All Access: Raymond on Bears tight ends

Miller Lite and Kulu. I am good even to everybody in Jeff Johnny Econong, my broadcast partner Tom there from News Radio seven eighty and one oh five point nine FMWBBM, and Jim Miller from Sirius XM, NFL Radio, Bears Preseason TV and the x Bears quarterback get evening. Fellow is good to be back with you. You got your camp fases on. Oh yeah, now for the last yeah, the last couple of weeks before camp starts. It kind of

starts taking shape. And now it's down to that Defcon one or five, whichever is the worse, because it's here and you better be ready. Well. Deva Brocco's already reported at the first practice today, a couple other teams had their first year players, like the Baltimore Ravens and Cardinals are showing up. So football's back. Excited about it. Jeff, Good to have you back for vacation. You should be well arrested for next Friday, well arrested, ready to go.

That internal clock keeps on ticking. You get a little more less congenial as you get ready to get into the grind, the great grind of the football season. I actually told my kids that today, if I'm a little grouchy, don't get upset with me. It's it's that time. It's that time to get focused. Well, you know, I'm a

little edgy. You know, Vic Fangio going back to back, the two longest seasons you can have, going back to Hall of Fame games, So it's gonna be, you know, quite a workload for him in the two years and his first year as a head car. Yeah, but nobody, nobody loves it more than him, guys, nobody. Yeah. Well, they got a long camp, they got nineteen nineteen public practices, right, Yeah, yeah, they do, they do well. He commented on that today. And you know, I hate to see that the team's

doing this too. A lot of teams are lessening the public to come out. And I've always stayed this that what greater atmosphere than NFL training camps. No other major sport allows you to get up close and personal with the players. You know, sometimes not everybody can afford going to the games, and that's really their access. And so hopefully the NFL at some point maybe mandates how many open practices you can, whether it's ten, whether it's twelve.

Dallas Cowboys they don't regulate anything, they have twenty open practices. There are some teams like the Raiders, they don't offer the public. They can't even see one. So you know, it's uh, you know, I think the NFL is making a big mistake. You know, I like that set up in bourbon A for the Bears. The Bears fans show out, show up in droves. It gives them great access now that it's centrally located in Illinois, not that drive what

it once was up to Platteville, Wisconsin. Not that that wasn't great, but you know, it's nice to see it local there in you know, in Illinois where everybody can come out, whether the southern fans or east or west of Chicago and the northern fans can make that drive down to bourbon A and get close access to the chic.

I'd rather have the roar of the crowd and the fans surrounding the fields, and I would the music at this new generation they play out there, and I think it could be motivating to see the fans as you're going through the gates to get ready for practice. Well, and that's part of the support. Tom, what about in yours? You know, I kind of liked it having the fans. Are you kind of as a player, you wanted to

put on a show. Hey, here, they've out of respect, They've made the trip in the journey to come here to this practice. Put on a show. Make it worth their while is what I always thought. And it really I think provide a lot of extra juice for practices because I don't think any of the players wanted to

let the fans down. Yeah, you don't want to let that go because and especially this year, I believe they're you know, obviously given the one hundred and what we saw at the convention in June, Tom and Jim, the buzz about this football team, I think the turnout could be real good this year in Bourbon at OH it would be packed every day because this has superstar power they want to get up close to Khalil, They want

to look at a team. They want to see Roquan develop, they want to see Mitchell Trubisky in his development at the quarterback position. They want to see Monmory and you know, every one of these guys. I'm just you know, pointing out the guys in the roster. But this there's a lot of star power that well everybody can gravitate and have something in common with. If you wanted a player coming off the field, whether they throw them a wristband

or a glove or something. As for the NFL, they should be concerned because if that happens, or an autograph, you got a fan for life, a fan for life. And that's really what vic Fanje was talking about. Who doesn't want a Jim Miller wrist band. I've got many on my shelf. It all opens on Saturday, July twenty seventh.

Through August Tent Bears training camp open to the public seven thirty in the morning till noon on those days, and then throughout the month of August, the first portion of August leading up through the Bears preseason opener against the Carolina Panthers, and then it's off to meet the giants, and it's here quickly. Coming up. Next, we'll be joined by our rookie tight end, Dex Raymond, the undrafted guy

out of Utah State. He'll join Jim and Tom and myself, Jeff Joni at herb Lawrence helping us out along with Julio Rosseo. Today this is Bears All Access on Chicago Sports Radio six seventy. The score blung back end. The Bears All Access are brought to you by Igs Energy and Jeff Joni acc along with Tom Thayer and Jim Miller. Joined now by tight end Dex Raymond, the rookie tight end out of Utah State, joining a long list of tight ends trying to make their way into the fifty

three man roster. Just about a week from now. In fact, the rookies will report a bit earlier, along with quarterbacks as the Bears get going on what is exciting to say, an outstanding potential season for these twenty nineteen Chicago Bears. Good evening decks, How you doing and welcome to our program. Hello,

