At the Bye

[Caliskinsfan]

Sweetness!

 

[wood20ks]

Sweetness!

Watched him as a rookie......

My son's middle name is Payton,as well as my grandson's first name is Payton......
No too mention my manccave is named 34s along with a huge Payton Shrine......

Greatest Bear ever and goat rb.........

**although your post is in the wrong thread,still love it**

 

[Caliskinsfan]

Watched him as a rookie......

My son's middle name is Payton,as well as my grandson's first name is Payton......
No too mention my manccave is named 34s along with a huge Payton Shrine......

Greatest Bear ever and goat rb.........

**although your post is in the wrong thread,still love it**

I loved watching him! Truly one of the best ever, including his character as a man.

I'll have to look at the threads closer. oops! where should it have gone?

 

[wood20ks]

I loved watching him! Truly one of the best ever, including his character as a man.

I'll have to look at the threads closer. oops! where should it have gone?

Maybe of started one......guys wanna talk about team going ons during bye week.....

 

[richig07]

Watched him as a rookie......

My son's middle name is Payton,as well as my grandson's first name is Payton......
No too mention my manccave is named 34s along with a huge Payton Shrine......

Greatest Bear ever and goat rb.........

**although your post is in the wrong thread,still love it**

lol

Yeah, I love Walter (like any Bears fan does) but this definitely doesn't fit into the "bye week" thread. I was a bit confused.

 

[Caliskinsfan]

Maybe of started one......guys wanna talk about team going ons during bye week.....

Gotcha

 

[Lake Shore Drive]

Maybe of started one......guys wanna talk about team going ons during bye week.....

So getting back to the team goings on, I'd sure like an update on the various players injuries, specifically an update on Kyler Gordon's hammy issue. Those suckers often tend to linger. Hopefully he'll be up to a full go by Week 8 when we face the Commanders. We'll need our starting secondary to be at full strength against this strong Commanders passing game.

I touch on Gordon specifically because IMO he has made himself the most versatile player in the secondary and is arguably the 2nd best player back there, just behind Jaylon Johnson. But Gordon seems to be all over the place. He's seemingly redefining the role of nickel back. The way he covers the run (he's our best tackler in the secondary) and used occasionally on blitz packages, you can almost refer to him as a nickel safety or even a 4th LB.

 

[justanidiot]

So getting back to the team goings on, I'd sure like an update on the various players injuries, specifically an update on Kyler Gordon's hammy issue. Those suckers often tend to linger. Hopefully he'll be up to a full go by Week 8 when we face the Commanders. We'll need our starting secondary to be at full strength against this strong Commanders passing game.

I touch on Gordon specifically because IMO he has made himself the most versatile player in the secondary and is arguably the 2nd best player back there, just behind Jaylon Johnson. But Gordon seems to be all over the place. He's seemingly redefining the role of nickel back. The way he covers the run (he's our best tackler in the secondary) and used occasionally on blitz packages, you can almost refer to him as a nickel safety or even a 4th LB.

Well, Gordon is making a role as a linebacker/nickel back. Since our nickel is on the field for 70% of plays already, I consider that our base defense. The problem with this is when Gordon is out, there is not another Gordon to replace him. This was my confusion when they signed the two linebackers who were better than Sanborn at coverage and put one in the middle. If the offenses are actually audibling to passes when Jack is in, why not line Jack up in the middle and switch out the money backer to a side where he is responsible in coverage. Its all about putting players in positions to accel, right? I mean, I get it, we traded Mack as soon as Everfluke was hired, which showed he is not adjusting a defense to personnel, and yeah, that trade got us Brisker. But didnt that actually happen with Gordon?

Redefining the role is a great analogy, but healthy in December and January is also important.

 

[Lake Shore Drive]

Here's an early list of the Bears free agents for '25:

26 Bears players slated to become free agents in 2025

The Bears have 26 players scheduled to become free agents in 2025. Here’s a quick look at those players:

bearswire.usatoday.com

Most are UFAs, followed by RFAs, but also including some ERFAs. Obviously UFAs are the most difficult to retain, being they have no restrictions on their eligibility, so I'll just focus on them for now. Who on this list do you see as most needed for re-signing, at least at this point in the season? Matt Pryor has been a pleasant surprise and might be the easiest to ink a 1 or 2 year extension. Kinda the same with Darrell Taylor and of course Patrick Scales. OTOH, it might have to be all or nothing with Keenan Allen and Tevin Jenkins. By this I mean they either sign a large, multiyear contract or they walk, especially Jenkins. I really don't see much of an in between with them. Maybe Allen, but I'm sure he's hoping to snag one more large contract.

 

[Lake Shore Drive]

Here are the rookie class grades to date from Bears Wire from this year's draft:

Bears 2024 draft class: Grading Chicago's rookies at the bye

The Bears are enjoying a well-earned bye week, so we take the opportunity to grade the rookie's performances through Week 6.

bearswire.usatoday.com

QB Caleb Williams: B+​

WR Rome Odunze: B-​

OT Kiran Amegadjie: INCOMPLETE​

P Tory Taylor: A+​

DE Austin Booker: C​

I'd say these grades for the most part are fairly spot on. Might be a bit of a stretch to give Taylor an A+, being he got off to a somewhat average start, altho his last couple of games are showing why Poles took him in the 4th round. I see improved grades for Williams and Odunze coming down the pike as the season moves on. And I'm anxious for ANY grade assigned to Amegadjie, want to see what this kid can do once he's able to take the field.

