What’s interesting is that everyone is saying that the Steelers were shrewd by signing Wilson and getting Fields for a sixth that turns into a 4th if he plays. But everyone forgets the Steelers just unloaded their first round QB for a pick swap. And again if given the opportunity I am sure the Steelers would rather have the first pick in the draft. So in the end the Steelers made the better deal but the Bears will have the better QB.
So, it's funny, I went and looked back at last years thread, and there was a lot of optimism for the moves actually. We wanted an LT and a C, of which we got neither, but can't really be displeased with the RT situation. This year, FA has resulted in some curious moves and a lot less draft capital, but we're really arguing around the edges. Last year FA resulted in very little, so there wasn't much to talk about. For the draft, I think we all know it's Caleb at #1, and outside of Pat's reservations, is anyone really not ok with this? It seems like the most prudent move, especially now that they've unloaded Justin. For #9? There are people to take and opportunities to trade back, until Poles makes this pick, we can't be upset. Taking a barometer, I think last year there was a lot of "this will be Fields year to prove it". He didn't. So now we take another swing, only with a slightly better line, much better WR core, better RB situation, and a brand new OC who revitalized Geno Smith. There's caution to be had here, and I'm not thrilled with tossing draft picks, but I don't think it's the same as last year. Last year there was a lot of enthusiasm over the trade with Carolina, and speculation about it too. I'm as frustrated as anyone with the state of the trenches, but I also realize it's not that grim. Though you go to fucking reddit and people are over the goddamn moon like we're going to the Super Bowl. That's not happening. But a better season than last year? That's definitely possible, even with Eberflus. Caleb is the question mark. If he can overcome the line and get the ball to the playmakers? Could be something.
I've been nervous about Caleb Williams since roughly the halfway mark of last season, when it was apparent the Panthers were headed for last and Fields / Getsy couldn't make the offense look competent. The fact is that, yes, he is insanely talented. He has the arm talent and the athleticism to do just about anything on the field. The problem is that he was playing a lot of backyard football at USC, and so it's hard to say for certain what's actually going to translate and what's not. If he's not ready to buckle down and do the things you need to be successful in the NFL (ie. not the backyard stuff), he's not going anywhere. Yes, some of the throws he made last year were SENSATIONAL and make you excited at the idea of him doing that in a Bears uniform. But the reality is that most of the game isn't played that way, and he's going to have to succeed in largely the same situation where Justin failed (new OC will make a difference, but I'm not convinced yet that the OL will be significantly upgraded). Justin played a lot of backyard ball and didn't do the things he needed to do for the next level. He wasn't identifying blitzes and coverages pre-snap, wasn't communicating well enough with his line, was slow as molasses in his dropbacks, way too fast going through his reads (ie. not actually moving through progressions, just panicking and getting to the checkdown), etc. Now, NO DOUBT the OL and the OC had a lot to do with that, and hopefully with at least one of those things changing, the situation will improve. But there are a lot of similarities between what we needed to see from Justin and what we still need to see from Caleb. No doubt the talent is there. We'll see if the refinement comes along. Put me on the board as, 'nervous'. I'm just waiting to see what happens. Maybe Pace has some master plan to get Caleb at 1, and figure out a way to get significant OL help before the season starts. I'll reserve judgement until it's all done. But Caleb is a project at the next level, as far as I'm concerned, until he shows us otherwise. We just don't know, based on college film.
I'll say this after digesting the past week and change... In a vacuum, #1 overall, #9 Overall, Montez Sweat, round 3 pick, Keenan Allen, Philly's 4th, Ryan Bates, Dan Feeney, and N'Keal Harry are better than #9, 2nd rounder, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th. And theoretically, Poles should get credit. But reality and context really kind of ruin it. Assuming its Caleb #1, got to hand it to Poles, while DJ Moore and Keenan Allen are pretty damned good for a rookie QB to have some help with (along with Everett and Kmet and the Loins RB Swift who could never stay on the field or look good until he ran behind the #1 OL in the league), the bears are putting Williams in a pretty good position weapons wise. I'd like to see Allen get a small extension, because--what if *theoretically* Caleb is it? Say Keenan Allen being WR1B makes his life easy, does his thing along with DJ and the rest of the weapons, what then? Tell Caleb suck it up this time next year? I'm not going to beat a horse that's been dead since before I was born. The bears don't have an OL, and running last year's back with Nate Davis, Teven, and Braxton Leno as starters just makes me think Poles 'the OL guy' doesn't have a clue, doesn't want one, and won't ever get one. Or maybe reshuffling chairs on a sinking titanic is truly the answer to quelling the vast majority of stupid mouth-breathing bears fans who will gladly drown in icy waters because 'bearz' and 'ThEy NeEd A wR wHo CaN gEt SePeRaTiOn' when the QB has under 2 seconds before he gets hit when the ball is snapped. Justin's trade needed to happen. Couldn't keep him and #1, and is it honorable to do what Poles did 'right by him?' Yes, but I'll say this--Pittsburgh isn't obligated to 'do right by Justin.' If Minnesota, or some other team strikes out trying to trade up for one of the top QBs, and then gives Pittsburgh a better return for Justin, I'm not sure how Poles should be allowed to keep his job. At that point, it should be cruel and unusual punishment. Also, its a new world. The local beat guys who've always been credible have basically sold out and killed any shreds of credibility they had left and now there's nobody trustworthy. Seeing them manufacture then keep alive what's stupidly being called 'the QB civil war' of this fanbase--propping up Justin the way they did only to see him get dealt for what he did, bringing on national-level pundits on their podcasts to pose said stupid 'civil war' questions and talking points for clicks/reactions, then blaming fans for talking about their manufactured bullshit--well it makes me feel better about hearing stories about how Olin Kreutz put Adam Hoge in a locker when he was being a c*nt. Its speculated Poles doesn't bother with any local beat guys and after this offseason, seeing Jay Glazer and Rapaport break real news--I don't blame him. Fuck Tronc, fuck whoever owns the Sun TImes these days, fuck chgo sports podcasters, fuck Georgie, fuck Poles, and fuck the old hag too.
