ASHKUM BEAR

I have mentioned Lewis a few times going back to the year he was drafted. This could be the year he shows up. If so, it would be a huge pickup by Poles. With the Rams, they had him in coverage more than rushing the passer. OTAs may be unpadded, but you can still standout.

My thoughts are all of these placeholders remain this year. The Bears should have a good balance to divy up touches to RB/WR that these records remain. I can see Moore around 1200 yds though and Fields around 3400 passing.

I do not remember much about CB DJ Moore. It made me dig because I remember sitting in the back room at a bar with the Bears back in Bourbonnais with Ricky Manning Jr. He was flirting with some of my friends and I was a little skeptical because he recently knocked someone out at a Dennys restaurant. The Bears signed him as a FA from Carolina. I have many memories from those days of sharing drinks and talks with many Bears. It was probably a good thing the smartphones were not very sophisticated back then.

Whitehair has played in 107 games. 60 at C, 43 at LG, and 3 RG. He made the probowl at C in 2018. He may be older, but he has to be wiser....let's hope. He knows the interior since he has played more snaps/games than most, 107 games is 28th most from a Bear, so I expect him to make the right reads and adjustments. The Bears should be able to run over teams and control the clock. If the Defense takes a few steps and create more turnovers, then the offense can take more risks and be exciting.

Jaylon Johnson also was in camp. Like the OL being upgraded, our D backfield will also be a strength with everyone healthy. Jaylon will be auditioning for a contract, so i expect him to be on another level this season. Seems like everyone is hungry to play, Kahil Herbert wants to be the guy, Trevis Gibson wants to be a sack artist, Claypool saying good things and wants to be a big part. It is the cheerleading part of the season when everything can be Rah-Rah! The oline with the revisions might be the most exciting though. Jenkins pairing with Braxton Jones and Davis with Wright and then captain Whitehair being the leader.

I would say the Bears are on the verge and talent wise the gap is closing. The key will start to come down to coaching but I think the Bears will be real competitors next year or 2024 season. They need a few more pieces to be in that seat but will show they are ready for it this year by having a winning record.

He is a regular guest on Parkins and Spiegel show and he seems like a good character guy. He has played well over the years and he usually has low targets, so the lack of INT happens with fewer opportunities. He will be there to do the mandatory workouts and be working hard for his payday. Most players shine on their contract years.

I think this says a lot about the progress. It takes chemistry to trust your receivers and Mooney and Kmet are really the only two that Fields has had time to build that with. Now he can build upon that with Moore and Claypool if he can stay healthy. The Bears need to be pass happy in the preseason to help establish this in different environments. We know the run game will be fine, so get them repetitions early.

Jaylon Johnson said he will be there for mandatory workouts. https://www.nbcsports.com/chicago/bears/jaylon-johnson-plans-be-bears-otas-next-week-after-early-absence

I think Billings alone will improve the DT position, Justin Jones and Armon Watts couldn't stop teams from running. The Bears were bottom in almost every run stopping category. Add Dexter/Pickens with Billings and the rotation should be worst case middle of the pack. They tinkered with the idea of moving Justin Jones to DE, so he might get some time outside this year too. When teams cannot run, it will give the DBs more opportunity to take the ball when they shift the game plan to pass more. Eberflus's D needs take aways to be potent and if we stop the run, opportunities for int will increase. They also have the money to bring in a pass rusher and Justin Houstin could be an addition to bring another vet to help bolster that until we can address it long term in the draft. On offense, Fields needs to process faster and if the additions the Bears made helps him there, they should take off. The Bears will not get national respect until they show up. Us diehards have the vision, but nationally there will be negative expectations and projections of being a bottom 5 team.

Other injured players are there but not participating, like Travis Homer and Sanborn. Chicago Media needs controversy to sell or get click and Johnson is due a big contract so he should be cautious. I am good with him doing what he needs to tale care of himself. If the Bears do not like him, someone else will.

