Alaskan Grizzly

Yet...here we are watching him (Watson) play in the second round of the playoffs. Against Mahomes. Both of which were picked after Trubisky.

And now they’re about to go ahead just before the half. If the Bears would been down 24 that would be the losing score. It’s good we have a GM that is a former scout and knows how to mine good players from D2 like Cohen, Jordan Morgan and Shaheen. And trade for solid Franchise players like Trubiksy.

Being a former Navy man, I salute you. Yeah, imagine if we’d have been stuck with Mahomes or Watson where we’d be today.

I see Kyle was chosen as a Pro Bowl alternate. Good for him. Still good to see Bear representation. https://www.chicagobears.com/news/kyle-fuller-added-to-nfc-pro-bowl-roster

Well first off Bill, keep the questions and comments coming. That's the nice thing about the site, "Talking" about Bears football is in the title. Wrong, right or indifferent we're all entitled an opinion. Lord knows I've had plenty of opportunities to shut it ... and I haven't. I won't pretend to be a football expert nor do I really know what the differences between Pagano and Fangio's style of defense. So far what I do know is that both are good at what they do. Sure they do things a little different but they get results. I think it safe to say that with the loss of Amos we saw how nice his style of SS play complimented Jackson at FS. Versus how does HHCD. HHCD is very similar in his style of play where he's more a sideline to sideline cover safety versus 'in the box' tacking type like Amos. Jackson is more like HHCD ... AND... they're both not great at tackling. Jackson has the edge of takeaway-ability over HHCD. Generally speaking in a man-man style defense you like to have the hard-hitting SS to help in run support or short/intermediate pass coverage where they can stop the play in an instant. Whereas in a zone alignment you might need more safety coverage over the top to aid in that coverage (something that isn't really Amos' forte). Having one of each style of player (rangy ball hawking FS and solid thumping SS) for all four downs makes it easier for the defense to adjust to whatever down situation they're facing. With two Safeties like Jackson and HHCD playing together, you leave the short and middle a bit more open.

Speaking of Kyle, his brother Corey (currently a CB with KC) will become an UFA this coming season. Any interest in him? I ask only because I saw somewhere else that question being asked. From the little I understand about contracts I don’t think he’d be a big money burden but looks to be a good depth player? Maybe if Tolliver, Shelly or potential draft pick were not to work out?

That's the case many here have been making, especially when Nagy thought he needed to pass more than he did (like in the first game against GB). Unfortunately the team didn't have the personnel (on the oline) to support a better run game or change of pace with the passing game to rely on it more.

What is his "normal play level"? Can't say that I would agree if you go with the 'body of work' from his three seasons as a Pro and one season as a college level starter. Unless you qualify it by saying his 'normal play level...the last 3-4 games of the season. Even then he wasn't completely solid, just better than his 'normal'. I think it safe to say that all the teams came in ready to play for the Wildcard weekend. That's to include all the players they had on both offense and defense. Poor Philadelphia came in with half their starters on the bench then lost Wentz a few plays into the game. Even with all this Philadelphia was still in it until the very end with an injured McCown at QB.

Got no real issue with it. Sure he dropped a little in production but I don’t think he looked any worse. I can’t remember any plays where I saw him get burnt. Ive seen a few others comment that he would be better served complimented by a true SS. HHCD seems more similar than not and not as good a tackler as I’d hoped. Im guessing this was also done to help the team somehow with its salary cap while it prepares to look for new players elsewhere. Or did it just eat up all that cap space Fullers restructure made yesterday?

Speaking of speculation; saw someone suggest Zach Miller could be a good TE coach. They are without one currently right?

Alex Smith was a running QB? I don’t recall that ever being a huge piece of his game. But if Teddy Bridgewater can return from the “gruesome” leg injury he had then possibly so too could Smith. Yeah I’m not sure on the contract piece other than the speculation of it not costing a lot for the Bears to absorb. I think one scenario I saw had them trading Smith for Trubisky. And as much as I like Rivera, I have to believe Dan Snyder is the same as Jerry Jones in that what he says goes. Wasn’t there something about former Skins coach Gruden not wanting to draft Haskins? If Snyder wants Haskins as the starter then he will. And besides that, isn’t it possible Haskins reminds Rivera of a young Newton? What’s to say he doesn’t try to make a deal for Newton to Washington as a mentor to Haskins? Sure a lot of speculation but that’s what the off-season is all about.

