AZ54

I don't think I know anyone who trusts Jim Harbaugh. I can't imagine Poles would want to deal with a head case like Harbaugh on personnel decisions.

In terms of play style Bagent appears to be more in the type of Brady or Montana. Neither had the great arm strength, both read plays quickly. I'm talking style of play not productivity on the field! I just watched the clip of Wannstedt saying that if Bagent wins this week that the Bears need to listen to offers for Fields. I realize there's a lot of noise out there in media and former players but Wannstedt is still somewhat close to the organization and he's usually pretty objective about the Bears roster. That statement, made on the air surprised me, and tells me that he sees a lot of the details we're talking about here. As I type this I'm listening to Kreutz also being very complimentary of Bagent. He said we don't have a QB controversy yet but there's no way Fields can't feel the heat after that game. This upcoming game will be interesting.

Better arm strength. I watched Purdy all through college so I have a good feel for what he can do and I think Bagent is a tad better in velocity in a game. Combine numbers back that up but it's game tape that matters most to me. This evaluation from Chase is surprisingly good. Rewatching many of these plays, some with unblocked pass rushers in retrospect I'm shocked how easy Bagent made that game look.

At this point we need to see Bagent work more of the field. I hope the first game gives the coaches the confidence to call more plays in the middle/intermediate area and even a deep throw or two. The Chargers have a decent pass rush but they are the physical type of rush for which our OTs are best suited to play against. Chargers are dead last in defense yards/attempt in the NFL and among the worst giving up 40% of 1st downs. (I'm not sure how that last one is calculated - but the Bears 1st down stat is 35% and I know what that looks like in a game). They've also given up more yards on defense than we have yet have played 6 games to our 7. https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/2023/opp.htm#all_passing Did-you-know-this: The Bears are top 5 in rushing defense this season (yds/game), and #2 in yards/rush. Of course being bottom 5 in pass defense means teams might prefer to throw vs. run. However, we are just below median for attempts faced per game so teams have not completely abandoned the run against us but less attempts is a factor. Job 1 this offseason was improving the run defense so even though it hasn't always been pretty I'd have to say we've done that so far. Especially when you factor in the injuries in the secondary.

That's why I'm still of the opinion a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush. Fields doesn't cost us much to retain and see if the light does come on. If Bagent is the guy then he has to beat out Fields and competition should bring out the best in both, whatever that may be. OTOH if I got a Godfather type offer, and if the team is feeling decent about Bagent's chances long term, I'd have to say yes and take my chances on either of the top 2 QBs. There's always far more than we know that they know from the meeting rooms and practices. I keep in mind there are no guarantees in the draft either so we could be stuck at pick 3 and watch those QBs go 1/2 overall. That risk is what drives the sales price up now.

If the "bad QB" didn't come with so many lowlights of WRs wide open waving their hands at Fields then I could find it easier to buy the bad coaching, bad WRs, whatever excuse. That doesn't mean there aren't some things the coaches could do better but....and this may sound odd... I don't want to simply win a few more games because Fields is an elite athlete. I want him to be coached to be a complete QB and that includes passing from the pocket. He has to prove he can be that guy. So yeah put him in the box and force him to show he's that guy. Or we let someone else work their offense around his limitations.

No to Belichick. As a HC yes, as talent evaluator no and I think he'd only accept authority over personnel decisions.

Just checking the water temperature. First off before I get into this.... I do not believe WE are sellers, there is no sign in the front yard. However, that doesn't mean a buyer (other teams) wouldn't try to convince us to become one. Would you trade Fields before the deadline 31 Oct? If so, what compensation would it take to sway you to close the deal? I bring this up because I wouldn't be surprised if the Bears get some teams quietly asking if they'd consider a deal. If someone offered a 1st and more I'd have to listen. Whatever we may think of Bagent if he's middle of the road, which is where Fields might end up as a QB, then we can do a lot with 3 first round picks. They might be 3 top 15 picks. Take another shot on a QB early? If Bagent seems ok build the roster around him for now (2024) and go all-in the next year (2025) if needed to compliment the QB-ready roster. What about the Commanders who he lit up for 4 TDs a couple weeks ago? Toss in Chase Young plus a 1st? Since Chase is essentially a FA after the season that's something positive for us but we still have to pay him and on a complex contract calculation. Is that a better option for them versus losing Chase after the season and having a top 15 pick? The cost to move up and get a top QB from outside the top 10 is usually prohibitive.

I think Jared Goff is still the same QB. Good enough to win with.

Imagine what the Raider fans are saying today about Josh McDaniels. He can't get a running game going with Josh Jacobs. The team struggles to put up points and is now looking to trade Renfrow who used to be quite productive for them. Minus Tom Brady the luster is off the genius coaches. https://raiderswire.usatoday.com/2023/10/22/raiders-30-12-loss-in-chicago-contender-for-most-embarrassing-of-josh-mcdaniels-era/

Very conservative, as expected for a rookie's first start. We'll need to see more intermediate and middle of the field throws in the future. It'd be nice to see a deep ball or two in the next game as well. https://www.reddit.com/r/CHIBears/s/VHGE35RSfn

Nix, Penix, and Sanders all have classic Bears QB written on the back of their jersey. Just say no.

