BearFan PHX

I understand that Pace got the better of the deal, but if Im Poles, all I see is a guy scheduled to count $18 and $19 Million against the cap for two years, and an associated dead money cost, along with whatever trade value he can get. Its true that Poles has a LOT of holes to fill, so EJac might get one more year, and Ejac doesn't suck, at some price hes worth keeping. But he wont play out the next two years of his contract in Chicago barring a renegotiation that brings his cap number more into line. I'd take a 2nd or a 3rd for him.

Yeah but if Roquan wasn't worth $20 Million, how is EJac worth $19 Million? We are not used to seeing good players get cut here, but we arent used to winning either. Ejac is a good player, maybe a 12 or 13 Mil a year type guy. Might we keep him one more year becasue we have too may holes to fill, and a surplus of cap room? Maybe. But I dont see him as a 2024 starter at all. Not at this $ anyway.

dont sleep on Morrow - his elite speed provides coverage down the deep middle which is crucial for the Cover 2 - just like Urlacher did.

My guess is that we will be very active in Free Agency before the draft, and that will affect our draft needs. We'll fill roster holes as best as possible to leave room for draft flexibility and Best Player Available scenarios. No question our defensive line needs the most love, but OL is a real need too. We will also need another CB. Those are the raw needs; 3T, DE, OT, OC, CB We will also want: LB, WR, TE, RB, S Since we have so many holes, it will be interesting to see how Poles fills them before the draft. They wont all be studs, but these hole fillers have to be legitimate options, because you're gonna have to roll with a couple of them - you cant draft every position with a winner.

It's fun to watch actual competence for once. The story of the 2023 & 2024 Bears is going to be fun to watch.

I've got to admit, I've been thinking about Hillenmeyer and Kwitkowsi when I look at this Rudy who went undrafted. I was confident that he was too slow, and that offenses would just run a drag route receiver on him if he was in man. Maybe they still will. But he undeniably flashed on the field in this scheme, and his heart and Rudy scores are off the chart. The short area quickness explains some of it. Him being a playmaker explains more. If he reads his keys 0.1s faster then average, then it's like he ran a tick faster in his 40. This guy went undrafted. Wow. Let's see. He will be fun to root for. And this, however short or long lived it is, is another feather in Poles' cap. These projects are starting to come out of the woodwork.

They are looking for failed high round draft picks, to give them a second chance with their coaching. They must know that it's unlikely they will turn into the players that the GMs that drafted them high thought they would become. So it would be easy and understandable for them to just sit on their hands. But if you turn one or two into a starter, thats a big win. Oklahoma drill! Charlton and Leatherwood get in there LOL It's great to see our staff working so hard to try to make a longshot pay off. And it certainly must inspire the players, who must know this season is lost from the point of view of playoffs, to buy in that everyone is working and improving toward something next year. This is very impressive. Also, if none of these guys pan out, don't blame Poles. He didn't bring them here in a way that says he believes in them as long term answers. He is just scouring the leftovers, holding auditions, and trying to leverage his coaching staff to break through to second chancers.

yup. if we start handling our roster like the Patriots do/did then we will be releasing crowd favorites every year. But then again we'll be winning a lot too

It'll be good to get a better look at Ebner anyway.

I was going to say this exact same thing. When Claypool is ready, I'm SURE they will want him out there.

Also, this past year it made sense for him to take cheap gambles on players that might develop. We cant score them all as his vision, unless we factor in what he paid for them. I dont expect them all to be good, but he didnt pay them long term deals either.

it is typical for CBs to jam receivers at the line of scrimmage in cover 2 schemes, because they dont fear the WR running past them as they would in man defense. They have safeties playing deep behind them.

Fields has improved every week this year. Often it wasnt enough for it to be obvious in the game, but film study showed it. As for the interception, everyone makes mistakes. Even the best QBs have them. Fields in on his way to being really good. Maybe even great. He still needs to be throwing for 300+ yards a game to reach those levels. A real OL next year will be a big part of that.

the cover 2 scheme is sound, we just dont have the players. we have no pass rushers for one.

for sure

also, you cant say Mack for Brisker, you have to say Mack in the next three years and his salary cap if you keep him vs Brisker for the next three years plus whoever else you sign with Mack's money. If it helps, the Patriots dominated the league for many years doing the same thing. Every year people were shocked when Belichick traded away good or great players in the last year of their deals. To be fair Belichick also showed an ability to find players in the draft who grew into substantial roles and kept the train moving. It is fair to wonder whether Poles will have an eye for talent going forward, but there is no reason yet to think he won't. If I had to bet, I'd bet we will all be singing his praises in a year and two years, and unlike what weve see from the Bears before, this will be on a sustainable model, not a "the window is open so lets fake it by spending future dollars and draft picks to win ONE now"

sounds right to me

and killers on defense and on the lines!

yeah, the running game is fun as hell, and portends good things for the future, but until Fields is throwing for 300 yards a game routinely, we arent as good as we think we are. I think its coming, hope to see it soon.

yeah, that's why I said $7 mil. not elite, but solid starter in a Thunder and Lightning set. Is Fields the home run hitter?

I've been trying not to take too firm of a stance, but in my heart of hearts, this is what Im thinking too.

I'd keep him at $7 Million, at $10 Million I'd rethink.

like AZ says: Jalen Carter. Just repeat it to yourself over and over and you'll feel better LOL

Let's GO!

totally!