All Access: DHC re-signs, Howard traded

into another edition of Bears All Access. Jeff Johnny AAC along with Tom Fair Jim Miller joining us as well for an hour of football conversation Bears style. As we go post NFL owners meetings, these mile posts of the

offseason continue to come come at you quick. And now we're into April and so it's draft month, and so no matter where they're picking, it's exciting to look about what might be available come around, third, fourth, fifth round and the potentially future Bears and hopefully a couple of starters down the road, maybe even in twenty nineteen. We'll see, but lots still going on. You guys did the show last Monday without me, And during the course of the week,

Jordan Howard was dealt to the Philadelphia Eagles. You resigned Aaron Lynch, so those two of the big personnel moves this week. Yeah, you know, I have all the respect in the world for Jordan Howard. He always carried himself as a quality guy around me, and I think he's going to have a successful career in the NFL. But when you look at what they think of in a

running back, it's changed over the course of time. With Coach Naggie here, what they want out of the running back, what they want their inclusion to be inside the offense is different than what Jordan Howard kind of offered them at this point. So you know, uh, Jordan, he's going to go to a good football team. And you know, Matt Naggie and Doug Peterson they have enough respect for each other that that's kind of a you know, not a not a buddy trade, but it's a respect trade.

They respect Jordan Howard and they put him in an opportunity to succeed Big Jim. Yeah. Well, you know again, you wish Jordan Howard all the best. You've been very productive, you know, Philadelphia, these these route there even going into last year, towards the end of the year that Philly was calling inquiring about Jordan Howard and they want more

that that power, straight ahead run. You know, I think we saw how they, you know, really made it to the Super Bowl and how they utilize the Garrett Blunt and they I think they felt that that was missing they had injuries at the running back spot a season ago. I also think in coach Naggie's kind of touched on it sounds like he's interesting and interested in Cordarol Patterson and how he'll be utilized Again every team he's been with, he's a log carries as a running back. Does it

mean more jet sweeps? Things like that that Cordarol does very well and he's had a lot of productivity mentioned he was really the two week bell cow for the New England Patriots when they had injuries at the running back spot. And again there's some backs later in the draft.

Sounds I think the Bears, you know, and I've been talking about Dexter Williams for n D for quite some time, bigger back who can run with power that potentially maybe those guys are on their radar screen later in the draft, because again, it that position just seems like it's been fungible you look at what you know, Levon Bell, I don't think he got the contract that was even as

good as what was offered a year ago. And you look at some of these trades that have gone down for the running back position, I think sometimes that position has been a little bit devalued over the past couple of years, and how teams are looking at that position.

You know what the change in the position? To me, Jim, it seems like that the Bears want a running back that can go to can break the huddle and be the primary or receiver and a route whether he starts around in the backfield or he goes to the line of scrimmage. And that's one of the traits that have changed over time. Because you talk about the battering ram that Philadelphia wants and what they're getting in Jordan Howard.

I think that's what's different about the evaluation of the running back position right now for the Chicago Bears and going forward. Hey, look at a guy like Duke Johnson, Supposedly he's on the trade block for the Cleveland Browns, and he's intriguing. I just I ran this by time abield. Yeah,

I mean, he's a very effective back. So you know, but in the end, you still need a guy who's gonna be at a total twenty times when you're trying to put away games and so forth, and you'd like to get a guy fifteen to twenty carries, you know, especially in November December, we talked about it about Jordan. What do you want? Do you want a guy or the offense to have him the carries I'm talking about. I always look at it. I try to look at

it as role. So I think you do need a bigger back for for that type of role, you know, in terms of to pound it even you know when you look at uh, you know, when Kareem Hunt went out for for the Kansas City Chiefs last year, you know picked up the slack. It was Damian Williams, who's a bigger back, and he played well come postseason, so you know, I you know, I think Mike Davis is a lot better than what people realize who the bear

side from the Seattle Seahawks. I mean, he had a stretch run last year where really he had some opportunities and I thought he could pound it for a bigger back, and that's why I kind of I think that could be another mix I don't know where Ryan Null is in terms of his development if they trust him in that spot, but I would think you would need another bigger back on that roster if Mike Davis were to go down, well, they have chances to pick up a back.

As you said, Jim, lots of running backs in that third to fifth round range of notes. Pick your variety. There will be a lot to choose from when the Bears go to work on the draft. Here in just a few weeks, we're gonna step away. We come back expected to be joined by DeAndre Houston. Carson back for a fourth year with the Bears on special teams and in that defensive secondary. With Tom fare, Jim Miller. I'm Jeff Joniac and this is Chicago Sports Radio six seventy

the Score. Welcome back into Bears all access here on Chicago Sports Radio six seventy the Score. Jeff Joniac, Tom there, Jim Miller with you, and we are pleased at this time. Oh. By the way, we are brought to you by IGS Energy, a partner of the Chicago Bears, providing electricity, natural gas, and home warranty products to over one million customers across the country. Learn more. About IGS Energy at igs dot com.

