All Access: Nichols on preparing for Eagles

consecutive Pro Bowl Center. And I'm sure it got your your hair standing up straight and whatever you have left on your head, you got the adrenaline flowing when you saw all that running going on on Sunday at Soldier Field. Oh yeah, it was exciting that especially. You know, I've talked about all season in the broadcast that that first series in the third quarters one of the biggest series of a game. And you stand behind me and you tap me on sure, that's the biggest series here, And

I could not help it say the same thing. I thought that was going to be the benchmark moment. Yep, yep. I you know coach and Aggy talks about gets finding that spark and I really believe he probably challenged those guys and that at the half time to come out, there are guys, I'm going to run the ball here six straight times, and let's let's see what you can do.

I think it even goes back further because on the coaches Show this week right here on this on WBBM, rather they did come to him, I think, and said, hey, listen, before this game, we want this on our shoulders. And so he listened to his team. That's great. Hey, you know it's it sounds like that right there. Then that's a it's a it's a learning. Everybody's learning this whole process.

So you know, this is a this is a team, the Chicago Bears, And I think that's what Naggi has really built here, that these guys really care about each other. And I think to be successful that that's where you have to really begin with entering this season, that everybody has to be tight together and be on the same page. You're gonna go through ups and downs regardless of any season you're in, and it's it's the guys that are

going to stick together. And I found that to be more real that I'm out of football, how important it is that everybody buys in where you start getting people that that questioning things in the locker room. Uh, there's time for that. Why do you why do you do that now as an ex player so many years removed? Well, why are you looking at through a different lens? Well, I think it's easier to do. I mean, football careers are so short to begin with, and you got to

get what you you know, what'd you wind me? Ye? Wise? Thirteen? Yeah, thirteen season. Did you think you were going to play that long? Uh? Actually don't. In the midst of it, I wanted to play a little more sixteen. My uncle plays sixteen. But I I look back at it, it's amazing to play thirteen years. Yeah, it is. It's an amazing to play. Well one, you know, you're you're you're right, Jef,

You're right, it is. I mean that the average career is three and a half years in the NFL, and and so that's why you know that there's such a sense of urgency and guys want to win so bad out there, and uh, but it's just it's it's frustrating. But really, the way to be successful in the NFL is as a team is that everybody has to be on the same page, and everybody has to I N and be together. The interesting thing about this conversation lost in all of it is that we're euphoric about the

run game coming alive. In that big fifty five yard run by David Montgomery was so perfectly blocked it right every aspect, including Alan Robinson digging out of safety, to the double team block and to the poll by Cody white Air and the accelerating run by David Montgomery, and that the offense showed signs of life and something you can hang you had on a little bit, you know, But they still lost, right, you know, and they lost, and they lost because of the red zone in effectiveness. Yeah,

and I think I think you're right. I was that first half being down there hang nine plays or something down there close and not making it happen. It was. It was frustrating. Four times in the sixteen plays in the red zone period for the five for twelve yards. Yeah. Yeah, And that's that's something that you know, it's tough day, you know, there's no excuses these guys. These guys know it.

Their professionals. They got to come back and hit some plays as great as your team wasn't as dominant you guys were as um as a running team and time of possession. Do you recall a period of red zone difficulty in your career where, you know, as great as you guys were, things weren't happening in the red zone? You know, I'm sure. I mean, I don't know if we played played so long ago, wasn't called the red zone? But well, was it call? Yeah? You know, would you

guys call it back then? I'm not even sure? Really, yeah, you guys, I'm sure we probably did. Would you call the period of when you work between the twenty or inside twenty, inside the twenty, inside the twenty, um, Yeah, it gets a little it gets tougher down there. You've

got to be aware of being an offensive lineman. You gotta be aware because defensive coordinators will take risks, you know, they'll try to put you in some bad plays, um in that area, especially when you cross the fifty that's where you know, around the forty yard line going in, that's when defensive coordinators are going to try to get you out of field goal position and try to create

some bad plays. But the red zone, you gotta you gotta go down there and you look for everything, it's the worst cases and there offensive lineman, it is always the worst case scenario. First, you got to think that you know where work, where can they disrupt this offensive play the quickest and you got to secure that then move on with your blocks. But and then it takes it's gonna But that was one game they hadn't gotten in there much this year. When they did, they were

pretty successful with their touchdown efficiency. But you can't. You can't come out of there with nothing or three repeatedly and think you're going to survive out. I don't care how good your defense is. And I thought it was interesting, and I'm sure you read it, you know, Kalil Max and hey, we're giving up too many points. I mean, that's nice to say, but the fact of the matter is you should be able to win games when you're holding teams into that kind of figures part. And they

came back and stopped the run. They're gonna have to do it again this week against the Eagles. Yes, I mean, and that's where the defense always kind of is in a tough spot because no matter what you know, if you give up defense gives up fourteen points and you only score ten. You know you can't feel good about what you did defensively, and I get that, but you know there's no reason why the Bears can't score outside

