AZ54

Yes and that was another reason to get Fields on the field this season.

Didn't get to see the game so thank to all for the summary. We're going to have to do something with Jackson. Bush or DHC might also give up some big plays but they also makes other good plays to somewhat offset things.

I don't think it's likely they are extending Quinn as that would have rolled up into his new deal. More likely they realized Quinn's performance made them comfortable he should be staying around in 2022 and 2023. Shuffling the money likely didn't affect cap space much in future years but will affect dead money and cap savings in those years if we were to cut him. Putting it in post here so we can if the numbers change. https://overthecap.com/player/robert-quinn/1343/ 2022 dead - $9.3mil, savings $6.7mil 2023 dead - $6.2mil, savings $10.9mil They are making room for someone else's extension and the most likely target IMO is Roquan not ARob, and definitely not Hicks. At this point ARob seems replaceable, Roquan is not. Unless ARob suddenly realized his market value is crashing and he'd like to stay here with Fields on a team friendly deal. Either way any money they can pull into this year on a new contract probably helps. 2021 cap hit $6mil 2022 Smith is on the books for $9.7mil for the 5th year option. We have to expect this is the baseline deal for Roquan and Leonard's cap hit for 2021 is $8.2mil. The Bears can now handle Roquan's cap hit increasing from $6mil to ~ $9mil. https://overthecap.com/player/darius-leonard/6921/ "Darius Leonard signed a five year, $98.25 million contract extension with $52.5 million in guarantees on August 9, 2021. $33 million is guaranteed at signing including a $20 million signing bonus."

Me too mostly because I thought Edmunds would offer more as a pass rusher and we needed that help in a bad way pre-Mack of course. In their careers Edmunds has 5.5 sacks and Smith 13 so I freely admit I was wrong. Edmunds is on a team with lots of good defensive players around him, especially up front so no excuses there.

https://bearswire.usatoday.com/2021/10/13/bears-packers-justin-fields-aaron-rodgers-week-6-matchup/ “My job is to win,” Fields told reporters Wednesday. “My job isn’t to be better than any quarterback. As long as we win, I’m doing my job the right way.” He's willing to just play his role. This kind of leadership from a top draft pick who was a big time collegiate star will permeate the entire roster.

We'll probably have to cut our losses on that contract but it won't happen this year. In the meantime, I like what I see so far from Desai. He's got a lot on his hands as a new coordinator but as he settles in, along with his assistants learning what he wants from their position group, I'd like to see if he can turn around Jackson's performance. As mentioned Bush and DHC seem to be playing better than past years so if they continue then I think we'll see some snap count adjustments.

It's getting more interesting. As I said many people knew about all this a decade ago so why now, and who is behind this? https://nypost.com/2021/10/13/jon-gruden-scandal-washington-cheerleaders-furious-over-photos/ ...and a good bit on the hypocrisy of the NFL in its treatment (firing) of Gruden versus NFL players who have been accused of far worse (Antonio Brown, DeSean Jackson come to mind and both are getting an NFL paycheck). In the meantime lets get ready for the rappers at the Superbowl halftime show because if the NFL is legit with these standards it will be highly entertaining to watch the after-show. I'm sure all their lyrics fit the "Gruden" standards. I'm not part of the holier than thou club and I do believe in 2nd chances and that people can a do change for the better. I also think the NFL has every right to decide who represents them in the public space. If they want to be taken seriously they should be consistent in their standards but... https://spectatorworld.com/life/jon-gruden-nfl-raiders-roger-goodell/

This will be a good game to flip the script and start rolling out Fields more often especially from play action. I believe they've seen enough of our run-heavy sets the last couple games and will come out hard against the run to make Fields beat them through the air. Based on what I saw in their last game (yes I scouted a Packers' game) they don't have the edge rushers to challenge him (as Cleveland did). Use the heavy formations in the run game but start using the TEs on routes more like we've been waiting to see happen. Their LBs will have to make a quick decision on run support, pass coverage, or chase Fields to the outside. This might be a good game to use that play they ran with Jesse James in the preseason that got him a wide open TD pass, but do that with Jesper. It's the type of play that has to be setup a few times to get the whole defense running that way and their backup DBs might not be as disciplined as they should be. Maybe I should just say we shouldn't expect the same running game to be as easily done this week and we're going to have to do something different to win.

