adam

Yeah, it is unfortunate, because he had all the physical traits to become Cam 2.0. However, there is too much missing in his passing game to overcome in today's modern NFL offenses. Both the offenses and defenses are becoming so complex these days. There are plays within plays and QBs need to be able to process so much so fast that there is a clear demark point between the haves and have nots. Some guys just can't do it, like Fields. They can still be an NFL starter and win games, but rarely do those guys ever go on perennial playoff runs because their success is dependent on too many external variables. I would say any given year that no more than 10-15 QBs have "it" (Mahomes, Jackson, Burrow, Allen, Herbert, Prescott, Stafford, Rodgers) with the jury still out on Hurts, Stroud, Love, Tua, Lawrence, and Purdy. Caleb can easily enter the "jury still out" category this year and get into that group. There are a group of vets like Goff, Cousins, Murray, and Mayfield that have it sometimes, just not consistently enough for me.

It still is hard to believe because if you really look at the entire 53-man, this may be the most talented group top to bottom since 2006 or as far back as 85 or 87. Here are the last 3 seasons when the offense and defense ranked in the top 10 in scoring: 2018 had the #9 scoring offense and #1 scoring defense. They had Trubisky at QB though so it almost takes this year out already, and the leading WR was Taylor Gabriel. Jordan Howard was the RB1 and Trey Burton was TE1. Gabriel would be WR4 or 5 on this roster. Howard may be RB3, and Burton (who never lived up to potential) is probably TE3. The D-Line (DTs and Edge) is better in 2018, but that's it. Edge - 2024. 2006 had the #2 scoring offense and #3 scoring defense, but again, Grossman at QB. Muhammad at WR1, Berrian at WR2. Nowhere near Moore and Allen. The defense was stacked but I like the current secondary better. The 2006 DBs had Danieal Manning at FS and Ricky Manning at CB2. The 2006 DL was definitely better with Anderson, Brown, Ogunleye, Harris and Tank Johnson. 5 deep. Then Urlacher and Briggs at LB. Overall, the defense still better in 2006, but offense better in 2024. However, when you go to subs, 2024 wins. Sanborn is LB3, Terrell Smith is CB4, Owens is S3, Pickens is DT3, and Booker or Walker are Edge3. So the 2024 depth is better. Edge - 2024. In 1987, The Bears had the 9th highest scoring offense and 4th highest scoring defense. Payton was 34 yrs old and was outrushed by Neal Anderson. McMahon only played 6 games. The leading WR was Gault with 35 receptions, McKinnon was 2nd with 27. Emery Moorehead at age 33 had 24 receptions to lead TEs. The 2024 offense is much better on paper right now. The defense in 1987 was still elite with Marshall, Dent, Singletary, McMichael, Perry, Wilson, Hampton, Duerson, Gayle, and Bell. The 1987 defense has the edge, but the current secondary is probably better as the CBs were not good in 1987. Considering the declining offense, 2024 looks to have the edge here too. So you really have to go back to 1985 when the Bears had the #2 offense and #1 defense to find a team, on paper, top to bottom with the quality of players compared to this 53-man roster. Obviously 1985 is the gold standard when it comes to complete teams, but that was only 3 teams in between that really stack up to the current roster. Am I crazy or is that a valid observation?

Fields always had a nice deep ball. He is not having to read defenses, and there is no threat to get hit. Once that happens, his brain locks up. If it is his first read and he has time, he can make the pass. Everything else, including MoF throws, he struggles with. I saw a video of a slant pass. No pass rushers, no LBs sitting, so it looks easy. I wish him the best, but nothing says he has improved more than when we saw him last.

Scott is getting better, remember he dropped a few last year. Now he is catching but still falling down. Hopefully he can put it all together, catch the ball and stay on his feet.

From Warren Sharp. He just posted his secondary rankings and the Bears come in at #4. He had the Bears WR Corps at #3, the O-Line at #12 and the Front Seven at #21. So the average of those 4 units is #10. So I don't know what you think of Caleb Williams, the Bears RBs, Santos and Taylor, but they are all at least top half of the league. So saying the Bears have a top 10 roster is not a stretch at all. The Bears also have the 3rd easiest schedule. So if you have the #10 roster and are playing the 3rd easiest schedule, that has to make you a top 8 team right? It is just simple math. That is a 10-11 win team. So projections having the Bears with double digit wins is not that far fetched.

It looks like we have all 10 GM spots filled, once our two newest GMs confirm their teams. Once that happens, I can send out the LeagueSafe info and we can schedule a draft date and time that fits everyone's schedule.

From all accounts, DJ is a cool cat. Just the fact that he was there and just hanging out like a normal dude is pretty cool.

Very Cool

Sort of Bears related, Eddie Jackson finally agreed to a deal with the Ravens: The Ravens has the 3rd lowest cap space before this deal, so it can't be much more than a vet minimum deal.

No offense to any previous starting QBs, but neither Justin or Mitch seemed like guys that could pick up things on the fly or under pressure. They both could throw the ball and if it was their first read, they were solid, but when they had to tap their head and rub their bellies at the same time, they struggled. This clearly separates the guys you win with, with the guys you win because of. It is great to see Williams looking good this early. It takes a lot of reps to master anything, so he still has a ways to go, especially with the timing. The Bates news is exciting because that has been an area of concern for awhile now, if he can deliver the ball consistently and play average Center, the line is going to be really solid.

Fields left so many plays on the field, especially in crunch time. That is why his stats were OK, but close and late, he was the worst QB in the NFL. All Williams has to do is be league average and the Bears offense jumps to top 15, then you add Allen, Odunze, Everett and Swift (who replaced Foreman), and you easily have a top 10 offense. With our new punter, we won't be losing the field position battle anymore. The defense should be at least the same, if not slightly better with a full season of Sweat, no Jackson, and 2nd years from Dexter, Stevenson, and Pickens. All of that and almost everything would have to go wrong (Williams struggles, O-Line takes a step back, injuries, the defense doesn't cause turnovers, and Taylor turns into Gill 2.0. I just doubt all of that will go wrong at the same time. Essentially they just have to survive the first month while they get their timing down in game speed. Once that occurs, I think they are going to go on a run. At this point 8 or fewer wins and I would be disappointed. 9 is sort of the even ground for me, and double digits is sort of where I expect them to be.

Nowadays it is so hard to determine if "coaching matters". These guys are professionals, can the Head Coach, who is just overseeing the entire operation, actually making a huge impact? I don't think so. 20 years ago, for sure. Now, not so much. Hard Knocks is going to be really telling. If he is boring as hell and his speeches sound dumb, then you will have your answer.

Thanks, Email sent.

What's funny is I keep thinking that Caleb may have a different problem, too many guys are open, lol.

The Bears play a football game in two weeks. Obviously this game is going to be 90% backups and bottom of the roster guys, but we might see some rookies for a couple of plays. I can't believe we are only two weeks away. We made it!