BearFan PHX

right, the more we wait, the lower the prices drop. GIven that there are at least 3 good free agent options at edge, waiting the market out makes sense. Especially when it's older players that may not wish to attend the entire camp. Gives you some time to see what you have with Booker and Turner first. Also, its possible that we will sign a LT or a DE but not both, so they might wait to see which is needed more once they see what Wills brings for example. I still think theres a decent chance we will sign Tyler Decker. Maybe its between him and Cam Jordan/Von Milller and time will tell.

if you mean next year, finding TE3 who are inline blockers isnt that hard. Kmet is not the only TE in the universe, and Roush will be TE2 then.

exactly.

I wish I had your inside info lol

well his level of play got a LOT better this past season. hes played himself into a role. I still think this is probably his last year with the Bears, given the Roush pick. But we all discussed his progress all during the year last season.

LOL good point I think it's hard to have a trap game when its opening day. And especially with a coach like Johnson. He started 0-2 last year, and Im SURE he is thinking he doesnt want to repeat that! OK Im starting to get excited for the season.

If you play in Indiana, but live in Chicago, I wonder what the tax ramifications would be. On the surface it would seem like since they have to pay state tax to the states their away games are in, that theyd pay Indiana tax. But some of these cities, like NYC can want their taste if you reside there as your main residence. What a freakin mess, and I will leave it here because the next points would probably be political, and best to avoid that.

Some of BJs aggressiveness on 4th down was because he didnt trust his defense. And some of the tricky passing nonsense on 4th and short will be a run this year out of 13 I think the roster was a big part of why he did those things.

yeah thats a lesser gear. no explosion

no doubt. too bad too, when he first joined the team, I thought he played hard and with a lot of heart, like another David Montgomery type, but then his snaps have fallen off so much, I dunno if its pass blocking or bad hands or what, but hes become a ghost now it seems.

I think Vegas has the Bears favored in 12 games, but the over under on wins is 9.5 LOL Make it make sense. I think the answer to your question Pix, is that a lot of prognosticators are cynical about our chances. I myself am pretty optimistic about this season. I dont know how they predict us to lose that one. Vegas has us as 2 1/2 point faves n that game, on the road. So 5 points at a neutral site. I just think people, have a hard time really feeling that the bears are a for real good team. Yes we got turnovers we wont get this year as they will say, but our defense is a lot better for speed and coverage, and we will be better vs the run. Johnson's in year 2, so I think we beat Carolina. But things happen, teams arent ready, or its a weird day, and we can still win 11 or more games even if we drop Carolina. Last year we lost the first two and managed 11 after that with a team that was inferior to this one in so many ways. Caleb coming into year 3, and year 2 with Johnson, more speed and coverage on the D. I think it looks pretty good for this team. They just have to reach out and take it. And I cant imagine them not being in that mindset with Johnson around. Also, there has to be an Edge player coming, right? And maybe a LT?

I feel like this almost HAS to happen?

Youre right I miscounted. this is year 5 for him.

I just want to say that Braxton Jones has NEVER been better than a mediocre LT. Of course i hope he shows up as an entirely new player and plays his ass off, and that goes for every player on the squad. I hope Amagadje is a hall of fame guard. But I havent seen anything in Jones' career to make me think that's about to happen? He's been a Bear for 6 seasons, and started on some pretty awful Bears teams. Doesnt anyone remember Caleb running around under constant pressure? I'm all for optimism, but this seems more like a wish than a plan. I will be extremely happy to be wrong about this if I am, but I just dont see it. For me, Theo Benedet is the floor at LT.

I think youre right. i just threw in a loss or two just for the heck of it, and Im still at 11 or 12 wins. Your 13 win season is definitely reasonable and possible. Nice.

Yeah, so many possibilities. I cant believe what an excellent coach feels like. I cant believe how bad we've had it for so long. And add in Caleb - it's our turn to be a top franchise for the foreseeable future. What a great time to be a Bears fan.

Ben is the Matchup King. Good info on coverage stats for our LBers. More excellent analysis, adam. Thank you. I remember when our Vic Fangio solved the Rams with a two high safety scheme, setting this trend in motion. Coaches like Eberflus, Nagy, even Lovie were riding schemes and trends on the back end. Johnson clearly understands where the opportunities are now.

could be. whatever it is, he was just a brief squirrel in the yard

LOL both of you. I think he realized he wasnt going to make the cut. And that's kinda weak. Maybe he realized he wasnt ready with his injury, and then he had no choice, not weak.

So I guess Squirrel just quit. The Bears will retain his rights should he return to football, but for now he retired. So I guess he is fast in some things lol

AI is slop, it is not a higher intelligence. Are we gonna shift our worshipping of authority from talking heads to AI now?

yup.

and I believe due to need he may well play outside this year, but Poles still hasnt really drafted DEs and I think its a problem, and so much of a problem that I think we agree that its a likely spot for our #1 pick next year? or a veteran yet to be added this year?

Pix, youre right there were injuries too. But another way that can be interpreted is that Johnson was OK taking rookies that wouldnt be ready to start too, so theyd have time to adjust. I do know he has said that players start once he trusts them, so i do think that there is some period of time where some rookies need to get up to speed? Maybe this is true on Offense and not Defense as well, because i expect Thienemen to start opening day. We will also see whether Logan Jones takes the job away right off the bat, or if it takes half the season? He will have Thuney next to him to help with the calls if necessary. I can remember some teams starting rookie Centers who let an OG make the protection calls at first. Didnt we do that one year? That would get Jones out there more quickly I think? Also Jones is an older player and has already played in 51 games in college. But in any case, I dont see Roush having a full role opening day, or Zavion Walker at WR either, for example? And yes, I hope we stay healthy too!