of the red zone. Also try to hit some big plays down the field, and I look, do you think they're coming? Yes, I really do. I think I think they are. There's improvement out there. I think Mitch hurting his shoulder set him back a little bit. I'm missing that game and then the first game back against the Saints, playing with the shoulder harness on that. That's an adjustment of quarterback has to go through. I hurt my shoulder

in eighty seven. I remember the first time I put the should I had to wear shoulder harness that whole season. I remember the first time I went up and trying to run and finally got it up to full speed. I mean I almost fell down. It throws you off balance because it's your your body's different moves, so I mean you and full speed doesn't Well, it wasn't. It wasn't an impressive Yeah, I'll tell you. Jay Hugenberger guests

sitting in today for Tom there coming up shortly. Blow Nichols, the young defensive lament would join the program or brought to you by IGS Energy with a Pause Oranger engineer and Dana really our producer. You know. Yesterday Mitch Drubisky talked about watching the TV copy of the Bears game, not just the coach's tape, which is the national broadcast, and it was an advisory decision by man Naggie. Hey, here's some advice. Take a look at how what your

body actions are showing what your demeanor is. And Mitch said it was like watching somebody he didn't know. It wasn't him. So he wants to get back to being him, right, No, I think that's important. It's a great coaching point that Naggie did. Just yeah, that's a different perspective, be able to look he said, he looked too serious, and you know, right, and and that's I've been thinking that all year. Mitch has to go out and have fun. He can't go out the rest of this season. I don't want to.

I don't care. I mean if Mitch makes some mistakes, so what, everybody makes mistakes. There's never been one person in the NFL fill that's played a perfect game. You gotta go out. I played. I made every mistake that any football player could ever make on the football field. I made them all. And I'll tell you, I mean coach stuck with me. I mean, I never would have gone to the Pro Bowls that I went through if he didn't go through my growing pains as a center

in the NFL. I mean, I caused the first instant replay in the history of the NFL. We've talked about that a lot, but for those who don't know what happened, it was an eighty six season they had the first

time instant replay was there. And the first series of the eighty six season, second or third play of the game that we were in the shotgun and it was on three and I snapped it on two and a half and McMahon wasn't looking and the ball went in the end zone and they had a replay to see what was either safety or a touchdown for the Cleveland Browns and ended up being a touchdown. So, I mean, that's a heck of a way to start a season.

You got your tail cheot on that one, didn't. Yeah, I paly probably played one of the best games I ever played in my life. After that that will give a little bit, had a little and drendaline going. Jay Hilgenberg here, this is Bears All Access will step away for a break on Chicago Sports Radio six seventy to score. 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. Phillion for Tom Thayer this week, Jay Hilgenberg is good buddy. How did you guys carve out such a friendship? By the way, I think it's a great story, and one day I'd like to set you both down. Do a Bears Insider feature on a player profile on the relationship of Jay Hilgenberg and Tom. There. You guys have been budd heast forever. Yeah, we're like brothers. I would have to say we are. Tom and I

are very close talked. I call him, I bug him, I call him all the time on the phone and stuff. So right, you do get under his skin, you know? Yeah? I know I do. There's there's no question. Does he guys are very very interesting character? Doesn't n Not really? Not really? I know I I bug him, you're very accepting. In other words, well, i'd like to think so. He probably say a different story. He probably say the exact thing, and I'm saying about him, you're more tolerant. I'll give

you that. Well that's not saying a lot. Yeah, Jay Jay comes into the booth every Sunday with his protein shakes and a huge bag of pistachios. I got you. I mean, you can you knock out a full bag in one game? Oh? Yeah, easy one. Who's a big bag? Yeah? It is a big it is. It doesn't mean I was a couple of weeks ago or I was down at the Kansas City Houston game with the Tobes and I sat next Tory. Yeah, Sheryl Tobe during the game, and I had my bag of pistachios and I ate

the whole bag. And she was just amaze. She goes, you know how many calories are in that bag? I go, no, I don't. Yeah, you don't need anything, all right, your twigs and berries. Game appreciate you don't tell me how many calories around it. Well, you're looking good. I'll tell you that. I'll tell you also, is looking good? Is the Philadelphia Eagles, and the reason is they were in a similar situation as the Bears. Interestingly, both teams, both

teams had players only meetings last week. Right, both teams have come off two rough losses. They got pretty much punched in the mouth in both of those situations. They hit the road to go to Buffalo and beat a very good Buffalo team this year. And now they're feeling good because they'll have three consecutive games at home. They got a bye week after they play the Bears, and they're close in proximity versus the Bears, are in the division race the Dallas Cowboys. So they're feeling good. They're

