Bearstalk

Running a quick upgrade on site - should be back up later tonight but will be back online quickly.

This guy does a decent job breaking down Booker from the HOF game. It's almost like they are wanting Booker to practice the QB moving up in the pocket as if Sweat will force that response. Tell me what you see.

I am really excited about this. The entire series is well put together and will go nicely with what the Bears already do with their 1920 stuff.

We might get to see Caleb for a series or two in this one. Another decent opponent in the Bills, and an away game.

I just read another article on a site I love for unique information I do not see anywhere else on the internet. It always comes across as legitimate and not clickbait. Ryan Griffin. Have you ever heard of him? I hadn't. Yet, it turns out that this was the guy Poles brought in as a veteran mentor for Caleb instead of having to pay a veteran Quarterback a respectable salary to sit behind him on the bench. Griffin has quite a history. Has spent two seasons with Brady, two years with Brees, was a 10 year veteran, and a great locker room leader. An interesting article (and a short and quick read) that proves more than ever, to me, that Poles is quite crafty and thin…

From Warren Sharp. He just posted his secondary rankings and the Bears come in at #4. He had the Bears WR Corps at #3, the O-Line at #12 and the Front Seven at #21. So the average of those 4 units is #10. So I don't know what you think of Caleb Williams, the Bears RBs, Santos and Taylor, but they are all at least top half of the league. So saying the Bears have a top 10 roster is not a stretch at all. The Bears also have the 3rd easiest schedule. So if you have the #10 roster and are playing the 3rd easiest schedule, that has to make you a top 8 team right? It is just simple math. That is a 10-11 win team. So projections having the Bears with double digit …

I don't really see a logical thread for tracking Williams progress. I'm was actually shocked as I read this. They certainly don't appear to be holding anything back with Williams. He's going to experience it all and that means they think he can handle it and they want him ready for anything in game 1. I figured first day in practice it's going to be kid gloves type of stuff like we've always seen before. There are more tidbits in the article that further highlight improvement with Williams since the OTAs. https://www.chicagobears.com/news/bears-training-camp-report-saturday-july-20-caleb-williams-offense-play-of-the-day-injury-health-update Rookie qua…

I think I have been the most vocal critic of Matt Eberflus on this board? Probably so. And I have some observations to make about the last month or two. My two main criticisms of him have been that he has made stupid strategic game decisions, and that he seemed to lack an alpha leadership quality, at least where I was able to see him on TV, in interviews etc. I can't say much about the first one, since we aren't playing games, but I'm hopeful that any of that gets put in check by more assertive coordinators keeping him from going too safe. A better roster should also make him more comfortable to take risks. And perhaps coordinators will dial him back from g…

I've been reading some articles by some naysayers who question the positive outlook many of us have for the Bears offense in 2024. After all, we got a new OC to replace the dumbass we had last year. We added dynamic skill players to our offense. So why are they so negative? Do they dislike the Bears? So, I did some fact-checking. Last year, the Bears offense ranked #18 in points scored (360). Where did Seattle rank? They were #17 (364). I know we have a dynamic set of skill players, but we also have a rookie quarterback. Geno Smith, Metcalf, & Lockett are certainly a good set of players. So should we be concerned that they, with our new OC, were basically tied wi…

The Bears play a football game in two weeks. Obviously this game is going to be 90% backups and bottom of the roster guys, but we might see some rookies for a couple of plays. I can't believe we are only two weeks away. We made it!

Dalton and Green are the only QB+WR duo to connect for 1K yards passing/receiving as rookies. I think Williams and Odunze have a great shot at that, especially with 17 games. Odunze would need to catch 4.33 balls a game with 13.5 yards per reception. Even with all the other options, it seems like that is very realistic, even for a rookie. Odunze will more than likely get CB2 or 3 on every play, which should be a mismatch in almost every game.

I guess they were waiting for the cameras, probably asked to by the league. Both are signed. And Caleb didnt try to change the league after all. That was just narrative from before the draft because he didnt have a PR person countering anything so the stories went wild - probably from teams in the top 5 hoping to shake him loose. Anyway the nonsense is over. We have successfully navigated cutting Fields and drafting and signing Caleb. Hopefully now the business of winning comes front and center. And speaking of centers and fronts, I wouldnt be shocked to see us sign Connor WIlliams, another DE or both.

Well earned! If the standard is that you changed the way the game had to be played when you were on the field then nobody is more deserving. Can't wait for the ceremony. https://x.com/ProFootballHOF/status/1812905556815798409

Right now, as far as I can remember, Rome and Caleb are the only two rookies left to sign their deals. I would be more concerned if it was just Caleb left, but if Rome is still unsigned, then this might just be a formality thing where they show up on Monday, the 15th and sign their deals to start work the next day. I believe it is tied to restrictions that are set in the contracts. There are certain things they can't do once they sign their deals, so I am sure they are just trying to maximize the amount of freedom they have before they are locked down in the contract. Most of the stuff is safety related, but I am sure there are more things in there that they are…

The Chicago Bears rookies, report to training camp next week, July 16. Veterans follow on July 19. This is were the pen and paper dreams unfold into reality and the real excitement begins. There is still some offseason business that needs to be finished by next week, like signing Caleb and Rome, so expect that to be the buzzer to welcome the fans of the start. There will be battles for positions won and lost. A player or two will emerge unexpectedly and some new names mixed in as they get looks at the roster. What will you be watching for as this new era begins?

Good article with some interesting background on how NB are used. Also the '22 draft was insane for DB talent. https://www.matchquarters.com/p/golden-age-of-the-nickel-defense-titans-mccreary

GMs, I have renewed our annual TalkBears Fantasy Football Keeper league, which is now entering its 15th season (which is crazy). At the end of last season, there were 9 GMs that said they would be returning. An email invite went out on June 17th from Yahoo, but I definitely want to get confirmation on the 9 GMs returning from last year and ask if there is any interest from the board or you know of someone else for filling in the 10th spot. If so, please let me know here and I will send out an invite (will need email address). Once we get 10 confirmations, we can schedule the draft and I can send out the LeagueSafe payment dues ($75 per team). The winning pa…

Taylor is going to be a top 10 Punter, and huge upgrade over limped legged Gill. There has only been 1 rookie punter ever to break 50 yards per punt. I think Taylor joins Stonehouse with his average per punt. Due to a better offense, I don't know how often he will be punting, but I don't think averaging over 50 yards per punt is out of reach for him. The other thing he excels at is pinning team inside their 20. Last season Stonehouse (again), averaged 52.8% of his punts inside the 20. Wishnowsky was the only other punter over 50%. I think Taylor can go 50/50% this year, which would be a top 5 punter in the NFL.

Odunze looks even better than advertised. If not for Caleb, Rome would be the talk of the town. Recently, he talked about breaking Puca's rookie receiving records and talked about how they played together at Washington. That is a great personal goal, but with Moore, Allen, Kmet, Everett, and Swift also looking to eat, I don't think Odunze will break the records, but I still think he will have a better season than most are projecting. There are 28 rookies who broke 1K yards, I think Odunze will do that. There are only 3 players to break 100 catches, Nacua, Waddle, and Boldin. What is interesting to me is there are no other players over 92 receptions, as Michael …