DeAndre Houston, Carson, Bears draft pick three years ago, come on back for a fourth year and the special team's stud and defensive secondary. I'm gonna say versatile player because the man did play corner and safety in college. Been playing that Nicola Times, big Dime, you name it, he's played it with the Bears. Good to have you back

in Chicago, DeAndre, and welcome into the show tonight. Really excited to have you back as a Bear because I think a lot of what you did sometimes gets against lost in under the radar a little bit, but you made a big impact on special teams and as a role player on defense even with the switch and coordinators, and you see yourself filling a really good role here to come back in twenty nineteen, Well, first night, thank you for thanks for having me on, and I'm definitely

excited to be back. And yeah, I look forward to having a good year. Hey, DeAndre. Last year's success during the season as you started to climb those stack those ws as say did was it did the winds energize you guys or did it put more pressure on you guys? Because where you came from the season before now, I think I think winning just creates positive momentum. I wouldn't say it created any pressure for us, but you know, the atmosphere is just better when you win, well, when

you look at it from your perspective. And he got in there and it did such a fantastic job late in the year. Do you think you'll be utilized in that same role? You know, if you talk to Chuck Pagano at at all in terms of your role for the Bears here in twenty nineteen. Yeah, so I haven't talked to coach Purgano yet, look forward to meeting him. And as far as my role, I'm I'm not quite

sure what it's gonna be yet. I just know I'm gonna go out there and and do the best I can and keep trying to perfect my craft, and then you know, whatever role I do have, I'm gonna do it to the best of my baby or if your bear DeAndre Houston Carson with us here on Bear's All Access on Chicago Sports Radio six seventy. He'd scored Jeff Time and Jim with you. DeAndre. Back in College of William Marry, you are an outstanding special teams player, but you had this knack for black and kicks, and it

was really almost uncanny. I think you had four black punts, you blacked a bunch of field goals and extra points and whatnot. Has it been something that has served you well here to even have you circled for other teams as a threat to do that in games, because I think it's one of the most underrated tough things to do, really, because guys can bend that edge, but it's the ability to get there and get their hands in the right spot, go tack at the football as opposed to the actual

kicker and make those those plays. Because I'm sure you were circled by teams knowing that this was something that you were a weapon with. You know what, Honestly, I have been I haven't got to the blacker kid, and since I've been the league three years, which is something that I and disappointed in just for myself and a goal that I always have and something that I've been

working on during the offseason. And so, like I said, I don't know, you know, if that's really the teams even really know that, you know, because I haven't put it on film yet. And so but I say yet, because I think that I can think that I can still do it. What's the key doing? For one, I think to get off and then just finishing. I mean a lot of guys get around the ball. I just gotta just gotta be able to really keep your eyes

on it and finished through DeAndre. You know, you don't have very many opportunities during the course of your career to increase your value at the end of the season. So you come and you sign a one year deal. You have a new defensive coordinator you had, you had a good finish to the season last year, and you're gonna be one of the key components in the special team's core here, which is an important role is starting

in some aspects. Do you feel that this is an opportunity for you in your football life to increase your value down the road, not only for the Bears, but for any opportunity that's presented to you, No doubt, no doubt. Anytime you get a chance to put something out there on fail to put on the tape, you know it's a great chance of soldier're all about and I look forward to the opportunity. Well, you talked about honing your

craft so to speak. I mean, where do you think you what would you personally like to work on to where you feel you need to get better at In terms of your overall skill set. You know, there's a few things. I think you can always increase your your knowledge of the game, which is something that I've been trying to do over the last few years. Um, you know, foo foot quickness is something I've been working a lot on over the off season, getting getting stronger, and then yeah,

just finishing. You know, there's there's uh, only so much drill work you can do at the end of the day. You got to go out there and put it on tape. Hey, DeAndre, you know I was I was looking back and reading about you and it said that you did thirteen reps on the bench press back of the combine. Are you stronger now at this stage your career, being able to invest more in the nutrition the weight rooms compared to where you were as a senior in college, I would

say so. And I would say that over the last few years, I've just been trying to pick up guys, pick up things so hit from the guys around um of the facility, you know, pick up certain things that they do as far as the nutrition and recovery and all that sort of stuff. Um, and just try to add that to my game so I can so like you said, I can be stronger. Well, it always talks about defensive backs. You always talk about your feet and all that type of qualities that you have to have

in order to be a great player. But the upper part, the upper body part of it is equally is important. You know, to stay healthy, make sure that you're keeping your your head in the game and all the aspects that's required of you. Yeah, I would say that's true. And like you said, as far as staying healthy, you know, strength is obviously a key part of that and something

that I'm trying to continue to grow in. DeAndre Houston Carson, our guest here on Bears All Access on Chicago Sports Radio six seventy the Score kind enough to spend a

few minutes with us. You mentioned you're working out foot quickness and and oftentimes you'll you'll hear about what quarterbacks are doing in the offseason, what they're training, how they're training, who they're training with, and Old Mitch has been out there with with some of the guys at receiver just getting some routes in and getting that timing down even at this stage, it's important, but you don't hear about everybody.

