AZ54

I’m with Mongo in that our talent on the field is much closer to the Eagles this year but we lack experience. That’s both from young players but also experience in the system from the vets we added. They were adding pieces to a solid core. The pieces we added are make up most of our solid core.

IMO there are two answers to this practice progressions. Yes we want to see that but this is also practice, his first with a new very talented WR. Justin needs to be exploring the limits of what he can and can't do and the best time for that is now. To come out of OTAs only having hit the easy checkdowns or easy throws is not the best use of this time. There will be game situations where to get a 1st down or TD that Justin has to make a tight-window throw and DJ has to catch it, or other WRs. Some sessions you might want to focus on the "reading of the defense", others you might want to say it's 3rd and long make a play. The coaches have to find that balance but we're not going to know what they are asking for on any one practice rep.

We get really small samples of video but on quick throws I don't recall seeing that same hitch. Maybe he's gotten better in some scenarios.

This clip is a nice play by DJ Moore with a fingertip catch. It's just OTAs but the coverage looked good, I think it was Gordon. More importantly Fields threw the ball into a tight window, high and away from the defender and DJ snagged it. From this throw and some of the other reports we've had I'd hazard a guess that Fields is exploring the catch radius DJ has and trying to find out what ways he can throw him open. Confidence has to be growing rapidly between these two. I'd like to see less times (or none) where Fields is patting the ball once before he throws. DTs look for that to know when to get their hands up. At least in this clip it's very quick but in others I've seen it's closer to half a second.

Been looking for anything worthwhile from the media since yesterday's practice was open to them. It was mostly the usual blah blah but today I found Wannstedt's comments to be informative. Regardless of what we thought of his time here he had a lot of good years coaching in the NFL and has a feel for what he should be seeing on the field in these type of practices. I'll link two videos with him because they offer different viewpoints or conversation. At this point it seems clear the team is definitely moving in the right direction. If you want the condensed version ... he was impressed by Jenkins and likes what he sees from Fields in terms of command of the plays. Oh and that new guy DJ Moore ... all he does is stand out.

He has to play to get paid so he'll show up. Plus he's not really an elite CB to where skipping OTAs to try to force a new deal will help him, with any team. In that "trade me" aspect Roquan had a bit more leverage to have someone come get him because his resume was better. I suppose Jaylon could be thinking it worked out for Roquan so it can work out for him but in 3 years he's defended just 31 passes and has 1 INT. He's a good player and a good mentor for our young CBs. I'd really like him to have a 2nd contract with the Bears but we shouldn't overpay him. I think everyone knows we won't overpay him... Poles MO is now well understood across the league. Teams aren't kicking the door down to find a CB who can get them 1 INT in 3 years. The one trade option I could see would be a good playoff caliber team that gets hit hard with CB injuries and is willing to part with a high pick to save their playoff run. That would also mean Jaylon is playing well and I expect Poles to be holding onto his cards this year to see what this roster is capable of.

Justin’s throwing motion on the quick passes definitely seems to be more fluid. It’s a very small sample size and there is no defense but in the few clips I’ve seen (in a couple places) he is getting his feet aligned much quicker. That’s for WR screens and outlet throws both to the left and right side. Here’s some samples: https://bearswire.usatoday.com/lists/chicago-bears-otas-highlights-first-week-justin-fields-dj-moore/

I like the team organizing activities like this for the rookies.

Good choice on Walker. After scanning the entire roster I'm going with the kicker Andre Szmyt. During OTAs we aren't hearing a peep about the looming kicking battle but it's coming and I think he has a very good chance to make the roster.

People like Lombardi and Simms are just idiots. Everyone can see the work Fields needs to do to get to the level we all want him at, but to ignore the progress he made last year, or simply say "it wasn't enough" is just useless drivel. I have no use for simple minded people like that. You could go back over Tremaine Edmunds career and see how much improvement he needed in his first two seasons. T.J. Edwards who started his career as a backup? Want a QB example how about Brees or Josh Allen? These athletes aren't coming out of college as finished products that's why identifying those who have the desire, smarts, and work ethic to reach their potential is such a big part of the draft process.

I caught that too, he was pretty genuine about how much that meant to him. Kudos to Justin for making the time to attend.

