I know what you were arguing, and I agree it doesn't impact the WR value as much. I was just taken aback at the sentiment that Trubs was straight up better in some cherry picked stats and the implication that he was better overall. A thousand is hyperbole by me, it's not literal. Technically speaking, even Tom Brady is not 1000x better than Trubisky, at best his stats are 2x. Cutler wasn't good very often yeah, I'm not arguing that he was an elite QB by any means. To cherry pick some stats, Cutler had 3 seasons with 3600+ yards, Trubs best yardage 3200. Trubs never started an entire season, Cutler rarely did. Cutler also had that 4500 yard season before joining the Bears. I will say I don't care too much to get into a massive debate about these two failed QBs either. One was dink-n-dunk, the other gunslinger, and their stats when I look them up are not that far apart. But watching them, Cutler was better IMO and it wasn't that close. To your original point of *that* much better to influence the WR stats? Probably not, that I'd agree with. To say Trubs was flat out better? That I really have a hard time swallowing. But maybe Trubs will light it up and prove me wrong in Pitt. It feels to me like we're going full tank, and they are focused on "changing the locker room mentality", and attempting to rebuild the entire Defense to 4-3 quicker, while paying less attention to the offense. Which is just so much more of the same shit. But given this year is a wash, I guess the best thing is to see what Fields can do with an ever diminished talent pool and a new Offensive system. And maybe he'll nail the draft with the limited picks we do have.
Totally. We both threw that phrase around and i always considered it a figure of speech type thing and not meant to be taken literally for either of us. I disagree that it wasn't close, but generally agree with everything else you say. I never explicitly said Trubisky was better than Cutler overall varder, just that there were some statistical(inc key stat like TD-INT ratio) and intangible areas that Trubisky was clearly above Cutler(cos he was). One thing i can tell you for certain is who i would root for more and wish they could've been a success, its Trubisky and THAT really isnt close. In terms of attitude, effort levels and personality there was nothing to dislike about Mitch. I believe he legit gave it his best shot, i just wish he had a little more between the ears. Cutler was almost the polar opposite of that. I really think Cutler had one of the most naturally talented arms to enter the league in the last 20years. It was ridiculous. Sadly in many other ways Cutler was a total bum, i still cant believe he lasted 8 fucking years. I despised having to watch him that last 2. This would be a huge huge mistake but i can also totally imagine it with a Defensive HC. This is why i hated them changing schemes at this time. Putting the majority of draft resources into the D this year would be such a fucking Bears thing to do. The Bears shat on Fields for a season already. If they do it again next season i think his chances of making it plummet. Not interested in the old "a good D is a QBs best friend". Bollocks. Having guys who can get open and guys who stop him from getting killed, thats a QBs best friends.
Shhh. Who's the Moderator here? I am. I got this under control. Live your lives, gentlemen. There is nothing more important. Well, good skincare is, but follow your own hearts.
I was a little shocked at how little has been written over here about the Bears FA but then realized it has matched what Poles has actually done in FA so far. Which is basically nothing.
Half the fanbase will point out how there were no viable starters added at WR, and the other half (me included) will point to leaving the LT position in complete limbo again alongside other OL problems. And both halves will be right. That is ignoring the fact that the defense, in a transition year, still has terrifying gaps. This is why Pace needed to be fired, at minimum, before last offseason. Cap and assets are so screwed that it's making it that much harder to do anything. Poles is playing super conservative so he doesn't dig a deeper hole, but he might just waste his young QB in the process. We will see...
I am hoping for a draft night Robert Quinn trade. Get value for him coming off a great season. To date...I am completely okay with moves Poles has made. He's taking a patient approach and that doesn't bother me.
So… Dumping another huge salary to clear cash and cap space, then building a football team from the lines out, and crafting an offense based on the skill sets of your players is a good idea? I don’t know about that. Feels weird.
