DABEARSDABOMB

I was a big Simmons fan.

The downfall is it doesn’t sound like Wright is shining either.

The real wild card is at some point does Wright flip to LT and we see Trapillo at RT.

He also said Jones played excellent on Friday - his technique was great etc and than he was not that same player on Sunday - again - pushing buttons to drive a higher standard. Love it!

I think we should expect offensive growing pains. We could actually start 0-4 given the difficult schedule - in general we have a real tough schedule. Winning that Viking game is going to be pretty key cause schedule gets real tough real fast. But reality is - I want to see progress every quarter and a lot of flashes of awesomeness during 2nd half of the season and plenty of glimpses towards it in first half.

I just love the standard and tone this staff is pushing. They are an unforgiving coaching staff and really focused on raising the standard across the board - which was critical as Halas Hall has been soft and with too low of a standard for too long. This whole coaching staff seems to get it and they are keeping the bar high and forcing players to meet them at the high bar vs bringing the bar down to make the players feel good. The comments our Oline coach made today - very clear it is to push Wright to step it up and expect more. They are direct and clear. Same with Jones, Trapilo and others. On offense - Johnson clearly didn’t think his offense, including Caleb were ready to play last week - he’s sending a message that they need to get there and raise the standard. Put pressure on and keep pushing them higher.

Regarding special teams - I need to see the stats - but my eye test said Taylor’s punts were awful with no hang time in the first half. Haven’t watched 2nd half.

We have the LB, battle for 3rd vs 4th wideout, Lt, 2nd corner plus depth. But I think it is more the message and tone but also the way he reinforces the standard.

I saw a quote that BJ said starting jobs and positions are going to be heavily weighted by these upcoming joint practice. Way he said it kind of just continues with how he sets the tone that practice matters and details matters and message he sent on an off day was - you better show up with your best against Miami cause I’m making decisions on this stuff.

This was not the type of practice they should do all the time - but you also have to practice with real intensity and balance and I love the tone they are trying to set. And Biggs said since lovie all of the other major bear outlets said most physical and intense they had ever seen. Any way you slice it - this is a very different coaching staff and tone that is being taken. It also sounds like it was a pretty damn good practice with flash plays by offense and defense!

Ben Johnson is definitely different. He’s like no coach I’ve seen the Bears have in my lifetime. Every second I hear how he operates or see it - just gives me confidence. My only real struggle right now is Caleb not throwing guys open given he struggled a ton with it last year. I get that it is still new system and they are throwing a lot at him - but I want to see progress these next few weeks and then of course throughout the season. Im excited though for Ben - seems like the absolute real deal!

Offense struggled a ton. Lots of penalties and Caleb still struggling to throw guys open etc.

Yeah - he’ll never hit free agency with franchise tag etc but my problem is the combination of draft capital combined with cap space. If it was purely cap space cause you are getting him as a UFA - back up the truck and pay the man.

You are spot on

I thought this was a pretty good read. I have a lot of faith right now in Ben Johnson. I do hope we see some big days from Caleb though - but this really seems like they are trying to make practice harder for him than the games - which is great - really push him.

Every aspect of Johnson screams they found their coach. Right now my biggest question is whether Caleb is hungry and willing to put in work it takes to be great. Last year and in college - he didn’t have a standard set that required work. Riley’s system is notorious for being easy and he never has made his QBs work a ton (had a lot of success though) and Flus and Waldron set weak standards. Really curious to see how Caleb responds to being truly coached hard for first time. I hope he has and is willing to work his tail off.

He missed mandatory camp and now he is starting training camp hurt with a non football injury. Hope it isn’t serious but I’m a little concerned his ego has gotten a bit too big - need to see him show that hunger. I know he wants a huge new deal just one year after signing. If he wants it - go out and crush it - go be an all pro db! Less talk - more production. Will be curious how BJ and Dennis Allen handle cause this could be a test of leadership - but hopefully it’s nothing.

I hope Burden is ready to go - him missing time during rookie camp was a bummer. Hope he is 100 percent and ready to learn and put in the work! &nbsp Same with Loveland but he gets a minor pass since we knew he was hurt when we drafted him.

Not the Bears I want making a principled stance on player contracts in this direction - not worth it.

Spot on

Unless I’m mistaken - I think the Bears made those moves when Virginia was alive. I thought she passed after the Ben Johnson hire. So maybe with her nearing the end they felt like they had to swing big!

Likewise - hope the surgery goes smoothly

Exactly - I’ve seen enough of paper champs from the Bears. I want to see badass production and significant growth on the field.

This is like Nagys first year. They traded for Mack and that worked in year one - it was the wrong move though - gave up too much assets out of gate and it hampered team to fill and be more aggressive in filling two years after. Hold the chips so we can see who develops, who doesn’t and where they need to pivot.

He is setting a whole nother standard and really kind of showing Caleb and rest of the team - they got a lot to work on to get to level needed - I LOVE it!!! Dude just seems to be wired different. I hope Caleb is there next week for the rookie and younger player OTA and than in his month off basically is full bore working on all the things BJ pressed him on these past few weeks. We got to see that passion burn for Caleb to push himself cause it’s clear he has a ways to go (and he was NOT pushed hard enough last year - that is on him just as much as coaching staff - but we basically wasted a chunk of last year cause I think he missed a whole year of being pushed to grow and see what the standard really looks like).