I have heard many football people say a rookie center and rookie QB is a disaster. It's very difficult to build a team and have 5 1st round picks on the OL in three drafts. I get the concern he's building thru the draft for the most part and he wanted Rome and I read Poles was getting nervous and wanted to trade up to get him so we weren't getting a starter this year anyways.

I think the Bears biggest opponent will be how well they fulfill their own potential. It'll all be about coaching and execution. Which is always true, but in this case we have serious winning potential.

I see what you did there. Also remember Caleb has never had a supporting cast like this in his life. I know the competition will be the toughest he has ever seen, but I think the supporting cast outweighs the difference. What team actually concerns you from the schedule with Caleb at QB? Division games are always different, so here are the non-Division games: HOME Los Angeles Rams - without Donald, this is a completely different team/defense Seattle Seahawks - with new coaching staff, this team is a big question mark Jacksonville Jaguars - they never took off as many expected them to, Lawrence going into his 4th season and is good but not great Tennessee Titans - No QB and no Henry, enjoy 4-6 wins annually Carolina Panthers - They might win 3-4 games this year New England Patriots - This team was terrible and now with Maye who is still learning, Year 1 of their rebuild AWAY Arizona Cardinals - Even after adding MHJ, this is still a bad team that feels like they are in the middle of rebuild but still have an expensive QB they don't want San Francisco 49ers - They are running out of time with overpriced vets, now with a year of tape on Purdy. Still the team to beat in the NFC, but not scary. Houston Texans - This may be the game of the year and a future Super Bowl matchup in the making. I like both teams, but teams now have tape on Stroud. He seemed to sneak up on teams who were not prepared. Indianapolis Colts - This always feels like a slightly above average team, but without a QB Washington Commanders - This team reminds me of NE for the NFC. How many hits can Daniels take? Every hit is like the Johnny Knox injury So out of those 11 teams/games, SF and HOU are the only real challenges and mainly because they are good teams on the road. Outside of those two games, every other game should be considered winnable where the line favors the Bears or it is within a FG as the underdog. Against HOU and SF, the line will probably be +6 or 7.

To add, I am Poles' biggest fan. However, I have stopped him of his Lordship until the center position is proven solid. From here on out, it could be coronation or castration...

Yeah, and from listening to Jaylon, the defense and secondary can't wait for the challenge, which will also make them better. Iron sharps iron is a real thing. You're correct, it's exponential for sure, and the QB is the biggest exponentialator! As good as Fields was with his deep ball or escaping sure sacks, everything else was lackluster, which really neutered the offense. If those areas are just average, and Williams can just stay on time, these WRs are going to eat. Odunze is drawing CB3 every game. Just go look up the Bears opponents and find their CB3's PFF Grade. Basically, it is going to be Odunze against Kindle Vildor every week. It is going to be comical. To compensate, teams will have to have a light box, so get ready for Swift, Herbert, and Roschon to cook on the ground. If the offense can score, then the defense will be playing against a more predictable opponent offense, which will make the defense better. Then if we actually have a real punter who can pin opponents inside the 20 consistently, I can't see how this is not a top 10 team in the NFL, and that is being somewhat "safe".

or the Gillotine

they gave him the boot

Makes sense.

I dunno how closely past stats predict future outcomes, especially with so much noise in the system, but I still loved your bold font! And youre right, the stats dont take into account whether Williams will be more than an average QB as defined in those stats. Im cautious about expecting perfection, but his floor is awfully high too. He is more NFL ready than most ever are coming into the league, so hes already probably the 15th best QB in the league right now without even having learned a thing in training camp yet. And by learning I dont mean like "oh thats what cover 3 is" but more just the average speed and level of talent in the league, and what is exploitable and what isnt. One really good thing for Caleb is that he is going to face our secondary in practice a lot, and thankfully they are a good test. Especially if he starts picking them apart and they get better as a result too. Everything in football is a multiplier, the ultimate team game. If just one piece is a 0, then everything is a 0. But when your roster is good, then the players elevate each other by having to play against them all week. I've heard that the 1985 Bears offense found gameday to be the easiest day of the week for them. Games were easier than playing against their own defense during the week.

Youre not wrong at all. I just loved the idea that something was being asserted as more than just an opinion for once, and in a bold font! But I you're right, I have to agree.