 

[justanidiot]

Here's an early list of the Bears free agents for '25:

26 Bears players slated to become free agents in 2025

The Bears have 26 players scheduled to become free agents in 2025. Here’s a quick look at those players:

bearswire.usatoday.com

Most are UFAs, followed by RFAs, but also including some ERFAs. Obviously UFAs are the most difficult to retain, being they have no restrictions on their eligibility, so I'll just focus on them for now. Who on this list do you see as most needed for re-signing, at least at this point in the season? Matt Pryor has been a pleasant surprise and might be the easiest to ink a 1 or 2 year extension. Kinda the same with Darrell Taylor and of course Patrick Scales. OTOH, it might have to be all or nothing with Keenan Allen and Tevin Jenkins. By this I mean they either sign a large, multiyear contract or they walk, especially Jenkins. I really don't see much of an in between with them. Maybe Allen, but I'm sure he's hoping to snag one more large contract.

Well, I have stated my problem with Pryor, being tall enough to block passing lanes for Williams if he is just inside. Backup tackle I can see, but I did not think Borom was even deserving of getting replaced. I prefer to watch the new kid take RT and learn the NFL game and then move to the left side when his craft is honed. Dont even think that is happening with Wright with Kiran on the team.

Shelton was always a backup plan to Bates, who I believe had 3 snaps in the NFL, and I think Kramer holds onto that backup center spot.

I dont think they offer Allen more than 16-18 when the going rate is 25 plus now and his role is clearly going to be number 3 receiver. I think it would have been done by now if he was in the plans. But 16-18 is the contract you take next august when they are two weeks into camp.

Taylor is really something. I dont know if he dominated that Titans game so much because there was no plan for defending him and with Hardy and Booker behind him as undersized 4-3 DE's he is not a priority either.

I see Jenkins like so many bears linemen who eventually went to Dallas and became perennial pro bowlers back 10-15 years ago and he has proven he cannot remain healthy again. The man is a mauler, but do you ever see them running right behind him straight ahead? nope. Constantly have him pulling across to the right side. Make that make sense. Lets just run plays where the guy that gets hurt the most has to do the most movement. You look at that Detroit offensive line and think he is the only one that would fit on that mean mauling group. Sounds like a building spot, but I doubt they do it.

So not really a bad list of massive losses. I thought Scales was designated for return, but he is off that list with Borom and Jacob Martin, another undersized DE on it now. So just having him on that return list means he is playing ahead of Booker and Hardy when he comes back so they can decide to resign him. The whole point is to draft new guys to take these spots.

 

[BearsWillWin]

I mean, I get it, we traded Mack as soon as Everfluke was hired, which showed he is not adjusting a defense to personnel

Mack was traded because he had a high salary and the Bears were rebuilding. No reason to keep a Ferrari in a garage full of Pintos.

Had nothing to do with scheme.

 

[Caliskinsfan]

Love the pup!

 

[Lake Shore Drive]

Mack was traded because he had a high salary and the Bears were rebuilding. No reason to keep a Ferrari in a garage full of Pintos.

Had nothing to do with scheme.

Hahaha, I like that analogy!!! But I also agree, trading Mack was the right thing to do. Sure, he would have helped, just as Roquan Smith, our other traded superstar, would have likewise had he remained. But either/both would have tied Poles hands when it came to salaries and obtaining other players. Besides, no matter how we view those trades, it's behind us now. I like our roster as it stands and it's only gonna get better.

 

[Lake Shore Drive]

With the season not yet even half over, there's still a lot of football left. But it does look at this point as if there's a group of bottom feeders and to our fortune, one of those are the Panthers. They're currently in a three way tie with the Pats and Browns at 1-6, with the Titans one bye ahead at 1-5.

We still have one more gift remaining from the now infamous trade Poles pulled off two years ago in the form of their '25 2nd rounder. While the dream scenario is to snag the 33rd pick, I've said a number of times we should be quite happy if we end up in the top 5 of that 2nd round.

 

[Lake Shore Drive]

Potentially brutal schedule for '25:

Bears' known opponents for 2025 season (so far)

We won't know the final list of Bears 2025 opponents until the end of the season. But here's a look at the opponents already locked in:

bearswire.usatoday.com

Of course where we finish in the Norris will help determine those three remaining TBD spots.

 

[wood20ks]

A little update on our injuries for the eeek:

Chicago Bears injury updates look very promising for Week 8 showdown

Matt Eberflus had some key injury updates for the Chicago Bears ahead of their Week 8 showdown with the Washington Commanders.

www.chicitysports.com

But there was no news on Borom and Bates.......

 

[justanidiot]

A little update on our injuries for the eeek:

Chicago Bears injury updates look very promising for Week 8 showdown

Matt Eberflus had some key injury updates for the Chicago Bears ahead of their Week 8 showdown with the Washington Commanders.

www.chicitysports.com

But there was no news on Borom and Bates.......

I just was getting in my car last night and heard that Bates looked good., they were saying I guess it depends how you feel about Pryor. So I took that as he was ready to go.

If Daniels is a no go they are probably wasting a flex.

 

[richig07]

A little update on our injuries for the eeek:

Chicago Bears injury updates look very promising for Week 8 showdown

Matt Eberflus had some key injury updates for the Chicago Bears ahead of their Week 8 showdown with the Washington Commanders.

www.chicitysports.com

But there was no news on Borom and Bates.......

Both are back.

 

[wood20ks]

I just was getting in my car last night and heard that Bates looked good., they were saying I guess it depends how you feel about Pryor. So I took that as he was ready to go.

If Daniels is a no go they are probably wasting a flex.

Both are back.

Great news guys......great news.