I'm thank you for having me on. I'm excited to be on tonight and you gotta be thrilled beyond belief that you are an NFL rostered player at the moment, given, given you know the journey that everyone has some guys our first, second, third round picks, and they pretty much got a lock out a roster spot when you when you start the festivities. But guys like yourself started right from the bottom. I mean, gott to work your way up,

don't you exactly? But hey, you know, I wake up and I'm playing in the NFL right now, I'm living the dream. So I couldn't be any happier with the situation I'm in right now. You know, Dax, I think everybody pulls for free agents and it's interesting to hear the story. Why are you with the Bears? Was this a system related decision? Or did the Bears went out

over other teams that wanted to your services? Yeah, so at the combine, I actually I had a formal interview with the Bears, so they had shown interest in me before the draft, and after looking through after going undrafted and realizing I was going undrafted, looking through what options I had, I feel like the Bears would be a good fit and it was a great team. So after speaking with my parents and my agent, you know, we decided that we thought the Bears would be the best fit,

and I said, you know, let's go for it. Well, Dax's Jim Miller here. Pleasure to talk to you and just talk about the bloodlines. I believe your father is a longtime player, your brother is a longtime player, you know, And how did you end up playing for the Aggies? And certainly you know your measurables at the combine. People don't realize you got big hands, man ten and a quarter in chance rants, a good speed there at the combine running posting a four seven. We cover every single player,

and certainly your number stood out. Yeah. So my dad he ran track at BIU. He's still on the record board for high jump. He's still in the top ten over at BIU. My mom was a dancer at Cougar att at BIU. My older brother he played basketball for a year at a small school in Virginia and at a small college. And my little sister she runs track and she holds the state record for long jumps. So I think we just have a bunch of athletes in our family. You know, we just loved playing sports. It's

what we've been doing since we were kids. Jack's ram and our guest here on Bears All Access on Chicago Sports Radio six seventy score with the Indel seven o'clock tonight. Scout David Williams, who handles the West, called you a smart, competitive, versatile player. And anytime the word smart, competitive, and versatile are in the same sentence, that does check many boxes for this Bears organization and what the front office wants and a player, would you say that's an accurate description

of you in a simple way. There's certainly the xs and o's and the other aspects of your fundamentals and traits, But would you say that's something you can wrap your arms around. Absolutely. You know, I pride myself in knowing the plays and knowing the offense and the you know, in the back of my head, and at the end of the day, it's all about winning in my brain, and that's you know, I want to compete, and you know, I want to be as competitive as anyone out there

on the field. So I agree with that statement one percent. Hey, Docson, near system you you came from in college? Did you line up on the hash next of the tackle or in an h back position? Where did you line up the most Honestly, I did it all. It was pretty balanced. That was something that we did a lot at Utah State. Was you know, I'd be out on the hash and then the next play I was, you know, in an H back position for the run play. So I'm comfortable with it all. I'd say I was mostly hash and

H back. Putting my hand in the in the dirt was a little more rare. It was more suttered in short or goal line. But I definitely did it all well. All Mountain West Honors in twenty seventeen and twenty eighteen for the Yaggies. And have you always played tight end? Like? What? You know? What? What won? What drew you to football? Since your family is just for an array of athletes

and obviously or did you play all sports growing up? Yeah? So, you know, growing up, my dad obviously pushed track because that's what he did. But my older brother and I we really just loved football and basketball. I mean, my greatest memories growing up for you know, shooting in the driveway with my older brother and all of our friends. So we all we played football and basketball growing up. My brother went with basketball and I just love football,

so I chose football again. We have Dax's Raymond our guest on Bears All Access to Night in Chicago Sports Radio six seventy to score twenty seven catches, three hundred forty five yards two touchdowns last season at Utah State. Kid who hailes from Provo Utah and at any tight end in your position would love to have those bigger numbers the college game, though, tight ends don't always get used the way they are in the at National Football League,

and particularly the blocking aspect of things. Where are you add at that level? You know, I feel like I'm still improving of the blocking tight end. You know, I only played tight end in college, and I only played three years of tight end, so I still feel like I have tons of room to improve. And I don't like the work potential because that means I'm not there yet.

But I still feel like I'm have so much that I can learn, and that's why I'm excited to get in this program with these great coaches that can teach me and coach me up well. Das Jeff asking about the blocking, what about the routes you ran in college? Are they relatable to the routes that you're seeing in this early installation of the Bears offense, and are there things relatable that you'll be able to take from your

college routes to this level. Yeah, for sure. There's tons of routes that are really similar, which really helped me in the OTAs, just kind of understanding, you know, where we're trying to break off our stands or you know, identical routes where you know, I already ran this route for four or three or four years in college, so you know, I'm used to them. So yeah, I'd say

there are a lot of similarities. There's definitely some new stuff that I have to work on, but for the most part, I was pretty comfortable with all the routes that we were running. How has the install period gone through the the OTAs and the mini camps and all that, and just the volume of the install just you know, you're going to see a lot more coverages, the array of coverages you're probably being exposed to as you arrive at the Bears. How's that been for you? Yeah? Absolutely.