feeling really good. They might get the Sean Jackson back this week, might get Darren Sprowls back. They might not have Miles Sanders. But your impressions of just what the Philadelphi Eagles are thrown at you these days, and what do you think of Carson Wentz, Well, I mean, they're champions. I mean that's the one thing is so they have the heart of the champion. They've been there, they've won

the Super Bowl. They know what it's like, they know pressure games, they know when a game is the season's life for death. And that's you know, obviously they had a good meeting and went up to and beat a supposedly good Buffalo team. So they are gonna these guys. This is gonna be a tough game for the Bears, no question about it. Now, if you're getting ready for them, you got a deal. Obviously. Look at what they do with that wide nine defensive front. I know, we hear

a lot about it. It's Jim Schwartz. We got him into truck, so became a thing to hear about the wide nine. And that's for those who don't know exactly what that is. It just spread those defensive linemen out. They get up feel quick, a fast flowing defense. But you got to stop the engine in there. And let's Fletcher Cox. Yeah, three technique defensive tackle on this. Yeah, he's a disruptor in there. He's a great one, uses

his hands well. Um. But I like, I like with the Bears offense how they're gonna match up against this on that wide nine because that that old power play where Montgomery had the fifty five yard run. I mean, that's the perfect design play for that type of defense. And I think, and why is that? What makes that well inviting. I mean, if that defensive end is coming playing so wide and coming up field, I mean the backguard,

the old guard. How Cody Whitehair pulled around there, I mean that that defense and basically he's taking himself out of the play already, so you know, to turn it up. I mean, there was there's gonna be a design hole. You don't have to look for daylight. Just take it and go north to south and you'll be happy to know. If you haven't watched it already, your guy, James Daniels pancakes his gay. Yeah, he had a great block on that. I mean the whole line did have a great perfect Yeah,

they had a great block. And that's what's fun about offensive lineman. He start having plays like that and the executions there so whole. I mean hope hopefully on that one play right there, that they can build off that and and just have the confidence that those plays are going to hit, and also a confidence with coach Nagy that you know, we're gonna keep going. He saw the

success of hitting these consecutive plays. And and it's true that the more the offensive line will run these plays, the better their their technique and their footwork and all their coordination and everything it will be going. It is one thing, and I know it aggravates offensive lineman who played the game to now analyze the game. But it sounds so perfect to say, Okay, Cody hit hit the hit the guy in the exact spot on his shoulder to clear out the lane, and then you two guys

got to drive this guy to the next linebacker. And the footwork and the technique has to be complete. And it's not that way, right, No, it doesn't. It sounds good right now. That's that's true, Jeff. During the week, that's where that's when you work on your fundamentals and technique. I mean, you got to be conscious of that. Everything you do, every step you take in practice, you gotta be working your techniques. I used to tell Tom all the time. You know, we got a big noseguard this week,

and Tom, I want you to take your left hand. Tom. They're played right guards, so I want to take your left hand. You hit the nose guard in the shoulder, don't hit, don't hit my shoulder, don't hit my body, don't hit. Just give me a hand on his shoulder and that's all I need. It's just little stuff like that.

And if if you if this, if this offensive line can stick together long enough and be able to work through those little techniques to work with each other, it comes a long way to get If you're a guy like Rashad Coward who just come off his second NFL start, he is an very inexperienced playing that guard position, very inexperienced playing the offensive line in general, and you have a three penalty game like he did with two false starts in a hold, how do you make sure that

doesn't happen again? Mentally because the physical part of it, you know, again, stuff happens. Every offensive lineman gets flagged, But to have three in one game after having a real good start is first week. What would you explain and how what advice would you get? Yeah, just to um, you know, learn from it, be prepared, you know, think about what it is that caused. And again, you know, tell him, Hey, everybody makes mistakes out here, everybody does it.

You're you're you're gonna make mistakes and what but don't lose how aggressive you are? I like how aggressive he is. I mean similar situation when I played, um my other guard, Mark Bortz. He was a defensive lineman that converted it to offensive lineman and he got thrown that the year they converted him to the offensive guard. It was like his third game, I think, second or third game of that that season eighty three season, he got thrown in a game to do an injury and he didn't know

what was then it was. It was one of the funniest plays I've ever seen in the NFL. We had a straight toss play called, and the toss he had a bubble over him, so he had a lineback inside linebacker like five yards off the ball, and a straight toss play is there's there's no faking. The quarterback opens up to the play side and tosses it to the running back to the play side, so that linebacker is flowing as soon as he's he's flying out of there.

