Bears/Browns Observations

[dawhizz]

I know it's the final preseason game, but no thread at all? Here's what I saw:

 

- There will be more talented QBs cut than David Fales and the Bears should find one and put him on their practice squad.

- The Bears will lose out on a talented player because they insist on holding onto Jacquizz Rodgers, who will not have a memorable moment this season. He is easily the 4th best RB on the roster and we could pick up his equivalent on waivers. I'd cut him. The Bears won't. Howard was particularly impressive tonight.

- The FB Lasike had some big hits and caught the ball well. I think he makes the team as the FB.

- I'm surprised we didn't see anything of Ben Braunecker, the TE from Harvard who was finally healthy. I'm just speculating, but maybe they are hoping if they don't play him it will be easier to put him on their practice squad. I think the TEs are Miller, Moeaki, and Lee, with Braunecker and Scruggs both landing on the practice squad.

- No one wants to hear it, but Meredith is a better WR right now than Braverman. He can play inside and outside. Braverman is supposed to be quick, but doesn't get much separation and has shown nothing as a returner. I just don't think he makes the cut and I think someone else picks him up.

- Sutton played better than I'd ever seen him, but Ferguson and Terry Williams did well too. Not sure all will make it. I'd probably keep Sutton or Williams myself, though maybe a better guy gets released somewhere.

- Cornelius Washington has flashed when he's in there, but can't stay healthy. I won't blame the Bears for giving up on him.

- Christian Jones played ILB and OLB, was all over the field and probably saved his job. Kwitakowski had his first action and played well. I think he and Timu stick as the backup ILBs. Floyd played more than I would have thought and gave good pressure, but never quite got there and still needs to get stronger (lots of drag down tackles).

- Best game by the corners I've seen. Maybe the Bears don't need to scour the waiver wire. Jacoby Glenn stuck with Josh Gordon pretty well, Deiondre Hall made some plays, and I really hope they can sneak De"Vaunte Bausby onto the practice squad. He has talent.

- I didn't see Deon Bush out there, though I would have liked to. I assume that means his job is safe, but he's not going to start over Jones-Quartay. Houston-Carson outplayed Prosinski on defense and special teams. I hope they keep him, ditch Prosinksi, and maybe find another talented young safety somewhere.

- Gould may have lost it. He had some bad misses in this game. I've been a defender, but he's going to lose games for this team.

 

Anyone else manage to sit through this?

[ASHKUM BEAR]

I know it's the final preseason game, but no thread at all? Here's what I saw:

 

- There will be more talented QBs cut than David Fales and the Bears should find one and put him on their practice squad.

- The Bears will lose out on a talented player because they insist on holding onto Jacquizz Rodgers, who will not have a memorable moment this season. He is easily the 4th best RB on the roster and we could pick up his equivalent on waivers. I'd cut him. The Bears won't. Howard was particularly impressive tonight.

- The FB Lasike had some big hits and caught the ball well. I think he makes the team as the FB.

- I'm surprised we didn't see anything of Ben Braunecker, the TE from Harvard who was finally healthy. I'm just speculating, but maybe they are hoping if they don't play him it will be easier to put him on their practice squad. I think the TEs are Miller, Moeaki, and Lee, with Braunecker and Scruggs both landing on the practice squad.

- No one wants to hear it, but Meredith is a better WR right now than Braverman. He can play inside and outside. Braverman is supposed to be quick, but doesn't get much separation and has shown nothing as a returner. I just don't think he makes the cut and I think someone else picks him up.

- Sutton played better than I'd ever seen him, but Ferguson and Terry Williams did well too. Not sure all will make it. I'd probably keep Sutton or Williams myself, though maybe a better guy gets released somewhere.

- Cornelius Washington has flashed when he's in there, but can't stay healthy. I won't blame the Bears for giving up on him.

- Christian Jones played ILB and OLB, was all over the field and probably saved his job. Kwitakowski had his first action and played well. I think he and Timu stick as the backup ILBs. Floyd played more than I would have thought and gave good pressure, but never quite got there and still needs to get stronger (lots of drag down tackles).

- Best game by the corners I've seen. Maybe the Bears don't need to scour the waiver wire. Jacoby Glenn stuck with Josh Gordon pretty well, Deiondre Hall made some plays, and I really hope they can sneak De"Vaunte Bausby onto the practice squad. He has talent.