It is not something a fan enjoys reading, but RG, Nate Davis was a no show too. Along with Eddie Jackson and Darnell Mooney. The media is only putting pressure on Jaylon, but I am just as concerned about the other guys. Some of these guys had injuries which might have a part in their decisions. They are all veterans and know in June mandatory ota's start. I will be more concerned if they do not show up for that.

The Defense has solid DBs/LBs. With longer and stronger DTs and creativity with blitz packages, I think we see vast improvement from the front 4 and a defense on the verge of being a feared unit. Flys made Shaq Pearson a great LB, think what he will do with Edmund's, Edward's, Sowell, and Sanborn.

Having him all off season will be a key to see where he fits and develops. Braxton Jones is a top 10 run blocker but mediocre pass blocker. If he cannot improve in that area, there are a couple great LTs in this draft if Jones, Leatherwood, or Borum cannot. As for Jenkins, I think he has grown. He struggled early grasping the position change but has been working hard this offseason to be better. He was the Bears best Olineman last year when healthy. I love his demeanor and he also is a nasty tone setter. I do not see the Bears looking to replace him with a high draft pick next year. Maybe a mid-late round flyer, but they have Carter and Eiselen. Center will be a position of need unless Kramer shows up since Whitehair/Patrick contracts expire.

I don't see a rookie QB without their top WR who we have (Moore). Their top RB, who we also have (Foreman), and their the sugar on top (1st Rd pick). Tampa and New Orleans both have better offensive talent. The Texans and Falcons both have better offensive talent also. I see Arz, LA Rams, and the Colts battling Car for the #1 pick. If Murray is healthy, Arz should be middle of the pack.

I cannot see any team moving out of the #1 for two firsts. If they end up at 1, they most likely need the QB. Our only hope is that Car is that team, but I am seeing projections they finish 2nd in their division.

I like that front and think Dexter as a 3T penetrating the pocket can be something he can excel in. He has the tools to play both and maybe his strength to take doubles better suits the team at the 1T in the future but he also has the athletic ability to attack and collapse a pocket. Early on, I thought Mazi Smith, DT Michigan, could be a guy similiar to Dexter, but he didn't do enough athletic tests to register a RAS score and was taken higher. I sure hope Dexter and Pickens play often and establish themselves early so we can cross 3T off and concentrate on the Edge.

Damn this was a moving video that hits you knowing the front office is going to do the right things. I cannot wait for the season to start and will be just as excited for the next draft.

We know the type of athlete the Bears look for. Length with high athletic measurable (RAS). A year before the draft, we didn't consider Wright for OT and he excelled more on that profile than other OTs, so someone will emerge. Come August, I will be looking for Bruce Feldmans freak list.

I figured that it was both, but the thought the Chiefs were scared feels better.

It is fun to travel and see many other Bear fans invading a city. I did Nashville on the covid year. KC would be a 6 hour drive, NO would most likely fly, but Bourbon St has been a destination I want to do anyways. Tampa would have been if it was later in the season. I'm trying to hit an away game a year while I'm capable.

Anyone see that KC was scared to play the Bears in Germany? It would be KCs home game and they feared there would be more Bear fans in attendance making it a difficult game to Win. Now they are playing the Dolphins on 11/5 in Germany. It worked out for me. I am either going to KC or NO for a vacation game.

I am not too worried about the defense just yet. I think they can add a DE if they feel the need and most likely look to get Clark or Ngakoue. The offense will take time to gel and then should be exciting. Fields might be handcuffed a little on his scrambles to help him develop his pocket presence.

Herbert has vision and a gear to get to the next level. I haven't studied Foreman to know, but when Herbert had his turns it was noticeable compared to Monty. It will be a better committee and with Moore in the mix, the safety might need to cushion a little bit.

I'm even seeing Roschon having big Fantasy value grading as RB2. Foreman and Herbert are not receiving RBs, each had 14 receptions last year. They will go RB by committee, but Johnson ends up with the larger share out of it. The writing is on the wall, Foreman on a one year is a great backup option, Herbert a change of pace, Roschon soon becomes a hot jersey seller wearing Mike Browns #30.