I Mean the playbook five times the size of any playbook I've ever seen, UM, which has been awesome. And yeah, the defense is, you know, there's defenses I've never seen before. UM, but like you guys know, I served a two yr mission. I learned the Russian language, and I pride that I can learn I can learn an offense because I've learned the Russian language, so it wasn't too bad for me. Yeah, let's say Bears win the Super Bowl in Russian? How can you? How can you fire that off at us

right now? JEDDI good enough for me? Sounds good. Deck's Raymond here on Chicago Sports Radio six seventy the score. I'm sure. I'm sure your new teammates are gonna bust you on these things a little bit during training camp when everybody gets really acquainted, you know, getting away from Halla Saw and everybody's in the same boat up at training camp, it's got to be not only exciting and fun to think about what's coming next, but when the

pads come on, things certainly change. Did you know from being a football player, is that aspect you mentioned how competitive you are and you love to compete, you love to win. Will that be when you get in the heat and you get on that field, you know, and the first time you throw on pads in the National Football League and you know what's coming at you. These grown men when you're you're a young man twenty four, but a rookie in the national football when it's all

going to sound and feel real. Yeah, you know, it's crazy just hearing you say that. Right now. You know it's it's game day every day once you put those pads on, So you got to have the mindset ready to go game day every day. Hey, Dax, you know your quickest route to a jersey is through special teams. Did you have any experience of that in college? I mean, this is kind of a serious question because you're twenty four, you played a lot of football. Do you know how

to tackle? Do you know the techniques and the fundamentals that go about it? Because when you're on punt coverage, you're on kickoff coverage. You know you gotta be on kickoff return, punt return. But you know, now you start doing some things that maybe you don't have a great deal of experience at Uh huh. Yeah. So last year I started on punt all year with Utah State, and I've been on kick return, so I am familiar with tackling.

And like I said, like you said, for sure, I understand to get on this roster, I'm gonna have to compete, especially on special teams. And if I can start on four special teams, I would do that in a heartbeat. Whether it's running down on the kickoff or blocking on punt, I'll do whatever I can to make this team well for that two year mission, you just sound like you

got you know, you're mature twenty four year old. You know a lot of young guys, you know, sometimes come in with the anxiety of training camp and it just doesn't sound like the case for you at all. Decks Maybe your point of view, because you know, I'm sure there's always that doubt in your mind, but you have the maturity to go out there and say, hey, I'm

gonna go compete to make this team. Yeah. Absolutely, I pride myself that I'm more mature twenty four year old rookie because that's a little more rare and most rookies aren't twenty four. But yeah, I mean I see it at a differ print. There's a different aspect to it. You think, yeah, I'm twenty four. You know, I've had a bunch of football in my past. But you know those two years, I wasn't taking a beating, you know,

I was I was walking around in Siberia. But I wasn't getting smashed every day playing football, so my football mileage really isn't. I'm more of a twenty one year old body, but just in a twenty four year old brain. And still, yeah, it does make sense and still a lot to learn at this level. You said tight end only three years in your football playing life, so you can look at that in a couple of different ways.

You're this piece of multiple material right now to to adapt to this system, in this scheme, and you don't have a lot of bad habits right at the position. Yeah, yeah, I hope I don't have any. You know, I hope that the coaches, if I do, they'll get those out of my system real quick. And you know, only can learn new things that will help me improve to be the best tight end that I can be. Well, we wish you, We wish nothing but the best. It's gonna

be a fun training camp. Everybody's looking forward to it, as I'm sure you are as well. A week out here getting ready for Bears twenty nineteen. Dax Raymond, thanks for joining us. Thank you very much. I really appreciate it. Dax Raymond, our guest from Utah State, the rookie tight end will join the group along with Trey Burton, Adam Shaheen, Ben Bronicker, Bradley soul Ian Bunting out of Hinsdale Central, Jesper Horstead else, I'll excuse me, Ellis Richardson. The whole

cast of characters ready to compete at training camp. We come back, we'll break down that tight end position a little more with Tom there and Jim Miller. I'm Jeff Jonik on Chicago Sports Radio six seventy to score. Welcome back 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,