Saw on another site a guy wondering if Alex Smith might not be a bad option to bring in for next year? Says his contract isn’t too awfully bad and would be something the Bears could absorb . Might be the perfect option as a veteran challenger to Trubiksy given his understanding of the system. That is provided his leg is healed. There are a few articles on it too. https://heavy.com/sports/2019/12/chicago-bears-alex-smith-2020/ https://www.bleachernation.com/bears/2019/12/30/if-perfectly-healthy-alex-smith-is-a-fantastic-short-term-fit-for-the-bears/

Seems like a decent move on his part. Helps the team loosen up $6 million. https://www.12up.com/posts/bears-restructuring-kyle-fuller-s-contract-to-free-up-cap-space-01dxkh9njr7s

https://www.windycitygridiron.com/2020/1/1/21045849/chicago-bears-hire-juan-castillo-as-offensive-line-coach-news-nfl-harry-hiestand

I know it’s not Bears football but I’m a fan of Fangios and my sister lives near so... At any rate, saw this video and noticed Vic has his own “boom” type of speech. Wonder if it was Nagy that taught him that or the other way around? And gotta love his opening line.

Look no further than game one against the Pack when Chicago called 45 pass plays to something like 15 runs to know who was doing what early on.

Understood and I was aware . But overall performance being measured here it was apparent that Callahan probably would prove out better overall. I wouldn’t think of trying to replace Hicks’ or Trevathan’s talent simply because they were put on IR.

Just thinking out loud here; but how does QB Coach Dave Ragone figure in all this? Because I was curious and occasionally do some actual ‘research’ I found he was the only offensive carry over from the Fox era. And was credited for Trubiksy’s partial success last year. So shouldn’t he be partly to blame for Trubiksy’s regression as well? Or perhaps more appropriately, his stagnation? It seems odd that Heistand and Helfrich were canned for their ‘failures’ so too should Ragone. Or maybe they’re planning on keeping him for next year in case they need another patsy?

Was just reading the news about Helfrich. IMHO he is the fall guy or patsy for Nagy and by some extension Pace. We all know Pace can not afford to admit Trubisky isn’t what he hoped he’d be. And because he hired Nagy to groom Trubisky (and failed so far), they’re all interconnected. Canning Helfrich buys them all more time. And that’s because they think none of us are paying attention or at least hope we aren’t. You can’t tell me that Nagy didn’t call and orchestrate most of the offensive play calling this year. But another year of 8-8 and subpar offensive performance will put them all on the block. PS...I’m personally glad to see Pagano is safe...for now.

Yeah to consider they only dropped a few spots overall with some of the losses throughout the season and before the season, Pagano did pretty well. Hindsight being what it is, the loss of both Amos and Callahan were bigger than originally thought. There were some key games where the defense seemed like they were out there A LOT longer than they should have been and looked gassed because of it. The Denver and Oakland games immediately come to mind. The offense was abysmal or at least ranked near the bottom in almost all categories making the defense have to over perform. You can’t win games like that, no matter how ‘easy’ or difficult your schedule is.

I see what you’re up to. Lol!!! This talk of using Patterson more than just as a gimmicky/Kick Returner makes sense. In a few ‘traditional’ designed plays so far this year alone he managed to get a significant amount of yardage. A few weeks ago against Dallas(?) and then yesterday against Minn. For a big (and older) dude he’s amazingly agile..and fast. Reminds me some of former WR converted to RB Ty Montgomery. He was used with success in GB, so too could Patterson.

So two things; shouldn’t they referred to LAV (or whatever they’re new code will be)? And is there a possibility that Carr will leave Oakland? Would it be a trade scenario? If so, maybe a deal including the return of Mack to the Vegas Raiders? I love the guy but personally see more a need at QB than at his position.

Like the way you think. I know he’s struggled in Michigan but maybe Harbaugh in Chicago would do wonders for the team. Sorta like bringing a newer version of Ditka back. And is Denver doesn’t do better next year Fangio could be looking for a new job. Imagine Harbaugh and Fangio on the same coaching staff...again? ... hmmm. If only there were a way to get Burrow.

Yes there were some good things to see in the game, but most of those positives had to be taken with a grain of salt. First, and this can’t be emphasized enough our starting team played their scout team; on both offense and defense. The score for the first half and part of the 3rd quarter reflected that although the play did not. I missed most of the fourth quarter but from the looks of things, our team very nearly gave up a 15(?) point lead to that same second string team. And the only way our team wins is due to some last minute heroics or was it their mistakes? Lots of things need fixing for next year. Anyone and everyone who returns next year will be on a VERY short leash. I’m looking at you Nagy, Pace and Trubisky.

Given the circumstances, the QB sneak on 4th down was the right thing to do until it wasn’t. The set up was lackadaisical and generally lazy looking. To me that is a coaching issue. The resulting TD from the Vikings was a gimme from Nagy. Defense has decided they’ve had enough and are checking out. Of course had the team been playing for anything next week, there’s no way they would have gone for it.