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and i am guessing this is why Trapilo didnt start at LT out of the gate. He wasn't findng the right guy to block enough. Now, with half a season of coaching under his belt, hopefully he has enough to win the job and keep it, and keep growing too. Benedet is a really good swing tackle - he is borderline starter material himself.

Yeah, it's the middle of his growing season, so it's all good that people see him different ways. You can look at stats, and for some of them he seems great, and others he seems terrible. Or you can watch the film and try to see what he does. For example, if Caleb throws an incomplete pass in week 2 he might have made three mistakes on the play, and now he might throw an incomplete pass and only make 1 mistake. I think that's what Johnson is saying when he says Caleb is improving, even as his completion percentage or other stats might decrease. But, no matter how we read his progress right now, he is either going to get to the next level, in which case everything will all add up to us agreeing he is doing well, or he will fall short and we will all see that too. Personally, I see the continued growth and I predict he's going to be great. But of course until it happens, it's just a guess that he will continue to grow. But there is certainly no evidence right now that he wont. For me, I'd still take Caleb over any of the other QBs he got drafted with straight up even now.

A couple points: Caleb, by the eye test, is not performing that well, or at least that consistently, and yet his numbers are right there with Nix etc. Imagine how his numbers will look when he's more polished. Also, Johnson doesnt have a lot of outlet routes. Caleb isnt asked to dink and dunk - this is an aggressive offense that Caleb is learning. We see a lot more 15 and 20 yard routes across the middle, than swing passes to an outlet RB for example. I think this is why Caleb's numbers are already so good (other than completion percentage) even as he is still learning and growing. I can see where we are going, and it's gonna be like the Lions were last year. Add a pass rush to this, and we are going to be tough next year! And you know what? We're tough right now too!

you can feel it coming. i couldnt be happier!

totally agree. Also, you can see Caleb getting better each week! Where he used to make 3 errors on an incomplete pass, now he might only make 1. Unlike other young QBs who have simplified systems to learn, Caleb is getting the whole thing all at once. It means it takes him a while to choke it all down, but it also means when he masters it, he won't need to go to the 2nd level course, he will have the whole thing. And all this while showing what a winner he is in close endgames. Also, the team has progressed from balancing ont he edge of winning or losing, to balancing on the edge of being up one score or two. Thats a huge improvement. This game against Green Bay will be very telling. If we can stand tow to two with them Ill be a believer, regardless of whether we win or not. But if we can beat them in Lambeau, then it will be real. We know the roster is incomplete - the lack of a pass rush is obvious, and yet this team finds ways to win too. All I can think is how good we will be next year with added talent on the D line. I wouldnt be upset at all to see the first 2 or even 3 draft picks go to the DL. Let's Go!

I think first we should take the North, and then after that, never give it back.

Lets go! Yes this team can beat anyone. It's all a matter of coaching and execution - it's in our hands now. We still need a pass rush, but this team finds ways to win, and it's a matter of not beating ourselves now.

I would be happy to put our first three draft picks on defense. DE, DT and LB

Right, and we arent going to keep both Gordon and CJGJ as nickel corners. I think CJGJ moves to safety and that solves two problems with one gesture, and keeps all that talent on the field.

I agree, I think Brisker is gone, and CJGJ takes his place at safety. We can add a 3rd round (or later) pick at safety to develop and for depth too.

Im right with you. I dunno, in some ways Caleb is the best player on the team. That's not to say that I dont see the accuracy issues too. I do. But I think most of it stems from footwork, and i think he is still working on that. I do see improvement every week. Caleb is not a finished product by any means, and thats been true of most of the great NFL QBs in their 2nd year too. Statistically, he is going to post the best season by a Bears QB ever. But by the eye test, we can all agree there is a lot more work to do. For me, that just points at the ceiling of where we can get to with Caleb being extremely high, if he is playing as poorly as you say, and still putting up these numbers? I dont know if Im ready to get on the Super Bowl bandwagon just yet, but I cant disagree that it's possible. This team continues to grow and play together. As for the switch, I think that's just time with BJ, working on footwork etc. I see a bright future ahead for Caleb and our team.

