DABEARSDABOMB

Well said

I like fields a lot as an individual - but I don’t see any stat that would say he is a franchise guy. Does he have tools - sure, but this was a bad d and he could have done more. They won though and I am happy for him for that. I do like that throw he just made to ice the game to Moore. His wideouts had an awful game today. Moore due to injuries probably, no one else did a damn thing. Kmet and Herbert were good

Getsy is bad. I almost want them to just lose this to put any excuse out the door. Sad that I am thinking that.

From the Poles perspective - after year 1, I erred on patience, now almost through the 2nd year - I am getting excited. When I think about what he's done in the 2 years: The positive: Brought in 10 new starters - bulk of which are young and ascending (Via Draft = Gordon / Brisker / Braxton Jones / Wright / Sanborn / Stevenson / Dexter; Via Free Agency or Trade = TJ Edwards / Montez Sweat / Edmunds). These were +10 in terms of new starters; The only guys headed out that were impactful were Mack & Roquan. So in my mind +8 in terms of net roster upgrades. - Acquired DJ Moore & Extra Top 3 Pick (+ Future 2nd Rounder) - Turned Khalil Mack into Jaquan Brisker (plus helped future cap space) - Turned Roquan Smith into Edmunds, Edwards, and Dexter (who is starting to trend up) - '22 Draft: No first round pick - but found 3 starters - Gordon, Brisker, and Braxton Jones; Identified 4th starter via UDFA (Jack Sanborn). Hicks & Carter emerging at very least as quality depth pieces. Trenton Gill is a starting punter - but I am not going to focus much on that. - '23 Draft: On track for 3 starters with all 3 currently ascending: Wright (Looking good), Stevenson (Ascending), Dexter (Ascending). Later round picks show potential to emerge as contributors (Scott / Roschon Johnson / Pickens / Terrell Smith). Meh: - Ed Davis signing (flashes of good - but family stuff and injuries have impacted ability to assess on field performance) - A number of FA dline signings (all have been pretty meh to date) - Traded Robert Quinn for Terrell Smith - I saw meh because it was a solid move, Smith shows upside for a 5th rounder - so if that hits - than we are in business. But concept was still good - move aging player who didn't fit the contention window for an asset. Misses: - Velus Jones (if you can call a pick that late a miss) - Chase Claypool - Lucas Patrick / '23 Center Fiasco - Had some misses on short-term deals in free agency, especially in year 1; But nothing that set the franchise back.

If we took Pickens - I think he would have quit on anyone. Jalen, I don't know - I am going to guess he would have been fine. I get the sense that the players respect Flus. I do think Poles has done a good job in terms of how he has built the lockeroom as well.

We really do need to find stability, because constant turnover makes LT success so hard. When you change schemes / systems / front offices - you end up turning over the roster more and essentially punting on talent. You do it multiple times and it is multiple resets - so getting it right becomes so much harder cause you are constantly starting in a hole. Sometimes I wonder - is the actual answer forward that teams should be MORE patient vs. less (the recent trend has been less) when it comes to coaches, especially first time coaches. Just because they don't win out of the gate - doesn't mean they are a bad coach. How is the underlying process they are following working or not working. With that said - all of it gets hard - because culture is so impacted by win(s) and loss(es). The more you looser - the harder over time to maintain it. By all accounts - the Bears have a pretty good lockeroom, despite the losses. This may benefit from them being such a young team - so guys just get along and hang out a bit more than if you were a more veteran laden team. But it seems evident by all the quotes from players - the team generally seems to get along well and you have guys wanting to be here. Now if you can't keep momentum forward - that will change. If next year this team post a losing record under Flus - I think at that point - the players would be turning. If they keep improving though - than you actually start to have a culture and identity.

If Fields stays - I could see a scenario where Flus is here and Getsy goes. I know people have said - why would anyone take that job. I go back to - this is not taking an OC job where you are working with an unskilled QB or a QB who has attitude issues. You are also taking a job on a team that actually has talent and weapon(s). So if you are able to step in and turn momentum favorable - the ability for that OC to go onto bigger and better things is huge. For example - Bienemy comes here and Fields makes instant growth - that is huge for him. I'm not saying the list of potential OC candidates will be LONG - but I think for an OC looking to make a jump to a HC rank - than there would be some intrigue to this OC job. Now if you are an OC looking to make a name as an OC - might be harder to find that person unless it is through a strong connection. Because why not align yourself to one of the many open positions where you likely have a few years.

