Bearstalk

While our offense is in it's infancy learning an entirely new playbook, along with numerous new players getting to know each other, the D looks to take another step forward. There aren't many things ever worth noting at this point in the offseason except that this offense is ...different. Consistency on offense will take quite a bit of time but the big play potential already has our defense taking notice. https://chicago.suntimes.com/sports/why-bears-d-is-rallying-around-qb-mitch-trubisky-i-want-to-win-a-championship/ Amukamara... “They’re throwing a lot of different looks at us, and that’s just Nagy’s offense,” he said. “If I was a receiver I would love …

“Their challenge will be their passing game,” he said. “That’s where they were deficient last year."

I'm old school and I love the special teams aspect of football. It provides some of the most exciting plays each year whether it is kickoff and punt returns, to even FG at the closing seconds of the game. Fans are fixated on these moments. Even a missed extra point these days, since they moved it back to the 15yd line, can change the emotions of the game. How many here remember the FG block in the Bears - Packers game after Walter Payton passed away? If you are not familiar with him, Rick Gosselin does some outstanding analysis and reporting on the game. Summary of Bears players on the list: http://www.chicagobears.com/news/article-1/Sayers-Hester-am…

Here is an article that projects what the stats are going to be for the year https://www.windycitygridiron.com/2018/5/18/17368652/chicago-bears-mitchell-trubisky-leonard-floyd-allen-robinson-espn-fantasy-breakdown-nfl-2018 I think Cohen, Shaheen, and Miller's stats are on the low side. I think Tribusky's TD total is higher than projected.

Last year LA had a high drafted QB, a good defense(ranked 12th) They added a high profile offensive mind in Sean McVay. They added John Sullivan and Andrew Whitworth on the Oline. They added Robert Woods,/WR in FA, and drafted Cooper Kupp/WR, Josh Reynolds/WR, Gerald Everett/TE in the draft. They had left over from a 4-12 season, Todd Gurley and Travon Austin. They added Sammy Watkins by trade and ended up being the the tenth ranked offense in the league last year. Goff had 3804 yards, 28 TDs, 7 ints. and rushed for 51 yards on on 28 carries. Gurley rushed for 1305 yards-13 tds. Receiving stats Todd Gurley 64-788-6 …

I wouldn't expect less from Howard in terms of work ethic. A player in such a physically demanding position as starting RB doesn't stay on the field like Howard has in 2 years without the training effort behind the scenes. Last year he worked on improving his receiving ability and this year he's even more focused on it. He doesn't need to be elite as a receiver, just effective enough that he drags coverage with him early on the route. With that he'll have a big impact on the offense's ability to disguise plays and get some chunk plays, including those where Howard catches the ball and makes the first defender miss. What I especially like is the RB coach taking…

View this from the perspective of our personnel. Robinson is easily the equal of Jeffrey, except he's better. Shaheen matches their TE at least in terms of athletic ability, and of course we have Burton. Defense's have to respect Howard on the run option at the snap. Then see the play design with quick hitting routes and imagine Anthony Miller with his quickness making those inside or outside breaks. Topping it off is Trubisky's quick and accurate release. We've seen how well Foles can execute this. If he makes the right reads these plays will be hard to defend. The video includes film of the Vikings defense trying to figure out what the Eagles were doing. …

I'm curious to see how he plays this season after the change in workout strategy. As I've said before this is his first offseason in an NFL training program and it should help him quite a bit. He moved fairly well for a big guy last year but a bit more quickness in his cuts would certainly be beneficial. https://chicago.suntimes.com/sports/what-does-bears-coach-matt-nagy-have-in-store-for-te-adam-shaheen/ When the Bears designed their offseason training plan for Shaheen, their goal wasn’t to increase his power or strength — ‘‘I was pretty damn physical last year,’’ he said — but to make him more fluid, mobile and flexible. Part of the Bears’ focus was t…

