BearFan PHX

I THINK (and I could be wrong) that once you start the 21 day window you have to add the player to the 53 within that window, or the player is done for the year once you declare that window? So now he HAS to return to the 53 within the next 21 days or hes gone for the season. Like you say, he can practice with the team, and not count against the 53 until they activate him. But they cant wait more than 21 days to do that now, so theoretically, he should be back soon? This week or next week? I dont anticipate it this week, but next week?

OK well one thing I found out is that if you're bringing someone up off of the practice squad that needs to be done at least 90 minutes before kickoff. My guess is it's the same for bringing players off the 21 day window? I dont expect to see JJ tomorrow, but stranger things have happened - wouldn't be shocked at all to see him next week.

I wondered the same thing. Hmmm. Right now he's in that 21 day window, but I dont think he is counting against the 53? Does anyone know? If he's not on the 53, then he's not gonna play. How soon before the game can you activate someone? I'll try to Google, but we have a lot of members on this board that know a lot of stuff - does anyone know about this?

sure in the abstract, in general, yes, but thats not whats going on with Caleb. He is often getting the ball out on time. Its when the protection breaks down that he has to start scrambling. Benedet is young, and he has the rest of the year to keep improving before any decisions need to be made, but right now if Benedet doesnt get any better, we have to think about replacing him. To be fair, you can say the same about Caleb too. And Odunze. All young players need time to grow. But right now, Benedet is a consistent problem in pass pro. Not saying he sucks - just that he needs to get better.

Here's an interesting stat: The Jets are averaging a league low 139.9 passing yards per game. This is the lowest in the NFL since the 2022 Bears (130.5) - the common thread? Justin Fields is the QB.

exactly. Caleb hasnt arrived, but he is clearly on the path. If he keeps improving, he should end up right next to those guys. This is the talent that made him a generational PROSPECT. With Johnson's help it's amazing to see him taking steps to fulfill it.

I dont see our OL as being 3rd in pass blocking. That's a PFF number isnt it? If Benedet grows and can handle the pass blocking, then great - he has been really good in the run game - but right now he is a liability in pass blocking. If people want to complain about Caleb holding the ball and running around, a lot of it starts with Benedet allowing pressure.

The return of JJ and Kyler G should help a lot. We still need a pass rush of course, but having better coverage should help us win shootouts at least - but it puts the lack of pass rush on Caleb's shoulders.

I understand the point you're making. I'm saying as we go forward, I think Johnson will make the good decisions and Poles will follow. We are already hearing that Poles wanted to trade picks away for players at the trade deadline and Johnson told him not to. So I think there's good evidence that Johnson is running the show. Of course Poles and his scouts provide all the detailed info, film and investigations that Poles and Johnson will rely on to make those decisions, so it's not like Poles will be twiddling his thumbs. But when it comes to talent evaluation, I think Johnson will have the last word, and right now at least I am more comfortable with that than letting Poles have it. And yes, that includes the picks we made this year, to at least some extent. I really like Loveland as a player, but i still think taking a TE with the #10 pick overall is a strange choice. We still have no pass rush. I also understand taking Burden at #39, but we should have taken Aireontae Ersery at #41, instead of trading down for Trapilo and Turner in my view too. Is Turner going to be worth the trade down from Ersery to Trapilo? But i think Johnson will be much better going forward now that he understands the roster better, having coached all these players this year. And maybe Johnson didnt mind taking Loveland high because he felt he needed to get Caleb going into the system. If they are aggressive about stocking the defense this offseason, then that's all gonna work out. So hopefully that clears up some of what might have looked like having it both ways, with a little more detail? I think Poles is a good team player, not much of a leader type, and is a hard worker who will do a good job setting the table, but Johnson will make the right strategic decisions after that. I mean, Poles has been here a while, and pass rush has been a consistent problem, who has he drafted on the pass rushing edge?

Its a mixed bag with Poles, and while he did draft Caleb, anyone would have done that with the first pick. And anyone would have signed Johnson too - he was the belle of the ball last year. (yes i know at the time i thought Vrabel was the guy, but I also didnt really know anything about Johnson's demeanor, but you can assume every GM did know those things) I also think that starting with last year's draft, Ben Johnson is really the guy calling the shots on personnel. Now that might be a reason to keep Poles, because he is letting Johnson make the decisions, but it's not necessarily a reason to praise him?

right. you can see him doing all the little things. This is what they mean by feeding him with a fire hose. Theyve got him working on all these things - it's a lot, especially for a guy that never got coached this way before, and is still working on his footwork - starting with switching his forward foot from the snap. But hes putting so much of it together. When the game slows down a little for him, he's gonna be a killer.

