Bears Sign TJ Edwards to 2 year extension

[AZ54]

On 4/17/2025 at 11:19 PM, Stinger226 said:

Are you describing a zone Def? The other teams were targeting the gap in the zone where the underneath guy passed responsbity to the down field zones. We are predominantly man this year and I expect the underneath players to engage WRs right away instead of letting WRs get to  their routes. More aggressive,

I’m just saying the fact we gave him $10mil per year means to me that Dennis Allen will be using him to his strength.  IMO that is playing downhill around the LOS.  TJ understands route concepts and is very good getting to his landmarks in zone coverage and taking away the quick passes.  He’s not going to cover anyone for an extended time zone or man.  What does that mean for what they intend to do in scheme and in the draft?  
 

  Some of what Allen wants to do is coming to light with yesterdays press conference where he talked about moving Kyler Gordon to safety on some plays. Really just finding ways to keep him on the field more often.  More importantly he was clear that pass rusa comes from the IDL.  DE are there to contain and squeeze the pocket (my inference).  Definitely changes my thoughts on DT draft targets and might put players like Norman Lott on our radar in Rd 2 or 3. 
 

He was also clear about Dayo moving inside to pass rush in some situations.    We’re going to need a good third DE for those situations.  Is that player on the roster?  

[BearFan PHX]

One wonders where Austin Booker is left in all of this. He's still young, and maybe he can come on this year, but it feels like his window to impress was only open a very short time. I know DA likes em bigger, but as a pash rush specialist, Booker could have a role on this team IF he is productive. He'd better bring it quick or he's gonna be gone before he even got a chance to get his footing.

Pressure is on, Booker. Prove us all wrong!

[dawhizz]

8 hours ago, BearFan PHX said:

One wonders where Austin Booker is left in all of this. He's still young, and maybe he can come on this year, but it feels like his window to impress was only open a very short time. I know DA likes em bigger, but as a pash rush specialist, Booker could have a role on this team IF he is productive. He'd better bring it quick or he's gonna be gone before he even got a chance to get his footing.

Pressure is on, Booker. Prove us all wrong!

I think the plan was always for Booker to bulk up a bit and he has the frame for it, so it may depend on what he looks like by training camp and if bulking up had any effect on his speed/effectiveness/etc. 

[Stinger226]

1 hour ago, dawhizz said:

I think the plan was always for Booker to bulk up a bit and he has the frame for it, so it may depend on what he looks like by training camp and if bulking up had any effect on his speed/effectiveness/etc. 

Someone listed all the DEs that have played under Allen and several does not fit his preference choices. When he talked yesterday, he was talking about strength and power from that position. Mack got drafted by Raiders when he was there. He's not a perfect fit either but he has the strength and power.