All Access: McManis, Amin ready for season

I'm Jeff Jonny Accolong on the broadcast partner from news Radio seven eighty one five point FM, WBBM, mister Tom Thare and Jim Miller at his Michigan home enjoying the beginning of his summer vacation. Yeah. Probably not. He's working around the clock, just like everybody else is getting ready for the upcoming season. How are you doing, I'm doing good? Yeah, good. It's on your mind these days, I don't you know

in terms of football. You know, you kind of pay attention to the news around the league and see what's

going on. They have all these articles about big expectations for players from each football team, and you know, it kind of makes you think a lot about the Bears because you know, later in the show, we have on Sherick McManus, But I was thinking about Tree Cohen in the punt return because you know, when you think about Gayl Sayers and you think about Devin Hester and the Nave, and they made for themselves on the approach Gayl in the Hall of Fame, Devin hopefully someday, And you know

what would the special team play due to a guy like three Cohen? Would it take away some of his sting or would you try to have to include him a little bit more in the offense? Refresh my memory and Jim jump in. Did you like the fact that he was doing both last year? I was, I think you were. I was a little leary. Well, I was

leary because it was his rookie year. He was being exposed to so much, and a lot of the exposure was the big hits, going back to the Atlanta game to some of the punt return He is a true weapon on the punt return game. So I don't mind seeing him in there. I just don't like the big hits he's exposed to. But I just hope he stays a part of the game because when I think about different teams and guys that have that caliber, of explosive him this I want Treeke to have it, and every

avenue offered. Yeah, well you look at it and always going to be with you guys, I think you know, it's tough because, like you said, you're exposing them to so many different hats that he had to wear, and are you going to overload the player? And I think there was a time that he was overloaded a little bit when you look at Tarik Cohon. But typically, you know, and this goes back to even you know, guys like

Dez Bryant. You know, normally when you're drafted by a team, and that's normally and they feel that you can have the biggest impact. That's normally an area where you start out at, you know, in the return game, whether it's kickoff or punt returned, as Bryant did it. You think Antonio Brown, that's what he started out is. And then you look at guys like Terre Cohen, who's explosive. He was strictly returner, and then they branched out in terms of his receiving ability and what he you know, what

his part was going to be in the offense. And then you kind of stick those guys back there once they're established, and they got to have at moments. If you still look at the Steelers, if it's a big play and they need to score, Antonio Brown will be back there on punt returns. Say remember me, remember Adrian Peterson against the Bears at Soldier Field. He had that huge game and then he returns a kickoff, right, Walter

Payton did it in his past. You know, you got to put the best of the best when you're in the biggest moments. But it seems like as much as we're trying to whittle away some of the special teams and what it's contributed to the game and the excitement of the game, almost trying to take some of that

away from him. So it'll be interesting because sheared you know, he's a guy that's made a career and now he's an experienced veteran in the NFL, and he's had a lot of different roles on this team, a lot of him pertaining to special teams. You know what's interesting too, is because of the new kickoff rule, you just wonder how that's going to change returners in the NFL. And I still understand that speed kills, but I go back to even our two thousand one year, and Jeff, you'll

you'll remember this. Remember we had Leon Johnson, a big running back, as our kick returner because we were all we were all about field position. He only went north and south, never ever zigzag. Well, because a lot of these special teams coaches like Brad Seeley who I've talked to, or Mike Westoff of the New Orleans Saints, a lot of these special teams coaches saying they're taking all their big guys off of the kickoff team coverage and putting

the speedier guys out there. And I'm wondering if kick return coaches, and I'll thinking, you want to what, Let's put all our big dudes on kick return and maybe it'll go back to more of a field position. You know, those bigger running backs can still make plays. You disidentified one in Adrian Peterson, but we had Leon Johnson. I think we returned it to like to the forty. We had great field position, literally, and he was pounded dudes.

He was crushing dudes. And the last couple of weeks Jim has mentioned the name Mike Westoff, who has a long term reputation of being the one of the best special teams coaches and right, but he was my offensive line coach in the USFLO. Yeah, Mike Westoff was right. He got the nickname Don Johnson because that was the time that coincided with the Miami Vice TV show. And Mike Westoff was a young guy, you know, had all

the flashy hair and stuff like that. But nevertheless he's a guy that's you know, been around now for forty years through the professional ranks. Outstanding, outstanding coach, outstanding coach. Hey. Some have said that the kick returns now could be the new punt return. We'll find out. We'll talk about more at the Sheriff mcmannus Coming up. This is Bears

All Access. It's brought to you by IGS Energy. Jeff, Jonny Act, Tom there, Jim Miller with you, and Sheriff of mannis coming up next on Chicago Sports Radio six seventy The Score. Hey, welcome back everybody to Bears All Access, brought to you by IGS Energy, a proud 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. Jeff and Tom and Jim Miller with you on Bears All Access and our buddy Sherriff McManus kind enough to join us. This is supposed to be vacation time, buddy. I mean, we love it that you're joining the show. I love it guys having me. Are you doing, brother, I'm doing great, man, real good, getting ready for what now is just four weeks away for training camp, the local product. We talk about guys all the time from the Chicago area. We

forget that at some times. You know you're you're you're a local guy man Peoria, Northwestern and wearing the Bear's uniform now for quite a while. Yeah, it's important to you, isn't it. It's very important, man. I'm happy. I'm blessed to be able to have this opportunity. Hey, I know it's a little bit off the trail, but have you seen Northwestern's new facility at shaik I've yet to see it, man, I haven't been able to go down there yet, but