Here's a chart of Caleb's numbers in his first two seasons playing vs. some greats and their first two seasons on the field. What I like, is that his stats are right there, and we can see by eye that he isn't anywhere near his full potential. You can see that a couple guys had monster years (like Mahomes and Marino) and then followed it up with a 2nd year more like Caleb's, and you can see that Rodgers benefitted from maturing ont he bench! Mostly you can see that Caleb needs to get his completion percentage up in the 65% range, but he is pretty careful with the ball, his INTs are very low, and none of this includes his rushing yards and ability to escape the pass rush.

I agree with all of this. I dont want to spend a first round pick on a LT, even though Id love to have that player. We need a pass rush so bad. I honestly wouldnt mind if the first three picks all go to defense. And of course there is free agency and all that too. Imagine if we could put two studs on the D line. That, plus the continued development of the offense would make us a real contender next year. Course you have to draft, sign the right guys. They have to be absolute beasts.

agree with all of that, and I still think we might add another LT, but it wont be in the first round I agree. We need to stock that defensive line more than anything else.

Amen!

Theo, right now, is a mediocre pass blocker, and that's better than we've had there in many years. He's also pretty good in the running game, and he's young and probably still ascending. I still think we may look at that position in the offseason too, but Im not mad at Benedet, and I wouldnt presume to put a ceiling on what he could become either at this point. so, we are lucky to have him, but he's not good enough yet. Fair?

I read this line in an article, and i thought it summed it all up really well - the good and the real room for improvement, and what it means. "Chicago ranks 3rd in total yards and 7th in points scored through nine games. The have the #2 rushing attack in the league, and Caleb Williams already boasts four 4th quarter comebacks. Most agree the offense isn't even playing with great rhythm yet, which is alarming for future opponents." We're already here statistically, and by the eye test there is a LOT better we could do. Imagine where we are headed...

There was an article a few weeks back that we should trade Caleb too. LOL Clickbait has changed the nature of sports reporting, and narratives take on a life of their own, and often bear no resemblance to the actual facts on the ground LOL The good news is the final score is still the final score, and if we can control that, then they will write new stories about how we are supermen and cant fail. They will also be total BS, but theyll be more fun to read LOL

I think the biggest change for Edmunds is that he isnt playing MLB this year, but WLB and of course Dennis Allen instead of Eberpoo

agree with both of you

Yeah, we arent that good yet. Upcoming teams are going to challenge, and probably expose us, especially without a pass rush. But Caleb will get good reps against real defenses, and if he can keep pace, that will carry over to next year to build on.

We are very lucky to have Caleb, and he is gonna lead us to that Super Bowl we all want so much. I cant say when, but when this is all working, we will be contenders every year, just like a real football team.

at 6-3 we definitely control our own future. and you're right the Minnesota and San Francisco are winnable games, and important ones in terms of making the playoffs. But of course without a pass rush we arent going far into the playoffs either this year. I will love to see this team fight to get into the playoffs, and I'm looking forward to how they look against the really tougher teams, even if we lose. If we give them a game and show we can stand with them that will be a tremendous step forward we can build on next year. But if/when we taste the playoffs, I don't expect we will stay alive very long. I'm not saying this to be a downer, quite the opposite, I'm just saying that my expectations can be met for this season if Caleb develops and we learn that we are actually a team. A lot of that is already happening, and with this season to build on next year, I expect the window to be open, and to stop looking for moral victories and actually start kicking some ass. Especially with some kind of fix for the defensive line. If we could get excellent DL play next year, this team will be truly dangerous.

I think Gardner could well stick around next year as a safety for us.

for sure, playoffs or no, we need a pass rush, and we dont have one. this is not a complete team yet, but we do have some young players, and theyre starting to get it. I especially liked reports of Ben Johnson telling Poles NOT to trade picks for players at the deadline. Johnson has some affection for the young guys he hasnt even drafted yet that he knows they will coach up. That's the right way to think it. Im so happy to hear it.