And you wouldn't look that tape with Boorsi. Here's his first snap in the NFL. He went straight straight as the linebacker, and then when the linebacker moved ran straight, you know, the other way. He took a straight right and chased right after him, five yards behind him. And the next that Monday, in the meeting, stick Stafford goes, Mark, what do you do with her? You got to take a proper angle to cut that that guy off. Don't you understand the action in the backfield? And Mark goes,

no coach, no coach, and turn the lights on. He goes here. Look at your diagram at you draw it. You drew a straight line from guard to the line docker, so he ran to right. So you know, coaching, that's where you have to be specific. Yeah, coaching is a little more complex than you think it is. All right, you can't assume no one exactly what to do. Jay Hilgenberg, our guest here on bears Ow Access, will be joined by Badon Nichols coming up as well this evening. It's

brought to you by IGAs Energy. Good to have you along. Back to the Eagles. One of the guys that's playing great on that front right now is Brandon Graham. He's got five sacks all on third down this year for the Eagles. And if you're looking at the guy like this six two, two sixty, he wins the game of leverage. And right right, those are the scary guys. You know, two things are scary front off to lineman and the NFL guy that never stopped moving their feet as pass rushers.

And I think that the shorter guys, the leverage guys, I always had problem with against the guys. You know, I'm six two, so there were not many people shorter than me out there in the field, but there were a few, and they were difficult guys to play against. What's your opinion at Carson wentz Uh Just an intense, tough player. He's a gamer. He'll sit there in the pocket. Um, he's not will he's willing to take a hit, He's

not afraid of anything out there. Fierce competitor. He's going to give you some chances, though, I think how we hold onto the ball to knock it away from him? So yeah, they say he's a perfectionist to the point that he will wait until the last possible second, and he will also eject the pocket though he will beat you, But he did last week a couple of double digit runs as well. All Right, we're gonna step away for another break here on Chicago Sports Radio six seventy to score.

Get an insiders look at the past one hundred years of Chicago Bears football with the Chicago Bears Centennial Scrapbook. Buy your copy. It's store dot Chicago Bears dot com Jeff Joniac Jay Hilgenberg in for Tom Thare this week, and our special guest this week is second year Bears defensive lineman Belong Nichols headed home this weekend against the Philadelphia Eagles, team you rooted for growing up. You lived in Chester, PA, not too far from Philly, and then

over to Newark, Delaware. So that's Eagles territory over there, Eagles territory over there. Yeah, it's all Eagles territory over there. How you feeling? Oh man, I feel I feel blessed. I can't wait to just get there and you know, just just get a win. You know, we're hungry for a winning. Um. I don't really care about the situation or you know, the home coming. I just want to win with my team. You got a lot of family going there and friends or I got a good amount. Yeah, yeah, yeah,

you know how that go. Yeah, you come back home. The throw tips cost your Yeah, but I'm keeping it real limited st like yeah, because a lot of guys they get overwhelmed. Oh yeah, it could be a distraction. So I'm not dealing with it. So you know, I just have my mom. I give her a certain amount and I tell her to handle that, and I'm focused on the game. Yeah, it's good advice. I think one of the veterans give you that advice. Did you ever blow out the budget one for a game? Oh? Not really.

I mean my my folks were always really good about it. I mean I come from a football family, so I mean they they got it. They understood. Yeah, my my, my, my, mom and dad wouldn't let me. They'd buy their own tickets. Say they wouldn't let me spend my money. Really, and you'll not spending your money right, all right. I'm so lucky. I'm blessed to have my parents in my life. They've made my life easier. Yeah, I'm a lucky guy. So you grew up an Eagles fan? Was that your sport?

Were there other sports that you were into? Yeah? So, um, I was an Eagles fan growing up. And I was really really huge in basketball, all right. I was actually my first love, um, basketball, and then uh kind of when I got to high school, I started to gravitate more towards football. It was always defensive line that you played, or don't know what, you played. Tight end, Yeah, you caught touchdown passes where you all stayed tight end I saw, I was, I was decent. Yeah, he's been biggest catch

you ever made. You remember, Uh? Yeah? It was actually in the I think the semi final game, UM in the playoffs my senior year, as a touchdown pass like probably like in the third quarter against a team that we had lost the previous three times we played them too, So you know that was a That was a game that you know, really stuck with me. You remember the rat. I think I ran a corner route. Yeah, I remember the It was a corner route. You know why. It's

kind of funny because Jerry A. Zuma. Have you ever met Jerry Zuma? He was a great Chicago barrel. It was a kick returner. Um. He was before Devin Hester and um he was the all time Division two running leading rush or running back. He's a great running back. And I tell him all the time when I see him, Jerry, you were the best running back the Bears had when you were here. But the problem is he played defensive back. He never carried the ball in the NFL. He was

Dick Duron, so right to project. I asked you, I asked Jerry about that. Were you ever frustrated that you never had a chance to run. Hey he's secretly yeah he is. I mean so, I mean last year when you were seeing all this goal line stuff going on where you're like trying to raise your hand or it's just be a rookie, you felt like he oughta I was a rookie, so I kind of just was happy to just I was on the Santas leigh, right, Okay, So I was just happy to just be out there. Huh.

You got talent, you gotta you gotta speak up and let's see some catches out there from you. Yeah, I'm gonna definitely start voicing it this year. Good. Good. So a couple games back after the injury, how is it feeling, How is it feeling, and how is it to use your hand and so forth? Yeah, um, it's feeling good.