Tom and Jim joining us on Bear Access. Just heard from undrafted rookie Ted and Dax Raymond. Sounds like a really sharp guy, fellas. Yeah, you know, and he is mature beyond his years, you know, being twenty four and not having that abuse of football over the last couple of years. I think there's higher expectations for him because

of that. You have life experiences, you have the experience of traveling around the world, the ability to adapt, the ability to master another language so you can survive in that area of the world. All those skills are relatable to football. So and then I was I was talking to some personnel people around the NFL today and running a four seven three forty, you know, having almost a two hundred and fifty two hundred and fifty five pound

body weight, and then this position needing competition. I think all of those, you know, spell well for Dax and it's going to give him a true opportunity to come here and earn a roster spot, and he's got to be able to contribute on special teams. Yea seven one five in a three cone Droll talks about his change of direction. That's pretty good time for a player of

that size. We look at six five, two hundred and fifty five pounds and like anything else you know, to me, he could be a perfect guy for the practice squad because he is so young, I should say at the tight end position, only play in three years, you know, but he's got these oily hips and he's a tremendous athlete. Maybe just a little bit more development is there, because when you look at the depth at the tight end and the dependent on roster cuts and you know numbers

are going to come into be a factor. You can't think about that as a player, But with Bradley Soul making that transition to tight end, you know that's gonna change some things and how that position. So Dax to me would probably be a perfect person for practice squad as it sits right now. You know, Jimmy like about him.

Jim and Jeff when we talk about Bradley Saul and we talk about Dax, who really has the advantage from this moment on a person that's young with three years experience and limited or a person that understands the blocking schemes and how to block and fundamentals of blocking but has never played the position. And I'd like to get both of your take on that. Well. I mean, well, coach Snaggy spreads it out a lot more than some other teams around the league in terms of goal line personnel.

But I think if you're just looking for overall blocking, if you're going to go heavy personnel and obviously short yardage and goal line command it when you kind of want to just stuff it up in there, And I would think Bradley Swells has the advantage, you know, and I would think when you look at those guys on the roster, Trey Burton's more of a movement guy. Dax is probably a movement guy until he improves his blocking ability.

But then the bigger guys, when you look at Adam, Sheheen and Bradley probably would probably provide a better benefit and heavy personnel in those positions, which I think would give them an advantage if the Bears want to play smash model, I would agree with what Jim saying, maybe two different types of position players here. And in addition to that, knowing that Matt Naggey loves a buffet, he

loves an offensive buffet of different options. As we all learned and will continue to learn, this is not just lip service. He actually this is how it's going to be. One guy's not getting all the touches is going to be creative based on matchups each and every game, each and every series, for crying out loud. So I'm interested to see where Bradley's at as we continue to break down this tight end position in terms of his wait

and so forth, because he was freaking down. I wanted to see what he winds up here at training camp and how he handles that weight, how he feels, you know, being able to run routes or just putting his hand in the dirt and being that blocking tight end. You know, he's got a lot of energy, and that's the I think that's one of the reasons you even consider moving Bradley too with the tight end position from an offensive lineman, because he's got the athleticism to play up and down

the line of scrimmage. He's a really good long snapper, so obviously he's got the traits to adapt and learn any other position. But I think at this stage of his career this will be the biggest hurdle that he'll face, and trying to learn more than just attachment to a player in front of you. You got to be able to disengage and then still file the flight of football

as you're reading coverages bells. Given the nature of a sports hernie operation that Trey Burton had and he missed the offseason program because of it, what do you project his status to be when they get to work. That's tough. I've had hernie on both sides. One for me took six months. I mean where I finally felt well, I felt really good, you know, and you know, and I don't play, you know, playing the quarterback wasn't the movement

position of what Burton is going through other guys. You know that everybody heals differently certainly uh that, and you know he's a professional. But I just know it didn't feel right for me. I was out there moving and doing all the things I needed to, but you just didn't feel right untill about six months after that surgery. Some of those sports hernie surgeries can be complicated, you know,

some of them have ended careers. Look at Vernon Davis that ended his career as a corner having that sports hernie is surgery. Well, you know, the thing for me is selfishly looking at the development of Mitchell Trubisky last year when Alan Robinson came here and he was recovering from a knee injury. And you don't have the chance to run these guys at one hundred percent of practice tempo in order to get the timing down, that is

such specifics in order to get it done right. I don't want to, you know, I hope Trey is ready to go and can contribute in some way, shape or form, and I've never had a hernia, so I don't know, But I'm just I'm hoping for the selfishness of the development of the offense, that he has the opportunity, even if he's out there for seven on seven and you limit his contact downfield or exposure to re injuring you know, the hernia. So I hope he does for all all

players involved, including Trubisky. I meant I'm at Vante Davis. Sorry, I want to correct myself, Joe, I think I said Vernont. But remember the former corner of the Colts, he went up to the to the Buffalo Bills and he just said he just never felt right. You know, he played a whole season and you know he said it just was not good for him. His sports turneer surgery. And I know that we've all talked about Adam Shehen on

this show quite a bit. We all have high expectations for Adam and it's one of Tom's collection of players that he's got circled in terms of making that next big step, making a big impact based on their experience level. What are your respective expectations right now with a healthy Adam Sheen. My expectations for Adam shehen is when they do the introduction of the starting lineup that's including the big tight end that for sixteen games. He's the guy