Very true.

Here is a wildcard - lets assume Bienemy doesn't get a HC gig. Washington moves on from him. Poles has a connection via the KC tie - if Bears stick with Fields - I could see a scenario where Flus and Bienemy connect. To me that is probably my ideal partnership if we stick with Fields. If we move on - than I'm all in on Harbaugh if they can. What do I care if the Bears have to pay him 20M - not my money LOL. He's best coach on the potential market. To be honest - I'd also be okay with Bill B (as much as I think he's overrated) and Mike Tomlin if they were available too. I'd go Tomlin over Bill. The reason I say Bill - I think he is going to be extremely motivated if Pats move on from him and probably a change of scenery will refresh him a ton.

I don't think I support keeping coaching staff and dropping a new QB. The one thing I will say - I think the HC more than anything has to be a leader. The HC isn't about being the scheme guy - he has to be the guy that galvanizes the unit together and has the coaches on the same page, etc. Ideally they bring a scheme to it - but the most important trait to success for an HC is leadership (it is why so many bright OC / DC's fail as HC's). Eberflus as a leader - actually seems pretty decent. His team plays hard and his player(s) seem to like him. But If we draft a QB - we can't be a year from now going, oh god, the coach isnt' right and be making that change, so if you trade Fields and draft a QB - you need to reset the coach clock to align with the QB clock.

Guys - please end it. Put each other on ignore. You both are good posters but clearly need a break from each other.

Brees got hurt after year 5 - they drafted Rivers after year 3.

This isn't exactly on topic - but as I wrote my post yesterday talking about where top QB's came going back to Brady's draft - one of my examples was Drew Brees (2nd rounder - but 2nd pick). What hit me was, Drew Brees is unique in many ways - because he is also a QB who in his first 3 years was NOT good (just go back and look at his stats) but who really exploded in his 4th year (happens to be the year they had the #1 overall pick by the way and moved down because Eli didn't want to go there and they than drafted Rivers who basically sat for 2 years before becoming the starter). So that made me think - Brees is an example of a guy who didn't actually click in year 4. He is also an example of a situation, where the team, in this case the Chargers, had the #1 overall pick in the season Brees was entering year 4. Chargers decided Brees wasn't there guy, drafted Rivers, Brees took off in year 4 (played well again in year 5 - but did suffer a serious arm injury at end of year 5 - which led to him leaving for Saints). Whether Rivers being there pressured Brees to take off or Brees just needed an extra year, but this is a guy in Brees who was as dominant of a pocket passer as the college game had seen who took 4 years to make that jump (and obviously once he was paired with Sean Payton he accelerated that jump). I get that Brees & Fields are totally different players - but when we say we haven't seen guys break out - this is a clear example of that situation and a nearly identical situation in terms of Charges having #1 pick (hopefully Bears end up with #1 pick).

I don’t get it - this video is the opposite of Fields. Caleb steps up and delivers in tight pockets and his ad lib is consistent about having his eyes down field to pass. He runs to pass - Fields runs more to run or for a play to breakdown. Caleb also has tons of footage throwing to the middle of the field and all other parts. He throws slants on the money etc. Only similarity is when a play breaks down he is elusive but his pocket presence and ability to move through reads is night and day in his college film vs Williams. Shit I get even more excited when I watch this.

This is true - I am very fearful of Bears falling out of top spot because I do think that changes the paradigm quite a bit. I think there is a HUGE difference between Caleb and the field. That doesn't mean the field doesn't end up being better - but I think the eval on Williams is a heck of a lot cleaner.

I'll be clear - if the Bears currently had Herbert, Tua, and Stroud right now - I would not be advocating to pick a QB. If they had Murray tied to that contract - I probably also wouldn't be advocating for a QB (and especially if it was Murray after his first 2-3 years - I would not have been advocating). Lawrence - I'm in the same boat - he has a far better record than Fields. I'm not saying he is a no doubt elite QB - but all of those guys on the list have shown a heck of a lot more than Fields (at their respective points in their career). Similar - you threw out Watson in a previous post - I can question many things about Watson now - but his first 3-4 years, yeah, I wouldn't be even thinking about drafting a QB at #1 with him on board. Tua is the one after 3 years I would have moved on and I would have been wrong (technically).

Sign me up.