Um it's crazy. Uh, I think it's I think this past Sunday was six weeks since it happened, and uh, you know, I've made great strides and uh I'm back to you know, I'm slowly getting back to myself from a rhythm standpoint, just you know how I used to use my hands to now, So you know, it feels good, though I felt like that whole time period gave me a chance to grow in a lot of areas and uh really mature from a mental standpoint in a weird

kind of way. And both you guys can answer questions about this because Jay, you didn't get through the entire NFL career thirteen years without having injuries to play through and play with. By not having one hundred percent you know, comfortability with with the with the hand and whatnot, as it accentuated, you're playing other ways, like using different elements of your game. The cop told, you know, overcompensate for

that exactly. Um, So it was certain things that you know, my first game back that I did that I really never really tried, just the just because I had the cast. I mean it was it was a situation where I was I was trying to get adjusted to it. It feel weird with it on your hand because you were a d lineman and everything we do is with our hands, so to have that cast on it was like a little weird feeling and it was more like just getting

used to it. So, um, you know, it was certain moves that I would try because I knew I had a cast on my hand. I knew it hurt. Save what's the worst thing you ever played with. I broke my hand. I broke my hand and in a game and stuff, so, um, it was my left hand. So that was back in the day. They just shot it up. I wasn't gonna do any more damage to it at all the way it was broken. So they shot it up and I went out and played. Um, what was

the mental hurdle? Uh? You know, it was so numb that I really I didn't have I didn't have much one. Although actually in this game, I got in a fight. In the game, nice going Jay and I come on and I grabbed guy's face mask with my broken hand. I remember I was getting I gave a couple of punches. Who was it? Um, it's some guy from the Cowboys. It is the forty four to zero Cowboy, one of

the most impressive history. Where I slid over the top of the ball and I missed the fumble and this guy got right in my face and it's just I just grabbed his face mask and throwing some uppercuts and then that about my second upper cut. I was thinking, what am I doing? I got, I got a broken hand and I'm grabbing this guy's face mask. So just you know, these offensive linemen. You know, come on, but now you your your cast or your cast that you

had on. Is it modified now from the first time you played with it two now or is it the same um apparatus? Or yeah? So um the first time I played with it, it was like a real cast, but uh the fingers, my fingers were cut out, so my fingers were exposed. Um where now it's just uh, because it's been two weeks. Um now I just got a pad over my hand. Yeah good, So I'm pretty

much pretty much bad. So you know what's interesting and blah and I you know, I have a really good relationship and you know, I always give my handshake and the first time I did, I like, oh yeah, but I mean you just go in. You know, you're not thinking, so you're politely. But you know, it's interesting what you have to do when you're out in public or with friends or family when you're banged up, specially your hand.

You know, you gotta be careful and you either have to you know, maybe go with a fist, bump or elbow. I don't know, you gotta they're not gonna remember if you have back surgery and you get to add a boy in the back. You know, I could send you through the ceiling. Yeah. It's crazy too because sometimes I forget, so I'll go shake somebody hand. I'm like, yeah, yeah, yeah, you don't want that, that's for sure. But Nichols our guest here on Bears All Access with Jay Hilgenberg city

in for Tim Fair. When you grew up in Philly, did you have a favorite player that you like down the Eagles or anything that resonates with you, and did you ever go to an Eagles game as a kid. Yeah? So, um, I had a couple of favorite players. Of course, on defense it was Bron Dalkin and then Jeremiah Trotter. Uh, those are guys that you know. I really liked a lot um Javan Curse when he ended up coming with Philly. And then on offense, I was a huge Brown Westbrook fan,

So those are the guys you know. I like that. Yeah, I had went to a game. My first ever game was in Philly. I can't remember how old that was. I want to say I was in like middle school, but that was my first time going to an Eagles game. Who was playing They were playing the Cowboys. They were playing a Cowboys end of the Year and I think they lost too. So it's funny because a lot of

players have never been to a game. I mean, they just you know, until they get to the NFL, and you kind of take it for granted that if you're interested in football, you'd be at a game, but you know, in many cases that's not the situation. What was your dream then already to be in the NFL when you went to that first game, or did it come real afterwards or did it come later in life? Did you

think you had the opportunity? So it ended up coming once I got to high school, So I think I went to that game in middle school ended up my dream of going to the NFL ended up coming to high school. I was at that point in middle school, I was more like trying to go to the NBA. I was a huge basketball fan, and uh, I love football. I love to watch it, but I just I didn't play it as much, so I wasn't as experienced. And then when I got to high school, I played it

and I fell in love with it. And then next thing, you know, just this athletic sixers six Ers Yeah, yeah, who was your grand Sixers? Yeah you knew it? Yeah, practice. So why white, white Delaware. Did you want to stay close to home or were you not heavily recruited out of high school. It's funny, I wasn't heavily recruited. I probably had about two to three offers coming out of

high school. It was a funny story because I was considered like a late bloomer, raw athletic kid, wasn't good at technique, but just you know, it was raw and athletic, and uh, you know, Delaware was the first school to offer me UM, and then came buck Now and then uh, then came James Madison. So those were the only three offers I had and UM at the time. I loved the Delaware I loved the coaching staff, coach, the head coach,

