BearFan PHX

We can. And I agree, we gotta see it on the field. My guess is Marshawn Lynch wasnt a model citizen, but Id sure like him at his height on our team. If Judkins was a chiorboy and didnt dominate on the field, no one would care that he was a good guy, so youre right - it's what you do on the field that matters - assuming what you do off it doesnt stop you from being on it. It's just after years of flowery media and all the suffering we've done, i want a team that can actually play and not just win the offseason. That's why I hate the youtube videos that get down to UDFA players and how they could be all pro players LOL We are strong in areas, and i still have some concerns and i think we have holes. So I want to deal with all of that honestly, in hopes of fixing it. Previous coaches and GMs have held on to players too long, and I dont want anything to screw this up. Now its not like i think what you or I say affects what the Bears do - like Kmet's future for example. You and i have no actual affect on it. But we talk about it, and so we are playing GM in a way when we do, so i dont want to coddle anyone. i dont want any rosy headlines. i wanna grind and push people around on the field. ANd if someone is soft, I want them to be replaced with someone who isnt. Like you Im sure, Im sick to death of feeling like a clown in front of Green Bay fans. I know I would push back so why wont my team? Well hopefully now they do. And I want Johnson kicking their asses until they get tough - I want teams to know when they have played a game against us.

Your point was that I was egotistical, that i think Im all that. My point was that anyone could see it, and so I dont think Im all that. And then you posted monkeys. Awesome.

Ok well you did a good job of trying to sound tough, but the difference is everything I said was true, and everything you said was just nonsense. Im not angry you did that, but i do think youre a fool. A few points: Dr Phils dad was a college head coach, and dad's brother was an NFL head coach, so I think they do know how to watch tape. I'm not sure why you're attacking them? I dont always agree with them? I just watch it. You can too. My non egotistical point remains: ANYONE can see what im talking about on the tape. if it took special extra amazing people to see it, then it wouldnt be so weird that you dont. But no, I'm not awesome. It's not hard to see. Unless youre brainwashed by click makers and influencers. My point is Im like a lot of people on this board, Ive been watching football long enough to know what im talking about. It's not rocket science. I'm not extra special. You're just missing it. You think its possible the entire NFC Pro Bowl team will just be the Bears. You just gotta believe... And last, the reason why my posts are long is that I try to prove what Im saying, or give examples, so the point is clear. Its easy to say soundbytes quickly, thats why youre enamored with these hype bloggers, but real ideas are nuanced and might need a few more words to say.

for sure. we dont need that kind of stuff on our team! I wasnt as big a fan of the Ohio State HBs as some were. I guess Henderson is OK, but my guys were Jeanty (along with the entire world!), Kaleb Johnson and Cam Sketebo I also didnt have Hampton as high as he went. I trust Harbaugh, and Hampton does run tough, but he is lacking in vision. I thought KJ was every bit as tough, and had better vision and acceleration. My only drawback on KJ was that his OL was opening massive holes for him, so he will have to prove it again on this level.

Ah, I didnt see this part. So yeah, I totally disagree with you 100%, and I think time will show it. But you're not flooding the site with endless videos about it either. Im not frustrated with you in the least, even if i do think you're wrong about Caleb. Also, I dont question that you OR Stinger want whats best for the team - we all do. I also agree that Caleb has to perform, although he wasnt as bad last year as people say he was - especially given the chaos around him. I think Caleb has a higher ceiling than Daniels does. But that's my opinion. By the numbers, Daniels had a very good year. i think it was in part the scheme and the league is going to adjust, but I cant ridicule anyone that says they like him. BUT Justin Fields on the other hand is 100% a bust. That's already in the books. If you dont see it yet, you will after this year. But in all this, I dont disrespect you for disagreeing. The deluge of hopium from one other poster is all that gets that response from me. Protecting the team like a mother protects a young child is not football to me. It just provokes a reaction in me. It's so wrong. Youre not doing that, so you wont get that kind of response from me for what youre saying?

Oh man, I couldnt agree more. I predict he will be great, but I totally agree, we have to see it on the field. I've been saying that about the whole team the entire time. Now whether taking Caleb at #1 was the right move - it was. Just like going all on with 4 Kings is the right move. Doesnt mean you're sure to win, but it's the right bet to make. As far as humility is concerned, I think you're misreading me. i don't think I'm all that. i think Stinger is a homer and falls in love with every player, and the rosy rah rah stuff has just worn very thin with me. I'm ready to take this team seriously, and I am thrilled that Ben Johnson seems to be too. No more room for weak nonsense. That lack of accountability brought us many issues last year, from DJ Moore to Tyreek Stevenson. And I am still a fan of those players, but the culture of permissiveness and unaccountable positivity almost imploded this team last year. But please do not misunderstand my role in this: in no way do I think that I could be even remotely qualified to be an assistant coach on a mediocre college team. I dont have a crystal ball or any kind of special insight. What frustrates me is when the emperor is absolutely stark naked and people are discussing his fine clothes. That isn't about my arrogance. Anyone can just look and see he's naked - Im not special. But the people posting articles and podcasts that make wild claims about his clothes are ridiculous - in the sense that they are worthy of ridicule. Thats not me being awesome, it's them being dumb.