What do you know and when did you know it?

Yes it is. Remember the offense took a bye week during the Cleveland game.

The stuff he's been saying has gone on for years. The bigger question is who out'ed him and why? Why now and not 10 years ago? Why were they, and apparently many others, willing to cover this up for so long and how is that acceptable?

If you watch the All-22 can you take a look at ARob and let us know if he's able to get any separation? Seems like on all of Fields' throws in ARob's direction he's tightly covered. I know he can make contested catches but that alone is not worth $20mil/yr. It can also be that Fields is just late on the timing and that's obvious on some plays.

I agreed with your assessment during the game. He never made it but I have to say I like the fact the league has moved away from overturning anything and everything and is leaning toward letting the call on the field stand unless it's totally conclusive.

Maybe one day I'll be motivated again to subscribe and get the All-22 tape. That's where you get to see the good and the bad. Today is not that day so I'll take your word here. The backups (DHC, Bush)are finally starting to play better but it took years to see them play like this. If I'm not mistaken they were doing a rotation with Gipson on the field part time against the Raiders. Maybe we ran some 3 safety schemes? If Jackson continues to struggle will they use this type of rotation with Bush/DHC taking snaps away from Jackson? At this point drafting a safety in Rd 2/3 is my plan this offseason. You are correct his contract for next year in untenable but the whole league knows that. We'd have to give away a pick or another player in a deal (no good options) to move him but I'd just as soon keep the pick to help find a replacement. snap counts against Raiders:

We really need to be giving Desai more credit for the way our D is performing. Each week they seem to get better perhaps minus Bo Jack. I say that just because game broadcasts don't show safety play that well but the obvious miscues on coverages are still there on his side of the field. Regardless, the overall view is that we went on the road and held the Raiders passing game to 206 yds, and nobody got over the top of the D. There was a 50/60yd drop late in the game that should be added in but whatever. We gave up no passing TDs which no other team has done this year to the Raiders. Overall that's a good day so I tend to think there is improvement in the secondary and Jackson is part of that. I also think he's being more physical, mostly around the LOS, so someone or something is getting to him. The first thing about making tackle is you have to want to do it. I don't think he wanted to tackle in the first couple games. I'm likely in the minority but I liked his play at the goal line where he stole the ball from the RB. If not for a few inches or 0.1 second that's a game day highlight. If he's getting back the emotion and desire to be a football player then the passes defensed and interceptions will show up in the 2nd half of the season. I think Desai is starting to bring back the swagger our D had years ago under Fangio.

I can't see the Giants doing anything for a concussion issue unless or until it becomes a serious 4-6 week ordeal. Nor are they a playoff caliber team that really wants to stay in the hunt thinking they can get healthy and make a big run in the post season. Any team short of that is probably ok with a higher draft pick. In any case I say we keep Dalton. He's got this offense down better than Foles and Fields needs that help on the sidelines. Damien Williams was asked about Fields going out and he said it without hesitation: No problem we know we got 14 coming in. Dalton got a first down for the team and then Fields went back out there.

100% agree. He's the leader of the defense and needs a new contract. It shows in his post game press conference. https://www.chicagobears.com/video/roquan-smith-on-20-9-victory-over-las-vegas-press-conference

I was assured they were the best drafting team in the NFL.

Bring on Jesper!

I agree with this. Nagy is not a bad guy just not a good OC. OTOH Meyer has lost his team: https://news.yahoo.com/jaguars-players-yelled-grind-huddle-145355492.html

Geno looked good subbing in for Wilson. Can't see them making any changes in the next couple weeks unless Geno returns to his old ways.

Thankfully my college grades couldn't go negative. Not that I didn't stress the system because after all, a man has to find his limits. Apparently there is still DVOA room at the bottom for Nagy to explore his.

I had forgotten the Dolphins came up to Chicago during training camp so aside from the usual film from his games, we got a close look at Grant in a couple days of practice against our team. Just another piece of the puzzle as they searched around the league for a returner.

I corrected point 2 for ya.

I have the same set of glasses, but not the same whiskey.