What did you decide to do this off season in terms of maybe hiring somebody to help you through maybe increasing your footwork, foot speed and whatnot, and anything different than you've done at any point prior in your NFL career in college. Yeah, I'm taking a little bit different approach this offseason. UM as far as UM, just trying to get around a few different trainers. So I've been working with with my trainer, John McNulty over this offseason.

He's up here in Libertiesville, Illinois, and then also a place eft UM in Deerfield, Illinois. Just getting over there and working with those guys UM and then a lot of it, honestly, it is just personal, you know, a lot of It's just what I'm doing with no one else. Is a round that I'm trying to walk on. You've been to the new facility yet, and have you been and seen the locker room and picked out your locker? Yeah? I was in there on Friday for the first time

and it's Uh, were you blown away? Yeah? It's special, it is it is. Go ahead, Well, I was gonna ask you, do you have any thoughts on Obviously, the expansion of replay will include offensive passing or interference as well, but say you you know, as as a corner or a dime or anything. You know, potentially if a quarterback's even throwing away from you in your defense, you know, they could potentially call defensive pass interference or offensive rub routes.

We know those get called all the you know, or get run all the time in the NFL. Do you have any early thoughts how it's going to impact you in how you play or do you think it's going to affect that a coach can now challenge non calls in the NFL for pass interference. I definitely would think that it would affect, you know, the game strategy, hail, marriage situations and things like that. UM, as far as you know how it affect our game personally, I'm not

quite sure. I guess after we get closer into the season and talk with the team and coaches and stuff like that, we'll have a I have a better understanding shopmate here with DeAndre Houston. Carson Bears, a returning free agent signy and entering his fourth year in the NFL

out of William and Mary. You know, it's a great question by Jim because a year ago at this time, everybody was wondering exactly how the helmet rule was gonna impact the game and if it was going to be flag after flag, and you know, as you sit back, it didn't seem like that big a deal in the end. How did you feel as a player adjusting even in the early days of training camp and into the preseason for what the league was now going to call. Yeah,

so I'm defensive coordinator old defensive coordinator UH coach Fangio. Um, Yeah, I think he had a real practical approach that it kind of resonated with me. He just said, you know, the rules are the rules, and as players we have to a bobey him. We have to find ways to um to do that. And so I think it would be the same thing for the for the pass interference rule. You said, I don't I don't know how big of a deal the helmet to helmet rule ended up being

last year. Um. But at the end of the dance players, it's it's our job to adjust. Have they Have you got any job description of what's required of you from new defensive coordinator Chuck Pagano, No, sir, I haven't taught to coach Pogano yet. That's something I want to do, probably within the next week or so. Just get in there and talk to him more so, just to get to know him as a person. And I'm sure we'll

talk Texes and those as well at some point. With your with your downtime and what you were dealing with in free agency and all those type of things. For yourself this offseason, how did you rejuvenate? Um? So, my wife and I for one, we we took a trip out to South Korea for a few weeks after the season, which was really fun. Um. And besides that, I mean we've just been kind of around working. Um. I like to read, so I kind of just hang out read maybe right, um, and just hang out with my wife.

Try to spend some time. You know, it's hard for her during the season, so try to really spend some time and build our relationship. So you're wing, What are you writing if I ask, you know, just my journal, you know, just personal thoughts, okay, poetry or anything like. Now, Hey, some guys right right, some guys you got Hey, all these guys got hidden talents. DeAndre right, I would like to know. Do you actually write it or you type it into a iPad or a tablet or something not

write it? Sometimes? Good for you. All Right, We're gonna let you go before we do. The excitement around this team obviously is palpable. And it was all created by what you guys did under Matteggie and as a collective unit last year on both sides of the ball, special teams included, and you guys won, you went to the playoffs. Uh. Is it feel like this team is still bouncing from that momentum that you guys created last year because every season is different. You got some new faces, you got

a new coordinator on defense or whatnot. But just from talking to the fellas, is the excitement still palpable? For sure? And I can't speak for the whole team. I can't speak to everyone else, but I can definitely speak to myself for myself and say that even more so than excitement, you know, I feel like, you know, last season created a bigger hunger, a more deep hunger for me, knowing that, knowing that we have a real opportunity to make the

ultimate goal of bringing home that trophy of reality. And obviously it's a whole new year, new players, new coaches and all that. But but we know, we know, at least I know what we're capable love, and so it just creates that hunger for us to go out there and work and put it on tape and do what we need to do to achieve that. All right, well, we wish you great success coming up here in twenty nineteen.

Thanks so much for taking some time today. Thanks for sure appreciate DeAndre Houston, Curs and Chicago Bears defensive back and special team star joining the program when we come back. How about some phone calls three four sixty seven sixty seven, three one two six four four sixty seven sixty seven. This is Bears All Access on Chicago Sports Radio six seventy The score. Hey, the twenty nine team that the like.

