BearFan PHX

for sure momentum is huge, but Im saying that, for example, if you can run the ball well, it opens up the passing game etc - with the threat of Fields running, it opens up everything else.

yup, one of the things I like most about football is the way everything depends on everything else. once you start to roll in one part of the game, the other parts get a boost too. so much fun!

This is definitely possible. I can see either scenario really. If the Bears can get a decent pick for EJax that might tip the scales.

I dont think overpaying players just because you have cap room is a good strategy, or what Poles is about. Your math is all about 1 year, Im talking long term, which is where we are at.

because you'd have $18+ Million to fill it with? Im not saying Jackson is terrible. But Neither is Roquan, not by a long shot. But you dont get to where we are going by keeping overpaid players just because you have a lot of cap room. Maybe they can sign him to a long term deal that's lower in numbers, but Im just saying dont be shocked if they try to trade him, or even cut him outright. Might they resign him after that? Sure, at a lower number. If they do trade him or cut him, it'll cost us $9 Million in dead money, but we will free up $8 Million more in cap space for next year. https://www.spotrac.com/nfl/chicago-bears/eddie-jackson-21854/

we will see. Ejax is playing OK, but $18 Million and $19 Million a year is a lot of money. If they wouldnt keep Roquan for $20 Million, they might not keep EJax for around the same...

He's amazing running, he seems to be putting it all together, but I'm waiting until hes throwing for 300 yards a game regularly before I can call him a complete QB. I do think he has it in him, and I'm looking forward to it! Meanwhile, he's an amazing athlete and runner. He reminds me of Hester in a way - gobbling up huge yards, but not playing a traditional offensive position. I bet we will start to see it soon, maybe even this week against the Lions. THEN he will have arrived! GO Justin!

He is going to be very expensive, and while he is playing well, I dont know if he is an $18 Million a year player. You could put a $9 Million a year player there, or a young drafted ascending player, and add another stud to the DL so the FS doesnt have to cover as long.

I love all the optimism, and the momentum on offense is undeniable, but no matter how hard they try, while they might be able to fill gaps and stop the run with Rudy-like power of will, this roster is not going to generate consistent 3rd down pass rush, and without that, it's hard to win anything other than high scoring shootouts.

yes, I would hope Fields goes over 250 yards with those targets.

awesome, thank you!

I cant argue with that. Main needs are DT, DE, OT, LB, OC, CB, WR and possibly S if we dont want to pay Ejax. We need help on the OL, and at every level of the defense, especially the front 7.

for sure - it takes more than just drafting someone high to make them a generational talent. Thats a mistake weve made many times on the 90s and beyond. but if you can find that guy, he sure does make a difference at 3T for this defensive scheme.

A Warren Sapp would make the cover 2 run.

Seriously. He's young and talented, but he's made too many mistakes in too short a period of time. Hes going to have to prove it a lot in practice before he should be allowed to handle the ball in any critical situations. Including any third downs. With all the attention that Claypool is going to get from the staff getting him up to speed, I won't be shocked if Jones has to wait a few weeks before they give him enough attention.

they always do for everything. so dont blame them, theyre spineless and automatic, you just win your share, and they love you.

amazing! earlier in the season we were talking about him holding the ball too long, or being "afraid" to throw it. But you know what? hes not throwing interceptions either. Smart. Id like to see him get into the 250 - 300 yards passing area on a regular basis soon too. Then we will know he is complete.

I agree. And these are the same players we had six weeks ago. The difference is that they've been coached now for 6 weeks by these guys. I'm sold on Eberflus and Fields. I am about to be sold on Poles too, but he needs to draft and Free Agent his butt off first. When he does that, I'm all in! It's great to see us growing into a real sustainable team. This isnt done with smoke and mirrors and free agents. This is homegrown, already, with a bare roster and 2/3 the cap of everyone else. Oh, and one more thing. Screw you Nagy.

The more I see and read about Claypool, the more I like him. He needs to prove it on the field to get his big deal, but I can absolutely see him becoming a major force in the league. He has Megatron / Moss like attributes, and if he reaches his potential he is going to be a monster for us. I'm a "show me" kind of guy, but I'm surely not betting against it.

agree

I was thinking the same thing. We have tons of cap room going forward - we can afford to allocate WR money at a high level if we have a proven high level WR. No need to be cap crafty right now - now it's time for talent evaluation. The best thing you can have is great players on long term deals. The next best thing you can have is picks and cap room to find great players. The worst thing you can have is not great players signed to long term deals. Anyone on this team is replaceable right now, but if you ball out, you're gonna get paid.

I think to have any shot in this game, it's going to be about our defense getting pass pressure, which is something they haven't done at all this year. We have a screen and draw game as well as a running QB to punish pass rushers for being too agressive, but without the Bears generating any pass pressure, we will get blown out again. And for this year, if our offense keeps putting up 30+ points for the rest of the on good defenses, I dont mind losing the games because the defense cant get pressure. That almost sounds ideal for this year. Then again, if someone on the Bears D line starts to flash, so much the better.

Morrow will stay at MLB, he is very fast and routinely takes TEs deep down the middle to take away the deep middle hole of cover 2, just like Urlacher used to. Sandborn is another Kwitkowski - TONS of heart, but a step too slow. If we can scheme him from having to take anyone in man coverage, he will be ok, but as soon as formation dictates man coverage, he will get burned on drag routes, just like Kwitkowski. But if we can keep him in zone, and tackling at the WLB spot, he can do that well. Eventually, he will be replaced, but he might be OK as a starter for the rest of this season.

and he's cheap! $680K this year, and $1.5 Million next year total against our cap! The Steelers pay the rest! Every year, every GM finds a free agent to fill all positions of need before the draft so they arent locked into a need that might not get filled. Often these Free Agents arent the best players, and drafted players will supplant them. Sometimes you have to overpay to cover a position, like Glennon for example. But you offset it knowing the replacement is going to be on a rookie deal, so youve allocated the dollars to the position, just sort of inside out - who cares. But this doesnt even cost us much. If we drafted a WR with the 2nd round pick, theyd be no better, and this guy has experience and is proven. And hes still on his rookie deal! This kills a whole flock of birds with one stone: 1) add young WR talent with our 2nd round pick 2) sign a proven free agent at WR so youre covered going into the draft without risking having to reach 3) add talented young players on rookie deals to your roster 4) provide weapons to help Fields develop 5) get it done with minimum cap costs going forward 6) get ahead of the draft by 10 games to develop the WR and QB chemistry now, this year 7) add help in the red zone and gold zone 8 ) add blocking help for the run game 9) add chess pieces to the offense that force the defense into mismatches (LB = too slow, DB = too small) 10) audition young talented players in your system for a couple seasons before rewarding them with larger deals (or not) This is a hell of a 2nd round pick, and 10 games early

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