I'm sure it's great. You know, you think you know you're becoming an elder statesman in the NFL when you outlive your college program facility. Now you're into your second facility within ther pro team with the Chicago Bears. So you know what type of press what type of pressures though, is added for a guy that has been a major part of the core group of special team play here. You know who Chris Taybor is, but you have a new head coach, So what are some of your responsibilities

or the pressures you're putting on yourself. Yeah, that's the biggest. The pressure I put on myself is um, you know, just always trying to improve every year. You know, this is going into my ninth season, but there's always something new you're able to learn, you're able to grasp and become better at. So that's that's the main focus going into this year, is just learning new things and trying

to perfect my craft. Well, prior to you coming out, Jim Miller here, always good to talk to Sherik, and since you've been a special team's demon, I know plenty of discussions have been about the new kickoff return role and just maybe in your eyes because a lot of people are still uncertain how it's going to be officiated number one, and I assume Chris Tabor, like many other special teams coaches, are going to have to adjust on

the fly. But your your initial reaction. How do you think it is going to change for you this year in twenty eighteen. I think you know it's going to change for everybody. Chris coach Tabor is a great coach, and you know he was kind of on point and ahead of the game, so he had us kind of preparing for that possible change ahead of time, before it was even finalized. And you know, it's just something that happens in life. You gotta adjust. So that's exactly what

we'll do. What is different? What are they telling you differently now in terms of and you're not going to give me the company secrets or anything, but there is there are different adjustments to the whole thing. Yeah, well, you know, you just gotta It's definitely the starting point, like no more really running start. You just kind of line up. Once you kick, you kind of just take

off as it is. So you know, there's a little adjustment here and there that you know may affect some guys, but I don't see it being too big of a problem. Cherick will will it affect anybody's body styles? Because you know, Bears fans, they'd remember Israel Adnaja running down the middle of the field last year. You saw it, Rory Robertson Harris. You know both of those guys are six seven six seven plus. Well, the new style of special teams eliminate

any types of body styles going forward. Really depends on if if you're really a guy that really gets head start when you are able to run when approaching the kick. Um, but another benesit. I feel like that will help the kickoff routine. The kick kickoff team is UM. There won't be you know, pretty much any wedges. You know, two three man, you know, four man wedges. It should be mainly mostly single blocks. You know you're definitely gonna get

some double teams here and there. But you know, m Nikki, you just gotta kind of embrace it. Man. That's kind of my mindset. It's done. You know, it's nothing we can do about it. So let's embrace it man and attack it. Well. Speed demons like you. That's why they time in the forty at the combine the ten yards split. You're you're getting full speed in ten yards whether you're

start running or straight from a from a three point stands. Well, let me ask you this though, do you think from a health standpoint, it will reduce the collisions because obviously that's the goal. Um, I think the religions will be inevitable. Honestly, I think they're going to happen. It's football. I mean, it's built on collisions, you know, but hopefully the impact won't be as brutal. I'm sure that blindside hits won't won't be coming along hopefully, But you know, it's football.

You can only control so much when you, you know, tell two two teams to go out there and try to win a ball game. Bears team captain from last season, defensive back and special team studs Sherrick McManus with us here on Bears All Access with Jeff Jonny Actium there and Jim Miller with you on Chicago Sports Radio six seventy the score. So you're alluding to it, you believe then that there's a real chance because if guys win one on one blocks, we're talking about a lot of

space to run then for the return man. Yeah, that's where you know, good coaching comes in to just kind of, you know, be able to to create a play essentially to kind of help the returner and keep him from getting big hits. You know you're gonna have to get some blockers out there, some people that can move their feet a little bit, you know, more agile, and you know,

see see how well you do out there. You know, there's a lot of enthusiasm on the practice field this year, and a lot of it stems from Coach Naggie and his attitude. Offensively speaking, did that spill over to the defense or was it still the Vic Fangio type style of coaching and his the way you approach the game. I know everybody was having fun, but did it spill over to the fun spill over to you guys? Oh? Definitely. Man, Just Coach Naggy his energy, It's electric, man. Everybody feels

his presence, all the coaches honestly that now here. Their energy is great, man. And it just brings more competition, and it's helping us build a culture, you know what I mean coming up this season to kind of just go out there and have a swag about us and go out there and win some games. Well, here, Jeff mentions that camp's just around the corner, about a month away, and certainly you guys report earlier than any other team

playing in the Hall of Fame game. How do you approach this year differently because you're reporting earlier and really getting yourself ready because you're a wily wet No. No, I mean you know how to prepare for the camp. Yeah, pretty much the same way I've been preparing every year. You just got to do it a little bit sooner, you know, so your break is a little bit shortened, but you know it's everything's good. It starts a little earlier. Sherik mcmannus with us here on Bears All Access on

