Where is your excitement level at for this season of Bears football?

It's clear to me that this is a rebuilding season and watching the first preseason game, I checked out after about one series of Siemian behind center. A lot of down years I would be cautiously optimistic but man, what do we have to look forward to this year?

1. A newly rebuilt defense, and that Brisker kid looks like the real deal.
2. Fields progression with a sub-par supporting cast in a new system.
3. Monty / Herbert don't look like a bad 1-2 punch at RB.

I get that Pace left the "cubberboard" bare (to quote that absolute idiot Kenneth Davis from the Under Center Podcast, I had to stop listening to it otherwise I felt like I was going to get dumb enough to not do my day job). I get that they are rebuilding. But it feels like a long damn time since I've felt the Bears were going to be this bad before the season started.

I think Fields could be good, I think Poles and Eberflus could be good. There's a lot of unknowns so normally I'd be just a little bit hyped for them to at least compete. I don't know, I just have a bad feeling about it. Maybe the problem is last years hype was to at least see how Fields perform....and he did struggle, Nagy and his scheme notwithstanding.

What about you guys, are you drinking the kool aid like the meatballs on r/chibears and facebook? Are you guys excited to see anything in particular? Given the lack of activity here I think I know where people stand, but I'm still curious.

I'll start another prediction thread this year for the season after the 3rd preseason game and see how we do, but I'm pretty sure it's going to look like a top 10 pick for me.

 

I would be excited if we were playing them.

 

I said before last season that the Bears would win 10 games over the course of the next two seasons so since they overachieved my prediction by one game last season with 6 I'm sticking with my prediction of 4 for this one. Still sounds about right.

 

I've cancelled my NFL Game Pass and am looking forward to spending weekends on my family's schedule, without worrying about football.

There are a lot of things that I'm hopeful / optimistic about with this team. But I don't see them winning more than a few games, and I don't need to pay to see that.

I want Fields to show he's for real. I want to see a few young players on the OL and defense step up and prove they can be foundational pieces going forward. If that happens, I'll call the season a success, and tune in for the following one.

Ill still pay attention, for sure. Just not spending my money / mental health on it this year.

 

I can't wait for the season to start. I remain nauseatingly optimistic about the Bears chances, based on relatively little factual information.

That's why I'm the Moderator of this board.

 

I cancelled game pass the minute last season ended, and did not renew. There is a fantastic Bears stream I got, but obviously they keep it hush hush, last year someone posted it on Facebook and dude was super pissed. So if I'm not at a hockey game with my kid, which I will probably be most Sundays, I will be tuning in. Like you, I don't need to pay money to watch a subpar team play later. So I'll be relying on the talking heads and the gents/gal here who actually watch the game to tell me how Fields and company are developing.

 

gents/gal

Thanks for that Vvarder!

 

There are some exciting young players on both sides of the football and a new coaching staff. I'm not optimistic in terms on winning a lot of games....but I'm excited to see some real football and see some new kids make an impact on the field.

Brisker is legit. Eddie Jackson has no more excuses....he has complained for three seasons that he needs a safety that can play the box so he can be the roaming free safety and now he has one.

 

We have a legit shot at having the worst record in the league. And that may not be a bad thing long-term.

The whole point of this season is for Fields to take a giant step forward. Right now tbh, through 1+ preseason games, he looks like he's the second best QB on the roster. Siemian gets the ball out faster and seems more comfortable behind this terrible o-line.

 

Bears coach Matt Eberflus sees Justin Fields improving, in preseason games and practices



Bears quarterback Justin Fields played just one series in Thursday night’s preseason win over the Seahawks, but in that one series, head coach Matt Eberflus saw the same thing he’s been seeing from Fields in practice: Improvement.

Fields went 5-for-7 for 39 yards, led the offense into field goal range for the Bears to take a 3-0 lead, and perhaps more importantly avoided taking any sacks despite repeatedly facing pressure behind a shaky offensive line. Eberflus said Fields’ solid play in the preseason game mirrored what he’s been showing on the practice field.


“I see more progress in practice,” Eberflus said. “His footwork’s getting better, his delivery when he’s feeling pressure, how he slides in the pocket and delivers the ball, that’s getting a lot better too. He’s improving every single day.”

Eberflus noted that Fields throws well on the move, something Bears fans often complained Fields wasn’t asked to do enough of last year under former head coach Matt Nagy.

