Battle at LT

[BearFan PHX]

If Braxton looked this good against the Buffalo starters on Friday, like he did in the game against the 2nd stringers on Sunday, then I agree with all of this. If he is playing himself into the job, then the battle for swing tackle is important, but Im not too worried about it.

I still need to see more to be completely sold. I also wonder whether Trapilo is really out of the LT competition. I know everyone is saying that, and it's probably true, but I wouldnt be shocked if Trapilo was back in the mix this week IF Braxton was uneven on Friday. It's become a narrative that Trapilo is out, and maybe he is. But I can imagine a world where they had Trapilo at the RT spot for this week, to light fires everywhere. If he's the swing tackle, then he still needs reps at LT too. If he's #3 to Benedet then he's fallen a long way in a short time.

I havent really heard too much either way about Friday, so I dunno.

But if Braxton looked as good as he did in the game in the scrimmages, then that's a really good sign, and maybe the competition is ending in Braxton's favor.

I dont know, but the coaches do. And i think they'll do the right thing. But something tells me it may not be over yet either.

[Mongo3451]

Multiple other things Thayer said was that Braxton is looking stronger as time goes and that he really needs to concentrate to sink his hips properly.  He also and said that Braxton has a footwork issue at times, when deciding which way the defender is going to try to defeat him.  Lastly, he said Braxton needs to really hit leg day in the gym and sky's the limit, because he has seen him do everything he had critiqued him for.  The tools are there, he just needs to lock in and work in the off-season.

[Mongo3451]

It all may be too much too little too late.  He could easily sign a contract and lazy out like Nate Davis.  It's up to Braxton.

[ASHKUM BEAR]

1 hour ago, Mongo3451 said:

Multiple other things Thayer said was that Braxton is looking stronger as time goes and that he really needs to concentrate to sink his hips properly.  He also and said that Braxton has a footwork issue at times, when deciding which way the defender is going to try to defeat him.  Lastly, he said Braxton needs to really hit leg day in the gym and sky's the limit, because he has seen him do everything he had critiqued him for.  The tools are there, he just needs to lock in and work in the off-season.

Theo Benedict was interviewed today, such a bright young talent that really gets it. He had to start fresh with the new coaching bc there was no tape on him.  He knows and understands what is asked and is making adjustments and that progress has shown enough that he is now LT1/2 - competing to be 1.

Some intersting comments: Thuney has really helped him with sharing his knowledge (hands,feet, and keep you head up).  He said Ozzy Trapilo is a 50 year old mind trapped in a 20 year body. Him and Kiran are draft/rookie brothers. 

[Stinger226]

As much as no one has leaped ahead to grab the starting job, we clearly have more depth than last year. It is already a win Not having Borom on the team anymore. The scheme and Caleb getting the ball out on time, makes it harder to sack him. Everything is headed in the right direction.

[Stinger226]

https://youtu.be/bjnwOM3k7Ds?si=Ssc-0r1sbmJxBVQ6

This is a good OL breakdown on Ozzy and slows it down to watch the other OL>

[BearFan PHX]

So here's some possibly interesting news.

It's been like 2 weeks now that we've heard Trapilo is exclusively taking reps at RT. Going into the KC game.

And the common wisdom was that Trapilo was now out of the running at LT. At the time I wondered if that was permanent, or something to motivate everyone as well as get him snaps at RT to be a swing tackle at least. And I said at the time that you give a guy snaps at LT too if you want to prepare him for swing tackle, so he would get at least that much action going forward?

So today there is an article in the Trib of an interview by Sean Hammond with Poles. Now, I don't know when this interview occurred, so if it's been sitting in the can for 3 weeks, then there is nothing here. But that's a long time for an interview to go unpublished? So Im wondering if it happened since the KC game?

The article says "As the season nears, Poles recently sat down with the Tribune to discuss the first training camp with Johnson as coach, the evolving relationship between Johnson and Williams and more." so that sounds like after camp closed to me, so after KC.

In the interview Poles is asked abut the competition at LT. and Poles says:

"you have Braxton, and you’re trying to evaluate a guy that’s coming back from a pretty significant injury. And then looking at last year’s tape as kind of the bar, can he get to that point and better? But he’s not quite there yet. He’s closing in on it.

But then the person he’s competing with (Trapilo) is a person that’s never played in the league versus Kiran, who didn’t have his first year, coming from a smaller school (Amegadjie missed most of the 2024 offseason after an injury at Yale). And then Theo enters the conversation, who from a length standpoint may not have everything but from a foot speed and toughness (standpoint) has a lot of things that you like."

