This is ESPN Chicago, w NVP W s H e H D two Chicago, a Good Karma Brands radio station. Welcome in double Bears Weekly, a Chicago Bears Network production. Download the Chicago Bears Official Act. Brought to you by Verizon to follow the team on the go. Bears Weekly is brought to you by Advocate Healthcare, Athletico Physical Therapy, Beth Rivers, cd W, Connie's Pizza by Gens Energy, and
Miller Life. Here are your hosts, Jeff Chiloniac aka the Mayor of Bearsville and his sidekicked Tom the Surfask there, a.
New day is done.
We've got some perspective and where the off season will begin and where the off season will end. A lot will transpire from now until the start of the regular season in twenty twenty.
Four, but we'll try and capture it all. Here you on Bears Weekly.
I'm Jeff Joniack, Longway broadcast partner on the radio. Super Bowl Bear winning guard Tom Fair. Jim will rejoin the festivities now here in the offseason from Serious Sex MNFL Radios moving the chains thanks to our producers. Jordan tread Up, Dan Burrilly from the Bears tonight to the ESPN one thousand studios.
We have Jack McGrath and Sean Greeney.
Executive producer of the Bears Radio Network is Eric Ostrowski, and we're all batting down the hatches, getting ready for the biggest snow in three years in Chicago. We welcome in my partners Tom and Jim Thayer. How are you feeling, Buddy.
Big Jeff, I'm a weather worrier.
I always have been my whole life. I always have concerns. My dad worked for Kamweal Medison for forty three years, and the worst the weather got, the more he got called out the work. So still kind of pay attention to it, just like I pay attention to everything that's going around in the NFL, and you take everything into consideration, what's happened in the last couple days, who's coming, and
who's going. The Bears will still be the most talked about franchise throughout the offseason because of their draft position and players.
Right and the assets to do it financially as well.
Jim, good to talk to you once again. Thanks for being here. You'll be here the.
Rest of the offseason with us, So a lot to dive into and you're the man to do it. You talk about it on the radio on Serious XMNFL Radio's Move the Chains every single day. Your perspective on what you heard at Havishaw yesterday from the big three at the podium, that would be Kevin Warren, Ryan Poles, and Matty Reerflues.
Yeah, I think you know strides were made in twenty twenty three. Their record reflects it. Maybe could have had one or two more that maybe lets slip away. But I do think you see improvement and why coachib Reflues will be back. You never saw any finger pointing whatsoever
from the players on the field. I think the players played with a lot of effort, played with a lot of toughness, certainly did improve, especially defensively in the second half of the season, and really like that secondary and how those young players are really coming along and they've done a nice job developed be these players. And so I think Ryan Poles laid it out perfect. You know, they have everything in front of them. You know, the
improvement that he's looking to see is out there. As Tom mentioned, they'll be at the epicenter of the NFL draft and have decisions to make and they'll go continue their evaluations on this team that will decide what direction they're going to go in at many different positions.
And a big thing is support. You got to have it in order to move forward. And Ryan Poles, as he reiterated yesterday, has it from Kevin Warren and Chairman George Hallis McCaskey.
One of the things that I'll never forget is reflecting in the middle of the year on a trade that didn't go well for me. I was bummed about it, took ownership of it. I always have a decision log that I go through and talk about, you know what I can do better, and we met on that and they both supported me in terms of saying, keep shooting your shot.
Man.
If you if you put your your log together, you're hitting those boxes that it feels right and it's gonna help our team.
Keep shooting your shot.
And for a decision maker to have that type of support is incredible.
Well, you have to Tom and Jim.
You have to Tommy, And that shot then became Montest sweat.
Yeah, you know, I'm glad he's got the support of the higher ups behind him, because you got to have that. You have to have the confidence that the work you're doing behind the scenes it can pay off. And if you have the support of the front office and all the guys in charge, it makes all your work worth it.
And then it also takes all the scouts that you take into account that are doing the investigated work on their behalf, that those guys are complimented by some of the effort that they put into it and the results they see.
Jim, the worst thing you can do is tie the hands of a GM. He's got to he's got to trust his instincts and you.
Got to give him that. You got to give him that wiggle room man a little rope to do it.