Chicago Bears Draft Party will be held on Saturday, April twenty seventh at Soldier Field from noon till six pm. The event will feature on field activities, locker room tours, player autographs, and of course, live draft coverage and analysis from Bears football experts like Tom Thare. Get your tickets today at Chicago Bears dot com slash Draft Party. Why are you laughing, we got we got last. The only thing better part of the show last week was me

reading the introductions at the start of each segment better. Yes, yeah, you think I just was more fluid I practiced during day. Yeah, more fluid than I. Yeah. Really, yeah, you had time there. You added words, Yes, I did add lords. Jim Miller with us as well. I mean these these offensive lineman. I'll tell you. Jim, Hey, he brought up something to me. I want to bring up the earlier today because he's trying to link the past to the current Bears team.

And you know, history sometimes repeats itself and other times it doesn't. What what Tim wore? A triple number two? Yeah? I don almost believe that. I did? You really? I did? I hate I hate April Fools because my mom was always so mean with her April Fools jokes growing up as a kid. So yeah, the ten o'clock last night, she texted me, Jim says, oh, how about the numbers. I'm like, wow, cal, now you gotta read all the fine print that the Bears did release that for those

you didn't know. But so nineteen eighty four, the Bears were ten and six. They go to fifteen to one and eighty five, win the Super Bowl. Tim there's first year in the league, two thousand and one, gym, you guys thirteen and three from five and eleven and go to the playoffs. Very good year, oh five, five and eleven to eleven and five, then a Super Bowl and oh six. So the twenty eighteen version twelve and four

after a five and eleven season. The expectations are significantly higher than they've been here around here in a very long time, and almost a daily occurrence from national writers or broadcasters talking about the Bears as a super from Bowl contender. Local writers included, do you see any similarities anything you can weave through all those different decades of Bears football your own personal experiences? Yeah, I think like anything else, you know, a lot of things have to

go your way. Certainly, you got to put in the work in the offseason. You know, here Cleveland, there's all kinds of expectations for Cleveland, and already you know, their new head coach, Freddy Kitchens is trying to temper that enthusiasm because it's true, just because your roster on paper look looks terrific and everything is heading in the right direction. Like how Cleveland finished their season or how the Bears

finished their season under under Matt Naggie. You got to put in the work and the preparation the following year. You know, injuries have to our factor. They've got to go on your way where you don't miss crucial guys or critical guys for a period of time. I did, like Kyle, the Bears had the cautious approach last year. Normally, if a player was banged up, they normally keep them out one more week to ensure a player was healthy.

But there's just so many things going on in the ob and flow of the season, and certainly the players got to come prepared to perform. You know, you gotta you know, you're judged on on a one week basis in terms of completing your pet, your test and passing that test. And I think the Bears are more more than willing to do that. I think they realize the opportunity that's ahead of them. And that's really you're really up to the players. They've got to go out and

they've got to perform. When that those lights are on and your numbers called, it's time to step up and perform and execute what you've been asked to do you know when you look at the analogy of success the following season after all the years we talk about, eighty four was a great season for the Bears, but I always hear about legendary speeches by Dan Hampton on the plane about how this is never going to happen again to the Bears, and the way all these seasons concluded,

even the Erlaccer Briggs pen a team that went onto the Super Bowl. Either way, this season ended the year before. It seemed like it always finished with confidence going forward and I and being a part of the eighty five training camp, but not the end of the eighty four season. You got kind of hit at mid stream and just hope you could jump on and hold on because they're not looking for a lot of jobs. There's not looking for a lot of people to make those teams, just

like in all the other years. After you have a good year, you wanted to transition to the success of the playoff and Super Bowl success. And it's interesting to think about those teams because you are you and I were around him as broadcasters along with Jim known about the eighty four eighty five transition, and now seeing this transition from what they were able to accomplish last year

in what is expected of them this year. Out of us as fans, it's I think it's interesting for the people and the fans of Chicago and what are their expectations because of what they've seen in the past. Out of Bears. Well, it's certainly, Jim, not a coronation, as you say, it's because you did it doesn't mean it's going to happen again, obviously, but the beauty. But I'm talking about the attitude you completed the last season and how does that spearhead and kick you off to the

next year. I know it's not a gear, it's not a ticket to the playoffs, but the atmosphere you're walking into that facility with and that first team meeting of Matt Naggy. This year, there's gonna be a lot more known than the unknown from last year. And Jim, I keep focusing on this one word and I mentioned it a few weeks ago on this show, and it's growth and trying to figure out where your biggest growth is

going to come from. Because they haven't invested a ton of money obviously in free agency this year, there are not going to be a lot of new players on this roster as of right now. If you look at the top forty six, there's gonna be seven new faces right now, not including the draft or what else they might do. That's growth, growth on your key players that are young making that next step, and namely Mitch Drubisky. Yeah, here, we just you know, we just talked to DeAndre Houston Carson.

