AZ54

Looks like Fields and the offense had another good day. Not perfect but definitely moving in the right direction and even better is this is now a couple good practices in a row. Need one more data point like this to make a trend but that will have to happen on Sat against KC. https://bearswire.usatoday.com/lists/bears-training-camp-takeaways-day-13/ It’s safe to say that the Bears defense has “won” most of these training camp practices this summer. But the offense certainly stepped up on Thursday with what many were calling their best practice in a long time.

He requests a trade then shows up to watch practice? https://bearswire.usatoday.com/lists/bears-training-camp-takeaways-day-13/ For awhile there, Roquan Smith wasn’t present at practice. But he showed up with defensive tackle Angelo Blackson during the session, where he proceeded to watch from the sideline. Head coach Matt Eberflus wasn’t happy about it. Following practice, Eberflus was asked if he knew why Smith wasn’t practicing. “The reason why for that is you’ll have to ask him,” Eberflus said. “We expect all our healthy players to practice.”

That is not viewable at least for those of us who don't have a Twitter acct.

https://www.chicagobears.com/team/depth-chart At this point there aren't many surprises unless we're still surprised our 5th Rd rookie is listed as a starter at LT. WR: ESB is a starter opposite Mooney. Not a shocker given he knew the offense coming in and to date it appears he's also earned it. Velus and Pringle are listed as #3 and 4. RB: Ebner is listed as 3rd ahead of Darrynton Evans and he seems to make big plays every practice. I'm looking forward to seeing him play. DE: Trevis Gipson is still holding onto a starting job but with AQM making some noise lately we'll see if that holds. The fact Gipson is ahead of a guy who knows the scheme should indicate we'll have a solid 3-man rotation. Mario Edwards is also listed as 2nd string ahead of Dominique Robinson. Robinson is a player to watch in the preseason and the coaches have been impressed with him so far but he has much to learn. Can he close the gap? DT: We haven't talked much about this spot other than Justin Jones at the 3-tech. Angelo Blackson is the other starter and he's backed up by rookie UDFA Micah Dew-Treadway. Granted we don't have a lot of competition at DT but Micah's gotten this far quietly and he's a local guy from Bolingbrook. I'm curious if this is a case of him being the best among few good options or if he's actually able to handle the NFL. If like me you are really bored waiting for games to start I found an interview with him where he talks about how he matured the last couple years. ~5-10min mark and especially last year with his work ethic. I skipped ahead to ~30min mark where he talks about the Bears and, since he's a Bears fan, his perspective on the team. He talks about the little things Fields is doing well that he wasn't doing last year. Good luck to him. CB: Looks as expected other than Thomas Graham Jr. being way down at the bottom of the depth chart. He was making some plays before the injury and looked to be in the mix to earn a backup role. If he can't recover in time he'll certainly be on the practice squad.

I remember how bad Watson was in a playoff game. That was some of the worst QB play I've ever seen and I say that as a Bears fan. He won the game running for big gains but the passing was awful. After they beat up on Justin Fields last year it feels right that Watson landed in Cleveland.

Can't trade an injured player. Well you can but if Poles is intent on maximizing value he's not going to advertise that Roquan is injured. I also think if a player wants a trade then they shouldn't be in camp. We're building something for the future, send him home because you can't allow him to hang around camp and bad mouth management. Both parties can continue to negotiate if they choose and Roquan can pursue his contract aspirations elsewhere. No better way to find out what your market value is than to be on the market. He'd be far better off seeking his new dream team if he had an agent working for him. They know how to work things behind the scenes and they can also quietly figure out your market value through their contacts before you blow up publicly against your current team.

Hey Ryan, this is Ryan from the Chicago Bears. Interested in Teven and/or Roquan?

Pretty much what I was saying albeit with a bit of sarcasm.

That's true but the locals know what they should be seeing. I don't read it much but I'm sure the national media is still securely fastened to Mac Jones' jock. https://nesn.com/2022/08/mac-jones-frustrated-by-this-aspect-of-patriots-offensive-struggles/

Best thread I've seen on the offense. This is promising for Fields given who the receivers were today. https://bearswire.usatoday.com/lists/bears-training-camp-live-twitter-observations-day-12/

...and Roquan had an offense that provided him more opportunities to make plays on defense.

I agree, that's the best option with the 2-way go on his cuts and what we're most likely to see.

I think the most logical choice to cover the WR depth gap for the first part of the season is Trestan Ebner. He already runs routes like a WR, he has hands as good as a WR, and he's fast. Mooney, ESB, Velus, Sharpe, and Ebner. Figure it out when Pringle returns and then Harry later. I'm not saying Ebner switches to WR full time just that in a limited role like Cohen did, Getsy can motion him outside, even to the X position in a few spots. Putting him in the huddle without knowing where he lines up means the defense has to react after they line up. Does that huddle also include a FB? When Ebner comes in do they sub in as well? Are they putting a LB or NB on him or keeping one of the outside CBs on him? Do they slide a safety over the top? Let Getsy see how the defense matches up because it might give us some big play opportunities. I'm optimistic that for once we have an OC who can figure out where we have mismatches in our favor and exploit it.