Yeah, And obviously pulling off that trade for Montes Swat is a huge get. That is a blue chip player, and I think nobody can deny the impact he had for the Chicago Bears. And I just think yesterday's press coverence, you know, speaking highly of Jalen Johnson, and you know, I happened to be a voter for the All Pro. I voted Jalen Johnson in All Pro. You know, I thought he played that well. And he certainly doesn't want blue chip players out of the building. So whether that's
a franchise tag. Whether they can come to an agreement on a long term contract, it sounds like that's going to be something that's in the work. So I think overall, like we said, they are improved football team that are going to continue looking to improve moving forward.
Johnson Pro Football focus is best coverage defender this year at the cornerback position thirty three point three quarterback rating one hundred ninety five yards. It got better as the season went on. Tommy and that ball production, which is critical. And yes, Ryan was pretty affirmative, and yes, we will work something out. The price definitely went up, but we'll work something out.
You know.
I think when you look at all the defensive players, it's kind of a tail of two seasons. Before Montes Sweat got here, they weren't putting a lot of pressure on the opponent's quarterback.
They were getting development out of TJ.
Edwards and Tremaine Edmonds that really helped the overall performance of the back end of the defense. But when you got the evolution and the continuous development of Javon Dexter Senior and Zach Pickens to mix with the veteran group they had, and then you got Montest Sweat.
Everything came together.
And so when you talk about a cornerback and their performance and they're great and everything. When you go from little pressure on the opponent's quarterback and you're still playing a good brand of football to pressure on the quarterback and now you start converting that into interceptions, turnovers all around the back end of the defense, I think it's complementary to their performance.
Yeah, plus twelve at late in the season, turnerover differential, here's polls on sweat yesterday.
A multiplayer like a multiplayer on the field.
But you know, again, we were doing extit interviews and talking to our guys throughout the year.
He helped that entire defense.
I think when you add players like that, all of a sudden, I think you could kind of see everyone had a little bit more.
Swagger to him, and I think it affected the back end. You saw the interceptions go up. He saw us one more games.
So really good of the test effect there, So really proud of that one. And great human being too.
Yeah, you know, getting to know him a little bit, he is excited to be here. He felt comfortable, and I do think that this team in part because of that trade Jim, this team stayed together and got really motivated together to.
Get this thing going in the right direction.
Uh.
That made a huge difference.
Still near the bottom of the league overall in sack for pass play, that kind of production, but guys such as Justin Jones had a best year tackles for loss. It started a zoom, DeMarcus Walker had a very nice solid season. His numbers zoomed, and Gervon Dexter Senior also benefited from Monte Sweats presence in the locker room and presence on the field.
Jim.
Yeah, I like the fact that, you know, most teams they won't negotiate with players during the year, like the Steelers, they just won't do it. But you look at you know, re signing Andrew Billings, who was a key component, you know, in their ability to stop the run. So getting an extension done there. I just think that the development of young players is huge. Tyrek Stevenson, I know you probably got the numbers, Cheff. I guarantee you he was up there in his PFF numbers and how he performed.
Oh, it came on strong, and you know he finished sixteen pass breakups, tied for fifth in the NFL and that granted he would listen, let's not get ourselves.
They targeted him and we knew they would, and every team tried it.
But as the season war on, he started making plays on the ball, taking the ball away. Ferocious tackler Tom We talked about them from the time training camp started. Jim, you were at training camp. You saw flashes of it very early in the start of training camp. I never thought that the guy is confident, I mean super confident. Put up some really good numbers fellas.
Yeah, I mean I think he's the most physical defensive back that the Bears have if you look at his tackling ability, his fundamental approach, how physical he is and when he has the contact. I like everything that I've seen about Tyreek Stevenson. He's got a great attitude. And again, I think when you look at the cornerback position, it's one of the most difficult positions to find talented guys. And for Ryan Poles to go out and find two of them in the same draft, it's you know, high compliments.
To Ryan, right, that would be Terrell Smith as well Cader Gordon the year before. And Jim, you heard coach yesterday say you can't have enough corners, you can't have enough defensive lineman, you can't have enough corners, And he is exactly right on it.
