AZ54

I agreed with your assessment during the game. He never made it but I have to say I like the fact the league has moved away from overturning anything and everything and is leaning toward letting the call on the field stand unless it's totally conclusive.

Maybe one day I'll be motivated again to subscribe and get the All-22 tape. That's where you get to see the good and the bad. Today is not that day so I'll take your word here. The backups (DHC, Bush)are finally starting to play better but it took years to see them play like this. If I'm not mistaken they were doing a rotation with Gipson on the field part time against the Raiders. Maybe we ran some 3 safety schemes? If Jackson continues to struggle will they use this type of rotation with Bush/DHC taking snaps away from Jackson? At this point drafting a safety in Rd 2/3 is my plan this offseason. You are correct his contract for next year in untenable but the whole league knows that. We'd have to give away a pick or another player in a deal (no good options) to move him but I'd just as soon keep the pick to help find a replacement. snap counts against Raiders:

We really need to be giving Desai more credit for the way our D is performing. Each week they seem to get better perhaps minus Bo Jack. I say that just because game broadcasts don't show safety play that well but the obvious miscues on coverages are still there on his side of the field. Regardless, the overall view is that we went on the road and held the Raiders passing game to 206 yds, and nobody got over the top of the D. There was a 50/60yd drop late in the game that should be added in but whatever. We gave up no passing TDs which no other team has done this year to the Raiders. Overall that's a good day so I tend to think there is improvement in the secondary and Jackson is part of that. I also think he's being more physical, mostly around the LOS, so someone or something is getting to him. The first thing about making tackle is you have to want to do it. I don't think he wanted to tackle in the first couple games. I'm likely in the minority but I liked his play at the goal line where he stole the ball from the RB. If not for a few inches or 0.1 second that's a game day highlight. If he's getting back the emotion and desire to be a football player then the passes defensed and interceptions will show up in the 2nd half of the season. I think Desai is starting to bring back the swagger our D had years ago under Fangio.

I can't see the Giants doing anything for a concussion issue unless or until it becomes a serious 4-6 week ordeal. Nor are they a playoff caliber team that really wants to stay in the hunt thinking they can get healthy and make a big run in the post season. Any team short of that is probably ok with a higher draft pick. In any case I say we keep Dalton. He's got this offense down better than Foles and Fields needs that help on the sidelines. Damien Williams was asked about Fields going out and he said it without hesitation: No problem we know we got 14 coming in. Dalton got a first down for the team and then Fields went back out there.

100% agree. He's the leader of the defense and needs a new contract. It shows in his post game press conference. https://www.chicagobears.com/video/roquan-smith-on-20-9-victory-over-las-vegas-press-conference

I was assured they were the best drafting team in the NFL.

Bring on Jesper!

I agree with this. Nagy is not a bad guy just not a good OC. OTOH Meyer has lost his team: https://news.yahoo.com/jaguars-players-yelled-grind-huddle-145355492.html

Geno looked good subbing in for Wilson. Can't see them making any changes in the next couple weeks unless Geno returns to his old ways.

Thankfully my college grades couldn't go negative. Not that I didn't stress the system because after all, a man has to find his limits. Apparently there is still DVOA room at the bottom for Nagy to explore his.

I had forgotten the Dolphins came up to Chicago during training camp so aside from the usual film from his games, we got a close look at Grant in a couple days of practice against our team. Just another piece of the puzzle as they searched around the league for a returner.

I corrected point 2 for ya.

I have the same set of glasses, but not the same whiskey.

https://www.windycitygridiron.com/2021/10/6/22712938/chicago-bears-name-justin-fields-full-time-starting-quarterback-qb1-andy-dalton-breaking-news

CPat was great as a gunner on punt coverage. Don't think we're going to get that with Grant.

That may end up as the final tag line for him. I'm going to hope Pace, or maybe Nagy's wife talks some sense into him and tells him to shut up and enjoy being the Bears head coach.

Considering the first impression of this injury this is about the best possible news. Here's to hoping Williams and Herbert keep the torch lit so Monty can get fully healed up before he returns. With his running style I don't want him back on the field with anything less than full strength in that knee.

