BearFan PHX

I agree with all of that. High side of rookies, for sure. And I also agree that just because I expect mistakes doesnt mean Caleb cant come out and just kill it from the start either. I wouldnt put any ceiling on this team. I dont expect a superbowl for us this year, and I wouldnt bet money on one but its not impossible. Starting now, nothing is.

WOWl, thanks for posting that AZ! I watched the whole thing, and I gotta say, what a really cool centered guy with everything in perspective. I dont know that youd call him humble, but he has aspects of self respect and respect for others that often go along with humility. After seeing that, I feel like the Williams camp did a horrible job of PR around Caleb. Not that its gonna matter, hes gonna be #1 overall anyway, and make his way in the NFL, but I had no idea he was that mature, cool and disciplined. I didnt think my opinion of Williams could improve, but that interview moved my respect for him even that much higher. He is a true leader, and I'm gonna be proud to have this guy as my QB.

Hes a generational prospect with a high chance to be a generational QB in the league, but first he will be a rookie. There is no reason we cant get 10 wins, but he isnt going to be generational right out of the gate. You have to expect him to throw his rookie interceptions like ALL of them do. Even the greats.

I dont think 10 wins is unreasonable, i just wouldnt be "disappointed" if we won fewer games as long as we looked good doing it. Well I mean, of occourseurse I would, personally, emotionally, be disappointed, so I totally understand and agree. but as far as how I would measure success for this year, it will be more about the product on the field than pure wins and losses. And this should be the last year I have to say that for a LONG time, Halas willing. LOL It's Calebs first year, and I want to see him play well, but some mistakes are bound to come in year one. After that though, then it's reality. But we could definitely go into the playoffs this year too. No reason to put a ceiling on this team at all!

A Playoff appearance would be great, but what I need to see are flashes of greatness from Williams. If, for example, Williams is awful throwing the ball, b ut we run the ball well and play defense and go to a playoff game, Im going to be disappointed. On the other hand, if Williams is showing a lot of what we drafted him for, but for some reason or another we only get 8 wins, I will be ok. I need to see Williams show he is going to be that guy, and I know in adjusting his game he is going to make mistakes and learn from them too, so that's OK. As to the topic question, I am extremely excited, and I am so glad to see everyone getting on the same bandwagon together. This should be a really fun ride. Thanks Caleb! Thanks Poles! Time for the Bears to be good again.

Yeah thats fearless. Awesome.

yeah, it's going to be a lot of fun. I will be glued to the TV.

Good point - youre talking about his floor, which I agree is pretty stable. Of course we all hope he exceeds his base abilities and becomes great, but the risk of him being a total bust seems very low based on what he has already put on film.

well said. It really does feel different. It is all fitting together, the timing of the rest of the roster etc. Poles obviously had a plan and stuck to it with discipline. and I think we are all expecting DL, OL or WR, but I suppose Brock Bowers is in there somewhere too as a wild card. Cant wait to see who it is - and while I dont have any clue who it will be, the guy at pick 75 could be exciting too.

Let's start a fight about whether Caleb is better than Luckman! LOL Seriously, this is an amazing time for us, our future is ascending, and that direction should continue to increase for several years. It's a good time to be a Bears fan!

We've never had one. This is about to be a very good era for us and the Bears!

of WR, DL and OL - best player available.