Yeah, I think I think it's money in the bank. They've invested solidly in the in the defensive side of the ball, and they want to keep that group together. I mean, look at how they jumped this year and where it can go. I just saw a confident team out there. It just seemed like after a while second, you know, once you start making big plays, they come
in bunches because it's like, you know, it's infectious. Everybody wants to get in on the party, right, and that seemed to be the case for the Bears defensively, where they really you know, form themselves an identity. I think
it improved every single week. Probably not the best tackling game the final week of the season against Green Bay, but you know, they still only gave up seventeen points and gave him a puncher's chance defensively, But that is really the face of this team that they probably want to bring back and now focus on the offensive side of the ball and get that up to snuff and on par with where they want to be offensively.
Heck, we made it through the first segment of the show. We haven't even touched the quarterback position. You would think that is always going to be first and foremost. We have plenty of time to dive into that big gym and Tom, thanks.
For being with us, everybody here on Bears Weekly.
Coming up next, we will dip into Matt Eberflus's thoughts along with Ryan Poles later in the program, Kevin Warren on key topics from stadium to the first round, pick the number one overall pick, the future of Justin Fields, and who might be the Bears offensive coordinator moving forward?
So all coming up.
Next here on Bears Weekly on the ESPN one thousand and the Bears Radio Network.
This is Bears Weekly with a voice of the Bears for twenty three years, Jeff Jonyak on the Bears Radio Network.
And this second of Bears Weekly is brought to you by Igs Energy, Jeff Joning acton Beaher, and Jim Miller all the sweet sounds of a Jim Miller, the Formber Bears starting quarterback in that two thousand and one season. I know you played everywhere, but I got to give you your props. Buddy, you get in the car, you drive to Chicago every week of the season, and you.
Go on Marquee, you do the three and post game and you help us out and we appreciate you. Buddy.
Well, hey, I enjoy it. I love covering the Bears near and dear to my heart and then desperately want them to do well. So you know, keep an everfluce on board. Again. I just I like how the team doesn't quit. I like the effort the team shows. So when we'll see where it goes. And they've got this plan laid out, and I think they're gonna see this plan through.
All right.
Let's talk offensive coordinator, and people are throwing names out there at whom they could be interested in. That doesn't mean they are. You're gonna read a lot, you're gonna hear a lot. One of those individuals. Shane Waldron, Seattle's offensive coordinator, is somebody they may be ready to interview, according to report. So, Jim, you're the man who played the position. You're the man who took the signals and
the play coffs from coordinators your entire career. What might fit best with the Bears, regardless of who plays quarterback?
You have to consider the fact that Justin is.
Here, could stay here, they could look and get a quarterback in the draft, or they could have both here. Everything's on the table, is indicated yesterday by Ryan Poles.
Yeah and yeah, I do like that. The style of offense. Obviously, Shane Waldron comes from the background of Sean So obviously when you look at Kyle Shanahan and that style of offense, it's a run, play action offense. Obviously, Pete Carroll want to focus on running the football, so why they drafted the Zach Charbonney and of course Kenneth Walker a year prior. So Shane comes highly regarded. I think you'll hear a lot about Slowick from the Houston Texans. Obviously, the job
he did with the young quarterback down there in CJ. Stroud, Frank Smith, A lot of people have thrown his name out there. He's under Mike McDaniel down there for the Miami Dolphins tonight. I know people have talked about Greg Roman, obviously, the style of offense with to incorporate Justin's ability to run the football. He's had a ton of success in Baltimore. Think about they fired Greg Roman and in his offense, Lamar Jackson was forty six and seventeen, Okay, a lot
of wins. So yeah, there's names out there, and you know, I know Ryan Poles and they're going to continue to go through and a value everything on Justin. And I do agree with with Ryan. I think everything was much better from Justin fields, but I think it's got to be more consistent.
Now.
Is that that consistency is it adding more players around him, whether it's offensive lineman, you got talents, receivers coming out of Ohio State. We'll get into all that and see where it goes. But I just don't get from the fan aspect of it, you can have both worlds. You
can keep Justin and still draft another quarterback. I just it just seems like it's got to be either or you know, like Justin's got to be gone and trade him and draft a guy or you know, but just doesn't seem you know, that seems to be the case. And how it has to be that way go back to if you look at the LA Charters, they had Drew Brees, They drafted Philip Rivers and Drew Brees played two years. They actually franchised him, franchise tag Drew Brees why they had Philip Rivers. So it's not out of
the stretch of the imagination that both can happen. And we'll see where the evotuation's go and where it takes them.
