BearFan PHX

I think the coaches know that Mooney and Kmet need to be more involved, and that we need to keep a good rhythm going with Montgomery, and they need to get Fields more completions. I hope they also see that Roquan, Gordon and Brisker need to be more involved too. I hope they also see the DTs are getting pushed around. It's not too late to fix these things, but they need to see them. Last few coaches didnt, I expect these guys will, but we will have to see it on the field of course.

I agree, but part of why we couldnt stop them is that our defense was gassed because our offense wasnt making any first downs, or eating any clock. And that goes back to abandoning Montgomery. I also think it should be said that Roquan looks fat and slow right now, let's hope he plays himself into shape.

the shotgun run on 4th and goal was stupid, but abandoning Montgomery in the middle of the game was why we lost today.

Bears defense is gassed, I dont know why we got away from Montgomery after the first TD drive. Last week, we stayed with the run even when it wasnt working. The price is a tired defense, and all the gashing runs up the middle. Now with a turnover, the Bears are down two scores, so if they can get another turnover, or score on some long drives to rest the D, that conditioning thing has a chance.

right. however good we manage to be this year, we will be significantly improved next year. This is year 0, but damn if they arent already looking like they want to win now.

hahaha GO Adam!

well said, I think youre right. 27+ to have a shot at winning.

I think one of the best things I've heard from Eberflus so far is the idea that the Bears win and lose on their own, it doesnt matter who the opponent is. And also that they out work people so they have an advantage in the 4th quarter. If he can keep this team believing that, we could do quite well.

We are a real Tony Dungy Cover 2, run the ball, eat clock, get turnovers, beat you with conditioning in the 4th quarter kind of team. In the future we will take shots downfield off of play action too. Fields has the talent, but he also has the grit for this style of ball.

This is beautiful "Its always going to be about us, it doesnt matter what color the other teams jersey is" and all the conditioning they do meaning they own the 4th quarter. I mean COME ON this is what good coaching looks like. Wow its been a long time.

I dont think we kicked their ass at all - if they had the coach that we have theyd have destroyed us. Im really happy we won - I love it, and I see good things ahead for this team, but we all saw the O line getting destroyed, and the lack of run stopping on D. We have a long road to go, but for the first time in a LONG time, we're actually on the right road at least.

amen

yes, and they all played "within themselves" this wasnt a case of our talent rolling over them, but of a master chef taking inferior ingredients and just cooking better than the guy who has all the tools, but no discipline. HITS is working.

100% - imagine how good we are going to be after a year of draft picks and free agents. GREAT Coaching.

It IS on purpose, it's the 90s Dungy Bucs game plan all over again!!

It is obvious that the SF roster has more talent than ours does. We won today because the coaching ghost of Tony Dungy is haunting Halas Hall. Eburflus is an even better Lovie Smith. SF beat themselves with penalties, while we played clean. We worked for turnovers. We stayed with the running game LONG past the time when Nagy would have panicked, and many coaches would have gone into desperation mode. We kept our coverage rule breaking route combinations up our sleeve until the 4th quarter, kept it close and then played the cards Nagy would have tried in the first quarter. Had they worked ion the first, youd have woken up the SF offense, and wouldnt have those plays new for the 4th. The Tony Dungy Cover 2 style is to play clean, eat clock, hang around to the 4th quarter, and strangle you out 17-13 - the NFL equivalent of Brazillian Ju Jitsu. I love what I'm seeing from this staff. Yes, we could use a few more draft picks and free agents, but the structure that is being built here is evident today. Great win, much better than a fumbled punt return for a cheap touchdown. We were grinding today. Oh, and even though he didnt have a lot of WRs open, or time in the pocket, Fields began stacking arguments to prove that he is a franchise QB delivering a dirty, gritty and gut-ty performance. All in all a great day, considering the gap in talent on paper. Nice!

we BARELY survived, I mean remember Leno??

LOL, well this year 0 is gonna lead to year 1 of the hard hitting fearsome Bears era, during which we will regain the all time wins - loss record over the Packers.

I think we will see individual players ascend, and flashes from them, but we will also have holes. By week 12 we will be screaming about one or two names - holes that the NFL has learned to exploit. But we will also know if Fields is the guy, and who around him will be part of our future. Then with that info, we go into next season with draft picks and more salary cap room than any team in the league. This is year 0. Now, if by some chance, all the players ascend, and the coaching is solid, and Fields is the guy, then we might surprise a bunch of people. But even if the first scenario is the outcome, we are on track to building an actual team. I'll be rooting for the team to win, but I'll be watching where the strong and weak parts are, and as long as the good stuff remains consistent, then we will know what we have, and what we need.

OK, googling more, I found this from 2015 - if the rule is still the same, Poles may have opened up some cap room with this move. https://landryfootball.com/understanding-nfl-minimum-salaries-veteran-cap-benefit-rule-free/ "For instance, a player who re-signs with a club on a 1 year $745,000 contract with more than two years of experience–let’s say (5)— would qualify for the cap hit benefit making his 2015 cap figure $585,000."

They would have known there were no other DTs that fit before they released him, so this definitely wasnt a mistake or a changed mind. There is some reason that doing this gave them some advantage. I think it has to do with the rules around minimum guaranteed vet salary. I THINK (but could be wrong) that if you sign a guy to the vet minimum deal in camp, and he makes the opening day roster, the money is guaranteed for the whole year, but if you sign him after camp, then you can cut him any time without having to pay the rest of the year. IF this is true, then Poles just converted Pennel into someone he can cut later. Youd only do that if you wanted to have the ability to bring someone else in, or elevate someone from the practice squad half way through the year, and not have to pay Pennel anymore? I guess Poles is going to play with the bottom of the roster for the next couple months, and that makes sense (if I understand the rule correctly). Also, seeing Eiselen is active just means he is the backup at C because Patrick cant snap with a cast on his hand.

the little Ive been able to figure out is that if they kept him without this cut and re-sign, his salary would be guaranteed for the whole year, but now, they can cut him any time, and not have to pay the rest. Im not sure why they bother though, hes not being paid a lot. Maybe to make him trade bait? Or to be free to pick up another player cut over the next few weeks?

can you say more, Im googling, but not finding the specifics of why this move made sense? Im sure it did, so please explain?

ah youre right. I wonder who #4 will be - Suh?

Is Tonga coming up to be #4?