Bearstalk

OK so this is a little thing. But ugh. So Nagy is on a zoom meeting explaining that he will not be on the field during the first practice because of a COVID rule, and that he will be watching on a remote video screen. And he makes a joke, saying he will be watching the offense score all over the defense. I think he was hoping some defensive coaches would rib him back. And he prompts Desai, saying "right?" and Desai agrees with him. Grrr. Now maybe he wasnt really paying attention. Or maybe he is afraid to speak up to the head coach. But this guy just recently had his squad skip OTAs while most of the offense showed up. We are all so thrilled at the changes …

So luck with receivers seem to be the same. https://www.windycitygridiron.com/2021/6/2/22465445/chicago-bears-dazz-newsome-wide-receiver-injures-shoulder-will-miss-practice-time-2021-nfl-draft

A lot of us, including myself, have voiced negative opinions of Quinn because he only produced 2 sacks last year. However I have read several articles, including the one I have linked below, stating in 2020 he was a top "disruptor" ( #10 with Aaron Donald #6). I've read other articles with him rated even higher. So I'm wondering if I need to give him some slack and hope his sacks increase to what it should be for a "top disruptor" which the article agrees is unusually low. Next Gen Stats' top 10 disruptors of 2020

I seldom believe all that is reported in practice sessions by the coaching staff. You never hear negatives. Everything is superlative adjectives. Every player sounds like a future hall of famer. A G.O.A.T. That is until it is time to cut the roster down. However, on occasion you hear something that is factual and not subjective. I find this quote from ChicagoBears.com very encouraging in regards to J Fields progress: To me, on his first day working with the team, that's amazing!

1 - at LAR (SNF) 2 - CIN 3 - at CLE 4 - DET 5 - at LVR 6 - GB 7 - at TB 8 - SF 9 - at PIT (MNF) 10 - BYE 11 - BAL 12 - at DET (THU - Thanksgiving) 13 - ARZ 14 - at GB (SNF) 15 - MIN (MNF) 16 - at SEA 17 - NYG 18 - at MIN

From 2011-2020, there are only 2 NFL teams that are in the top 5 in the league in the following schedule categories: 1. Games with less rest than opponents (NYG - 2nd (39), CHI - 5th (31)) 2. # of short week road games (NYG - T/1st (16), CHI - T/4th (14)) 3. # of games off road SNF or MNF (NYG - 2nd (20), CHI - T/4th (17)) Overall with all the other factors, the Bears had the 27th worst scheduling variables over the past decade and one of the biggest disparities between division opponents (27th > GB 13th, Vikings 12th, Lions 4th). Seattle (30th) to LAR (14th) was the biggest. https://www.nbcsports.com/edge/article/offseason-research/teams-most-impa…

Sad story from NFL.com Tyrell Cohen, twin brother of Bears RB Tarik Cohen, found dead at age 25

This is an awesome video and breakdown, I love the title. I have no doubt that this guy will be able to anchor the left side of the line.

As listed by Bearswire.usatoday.com: 10 - RB David Montgomery: 4.63 09 - WR Allen Robinson: 4.6 08 - WR Dazz Newsome: 4.57 07 - RB Khalil Herbert: 4.51 06 - QB Justin Fields: 4.44 05 - RB Tarik Cohen: 4.42 04 - WR Anthony Miller: 4.38 03 - WR Darnell Mooney: 4.38 02 - WR Damiere Byrd: 4.28 01 - WR Marquise Goodwin: 4.27 This should be fun to watch!

At this time of year it's always fun to read positive remarks from the media. One can only hope they are right, this time. LOL A nice article about 2 of our 6th round picks, RB Herbert & CB Graham.

So 2022 is where the team is in a much better cap situation. They can save $12.9M by cutting Quinn as a post-June 1 cut and $7M on Foles next offseason. So $20M off the books is a nice chunk of change without losing any performance. Mack is also an easy candidate for a restructure at $30M. Graham comes off the books, so the only guys with a cap hit north of $10M would be Mack, Jackson, Whitehair, and Goldman. Even before the Quinn and Foles moves, the team would have around $40M to play with, so $60M is more than enough money to resign current guys and bring in a couple of impact FAs. Starters that need new contracts: Robinson (UFA - 2022) Daniels (UFA - 2022) …

So, now that we see a window of hope opening up, and with Nagy and Pace still scrambling to secure their jobs past whatever bubble they've created from this draft, it might be time to add some quality free agents to put us in the hunt. And there are quite a few good names still available, and since the cap shrunk, they will likely be lowish money short term deals. Especially at EDGE, DB, and OL I just saw this, and a lot of these players could really help. Add two, and we are looking kind of dangerous.

Roster Move: Bears sign WR Damiere Byrd Another veteran speedy WR with experience as a kick returner. I think half of the FA contracts signed by all teams this year are 1 year unguaranteed contracts.

One of the best articles I've read in a long time. A lot of details about Fields, as well as the entire Bears' 2021 draft. Hoge’s 10 Bears Things: The unlikely ‘steal’ of Justin Fields

I know there are a lot of haters on Leno and he’s certainly had his struggles, but this makes the O-line worse going into the year. I don’t have confidence in Jenkins as your day 1 LT but there aren’t really any other options unless they sign Eric Fisher to a cheaper contract or something.

https://www.nbcsports.com/bayarea/49ers/justin-fields-did-insanely-well-aptitude-test-mark-sanchez-says

It is so weird seeing the media give Pace an A draft grade and praise his entire draft. This one feels different. Then getting Snowden as a UDFA is icing on the cake. I am still in shock but happy with how it turned out. The trade ups worried me but Pace made some great Day 3 picks to compensate.

I am tracking these 10 so far: Mississippi State G Dareuan Parker Northwestern OT Gunnar Vogel Coastal Carolina RB C.J. Marable Clemson OL Gage Cervenka Stanford TE Scooter Harrington Houston Baptist LB Caleb Johnson Stony Brook DT Sam Kamara Stanford DL Thomas Schaffer Virginia EDGE Charles Snowden (had a 4th round grade) Temple DL Daniel Archibong

Pick - Name - BR / PFF / TDN 11 - Fields - 3 (+8)/3 (+8)/5 (+6) 39 - Jenkins - 12 (+27)/31 (+8)/28 (+11) 151 - Borom - 231 (-80)/191 (-40)/383 (-232) 217 - Herbert - 168 (+49)/91 (+126)/190 (+27) 221 - Newsome - 183 (+38)/255 (-34)/182 (+39) 228 - Graham - 154 (+74)/76 (+152)/135 (+93) 250 - Tonga - 55 (+195)/142 (+108)/196 (+54) Looking back at some pre draft big boards, Graham and Herbert both had as low as a 3-round grade with some big boards, and at worst both were considered 5th rounders, so getting them as late 6th's was really high value. BR and TDN had Newsome at 183 and 182 respectively, which was almost 40 picks earlier than the actual pic…