You know, you look at that Callahan and what he was dealing with the foot injury later in the year. Sherkmmanus has to step in play snaps here. DeAndre Houston Carson, he's called upon. These guys aren't newbies anymore. You know, this isn't his first year out of the draft. More is expected. You know, he's more of a mature player,

understands the game a little bit more. You know. It's interesting again, and I've just pulled out the cautionary tale as we've done these Bears all access shows every week and had the opportunity to interview Malik Jackson today for the Philadelphi Eagles. Here he's on a Jacksonville Jaguars team. They're one play away from going to the Super Bowl AFC Championship game against New England in New England, given New England everything they can handle in their home turf

a Gillette Stadium. Come back a year later in twenty eighteen, all kinds of talent on the roster, and they absolutely lay an egg, absolutely lay an egg, whether it's injuries, players not getting along. Leonard Fournette overweighed all the trouble stories that you hear because they didn't prepare themselves correctly. So again they're their cautionary tale. Normally, when teams finish strong, you'd like to think they can carry that over or on how they finished the season from the year before,

a lot is expected. This team, I think they identified that they're pretty good, but you got to go out and put the work in. If you don't do that, you know Jackson will again is Mike cautionary tale of a team that went from first to worst. We say worst to first. What could go the other way too? Yeah, let's hope not. Jeff Jony actom Pere, Jim Miller with you at the owner's meeting, the conversation of the offensive line time. They're open to consideration of a move of

Cody Whitehair to guard and James Daniels to center. You know, I think if you talk a lot of offensive linement of coming gone with the Chicago Bears, they always talked about that they thought James Daniels was best fit for center and Cody could be more explosive, more powerful uses athleticism and be more dominant the line of scrimmage because when you take that that instant of snap to conversion to forward momentum, you know, there is a that's a

tough transition. There's not a lot of guys that can do. And I think James Daniels is built for it, and I think it'll help you offensive line. I really do, because you still have the versatility of Cody Whitehair to take the place. If worst case scenario happened, how would you have been at center? Nothing like Land? I would the thing that the thing that was so hard is to take all your momentum going backwards and then have the confidence to go forward with the equal speed and

ferociousness and stuff. And I always you know, I think when you look at Oland and jam there are two players that have played very similar style of games. They have power, they got quickness, they're super intelligent football players. So that for me was just a position to go into game day and be able to be a backup. But I never wanted to be a starter there. And it just sounds like Harry eastand they didn't want to overload James Daniels too much here in his rookie year.

Here he comes on makes an impact that the left guard just learn one position, get it down, contribute those type of things, and here it's a whole new offense. You know, I do believe Harry heastand when he talked about, hey, you've already got a report relationship with Trubisky in the center and Cody White here and Cody's comfortable and making all the calls and those type of things. Is a veteran more of a veteran player in terms of the ropes.

It's probably just an easier transition, I would think for James Daniels now going into a second year in the offense, is familiar with all the all the concepts, and you know, they feel he's more of a natural center, and that's what he was tabbed out of Iowa. Just a natural center that can get to the next level. I mean,

Owen's probably better equipped to break down his play. But it just seems like that was the thought process of offensive line coach errys and I think James Daniels will go back to snapping the ball, a conventional style that Mitchell Chubisky and the shotgun snap quarterbacks are used to when they had the awkward knuckleball flight of the snap of Cody Whitehair. I think James will go back to

the original way. All right, Time to step away. Mike Chen and Herb Lawrence with us here tonight on Bears All Access with Tom Thare, Jim Mellerim, Jeff Joniac threety four sixty seven, sixty seven. Do you want to jump on? We got a half hour to go on Bears All Access on Chicago Sports Radio six seventy to score. The Chicago Bears Network presents Inside the Bears, brought to you

by a Verizon. Anthony Adams and Lauren Screten cover the world of Bears football on and off the field every Sunday night, ten thirty five pm on Fox thirty two Chicago, or watch anytime at Chicago Bears dot com or on the Bears official app. Jeff Joni Act, Tom There, Jim Miller with you three one two sixty four sixty seven sixty seven Time for some of your phone calls BEFO where we exit at the top of the hour before we take some phone calls. The Alliance of American Football,

Jim certainly started with high hopes. It looked like Dave I'd have some really big name, obviously with ever Saul and the Hall of Famer involved with it. But eight games into a ten game season, there's nothing but disappointment about it. And I don't know how you felt about it at no time. You talked about it a lot, but Bill Pollion was quite upset that they pulled the pin on it. Today, so was I. I was really disappointed. And again it's because of the opportunities I've seen created

for guys in the USFL. If you take a guy like Sam Mills, who went out onto football greatness, one of the best football players ever. He is a linebacker. He was about five six, two hundred and something pounds, but he was the best of the best, and his opportunity was created because he went to a small college. He had the opportunity to get exposure in the USFL, and I learned to do do a great NFL career along

with a lot of other players. So I just think that it's unfair for the players who really want to try to make a living for this opportunity to have the rug pulled out from underneath them. Yeah, you know,

for being a developmental league. And again we've talked about eighty one percent of that league were formed of players that have been in NFL camps, So they were already invited to an NFL camp, whether drafted or free agency, those type of things as a college free agent, and so it's just about honing your skills a little bit more, and potentially some would get plucked this year to join

another camp. It's unfortunate. I'm with Tom. It's more jobs for another coaches, you know, former gms that had joined that league. And then you look at the player's side, I think even the officials who are getting more training from that standpoint, so I just think, you know, in terms of the bill of goods and how it was sold, obviously it wasn't as as well funded as what everybody thought. They just thought Tom Dundon, who took over, was just going to be, you know, the savior of that league.