Dave brock Um. He was a real honest guy, and you know, we had a great relationship, and he had a good relationship with my grandparents. And it was close to home. I'm like, my family can come to all the home games, so you know, why not? And then Delaware had a rich tradition, especially Dave was pretty good at putting kids in the league. So you know, I just said, why not. Yeah, you see, I wish kids

would do that. I don't understand why, um these top players flocked to Alabama and all these top programs because I mean, look at I mean, they found you. I mean you're you're a great professional football player and if you have ability, they're going to find it no matter what school you go to. So that's great that you stay. You stayed at home. Let the family watch him play. Do you ever, because there's a couple of guys in that room. Charles Lenno Junior, for one, Alan Robinson loved

the NBA. I mean, yeah, Alan Robinson. I learned that he stood before it's kindergarten class and said I'm going to be a pro athlete one day and they kept telling him, yeah, okay, kid whatever. Yeah he did. He told me that story, Um, probably about four days ago. Really yeah, he literally stood in front of his class and told him that's what he was going to be. And they were like, yeah, but you know you need to backup plan and he was like, no, this is

what I want to be. It's crazy to think what happened. Every kid would love to but he had the conviction to do it. But that man loves the NBA. He does. Me and him talked all the time about it. Yeah, we talk about it. And it's Kawhi his favorite player. I don't know who his favorite it might be though. Yeah, great debates going on there and get Leno with the Warriors, and Leno loved you can't tell him nothing about the Warriors.

Been to a Bulls game here, Yeah, I have, Yeah, I have, I have, and I'm looking forward to going back. Amazing time. Nice atmosphere is ridiculous. Yeah, yeah, they're gonna be better this year. Whole players, the year goes on all we're gonna step away, have another break here, We'll have blown goes back after this. On Chicago Sports Radio six seventy The Score, Sports Radio six seventy The Score, starting Sunday, November three through November six, One lucky winner

can what a Thanksgiving theme? Lunch with their friends at Hollis Hall and are the Bears Friends Giving Sweepstakes brought to you by Miller Light at Chicago Bears dot Com Slash Friends Giving Jeff Jonniak along with Jay Hilgenberg in for time Thayer, but I'll Nichols the Bears bright second year defensive lineman getting an opportunity at a ton of playing time this season. You know, you won that starting job. That injury obviously throws you a curveball mentally for a

young player. How'd you deal? It was? It was tough because this past offseason I trained so hard. I was in the best physical shape I've ever been in my life. From mental standpoint, I felt like I was at my best. Um, you know, I was lean, I was faster, stronger, and I was ready to go. And I had so such you know, high goals for myself this pat this year, and uh, it's like a second game of the year doing something that I a thousand times a day. Taking on a block, I just having to break my hand.

It was kind of like, you know, it was kind of like a little demoralizing just because of the situation. And then I just felt like I was just leaving my teammates out there, my other teammates on the D line out there to battle, and it was it was nothing that I could do to help them. But I tell people that it was really a blessing in disguise that it happened, because it gave me a chance to grow mentally as as a person and a player on

and off the field. It gave me an opportunity to really appreciate things and to learn not to take anything for granted because it could be taken away from you in the blink of a second. And it gave me an idea on, you know, how to break down film. I was able to, you know, learn different things on how to break down film and help the guys out because I wasn't playing, so I had to figure out a way to help them in some type of way.

And you know, it was in film or what I've seen on the field or on the sideline and just you know, just trying to be that extra that extra guy that they can come to for an insight on what's going on. So when you get an injury and I don't know how players deal with this or not, do you ask questions, Okay, what's this means down the road? Can it rebreak? Can't? I mean, do you go through that process and you just put the trust in them to tell you, hey, everything's thombs up? Um, you gotta

trust them. I feel like for me, it was like I didn't want to try to think about that type of stuff because I didn't want it to slow me down on the field or discourage me in any way. So you know, I did talk to guys who had similar injuries, like Leonard Floyd and the King. Uh. Those guys happened to have the same injury I had, and they helped me out and they kept me in it mentally. Um. This funny thing is that the night I did it, I had the injury, A Keen texting me. We had

just got back from Denver. It was probably like two three in the man A Keen texted me just saying like, Yo, I just want you to know I got you back and I'm here. If you need anything, just call me. I can come over help you if you need help with anything. And stuff like that meant meant a lot to me, just because mentally, you know, you got a thousand things going in your head, like you know about this injury, and just just something small like that really

helped me out. So just talking to those guys, they kept me in it mentally, and you know, I just I just wanted to be able to help them in anyway I could at that point. Right, did you feel like, you know, when you first got back playing, like you got caught up to speed to the game or was there an adjustment? Right? Off the bat or did you feel comfortable gating right back in there? Yeah? So, um, the first the first couple of drives, I kind of had to, uh, I had to get my rhythm back.