because you are SO sure of yourself and everything you think is total homer-dom. You blew the easiest analysis in Bears history three times. Anti Caleb, Pro Justin, Pro Eberflus. You, and "lots of people" and the trash podcasts you follow should stop acting like you know ANYTHING and actually learn to watch the players. It's all right there for anyone to see. I'm not the greatest analyst or anything but I know garbage when I see it! So should you! Tell me again why Dayo is gonna suddenly be a sack machine LOL Im with Ben Johnson - I want accountability. I want the good stuff to be praised and the bad stuff to be corrected, or traded or cut. I dont have any loyalty to the players, mine is to the team, if they are kicking ass I LOVE them, if not then lets get someone who will. You always want to hang on to the trash and "golly gee just one more season Im sure theyre gonna be great" UGH Its so difficult to even read that.

First of all, there isnt a WAY I view things. I think Caleb is going to be great. i think Johnson is going to be great. This idea that I tend to negative is just your reaction to my not joining you on the homer train. Secondly, I was talking about trading Kmet WAY before the draft. He is not a bad TE, but he isnt worth the $ we pay him. He isnt a great receiver despite the percentage stats that you use. If a WR is almost never open, but catches 4 out of the 5 balls the QB throws him he has an 80% catch rate! Wow! And only 4 catches and 30 yards for the season. Stats like that are deceptive. Watch him run. Watch him cut at the top of a route - he cant shake anyone loose. See, I dont get infatuated by the deceptive stats like you do. I watch the tape. I see a guy who runs like Frankenstein, and is never open unless its a void in a zone, or on a broken play. But if you want a stat here's one - Kmet has played FIVE seasons in the NFL, and has a career total of 258 catches. That's IT! And you're paying him $11.6M a year?! Poles is NUTS. He extends him, and then takes a TE in the first round. Johnson knows Kmet is not the guy. Now it seems his role is as an inline blocker. Hes not very good at that at all either, and paying him $11.6M a year tells me that he is on the bubble. I have also said that if he improves, then we could keep him. I've said that i predict he will have at least until the trade deadline to show he is worth more. He will get his chance with Johnson to learn and grow. But he is definitely on the bubble. None of that has changed since January for me. Drafting Loveland just went right along with what I already thought. At $5M a year, Id keep Kmet. I think that's about what he's worth. I'd take a 3rd rounder for him in a heartbeat.

The defense is a bigger unknown I think. I do share you feelings about Allen, and we definitely have a top secondary, but im worried about the pass rush. Now I do like our tackles, and people say Allens gets his pressure more from them than most DCs, so it could well prove me wrong. If DTs are penetrating, and DEs are holding the edges while LBers and Safeties create havoc, then we could be really tough, but without a really great DE, I feel like we are missing a key ingredient. That just could be because i am used to different schemes I admit. I want Allen to show me and i will become a convert if it works. But i think the Offense is almost more steady than the defense possibly for that reason. I really need to see it in pads. Then this will all get much clearer. like who is Trapilo? Is he a huge 6' 8" stud ready to lock down the LT, or is he a rookie who cant get low enough? Rather than guessing or making predictions, I just want to see it in NFL action.

as soon as I saw Calebs film, like right away, I knew he was special - it took a while to trust that he could be consistent, and he still hasnt been in the NFL. But I think Ben johnson is the guy to get that right - I hope so, we'll see. My point was just the idea that if someone is already on the team, I think they get extra credit points from you, and I still think Poles is "eh" but I understand that if Poles is the GM like Declan Doyle is the OC, then we might be OK anyway. But if for example, Poles suddenly went missing and we promoted Ian Cunningham, i think he'd be better. I still cant forgive keeping Eberflus, and some of the other bad moves he's made too. It tells me he is mediocre, which means some good too - but he's not a top GM that gives you an edge in winning as I see it right now. But now is not the time to rock the boat. I understand rolling with Poles- but I dont understand why they extended him now instead of waiting thru this year first. He had 2 years left on his deal, and I dunno what we gained here - but to be fair Im not sure we lost much either.

Yes we should see a difference immediately, in spurts and flashes, but it may take 4 or 6 weeks until the consistency is reliable?