“He does a really good job with the movement passes, the play-actions, in pocket, out of pocket, and to be able to deliver the ball,” Eberflus said. “So we’re excited about that.”

Fields’ development is the Bears’ top priority this season, and Eberflus is seeing progress.

PFT

 

Fields just needs to slow down. He moved to the check down / bails on the play way too quickly. I know this is because he got absolutely killed last year, and the offensive line isn't much if at all better this year, but... he has to slow down. This has all the makings of another QB eventually ruined by OL / coaching, right now. Hopefully he can just be a little more patient.

 

I would bet my left nut that the Bears don’t even pick in the top 10 of the draft. Soft schedule plus Fields improving will equal 7 to 9 wins.

 

Does Roquan play for Chicago, in this bet? Because the defense could definitely win them games, to your end.

 

I don’t think he’s gonna forfeit game checks. So yeah he plays.

The Bears forever live in the land of mediocrity. Not the worst team in the league but not good either. This year won’t be different.

 

Sacrilege.

 

I take that back.

I don't want to be demoted from my esteemed job.

 

I don't think there are any other women here so that was for you, heh.

I don't think Vegas wants your left nut, but Vegas will take your money:
NFL Betting Odds & Lines: Team Futures - Regular Season Wins | DraftKings Sportsbook - the over-under on wins is 6.5 right now, a week or two ago it was 5.5, Seattle has the 10th pick in the last draft with 7-10, so you need at least that many to not be picking top 10.

I think mediocre this year would speak a lot of Flus and the new regime. I agree the schedule is softer, but the Bears did blow things up quite a bit this year. Preseason has me cautiously optimistic about the defense, but the offense....I'm concerned. Which is maybe the exact state of the Bears my entire life.

 

Roquan practicing today.

 

Fields looked really good tonight. It helps when you don't have to worry about Clowney and Myles Garrett. Either way glad he can use this game to build confidence heading into week 1.

 

For sure, there are tempering factors, the pass rush definitely. Also i think i heard them say the Browns didn't field their starting CB's in that game? So plenty of reasons to keep the feet on the ground.

That said, against the opposition placed in front of him, Fields looked fucking fantastic. I've said it before and will be dull and say it again, Fields has everything it takes. Its all there and a little more. He will make it in this league, he will be at least a top10 QB.....IF the Bears don't ruin him. They need to protect him and thats the big concern. The O-Line. It seems Jenkins in playing Guard now lol? Right. Glad he got a good look at Tackle, what was that like 6games? gtfoh

All of Fields TD throws were impressive in their own way, but 1 & 3 particularly so to me. That first one, the more you watch it the more impressive it becomes. In reverse order, the throw. Thats not an easy throw. At least 30yards in the air, it was too far to laser, but with 2 defenders in the area Fields also couldn't put a lot of air under the ball, which would've made it an easier throw. The ball needed to get there promptly, he had to drive the throw just a bit on a lower than optimal trajectory, and be accurate, and did. Perhaps even sweeter than the throw was the look off which is kinda what made the play. Fields takes the Safety out of the play with his eyes and times the whole thing right internally. The Safety never does lay a hand on the receiver. Perhaps even sweeter than the look off was the pre snap diagnosis. Single high, man coverage, Fields sees that this is a shot play, he just has to keep the Safety out of it long enough and does. There's no exotic coverages going on in a game like this so frankly i think we should be hoping Fields can diagnose this play correctly. But i've got all season to be negative so for now i'll say well done for getting all 3 elements right.

NOW....the question that vexes me. If this was the regular season against the actual Browns defense, could the Bears have pulled that off? Well Fields could imo if given the chance. The CB play may have been better but tbh thats not what bothers me. Its what blang said. By the time Fields has looked off the Safety is the pash rush already in his lap? Its likely it is imo. So much is gonna depend on the O-Line not getting beat in the first 1-2seconds and thats what worries me.


Have to just give a shoutout to the 3rd TD pass as well. Fields was ruthless all game when he got outside the pocket, at one point i think he threw an almost no look pass to possibly Pettis for a FD. The 3rd TD pass was so patient and so well done. Fields waited and waited, knowing they have to respect his running ability but keeping his eyes downfield, he pressed the LOS, and when the defender committed he made the easy pass to Kmet in the endzone. Trubisky would've took off early, Fields is always keeping the option to throw open and thats what makes it so hard on the defender. Outside the pocket Fields could achieve 00 status this season.