According to Fangio there may be some depth on our roster. I've somewhat written off our depth at safety but there is a glimmer of hope there that Bush finally knows where he should be going. RRH has buiked up over 290lbs and it sounds like he's much more comfortable inside. We'll see when the pads come in next month. Between RRH and Bullard I think we'll be ok at DE even if replacing Unrein isn't a high bar. https://chicago.suntimes.com/sports/talking-points-five-things-learned-from-bears-defensive-coaches/

There isn't a chance in hell that Zack Miller plays a single down this year. He may never play again, period. But the Bears signed him to a league minimum one year deal. A classy move on the Bears' part to help a player who gave them everything he had when healthy. I'd love to see him fulfill his dream of returning to the game, but have serious doubts it will be physically possible after that type of injury. Article on NFL.com: TE Zack Miller Signs One Year Deal

There is a maturity to this young man I didn't expect to see so early in his career. I like it. Focus on the task at hand. https://bearswire.usatoday.com/2018/06/07/mitchell-trubisky-no-longer-uses-social-media-its-just-a-distraction/

https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2018/06/12/tarik-cohen-buys-new-gym-equipment-for-school-hit-by-tornado/

In the draft I preferred Edmunds over Smith but after watching this video on Smith's background I understand better why we went in this direction. If we consider the on-the-field abilities relatively equal, even if Edmunds and Smith are different types of players, then the leadership qualities and work ethic Smith has will put him in position to become the new leader of our defense. https://www.chicagobears.com/video/meet-the-rookies-roquan-smith

With one agency representing 5 of the 7 unsigned top 10 draftees, including Roquan Smith, this situation won't end quickly. https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2018/07/05/offsets-re-emerge-as-a-top-10-contract-issue/ The Bears gave Trubisky everything last year so where will they draw the line this year? "The only other player in the top 10 from 2017 to get anything close to that was Bears quarterback Mitch Trubisky, who had the offset language removed from his guaranteed training-camp roster bonuses."

Wow. http://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/24045670/ranking-nfl-best-worst-offensive-arsenals-weapons-2018

Hey guys, just trying to get a jump on our Keeper league in case we need any new Managers this year. So if you plan on returning, or are interested in playing in case someone departs, please let us know by posting in here. It is a pay league, $25. I am good to go for this year. Team: Domination Inc. Tentative Keeper: Ertz for an 8th

We are looking for two new people to join the TalkBears $25 keeper league. This league has been going on for close to 10 years and is always very competitive. We use Yahoo and collect league dues with Leaguesafe. 1st gets $150, 2nd gets $75 and 3rd gets their entry money back. Currently, the keeper rules are you are able to keep any player as long as you drafted the player and they are on your roster at the end of the season, you didn't draft the player in the first round and you didn't keep the same player the year before. You lose the pick from the round before you took that player the previous year. So, for example, last year I drafted Dean…

Excellent news with Kyle Long and Allen Robinson https://www.chicagobears.com/news/no-bears-expected-to-open-camp-on-pup-list

Just looking at a few photos and some of the early parts of camp a few players standout. First is a leaner but hopefully stronger Adam Shaheen. Leonard Floyd looks like he's finally added enough bulk to be a more consistent threat as a pass rusher but he's still lean and should still have his quickness. Tarik Cohen is definitely stronger this season too. We'll see how this translates to their play on the field. Today is the first open day of practice so we'll get plenty of reports. https://www.chicagobears.com/photos/practice-snaps-training-camp-day-1#ec7f2489-aacd-44df-b1dd-1c73e5a99151

This is something I don't recall seeing last year. We have Isaiah Irving, an OLB, lined up very wide in coverage responsibility yet he blitzes off the edge. Meanwhile Kylie Fitts drops into coverage on a TE. I realize this is all backups but with Lynch hobbled again on his 3rd injury since signing with the Bears (he seems destined to take McPhee's place) these two are the leading replacements. Fitts is clearly comfortable in his backpedal and cutting underneath the route. Irving adjusts into a Wide 9 alignment before the snap but is too easily pushed around the QB, of course they aren't in pads. Fangio appears to be mixing it up a bit with the younger and faster O…