that lines up, the guy that gets introduced. He's the guy that can make a difficult catch and pop up off the ground. He's the type of guy that can be instrumental in the blocking scheme of the outside edge or even plays that are under the interior, and he can handle some guys one on one. He knows how to work with the offensive tackle, with the other tight ends, the h backs, and the different members of the blocking

schemes that he's going to have to work with. He needs to take that X step in the evolution of player development in terms of the mentality you have to have in terms of toughness to be on the field under every and any situation that's called for him. Yeah, I'm you know, I'm not expecting Travis kelcey. But he's an athletic player. I mean, this is a former basketball player who can play above the rim, has the ability to make big plays, stride and run after the catchability

with his movement skills. So I'm with Tom, I think it's time it's time to come out of the shell. I know part of it was due to injury and the ankle and and all that, the foot injury that I was dealing with, But I think it's time he does need to take an X big step and really be a huge contributor I think here for the Bears. And because if not, if not him, who right? And that's that's the that's a big question mark. And you talk Jeff about Matt wanting a buffet, Listen, he's he's

part of the prime rib. He's part of the meat department. He's you know, he's not you know, secondary consideration of putting a little on your plate. And then we got Ben Naker has been here a while now, so outstanding special teams player. He'll get some work in as well. Looking forward to the tight end breakdown throughout the course

of training camp when we come back home. About some phone calls, folks three one two six forty four sixty seven sixty seven three one two sixty four four sixty seven sixty seven, Herb Lawrence Julio Rosso, our producers tonight and this is Bears All Access on Chicago Sports Radio six seventy. The score back with you on Bears All

Access on Chicago Sports Radio. Another twenty minutes in the program, Jeff Joniac tap there, Jim Miller with you, and our phone number is three one two six forty four sixty seven, sixty seven. Let's go to the phone lines. We got a Tom and Lincoln Square kind enough to join the program big time. Yes, I wanted to talk about Adam Rachinin. And what I noticed about Shakin is that you seem like a big guy sixty eight who was still a little awkward. I see him basketball all the time, these

seven twitters. It takes him a while to get coordinated, and I just I thought that was a case with Sigheen. And I noticed that he was doing some martial arts working out this year. So I really think that he's gonna have a breakout here, just because it's physically I'm assuming he's going to put it together more like when he got hurt. Someone tackled him at the legs and he fell real awkwardly. And anyway, I just think that that's going to be the difference between Adam and this year.

And I think I think it's gonna be a big party office. Yeah, you know, Tom, I hope you're right. Because you know, I think we all like what we see out of Adam Sheen when you look at his structure, the width of his shoulders, his overall size. Jim mentioned of his basketball background, we as the ability how to understand and how to use his body. And it was a freak incident. I think it happened last year during

the Hall of Fame game. But it's you know, that's what everything has to come together, where he is out there on a regular basis, and like I said, every time that he's part of the personnel package, he's the tight end that goes to the front of the line, and he's got to start setting the example for the position because I know there's he's got really lofty expectations by the Bears fans and by the personnel department up there at Hollis Hall. We've seen a lot of this

of players who really that's what he is. He's a former basketball player making the transition to tight end. And yeah, he played at a smaller college in Ashland, so things are a lot faster for him right now when he arrived in Chicago. There. Hey, there are players that have been formed basketball players converted to tight end that still haven't mastered the position. I e. Jimmy Graham up there

in Green Bay. He really still hasn't perfected his blocking ability and one of the reasons why Seattle shipped him off. He's kind of been a flex guy more in the receiving end of things, and really burst out of the scene in New Orleans, than continued up there and didn't go as well in Seattle and now starting to catch on in Green Bay. But still the blocking part part of it hasn't been a part of his game. So you know, it's it's a tougher transition to make it,

but I think she can do it. He's a good athlete. He just got to work at it, that's all it is. He's got the athleticism to do it. He really out that he was about to come on strong with that injury was pretty significant, I'll even tell you that. And so back at the minicamp and the OTA sessions when he was available to the media, you're gonna hear about chasing Great if you've forgotten about it. That's the theme here, chasing Greade. So what is Adam Shoheen's chasing Great? Yeah?