But from what I understand, he had all sorts of parachutes to get out, to get out of this deal and ultimately as elected to pull the plug. And I want to talk more about this too, but first let's get through the phones. Joe and Joliet, Tom Stomping Grounds, what's on your mind? Welcome to bears All Access. Hey, Hi guys doing. I just wanted to see if you guys truly think that Chubisky can take the next step. Joe, I'll just weigh in right out of the gate. I

do because I trust Matt Nagie. I trust Matt Naggie, I trust the skill set of Mitch Trubisky, and the fact is it essentially was in terms of a first year offense, it was almost like a rookie year for him. So I am expecting growth and taking the next step means, you know, continue to move this offense in a direction and not just his own performance, but bring everybody else

with him, because that's really what makes it great. Off The most important thing is you have to have the player committed to everything that is he's obligated to master in order to run the position perfectly. In Mitch's committed to that, then you've got Matt Nagee, Mark hell for Its, David Gone, Chase, Daniel and Tyler Bray. You have a supporting cast there, supporting system that's all in the direction to make Mitchell Trubisky a better player, a more knowledgeable quarterback.

And with the talent that Ryan Pace is bringing in, you've got to be as excited about the quarterback position is you know any other elements of this team. And when I talked about the conversion from the year before to the Super Bowl, in the Bears history, there was always a little bit of quarterback interruption at some important times in the season, where if you have Mitchell Rubisky on board and healthy at playoff time, anything can happen. Yeah.

I just I like his growth from a year ago, and a lot of that is just due to Mitchell. I agree with everything both Tom and Jeff said before me, but I just like his attitude. I think he challenges himself to get better. I think he's a self starter. I think it's important to him. He doesn't want to let down his teammates. He takes it personally when you

challenge him and he responds. And I think he's done that with everything he was presented a year ago, and I expected to continue and I'm sure he does too. Here in twenty nineteen. I think the underrated part of him that a lot of people we don't get the benefit of seeing every day. But he's a fiery like Jim mentioned it, he is firing, and he is competitive. You know, he will fight you over anything, you know and be competitive about it. So you need that as

a start. With Joe the last caller asking the question, and it piques my innswest to barrass fans. Do they have trust and Mitchell Chubisky. Are they excited to see what he's going to bring to the table table next week or do some of them still have you know a little bit of oh, you know, wait and see attitude? And you know, right now, I think with a young quarterback that's common to always have the wait and see, you know, And we brought it up on this show.

You brought it up with Blake Bortles gym. You know, just because a guy comes out of the gate has one good year, he's got to have a career like it just can't be a starting stop progress And that's what you're banking on here with Mitch, right long term?

Go ahead, Jim, Yeah, I think he expects that, you know, and you look at quarterbacks that play at a consistent level every single week, whether it's a Breeze or a Brady or the great ones that are out or even you know how young Patrick Mahomes exploded onto the scene. I mean that was impressive. How you know what he was doing every single week at such a young player, as such a young player, and I think Mitchell is

capable of that. You know, he was everybody knew he was a raw player with minimal starts coming out of North Carolina. Just let it marinate, like you said, he's got You know, the steak has a long time to go before it's it's well cooked and ready to explode, where you know that that taste in your mouth that you just love it. There's still a lot of learning to do, and he's capable of doing it, and it's important to him. Like I said, I mean, I don't

think there's anything he's not capable of achieving. You know, that's up to him. And I just know this, he's more than willing, like you said, Jeff, to put in the work. The guy is not afraid to work. Man. Jeff, are you okay reading that Denver number? Because I think it's relevant to what I want to talk about. Right now. Well, no, well you had a great quarterback in there. No, well, it's just the numbers. You see this stuff that comes

around and analysis of different situations. So the Denver Broncos, for example, in three seasons before they signed Peyton Manning, they were twenty and twenty eight. He comes in there, four seasons they went to Super Bowl forty five and twelve. Since then they're twenty and twenty eight. Again, they've gone back to well, it's it's the inconsistency at the position on the two ends of Peyton Manning. And then you

have a guy like Peyton Manning who's there. He's committed to the position and everything that he was signed to do in Denver, and I think that's the same obligation Mitch Fields to his job. He's not Peyton Manning. But I'm just talking about if you have that one period of time where you're having that same quarterback go behind center a week in and week out, that's when you're going to see developments of his talents. All right back to the phones, we go less in Oak Park. You're

on the score. How are you doing tonight? He show as usual, Thank you. But when they let Howard go up because it reminded me of Thomas Jones being released, and then he went on, they have three or four great years in New York with the Jets. I think now they're talking about using a draft twice for running back. But you guys and everybody, most people say the game

is want of the trenches. It bothers me that they're going to the THEA THINKI of using a draft choice for running back instead of alignment, And I'd like to get your opinion on that. Well, they ask sitting here, Big Tom. Well, you know they went and signed Bobby Massey immediately off the free you know, to keep him here with the Bears. They went and got Ted Larson, who they know all about him from having a past

history with the Bears. They're young at James Daniels, I still consider Cody, Cody White, Harry young Man, Charles Leno Jr. He's experienced but not old. So you know, if Matt Naggie and Ryan Pace can say, all right, this is the running back that we can take in the third round. He can come in here and be a competitive, competitive player at the position to earn his starting job, I'm okay with it, but you know, less I like your thinking because that goes back to the old school Jim