Chicago Sports Radio six seventy the Score. Thank you again for joining us, Sherrek. Last year in the defense, Vic put you to use, you know, had you blitzing and so forth. Do you see that role continuing for you and is that something that obviously you would embrace. But have you worked on that aspect of your game here over the last few years. Yeah. Coach Vic the special

thing about him, he's very innovative. But at the same time, Keef is very original, you know, So if he feels like that's something that's going to help us win games and mix it up a little bit, I'm sure he'll implement that. And you know, I'm all for it. Anything I can do to help us win some games and

get to where we need to get to. I'm for it. Hey, Sherik, do you feel like you're getting an old one one of your ex teammates is getting into the Hall of Fame and you can tell can you tell us a little bit about your first experiences with Brian Urlocker and you know how you know or the chance that you got to grow into that type of football relationship. Definitely, So getting traded from Houston when I first came into the league, got drafted by Houston and got traded to

the Bears going into my third year. Single was two twelve, and right when I stepped in the building into the locker room, Brian was the first player I've seen, and I of course knew who he was. I didn't expect him to say anything to me, but just a simple gesture of just saying, hey, how are you doing man, I'm Brian Erlacker. I'm happy to have you with us. You know, come on, let's go out here and ball out like that, just you know, him just making that

simple gesture to me. It was just incredible for me. So I was I've always been a Brian Erlacker fan and I'm very happy for him well deserved and you know he deserved it. Hey, first ballot says it all about that great player. Let me let me ask this and I asked the Keem Hicks as your teammate about this too, because here, you know, all the excitement, optimism, Bears fans are excited. You guys are excited, and you

should be. It's been a great off season for Chicago and here you had a top ten defense last year and that's with all the injuries. I guess I don't want to put any pressure, but I guess expectation from your guys standpoint, because I gotta believe as a unit, you guys are to the point now, at least mentally that you kind of want to dominate on an every week basis. Yeah, no question, that's the mentality is to dominate.

And it's never been make sure we're top ten. We just felt if we continue to focus on the little things or trying to improve and being better than we were you know yesterday, you know, things will fall into place and we'll see where we line up at the end of the day. Oh sorry, shared they stepped down you a little bit. Sorry, Big Jim. Last thing we'll let you go, and we really do appreciate taking ten

minutes and spending time with Bears fans in US. Right now, where do you see yourself in this whole big picture of a team that is, it's been rebuilding here for the last couple of years and now it's a younger team, and here you are getting another new contract. I don't even recall the longest contract you ever you've ever had in your career. But you keep on, you keep on coming back, you keep proving your worth. How do you see yourself in the big picture with this football team? Uh?

You know, I see myself as definitely a leader, someone the guys can go to, whether it's on the field problems or you know, off the field problems, and you know, just be out there to execute and be a playmaker. Man, That's all I want to do is win win game. So I'm gonna be the best player I can be and hopefully that will help the team. All right, Sherik, We look forward to seeing you. Is always a training camp. Good to talk to you and have a great month

off here. Thanks, Sheridan Sherrick McManus Bears defensive backhand special Teams demon. I think he's got over eighty Tackleson's come out of the Bears from Houston in a trade. Remember who he was traded for, Daniel Manner, Tyler Clarks. Bonus round my Way Top ding Ding Ding Ding Ding Town, Buy your Bear at training camp. Big Jim, all right, we're gonna step away. We'll come back talk more about Sherrik and where the Bears are headed after this break

on Chicago Sports Radio six seventy The Score. You get the latest Bears news, photos and videos delivered straight to your mobile device. Download the Chicago Bears Official mobile app, presented by Verizon. Jeff Joniak Here with You and Tom Fair and Jim Miller, our co hosts, as we Get You Sent for the Bears twenty eighteen campaign training camp just month the way. We just heard from Sherrick McManus. A couple of things I want to bring up. He really,

you know, like most special teams. Guy and Jim, remember Larry Wiggham. Larry Wiggam was an outstanding spe and boy at some point of their careers, and Sherick has embraced it. Though they don't like just being labeled that guy. They want to get on the field defensively, I remember Larry Wiggham always wanted to get on the field defense, always talking about it, doing features on it, like this is what I can do. You look at a guy. There's one guy, Corey Graham, you know, didn't get a ton

of playing them. Here is a very good special team player. He became a starting defensive player on a super Bowl team. That's what these guys envisioned. But if they can't get there, you know, you become a star on special teams. And Sheriff has and he is a leader. He teaches these guys a lot. He's he's a very quiet guy in the in the off the field sense, but on the field, well you know, the parks man. He's a he's a nasty, tough player. The biggest star in the league on special

teams is probably Slater from New England Patriots. And he's he's made a career, not an All Pro career for himself out of that position. And I think that's the type of investment that Sherik believes he's made in the Chicago Bears in his own career. And he deserves credit because you know, this special team's the last regime they really lived through some growing pains and they're awful at times and they contributed to losses. And so I think that's one thing. What do you when you ask him

the last question, where do you see yourself? And it's the best thing that came out of his mouth, as I see myself as a leader to turn this thing around. Yeah, and you know for that third group, you know it does you take a lot of pride. He's already what this is going on his ninth year, Yeah, I believe. So he's already proven himself. He's made a name for

