BearFan PHX

a-men

well if there is more than one team interested, then it doesnt matter that they know we want to get rid of him. They will bid against each other up to his true value. And if there is no trade, Quinn will play for us. And that's what i expect will happen.

One thing I havent seen discussed anywhere is the difference between the RPO and the play action game. In an RPO, there is a LOT of complexity that requires multiple players to all read things the same way, and the QB reaches the mesh point, and then must decide whether to hand the ball off or throw it. If he decides to throw it, he looks up, reads the coverage and hopefully finds an open man. The thing that's missing from this equation is that it is NOT a timing offense. It's more like sandlot football. Tricky, but slower to get the ball out. With a more traditional play action game, the defense is still stressed in similar ways, not knowing whether LBs and safeties should come up and play the RB, or drop into coverage, but the timing of the routes are synchronized to the QBs footwork. When Fields' head comes up from the play fake, it should happen on the same step every time. The first read should be breaking open. If it is covered, a beat later, the QB looks to the second read, which is now coming open (or not). This is why Fields has been a bit rusty with his timing, and also why there is a lot of reason for optimism that it WILL get better. Once the steps are all timed out, the ball should come out fast, and to the right man. And this will hide some flaws on the OL. The RPO has some advantages in that it's more confusing. Like the T formation used to be. The funny thing is, that as the football trend cycle goes around, the new defense to combat this (as shown by VIc Fangio and the Rams) is to drop two safeties deep. Everything old is new again. When we had Lovie, we were riding the end of a cover 2 trend, and offenses were designed and adept at defeating it. Now we are on the beginning of that trend resurfacing. It wont last forever, but speed at the LB position (Smith and Morrow) should be able to take care of seam routes the way Urlacher did. I think we are in the right place at the right time in terms of scheme. Now players need to execute.

me too. the thing preventing it is that when you trade someone you have to take the remaining amount of the guaranteed money in the players contract and spend it against your cap that year. (hat tip to the June 1st thing where you spread it across two years. Still doesn't let you trade a player with multiple years left tho. I feel like if both teams agree, you should be able to include any part or all of that cap liability in a trade, and the team receiving the player be allowed to continue to amortize that money against their cap (relieving the team trading the player of that amount) across the life of the original contract. And of course to renegotiate that into a new deal too, like a team can with their own player. Alternatively, you could allow a team to trade a player, and continue to amortize their guaranteed money against their cap across the term of the existing deal. Either one of those things would facilitate a lot more player to player trades. The only downside I can see is that players wouldnt have leverage in staying at the teams they agreed to play for. Other than that, I dont see how it might muck things up, but I havent thought about it too deeply. Can anyone else suggest ways that doing either of these things would cause trouble? Consider that both teams would have to want a trade for it to happen, so they would be aware of the risks to themselves?

100%

PFF is a joke. Of course the offense needs to show it on the field, but even when PFF says things I agree with, theyre still a joke, so whatever they say means nothing. It will be interesting to watch this group, see how theyu play, and if they add any more players to the room. I still think there is a decent chance for a WR or OL (or both) in free agency too. Not for big money, but after the music stops on June first, and everyone grabs the nearest chair.

so true. they drank their own kool aid. I think Pace is a good guy, a good team player, but thats the problem, he buys in on too much enthusiasm, and didnt have the guts to fire Nagy the prior year. He isnt someone to shape an organization, he'd be a great assistant GM.

totally. if the team we have now can play that would be amazing. I suspect we will need one more draft class to really fill out the team, and hopefully, while the players show improvement and ability, we find dumb ways to lose games so we have a good draft position next year to really build a team that can dominate for years. now, if the guys we already have can come together and do that this year, that'd be even better and should get Poles a GM of the year. And he'd deserve it. (looking at you Pace)

Looking at some tape today, and Morrow really looks good. I think he will be a positive surprise for us on D.

not sure what youre saying. in a one gap front, each DL fills a gap and penetrates, in a two gap front, each DL holds his OL in front of him and plays both gaps. the responsibilities of the DL are totally different. SO in a one gap or a two gap front the DL responsibilities are not the same as you said.

some 4-3 defenses are one gap defenses, and some are two gap defenses. Even within a cover 2 scheme. When Ted Washington glommed up the middle to allow Urlacher to flow, that was a 2 gap defense. When Warren Sapp penetrated his gap, that was a one gap defense.

good one!

yeah, but we all saw it, there was NO blocking. It's not like Monty goes down easy - he finishes his runs. This isnt Monty's fault at all.

very true. either the talent is lacking, or the price is too high, but with all that cap room, if they want to pay a lot for someone who is really good they can.