I felt like I was, um, you know, you know, you know how it is for very long. Absolutely, it's all about rhythm. M So I kind of felt a little, you know, like everything was happening a little fast. But once I got my rhythm down, I got my eyes working looking at the correct things, and my hands working, and uh, getting over that mental block of using my hand, I was good to go, right. I remember in eighty

seven I missed the whole preseason. I hurt my shoulder in the preseason and we opened up against the Giants on a Monday night game, I believe it was, and I wasn't I wasn't ready to play the game. Mentally, I wasn't right because I hadn't taken a hit or anything. And I remember the first play we ran. We ran a Wham play. I don't I don't know if they run right. I love the Whams. Yeah, I love whams up. You know. I used to head fake the center or

the nose guard, and that it was fun. Stuff to do to nose guards, and but I head faked night and I supposed to slide over to check a linebacker or a defensivevent, but I wasn't looking. I was kind of out of it, just looking at the noose guard, and Leonard Marshall came in just tk oled me. I mean, he knocked me down so hard, you know, first play the game. But it was the best thing happened to me. You know, it got me right back into Yeah, yeah, exactly,

So I mean that. So I'm sure that first play you back in after your hand, there was a lot of anxious anxiousness. Yeah, it was, it was. And then h I think, uh like later on that series, I made a stop on third and one, um, and and that that really duced me up right, I'm like, okay, yeah, I'm ready to go. Yeah, you know you made you made such a big splat last year rookie years d like almost kind of you know, your fifth round draft choice, and no one really expected a lot of about fifth

round jobs. So you came in and man, you were making plays. You and you had a bunch of sacks. Your first sack was against Matthew Stafford. That's quite a quarterback to get a sack on and Jay still trying to get him traded from the Lions. Yeah, yeah, keeps the Lions should trade Matthew Staff. I really think that, I really think they should think the quarterback. Yeah he is what he say, has a lot of losses. But m but I mean Carson Wentz. I mean, here's an opportunity.

I mean here, this would be a big pelt to have on the you know, being from the Philadelphia area, to get a sack here Sunday against Carson Wentz. And he's going to give you an opportunity, won't he. I mean, he sits in that pocket, he looks for heat. He'll sit there. And now when you see it, do you are you taught to go after the ball, go through the ball to the quarterback, or you just get the quarterback go ahead the ball? All right? One guy you

know who does it better than anybody Else's clear. It was funny too, because when he had first got here last year, I sat down and I talked with him. Man, he told me everything you do do with the intent of getting the ball. He literally sat down and told me that, And then I watched him my practice every day. I watched him in games, and I've kind of started to develop that trait. So everything I do, I try to get the ball, so I don't I don't even

care about sacking with QB. I'm trying to sack the ball. It's interesting how you go about your business, you know, as a young man, because you and a keym obviously hit it off immediately. You sought him out. He was willing to help you, or some guys are not. But you seek input from the guys that have played this game, you know, just not many years, you know, before you yourself. But that's important to you, isn't it. Yeah? It is. Um.

I got a lot of respect for those guys. Um. You know, I've been watching those guys since since I was in high school, so, you know, I just felt like I was blessed enough to come into a position where I'm surrounding about so many talented players, and I feel like, whenever you get the chance, you should soak up the knowledge. Those guys are great guys. They're never going to tell me anything wrong, and one day I want to I want to have the type of career

that they're building right now. So I'm always asking questions and they always happy to answer them. Gonna be weird facing Jordan Howard. Oh yeah, it's gonna be. Uh, it's gonna be it's gonna be a little different. But I'm ready for it. Yeah, I'm sure he's gonna be ready. Yeah, he's gonna be ready for it. We're gonna be ready for it too. Yeah, he intrigue. You're talking a lot when you are like on a one to one pass rush.

