DABEARSDABOMB

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.

I would imagine Poles answer is 95 percent take the qb. Only way he doesn’t is if they all opt back into college to bypass the Bears or he really doesn’t like what he sees.

That is exactly it. He is an ok qb and maybe he can become good - but I have a shot at a great and cost controlled and don’t have to give up something to get it. It is a no brainer at this point. Could be this loss - which right now hurts bad - saves the Bears from making a big mistake

As long as Bears have top 2 pick - they need to take the qb. No way I can give Fields 5th year option and lock next 3 years on him…not if they have a top 2 pick.

I presume those GM's were careful what they said. I also think when you look at past trades, whether the Wentz deal and/or the Sam Darnold deal - you can see teams will ultimately overpay for the QB. Basically put - you just need 1-2 teams to have a view and they ultimately have a need. Reality is - there are going to be a # of teams who aren't going to be picking early enough who are going to have a need at QB and for them it will be worth taking a chance on Fields. Steelers - Falcons - Seahawks (depending on their love of Geno) - Patriots (if they aren't in the top 3) - Raiders. All of those teams are likely not going to be in a spot (without moving up to get a QB).

I think the points they made were all valid though. I really think if you still have questions about Fields - you really can't take that risk at this point, when you have coming out of college an equally good prospect as Fields was and you are starting the clock over and surrounding said young player with a far better situation. I'll say the inverse - if Caleb Williams was the current Bears starter and he had produced like he had for the 1st 3 years - with the same questions, and Justin Fields was now the #1 pick in this draft class (or Trevor Lawrence) and the roles were reversed and Bears were sitting there - I would say, go get Fields because we haven't seen enough in 3 years out of Williams. Now part of this is circumstance - Bears actually are sitting in a spot where they can get one of these guys without mortgaging ANYTHING and at a time when there own guy has upside, but still a lot of question(s) and you can still trade them (in my mind - I think if Fields finishes solid - you are talking about getting a 2nd this year and I'd love to see like a conditional 2nd the following year). Bears than would get back the 2nd round pick they lost - plus have #1 for QB and another top 10 (or close to top 10) pick to add an OT or a Wideout.

That was fun - 2 great games and great outcomes.

Funny story - my 8 year old was calling run plays all game vs Lions. No joke he was right 90 percent of the time on run vs pass when it came to Bears. I’m fine supporting Flus, but Getsy is nothing special. With exception I like the screen game and run game he manages - but overall leaves a lot to be desired.

So I never liked how the Bears passed on Pickens - but understood why at the time given some of the character flags surrounding Pickens. Pickens went on to crush it in year 1 - but looking at year 2 - Pickens has been a complete distraction. Don't get me wrong - his production has been STRONG, but so much other stuff popping up. On flipside - Gordon and Brisker (in particular focusing on Brisker since Pickens went a few picks after him) are trending upwards. Gordon had slow start due to injury this year - but he's trending in right direction and is a physical force at nickel. Brisker - well at this point, I think he's on a trajectory of being an all pro. The only major question I have with him is can he stay healthy. The dude is a freaking stud who can change the game - but man does he throw his body around and I worry about the sustainability - but he seems like a great fit in lockeroom and a multiplier on the field. Maybe Poles knows a thing or to. Similarly - I know they passed on Carter - but Wright looks great and Sweat coming in over Young again looked like the right move.