Fink's idea thinking his offense and defensive lineman first. However, I think it's unique this year with Matt and Naggie bringing in his system and understanding why they got rid of Jordan Howard and what they need from the position, and Jim Noe's saying that they won't invest in the offensive line in this draft. Everything is on the table obviously. Yeah,

I agree. What Hey, they've already signed some guys like Ted Larson, he's in Bradley souls played and chipped in when when the Bears have needed So yeah, I can't you know, discount that they would be thinking about offensive linemen again and where Coward is in terms of his development. But you know, you would think with Howard moving on that you probably need one more back. Now, who's that we here? We mentioned Duke Johnson. I think, I mean, depending on what the trade value is there, Yeah, I

would think the Bears should be interested in him. Hey, guy is a do it all back, runs harder between the tackles than what people think. But running backs probably where you know, probably Miles Sanders from Penn State. He's tested extremely well. Everybody expects him to go in the third and the fourth, but he's tested so well and checked off all the boxes. He's a guy that's probably moved up Elijah Holdy Field from from Georgia. He ran a slow forty. So there's a bigger back that that

probably is losing some steam. I bring up Dexter Williams. What he's asked to do it notre Dame. Bigger back catches the ball better out of the backfield than what people think. He's probably a possibility in the later rounds. Guy who was hurt at Michigan State, and I'm not biased saying this. LJ. Scott is six one, two hundred and twenty five pounds. Go watch him catch the ball out of the backfield, folks. That guy is a talented running back that a lot of people don't know about.

Rodney Anderson out of Oklahoma later on draft pick. He's probably had an injury history that the Bears aren't interested in. Alex Manison. Some of the bigger backs really don't have the wiggle. But other guys out there that probably would intrigue the Bears that they would be available later in the draft where the Bears are selecting lots of flavors out there, lots of different choices. Time and Lincoln Square, we'll get to you and we come back from the break.

This is Bears All Access on Chicago Sports Radio six seventy. The score all right back on Bears All Access. Tend to go before we wrap it up here. Good to be with you once again, Jeff, Joni Actom there, Jim Miller with you and Time. Been holding on for a few minutes in Lincoln Square. Thanks for the whold buddy. What's on your mind? All right? Well, I want us

talk about draft before you get into it. Tom was asking about what someone stands though, but Niche and I want to say that Mitch wiped out any a few dots that may have had the way he played at the end of the Eagles game, I mean to play great under pressure. That was fantastic, Hey, Tom, was that drive? It's a defining drive a little bit, isn't it that this is what I'm capable of in clutch moments. That's

the one you circle right there? Absolutely, you know, I mean, the kids got the in factor and in fact pressure. He seems to play his best under pressure. So that's what I love about him. But okay, so the draft, my prediction is that it's going to be best athlete available. Everyone's saying RB, but Meggie wants a special kind of urb, you know, receiver, runner, fast, quick, all this stuff. I don't think. I don't think it's going to get it

in the third round pick. And you've got Cordella Patterson who could also is a changeup, you know, going to do some change up at RBS. So I think it's going to be best athlete available, which is what you know, given Aaron Lynson Carson being signed, I think the Bears are in great position to do that. I just wonder if you guys think that's how it's gonna fall. You know, Tom, it's it is a good point you're making because Matt Naggie is always said, I'm not looking for a Bell Cow.

I'm not looking for a thirty carrier game running back going sixteen games. He's looking for someone to contribute to the offensive scheme each week that best fits the vulnerabilities of the opponent. But that is a good point, Tom, Thanks, thanks, thank thanks. Tom. So I'm okay with that. I'm okay with that. You know, you're never gonna have enough on your roster. You certainly you never could have enough corners. You can never have enough pass rushers obviously as well.

And they're still building the offense and hoping guys grow, So it very well could be best position available. And in the case of the Bears right now, they don't have a ton of needs. One thing we know about Ryan Pace, he has a great poker face. From the Mitch Deal to the Klail Macdale, he has got a great poker face. And there anything could be happening. Well, and you look, I mean look at Kansas City. I mean they trusted Kareem Hunt right out right out the

gate for that football team as a rookie. Here, if you know, you feel you're a team that can that can make a run, you know there are there are other teams out there that probably wouldn't trust a rookie running back. I mean, look how even the New England Patriots they sat James White for basically a couple of years. Here's Sony Michelle. He was a rookie who came in

and had an instant impact. So I'm sure you know they're gonna have a lot more information if it's say it is a running back that they would trust in that situation for a team that that that feels, I would think that they can make a run at the playoffs and to trust a rookie because you look at Kareem Hunt. I mean, the guy led the league in rushing as a rookie and I think he only fumbled once that rookie year when when he was drafted by Kansas City. Well, Jim and Jeff, let me ask you