Tom My perspective for my two cents forth. But you guys played the game, you know it a heck of a lot better than I like. I would like something that can continues to be no matter who plays quarterbacks, something that builds off the run game and still has that value of the run game. And so yes, Waldron is that type of guy for sure, like to run after the catch guys in his offense.
A really smart guy.
He's worked with even Bill Belichick, so he's had a lot to work with.
But I'm not I'm not.
I want somebody with experience calm plays because some of the new bloods that come in or have a tie to some of these really successful they don't call plays. You know, they may be a past game coordinator or run game coordinator or and who maybe I just I just hope it's somebody would experience.
Yeah, I mean, there's so many things that I'm thinking about. It's the difficulty of learning an entire new language for Justin for maybe the fifth or sixth time in his career. Just the whole idea of how long that takes when you're talking about teaching it to thirty something guys, when you have all the guys from the offensive side of the ball, including the new coaches that are going to come aboard, and then more consistency from.
The passing game out of Justine Listen.
I think the running game is always going to be a staple in Chicago no matter who's comes in who brings in the system, because they're not hiring Mouse Davis to come in and bring in the run and shoot. They're going to bring into something how to compliment the conditions that they play in in the division and in soldier fields specifically.
So I think.
There's a lot on the table, and you know you have to when you think about the quarterback position, I think you have to take into account the development of the quarterback position in Green Bay over the last thirty years.
Are they showing the template of quarter back success when they have a quarterback of board who they really like, is a Hall of Famer All Pro and they still draft a quarterback that they know they're not going to put in the put him in immediately and allow him to grow and develop and sprout his wings in the.
NFL and have that type of development.
So, like Jim says, it's not a foregone conclusion that everybody's got to go. I mean, they could bring in new bodies and create a competitive atmosphere. And don't forget about Tyson Bagen because I think he's also a guy that is a good compliment to the quarterback position and
I think he'll work well. But you know, you got to try to develop a quarterback that's playoff ready from the first time they step on the field, and with a new offensive coordinator and justin stepping on the field, it would be a first time opportunity for him.
Again here here's how Poles looked at it when he was asked yesterday.
I was looking at fields and that first overall pick.
Obviously, you want to have somebody that's a great teacher.
This is Matt oh.
I think that's important because you know he has to coach the coaches to coach the position.
I think that's the number one trait of any great coach.
You know, you have to be able to have the innovation to really look at the players that you have and be able to help enhance and put those guys in position to succeed and to get explosives and to move the ball down the field.
So that right there, I think is the most important thing.
The teacher part of it, and then the innovation part of it, and the creativity I think is.
Going to be the biggest part.
All right.
So, Jim, that's talking about about the OC and what he was looking for, and that can apply also to a defensive coach. That's going to help him if he chooses to continue calling plays and and everybody wants a teacher, Jim, everybody does, right.
Well, yeah, I think as a player, that's that's how you judge a coach. Are they making me better? You know, I don't think a player he doesn't care about whether he's been a former player or never played the game. Are they making me a better player? It's interesting. I was talking about that to Dante Scarnekia today as it relates to to Bill Belichick, and you do feel that, you know, that's all player cares about, you know, no matter who they decide. Yeah, you got to feature the players.
And that's why Shane has been probably brought up and why they're bringing him in. Look how he featured Walker his rookie year there for out of Michigan State, and how he performed as a Seattle Seahawk. Look at the numbers of Tyler Lockett and look how well he did with Gino Smith and so you know, all those things factor and I will say, if it is a guy like Shane Waldron, because again he's coming from McVeigh who we know Lafleur comes from that McVeigh system as well,
there's gonna be a lot of carryover. There's gonna be a lot of carryover in the offense for Justin and so and so you wouldn't be, you know, taking a step back where you can stunt the growth growth of young quarterbacks, whether it's Bagen or a guy like Justin Fields who has had the learn you know, basically three offenses in four years.
So it won't be.
As bad as a hit as what I'd say to that ankle on.
