Bearstalk

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

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?

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…

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

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.

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.

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!

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…

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 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…

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 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…

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 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.

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.

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

So after the 2nd preseason game, it looks like the 53-man roster is going to come down to 5-6 battles at the bottom of the roster depending on how the team views certain positions and ST value. This is my thought so far on the locks: Offense QB (2) - Williams, Bagent RB (4) - Swift, Herbert, Johnson, Homer WR (5) - Moore, Allen, Odunze, Scott, Jones Jr. TE (3) - Kmet, Everett, Lewis OL (9) - Jones, Jenkins, Wright, Bates, Shelton, Davis, Pryor, Amegadjie, Carter Defense DL (7) - Sweat, Billings, Dexter, Walker, Pickens, Booker, Hardy LB (4) - Edmunds, Edwards, Sanborn, Sewell CB (6) - Johnson, Gordon, Stevenson, Smith, Blackwell, Stroman …

Wow, this might be the best Bears Podcast show out there. Cole Kmet and Adam Hoge, then they bring in DJ Moore. Awesome info.

https://www.matchquarters.com/p/matchquarters-db-101-technique-analysis