- I didn't see Deon Bush out there, though I would have liked to. I assume that means his job is safe, but he's not going to start over Jones-Quartay. Houston-Carson outplayed Prosinski on defense and special teams. I hope they keep him, ditch Prosinksi, and maybe find another talented young safety somewhere.

- Gould may have lost it. He had some bad misses in this game. I've been a defender, but he's going to lose games for this team.

 

Anyone else manage to sit through this?

Appreciate the post! I forgot about the game until halfway through the 3rd. Liked what I saw in Howard and Laslike. Going to be some tough decisions to make in the next couple days. Hopefully they make the right moves.

[Bears4Ever_34]

Braverman has been dreadful. Don't see how he makes the team.

 

Meredith seems to be a lock to make the team now, IMO. He's starting to look like a legit WR. A few good games in a row for him.

 

Hall and Howard also both played really well and flashed. Howard could be a nice change of pace back for the future. He needs to stay health, though; as does Carey.

 

White finally made a couple plays.

 

Christian Jones was all over the field. It's hard for me to see how he doesn't make the roster at this point. A few more sacks today, along with many other tackles. I think the Bears PUP McPhee and carry 6 OLB's.

 

And yeah, Robbie Gould might be bad. Really started to worry about him last year. He's not been off to a good start in pre-season. I think he's missed at least 3 FG's already.. maybe more.

[Alaskan Grizzly]

In the few highlights I've seen and the few other preseason games he's been in, I haven't been all that impressed with White. I understand that perhaps the offense has been vanilla so far both to allow him getting comfortable and not reveal really what he could do; but until I see otherwise I'm starting to have my doubts. Amari Cooper (his peer) came out of the blocks hot last year and I was hoping to at least see that much potential from White. Maybe the best is yet to come? I'm still holding my breath.

[adam]

In the few highlights I've seen and the few other preseason games he's been in, I haven't been all that impressed with White. I understand that perhaps the offense has been vanilla so far both to allow him getting comfortable and not reveal really what he could do; but until I see otherwise I'm starting to have my doubts. Amari Cooper (his peer) came out of the blocks hot last year and I was hoping to at least see that much potential from White. Maybe the best is yet to come? I'm still holding my breath.

Cooper was 5-47 in his first pro game in Week 1 last year. He did go off after that against the Ravens and Browns though. He had 5x games over 100 receiving yards and 8 under 50. So he was somewhat inconsistent.

 

For White, I am hoping for something like 5-65 out of White each week (80-1040-6 for year), Cooper ended with 72-1070-6. So those numbers would be really close.

 

Also, Cooper was much more polished but with less upside. With a year on the sidelines to gain some knowledge, White's learning curve should be improved. Now it is getting used to game speed and not thinking.

[adam]

Game Observations:

Howard, even against 2nd/3rd stringers still looked like a man among boys. Lasike should make the team, we need some smashmouth style on offense. Mike Adams played a very solid game on the line, which was nice to see. I wouldn't be surprised to see him end up as one of our starting tackles by the end of the season.

 

Surprisingly, our young secondary looked great. Hall, Houston-Carson, and Bausby were noticeable (in a good way). I see all of them making the team. I also liked what I saw out of Kwiatkowski, he may turn out to be a very good ILB. He had an inside blitz and blew up the RB.

 

https://twitter.com/sportsmockery/status/771796321652973568

 

[AZ54]

I know it's the final preseason game, but no thread at all? Here's what I saw:

 

- There will be more talented QBs cut than David Fales and the Bears should find one and put him on their practice squad.

- The Bears will lose out on a talented player because they insist on holding onto Jacquizz Rodgers, who will not have a memorable moment this season. He is easily the 4th best RB on the roster and we could pick up his equivalent on waivers. I'd cut him. The Bears won't. Howard was particularly impressive tonight.

- The FB Lasike had some big hits and caught the ball well. I think he makes the team as the FB.

- I'm surprised we didn't see anything of Ben Braunecker, the TE from Harvard who was finally healthy. I'm just speculating, but maybe they are hoping if they don't play him it will be easier to put him on their practice squad. I think the TEs are Miller, Moeaki, and Lee, with Braunecker and Scruggs both landing on the practice squad.

- No one wants to hear it, but Meredith is a better WR right now than Braverman. He can play inside and outside. Braverman is supposed to be quick, but doesn't get much separation and has shown nothing as a returner. I just don't think he makes the cut and I think someone else picks him up.

- Sutton played better than I'd ever seen him, but Ferguson and Terry Williams did well too. Not sure all will make it. I'd probably keep Sutton or Williams myself, though maybe a better guy gets released somewhere.