I mean my chasing Great is chasing you know, being on the field all sixteen. So guy said, I'm when I'm I'm confident in what I can do when when I'm available, and that confidence has to really come to fruition here. And you're three fellows. All right to the phones again, Wayne and Pontiac. Thanks for hanging on. You're on Bears all Access pay. Thanks for taking my call. Um. I really like Ryan Nall. I know he's on the

practice squad and he was all last year. I really with all the running backs we have, i'd like to know on all three of your opinions what you see him being a bigger part of the team. Thanks, and go Bears. Yeah, you know, Wayne and I like Ryan Nall. He catches the ball well, he's a big back, but whether he's running the ball and he has blocking ability, yeah, it's gonna be a tough position to earn your way into the carries during the year. However, is if we

learned anything from coach Naggy last preseason. I don't know how much the starters are going to play during the game itself, so he may get his exposure, whether for the Bears or for another team out there. But he's got all the physical attributes you look for in a running back. He's tall, he can lower his shoulder pads, he's got power, he does a great job in the practice squad and when he's showing the opponent's offense, and he's got good versatility in his skills. Yeah, definitely well,

and he's still practice squad eligible. Yeah, to polish his game, as he mentioned, because I do think it'll be tough. You know, you're probably looking at four guys on game day, and with the acquisition of Mike Davis, the drafting of David Montgomery and Terrico and Mazzelle. Mazelle kind of spells terric in his role, uh, you know, in terms of the receiving side of it. And I think for Ryan Knowle is just polishing his game. But I agree with

you for a bigger back. You know, he had that big run a season ago in preseason and showed the versatility that I think the Bears are looking for. You can definitely see that he plays hard in football is important to him. But I think it'll be tough to crack the game day rush. But we never know what happens with injuries. Yeah, he had a sixty. He had a sixty nine yard run. You're you're right about that, Jim, and he turned the corner and a thirty two yard touchdown.

And he had a lot of long touchdown runs, a lot of long runs at Oregon State, so he does have burst and when he turns the corner, he's a big body back. And in this conversation, where are you on special teams with a guy like this with Ryan Al? Yeah,

that's the other part of it. Yeah, exactly. I think that's you know, for all the guys that don't have a guaranteed jersey, and there's not you know, there's not a lot of them, So you're gonna have to be able to contribute, but you're gonna have to show some type of special knack. What what do you do above

and beyond All? Elson? You know, I always refer to Neil Anderson because here's a guy, as a first round draft choice running back, he was the best special teams, punt team tackler I've ever seen since I've been around the Bears. And he created that niche for himself that he was not going to be denied. And if Ryan All could do something special like that, it would it would hard, It would be hard to deny him the opportunity. I played with Fred McAfee. He was a long time Saintan.

He played with the Pittsburgh Steelers. He literally lasted, you know, forever in the NFL. He was always the fourth running back and he was always the league or he was always not only our team leader in tackles that time just mentioned, but he played around the NFL a long time. Fifteen year career. Fred McAfee just was fourth on the depth chart, but number one in special teams every single year.

We opened up the running back conversation, and I've been asking a ton about David Montgomery, and I still feel, and I said it on this show before, he feels like a first round pick, even though he's in a third round body right now, you know, until further notice, he's a third round pick that comes to the National Football League. But he's got he's got a charisma to him. He's got a competitiveness and a and a versatility in the past game, including some really terrific route running that

I just have a really strong feeling about this. And Tom, you know you texted me today about the running back position. Will the rushing yards be collectively higher in twenty nineteen than it was in eighteen. Will the receiving yards at that position be higher in nineteen versus eighteen. So it's a good topic to discuss. You know, when you talk about Montgomery being a third rounder, we all think we're first rounders, you know, and I you know, I still argue about it now. I know I wasn't. I was

a fourth rounder. But you got to have that faith in yourself and you have to have that belief that maybe you're underdrafted and you deserve better and you're gonna earn better. So that's what I'm looking for out of Montgomery, interviewed him at the combine. I think you're right. I think he is a very confident young man and he should be. You know, he's been highly regarded with his ability to run and how he can run routes and ability to come out of the backfield just to provide

more versatility. So I think you're right. I think one of those guys that you know, you want him to have his tongue hanging out at the end of the game, much like a Tarik Colon, because he is that dangerous

of a weapon. And there were more teams than just the Bears that were interested in David Montgomery, you know, Jeff, and that question about more receiving yards or more running yards out of the running back position specifically, I almost feel if they are looking for more rushing yards out of the running back position, that Jordan Howard would still

be here. I think when you're looking for the exposure of what ultimately this offense can be, how you can benefit the quarterback position and how you can put more threat downfield, maybe it is more receiving yards out of the running back position, where you get to the edge faster, you start counting on the running back to be the primary receiver, and a route called out of the huddle. Now you can dictate pass rushing ability of your opponent, and you can dictate a lot of different things in

personnel groupings against your opponents. Eleventh in the National Football last year, one hundred and twenty one point one years per game in the first year in the Matt Naggie offense, but it's always about route running with Matt Naggie at that position. Yeah, well, I think because the game we've seen it change, where you see the spread out sets that the Bears run, the creativity on offense and that's

kind of who David Montgomery is. You know, we look at size, his speed, how he played for the Cyclones, And this is nothing against Jordan Howard because we all love him. The guys. I mean to back to back over a thousand yards seasons. The guys is an absolute truck. But the creativity kind of isn't there in space and it's you know, I think we all know that he's not going to have the wiggle to be creative, and

