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Here is a comp from last year to this year. 10 offensive players replaced by 11 new offensive players (currently 1 less Safety, 1 more RB). Mustipher, Reiff, Griffin, Wesco, Tonges, Pringle, Smith-Marsette for Davis, Wright, Tonyan, Lewis, Johnson, Moore, Claypool are massive upgrades across the board. bears53_comp.pdf

So most stats are meaningless. Most of the preseason stats leaders never amount to anything in the league. However, I tried to see if there were any trends from players that Fields has been comp'd to in terms of career progression (Year 3 leap, gets true WR1, etc). This is what I found, it might be completely irrelevant, but interesting nonetheless: Preseason Comp% J. Allen - 54.5%, 64.3%, 76.9% (Diggs), 100% L. Jackson - 50%, 62.5%, 75% J. Hurts - 42.9%, 100% (Brown) T. Tagovailoa - 70.6%, 80% (Hill) J. Fields - 61.2%, 76.7%, 100% (Moore) Everyone of these QBs improved their comp% YoY in their first few years. One other note, Fields had a better rookie comp% than Allen, Jackson, and Hurts. Just something to watch to see where Fields ends up after playing a few more series this summer. In comparison, Jordan Love had a 68.6%, then it dropped to 55.4%, and popped back up after the first game to 70%. Just something to watch for. If he doesn't keep it over 68.6%, then he is trending the wrong way.

The Athletic released their 53-man projection and the main difference is they are keeping 5 RBs vs 4. For me, that is hard to see, if you already have Herbert, Foreman, and Roschon getting carries, is there really much more for Homer and Blasingame AND Ebner? I think it is going to come down to Ebner vs Gipson/Lewis. One of those 3 are not making the team. For the other bubble positions, they have Jaylon Jones as CB6 over Vildor and company. They have Adrian Colbert over Thomas and Trahan for S4, which is fine to me.

Yeah, a lot of interest for sure. We are debating Air Yards in the first preseason game, lmao. One other note, I can't wait until we get some TE targets and see Claypool out there with Moore and Mooney. Someone is getting CB3 on every play.

Lance looked really shaky against LVR. His stats look good, 10-15, 112 yds, 1 TD, and 4 sacks, but he got super lucky twice. He threw a RZ pass right into Duke Shelley's hands and he ping ponged it right to a SF Tight End for the TD. Near the end of the 2nd quarter, he again threw it right to a defender who dropped it. Anytime there was pressure, he looked really shaky. Other young QBs: Love 7-10, 46 yds, 4.6 Y/A, 1 TD (Clifford looked 10x better than Love) Lawrence 5-6, 36 yds, 6.0 Y/A, 1 TD, 1 INT (his INT was ugly) Wilson 14-20, 123 yds, 6.2 Y/A, 1 TD, 1 sack Mills 9-12, 99 yds, 1 TD (Mills always seems to be decent) Pickett 6-7, 90 yds, 10 Y/A, 1 TD (he looked really good) Howell 9-12, 77 yds, 6.4 Y/A, 1 TD, 1 sack Trask 6-10, 99 yds, 9.9 Y/A, 1 INT, 3 sacks Willis 16-25, 189 yds, 7.6 Y/A, 1 INT, 4 sacks Young 4-6, 21 yds, 3.5 Y/A, 1 sack (he was getting crushed) Stroud 2-4, 13 yds, 1 INT, 1 sack (looked really bad) Richardson 7-12, 67 yds, 5.6 Y/A, 1 INT Levis 9-14, 85 yds, 6.1 Y/A, 1 INT, 4 sacks Trubisky 1-4, 10 yds, 2.5 Y/A, 1 INT (looked like vintage Mitch)

It has to be parody, the throw to Blasingame hit him in the chest while he threw it around an LB.

This is straight fire. I saw this on Twitter too. Really cool and fits them well.

Yeah, Vildor is gone with that amount of cap savings. Gipson vs Lewis is one of the storylines, which is great because that is not for a starting position and shows the depth Poles is building. True on Leatherwood, I am thinking his spot comes down to injuries. If a OT is out then he stays, if Davis is out, they will need a Guard. For Velus, I am just tracking the touches: Velus: 2 PRs, 1 target, 1 reception Scott: 1 PR, 1 KR, 2 targets, 1 reception Webster: 1 PR, 3 targets, 1 reception, 1 tackle Ford: 1 target, 1 reception I felt like the newer/younger Safeties played well enough to make S4 interesting.