Every teams fortunes depend on the QB. This is why your "trade the #1 pick away, lose Caleb and get the haul of picks" made no sense. Ditto "keep Justin Fields"

apparently he had 2 years left on his deal, so the extended him 3 more years. That puts him on the same timeline as Ben Johnson. I'm not sure why they did this now, as opposed to after this year so we could see how they work together, but at least this is slightly more sane than having them not in alignment. I'm still not sure Poles is the right guy, but with this staff to help him, Im not sure his drawbacks really matter that much.

I do remember from watching film in context that I was hoping for more from him. If he can do what he did in college Id be happy, and theres no reason he cant.

does that take into account having to punt from inside our own 30 so much?

I remember some pundits saying that if we didnt trade the #1 pick for the haul, that Caleb had to be generational immediately. It's a kind of tough guy argument, but it's unrealistic. It's like kidnapping a stock broker and putting a gun to his head to ask him the price of oil a month from now. He cant tell you, you can push and threaten, but its just impossible. Some things take time. In his first three years, Peyton Manning threw for 3.739 yards, 26 TDs and 28 INTs and a completion percentage of 56.7% 4,135 yards, 26 TDs and 15 INTs and a completion percentage of 62.1% 4,413 yards, 33 TDs and 15 INTs and a completion percentage of 62.5% As a rookie, Williams threw for 3,541 yards, 20 TDs and 6 INTs and a completion percentage of 62.5% And Justin Fields each season numbers for fun 1879 yards, 7 TDs and 10 INTs and a completion percentage of 58.9% 2,242 yards, 17 TDs and 11 INTs and a completion percentage of 60.4% 2,562 yards, 16 TDs and 9 INTs and a completion percentage of 61.4% 1,106 yards, 5 TDs and 1 INT and a completion percentage of 65.8% Fields played 10 of 17 games last year, so here are his 2024 numbers pro rated out to 17 games 1,880 yards, 9 TDs and 2 INTs and a completion percentage of 65.8% It's pretty clear that expecting immediate results, from QBs or teams, isn't realistic. But you also need to see that progress. I have Williams breaking 4,000 yards this year. If he does, it puts him pretty clearly on a similar trajectory to Peyton Manning. Despite some weird criticism from the press, you gotta LOVE that 6 INT number from last year with all that chaos going on, and all the pressure to be a hero, he was still careful with the ball. Caleb's completion percentage is better than Manning's two first years already. And Fields is left far behind in the dust across the board. Ben Johnson is the perfect mentor for him to learn to play in rhythm - we already know what he can do when things break down. Let's see him get the ball out a little faster. He has certainly shown on some plays that he can do that. if he does it more, and more guys are open which is a big part of it too, I think he will be a top 5 QB in the league. It all comes down to the whole team now. From OL to CB2. Thank god PFF says we have the 4th best OL in the league right now! lol - and all without knowing who will win the LT job LOL. So yeah, game 4, game 8, game 12 we will need to see improvement, and if/when we do, we will know the trajectory of this team for the next few years.

That seems very wise and reasonable. it's not impossible that we gel quickly, but if it doesn't happen that fast that doesnt mean it wont be great by week 8 or 10 etc. Its all good on paper, but it might take a minute to gel, and some pieces may not be what we hope they are. We will see. But good reasons for excitement for sure!

YES. Its been decades since we were here, and I dont want to blow it over some loyalty to a HB or TE2 or something stupid like that. I am confident that Ben Johnson isnt loyal to anyone on the team right now - and thats a good thing. No matter whether you were great last year or terrible, you have this chance to prove it on the grass and be part of this. But I have no patience for the BS - we have a chance to be great, let's not trade that for coddling players who "just need more time come on guys lets give them another chance" etc yuck

yes, excellent stuff. the Ditka Bears werent really built to win shootouts. Its also why you can get to a point as a team where you can reliably beat the bottom 25 teams, but then youre in the elite level along with other teams that are good too - and sometimes one of those teams is just better than you. That's when you leanr you have to dig down and find something more you didnt think you had to give. ANd thats the point where Champions are made. I think about the Bulls having to get past the Pistons. They just couldnt - until they finally became killers. I feel like it's likely this is the year we get good, but we will learn we need to become killers. And this is why so many of us are not impressed by incremental improvement. I dont want to be excited that we become pretty good with a roster thats giving everything. I dont rejoice at 5th round picks that play like 3rd round picks. Im not looking to go 10-7 every year. I want to be f*cking killers. I want to be dominant - so my bar is higher. But i promise you Ben Johnson feels the same way. So some may root for the mediocre players to stick around and try harder, but i want killiers. Either become one, or get out of the way for someone who can. Feel good home town rah rah stuff is for losing teams and super fans. Lets GO.

