AZ54

Well earned! If the standard is that you changed the way the game had to be played when you were on the field then nobody is more deserving. Can't wait for the ceremony. https://x.com/ProFootballHOF/status/1812905556815798409

Sign Connor Williams.

100% this makes sense. The biggest data point for that is the fact Odunze hasn’t signed. #1 picks overall may or may not have details to iron out but not really at #9. Also we’ve seen nothing from Odunze, nor Williams, that they don’t want to get to work right away. Williams is focused on setting records in his career. The first one he can get is to be the first #1 overall QB to win his first NFL game.

I doubt they change a safety this far into his career, especially one new to the team and scheme. Add in that our safety depth is a big problem, at least IMO. Gordon's backup might be sliding Tyrique Stevenson inside and then put Smith outside. As a physical CB Stevenson is built well for that role. He might not have the elite quickness of Gordon but as discussed in the article I think he has the other attributes needed plus we play more zone coverage. This is definitely a backstory to watch in training camp.

Good article with some interesting background on how NB are used. Also the '22 draft was insane for DB talent. https://www.matchquarters.com/p/golden-age-of-the-nickel-defense-titans-mccreary

Totally classless. I support Pix having the right to his opinion. I support you having the right to yours as well.

Someone put part of that on X and was making a big deal about how accurate Williams was on warm up throws to receivers who were jogging.

Almost by definition there will be significantly more KR and therefore more KR TDs. It will affect the outcome of games just as Hester did for us. I like it because I'd rather not see the league beholden to the teams with the best QBs. Keep it a team sport in all phases. Poles thought enough of special teams to use a 4th Rd pick on a punter. I still enjoy watching the kicks and kick returns precisely because of that unknown factor... be it a fumble, muffed punt, big return to flip the field, etc.

How is a team “better” if they can’t cover kick or even punt returns?

Hard to imagine anything worse than watching touchback after touchback. What is the point of paying millions of dollars for coaches and players and running a non competitive play?

?

Believe it or not that is actually just a minimum wage contract for the NFL. Go look at min salary for each year. No risk to the team whatsoever. If he makes the practice squad it’s done on a different deal. https://www.spotrac.com/nfl/cba/minimum/

It certainly feels like we're going to add one more decent vet FA. I'd say most likely on the Dline but can't rule out Williams at Center.

AI is complete and utter BS. To borrow a phrase from the 1980s.... garbage in garbage out. Plus on the top of the "data set" they are using or not using you have absolutely no idea how that AI is programmed. The most common AI systems in use today are simply plain text readers. Meaning you can interact with the computer via everyday language. Which is cool but you still have no clue what the underlying program is designed to do. Drug company using AI to find new cancer drugs... but does it program it to find drugs that maximize profits? Is the most economical for consumers? Most efficacious? Just using a theoretical example people can relate to.

I watched the Kay Adam’s interviews from Halas Hall today. It’s safe to say it’ll be game on in practice.

I’m just joking around a little bit although I am at the point where I just want to see him throwing too NFL caliber receivers. Fortunately we actually have some of them on our roster now. Smile.

The past doesn’t matter. Now that it’s done he must be the one.

Much appreciated!

Thank you!

I agree. Caleb needs that extra time as does everyone with a brand new offense. I don't expect we'll see much of anything with the new offensive starters during this game but I'll gladly take that extra week of practice.

Finding a better option at Center is still at the top of my list. Regardless of all the other talk about pick this guy or that guy, the reality is Caleb appears to be happy to be in Chicago and it wasn't clear to me early on that would be the case. I can't argue with Odunze either. I also realize pairing a rookie QB with a rookie C is a really bad idea. After Fields was cut and it was clear we were all Caleb or nothing pinning my hopes that we'd get one of the top two or three prospects at C was fantasy. But we could we have at least had a Day 3 prospect in the chute instead of a punter. This punter better be eye opening good. Bates needs to be sufficient at C and Waldron needs to be better at play calling than what we've had to endure recently. Williams needs to play on time for the most part and we should be ok.

Pix, My condolences. I just lost my mother about 10 days ago so I haven't been online much recently. I cannot imagine what you have endured. Your message rings true. Our families are a gift, Bear Down and make the time for them.

The bears are coming to AZ. I’ll be at the game. I’ll bet we’ll have a huge Bears crowd again.

I didn’t say he’s just an arm. I said it’s his arm talent that is generational. Other traits as you said were not even best in class. Of the top 6 QBs if you ranked them in each category I’m confident Caleb is top 2 or 3 in each except fumbles. He might be last there and if I wasn’t using my phone I’d look it up. Overall those traits made him the best prospect but he’ll need time to fix those bad habits. He gets one big advantage because our offense is all new with many new skill position players. Nobody knows what to expect in the first few games.

Caleb is a QB with generational arm talent. That's it, although he has other positive traits. He has a ton of learning to do. Ball security is horrible with 30 fumbles in college. Deep passing is inaccurate but should improve IF he can improve his footwork in the pocket. He needs a lot of work to get rid of the happy feet. He is a rare arm talent that can get away with that on shorter throws simply because he can throw off-angle but IMO when you start getting beyond 20yds it really affects his accuracy. A bunch of his "big play" highlights showed open receivers having to make big adjustments to the ball, adjustments that usually brought the coverage back into the play. Over-selling him for what he is at this point won't change any of the bad habits. IMO he's got the work ethic but he needs to hear the criticism to drive him to improve. I hope our coaches are already in his ear doing just that. To start with, this year he needs to do what he too often refused to do at USC.... take the easy read and let his teammates do the work. There will be times when plays break down and then he can go do his thing. I just hope the plays aren't breaking down because he is still bypassing the open early-read while looking for the big gain. Bottom line for me is that this year his teammates need to lift his play. He has the players around him to do that if he just lets them do their job.