Preseason Week 1 Official Game Thread - Miami @ Chicago, NFLN, CHI -3, Noon 8-10-2025

[ChileBear]

50 minutes ago, AZ54 said:

Do any of our coaches smile?  Even after good plays everything is a teachable moment. 

I loved watching our coaches as the game progressed. It looked like the coaches and players are hyped. Al Haris was on it. And they all liked that first goal line stop.

[BearFan PHX]

This is brutal. to the inside too. Yuck.
 

 

[Mongo3451]

24 minutes ago, BearFan PHX said:

This is brutal. to the inside too. Yuck.
 

 

He ain't ready.  Terrible footwork...

[Stinger226]

29 minutes ago, AZ54 said:

I thought Keenum looked like the old man that he is and my take away was we should keep 2 QBs and use that roster spot elsewhere like the backup Oline where it seems we have several players who are developing well.  I can't speak for his off the field help in the meeting rooms or sidelines.  I'm sure that's good but we also have coaches who are supposed to do that.  

I think having an experienced QB in the room has to help Caleb, as far as keeping on the 53 that is another conversation. 

[BearFan PHX]

19 minutes ago, Mongo3451 said:

He ain't ready.  Terrible footwork...

he looked like he was setting too deep expecting a bull rush. so his over correction of his weakness put him a bad position with an open gap to the inside. Thats one thing you never want to see. Get beat outside? it happens. Inside? Thats a crime.

[Mongo3451]

34 minutes ago, BearFan PHX said:

he looked like he was setting too deep expecting a bull rush. so his over correction of his weakness put him a bad position with an open gap to the inside. Thats one thing you never want to see. Get beat outside? it happens. Inside? Thats a crime.

To me, he looked too high and stiff with zero lateral agility.  In almost every sport, it's butt down chest up with weight shifted to the balls of the feet.  He looked like Frankenstein on that play.  Stacey Dales said that this was the first week that he's worked at full speed.  It doesn't look like he's there.

I DVR'd the game and will review his and Trapillo's reps tomorrow.  My wife is leaving for Chicago in the morning, so I'll have time on my hands.

[BearFan PHX]

57 minutes ago, Mongo3451 said:

To me, he looked too high and stiff with zero lateral agility.  In almost every sport, it's butt down chest up with weight shifted to the balls of the feet.  He looked like Frankenstein on that play.  Stacey Dales said that this was the first week that he's worked at full speed.  It doesn't look like he's there.

I DVR'd the game and will review his and Trapillo's reps tomorrow.  My wife is leaving for Chicago in the morning, so I'll have time on my hands.

cool - look forward to what you see

[adam]

The Dolphins played their starters, so at least 1/2 the game was 1st vs 2nd string, then 2nd vs 3rd string. Then at the end, our bottom guys were getting a ton of snaps.

Booker, Sewell, and Monangai were my game balls. 

I am most concerned about special teams because technically, that group should've had all the main players playing, and the coverage and return units were terrible. At least they have a month to get that fixed.

Braxton looks cooked. I keep seeing the video of the TD where he was playing matador with the DE, but there were 2 plays before that on the same drive where his guy got pressure and flushed Bagent out. 

[BearFan PHX]

1 hour ago, adam said:

The Dolphins played their starters, so at least 1/2 the game was 1st vs 2nd string, then 2nd vs 3rd string. Then at the end, our bottom guys were getting a ton of snaps.

Booker, Sewell, and Monangai were my game balls. 

I am most concerned about special teams because technically, that group should've had all the main players playing, and the coverage and return units were terrible. At least they have a month to get that fixed.

Braxton looks cooked. I keep seeing the video of the TD where he was playing matador with the DE, but there were 2 plays before that on the same drive where his guy got pressure and flushed Bagent out. 

It was great to see our depth go against higher level guys, and it gives more context to Booker's sacks too. Hopefully that can project to the regular season.

Sewell and Monangai - yup. Sewell is our 3rd LB for when we need it, and good depth. Monangai sure does run hard - love those style of runners. There was one play, when Trapilo was in the there where Monangai chipped the DE that Trapilo had, and Monanagai hit him so hard you could hear the crack on the broadcast. Nice.

Your point about special teams is a real issue. It needs to be much better. And youre right they have some time to get that fixed. Usually its mostly about desire and tackling, and you can coach that and lean on it.

Yeah Braxton looks like a real liability out there, and to be honest Triplo didnt exactly take the job with any confidence either. They are both not up to par, and I hope Trapilo can grow fast. He did look better after a minute out there, but we were giving him help and rolling away from his side too. He really has to grow fast.

No matter how good our offense is, it's going nowhere if the LT is sieve. It's a real issue. I'm not hitting alarm bells yet, but it needs to be fixed for sure. The best answer would be if Trapilo develops quickly under fire and becomes trustworthy.

[DABEARSDABOMB]

32 minutes ago, BearFan PHX said:

It was great to see our depth go against higher level guys, and it gives more context to Booker's sacks too. Hopefully that can project to the regular season.

Sewell and Monangai - yup. Sewell is our 3rd LB for when we need it, and good depth. Monangai sure does run hard - love those style of runners. There was one play, when Trapilo was in the there where Monangai chipped the DE that Trapilo had, and Monanagai hit him so hard you could hear the crack on the broadcast. Nice.

Your point about special teams is a real issue. It needs to be much better. And youre right they have some time to get that fixed. Usually its mostly about desire and tackling, and you can coach that and lean on it.

Yeah Braxton looks like a real liability out there, and to be honest Triplo didnt exactly take the job with any confidence either. They are both not up to par, and I hope Trapilo can grow fast. He did look better after a minute out there, but we were giving him help and rolling away from his side too. He really has to grow fast.

No matter how good our offense is, it's going nowhere if the LT is sieve. It's a real issue. I'm not hitting alarm bells yet, but it needs to be fixed for sure. The best answer would be if Trapilo develops quickly under fire and becomes trustworthy.

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. 

[AZ54]

2 hours ago, BearFan PHX said:

The best answer would be if Trapilo develops quickly under fire and becomes trustworthy.

I’d be equally happy if Amegadji  turned into a good starting LT.  

[AZ54]

That game felt organized.  I watched to the bitter end with two 2 min offenses.   Plus the way we ended the first half it always felt the way an NFL game should feel.  I didn’t see players running on the field late or time outs for misalignments.  In short I didn’t see what I usually see in a first Bears preseason game.  

[BearFan PHX]

2 hours ago, AZ54 said:

I’d be equally happy if Amegadji  turned into a good starting LT.  

me too - whichever is fine. I just think it will be Trapilo based on nothing, but if Amagadje becomes a stud, then that will be amazing.

[Stinger226]

I think until we see the starting OL playing together, we wont get the real picture on the LT spot. If no one shines there, they can give him chip help, scheme to control the damage. I think Thuney playing will help support the position also. If no one steps up, they will play Braxton because of his experience over a rookie. Braxton was playing against the #1 D starters where Ozzy played against the 2s and 3s. It matters where the OL is at in the first real game not the first preseason game, there is still time for someone to step up.