himself around the National Football League. It's why he's stuck not only in Houston but now solidified in Chicago with what he brings to the table from that area of the game. And I played with a lot of guys like that. I don't know if you remember Dwight Stone. Dwight Stone was a gunner when I was with the Pittsburghs years. He's like literally our seventh wide receiver. They ever put him in at receiver, but he could absolutely

fly as a gutter. He got double teamed every play and he was the first guy down there to make a tackle. Let our team every year in tackles and guys know what say, Hey, this is where I'm going to make my niche this is where I'm going to put food on my table. And for some guys it could be over a decade that they're doing in the NFL. Well, I certainly hope special teams and I coach is an outstanding coach. He's been around. Coach Tabor as an outstanding coach,

been around a long time. He's learned from some of the best, obviously, and Dave Tobin whatnot. And he's got a great personality, great style about him in terms of how he coaches, and that aggressive mentality that they want. They want that on special teams too. And I'm excited about getting a new kicker in here, Cody Parkey. Well,

and that consistency that you need out of that position. Well, it's gonna be interesting too, because I think that's an important part Jeff, that you just brought up there and Tom hit out it too, is that think of these special teams coaches, you just have a major change in the rules of how the game's going to be played normally.

You know, those special teams coaches are fighting for who's gonna be on the roster and when you know when that cutdown date comes and who can play all the you know, whether it's all the on the four special teams. I bet you this year, because of that major change in that rule, teams will be sticking with more veterans than trusting a rookie that hasn't done it before. In

the NFL, you didn't think about that. Well. You know what was interesting though, Jim, not to be interrupted, but last year, we are on the field before the preseason game between Cleveland and the Bears and we are talking to Tabor and we're talking about Jabrill Preppers, their their first round draft choice from Michigan. Yeah, that was a regular season game. Was a regular season game, Okay, I thought it was a preca anywhere. But anyway, we were

talking about him and he just made reference. He goes, look, I want the best players on the field playing for me, because I was saying, wow, you're gonna be able to play the first rounder on special teams. And he kind of had an attitude towards look our best, We want our best guys on the field contributing, and so I like that attitude. But you know what does that does that? You know right there, you know Sheriff has got to be one of those leaders because there's going to be

more competition on the field. Like he said, all right, we're gonna continue on after a break here on Bears All Access. Adam Amino join us the preseason television play by play man for the Bears here in twenty eighteen, and his broadcast partner for those games, mister Jim Miller. We'll be back with that after this on Chicago Sports Radio six seventy the Score. We're on the best five K course in the city at the p NC Chicago Bears five K and crossed the finish line on the

field at Soldier Field. This race is Saturday coming up June twenty third, and you can register right now at Chicago Bears dot com slash five k. Tommy, you signed up? Come on, give it a goal for the bicycle portion. Come on, I can make that. Did you do a five k right now? On foot? Is that three point five miles? Three point one? Three point one? Um? You know, if someone was running behind me with like a machete, Yeah, but if someone it was up to me, probably not

big Jem by the look see, I'd say. And maybe in a couple of years, uh maybe I'm getting Hey, I'll get hip surgery next one. Are you really? Yeah? Not you too? All my all, my good buddies here are getting that hip work done. So Tom and I will be like old tag team wrestling. Tom will take half, I'll tag in and up. Then we'll have a fumble on the Tom has change, but we'll get disqualified and just stop one guy who won't because he's a young gun?

Is Adam a mean kind enough to spend some time with us here on Bears All Access on Chicago Sports Radio six seventy of the score, Good evening, How you doing, my friend? I kind of like the tag team, my dear, I'm not gonna lie to you. Can we just do the tag team for everybody? Can we apply that universally and just not have to do the whole thing at all? Me and Jim gets you and Janie I love, I love so much, so much, heavy breathing, guys, so much,

heavy breathing. Come in. I'm in and you are as the new preseason television play by play man for the Bears coming up here in twenty eighteen. You gotta three games out of the five, and uh, have you met your new partner yet? We actually got a chance to chat a little bit earlier today, so I was I was pumped to finally talk with Jimmy, and I'm ecstatic, man, I'm excited to come down to Bears camp at some point in July and hang out everybody and see see

what this is all going to be about. Man, I know the excitement levels starting to ramp up when you get to this time of year. Yeah, it's kind of nice, though, to get ready for a season where there is so much excitement going into the preseason because you know, a lot of times you get these established football teams, they just want to make it to the end of preseason.