I tend to agree on paper. To those who say i am only pessimistic, I would offer that not knowing until you get on grass goes both ways. This team; roster and coaches - if it works out like it could, might be a formidable team in December. I wont say they cant possibly win a Superbowl this year or go to one, but the more reasonable and likely goal is a playoff berth. I remember the 1984 team destroying opponents, and then getting totally outclassed by the 49ers in the championship game. I could imagine something similar for us this year - having an easier time than we've seen in a long time with the bottom half ot eh league, but still needing to learn hard lessons when they encounter truly great teams. ANd that's a good goal for this year - to learn what it actually takes to win big games. And of course they could be worse than they look on paper too. But there is definitely reason for optimism this year, and I cant wait to see it on grass so we can see what it is we really have here. I'm just put off by all the talking heads telling us what they think are facts at this time of year. Some say Caleb is a bust, some say we are ready to dominate - all are making claims for clicks, because no one knows right now, and anyone who says they do, is selling snake oil. Plenty of reason for hope, but not too many facts are known at this time.

THe reason I keep saying wait to see it in pads, is that we've made all the moves on paper, and now we have to see if they are what we hope they are. Once we can evaluate everyone, then is the next opportunity to look at free agents and trades. This is true for every team every year. Around this time of year it gets quiet, and then during or after camp, it heats up again, and that makes good sense. So it would be foolish to say that we are riding with Swift as HB1, or that we are happy with our pass rush, or that we are keeping everyone. Albert Breer just said this, and it tracks right along with how teams operate at this time of year. Not just the Bears in 2025, but all of them every year. "They'll get a look at D'andre Swift and Roschon Johnson at running back, and Montez Sweat and Dayo Odeyingbo (who plays some inside on passing downs) on the edges when the pads go on, and then maybe consider guys such as Jamaal Williams at running back or Za'darius Smith or Matthew Judon as edge rushers" It makes sense and it's logical, and we see it every year. Also during this period of time the hype machine is all that can get eyeballs, so we hear a lot about how good players are going to be in new situations, but until you see it on the grass, it's not real. Take Nate Davis for example. His film was great, and his measurables were too - but we heard rumors about his heart not being in it. Blog boys would tell you that the Bears OL was SET, but when we saw it on the grass last year, it was anything but. We will know more about who we really have in August, and then changes come with the next trade window and cut days.

here, maybe this helps, since its a sportswriter and not someone this board, since that seems to make a difference? https://sports.yahoo.com/article/jets-reporter-says-bears-steelers-201302283.html its written down! now it must be true!

just as I thought - you got sucked into some ridiculous video where the creators did it for clicks. Use your OWN brain man! Watch some film! Dont let them convince you the Emperor is wearing fine clothes! Anyone simply watching the games can see that Fields is awful. THe only way to come to the conclusion that Fields is good is to turn over control of your own opinions to sports commentators that are trying to generate clicks.

LOL every team passed on Fields when he was available for trade until we took a 6th rounder for him LOL Then the Steelers got to know him, tried to teach him. The result? They got rid of him. He was accepted by the Jets, notoriously known for their terrible QB evaluations. He will sell tickets and jerseys to people like you who dont understand how ineffective he is as an NFL QB. And he will help them lose games so they can replace him with a high pick rookie next year. Will they bench him in my scenario? Hell no! Fields will help them rack up the losses to get that higher pick. The Arch Manning sweepstakes. And after that, will any team want Fields as a starter? Nope. Know why? Because he sucks. The question here is how the hell you get so attached that you cant see the obvious truth that the entire league sees. I assume you think Eberflus will be a great head coach some day too. Its truly astounding. I dont understand why you arent embarrassed.

Well wins is one thing, the offense humming is another, and Calebs growth yet another. I think we could win games like vs McCarthy without having our shit together. And I think we could lose to the Eagles even if we are playing well. So getting wins is one thing. But the offense gelling and Caleb looking calm and in rhythm will be the name of the game. I totally agree with what you guys have said, that if anyone ever had the pieces in place to grow, it's Williams on this team. There is every reason, barring injuries, to expect more than average from this group this year. it might take a minute to truly get into rhythm, and we may even win some games and still not be in rhythm. But that's what this year is for as much as anything - to become a top 10 offense, and do it consistently, down to down, game to game. Id like to see that consistency for the second half of the season, and I wanna see spurts of it int he first four weeks that become gradually more sustained. if we can accomplish that goal this year, then the real championship window opens next year. Not that we cant possibly gel early this year and make a run, but the likely schedule looks like that to me.