If this was all bad-faith negotiations by the Bears since April why is Roquan in camp? Why not seek the trade in May, Jun, or July before camps start? I don't want to trade him and I'd be ok with a deal just shy of the top deals. Howevre, with some suggesting we could get a 1st Rd pick in exchange I"d have to consider that. Finding a top 3-tech and DEs are far more important to this defense than a WLB. Lance Briggs proved that.

I think top 20 by end of the year is achievable but we'll need one of the young OTs to step up and play well to achieve that.

At the moment I'm pleased with where our team is at. That's against low expectations but I'd much rather have Fields' and his high ceiling than be saddled with Jones. The rest is just a wash except the coaching.

Seems more like they are beating themselves.

No way I care what these guys think. The players are almost all different, the scheme is entirely new. At best someone did a drive-by of training camp. We all know Braxton Jones is going to make some mental errors in his first few games. I always want to win every game but I'm not as interested in how we start as much as how we finish the season. I want these coaches to show me they can develop young talent and put players in the best position to succeed with good play calling.

That will be discussed no doubt. However, for a team that seems bound to focus on the running game all season I think having one of the NFL's best blocking WRs available to them is something they will want. I believe that was at the forefront for making the trade, call it the floor (we'll at least get this), and then seeing what they could get out of him as a WR. I watch a lot of the press conferences and one of the players (maybe it was Blasingame) mentioned that they run drills where 3 WRs on one side of the line all focus on run blocking. If you are willing to devote valuable padded practice snaps to that it's important to you. Harry should be capable of adding as much receiving as someone like Sharpe and he should be a better redzone target with his size. Worst case the redzone skills are a wash versus Sharpe. Last year Sharpe had 230yds and 0 TDs. Start from there and then who is more likely to help us get more rushing TDs?

Where did you see that? One report said high ankle sprain so figure 6 to 8 weeks

Very interesting to see on his first practice back he gets some reps at RG. As far as I know that's a first and even though it was just a few warmup reps it indicates that was a piece of the puzzle. If he is to be a backup he needs some versatility and from there who knows where it goes.

https://www.windycitygridiron.com/2022/8/7/23295765/chicago-bears-practice-participation-update-for-august-7 "The Chicago Bears canceled the public portion of today's training camp practice due to inclement weather, but they did hold a 90-minute practice inside Halas Hall with no pads. Here's a list of the Bears that did not practice. Note that Teven Jenkins did participate for a second consecutive day, and left tackle Braxton Jones was back (in full) after missing some time yesterday." With the coaches easing off the practice today (no pads) and a day off tomorrow I expect it'll be high intensity during the Tue Family Fest. Then they'll dial it back a bit as they head toward the Sat game against KC.

Santa's Sleigh is still one my favorite trick plays. One of a few good memories I can thank Nagy for.

I watched his press conference. I now think there was some type of injury but I also think the mental side of things got to him. Simply put, he looks sad. Not even mad or frustrated with the lost opportunity, just sad. He said he only talked with his agent and not the Bears about the trade rumors. So if trade talks have been ongoing it could really have been started from either side or perhaps even both in mutual agreement to at least see what was out there once he got demoted (Reiff signing). If it were me, or any of us, and my boss hired someone new to do my job I'd be asking where do I fit in? Are you really going to keep 4 OTs on the final roster? If not, just let me go now so I can find a spot elsewhere and compete for a starting job, don't make me wait until camps are over. Did Poles say ok we'll see what's out there but if we don't get the value we need it won't happen? Maybe all that just put Jenkins into a depression. For anyone who has ever fought through depression it saps your energy. This all happened after day 1, or even during the practice. I wouldn't put it past Eberflus and the team to have come up with the "day to day" stuff for injuries to help cover for Jenkins issue. You can't list everyone's injury and then say nothing on Jenkins. That's pure speculation, but if so, I'd respect them for doing that. We also know that Jenkins has been in meetings with the Oline and yet none has spoken a word about him. That indicates they have privately agreed to circle the wagons and take care of one of their own by keeping whatever is going on out of the media as best they can. Obviously there were no great deals on the table. At best I'd say Jenkins has resigned himself to stay here and try to compete. Maybe once he can get his hands on some defensive players and start moving them around it'll get his spirits up.

My guess is someone is injured and with Roquan out they need depth for the upcoming practices and preseason game Sat. https://www.windycitygridiron.com/2022/8/5/23289394/chicago-bears-sign-usfl-star-demarquis-gates-linebacker-roquan-smith-matt-adams-morrow-joe-thomas