Yeah, I can't say I'm surprised at all. In fact, I think that a lot of us could've predicted this draft from Poles pretty on the nose. Are they the players I wanted in the order I wanted them? No. But Poles clearly has a different approach to the game than I do. I can't complain about the positional priority, other than that I'm waiting for a draft where we don't just draft out of need to fill immediate holes on the roster. Here's hoping these kids work out. That's all that'll matter in the end.
- so Hoge and Jahns had a bit on Wright, I had to go back and find this because I knew I remembered his name. That link is supposed to jump straight to 29 mins, but that's the two minutes where they talk about him. Basically the physical traits are great and the concerns are only one year of success. ev/tuna nail it, Poles is all about those measurements, so we'll get the pool jumpers and miss out on football players. I'm not a fan of this approach at all, but I get it, they think they can "fix" the stupid. At that point, why not just draft Carter then, if you are so sold on your ability to train guys up. That said, they DID go OT with the first pick, and then trenches are a concern, but we needed DEs more than DT, right? Or is one of these guys going to be the 3-tech that we needed? I'm most disappointed just in expectations, we knew it wasn't going to be Skoronski, but if you rewind the above Hoge and Jahns they talk about the PJJ and Skoronski being head and shoulders above the rest, and PJJ was already off the board. Then you have JMS when they desperately need a center. So I don't know, we'll see how it all pans out. Lots of holes to fill picking CB twice and a RB thus far.
Who does he like on the roster? Trevis Gipson? Bum. Robinson? After Quinn got traded he couldn’t ever get in the backfield if you gave him all day to get there. Walker is coming off a career best 7 sack year. Is he the RDE? Is poles expecting Seahawks reject Rasheem Green to be the guy? Is one of Dexter or Pickens going to play there? Pickens is a stout little shit and actually ideally sized as a 3T, but Dexter makes being 6’6 and 310 lbs look slim. And penis Sewell’s little brother as a ST lb I don’t mind. Before the combine he was considered a top 2 rounder.
The initial excitement from the first pick has quickly turned into what everything Poles has done so far IMO since he got the job. Meh. Gotta let things play out but excited I am not.
I like Wright. I think we've covered that subject. However, I want to like his other picks. So, I've been watching Gervon Dexter from this past season. He's big as hell, but he's also always the last one off the line. I get that they were asking him to two-gap more, but still. I've got more to watch, and he definitely has his flashes, but I'm not convinced yet that was the best use of that second round pick. This draft was thin on talent, especially at that position, and trading away that first pick in the second round just continues to be a total fuck up. Revisionist history, but they had the money to pay Jawaan Taylor to play RT, and then could've drafted a DL with their 1st rounder. Then you're not pigeonholed into drafting DL with the next several picks. This team is better than it was last year, but that's not hard. As good as it could be? Remains to be seen.
With Dexter Poles made comments that he was asked to read and react in college and in the system the Bears employ, a 1 gap system, they expect him to explode more. The Bears are banking on their coaching staff with a lot of their draft picks. There are some really raw players that need development. If I had trust in the staff that would be cool but the jury is still very much out for me.
It seems to me as well that besides measurables, the fact they were 5-star recruits coming out of high school carries some of the weight certainly when it comes to the first two days of the process. With that said this year was a record number of "13" 5-star recruits being selected in the 1st round. So if you're scratching your head wondering why to any of his selections chances are he was at least a 4 or a 5-star recruit. The top 4 draft selections of Wright, Dexter, Stevenson, and Pickens were all 5-Star recruits and Noah Sewell a later pick was also 5-Stars. R.Johnson was a 4-star recruit, but bucking the trend with later picks Tyler Scott and Terell Smith were only 3-Star recruits. It seems like a no-brainer that more 5-Star recruits would be at the top of the draft, and if this year is a record number with only 13 in the 1st round nobody seems to care as much about that little fact other than Poles.