You know, these games are going to be interesting. There's gonna be a lot of competition on the field for jobs, and we're going to be able to watch the growth of a product along with everything else you look at

in the preseason. You know, I look at the early season depth chart and obviously they're still a long, long, long, long long way to go before we start to ice that down and get it to where it's where it's going to look like it's like it's normally gonna look once we get to September in week one, but there's a lot of green. I was mark guys and green that are rookies, and there's a lot of green on these depth charts because there are they're oh many possible

new chess pieces to work with. Obviously Roquan is going to be, you know, at the front line of that on the defensive side, but there are so many possible chess pieces to move around that that are going to be fresh. And I think a lot of Bears fans and that's obviously going to be the goal for all of us during the preseason is to introduce some people to some guys that might potentially make some impact and I'm excited to see where some of these guys are going to fit in well. Adam welcome. It is a

pleasure talking to you earlier today. And man, you've had so much success in your career, a multitude of sports and you know, just get to know you. And for the listeners out there, I know they've seen you, they've heard you. But your love of sports, where did it come from? Was it growing up? How many did you play? And obviously you've called everything my friend, You've really their

versatility is amazing. No, I appreciate that. Man. It was, you know, it was my dad, my brother, My late father and my brother were big on that, and they they helped me out and pushed me in that direction. And being a Cub fan and a Bull fan and a Bear fan, growing up and playing baseball, basket ball, football, doing all the things that everybody else did and not nearly as well as a lot of other people did quite poorly in all honesty, and then uh, and playing

some volleyball and just kind of doing everything possible. And then when you figure out you're you're pretty terrible at most of these things, you slide over to the broadcasting side. So that's uh, that's how it worked for me, man. But it's it's uh, it's fun to watch the development of everything over the course of a period of time, and for me, it's uh, it's fun to look back and see where it starts. And the fact that you get to do it now in Chicago and some capacity

is probably the best thing about it. Adam Amin our guest. He is a native of Addison and went to his college at Valparaiso and has done a great job in his career in a very short time. ESPN thought a lot of you, obviously and put you into some really prime broadcasting roles, um, not the least of which is college football. And I tell the story, and I told you Adam one day, and we met many times before

with Tom and I in the field. You've done some NFL games as well for a network, And keep pairing this voice calling all college football game keep whipping around. I couldn't couldn't name him. I couldn't place it. And you know the depth of knowledge and so forth, and the deep understanding of exes and o's and the excitement here.

It's Adam Amin And so that Friday night football package you have on ESPN, were you able to and have you been able to over the last couple of years, especially this rookie class, See anybody on this team right now that you can share with us some of the insight that you learned from I'm calling their games absolutely, And the two guys that stick out obviously are Roquan

Smith and I think Anthony Miller as well. And and people are familiar with Roquan right now because he's such a high profile pick, because he's a potential impact player

right off the bat. And that was obviously one of the things that people were raving about scouts why scouts were raving about I remember being on the on the field during the National Championship game when it was Georgia and Alabama and seeing his sideline to sideline speed and the closing speed that he has on towles, especially going up against a pretty prolific running game that Alabama featured

in that championship game. To see how quickly he closed, To see what he did against Auburn in the SEC Championship game, to see his development over the course of a short period of time, and how we skyrocket up a lot of GM's charts because of his skill set because of that speed. Obviously had a great forty time at the Combine as well, So various fans are excited about him. They should be because he has all the skills, all the tools physically to add on to what I

think is a growing defense. And then Anthony Millard to me, I I called a handful of Memphis games the last few years and seeing how he made great adjustments with different quarterbacks that are that are pretty solid NFL potential quarterbacks. I'm not saying they're gonna be starters anytime soon, but Paxton Lynch has started games for Denver Riley Ferguson's gonna have a chance to maybe be out of roster for the next couple of years, and he made adjustments despite

his size, and his heart is big. That's the thing. He's a former walk on who didn't I chances to go play scholarship football maybe a lower level, wanted to be at the Division one level, and ended up becoming one of the great receivers in the history of Memphis football. So to me, watching him grow with different quarterbacks still be as productive as he was great catch radius. Again, he's not the biggest guy, but I think he can

be an impact slot guy relatively quickly. I'm a big fan of one Anthony Miller brought to the table in Memphis in obviously an up Temple College offense, but I think that skill set that he brings physically despite the smaller stature, I think it's still going to be very fruitful for this Bears offense that continues to grow and with Matt Nage is trying to figure out different ways to get points on the board, well, you know, you know, Adam, I think that's going to be fun for all of

us because if you think traditionally, you go back in all the generations of your family, my family that watched the Bears, and they're used to the middle linebacker, four or three defense. Now it's at thirty four and then you think of a three yard cloud and dust eight man front Walter Payton offense. Now, I don't think there's going to be a lot of similarities to it. So I think for those of us have grown up around Bears football, it's going to be an interesting era to

start watching a whole new style. You describe the college style and may infiltrate the Bears a little bit this year, and I think that might be a trend a little bit more going forward. Listen, pro style football is not going to go away anytime soon, and anybody who believes that it is probably isn't looking at the whole scope of the picture right now. But it is going to begin influencing more and more because go to the lower

levels of football, go the youth levels of football. It is spread and it is going to be an adjustment that takes place over a period or maybe a decade, maybe a decade and a half, maybe even longer than that. But this will begin to infiltrate more and more and more. Even if it's just in package form, which I think we will see relatively early on with this Bears team, there will be some I imagine, some packages to see different levels of offense, different levels of receiving routes, different

levels of the running game. I think we're going to start seeing this infiltrate the NFL a little bit more and more. And I think this is a good mix of guys that we could see make an impact relatively early, whether it's in the preseason or beyond. For the listeners out there, any play by play guy I've been with, these guys are absolutely monsters. They have the ability to put garbage in garbage out in terms of all the information. And you've done it on a multiple you know, Like

I said, you've called everything, bro. Like, when you're calling two games, how do you eat race your memory bank to fill it up again for the next thing you're calling? Adam Adam tell him that after a game it is almost like you have a knowledge flush. If I were to be asked, what's the number of so and so on the chargers on the team playing going back is we're now getting ready to look at the tape of that game and get ready for the Packers. I'd have to stop and think about it. It isn't that true.