I'll always have a soft spot in my football heart for the Jack Sanborns/David Montgomery types. You need guys like that to fill out a winning roster (Hillenmeyer, Kwiatkoski, Suhey, Sherrick McManis). What we don't need is that they are our best players.

I didn't see this mentioned anywhere but Teven was on the radio with Jeff Joniak. He sounds like he's in a much better place mentally this year and more focused on his craft. His interview starts around 12min mark.

Disappointing comes to mind but my emotions want me to say much worse. I've watched him as a player for 7 years and never heard him bad-mouthing other teammates or coaches like that. HIs comments about a winning organization...well he joined Iowa State when that was a losing program and helped turn it around. He was likely a season away from doing the same in Chicago but chose to go elsewhere. It doesn't bother me that he took more money and went to Detroit but if he wants to go burning down bridges this will be on the bulletin board in the locker room Wk 11. Bear Down!

Nate Davis has been in the building working out often enough that Fields complimented him on his work ethic and leadership. He just had to pack up his family and move. I wouldn’t be surprised if he needs time to get things settled. Eddie and Money both have been around working out but can’t practice yet.

I watched the press conferences I thought it was Fields who said that not Flus. Or maybe they both said something but it's here near the 10:30 mark.

No contact however doesn't mean coaches can't see who can reach to their blocking assignment and their footwork/timing. IIRC it was in OTAs last year that trouble started for Teven at RT and it's also when we started seeing Braxton Jones take over at LT. Even without contact the coaches aren't going to waste snaps that help build timing and cohesiveness with the first team. Keep in mind that this is Phase 2 of offseason training and reportedly in Phase 1 players were able to be in working on individual drills with coaches. That phase 1 stuff is new to me so I'm not sure just how much interaction position coaches have with players, if any.

Carter got the first team Reps at RG. I think Patrick did as well. It’s still early but it’s always telling who the coaches want to give the first shot.

Last year Olines easily got our entire defense front moving sideways or backwards. We now have two players who can at least stop that. Pickens has to learn how to avoid that. Justin Jones was part of the problem but hopefully with a better rotation to support him he’ll be able to make a few more big plays.

This film breakdown of Gervon Dexter will make you feel pretty good about that pick.

This guy does some good film breakdowns. This is on Zacch Pickens and you'll see just how raw his technique is.

We’ll see. Leno got married and his performance got worse. Just like Gould he got his act together after he got cut.

Good point on Teven. His body conditioning is a good indication if he's bought into the program this year.

A couple things I'll be looking for in reports from the OTAs...(assuming these players show up) At the top of my list is Justin Fields with quick feet. That sounds odd for one of the fastest QBs in NFL history but I want to see him demonstrate quick change of direction with his feet on short passes. Snap to the right, snap to the left, just like an elite basketball defender. Keep his feet and throwing mechanics aligned as he goes through his reads and get rid of those poor habits of twisting his body and arm to hit a WR on a bubble screen or a late decision to hit the RB in the flat. Justin with continued improvement on his arm/throwing motion. He worked on that a lot last year and it showed during the season (credit where credit is due). At times it still felt like it was too mechanical, or forced, and not smooth or second nature and that led to the ball getting out late. Are the eyes and release more in sync so the ball is gone as soon as he "sees it". Velus' route running. Last year it was clear he just barely learning the details of route running. Any signs of improvement? With his talent we don't need him to be a legit #3 WR just a viable #4 WR that causes a defense headaches because he can be used in a variety of ways. He doesn't need to have every route or play in his arsenal but given the other WRs we now have, if Velus can work all levels of the field on a limited route tree that's enough to cause a defense big problems. Do we have any safety depth? It's only coverage stuff at this point so OTAs mean little but we're thin on depth behind Jackson and Brisker. 3rd TE, anybody want to win this job?

I watched Swift’s video and another one. What stood out to me is that it’s not just his base, Dexter has a lot of core strength. You don’t see him get bent backwards very often but it’s really obvious when he’s tosses OG left and right to make a tackle. He’s in control. We signed Billings to be our 1 tech and he’s stout enough to anchor even against a double team. However, I never saw a highlight where he’s tossing Oline aside like Dexter. Best case he’s working one side or the other. Or he has to give ground to get himself back to the other gap. In this role as a 2 down player Dexter will be an upgrade. If Flus can get Dexter upfield into a gap to anchor one yard into the backfield he will mess up a lot of plays. From there an Improved pass rush is just around the corner.