Pixote

The Bears play the toughest schedule (based on last year's results), but at least we stay home. No overseas games for the Bears. GOOD! 2026 international games: 🏈Week 1: Rams/49ers (Australia) 🏈Week 3: Ravens/Cowboys (Brazil) 🏈Week 4: Colts/Commanders (London) 🏈Week 5: Eagles/Jaguars (London) 🏈Week 6: Texans/Jaguars (London) 🏈Week 7: Steelers/Saints (France) 🏈Week 9: Bengals/Falcons (Spain) 🏈Week 10: Patriots/Lions (Germany) 🏈Week 11: Vikings/49ers (Mexico)

Just read this article, and I'm totally pumped for 13 personnel packages this year. Why Bears rookie tight end Sam Roush fits head coach Ben Johnson’s vision Great article on Roush, best I've read since we drafted him. Goes into a ton of detail on what to expect from him. Tough kid. Missed 1/2 of 1 practice the entire time at Stanford, and only because they forced him to leave the field with a temperature of 102. On an assigned chip block, he managed to "chip" his man so hard that he was propelled back into a DT, and he got 2 pancakes on one block. It details how we had great success running 13 personnel last year. I'm surprised BJ didn't call it more often. After reading this article, I have no doubt we will more than double the number of 13 personnel plays.

We are going to lose more than usual to other teams needing depth on their active rosters.

For so many years, many of us have pointed out examples of the NFL's bias against the Bears. From refs calling penalties against the Bears that were bogus. To the penalties committed by the opposition that the refs never called. And then they rob us of two 3rd round compensatory picks from the Ian Cunningham signing with Atlanta. There is an article on SI com that gives some interesting data to back up our claims: Link to article: Stunning NFL Penalty Data Suggests There is Bias Against the Bears It starts off wth this paragraph and then continues to break down the statistics. "The Chicago Bears have a league-worst -795 net penalty yardage gap since 2022. From missed Caleb Williams hits to the 'Bears Tax,' see the data that proves the NFL bias." An excellent read during a time we are starving fr Bears' info:

Not so sure about your assumption. If I remember correctly, Loveland was recovering from shoulder surgery and could not fully participate in preseason camps, making it difficult to learn what is described as a difficult system to master. Burden also lagged behind in learning the system because of a preseason injury. Time lost in preseason camps is difficult to make up for during the season. I'm guessing both would have been far more active starting game one if not for their lack of preseason prep. I pray our team can stay healthy this year.

Watching the video, I was surprised by the highlights for TE Roush. All the hype was that he was the best blocking TE in this year's draft class. What I saw was a big target with good hands. Great pickup for 3 TE Sets, valuable backup for Kmet & Loveland, and a (reported) strong blocker for pass pro and run plays. I feel a lot better about this pick by RP/BJ after watching the video.

Some more love pouring out of rookie camp for Dillon: Dillon Thieneman Is Already Making News Headlines for the Bears The BJ quote about Dillon in the article I loved:

Sons of Bears Pro Bowl linemen Kreutz, Williams participating in rookie minicamp C Josh Kreutz and DE Jai Williams.

Yeah, Vikes are looking tough. They won 9 with crap at QB last year. As you said, Jennings is a keeper. Now we have to hope QB Murray sucks because if he turns the page, the Vikes will be tough competition for the NFCN title.

Contract years are quite an incentive, giving a guy a chance to earn a few million extra on his next deal. My money is on Braxton as our starter but then may want too much to resign 2027. I also suspect, if for no other reason, Dexter is going to have a 10+ sack season as a IDL. ;-)

This brought back a flash of one of my favorite Bear memories of the past. Remembering Keith Traylor (DL 340? Pounds) returning an interception down the sideline. He ran it back quite a distance, well over 50 yards (can't recall exact length or if he scored) I remember creating an image with Acrobat of him with a turtle running beside him to protect him from being tackled

Damn, that really sucks. I thought he would be a sleeper last year. Then he sits out with the personal issue. I again had hopes he would shine this year. Obviously, unresolved. I would love to know just what caused this mess.

Turner has better tape as a DE than he does as a DT. His versatility was one of the positives on is resume. That's why I have always questioned, with the abundance of bodies inside, why they didn't try him on the edge?

Bradbury is what? 31? If he goes down, who would take his place? Protecting Caleb has to be our #1 priority. So if they panicked and drafted who they thought was the best option at Center a bit early to avoid another team from grabbing him, so be it. We needed an option who could start day one if Bradbury got injured in preseason.

Ozzy looks mighty fine. Seems to be ahead of the rehab schedule.

Roush was reported by those covering the draft as having 7 drops his last year in college. SEVEN with far fewer targets than a #1 TE in the NFL would receive during the course of a season. And make no mistake. Just because we have an All-Pro-caliber TE in Loveland doesn't mean Kmet, when used properly, isn't still a Pro Bowl-caliber TE. When you run the number of 12- and 13-person formations that BJ calls, having a TE 1a & 1b is not a luxury; it is a necessity, if you want to have a Super Bowl caliber offense. I hope the salary cap Gods allow us to keep Kmet a Bear!

IDK, hope you're right. When they showed him jumping out of the pool, all I could think of was Gilbert and how much of a huge flop he was. I even had a rant on the forum a few days ago, saying one of the things I wanted Poles to avoid was anyone jumping out of a pool. LOL

His 40 time is listed as 4.42, so the Bears continue to add speed.

Yeah, I just saw that. GB taking Sutton really sucks.

I read somewhere that our team was fifth in the league in 13-personnel and that our #3 TE last year took 25% of the offensive snaps.

One look at the highlight film on the team website, and one thing is for sure: he will be our Gadget guy. Yes, he will stretch the field. But I also watched him line up in the backfield and take the handoff as a RB. I saw him receive 2 passes and throw them downfield to another wide receiver. Double reverse, sure, why not? Ben's guy

Yeah, now I'm scratching my head. I liked the Dillon T pick, and I liked the Logan J Pick But since then ?????????????????????

I wouldn't be surprised if Poles was looking at Lucas, saw NEP leapfrog us to draft him, and decided he wasn't going to take a chance on losing Logan Jones. I'm Okay with taking him early.