Deep accuracy except that isn't on your list.

Probably not getting Chase Young for nothing and in that case which of those offensive picks are we giving up? Now if we wait and Wash can't tag him or ends up forced to remove the tag when there is no trade offer....that'd be great.

Well it's important to set your career goals. -------------- For all the talk of Bagent coming out for Peterman on the Hail Mary attempt, I think it was simply to protect Bagent. If arm strength is the concern here's the velocity of passes from NFL combine data (I think Adam already posted some of this data in table format elsewhere). Bagent throwing Left had more velocity 56mph than Mahomes 55mph. Peterman was 49mph Left and Right. To his detriment (maybe) Bagent threw 53mph to his right. Or maybe it's technique/footwork that took some velocity off the ball. FWIW Lamar Jackson threw the same velocity as Peterman (49mph). Brock Purdy 52/51mph. Trubisky was 51/50mph perhaps illustrating part of his problem with tight window throws. Slower velocity combined with slower processing and a slower release, is a bad combination. There's no data on Fields due to no combine in 2021. I've watched the combine for years and also tend to think it's not just throwing velocity but how you achieve that. For some guys it comes naturally, for others it looks like a lot of effort. IMO higher effort tends to lead to more off-target passes. https://www.ourlads.com/story/default/Quarterback-Ball-Velocity-at-NFL-Combine-2008-2017/10243/dh/

You won't find that very often in college these days so you have to coach up the player. The ones who throw quickly are often just given an easy single read that simply doesn't work in the NFL. Even Mahomes coming out had issues with holding the ball too long for the big play and really, if you watch his game closely, he's still got that in him.... work deep then underneath. Yet on quick WR screens he has a quicker release than Fields, a quicker mind when scrambling, and just a cannon for an arm. I haven't watched much of Mayes (1 game) or Williams (maybe half a game) to make a decision. In the time I've seen of both neither impressed me enough to be #1 overall. As the season winds down I'll catch them again. It'll also be better to see them later in the season since college changes so much during the course of a season as young players getting their first playing time improve quite a bit.

As backups go, I like Carter but when he's in the game the Oline simply isn't the same. Kudos to the coaches for getting their best 5 on the field today and sliding Jenkins over to RG with Whitehair back at LG. Sorry but the Oline coach does not manage time outs in the game. Fact is Chris Morgan has given us several very good games of Oline play, both pass protection and run blocking despite not having a consistent starting 5, and while starting a rookie at RT. Find a QB who would hit the easy quick hitting routes more often and things might feel much different for the Oline play. I agreed with calling a timeout there. The rookie was playing well enough with his decision making to at least bring him over the sideline and talk about strategy for a bit. In the end if you still want to be cautious to end the half just run the ball and the clock on the next play. That's HC issues.

When you rewatch that QB sneak you will see the defensive front stacks 3 Dline in tight over the center/G. LDE stays out wide over the RT. Bagent simply took what he saw and slid to the gap on his right and got into the gap between RG/RT. Even the tush pushers weren't expecting that, you'll see them pause as he slides right, but it was simply the logical thing to do. Football can often be difficult but sometimes it's just easy if you take what's given to you.

The same coaches who got the oline to get this run performance even with backups on the field?

Some of last years starters ended up on the practice squad for other teams this year. Some, like Quinn, are out of the NFL.

I've been a Bears fan for so long there's too many snake bites to compare against. It certainly has made some things challenging on D for sure and then Oline. However, I think I've seen enough goodness from the Oline starters when they are on the field in their position to feel good about the starters. I've never seen what happened to our RBs in one game and I really think it limited what we could did offensively against Minn ...mostly for the protection plan. That still doesn't explain some of the brain freeze of the QB.

Equally concerning is the fact he played the balance of the game with that injury.

Awesome. I saw some good things from him in the last game, then I saw some bad things. Hopefully a couple weeks to clear his mind helps and then he can get after it.

For sure. To show how hard finding a QB is....wasn't Walsh also involved in drafting Druckenmiller? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jim_Druckenmiller In the 1998 season, Druckenmiller played only two games: week 2 against the Washington Redskins and week 6 against the New Orleans Saints.[6] After the season, General Manager Bill Walsh belittled his football skills and implied that Druckenmiller would have been released but for salary cap ramifications.[7]

I don't believe that is entirely correct. He was traded and part of the reason was they thought he'd never become a pocket QB. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Steve-Young "his NFL rights belonged to the equally hapless Tampa Bay Buccaneers. In the two seasons there, Young had a .533 completion rate, throwing 11 touchdowns and 21 interceptions." From 1987... https://www.sun-sentinel.com/1987/04/25/bucs-send-qb-young-to-frisco-2nd-and-4th-round-draft-picks-obtained/ “We think Steve’s style of play will fit into our system, and he will be able to exhibit his vast talents,” 49ers coach Bill Walsh said. “This does not reflect on Montana, who will continue to be our leader. “We admire Steve’s quick release and fine instincts. And he’s probably the fastest runner among quarterbacks in the league.” Opinion will vary on who got the better of the deal. Those who think Young can be a winning NFL quarterback will say he’s perfect for the 49ers’ attack and praise Walsh for the trade. But others believe Young does not have the arm strength or mindset of a pro QB.