You kind of have to do that. It's a little bit of compartmentalization. I think you have to be when you when you when you do a large volume of these games. And I'm again, very lucky to do that, and I've been I've been very lucky to be in a position to do a lot of the sports, introduce sports that I really love and enjoy. And this is obviously towards the top of the last to be doing this with you guys. But you have to compartmentalize. I

have to erase that. For the last five six years, I've been doing a Friday or Saturday college football game, and then I'm on a flight going to an NFL site on Sunday to do radio, and then I might be going to a baseball game later that week, or you know, when we're doing the NBA playoffs, that might be doing an NBA game on a Monday. I flew and in an MLB game on a Tuesday, flew across

country to do another NBA game Wednesday. It's just part of the process and part of the fun of this, and again, it's a position that a lot of people would would love to be in, so I certainly won't take it for granted or bad mouthed it's but part of that process is being able to, Like you said, I think it's a great way to say, it's plush out whatever knowledge you crammed into your head for the last period of time to get ready for Game A, and then start racking your brain and filling it up

with whatever you got to know for Game B and trying to move on as quickly as possible. Literally, for the listeners are like the first super computers ever built. All these play by play guys, it's incredible what they do. All right, Adam, we're gonna let you fly. We're looking forward to seeing you up at training camp and you'll be there in Cincinnati for that first game that you'll be doing with Jim Miller on Fox for the Bears

and Bengals, and it won't come soon enough. I know everybody likes to enjoy the summer a little bit, and that's all fine and good, but we're all ready. We're all ready for football. I don't mean thank you so much and congratulations, Thanks a lot boys can't wait to be a part of it. All right, we'll continue on. We're gonna take your phone calls when we come back. If you're so inclined you don't give us a call. Three one two six four four sixty seven sixty seven.

Three one two sixty four sixty seven sixty seven. On your way, Homer out and about tonight Jeff and Tom and Jim Miller with you on Bears All Access, brought to you by IGS Energy on Chicago Sports Radio six seventy the Score. This segment of Bears All Access is orchestrated by cd W CDW people who get it, Jeff Joni Ac along with Tom Thare Jim Miller. As we continue on Bears All Access with you know seven o'clock tonight, give us a call three one two six four four

sixty seven sixty seven. Three one two six four four sixty seven, sixty seven and Jim. Tom wants to talk about the division a little bit because we don't always have you. You know, you got you here and the summertime, but once the regular season gets going, we usually have a player for the whole show. So you have been at the center of this on Sirius x MNFL Radio.

What's the talk? What's the talk in the division? I've seen team, you know, many people looking at Minnesota as a super Bowl you know, team a contender for sure, and with Aaron Rodgers healthy and a new look defense, and maybe the Packers can pull something together. But what are you hearing out there about the division right now? Yeah, I mean it's kind of like, you know, Minnesota putting all their chips on the table, like Jim Fossil said.

For the Giants, you know, when you signed Kirk Cousins, you're hard to believe that's one hundred percent guaranteed contract sends a message there. Bringing in Sheldon Richardson on their defensive line, they have a very deep roster. That'll be interesting how their offensive line shakes out, because Rummers and obviously Riley re really proved to be good additions a

year ago for them. But you know, they're gonna have to work through the One thing I think about with them is they still have a rookie play caller, you know, with who they brought over and how that's all going to settle in, So they're gonna have to go through a little learning curve there and just how they play in situational play. People will have to really catch up with what they're doing. But they're They're a talented team, and I think as for depth, that team has a

ton of depth, both offensively and defensively. As how I put them, they you know, maybe receivers, they're one light area because they're trying to get Laquon Treadwell, but they will be strong. Green Bay is interesting. I actually I like their defense. I think the defensive backs they're going to play more press man with Mike Patton coming on board. I still I do not like their offensive line. Patton I just went through the offensive lines of all the

NFC North teams. I actually like the bears versatility more than any other offensive line in the division. I think the Bears are a strong point from that standpoint. But Green Bay I'm still not a believer. But Aaron Rodgers, obviously, you know he covers a lot of warts. There's no doubt about that. They'll have a running back by committee in terms of Jones and Montgomery and what they did last year with Williams. Mike McCarthy has already talked about

that and Joe Philbin. I think that's gonna help Mike McCarthy and that offense coming back as their OC. He kind of prepped how they did it before. He would prep Mike McCarthy, do the game plans till Thursday, and then start introducing it to Mike McCarthy, so he was prepped to call the plays on game days. So I think them they're they're not going to miss a beat. And so let'll stop you right there real quick. So let me get this straight. So Philbin will not be

calling the plays. That's how I think the setup is going to be how it was previously. That's what I was come to understand, and that's how it always was where Philbin, like I said, he would prepare the game plans, then say hey, Mike, here's what we're doing with from

twenty to twenty. Here's our red zone pack as this is what I'm thinking, and here's who I'm looking at attack and so Mike McCarthy would get a feel for what he wanted done in terms of situational play, because I think for Mike he enjoys that part of the game. You know, we handed it over to the calling previously to Clement, and he took it back over real quick.

