AZ54

Probably wanted to stay in NO. Let’s hope that 8” of snow got him ready for Chicago.

We need someone that is smart and hungry to become an OC. If Johnson trusts him to put the work in and get the details right that's all I need to know.

Yes. Don’t trade him coach him.

I always felt McGlinchey was too stiff and over-rated. I was glad Poles was out bid.

Sean Payton was always focused on not having pressure up the middle. He was less concerned with the edges because he felt his QB could/should always be able to step up in the pocket. Our glaring need meets the guy who was apparently one of the best at fixing it. That would likely mean acceptance of Braxton Jones at LT. It's also easier to help a little outside on the edge if needed via TE, RB and still get the receiver out into space. IIRC, Minn likes to saturate interior blockers and get someone free up the middle. For whatever reason last night I watched a Rob Ryan short video on the old 46 scheme and it was the same with heavy presence right over Center where it's easiest to get pressure on the QB.

Only if the Dline is eating first.

Of course

If Fields had worked out Poles and Flus would have been in contract balance with him, but I get your point.

It's hard to say with the OC role because it will be Ben Johnson's offense and Ben will be calling the plays. He's looking for someone to run it for him during the week which i would think is someone coming from Detroit, or at least someone he's worked with before that he can trust. I doubt that would preclude Ben from hiring the rest of his offensive staff. Defense is the other way around where I think someone has already agreed in principle to take the job and he's hiring the coaches that guy wants. For sure these coordinator decisions can't be too far off.

Meanwhile in Dallas... https://bearswire.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/bears/2025/01/25/cowboy-hire-matt-eberflus-as-defensive-coordinator/77945498007/

While our Bears family has been disfunctional I disagree. JAX is literally at the point where the HC is deciding who his GM will be. I think at times we've been there before (hiring coaches before GM) but we definitely hired Poles first and handed him the keys.. with a geo fence setup.

I'm really curious about Campbell at Center. I don't really know what physical traits make for a good Center. I get the intelligence side needed for the protection calls.

Lots of defensive studs all around. What's great is that we'll get to see their 1v1 against Oline prospects. In many years you're hoping to see Oline get some 1v1 against a top defensive prospect but those happens infrequently. This year these Oline guys are not getting a break on any reps.

Time to kick off the draft process... I've only just begun looking into draft prospects and there are already some names on this list I'd love to draft like Walter Nolen. TJ Sanders. Deone Walker at 6'6" 345lbs is a unicorn as a pass rusher but why can't he stop the run? I gotta start digging into the other names on this list. https://thedraftnetwork.com/2025/01/23/senior-bowl-2025-edge-idl-primer

In other news for our former candidates: Brian Schottenheimer to the Cowboys. Was he even on any other team's radar? Was Jerry just looking for someone who would take orders from him? Pete Carroll takes on the John Fox role for the Raiders. Liam Coen appears to be headed to JAX? He might be a good OC but I don't see him as HC material, at least not at this point in his career. Is the owner hiring a HC before a GM and what does Ian Cunningham think of that? Plus the backstory of Coen asking for more money to remain OC in Tampa after his interview with JAX and refusing their offer for a 2nd interview. Tampa agreed only to see Coen refuse to answer multiple phone calls from the Bucs when it was time to sign the new deal. He had quietly left to visit JAX again. I can't see Ian wanting to join that circus.

Of course Allen does have the right to refuse any job offer. I would say however that if he gave his word to the Bears and Johnson and went back on it, then we don't really want him here. The NFL world is a very small community. These guys all know each other, or know someone who knows that coach. With veteran coaches at most there are 2 degrees of separation. Possibly 3 degrees when you get down to some newer position coaches. They're all chatting around with each other each offseason trying to help their friends get jobs. Its like hanging out at the smoking area at work. The smokers always know what is really going on. Ben Johnson was asked...for someone who had been vocal (picky?) about what he wanted in an organization why did he decide to come to Chicago and work with Ryan Poles when he had never even met him in person nor visited the facility. What gave him confidence this was going to work? Ben simply said they have had a lot of common connections in their careers and there were plenty of people he knew and trusted who told him all about Poles. That didn't happen the day after the Lions lost. Ben had to have been doing his research on the team and organization for weeks in advance. I'm sure he did the same with the other job openings he had interest in. From the Zoom interview he was able to confirm what he'd been told and then asked a few other questions such as is George going to be meddling in football decisions.

I was thinking the same about having more competent and experienced coaches around will help in the evaluations.

Why not both? Zeitler isn't going to command a huge salary. I'm not sure he'll want to leave Detroit but he just might follow Ben. This draft is super deep on Dline. Spend in FA to fix IOL, use a 3rd Rd pick on a future Center. The rest of the top 100 picks go toward the Dline. On day 3 we address S and RB.

Agreed. Some future DC signed off on this hire (of a former Packer). https://www.dallasnews.com/sports/cowboys/2025/01/24/cowboys-defensive-backs-coach-al-harris-joining-chicago-bears-staff-per-report/

Ah the job nobody wants. Interesting.

Remember the rules require at least 2 minorities be interviewed for all coordinator positions.

Finally got to watch the press conference with Ben Johnson. He was surprisingly emotional. Refreshingly honest, detailed, and focused. Caleb has survived this far mostly on his elite talent. I believe he's going to get a rude awakening on things he needs to work on. A directness that, IMO, he really needs. I think grasshopper Caleb knows that as well.

Ben had a big influence on the defense in that game. It had to be disappointing too when he called those interception plays.

We were worried about the new guys leadership? He just walked into Halas Hall and owned it.

I commented on the wrong radio show...but here's the link.