I think the idea is you want to give Caleb his signature guy to develop ESP with - that kind of communication because you grew up in the offense together, and you already know what the other guy is thinking. In the 70s and 80s there was always that stud receiver paired with the star QB for multiple seasons. If Poles is looking long term, then he loves Keenan Allen for giving Caleb a jump start, but he looks at that position as a hole long term. So this is our last top ten draft draft for a while. You want to use it on an impact position, which is QB (already done), Pass Rusher (including 3T), OT or WR. So you ask yourself not just what does the roster need this year, but who are my pillars for the next 10 years. If you think one of the WRs is a game changer, you take them regardless of Allen being on the roster. If you think there is a pass rusher who will take over games, you take him. If you think there is a left tackle that will keep Caleb clean for the next 12 years, you take him. So rather than looking at position and this years roster, ask instead, of the D linemen, WRs and OTs, which player is truly a difference maker. If you think Jared Verse is an edge rusher that can take over games and make Montez Sweat DE2, then you grab him. But if he isnt that, but some OT is, then you gotta go with the most talented game changer regardless of position. Maybe thats an argument for Bowers, or for trading up. Or maybe someone thinks Fashanu or Turner or whoever is that guy. But that's the point - whos the best impact player you can get, not what fills a roster hole in 2024 a little better?

Caleb green flag! LOL Apparently he's been meeting with the team on zoom calls every week having "frank" discussions - one assumes about ball security - and that speaks to being open to coaching. Awesome.

I guess the question is how you evaluate Fashanu. He is the only OT (after Alt) I think is worthy of the #9 pick. If we trade down, there are all kinds of OL options a little later, but they arent going to be blue chip Left OTs. Maybe Poles will get one of the big RTs a little later and move Wright to LT. Im not a big fan of moving guys who are dominating at their position, but maybe that's a smart move? Also, who is the Edge rusher? Im not sold on Latus injuries, or Turners scheme fit (I could be way off on that tho!) and Im not sure Verse jumps out as a difference maker the way Alt, Nabers, MHJ and Odunze do? This is our last top ten pick for a while, we need a difference maker, and to me, after Alt and the 3 WRs, thats probably Fashanu or Thomas. I probably need to go watch some film on Turner to be sure where I am on him. If he's that good, or Verse is, the DE is definitely a difference making position. I mean, the whole reason Im looking at OT is because they block the Edges lol

If Alt is there at 9 we will take him, but he wont make it to 7.

yeah, I just disagree, but I have no more facts than you (or Spielman) does, just my opinion too.

true. but you also have a lesser chance of hitting a home run too with lower picks, so it's like buying insurance against a bust, but you lose on the premiums?

Thank you for saying that. Listen i dont think that Spielman said it makes it WRONG either, it's just another opinion for sure. I just think the Bears are considering OT with their second pick. And DL and WR too.

Ok I can agree with that, a 5th round pick, you dont expect greatness so if you find it its a bonus. BUt if your plan is to build a roster, then youre picking higher because thats where the more likely successes are? So trading down doesnt necessarily make it better. When it comes to a 3rd rounder, year, 2 4ths are probably better, but if you have a certain guy targeted who fell, then thats better. But either way, this is our last top pick for a while, so you want to get a blue chip player if you can, and not just give away your upside for insurance?

if a 3T is the best DL available, we could definitely use them.

no, it's not a higher risk. more busts come out of each later round than in the first round. What I think you've discovered is that more unexpected players are able to break out of the mold at lower rounds at WR than OL. But lower round picks are still much more likely to bust?

I mostly agree. I think you can add Fashanu and possibly Thomas to the "take at 9" list which would lessen the trade down likelihood to only stupid rich trade offers. Or to just moving down to 11 or something.

totally, and we were there for a LONG time. You keep the roster decent, especially maybe on defense, and you dont lose enough games to get that really good QB. Trapped in the middle. This is why the idea of building a roster around a lesser QB is a bad idea. You dont win superbowls, but you dont fail enough to get a winner at QB.

I agree with all of this! Leno was a nightmare. PFF told us he was gold. LOL That's when I really soured on PFF. Like all of us, we watched the games, and saw how absolutely awful he was, and they were praising him as a top LT. It was probably the beginning of needing to see my own film. I also agree that having a QB like Williams who moves in the pocket in ways to help the OL will make things better, but I also know how a top 10 OL helps you win games, and close them out. If you can make first downs on the ground, there is no need to punt and play prevent defense. Imagine having Caleb as a top QB, and being able to still lean heavily on the run? That's how you win playoff games.