David Montgomery kind of has. He has the calmness and the creativity when chaos is going around him in space. That is pretty special, I think is what people think about him. Don't forget Mike Davis Fellas. Oh yeah, yeah, here's why. Here's why. I think he's got a grittiness to him, and I think he is going to be just just been in talking to him in his belief and how he's he'd been overlooked so far in the

National Football League out of South Carolina. I just think that aspect in the running game will also benefit the other guys. You look at the versatile offense that he's already been a part of. So he's a guy that's coming into the Chicago Bears with an experience of playing with a mobile quarterback that you know, like you use the word buffet, there's a lot on the plate where

he's come from. And I think when you look at them Seattle, they were number one in the NFL rushing the football, they kind of you know, you look at those pass plays by Russell. Granted it was a great year for him, thirty five touchdowns, only seven interceptions, but when it came time to run the football, this is who they turned to and it was Mike Davis. He

really came out strong for that group. And that's a lot of power runs of what Seattle because Pete Carroll just wants to go smash mouth, so he does have the grittiness you're talking about. Jeff three two, four, sixty seven, sixty seven, one more segment. We come back, we'll talk Mitch Traubisky with Tom Fair and Jimmer. I'm Jeff Joniac

and this is Chicago Sports Radio six seventy score. The Chicago Bears Network presents Inside the Bears, brought to you by Verizon, Anthony Adams and Lauren Screeden to cover the world of Bears football on and off the field. Every Sunday night, ten thirty five pm on POX thirty two Chicago, or watch anytime at Chicago Bears dot com or on

the Bears official app. Remaining Moments with Jim Miller and Tom There Jeff Joni acc here on Chicago Sports Radio six seventy to score three, two, four, sixty seven, sixty seven. If you've got a thought before we go, fellas we all check out Pro Football Talk the headline today Ken Mitchell take the Bears to the next level? That seems to be a popular question now that the Bears were a playoff team in eighteen with a terrific start under

Matten Naggie in an offense ready to take off? Or it should be plenty of weapons to work with offensive line intact? Is he ready to take off? You know? Jeff? This seems to be the off season of lists comparison. Where are you in the Madden Game? Where is the Bears as a team? Where his coach Naggy as a you know, as a head coach? Where is Mitchell Trubisky

rated as a quarterback? It's unbelievable that how this downtime in sports has created all these lists that they have you know and Mitchell Trubisky just has to have a better understanding of the offense that he had last year that he can play more naturally, be the athlete that he is, you know, work on his long ball accuracy, have knowledge of the offense. So he's due doing things more naturally. You know, we're not there's not gonna be huge changes. It's just him getting better at at how

good he got last year. He needs to get better than he was last year. And that's going to be the key element for the growth of this football team because they will be as good as Mitch has an understanding of this offense. And like Matt said, last year one oh one to two oh one, that's the step that Mitch has to take. Yeah, he's already taken the next step, you know, from first year, and then he's

already got a playoff experience in year two. And it's just just the growth last year all through the season is so impressive. And not to give any way anything away. For the preseason broadcast, I was asked that question and I will pull up specific tape of Mitchell Trubisky during the broadcast of what he couldn't do at the start of last year and what he was doing at the end of the season because that game, that week seventeen game against Minnesota, you have no idea how many times

Mitchell Trubisky beat the Blitz. It was an impressive performance and I'll played an eighty four million dollar quarterback of the Minnesota Vikings in clutch moments of the game and just buried the Minnesota's Vikings defense that is a top ten defense. That was impressive stuff. And then follows it up as a finishing act forty six seconds left on the clock, you got no timeouts and got to get in field goal range to try and beat the Philadelphiagles,

who are tremendous football team. He did it great throw, dropped a dime over the corner to Alan Robinson to put him in position, then came back and throws a stop route and then they basically clock it on third down to put him in position for a field will. That's all you can do, and he showed up big in big moments that he couldn't do earlier in the year. But by the end of the year he definitely had grown as a quarterback. That's definitely the hook for me.

That final drive against the Eagles, that that is a great platform to build on here in twenty nineteen. Also, let's look at some other key players at the receiver position. Pick one guy that you're ready to see. I don't know. It could be it could be the number one guy, could be the last guy on the list. Who's the guy, who's the guy that you're most intrigued by, that you feel is going to take off here in twenty nineteen.