So if that is current, that is VERY interesting. It says Trapilo is still right there, and needs more experience. And the description of Jones is just that he's still fighting to regain just where he was last year.

All this to conclude: Maybe Trapilo is still on the radar at LT, and maybe we will see him after the bye, or earlier if Braxton is awful.

Here's the whole interview:

https://archive.is/41r0X#selection-2239.101-2255.138

[Stinger226]

2 hours ago, BearFan PHX said:

So here's some possibly interesting news.

It's been like 2 weeks now that we've heard Trapilo is exclusively taking reps at RT. Going into the KC game.

And the common wisdom was that Trapilo was now out of the running at LT. At the time I wondered if that was permanent, or something to motivate everyone as well as get him snaps at RT to be a swing tackle at least. And I said at the time that you give a guy snaps at LT too if you want to prepare him for swing tackle, so he would get at least that much action going forward?

So today there is an article in the Trib of an interview by Sean Hammond with Poles. Now, I don't know when this interview occurred, so if it's been sitting in the can for 3 weeks, then there is nothing here. But that's a long time for an interview to go unpublished? So Im wondering if it happened since the KC game?

The article says "As the season nears, Poles recently sat down with the Tribune to discuss the first training camp with Johnson as coach, the evolving relationship between Johnson and Williams and more." so that sounds like after camp closed to me, so after KC.

In the interview Poles is asked abut the competition at LT. and Poles says:

"you have Braxton, and you’re trying to evaluate a guy that’s coming back from a pretty significant injury. And then looking at last year’s tape as kind of the bar, can he get to that point and better? But he’s not quite there yet. He’s closing in on it.

But then the person he’s competing with (Trapilo) is a person that’s never played in the league versus Kiran, who didn’t have his first year, coming from a smaller school (Amegadjie missed most of the 2024 offseason after an injury at Yale). And then Theo enters the conversation, who from a length standpoint may not have everything but from a foot speed and toughness (standpoint) has a lot of things that you like."

So if that is current, that is VERY interesting. It says Trapilo is still right there, and needs more experience. And the description of Jones is just that he's still fighting to regain just where he was last year.

All this to conclude: Maybe Trapilo is still on the radar at LT, and maybe we will see him after the bye, or earlier if Braxton is awful.

Here's the whole interview:

https://archive.is/41r0X#selection-2239.101-2255.138

I definitely think he could still play LT and think it was more of a mental rep to play him at RT where he is more comfortable to boost  his  confidence.  Usually stories are developed a week before they post them. I think it is pretty current in a time frame. BJ is very demanding and why all of this is still up in the air. 

[BearFan PHX]

Braxton Jones has been announced as the starter at LT for Monday night. Im not surprised.

Apparently Ben Johnson said the competition will continue, and could continue until the bye week. That also makes a lot of sense, and says to me that Trapilo still has a chance to take the job.

May the best man win.

[jason]

All this yada yada back and forth is nothing but conjecture at best. We don’t know what anyone truly thinks, what will happen, etc.

Year after year we have these discussions but the team never does what any of us want. And maybe that should tell us something since they’ve sucked for the great majority of the last 40 years. 

What I know is this: OL was finally a top priority. That’s what I’ve wanted since the last Super Bowl. So, in general, I get to finally see if what I believe is true. If they start trading top talent for stockpiles of 2nd rounders just before the players degrade or want a huge contract, like DBDB suggested, then that’s one more thing I want. 

 

[Mongo3451]

25 minutes ago, jason said:

If they start trading top talent for stockpiles of 2nd rounders just before the players degrade or want a huge contract, like DBDB suggested, then that’s one more thing I want. 

When Bill the brain still had one, it was the Patriot way...

[BearFan PHX]

30 minutes ago, jason said:

All this yada yada back and forth is nothing but conjecture at best. We don’t know what anyone truly thinks, what will happen, etc.

Year after year we have these discussions but the team never does what any of us want. And maybe that should tell us something since they’ve sucked for the great majority of the last 40 years. 

What I know is this: OL was finally a top priority. That’s what I’ve wanted since the last Super Bowl. So, in general, I get to finally see if what I believe is true. If they start trading top talent for stockpiles of 2nd rounders just before the players degrade or want a huge contract, like DBDB suggested, then that’s one more thing I want. 

 

so true. we need to see it on the field before we really know anything. And youre right about the last 40 years - what a shit show.

Love all of this.

4 minutes ago, Mongo3451 said:

When Bill the brain still had one, it was the Patriot way...

exactly.