This I agree with 1000%. I actually think Trubs might have some modicum of success in Pitt as well, a fresh start and Nagy was clearly a problem even if Trubs couldn't figure out defenses. No doubt he was easier to root fot. I mean, remember the 5TD game way back when? Man, that was back when we thought he could figure it out. Maybe he still can, or maybe the league has him figured out like so many other promising stars. Time will tell. Not to start any further shit, but Fields definitely did not have anything resembling a 5TD game. Jury is still out on the kid of course, especially with the state of the team last year. Thus far he is definitely a guy to root for as well, as far as I can tell. I'm half of a mind that Poles and company really aren't sold on him, and that's why they're basically clearing out the room to rebuild entirely. I don't see any infighting, I see some bored people with a minor disagreement. Hasn't been a lot to talk about, even in the lead up to the draft without that 1st rounder. Right? Doing things the right way does seem weird, but man, if we aren't in tank mode this next season I don't know what we're doing. Count me in for trading Quinn high, I think he's got to be the most valuable player left on the roster right now? It'd be a loss to lose him but they'd definitely get a haul in return. And he alone does not make this team a playoff candidate next year.
Nothing doing before the 1st round went in the books, maybe not a great sign? I too would've liked to see a good value trade, not sure it happens now. I want to say the same but can't bring myself to. Im totally onboard with a measured approach but this has gone too far the other way. Im pretty sure the Bears haven't signed a single player to a contract of more than 2years, and most are 1 year actually. Thats not how you build a roster imo, its certainly not how you help your prized young QB, especially when you have no 1st round pick. There still needs to be some talent brought in via FA on deals long enough to provide both short term impact and longer term stability. Poles' approach to the Offense this FA is troubling.
This offseason would look a lot better if Poles top 2 targets actually made it to the roster. You can say that the reasons the DT and Guard from the Bengals and Bills, who’s names are escaping me right now, we’re out of his control but there is no trying. Only doing.
Yep, that was my feeling as I sat in the endzone for that game against the Buc's and most of the scoring happened right in front of my eyes in the 1st half. BTW it was actually a 6 TD game, but I digress even a broken clock is right twice a day. How many rookie QBs have the Bears defenses entertained as they auditioned for their HOF busts only never to be heard from again? Agreed, if and when this team ever gets rolling he will be too long in the tooth to be part of any difference anyway.
Have to admit, i've been thinking the same thing. We only have FA to go on so far but there's nothing there to suggest this management group love Fields. The next few hours should tell us a lot about this. May also tell us how much influence Eberlous is wielding in all this. For all he's run his mouth talking about the importance of O-Line there's not much to show for it so far from Poles. Bare minimum there has to be a IOL & WR in those first 3 picks. Anything less and this crew are not in on Fields.
Wow, crickets in here! I guess thats very telling. My two cents: Poles took 2 DB's, one with character concerns apparently, and a 25year old receiver. This is called putting your young QB in position to fail. Great work by the Eberflous sock puppet. Can't wait for that 6th/7th round pick that we'll be told makes everything good on the O-Line. Meet new Bears GM idiot, same as last Bears GM idiot. And the idiot before him.
I wouldn't want it to happen now. For one...they just spent picks to beef up the secondary and now you probably need Quinn to provide some pass rush. And the value is gone now unless picks for next year are included. This wasn't a great free agency class on offense but I am miffed with how deep the WR draft board was and Poles didn't take a bite. I don't dislike either 2nd round player he took...both are probably 1st round type talents that will start right away. But there were some good receivers there. I still like the approach being taken. Seeing this as a marathon instead of a sprint and not making panic moves.
There's still a chance Ogunjobi ends up on this roster. And you can't hold Bates against him....he made a really good offer.
Bears could have best secondaries in football for the foreseeable future with these kids they drafted. I don't understand taking a special teamer and #5/6 receiver with the third round pick. He's definitely an athlete...but is he an NFL receiver?
The CB and S look like they have promise to be good secondary starters. There were quality OL prospects on the table at both spots, though. And when they finally do take a receiver, his best asset is as a return man. Poles said he sees similar uses as Deebo, and a similar progression possible as Tyreek Hill. I think those are both phenomenally optimistic, and when you desperately need to give your QB help, I don't think a poor man's Cordarelle Patterson is the ideal answer. I don't have a problem with what Poles has done this off-season, and it's refreshing to see some changes from Pace's horrible old habits. My concern is that Justin Fields needs protection and weapons, and I don't think they've reliably given him either.