I dont think he will be thrifty or not thrifty, I think he just doesnt want to sign stop gap free agents to longer term deals. If the right free agent comes along, that you think is your best option to fill the position for a few years, then i dont think he will hesitate. The main thing is not to sign a guy on a 4 year deal because you have a hole this year, and end up married to a guy who is less of a player than you could have ended up with if you'd waited a year or two. Thats all.

I think Montgomery is going to be there too. Maybe i don't understand how he doesn't fit into the scheme, but I see a really talented back with vision who finishes his runs. He hasnt seen a hole his entire time here, and now he will. I think he is going to be a star.

It's just shocking. That is football 101. how would anything work if the timing won't sync. Nagy is a fraud. Ernie Accorsi is a moron.

Just because he slept with her, doesn't mean he raped her. I have no idea what happened. I could imagine him being a total monster, and I could imagine him being the most innocent victim. I wouldn't want to guess. The legal system will have to sort it out. And it can't even know 100%, but it's the best we have. Until something like that or a video of him overpowering her or something becomes available, I'm not going to assume anything about Roquan. No point in guessing. Keep in mind i guess her online name where she released this is @monsterqueef so...

I agree, and after all we've been through, we should be of the same mindset. I really like the changes Ive seen. It looks like they are making good choices. But I need to see it on the field.

This. Plus we signed new directors of Strength and Conditioning who are proteges of Rusty Jones. I said long ago when we got rid of him that injuries would become a problem, and they have. Now with the new approach, I hope to see fewer injuries, and that means more wins. In a lot of ways we are gooing back to the Lovie Smith (Tony Dungy) model, and that's fine with me. This time the cover 2 wont be on the tail end of a trend, but on the front end of it coming around again. The answer to all the tricky motion and RPO? Two deep safeties LOL everything old is new again. In other words, Ernie Accorsi screwed us.

Love the writeup. Lots of good facts, presented very clearly. Thanks! Of course there have been other 2nd year QBs who didnt have 3,500 yards passing, who did perform better in year 3nd beyond too. I do have high hopes for Fields, but I'll wait to see it on the field first. I'd like to see growth, even if he doesn't get all the way there this coming year. That said, your purpose here - to debunk the argument that Fields couldnt possibly succeed in year 2 with this talent around him - is very well made. Fields certainly could do that, and it all depends on his development, not some external ceiling he can't get past. Again, well done on this post.

is Cliff Stein back for us? If so I agree thats very good. EDIT: Answering my own question - YES! https://www.windycitygridiron.com/2022/3/29/23000944/cliff-stein-back-chicago-bears-lead-contract-negotiator-salary-cap-manager-ryan-poles-ryan-pace

I agree. But I want to see development. If we have a few holes in the roster, and teams exploit them over and over to beat us that's fine, as long as other positions are looking solid and growing - looking at you Fields

I agree with both of your last posts. I also think that Poles is looking for upside in second tier FA players, almost like a small time free agent draft. I dont expect him to hit on all of them, but if they are good at this, and bring in a lot of young players, maybe a few will hit and grow into larger long term roles. One thing you do have the luxury of when you're in this position, is to bring in young guys and give them the time, attention and snaps to grow that teams with solid starters can't. We really are building from scratch at a lot of positions, and that is much better than being married with long term deals to guys that are failing.

Yes. I expect that this is the conversation, said or implied. I can also imagine that some players werent throwing their bodies around for Nagy. Eberflus will know if Jackson is performing or not, and make changes accordingly.