Per Poles’ presser last night: “For right now, I feel good with Cody (Whitehair) and Lucas (Patrick) both as leaders and players”
If Poles feels good with those two then thats a commentary on him more than them. Its very obvious to me that he thinks the C position is one he can corner cut on. And he clearly isn't a quick study cos he tried exactly the same thing last season and it blew up in his face. Cutting Mustipher should've happened day 1 on the job. Patrick is a bum, i suspected that as soon as i saw the Packers were happy not matching a tiny offer the Bears gave him and he proved it on the field. Its the short sightedness that gets me. Even if you don't value the position enough to drop that 2nd rounder on JMS, the fact is Whitehair will be 31 when this season starts. And even if he's solid/good this year(believe it when i see it) you are not rolling him out there in 2024 when he's 32 years old and carries a $13.25mil cap hit. This isnt Jason Kelce we're talking about here, its just not happening. Pukass Patrick, shouldn't even be on the team. The guy is carrying $5.4mil cap hit next season, they'd save $4mil by cutting him. Cuts like that are meant to take care of themselves. As it is he will be 31 in 2024 and out of contract and there's no way in hell he's resigned for 2024. Given all this how in the flying F do you not even draft a developmental C to try and prep him for 2024?? Maybe they get a boner for him like they did rookie Braxton Jones. I don't know what the deal is with Wypler but by pick #165 im certain i dont fucking care! They passed on that Oluwatimi guy 3 times at #115, #133 & #148 for a bunch of 3rd & 4th stringers. Its such bad roster construction. As it stands right now Cody Whitehair will carry the 4th highest cap hit on the team next season. Patrick carries the 8th!! Sorry but this is clown shoes management by Poles.
Oh and speaking of the presser pat, did you see Eberflus answer on the lack of drafting an edge haha? Something to the effect of DT's are where the pass rush starts and DEs don't matter that much in this scheme! I havent heard one that good since Pace tried to explain Leonard Floyd's low sack numbers by talking about how good he is in pass coverage! The FUCK outta here Eberflus you short bus motherfucker.
Two Thursday night games? Barf. Chargers only SNF game (flexes pending)? Chiefs weaseled their way out of playing in Germany, so now that's an away game in KC. Alan Williams is going to look like a fucking fool. For right now, I expect Poles to be in on this DE market for a name on a short term deal. One of Gervon Dexter or Zach Pickens has to work and a guy like Frank Clark, Yannick Ngokue, Duane Smoot, Carlos Dunlap, or Jadaveon Clowney (when motivated) can make their lives a hell of a lot easier. I'm not opposed to a Robert Quinn reunion, but I don't think that's likely. I'm good on Leonard Floyd. We don't need a reunion there, but given age--what Poles seems to be prioritizing--process of elimination is Ngokue, Frank Clark, Floyd and Clowney being the youngest available, so while I don't want it, Poles may have other ideas. I don't feel good about how Poles is building the defense backwards, (DBs 1st, LBs 2nd, DL...not 1st), and I have every confidence in Alan Williams will be asleep during games again, unable to adjust. The offense I feel pretty good with, short of Center position and left tackle, unless the plan is have Wright and Braxton duke it out in summer camps/preseason for LT/RT. I can buy that plan. Braxton being LT without competition I just don't. I want to see what depth is at guard, because I don't think Teven Jenkins is playing 17 games. Too many people like Alex Leatherwood and I don't understand why, because he's fucking trash. Is this Ja'Tyre Carter kid any good? Well, Poles threw a bucket of shit against the wall with his late round picks last year hoping something would stick, and the Rams plucked the LT from San Diego State Zachary Thomas, not Carter from the PS early last year--so I don't feel good about his chances. I don't need to see what Deiter Eiselen can do. I already know what he can't. I pretty much share Ev's sentiments on Lucas Patrick. I feel better about halfback, after doing some homework on Roschon Johnson. Think he and Herbert can gash teams, and like that he has far less mileage than Bijan coming out of college and should be fine to replace Monty. Like WR and TE--so if Poles wants to extend Cole Kmet, any time now will do--I'd prefer this guy not walk into a contract year with the steps he took in the right direction last year and the fact that he fits Getsy's interpretation of the Kyle Shanahan offense. Justin Fields has no excuses, and I want him to crack GB week one and welcome them to their new era of having jack shit at quarterback with a huge day passing. This year sucks to predict objectively. I can see a couple games under 500 with what they have right now, losing shootouts again. If they guess right on an edge FA and one of Pickens or Dexter can play 3T, I can see them get to 10 wins. I don't know what the division is going to be. The Lions are going to be the Lions (LOL at their draft), and I can absolutely see KC hanging 50 on them opening week. Minnesota's offense and Kirk Cousins cant win them big games (and bears get him in primetime on MNF this year), but Brian Flores with that defense I think can propel them to a respectable playoff run. I think fans everywhere are ready for GB to not have a HOF quarterback under center, may it be for a good long time. And...for good measure: I like this, Carolina has a few spans of schedule where it looks like a meat grinder.