Each guy, for me, I want to see the explosiveness of Taylor Gabriel, and I think that it's in concert with Mitchell Trubisky because if they have any ability to connect on passes that our twenty five yards are longer in full speed, it's going to compute to scoring. But it's gonna change the way you're going to cover the Bears. You're gonna have to have guys off the line of scrimmage, and it's going to open things underneath for more players,

more position players. However, you know, Taylor Gabriel is still blessed with great speed and man, if they can just use that, you know, once or twice a game to an explosive play, it's gonna be points in coverage, changing ability ability. I could say something about all of them, because I think Robinson now with two years or coming off the second year of that ACL, I think he's gonna be much much better and more explosive with his acrobatic catches. But you want to know who's the most

intriguing to me, Quardarel Patterson. I think that guy is gonna surprise what he's because he's got return ability, right. He can us be used in so many different ways with as a running back, all the different things he's been asked to do, and it's been what every team has used him differently, whether he was in Minnesota, how the Raiders used him, and how Bill Bill Belichick used him. Shoot, the guy led the team in rushing three weeks in a row for the New England Patriots a week ago.

I think Naggi has got some intriguing things he's gonna do with Cordarrell Patterson or quarter I should say, and mines Robinson with a one eighth to Anthony Miller, because we know how competitive he is. He was productive in terms of touchdowns and limited targets and so forth, but just his desire and if he matures just a little more, I really think that could be something to be very explosive as well. Let's touch down the offensive line before

we get out of here. Because Kyle Long time, he's experienced great success as a Bear, three time Pro bowler, but he rolls in here completely healthy. Now what does this mean for him and the line of scrimmage in general? You know, I'll say a bold statement about Kyle because he's had a healthy offseason and they moved. They made movement where they have the James Daniels playing center, Cody

at left guard. If Kyle Long can go to the lineup sixteen games after having such a quality off season where he's spent time, invested time in the weight room, invested time on the field now is invested with an offensive line coach has been around a couple of years. He could be the best interior offensive lineman in the league. He's got unique power, he's got uncanny balance, he's got ability to get to the second level. There's not a

defensive lineman out there that's gonna compete with him. Strength for strength, Yeah, you have your Aaron Donald who has a certain amount of explosiveness that can win the snap count at times and make any offensive lineman you know, look like the competitors they are. But to me, Kyle Long is the guy that he could be. He could be the offensive line changer because of his health and just like I said, his freakish type of talents. Who wants to talk old line. I will talk Mitchell Trubisky

because here's what I'd say. If I'm Mitchell Trubisky and I've got that offensive line in front of me, I'm sleeping pretty good at night. That's all I'm saying. That's a good group of offensive lineman coach by a great coach. Right. Let me ask you this then, before we get away, what are you most concerned about heading into training camp or your biggest question marks? And let's leave kicker aside a minute, because we all agree that's obviously everybody's biggest question.

I don't want to to me, Jeff, I don't want to have unrealistic expectations of the outside linebacker position. I read a report the other day that they're saying Khalil Mack seventeen sacks, and you know, we looked at the

sack total that could possibly happen for Leonard Floyd. You gotta be realistic about the position because every one of these offensive coordinators there's been all offseason devising a scheme how to put their personnel in a spot where they can dictate the whereabouts of Khalil Mack So I, you know, I expect great things from him because he's a great player, but it's got to be about the contribution of everybody surrounding him. Let's just not go to the game and

only watch Khalil. You know, Kim Hicks has to have double digit sacks. You don't know what Balal Nichols is capable of. You may even see more sacks out of Roquan Smith. So I just want to see realistic expectations out of that outside linebacker position. I think, for me probably the most point you want to come out of camp healthy. I mean, you just you know, you see, you know, nobody will make excuses. You know, teams like Atlanta,

they're not gonna make excuses that Dion Jones. They lose him in their top safety of you know, Kean O'Neill. But it matters. They're starters for a reason. These guys are star players that went down for Atlanta and their season spirals out of control early in their season. And I just want to see this group come to Week one everybody's ready to go, and everybody's healthy, because this

is gonna be a pretty devastating group here in twenty nineteen. Hey, Broncos lost Todd Davis, their starting linebacker today with a partial calf there. It's three to four weeks, but it's that lack of momentum that you know, somebody gets something early that affects him throughout the whole season. You don't want that either, But the Bears were extremely healthy last year. Tommy, you and I are headed the Dedicator on Sunday. That's really when it all kicks off, going back to the roots.

Have some good times with Matt Nagee and Ryan pacing some of the Bears along with Lands Briggs down There no turning back now, big Jeff, and go to time. Time to go. Thanks Jim, we'll see you at camp this weekend too. Sounds good man, all right, that's gonna do it for us tonight on Bears All Access. Thanks a lot for listening, everybody. Thanks to Dak's Raymond and for Tom Bere, Jim Miller, Herb Lawrence and Julio Rosseo.

I'm Jeff Joniac. Have a good night everybody. Thanks for listening to this Chicago Bears Network presentation of Bears All Access. Podcasts are available on Chicago Bears dot Com and on iTunes, or download the official Bears mobile app. Bears All Access has been brought to you by IGS Energy and sponsored by CDW, Athletico Physical Therapy and Forward