AZ54

At this point regardless how the season goes the fact we have a QB who has entered the MVP discussion feels like a small miracle.

A little edit to my earlier comment. It seems that latest video is from a DB coach not Dr Moe. That indicates Kyler is working with a variety of people to help him get back. I think that’s a good thing. At this time he’s not allowed to practice with the Bears but clearly he is already doing DB drills. His practice window with the team can open as soon as next week. The earliest he can play is week 5. Cautiously optimistic.

I’ll wait until I see him doing that on an NFL practice field with his team and not on some kids soccer field. If he’s that capable it’s hard to understand why he can’t do that with his team.

https://bearswire.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/bears/2026/09/19/bears-caleb-williams-mvp-campaign-tom-brady/91812317007/

I'm just going to preserve this and track this thread as we go through the year.

I'll be very curious to see what they do on defense because right now I feel like Caleb and Ben have an answer for anything they want to try. If they stack the middle for both pressure and to stop the run, we can seal the edge well with any of our TEs and run off that. I listened to a couple interviews with Pete Bercich and his recommendation is just that: Stack the middle, put someone right on the nose, and then work the A gaps off Bradbury. Or pass off that with quick outlet passes on WR screens. Harrison Smith is back but he's on a snap count for age related reasons. Behind him it appears both safeties are bit suspect in their tackling and coverage abilities. Overall Bercich expressed a lot of concern about the number of weapons the Bears have, the running game and was complimentary of Swift and Monangai. On a side note: Caleb has received a lot of criticism for a couple plays and Bercich echoes those same sentiments implying they can take advantage of them. The first play early in the game where Raymond came open late around the hash marks but Caleb had bailed the pocket and then threw the deep ball to Rome for that amazing catch. Bradbury was getting beat at that time and a DT had a straight shot at Caleb. This is exactly what Bercich is suggesting the Vikings exploit. FWIW I agree, Bradbury is our worst Olineman, even more of a problem than Jones at LT. While the mis-read is correct, the counterpoint is you still have to contain Caleb outside the pocket. The other criticism so many have highlighted is where he missed Loveland on a crosser late in the game and threw the checkdown the Monangai. I simply don't care if Caleb checks down multiple times and we keep getting 20-25 yard gains. Except we all know that sooner or later he will hit Loveland on that over route for the 25-30 yard gain.

I’d feel better with Muhammed outside instead of Tyrique.

The Oline Committee. Warning this has grown man language all over the place.

Adam you can merge this into your game thread tomorrow or whatever you see fit. I just wanted to get this posted while I had it The video should play the rest of the post will be locked down. It shows how the Vikings work their inside pressure against the center Vikings Double Mug Cross-Dog Sim Pressure MechanicsManipulating Spread Pass Protections with Center Picks and Cage Rushes

We still have a lot of new players on offense. It’s a long season there will be time to work that stuff in. For now they need to focus on executing the game plan. I don’t want to see Caleb check to a play only to have everyone start asking what is the check.

What’s getting in their head is a habit of losing games when they have a lead in the 4th quarter.

I sometimes revel in other people’s misery. On Packers wire is an article about how horrendous their Oline is and how bad their game plan was against Minnesota. It’s also easy to find articles and videos talking about firing the Panthers DC. I’m ready for week 2

I agree. The only positive that comes out of that is that for the rest of the year whenever we line up on 4th and short the defense knows it’s likely for real. We now have a QB with a good hard count so we should get some free first downs as the season plays out.

I’d tell you to be prepared for the cold weather. Then again I’m from AZ and you’re Alaskan perspective might be that it’s hot.

That cheap shot on Kyler Murray’s head should merit a suspension

I’m going to be celebrating all week after this. No NFL team is perfect and that’s nearly impossible to build in the modern era. Win the way your team is built to win. Seattle did it last year with focus on defense. Bears fans (myself included) are always focused on defense. After 5 decades enjoying wins with scores like 20-17, I will be bragging at work all week in having a Bears team that can score more than 50pts in a game. Building the offense has been the focus for the last 3 drafts and this is one heck of a payoff. See where our team is at mid-season and then maybe swing a trade for a guy like Crosby if he’s still healthy. That gives the rookies time to learn. The entire NFL is on notice.

Jahdae deserves a game ball. He’s everywhere from special teams plays to big blocks on running plays to TDs.

I was thinking the same

He’s an old man. He’s lost that quick twitch. Hopefully getting more game reps he gets some of it back. These running plays behind Darnell Wright. I’m just going to call him I-58 because he’s opening up a highway.

Ben!

Dayo still sucks. Not sure why he’s getting so much time inside on 3rd and long but he’s useless. Likely concerned about the rookie having bad eyes but at least VDB will get upfield. Let him learn.

Early returns. Dline is much better or their oline is bad. Likely a combo of both. Thieneman is a stud.

Hard to say with the active roster because we have so many DTs and Oline. Kaden adds more to special teams. So Rome might be fine

Strategy time. Seeing the Panthers give Jaelan Phillips $120mil after a 5 sack season certainly makes me feel better about Dayo's contract. They have a good DT in Derek Brown and they run a 3-4 front. They will be starting rookie Lee Hunter, one of the pundits draft targets for the Bears at DT. They have some good DBs but that LB group seems like the place to attack. Between Phillips and the other starting OLB Patrick Jones II they don't have much pass rush off the edge. Trevis Gipson (remember him) is a backup and his best year statistically was as a Bear in 2021. At ILB they signed Devin Lloyd and he's good but next to him starting is Bobby Okereke who just signed the last week of training camp. I'm thinking we're going to attack the edge of the defense on runs and kick those OLBs out with a TE or pulling OG. None of these OLBs seem like they are the athletic type to be any good in coverage either. If we run the DBs off by sending someone deep then who fills in that intermediate gap on the sidelines 10-20 yards downfield? Loveland destroyed the Packers in the playoffs in that exact location on numerous plays. I don't have a strategy for the defense other than hoping they can stop the run. Then Jordan VDB can get in Bryce Young's face on 3rd and long.

Cheap: Based on AAV this puts him 14th in the NFL among RBs this year. But he's a year early in signing so of course that doesn't include any inflation in RB salaries next offseason. Players like Rhamondre Stevenson of the Patriots, who has only exceeded 1000 yards once, makes $9mil/yr. Just below that tier sits players like Chubba Hubbard, who we get to see tomorrow, and Montgomery both making around $8mil/yr. Before next season starts and this contract extension kicks in he's likely going to have a top 15-20 RB salary. IMO that fits very well for a mid-tier starting RB. For reference Kenneth Walker III, who is pretty much in the same category statistically, just signed for $14mil/yr in FA. Except I think Swift is a better receiver. https://overthecap.com/position/running-back