It's almost halftime for me, though I'm a few minutes behind. Thoughts so far: The Bears don't have an NFL offensive line. The concerns everyone has had are well founded. Zero gaps in the run game, little time for QB's against a defense that isn't running stunts or blitzes... Ryan Pace said earlier today that he has no concerns about the OL. He needs to be honest with everyone, because no one else is that dumb. They're bad. Montgomery came off limping, but word is that he's alright and they were just being cautious. Christ, I hope so. Special teams have looked atrocious. No return yardage gained, and lots given up. Dolphins were one man away from a TD every run back. Gonna give up a few this year if that doesn't get fixed. I was looking for the secondary to make plays and allay my concerns over lack of talent. Didn't get challenged much, so hopefully we'll see more next few weeks. Bears DL had poor gap control in both pass and run. There were some flashes from guys like Blackson, but ultimately we need to see Goldman come back healthy and ready, and hope health and coaching keep them from giving up looks consistently like they did today. Pressure from the DL wasn't really there either. Granted, mobile QB's in Tua and my former student Brissett, but they weren't forcing them to use their legs. They gave them time, and never really got home. Again, hoping this and the above change come regular season. I want to see Kmet show me that I'm wrong, and he's not a low-ceiling TE. Didn't get to see that today, but like the secondary, hoping we see more. Wims is a complete moron. On the field, obviously. But off the field, I've seen some videos lately where the players are getting to be vocal, and man... I'm not sure this guy can tie his own shoes. And now what we all care about... the QB's: Dalton looked like what you'd expect. Veteran guy taking some safe and smart throws. Didn't move the chains, but I don't think that was on him. Can't really know with 6 plays to watch and presumably no All-22. Fields... looked like a guy that needs a lot of adjustment to the NFL. And that's to be expected. He comes from a program that historically doesn't prepare their players for the NFL - a team that takes great talents, doesn't do much to develop them, and the players then sink or swim at the pro level on their own merit. This is hard for QB's, especially, and none from Ohio State have done it of late. He showed his arm talent, but also stared down his read before the throw, had some issues at the line (not all his fault), and fumbled on a run. He's trying to play hero ball, which I understand - he's going from a highly successful, wide open college offense to the Bears. But he's gonna have to figure out that line. Good news? That two minute drive before the half, Fields showed what has everyone so excited. He was checking down when he needed to, using his feet to extend but looking to pass... If he can get the game to slow down for him over the next 1-2 years, I think he'll be the guy everyone is excited about. That last drive looked good for where he's at right now, and he made a play that genuinely had me excited. Other good news: Jaylon Johnson is still the man. Ogletree will give us some depth at LB, because lord knows Pace's depth draft picks are wastes of space out there. Hicks was back out there and being mean for a drive. I'm excited for this defense under Desai and his staff. Here's to seeing more next week. And hopefully patience with Fields. I will probably watch until Fields gets pulled. Thanks, y'all. Bear Down.
I was irritated by the half. 9 Fucking rushing yards. Now I know its preseason, and its just going to be vanilla shit--but I already feel my blood pressure spiking because Nagy's going to pull this shit multiple times this year. 9 rushing yards at the half. "Collaboration" in action. Now for the positives: Justin Fields in the 2nd half. Even with Nagy still being pass-happy, he made the throws after some checkdown charlie moments. The TD to Jesse James--don't care if it was against third-stringers at that point--he saw the wide-open guy on his 3/4th read and it was beyond 3 yards. I'm more hopeful than with Mitch--who never would have seen that. Rodney Adams at WR. Who is this kid? Like him. Physical and slick. Khalil Herbert has some zip. Caleb Jones and Charles Snowden are worth keeping an eye on for depth/ST piece on defense. Both were constantly making plays at the end of the game. Nick Foles is still a bear why? Fields had some great looking runs against 3rd stringers. Want to gush but know better. 1st string ILBs aren't going to make him look like that kind of highlight-reel quickness we saw.