a question. Do you have a carry count for Tree calling? Like, okay, I'll give him this many carries from the running back position a game. But I kinda see I'm gonna dismiss it out of hand. Only because of this reason. Matt does not believe in like, okay, I'm somebody's gonna get ten carries a game here. It's just one game in might be fifteen, next game might be won. And I think that's how he rolls. So it's hard to say that from like what you'd want as a football fan

of this team. I mean, I still believe I would like to see one guy, you know, he gets twenty. When Tom brought up the last drive by Mitchell Chrubisky in the Philly game, that thing started with a Tree calling kickoff return. So you know, there's a lot of different how can you feed Tree calling the ball when you need it the most. And yes, some of the punishment might have to come as a kick returner with the difficulty of the schedule and where you need to

gain field position in important moments. Yeah you can. You can get him as touch as in other ways, whether it's in a return game. And you know, I'm kind of with Jeff on this is kind of how the game unfolds at times. So I was I wanted Jordan Howard because you look how he took off. I thought the second half of the year he performed much better. I thought he ran extremely well against Minnesota. I thought

he ran hard against against Philadelphia. You know, I like that big back option to kind of salt away a game towards the end of the game. All Right. I wanted to go back because I saw this right before we get on the show. So we're talking about the the end today of the Alliance of American Football, and you talk about you know, guys trying to get their careers going again and trying to be seen. So it's

Taiwan James or Taiwan Jones. Remember Taiwan Jones. Today, he says, I literally dropped everything I had going on and just signed a contract last night at nine pm to play in the AAF. I was excited to get back doing what I loved, and in less than twenty four hours, the league's canceled. Yet it's about the players. I'm sick. The XFL or relaunch next year in a bid for the lasting success as a spring football league. So maybe

that's his next spot. But that's the raw motion of a player that thought he was going to get a chance to get a look before training camp. Well, you know, I think maybe the AAF, the Alliance of American Football. I think maybe a little match under a lot of players who kind of re re up themselves and have you know, the opportunity to approach the XFL now and hopefully that will have more sustaining power. You know, maybe this is a ploy to hopefully get some assistance from

the NFL. But I wasn't disappointed in the product I saw on the field. Hey, you want to what you got other leagues out there, They've been around a long time. You know, we can say, you know a player, A lot of players don't like to go up to Canada to play here. Johnny Manzell comes, works his way out of Canada, get signs back here in the United States. Now he's out of a job again. All right, So you know, plenty of players get signed from the CFL.

There's arena leagues out there as well. I saw Ron Jiroorski, as he owns an arena team. He was quick to say, hey, come on over to the arena league. Um, you know, so it'll be interesting because even the XFL with with with mcmonselling, I think what he sold like two hundred and seventy five million of his stock in WW he's now close to five hundred million that supposedly he's in.

I don't even know if that's enough. I mean, think about the amount of an individual franchise in what they're they're you know, they're paying to do in terms of everything that is paid for, I mean the players alone for the AF. To me, it was a bad model that those players were getting paid eighty thousand dollars a

year for whatever it was, an eight game season. I'm not saying I don't want players to be paid, but but I played over in the World League and we were happy to get twenty five, you know, and I know times have changed, but I thought even they kind of overpriced and how they set up the league without the investors to begin with. All right, one more call before we wrap things up here tonight. Oh no, he okay, I thought so I said, no, it can't be. But it looked like the Clocke reset. So no, we'll pass

on that. Um. I'm just you know, it's to me, it's the hardest thing to do is have another football league. So it's just it's really a tough, tough battle. And you know, you get that TV contract, how are you going to survive? I mean here, Fox and CBS, they all pay the NFL billions of dollars. The AAF didn't have that set up. All right, let's talk refereeree. You have to consider major college football a football league also. So seven out of seventeen referees have retired the last

year at thirteen months. Is this a red flag of concern or obviously they're going into the TV booth and they're becoming analysts as opposed to referees. Hey might be better and the pressure is not as severe. There's always a young group of guys that they set their sights on someday of officiating an NFL contest, paying their dues to do so. And these referees that we say we see throughout the league, Jeff and you read about their

occupations week in and week out. They are successful, self made men and women and women, and I think it opens the opportunities for all the men and women who want to become referees in the NFL. Jim, they're asking them to do more. Dean Blandino, former NFL head of officiating, probably said it the best. The NFL doesn't value that position. I think they're asking these officials to do more like l River Run. There's a reason why Dean Blandino walked

away from it. They tried to resign him. He said, no, I'll goal, We're gonna do this work instead. That's Jim Miller, Tom Fair, Thanks fellas, thanks for all your cause. Thanks to DeAndre Houston Carson, and to Mike Chan and Herb Lawrence for helping us out. As always. That'll do it this week on Bears All Access. Have a great night, everybody. This is Chicago Sports Radio six seventy the Score. Thanks for listening to this Chicago Bears Network presentation of Bears

All Access. Podcasts are available on Chicago bears dot com and on iTunes, or download the official Bears mobile app. Bears All Access has been brought to you by IGS Energy and sponsored by CDW, Athletico Physical Therapy and Forward