I hope they do because we need all the pass rush help we can get. On Velus, no clue, I am sure someone would take a flyer on him with 3 years left on his rookie deal.

I am re-visiting the bubble positions after the first preseason game: QB2 - Walker, PJ - looked terrible, worse than Peterman, which is hard to do. This may still be a competition. CB6 - Jones, Jaylon/Stroman, Greg - This seems like a wider battle than I expected with Stroman, Ojemudia, and Jones fighting with Vildor for the last spot. Vildor seems like a cut candidate. DE5? - Gipson, Trevis/Lewis, Terrell - Gipson played great, but Lewis had 2 sacks and a forced fumble. I can't see them keeping 5 because there are not enough snaps, so after the top 3, which two stick between Robinson, Gipson, and Lewis? I don't see them cutting Robinson after 1 season. It's crazy how much Poles has stealthily upgrade Edge where starters from 2022 are fighting at the bottom of the depth chart, and all seem productive. OL9 - Leatherwood, Alex - I guess this spot is going to come down to injuries more than anything. Carter got a ton of snaps at Guard. Kramer got reps at Center. They may still look into bringing in a vet at Guard (Risner?). WR6 - Jones, Velus - Ouch, this feels like it is now wide open with Pettis, Ford, and even Webster with a shot (1 PR, 1 Rec). I hope Poles doesn't feel obligated to stick with Jones just because of his draft status. This spot is Special Teamer first, WR second, and Velus seems more like a Gadget guy first, which the Bears don't have room for. S4 - Colbert, Adrian/Thomas, AJ - Williamson will probably end up on the PS, leaving this slot to Thomas (INT), Colbert, or Trahan (INT). The good thing is these guys are all producing, which is great to see for the 4th Safety spot. RB4/5 - Ebner, Trestan - So Ebner got 3rd team reps, ahead of Roschon and Homer. So I have no clue if they are going to keep Ebner or Homer, but they can't keep both. Any other spots that you see up for grabs? These are the only ones I can think of.

I am pretty surprised the defense had 8 sacks given the fact that their top 2 Edge players didn't play, or their starting MLB or SS. Impressive.

I was literally laughing my ass off for a bit there with that game. The Panthers looked terrible and had something like 10-12 plays total on offense in the first half. Bryce Young may end up being good, but man he looks tiny and was getting smashed against Jets 2nd stringers. I don't know, I was not impressed with any of the rookie 1st round QBs (Young, Stroud, Richardson). Again it is early, but they seem to have a long way to go with not much high end skill position players on those teams.

Eberflus is 4-0 in the preseason.

Yeah, but if he can't catch or hold onto the ball, his speed is irrelevant. There have been a ton of burners that couldn't catch, and they didn't last long.

Defense had 8 sacks and 2 INTs. After the Titans 2nd TD, the Bears defense held the Titans to Fumble, Fumble, FG, Punt, Missed FG, Punt, Turnover on Down, and INT on the last 8 drives.

Isaiah Ford with a nice 37-yard catch from Peterman. Nice. If Ford impresses and can play some ST, he is a sleeper to replace Velus.

Scott takes his first punt return, no issues. Bad news for Velus. He is clearly on the bubble.

Trevis Gipson has to have 10+ pressures/hurries with no sacks or tackles.

Stevenson has 7 tackles and 1 PD. Sewell has 4 tackles and a sack. Gipson had a ton of pressures, but didn't register a tackle or sack. Lewis had a strip sack. For backup safety, Thomas had an INT and a PD. Colbert had a forced fumble. Nice production from the entire team.

Roschon has looked really good in this 3rd quarter, probably against a lot of guys who won't make the roster, but he still has looked solid with a few nice runs.

Now Scott with a fumble. Not good.

Yeah, they have all been really solid.

Terell Lewis with strip sack, Bear recover. Defense is gaining confidence.

Offense doesn't do much and ends up punting. I am not impressed with PJ Walker. He looks worse than Willis and Levis, which is not good.

Colbert with the forced fumble and recovery, it is being challenged, upheld. In the last few plays, Dexter getting some penetration, and Gipson with a near sack.