So it may get to the point where Philipin's calling plays, but I think it'll start where McCarthy is at the beginning of the season to get Aaron Rodgers up and running quickly. But I do like their defense is gonna be much different. They will play a lot faster, and I think you the buying factor is there from the defensive players from that standpoint, Jim. Lastly, just to stay

on the offensive side the ball. What quarterback in our division has the best supporting cast of their offensive players before we get to the defensive sideball, because we have you know is the it is the quarterback division right now? But which one has you know? Because every same Minnesota you know, because every single one of them, there is

a question mark within their offense. Like Jim said, they're trying to get Lakwan Treadwell, who is a first round draft choice a couple of years ago, to try to be the receiver they expected out of him. He has not been. There's nothing to prove that he will be. So I think that's gonna be in Teeling. Man, that's a dangerous duo. Don't you think they're They're really good? Kyle Rudolph, I like as a tight end. I'd like Delvin Cook if he comes back strong from injury. He

was looking really good yeah last years. Um, but skill positions, that'd be a tough one because I do like I like Detroit's receivers because when you look at Marvin Jones and what Tate has done and this Kenny Golladay, I'm not kidding that dude is going to be a player who they drafted a year ago. Supposedly he is really raising eyebrows with what he's done. And I think just the theme of the Detroit Lions draft, they upgraded their

offensive line. We know, getting Taylor Decker back helped them because Greg Robinson was terrible the first six games today, Yeah, and so but I mean that's not an upgrade I'm gonna yeah, But the drafting of Frank rag Now, I think he's gonna play left guard, much like how the Bears are doing that with t J. J. H. Daniels there for the Bears. But and Terrell Crosby is a big guy who's gonna I think he's gonna be a player in the NFL. So the theme of them not

running the football that they're trying to rid that. And then you drafted kirie On Johnson, who was a bell cow running back, and adding obviously la Garrett Plunt, and then they drafted the fullback position, but he already tore his ACL and now they're gonna bring over. They'll probably end up picking up a fullback, I would think by the end of training kit. But I like their skill

set play so quickly in the division. We're saying right now Minnesota probably has the best supporting cast for their quarterback. Would you say that or I mean, I don't know, yeah right now, just because of what they accomplished already Tealan becoming what he's become in Stefane Diggs. But I think with a new play caller, their defense again, they'll have to carry him until their OC settles in. I really believe that. I would think for me personally, I

would probably take Detroit. Didn't I would take Detroit in terms of skill positions, Talan have some like average of nineteen yards per catch or some double digit thing like that, because that's not Kirk Cousins strength. And so I mean, you're gonna have to be able to develop a relationship with the two receivers they had last year that they developed with a quarterback that probably threw him passes because he was the backup for their team well more than anything.

All these offensive weapons were speaking of and the quarterbacks involved. You better on on the bier side of the fence that that secondary that's all together at the moment, and hopefully guys can press them and challenge them a training camp and become factors as well and push for playing time throughout the season and make them better. Really have to be on it along with your big nineties guys.

We're gonna we're gonna talk about it every week. Well, you know, to break down the offensive linebackers two here in a moment. But but you know, last year, when there were so many question marks on the defensive backfield, the offensive front seven eight, they had to play well in order to provide a little bit of extra pressure. Yeah, it didn't lead to sacks, but they were able to pressure the opponent's quarterback and kind of help the defensive

backfield to develop. I think the defensive backfield is going to have to do that for the front this year. They're gonna have to play a strong part in their role on this defense to make sure you get some guys reps that need some important reps and you know, either you're coming back from injury or you just need to play better. And you know another thing too is you know, and Tom's brought this up before, teams are going to have to adjust to the Bears. You know

how Naggie's gonna call plays, the personnel groupings. He's going to provide the chess pieces that he has, and that's going to take time in adjustment. I would say the same thing for you know, the Chicago Bears coaches and how they prepare to play the Lions, because the Lions, I like their defense, you know, drafting to Shawn Hand, they're going to run a hybrid. They will be in four three some weeks, they'll be in three four. So it even Petton does a little bit of that too

in Green Bay. So I think all the coaches are mining their peak piece and ques because they're literally has been a ton of changes in the NFC North in terms of the staffs and how they're put together and what they're going to present in twenty eighteen. I think you've been reading too many Michigan newspapers, That's what I'm thinking. No, I'm kidding, I mean, you really are in love with this team right now. Uh yeah, I like, I like. I think every team in the NFC North got better.