I think the first quarter is scripted stuff, and we do pretty well with that. Then, the opposing defense adjusts, and we have a harder time. I also think during this middle part that Ben keeps his best stuff unused for later. Some plays in the middle are used to set up alternate options later in the game and some are used to scout how the opponent will react to certain things. Then int he 4th quarter, the good stuff comes out, stuff weve been saving, stuff weve been conditioning the defense to expect other things from, and stuff we've scouted during the game. Also, any NFL team with their back against the wall, will have a push in the 3rd quarter. You have to absorb that energy, and then get back on top. I've heard NFL coaches say that thef irst three quarters are really to feel your opponent out, and hopefully stay close, and the real game is the 4th quarter. Johnson is certainly a master strategist, and no one is better at endgame tactics.

hey Adam, I sent you a PM, when you get a chance, please take a look at it. Thank you

Oh and one more thing, I went back and reread - I didnt call anyone on this board a "moron" I said PUNDITS - meaning blogsters, and sports writers who trash Caleb without understanding what theyre seeing are morons. And I didnt even call a member dumb - I called an IDEA dumb. You're both overracting. Calling me by name, when I didnt do that at all. We talk about respecting people's opinions here - that oughtta go for all of us, myself included. If someone wants to disagree or debate that's fine, but don't threaten me with a ban for calling an idea dumb or not agreeing with you. I get you may still be mad from before, but Im not the one that stirred all this up, and if you want to do that, thats even OK, but dont use your Admin status to bully me.

Dude, you are the one being aggressive. And now threatening me. Calling an IDEA (and not a PERSON) stupid is not wrong. Please stop trying to start a fight. And also, do not treat me like a child. Thats really inappropriate. You are a participant in this from your own point of view, or "team" - so invoking your mod powers when you are involved in something personal is really not appropriate. The IDEA that we will move on from Caleb next year IS STUPID. It just IS. That prompted you to write a long thing about respecting other peopls opinions - what is debate if you cant disagree? And that prompted Stinger to write a long thing about me. So honestly who is stirring this all up? It's the two of you. I am allowed to think something is dumb. It's not even a PG word, its 100% G rated. Come on. Another respected member here called that opinion being "willfully ignorant" - which I think is correct, and probably more personal, and yet you didnt go after them and try to act like a parent to a child with them. So I think you should think about what I've said, and act appropriately. I am not here to fight. And I didnt start a fight here either. If you dont want to see fighting here, then dont attack people in a condescending manner.

Oh please. The pretend victimhood is dumb. You cant tell me not to say something is stupid! Its hardly the worst put down. LOL Also on this same thread he said: "at what point does BJ quit trusting him? Half way into the season next year is my guess." So yeah, he said it, and yes, it is STUPID. Because it is. And he wasnt asking, he said that was his guess. So yeah, dumb. We have the greatest QB in Bears history right here developing before our eyes, and all we can come up to do is complain about him? Also, I dont need you to tell me what i can and cant say, thanks! NO MORE! lol

uh huh see the thing is we are ALL allowed our opinions, and if my opinion is that another opinion is dumb, then that's what it is. Stinger just said he expects Ben Johnson to abandon Caleb in the middle of next year. That's idiotic. If you say stuff like that, it's Ok to disagree with it, and call it what it is: stupid as hell.

I agree. I don't think just cutting Kmet would the right move. It should be a trade. Kmet is the 7th highest paid TE in the league, and he's not even the best TE on the team.

lets go. I just wish we had an injured difference making pass rusher LOL

Not a first round concern, but we may need to add safety to that list, because I dont see Brisker being re-signed? Also, as well as Edmunds has been playing this year, his cap number is really high, and we might need a replacement for him too? Same for DJ Moore, but i think we already have his replacement on the roster in Luther Burden III We might need a TE too, given that Kmet doesn't seem to be worth his $11.6M either?

How sweet would that be?

yes. it's one thing to watch the game on TV, and when I do that, I'm like any fan, I watch the ball, well maybe the OL at the snap, but pretty quickly I'm watching the ball. But when you see the all 22 it all makes sense and is VERY different. If people only watch the TV coverage and then read articles or listen to talking heads, they get one impression. But if you watch the all 22, or even just some plays with analysis, like Jennings, Daniels, OSullivan, Warner etc then you see it in a completely different way.

For sure. And I also think DA scouts film for tendencies, and puts players, by scheme, in position to get INTs too. I think Byard actually said something about it in a post game interview a couple weeks ago, something like 'he told me it would be there'

Yeah but Caleb had 3,500+ yards his rookie season with nothing around him and coaches being fired. Justin has never exceeded 2,562 in ANY season. You might use some of the same words to describe what they need to work on, but they were never at the same level of that? Caleb made plenty of in rhythm throws every week, even as a rookie, Justin rarely did, ever. They are both athletic, but Fields has never shown the ability as a pocket QB that Caleb started with right out of the gate. So I don't think they really compare at all? But i do agree with your point that Caleb is progressing and getting better.

thats very needed. thank you for finding that.