[Stinger226]

 

[BearFan PHX]

Well I can have my hopes about Trapilo at LT, but the Bears released their depth chart yesterday, and Trapilo is RT2, with Benedet as LT2.

Other noteables:

Burden is third string after Moore and Zaccheus on one side, while Duvernay is second string on the Odunze Side, with Walker as third string. So Burden is no better than 5th above only Walker.

Roschon Johnson is RB2 with Monangai as HB3

Jarrett and Dexter are the starting DTs, with Jarrett at 3T and Dexter at 1T. Williams and Turner are the second and thrid string DTs, with Billings backing up Dexter at Nose.

Johnson is listed as CB1, with Nashon Wright behind him. If JJ doesnt play I guess Wright gets the nod?


https://www.chicagobears.com/team/depth-chart

[Stinger226]

These are big men

 

[Stinger226]

4 hours ago, BearFan PHX said:

Well I can have my hopes about Trapilo at LT, but the Bears released their depth chart yesterday, and Trapilo is RT2, with Benedet as LT2.

Other noteables:

Burden is third string after Moore and Zaccheus on one side, while Duvernay is second string on the Odunze Side, with Walker as third string. So Burden is no better than 5th above only Walker.

Roschon Johnson is RB2 with Monangai as HB3

Jarrett and Dexter are the starting DTs, with Jarrett at 3T and Dexter at 1T. Williams and Turner are the second and thrid string DTs, with Billings backing up Dexter at Nose.

Johnson is listed as CB1, with Nashon Wright behind him. If JJ doesnt play I guess Wright gets the nod?


https://www.chicagobears.com/team/depth-chart

I think what all of this tells us is we have depth finally. Last year was a shit show on the OL especially when we had to go to back ups. 

JJ is suppose to start, he practiced yesterday. Not sure if he will be 100% but I suspect a 80% is better than 100% of Wright. 

We also have to remember Jefferson isnt a 100% yet, no Addison. The key will be putting pressure on McCarthy, we get to see what Dennis Allen brings to the table.

[BearFan PHX]

5 minutes ago, Stinger226 said:

I think what all of this tells us is we have depth finally. Last year was a shit show on the OL especially when we had to go to back ups. 

I think we have three backups at LT and no starter. That's not depth, it's an issue.

[Stinger226]

34 minutes ago, BearFan PHX said:

I think we have three backups at LT and no starter. That's not depth, it's an issue.

Obviously someone will start. I remember you stated , you want to see it, well now you get to, no more assumptions. Braxton is by NFL standards an average NFL starter, of course we want to see better. Joe Thuney has not played any preseason games, I think next to Braxton will help him play better. Now BJ will be scheming plays that will make Braxton look better. If Caleb gets the ball out in 2.4 seconds it will nullify the pass rush.  Everyone wants all pros at every position, roster building is not an easy task. 

 

[Mongo3451]

3 hours ago, BearFan PHX said:

I think we have three backups at LT and no starter. That's not depth, it's an issue.

Braxton is now a four year starter and has been graded in the middle.  Thayer said he sees improvement every week.  I'm not concerned, unless he re-injures.

[Stinger226]

2 hours ago, Mongo3451 said:

Braxton is now a four year starter and has been graded in the middle.  Thayer said he sees improvement every week.  I'm not concerned, unless he re-injures.

I hope he balls out but I dont think he will ever be a tier 1 LT, if he makes top 12 I would be excited. Will that be enough for BJ, dont know that but if he plays well enough for the offense to function is all I care about.

[ASHKUM BEAR]

56 minutes ago, Stinger226 said:

I hope he balls out but I dont think he will ever be a tier 1 LT, if he makes top 12 I would be excited. Will that be enough for BJ, dont know that but if he plays well enough for the offense to function is all I care about.

If Braxton plays in the 12th range, would you trade DJ Moore after the season so they can extend Braxton?

[Stinger226]

10 minutes ago, ASHKUM BEAR said:

If Braxton plays in the 12th range, would you trade DJ Moore after the season so they can extend Braxton?

I dont think their first choice will be to trade someone, they will play with contracts. Edmunds contract has an out next year saving 15 mil with 2.4 dead money. If Sewell or Hyppo is ready they may go that route. I think BJ having a bevy of weapons  will be reluctant to start getting rid of them.  If Burden is ready to fly, Zacchaous is the slot WR on a one year deal and his spot is open.  If Caleb is the real deal , we will have the best set of weapons in the league with DJ, Rome, Burden, Loveland and Kmet.