Do you like getting tight up on the guy or do you like being a little off the offensive wineman that you're gonna rush against. I like being a little bit off um because a lot of times when I get off the ball in passing situations, I try to cover a lot of ground with my get off. So sometimes if if I'm too close to the ball and I'm getting off, I feel like I'm right there, right,

I'm right there, and and I don't like it. So sometimes I back up off the ball to really like you know, now you at liberty to do whatever makes you feel comfortable or is j roj this is what you have to do. Don't vary. No, Jay Jay Jay is a pretty he's a great coach's uh, he's pretty good about you. Know, allowing you to be a playmaker. Um don't. He don't want you to be a robot out there. He wants you to be a playmaker. So, um, you know, he gives you the freedom to do stuff

like that. Below Nichols our guest. One more segment to go here on Bears All Access on Chicago's Sports Radio six seventy to score. Be sure to stop by the middle of Light Ultimate Tailgate before the next Bears home game Sunday, November tenth. The tailgate opens at ten am through one hour post game. Located at the Field Museum. Ultimate Tailgate free for fans of all ages and a great place to stop for food and drinks before heading

into the game. With Jay Hilgenberg in for Time Thayer this week, Jeff Jonik and below Nichols kind enough to join us as he gets ready to meet the Philadelphia Eagles. Um, they got a heck of an offensive line, don't they. What are you seeing? Because that Brandon Brooks is getting a lot of game right now as one of the top guards in the league, and some say maybe the best guard in the league. Yeah, I mean he's he's he's the head of a player. Um, we played him

last year in the playoffs. Uh, he was, he was a dominant player. Um, you know, so it was great to go against him. And I look, I look forward to the challenge back then, and I look forward to the challenge this Sunday. Um. They have great offensive line. Like you said, you got Kelsey at the center, you got Brooks as the guard, you got Isaac as the other guard, and then you have the two tackles, Lane Johnson all Pro player, and then Jason Peters went down.

So you know they got guys stepping in in his place. But I know that dealer dealer. Yeah, so you know they got uh, they got talented all across the board. Um. And and the good thing about them is when you watch them on film, they seem like they're very comfortable working with each other and they work as one. So, um, you know, it's it's it's gonna be it's gonna be a good test force. Right. That's that's great though. I

mean you look at that as an opportunity. I can just tell listener you talk that here's an opportunity for you to keep stepping up and making a name for yourself in the NFL. And also your defense actually should be pretty well rested this week. You only had like forty some snaps. Yeah, snaps. I mean, did you feel it that that this past week was not as taxing to you guys? Yeah, I felt great, But no, hey,

I you know, and you shouldn't apologize for that. There was many games in the NFL that I felt great afterwards. In the week I felt great. I mean, yeah, it's a great thing to feel good during the middle of the season of the NFL. I mean, yeah, it was. It was it was crazy. I felt good. I felt like I could play another one, right, it was. You know, that's super underscores that the impact of complimentary football, you know,

special teams offense and defense working together. Uh, what are you learning because last year, your rookie year, it's wow, it was wow. Twelve and four. Now three game losing streak. It sets off so many alarms and for any team that has a three game losing streaker more that's just that's the nature of the beast. But what are you learning about winning and losing? Um, I'm learning that a lot of times you know you're gonna be hit with adversity, but it's it's always about how you respond to it

um and and that's what that's what we're learning this year. Um. You know, we we've been dope. You know, we've had some things happened to us. That's you know, that's just different and uh, it's all about how we bounce back. But you know what I can say about the guys in our locker room is each and every single guy comes out every day and works their tail off. You know,

they're they're not shooking up by what's going on. And uh, you know they they come into practice every day with the energy, with the energy because we know that we're gonna get it back on track. And it's important for young guys too, because you're gonna be here a while so you can these things that you go through when the next wave of gas come. Because the roster changes every year, you know you're gonna be one of those leaders and say, hey, listen, we've been through this. Here's

how we're gonna get out of it. You're gonna learn a lot from this. Yeah, yeah, And I'm just really trying to take it all in and be a sponge. You look at guys like Danny Trevithan, Um, you know, you look at haha Khalil a keen. You look at all those type of guys and uh, you know, they're remaining positive. They are are leaders, and they remaining positive

and um, the way they're handling the situation, it's quite remarkable. Um. So you know, I'm just taking notes from them, so you know, when I'm in their position one day, I can do the same thing. I think coach Nage feels good about the idea that players have gone up to them this week and say, hey, coach, we got this. It takes a little bit off the worry aspect of being a head coach. Yeah, it does. It does so much accountability in our locker room. Everybody we have each

other's back. That's great, And I mean that's what it really takes. I mean for a team to get through tough times. As I said earlier before you were here, that it's the most important thing. And I see it more now being out of the league for so long, is that you got the team has to stay together during the season because it's such a short season anyway that I mean, you can do whatever you want in the offseason, but this time everybody has to be on

the same page. All right, Well, that's gonna wrap us up for this week. Shelbalag good luck this week. Can't have fun with your family and the visit there and take care of that business trip. Thank you, Eagles, appreciate taking the time to be here. Balow Nichols, Bear second year defensive lineman. Where Jay Hilgenberg Balow, I'm Jeff Joniak along with Paul's Arrange, our engineer, and Dan Billy, our producer. We appreciate you. You're listening tonight. We'll talk to you

next time. And of course Tom there will be back with me on the radio on Sunday along with Jay and Ron Leason, Jim Schwantz and our pregame show at nine kickoff at noon from Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia for the Bears and Eagles. Have a good night on Chicago Sports Radio six seventy. The score