This quote wins the day! I'm going to laugh about this all day long. Thanks @EvertonBears . It's got just the right amount of rudeness and it's hovering over being politically incorrect. I wish I had thought of it ha ha ... This is the quietest I've ever been during the off-season. You're welcome. Plus, it's my birthday. <crickets>
Personally i think that is a pretty great schedule for the Bears. To me that schedule says worst to first, which the Bears could've achieved, IF they were trying to win the division and contend in the playoffs this year. Which they're not. I mean sure they'll try to win every game and sure Poles will tell anyone who asks they are trying to do those things, obvs. But those who have been paying attention knows he isn't really. There's been far too many public statements about building it the right way. Being patient. Not wanting to overspend. If Poles hadn't been so Scrooge McDuck during FA they could've legit been in a position to win the division with that kind of schedule. But everything i hear form Poles tells me ownership has been sold on another 5year rebuild. This is a team being built to win in 2024....at the earliest! Its too early to predict specific wins and losses imo, but let me just say this. Historically speaking, if a team went from 3 wins to 7 or 8 wins that would be considered a big improvement. But would it be for the 2023 Bears? I look at how many ridiculously close losses they had last season, plus all the cap and draft ammo they had this offseason and now this schedule in a not great division, and i can't help thinking this should be a 10 win team. I mean they only play against 2 legit great QBs all season! Wish Poles had decided to build a Defense from front to back like a normal person and hadnt fucked around at C for yet another year. Two entirely achievable things. 10+win team if you do those 2 basic things.
Funny, i did some research too and i feel exactly the same way. Could turn out to be a very good pick. BWW said it immediately after the pick. I didn't like the pick at the time. Not because of the player, but because of the same thing with Tyler Scott, Noah Sewell and that other CB. When you're as weak as the Bears are at certain positions you can't keep making what are essentially luxury picks. RB 2/3, WR4, LB4, CB5(??). Meanwhile the team has no C1 and no DE1, DE2 or DE3
Happy birthday baby!! Since its your special day you should get out kitchen and not have to worry about making dinner. Why dont you hop in the car and go get hubby some takeout tonight!
I agree with you about the offense, yes we could have had a center and Braxton at LT gives me nightmares, but all told? Justin has "enough" to win with. The defense might be paper maiche but the offense should turn a corner this year, if it is ever going to succeed. Lets see what we've actually got in this kid. 2nd year in the system. Better protection. Better weapons. He should not be running 80 yards/gm. I will also say, it is clear what Poles/Flus are doing. There's no games here. No gimmicky bullshit. They are building the 4-3 and they are building from the back in (and then the DT over the DEs, which I don't agree with, but he's been transparent about it). They are building on the back of a good run game to open the pass. This HITS bullshit. The team does have an identity, which has been lacking for a long time. Whether or not that identity ends up leading to wins, remains to be seen.