This division got better overall with the pieces to the puzzle that they had. Hey, Jimmy Graham's no slouch on green Bay. That's a good acquisition. That's is a legitimate red zone threat that Green Bay has not had since Dr Michael Finley left. Do you agree? I mean yes, without question in that red zone aspect of the Bears has to also elevate significantly. It has not a good

good place to be. And now with the different weapons they have and the creativity of this offensive coaching staff, I'm looking forward to see how they how they work

in the red zone and challenge defenses. Oh. I mean, you got to be able to first of all, make Mitchell Trubisky's athleticism a weapon, and then you have they have to decipher a lot of information quickly from that point on, And I think that's the key ingredient here is make sure they have so much awareness of the quarterback that the other guys are getting involved in battles

one on one matchups that they're favorable in. This week on Inside the Bears, Eddie Jackson goes for a ride with Spice Adams in Big Guys in a Benz Anthony by the way, a belated birthday wish he just had a birthday. This weekend, Mitchell Trubisky holds a camp for kids in his hometown of Minner, Ohio. Inside the Bears Airs Saturday's six pm on CW fifty Chicago and Sunday's at ten thirty five on Fox thirty two Chicago. You can also watch show segments online at Chicago Bears dot

com or on the Chicago Bears official app anytime. A few more minutes with Tom and Jim, Jeff Joniak here on Bears All Access brought to you by IGS Energy. With you in deal seven o'clock tonight, Let's continue with our position breakdowns. We've covered the offense so far and now we'll dig into the defense as we move closer to training camp here in the next four weeks. Outside linebackers I want to talk about, and we'll start with Leonard Floyd just saw you know you're a good friend.

Jim gil Brandt put him on a list of guys he is projecting to be a potential pro bowler this year. Do you guys agree. He has that kind of potential right now, coming off injury as he starts a year three. Yeah, potentially he's got it. We've seen that since he stepped on the field here, and you talk about those types of traits. Is really clever feet, good length, good enough strength when he came in here that if he continued to develop, he's going to really, you know, have an

opportunity to flourish. But I need to see better attitude out of him. I need to see more of an attitude that has a lot of energy attached to it, because Leonard Floyd was not brought here to be have a slugger's type attitude. He was here to bring a leader attitude with him. And when you're drafted that high not only by your production, but the way you lead yourself on the practice field, the encouragement that you give

and you show to your other teammates. So to me, I've seen it before, and I saw at Pronell McFee when he came hidden here and he was in training camp. I know that he was injured, but he had an attitude man that you wanted to see be here or you wanted that type of attitude by you know, shown by a lot of your players. Yeah, and uh, you know for him, but you know, I expect to breakout year. You know, he's been in the system now two years. He's stronger from being in the weight room with how

he's trained. He knows the system or what the coaches expect of him and on every single defensive call, and he should know the defense inside and out at this point. So yeah, I expect the big year and hopefully it's injury free where he can start. The light bulb comes off and he's going to be the hot rod, first round pass rusher, the bear thought he was going to be, and he's capable of it. He has the ability to do it. So I think this is a big year

for Leonard Floyd. And where is Aaron Lynch in this picture? Because if he comes on strong, you know you have Sam Macho on the other side, but you need a rotation of guys based on down a distance and whatnot. If he can come in and stay healthy and be what he was early on under Vick Fanjo and San Francisco, he too has all the traits. Yeah, he's got the length,

he's got the power, he's got the intelligence. You know, I always envision if you could put Lynch and you could put Roy Robertson Harris on one side together and have them rushes a tandem. You're talking about two guys that are nearly six to seven. They have a lot of length, and I said, they really move their fee. Well, if you could get these guys in some type of relationship like you have with a Keem Hicks and Leonard Floyd boy, that could pack a lot of pass rush power,

length and everything else you need. So it's going to be a couple of guys to pay attention to and there how their relationships developed together. And he's still a young player, you know, he's only going on his fifth year, had early success that you mentioned under Vic Fangio as a rookie, and then came back, you know, did a little bit better in twenty fifteen, and now he's back

in a familiar defense where he had success. So I think for him, he's going to come in with a positive attitude knowing he can succeed and for him, his best football's ahead of him. I think the sky's the limit for him and he should approach it that way. Being in back in this system. And sam Acho is somebody can count on no question. He had his best year last year. I think he would admit that. Isaiah Irving, we saw flashes and Cassima ata Balle that just brought in.

We haven't seen him yet in a Bear's uniform on the actors field, but somebody to keep an eye under in training camp, you know. And I'm sure there's going to be a guy or two out there that's going to be brought in to see if they can add any spark to the outside. The guy to me as interesting as Sam Macho, because is he really a guy that you want to be a core special teamer? Is

that really the role that you envisioned for him? But every time he's been given the opportunity to be on the field, he's played very well and he's done a nice job for the Bears. All Right, we're out of time for tonight. Tom. You have yourself a great week the rest of your week. Jim Miller, we'll talk to you soon as well. Thanks fellows as always, and thank you to Igs Energy, our sponsor of Bears All Access.

Thanks to Sherriff McManus and mister Amade joining us as he will entertain the first preseason under his Bears belt three games this year as Jim's partner on Fox TV, our director of Content Dan Burrelly, coordinating producer Jordan tritt Up and helping us out today Mike Chen and Herb Lawrence is always here in the Score Studios. Thank you everybody for listening. Have a great night everybody. Until next week. For Tom and Jim, I'm Jeff Joniac. Thanks for listening.

You're on Bears All Access on Chicago Sports Radio six seventy The Score. Good night, Bears, 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 CDWPNC and Ford