Surprising after we gave up 9 sacks to the Browns.

Roquan maybe but after watching the Chargers D against them I think the key is just get to the QB. We have a better pass rush than what the Chargers brought against Carr and yet they were able to get him off balance and missing some throws. Then it's just stop the run on the way to the QB.

Aside from Webster's issues I think keeping Herbert fresh for RB duties is a big part of this. I checked out Overthecap.com and it appears Grant just took a big pay cut from Miami and he's a FA after this season. You'd think it would have motivated him to perform well in Miami but maybe that negotiation left some hurt feelings. If he wants a new deal in 2022 anywhere now he needs to put it on film. We'll see what kind of energy he brings to the game this weekend. https://overthecap.com/player/jakeem-grant/4899/

https://www.nfl.com/news/bears-acquire-wr-jakeem-grant-in-trade-with-dolphins It appears we are done with Webster and in walk Jakeem Grant. Which version are we getting as the quote below from his old coach doesn't make me optimistic? This is relatively low risk as it's a 2023 6th Rd pick but the "get more draft picks" crowd won't be happy. His skill set mirrors Cohen's quite a bit, likely less shiftiness more long speed. I can't see us keeping both on the roster long term. https://www.thestar.com/sports/football/2021/10/05/ap-source-dolphins-send-jakeem-grant-to-bears-for-2023-pick.html “Obviously Jakeem struggled a bit. ... He’s been very productive for a number of years but struggled a bit (Sunday). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CT5NNDhBKDY

I have no problems with Lazor and Nagy using Kmet as a primary blocker. He should have done that in Cleveland. As Fields' game speed improves we'll be able to use Kmet more on routes but giving the rookie time to process the defense is job 1. Down the road this will be an advantage because the Raiders, or some future opponent, will be expecting more of the same from Kmet. He might chip block and then get into the flat uncovered a few times for big gains. We all know what is in the Nagy TE playbook from years past so it's just a matter of how quickly Fields is ready for more plays. Us Bears fans complain when there isn't success and we still find reasons to complain when there is success. We have no patience to develop players. Fields said he likes throwing to "Jasper" Horsted so I'm certain we're going to see some of that before this season is over.

I've been saying that Dalton can't get us a Superbowl this year so based on what I saw out of Fields in the preseason there really isn't a scenario, other than injury, where I didn't see Fields becoming our starter mid-season. We have $48mil to spend next year and a few years afterward to maximize the talent around Fields before his big contract. If you want a shot at the Superbowl in 2022 while Mack is still an effective player you need Fields to get experience this year. Of course Dalton is on a 1yr deal and Foles won't be around so there isn't much of an option behind Fields in 2022. Knowing that, the last thing anyone in the organization needs is to go into 2022 not knowing a thing about how Fields can play. If Fields fell apart sure bring back Dalton and let Fields learn again on the sidelines but Fields would be back out there the last couple games at least. For those same reasons if I'm Ryan "hot seat" Pace I'm demanding it at some point because I want to evaluate what Nagy can do with Fields to know if he's the right coach. There are no more QB excuses for Nagy and if he can't get this much QB talent, who played on the biggest stages in college, ready to perform at a basic level then we know where the problem is. Maybe Pace goes down at the end of the year too but he can't think like that. He still has to think long term in case he gets another year and if he does, will he need a new HC to ensure success with Fields? Knowing or at least believing he has his QB now, that would be Pace's likely path to a long career in Chicago. With those future considerations and your limited options of course I'm taking Field's and the 5 win scenario. FWIW I really don't care about Nagy stating Dalton is still our starter. If you listened closely to past press conferences he's already indicated, albeit subtly, if Fields is successful he'll stay out there. I wouldn't expect him to burn any bridges with Dalton until it is necessary. Nor do I want him telling opponents not to prepare for both QBs. They aren't stupid either. They saw the last game so nobody on the planet is expecting Dalton this week but there is no need to hand it to them on a silver platter.

um, not all men over 60.

Andy Reid had to let go of play calling too in order to save his career. Nagy would do well to learn from his mentor.