Me too. I watched 3 games of his last year and wasn't impressed in any of them. He looked like he had all of Fields worst characteristics surfacing constantly: holding the ball too long, not protecting the ball, not reading the defense, and not coming up clutch in crunch time. Caleb makes plays when he goes into superhero mode. Again, all the people who know more than me say he's can't miss but I can't see it. The last QB coming out I thought was can't miss was Joe Burrow, based on how awesome he looked in 2019. Then they said the same thing about Trevor Lawrence and I didn't get it. Now they are saying it about Caleb. Does Poles have to take Caleb? It feels like he will because that's what everyone expects him to do. My fear is someone taken after him is going to become a star and we'll be back evaluating QBs for the 2027 draft class. At least it cannot be argued that Caleb has no weapons around him, as was the case in Fields first 2 years. The pressure will be on him right from the start.
I've watched a ton of Williams plays and videos and there's definitely a lot to like. His arm talent is off the charts. He can make huge throws from any angle. Sidearm throws. Throws across his body with velocity on them that seems somewhat unnatural. There's some things to be concerned about. He does hold the ball too long. He fumbles a lot. He likes to run around in Russell Wilson type circles trying to find someone to throw to. He won't be able to get away with a lot of that at the NFL level when defenses are much better than he's faced. But I do see what people like about him. He can create plays where they don't exist. He does love heroball. Probably too much just like Josh Allen. But I'd be okay with a Josh Allen type at QB in Chicago. Beats anything else we've ever had.
Week 6 against Jax is a home game, which is stupid because people in Tottenham Hotspur stadium will be cheering loudest for punts and kicks. No division games until week 11 and 6 out of the last 8 are divisional? Should be fun. Loins on thanksgiving again. Looks like a complete 180 of last year. Beginning of season is easy, end of it is a meat grinder. Sans Houston, until week 11 most of these games are winnable.
Maybe they finally had an epiphany and want Caleb who is in the third-largest market to succeed. Let's see now if Caleb gets the calls that Justin didn't. It looks like those final weeks could make this division a see-saw getting to the top. The Packers have 5 games within the Division from Nov-Dec and the Loins and Vikings each have 4.
I thought the Ferris Bueller video was pretty lame compared to last years "The Bear" parody. "NO MEANS NO" was fucking hilarious when they did the Browns. And we just drafted the best punter in the league right? Give the fans what they want. The media suck off of Williams is really something, you can't say this dude was hated coming into the league. National Media too I mean. People are excited to see him play. He's a rookie, even the greatest QBs took time to adjust. But yeah, I like the softer ease into the season. Then, maybe, just fucking maybe, when we play the hated on 11/17 AT HOME we can finally fucking win one. Like Fields and Trubs before him, I just want solid consistent improvement. This seems to be the last NFL news drop for the next few months heh. See you gents when camp rolls around.
The Good: - No fucking Packers week 1. I wouldn't have put that shit past them at all. - Home game week 1, and against the Titans too. That will do very nicely for Caleb's first start. - In general a seriously friendly first 10weeks. Really what you want for your rookie QB, and for what will be a new offense in general. - I get to take the kid to London for a Bears game. My wife has already tried getting in on that action, even having the brass neck to ask what level of hospitality package i might get for us all ha! But as i explained the other day. Remember that first few months when we were together, and you'd take an interest in my interests, inc watching football games together with you learning the rules etc? Then after a while when you got comfortable/lazy you couldn't be arsed making an effort no more and have never shown the slightest interest in football since? Well you reap what you sow sugartits, but we'll be sure to send you plenty of selfies from the game The Bad: - Another deck stacked final game of the season in GB. Fuck you, league. - 6 divisional games the final 8 weeks of the season is fucking horrific. I HATE that so much. Its bad enough that in a season as short as the NFL you have to play nearly 40% of your games against 3 teams, but the league has now taken this and multiplied it by fuckoff². They've done the same thing to the Steelers i believe. Dogshit. Despite what i said in the good section, i would gladly take a couple of these div games and drop them into the first 10 weeks to spread it out a little. 4 out of the final 8 would still be bad, but it wouldn't be as shitty as this. - Playing on Thanksgiving. I dont know the Bears record the last 30years, but it feels horrible. I have way to many bad memories of Bears TG over the years to feel different. Dunno why any Bears fan would want them to play then. Especially when current Loins team doesnt suck.
Well the Packers have 5 games within the division and the Vikings and Loins each have 4 during that stretch.
- Home game week 1, and against the Titans too. That will do very nicely for Caleb's first start. This could turn out to be an excellent game........Caleb's first start and Will Levis 2nd year. Good luck and Go Titans Go
Ha! Well she's missed out on about a dozen games down there over the years, including the last Bears one in '19 and im still married. So don't count me out yet!