- Cornelius Washington has flashed when he's in there, but can't stay healthy. I won't blame the Bears for giving up on him.

- Christian Jones played ILB and OLB, was all over the field and probably saved his job. Kwitakowski had his first action and played well. I think he and Timu stick as the backup ILBs. Floyd played more than I would have thought and gave good pressure, but never quite got there and still needs to get stronger (lots of drag down tackles).

- Best game by the corners I've seen. Maybe the Bears don't need to scour the waiver wire. Jacoby Glenn stuck with Josh Gordon pretty well, Deiondre Hall made some plays, and I really hope they can sneak De"Vaunte Bausby onto the practice squad. He has talent.

- I didn't see Deon Bush out there, though I would have liked to. I assume that means his job is safe, but he's not going to start over Jones-Quartay. Houston-Carson outplayed Prosinski on defense and special teams. I hope they keep him, ditch Prosinksi, and maybe find another talented young safety somewhere.

- Gould may have lost it. He had some bad misses in this game. I've been a defender, but he's going to lose games for this team.

 

Anyone else manage to sit through this?

 

 

I finally got to watch the game via Gamepass. That's a nice summary you put together. Here's my additions:

 

I agree about Fales but will say that Fales and Hoyer are the reason Jacquizz Rodgers will make the roster. Pass protection of Cutler is paramount to other deficiencies in his game and that is where he trumps all others.

 

I'm a fan of what I've seen from Jordan Howard, even before this breakout game against the Browns. He is quicker and more balanced with his feet than I expected from a power RB. Yet he's still finding his way through the playbook. I like his future. Consider that it took Langford about half a season to somewhat sort things out and I can see these two as our tandem after the bye. For now, I don't think I'd trust Cutler's livelihood to Howard in pass protection. Either of Carey or Rodgers could be the third RB depending on what the coaches value most, but I won't be surprised if we keep all 4 for now.

 

I think you are right about Braunecker. Nobody drafted him, and nobody has seen him since the draft. If you need help on your roster at the 3rd TE position you aren't likely to sign a guy you've never seen play against NFL competition. If we keep Scruggs and Housler then Khari Lee available and there is plenty of film on him. Or if we cut Housler...

 

Meredith is everything I thought Marquise Wilson was going to be. That reliable 4th receiver good enough to consistently win against a dime CB. At this point Meredith still has plenty of upside too as compared to Wilson so I say we keep him on the 53. If he's getting it done in the first half of the season then park Wilson on IR. I think we're in good spot here to hedge our bet on the 4/5th WR spot.

 

Braverman is a tough one to predict. I think what has happened in practice will have the bigger influence over what has happened in the preseason games and that's stuff we just don't know. If coaches feel his upside is there they will protect him. Bellamy has looked good all preseason so I think he sticks, same with Mariani.

 

....Jeffrey, White, Bellamy, and Mariani. If we keep 6 then it's between Royal, Braverman, and Meredith. $4.5mil ride on this decision. Logic say keep Royal because you are going to pay him anyway but those guys he competes against represent the future. I doubt Royal is on this team in 2017, especially if we re-sign Alshon to a big deal. The fact we have any debate over who should be the 5th and 6th WR is a good thing to see. I really don't care which way they go as any combo has it's upside either near term or long term. Most likely we'll try to get one of Meredith or Braverman onto the practice squad.

 

Sutton and Ferguson both showed up against Cleveland. Ego has played a lot of NT prior to this but being back at DE he excelled. I like Washington a lot and I see more upside there than what Ferguson or Sutton has. We won't see anything else out of Ego/Sutton than what we've already seen but Washington is a different story and his floor is comparable to either Sutton/Ferguson. Both of Washington's injuries are the result of players hitting him low so it's not like it's his fault he's injured. We're rebuilding, take the gamble on the big upside!

 

Impossible to know what happened to the CBs but these backups were in tight coverage all game long and looked much better than a week ago. I'm more comfortable with Glenn as a backup now. Maybe Tracy Porter was right, we don't need anyone else, we just need these young guys to play with confidence.

 

Edison still looked good although i think we stick with Larsen's experience early this season at C. I'm not a big Larsen fan as I think his limited athleticism hinders him. If he struggles don't be surprised to see Edison in the near future.

 

Kevin White showed why we drafted him. He simply stood out even against the 1st team of Cleveland. He'll be fine this year.