Having top pick 2 years in a row shouldn't be a consideration. The real question is - we have a top 2 pick and can't punt on if we think we have a need for QB. If we need a QB because we don't think our QB is a difference maker and one is available - than it is a no brainer. Point blank that is really the only question / consideration at end. I will also go on record that the concept of - just draft one of the other QB's in a later round - is just a rubbish strategy. Oh I'll just get one in the 2nd round. Now that strategy might work - but it really can't be considered a strategy, its more getting lucky that every other team missed their eval and you were right. The reality is - going back the last 20 years - this is who has differentiated as a QB outside of the 1st round (obviously the GOAT is on that list). Other than that since 2000 - I think I have pretty much everyone covered...so 23 years and the below is about all there is. The inverse means - a heck of a lot of the better QBs were drafted in the 1st (by the way - plenty busted too). So point blank - the question has to be - do you think Fields is the guy. If the answer is yes - than you aren't drafting a QB at 1. If the answer is No (or you have material question(s), than you have to look at this class. If when you assess this class - there is a guy in this class that differentiates himself and you think is special - than you select him at 1. You don't get cute - you draft him at 1. If your answer is no - than by all means, stick with Fields and take a flyer on a later round pick (but do so knowing that is purely a developmental play not a strategy for finding your QB). Below is my list of what I believe to be difference makers taken after 1st round. Initial focus was on 3rd round and later and than I segregated 2nd round slightly different (because in some cases I think some added context is relevant around why they went in the 2nd - such as Brees was 2nd rounder, but also 2nd QB to go off the board (behind Vick); Hurts was 2nd rounder - but he followed an extremely deep class of 1st rounders). 3rd Round and Lower: Russel Wilson Brock Purdy Tom Brady 2nd Round: Drew Brees (2nd QB taken though behind Vick) Jalen Hurts (5th QB taken in a ridiculously strong QB class - Burrow / Tua / Herbert / Love went before him) Almost List: Derek Carr (2nd Rounder) - Doesn't deserve to be on the list above. Kurt Cousins (4th Rounder) - Again - I don't think he belongs on the list with the guys above (to be frank Brock Purdy may eventually fall of the list too - but thus far he warrants being included). Note: I do think a good strategy is to contiously draft QB's in the later rounds - but not as a strategy to solve your existing QB problem - do it to create depth and competition and create enough odds where you might find your NEXT QB by doing that (I kind of think of it more in terms of future proofing your LT viability).

Rodgers is going to be playing - so I don’t know that it would happen that way but would be great for Pats and Cardinals to each get another win.

I think Poles signed a 6 year deal so technically any HC he hires is basically aligned to Poles (he doesn’t get a 3rd hire unless the 2nd is a home run and wildly successful).

If Bears have the number 1 pick - than I think this is the best opening in football along with maybe the Chargers, but their ownership is a disaster (not saying Mccaskeys are great but compared to Spanos family they are amazing).

If we take a qb - I’m not pretending I can outthink everyone, I am restarting the coaching clock and I am taking Caleb Williams. Don’t get cute. Sure he could bust but he has elite arm talent, good athleticism and has played 2.5 years of high end football and put up unworldly numbers. He can make all the throws and ad libs and didn’t have the type of talent these sec juggernauts have had. Now Panthers better not ruin it. I could tell you I like JJ McCarthy too - but damn it I’m just taking Caleb at one, draft an olineman at the other pick (or Brockers) and drop a bucket on Tee Higgins. I’m setting up my next qb to be a legit badass. Find a center later and than draft defense and a later round wideout.

And I should be clear - at this point - I’ll let another team try it, cause I have a top pick and can take a chance and see if someone else can, cause our guy can’t. I wish he could and I truly hope he figures it out.

In fairness Getsys offense doesn’t maximize and scheme him to leverage that strength. I go back to - Fields would be at his best - running 10 times a game - designed runs, read option, etc and have him throw 20-25, and have your backs rushing it another 20-25 times. Lots of motion - physical play - stretch field and almost all play action when you do throw it (big play passes to keep spacing) and just basically be a physical Ravens like attack. Play field position and have strong defense. Protect football.

If he made a decent block earlier we aren’t even talking about it. Mooney just hasn’t been the same this year. Part of that is Fields just seems off hitting him - part of that is he probably has been impacted by not having a healthy offseason. Or worse the injury he suffered last season took away his special trait his elite quickness and now he just isn’t the same guy.