dawhizz

Ideally Poles would have added someone you could play at RT, but since he hasn’t I guess I have to go there at #9, even though I’m not really in love with this OT class. Of course, the other way I could go is that, if Poles didn’t prioritize RT in FA, why would he prioritize it in the draft? So, with that in mind, I’ll take the guys I want, which is Witherspoon at 9 (because there is zero depth behind Johnson/Gordon and you need three good CBs) and then some combination of C (Wypler/Schmitz/Avila/Tippman), OT (Freeland/Duncan) and edge (Tuipolatu/Hall/Foskey).

Keaton Mitchell from East Carolina is another guy who might fit the bill.

I have to say I feel the same way. The trade of #1 was great, but free agency has been very suspect IMO. He had the most cap space in the league, has spent about half of it, and has upgraded 1 (maybe 1 1/2) units on the worst team in the league almost a week into free agency is not great. LB is unquestionably better. Offensive line is better but still missing a competent starting C or RT. He’s made additions to QB and RB but I can’t say either of those units are markedly better than they were. You bring in a DE who played 40% of snaps last year and did well, but so did Muhammad the year before he hit here, so is the D-line noticeably better now? I guess there’s still time and money, but most of the big fish are gone and fear do the Bears really have to show for it?

Looks the Bears moved quickly and signed Travis Homer. He’s more of a 3rd down/ST guy so I guess they are giving Herbert the starting job. Homer’s also supposed to be a great pass protector, which given how our O-line is shaking out is gonna be needed.

I try to sign Mattison from the Vikings, do a little in division RB switch of our own (or even Jamaal Williams for a real switcheroo).

I'm trying to come around to this signing. And I'll throw a bunch of caveats in - I like the player plenty, Poles could still sign a decent OT, etc. But if you are going to allocate money in what is kind of a defining year for your QB, I don't know why you are doing it for an ILB but not a RT. You obviously want to see what Fields can do with weapons, which you have addressed but if he's still running for his life because you've got a rookie at RT, that doesn't help your evaluation process. You can upgrade all you want on the line, but its only as good as your worst player. If your defense is still bad, but you got Fields weapons and protection and you know what you have with him, that's still a successful season and you can go into the next draft/offseason knowing what you have to fix. If your defense is keeping you in games, but you still don't know what Fields is yet because line play is still bad, that's a problem. Plus, there's still lots of work to be done on the DL. So if Edmunds and Edwards have great tackle totals next year, but it's because our DL play is still bad and they are making plays 5-10 yards downfield (like Sanborn this year), don't expect me to be super impressed. Not to mention the fact that it borderline locks the Bears into needing to spend their first pick this year on an OT, because you can't really plan on an OT being available at the end of the 2nd round who can play RT right away. I never like to be a team in that position. Maybe you can find a way to trade down in the first and trade up in the second to give yourself two shots at a RT solution, but again you can't really count on that. I really hope it works out, and the Bears have the time (and the $$$) to fix it, I'm just kinda skeptical at this point.

I feel like the mice at this point would be throw as much money as you can stand at McGary to shore up RT, and then nab two veteran DTs who can start or rotate in - there are a ton still left I would feel just fine with.

Feels like the Bears plan is pretty clear, IMO. Like Dylan said, you don’t need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows. I’d be shocked if we don’t hear the following additions from the Bears in the first 24 hours or so of the legal tampering period: - 1 starting-caliber RT out of McGlinchy, Taylor, and McGary - 1 starting-caliber 3T out of Dre’Mont Jones, David Onyemata, or Zach Allen (or possibly Poona Ford or maybe they even bring back Ogunjobi). - Yannick Ngakoue or comparable edge (Ebukam, Okoronkwo) - Okereke at LB. - A starting caliber G/C. Maybe they go after a CB too down the line, but I think those are the priorities. They’ll probably also commit to a RB plan, whether it’s bringing back Monty, pivoting to someone like Mattison, or standing pat to see how things shake out.

I don’t know if it makes sense, but #9 looks like a sweet spot for the top CBs, Witherspoon and Gonzalez, and I do kind of like the idea of locking in a talented, young secondary by adding one of them to Johnson, Gordon, Brisker, and Jackson.

Honestly, at this point I think one of the best indicators of where Fields is really at would be sitting him against the Jets and seeing what Siemien does with the same offense and personnel. I see a lot of fans talking about how he has no protection and how no one’s open and any criticism of him as a passer is ridiculous. Which means Siemien would get absolutely buried facing the Jets (admittedly a really good defense who has given a lot of even good QBs trouble). However, if he magically starts funding open receivers, maybe that says something too.

How can you trust Fields? On the Bears last four drives before the muffed punt return by Jones, Fields completed a total of one pass for 2 yards.

Fields just ain’t it, man. These are unacceptable statistical performances. I don’t care what the scheme is or your surrounding cast is. No other #1 QB in the league would put up these numbers. Everyone acted like the Bears personnel decisions set up Fields to fail, but I see plenty of plays with decent protection and open options and just misses. He’s started nearly a season’s worth of games and has four total games over 200 yards passing and none over 300.

It's pretty interesting to me that the Bears apparently did not blitz at all yesterday, they they still got some decent pressure and two sacks. Plus, we come away with a win and Green Bay hasn't seen any of our regular season blitz packages going into the game next week. Something to watch . . .

Bears claimed WR Ihmir Smith-Marsette off waivers from the Vikings and put Harry on IR.

Bears might be slower on this than other teams because they are also cutting guys who presumably they would like to have back on the PS, but I don’t know how that timing works.

3:00 pm

Kellen Diesch, UDFA OT cut by Dolphins, but he was expected to be drafted by most.

Forgot Harry is probably going to IR to start the season so maybe they can keep Carter and Thomas.

Bears added six players via waiver claims: OL Alex Leatherwood TE Trevin Wesco DT Armon Watts DE Kingsley Johnathan LB Sterling Weatherford DB Josh Blackwell So they’ll need to cut six from the roster announced yesterday. My guesses are Tonges, either Carter or Thomas on the O-line, Pennel, Jaylon Jones, Lamar Jackson, and Joe Thomas.

I can’t pretend to know where any of these guys actually are on the depth chart, but: Guys who I thought helped themselves tonight: Greg Stroman, Davonte Harris, Dante Pettis, Trevon Coley (really hope we keep him) Guys who I thought hurt themselves: Tuggle (fumble), Chris Finke (drop), Duke Shelley,

Newsome might get the spot since he was listed as the #1PR on the recent depth chart, so if that stands that gives him a leg up on the roster spot.

Currently? Not sure. I know Marquette King was the punter for the Raiders for awhile but I think he’s out now.

Guess they weren’t impressed - they’d signed veteran WRs Tajae Sharpe and Dante Pettis today. More bodies at WR.