Agreed on all. To the Mitch v Fields point - the offenses we saw both running were very similar (maybe answering what Nagy's offense really is, even with the Mitch handcuffs? Time will tell). Fields was executing, Mitch never really did. And yes, Fields is going to have to adjust to the NFL, including the speed of defenses against him running. That's true for every QB with that talent from the college level, though - as long he gets through that adjustment healthy, we're good. Teams will still have to respect it, and that's fine by me. Foles is still here because no one else is stupid / desperate enough to take him from us. Adams did play well. Hopefully someone pushes Wims out.
First things first, the O-Line didn't get Fields killed, although not through lack of bungling. Anyway im just glad he survived, that was literally priority 1 for me going into this game. Not a high bar but there you go. I know we're all approaching this from the kind of level headed place that only a decades long QB abuse victim Bears fan can..... but i have to say, Fields does impress me. The attitude/demeanor both on and off the field, TC, and now this game. It was all very rookie QB in the first half which is to be expected, but i was very impressed with the composure Fields showed to stick with it, settle down and start playing his game, just before halftime and in the 3rd Q where he was excellent. Yes, it was against backups/3rd stringers, but he also had a couple of very nice throws that went to ground. ARob catches those balls so some of it cuts both ways. Dunno about you guys, but ive found myself comparing Fields to Trubisky a lot. For two QB's who may look so similar on the surface there are real differences. Trubisky was a scrambler who sometimes threw. There were times i got the feeling he was almost anticipating the play breaking down so he could take off which was what came easier to him. Fields looks to me like a passer who can run when he has to and there's a world of difference in that. I loved that play in the 2nd half when the pocket collapsed and Fields got flushed out to the right. Being calibrated to Trubisky i was just waiting for #1 to tuck it and run. But he kept his eyes downfield the whole time, he even drew in the defender and then made the easy throw for a FD. Fuck. Yes. Sure a 1st stringer in the regular season prob makes it harder for Fields there, but we're looking for traits and that was QB play. I'm sure you guys read about the 6 consecutive redzone possessions Fields went through against the Phins in TC this week. I think it was 4 TD passes and 2 rushing TD's. I know we're all keeping our feet on the ground, but he's doing good things brothers. Fields obvs isn't the finished article, there will be ups and downs, but he isn't the project Trubisky was, he's already ahead of that. There is real potential here if they don't screw it up. And short-term im thinking of the Rams in week 1. I really don't wanna see Fields starting that game, but things are moving quickly.... How funny was it at the start of the 4th Q when Foles came out. The Offense went 3 and out and the crowd promptly booed Foles ass back off the field. Hilarious. I for one am glad PS is slimmed down to 3 weeks, 4 was too long. That said, i do enjoy keeping an eye out for guys that have potential and seeing if they can make the team. That pass rushing OLB #49 Snowden looked pretty good. He got a nice a sack when he bailed out of an outside rush that wasn't gonna work, instead feeling the QB's move to climb the pocket and getting the sack inside. That was nice. That #92 Johnson seemed to be around the ball a lot. Back to back TFLs, one where he read the play and shot inside beating the G to the ball carrier, was very nice. Not sure his play speed would keep up with starters but another to keep an eye on. Seen plenty of camp chatter about Trevis Gipson this summer and was hoping to see him make his mark on 2nd stringers, but he really wasn't much of an impact.
Ok but just try not to spam the place with too many essays would ya. There's already more posts flying around this board than we can handle.
I was just about to suggest that you and I take turns responding to things, since so often one says what the other would have. Would save us a lot of time, and really cut down on the fluff around here. Would give BWW more space to share his wisdom.
Sorry to go back in time to this game, but I just wanted to say, how in the holy fuck does Wims still have a roster spot? Jim Miller: "I'm not laughing at Wims here" - yeah, but you should, because this assclown isn't a rookie, he's a veteran who should know the snap count. Jesus. This guy is shades of "the Smurf" who has way overstayed his welcome as a low tier "WR".
