AZ54

If you build it they will come. This is now a coveted job. Expect the Bears to get the pick of the litter. They still have to make the right choice but there will be absolutely no excuses if Poles messes this up.

What is that for those who do not use Facebook?

Vrabel is very enticing. What he did in Tenn without a good QB was impressive at least to me who roots for a team that hasn’t had a good QB. He’ll build the trenches for sure.

In that context I'm ok with Brown as the interim but Caleb needs him upstairs in the booth doing what he's been doing. I don't know who calls plays now. If it's Brown then he'll be doing it from the sidelines which isn't likely to be as effective for him. This is going to be a big mess coming down the stretch.

I'm watching and keep thinking Jared Goff is still the same shaky QB under pressure that I saw in college, and LA for that matter. If you have a good Oline against a weak Dline just run. Shouldn't be hard to call those plays.

Caleb would light it up if we had Mike McDaniel. I feel confident Poles (should he remain) will be looking to bring in an offensive HC to pair with Caleb for the next 10 years. I like Vrabel too.

... and that failed 4th down attempt is Eberflus showing he knows his career is done in Chicago. Nothing to do now but wait for the official announcement.

I really believe there should be fireworks in Chicago to celebrate the arrival of a legitimate NFL QB to our beloved. Last year's games against the Vikings were both a complete @#$% show on offense. This year with a banged up Oline Caleb absolutely lit them up and it wasn't easy gains via blown coverages or missed tackles. Watching the breakdowns there's just throw after throw where I'd say there is no way I'd ever make that read .... but Caleb was right and he fit it into those tight windows. He's just on a different level. There is much angst about the coaches but we all know the harsh reality of the NFL where finding an elite QB is by far the most difficult thing to do. Coaches know what it is on film and, unlike 3 years ago, the good ones will be calling Chicago looking for work this year. Poles is getting some heat too, deservedly so, but IMO you simply don't dismiss the guy who got you the deal of the century in a trade and then followed it up with the first elite QB to play in Chicago in decades. A lot of energy, time, and focus went into the QB position over the last two seasons. That is out the window and now once the coaches are in place we just need to focus on IOL, IDL this year. I feel good.

There is nothing like watching a bunch of defeated men trying to coach or play football.

Hell no. Ride 'til I die. Bear Down!

Something is clearly wrong with this offense. Our defense is still playing well for the most part but missing some key players in the last few games does make a big difference. Billings being out the rest of the season with known depth issue on the defensive front is going to be a problem. Above all it is the offense issues that bother me the most. Shane Waldron seems to have played favorites and coddled to egos. He might not be a bad OC but he's also not a leader of men (sorry to borrow that phrase). When mistakes are made own it yourself and hold others accountable. Caleb Williams can't figure out how to consistently take the quick reads although he has done that at times with good success. He seems to favor Keenan Allen on critical downs. As talented as he is, he is also lost in his emotions and pouty on the sidelines. Keenan Allen and DJ Moore seem to hate each other. I remember reporters asking them how it was going to work out with so many mouths to feed. Now we know. Keenan Allen is too slow to get open in the NFL. He has some quickness in his cuts and his route running but against man coverage he's an easy cover. He still has value against zone coverages but there is no reason to consider signing him next year. DJ Moore seems to be banged up and it's slowing him down and affecting his game. When he's not struggling to move he's struggling to get his emotions in check. If he can't be a leader then see the next line... Rome Odunze was often not been running routes correctly, or at least not in the same manner Caleb is reading things. That's gotten better in recent games. He is the one WR who can consistently get open and IMO he should be getting more snaps than Allen, just make him the starter and feed him. He also threatens teams deep and forces some safety coverage his direction, more than Moore can right now. Does Waldron have the leadership needed to bench a guy in Allen who used to be one of the elites in the NFL? Cole Kmet. Use him and that includes Caleb who too often is not taking the easy reads with Kmet, or he's going that direction too late. Get him back in the game. Gerald Everett .... seems mostly useless. We should have kept Brendan Bates. Poles... he catered to Waldron with Homer, Everett, and brought in Keenan Allen. It all seemed to make sense coming into the season. The mix has been bad. He also helped hire Waldron. He also signed a cancer in Davis, who if he were the leader we intended to have on the interior we'd be in a much better spot. Oline... we have depth better than last year but not to the practice squad level. We're relying on players like Borom and Kramer (at LG) which is just a really bad place to be. None of that helps Caleb who is not a quick read QB. It killed us in the last game. I'm not an expert but it seems to me we've lost the ability to call screens, outside running plays with pulling players was also very limited or poorly executed.

Unless he needs that cap space and roster spot.

Lots of hand wringing over the coaches. I’m far more concerned Williams is a mental midget like Trubisky was and plays worse the brighter the lights are. FWIW Jayden Daniel’s didn’t impress me either as he looked lost on most of his drop backs too. Now in fairness I did miss about 1/2 the game off and on throughout the broadcast. Finding a good coach is easier than finding a good QB.

https://www.windycitygridiron.com/2024/10/26/24280287/bears-roster-moves-jacob-martin-and-travis-homer-activated-from-injured-reserve-tarvarius-moore

https://www.windycitygridiron.com/2024/10/25/24279514/jayden-daniels-caleb-williams-bill-belichick The problem with this static look at a passing chart is that it's not showing the trend lines. Early on I'd say this would work against Calen. After the last two games I'd love the Wash safeties to do what Ryan Clark says and stick between the numbers and play downhill. Caleb is doing a very good job reading the safeties.

I agree with playing Sanborn more if Daniels is out. If Daniels is in he's fast and you need more speed to spy on him.

It seems the most obvious roster changes would be bringing some players back from IR like Bates and Homer.

Roster spots have opened up but for who?

There was some f'n fire in there.

Elite NB we keep him but yes they are a concern. I suspect that’s true for any smaller player filling a hybrid LB CB role. Brisker is easier to replace in this defense as proven last week. That’s not to say he was as good as Brisker rather just that the scheme can survive with lesser talent at safety.

The balance here IMO is really the money. How much financial and roster commitment is reasonable for the downside risk vs. the upside risk? I don't think anybody would argue against giving Tev $3mil/yr. I think everyone would argue against giving him $15mil/yr. What I usually do not grasp well enough is market value.

I've reached the age where I know if everyone agrees with me then I know I'm likely the one who is wrong, and they're just going to enjoy watching me step in it.

You must mean Jonathan Allen who is on IR.

So far we haven't been able to bank on Jenkins for an entire season. However, I don't think he is at the top of our problems to focus on replacement right now. I'd be fine giving him a mid-level 2-3 year deal that gives us time to find his replacement. It's short enough that he'd be in his prime to seek another big money contract. If that turned out to be in Chicago because he's playing well that'd be ok too. Pre-season PFF had Jenkins ranked 16th overall among OGs. I don't pay for that stuff so I'm not sure where he grades out now. He had a rough start but lately he seems to be playing in that same range. Based on that and OTC valuations for LG that's somewhere between $8-10mil/yr. With the bonus being the deciding factor--- more bonus less $/yr.