It, Jim, I got a question for you, and I don't know this, and forgive me for not knowing this. Throughout the course of your career, did you ever play with the listening device in your helmet?
Answering me that question, yes.
Or no, Yes, I did.
Okay, So did you think that expedites the ability for a quarterback to play because of that listening device in your helmet and you're not spending countless hours in memor memorization periods when they're installing the run to the past the short yardage and goal line.
Yeah, I think it expedites everything because before you'd have to turn to the turn to the sideline, and you have to decipher signals, you know, so I wright you know, they'd hold up the right arm. Then they got to text you in the running play or the past protection and then the past play. So it became more lengthy when you did it, when you got signals from the sideline.
So yeah, And if you're already you know in the moment of your game plan and how much you study your game plan, I'm gonna know by the down and distance what the play's gonna be. So say it's third and five in our first third and five in the game, I already know going into the game, all right, our first third and five, we know that we're doing this,
So I don't even need to hear the play. I know what it is because I know what we've discussed all week and you just kind of go and it speeds everything up that way.
Well, that's something I always thought because I just remember cornerbacks before the listening device, how much time they spent.
In memorization periods, whether they were just learning the terminology of the play that's gonna be called, and then you have to learn the series of signals that you're gonna get.
And so when you think about a new offensive coordinator coming in, you think about them going through OTAs and then the training camp periods and then before the start of the regular season, how many times that that new offenseve coordinator can call that play into the helmet of the quarterback. It becomes more familiar with the language at a faster rate.
Yeah, definitely definitely helps. And normally, again, but when they send in a personnel grouping and buy down in distance, I know it's probably gonna be one of five plays that I that I can you know that I've I've already studied, and I know when you're so in tune with the game plan that you're already thinking, like your coach has talked you through the game plan of what you're trying to execute. So you should be ahead of the game from that standpoint.
That's Jim Miller, Top Bear, Jeff, Jonny Ack. We're gonna take another the break here on Bears Weekly. More of Ryan Poles and Maddie Refolus coming up next and say look at their thoughts on what's ahead for the Bears here in twenty twenty four on Bears Weekly and he SPN one thousand of the Bears Radio Network.
Is Bears Weekly with a voice of the Bears for twenty three years. Jeff on the Bears Radio Network.
Yeah, you want to be at be access to every Bear's a home game, exclusive seating, sideline credentious and more now available. And get the ultimate vid fan package this season our next season as it were my visiting Chicago Bears vip dot Com Jeff, Jim and Tom Fayer. More sound from yesterday's hour and a half news conference about forty five to fifty minutes for Ryan Poles and the rest from Kevin Warren Poles. And I was looking at fields and the first overall pick in the draft.
I'll actually go back to last year, you know, and I got to stay open minded about it, but I really not to use the same pool but I want to say it needs to be blown away. It's it's the same stetup because you know, seeing the things that Justin did this year, his ability to make plays. Coach talked about some of those improvements, keeping his eyes down the field, taking less acts, see a lot of growth there where he can continue to get better.
So I'll have the same mindset.
Someone needs to really show that they, you know, can and it's not just a film like I need the person like.
There's a whole process here that we have to figure out. But what we're gonna do is do what's best for the organization.
I'm sure there's going to be similar situations in terms of the trade back, and I got to weigh all of those things to see what's going to help our team take the next step.
And Tom they talked about how long this might take if he wants to make some kind of decision, because I might take it all the way up to April.
Yeah, you might.
But I think if you get an offensive coordinator, you'd like to get them in place as quickly as possible because one thing an offensive coordinator that if he knows football that well, he's going to have a chance to look at every single offensive snap throughout the season and maybe even going back to watching some practices in preparation to do an evaluation of the talent pool that they
have here. And so you would like to get that person on board to maybe help convince talk to Ryan and Kevin and Matt about what they're thinking about quarterback development, where they need to go at the position.
And how it can be a factor and how it can affect his offensive thinking.
Hey, Jim, In general, I've always felt offensive coordinators they have their mind pretty much set on one direction and they're hard to sway in many others. That's a good thing and a bad thing at times. I believe good thing because you got to believe in what you believe and you got to stand on that and you roll
with it because it's where you got yourself to. But at the same time, I'd like a guy to have a bit of an open mind and listen to assistants and listen to some new ways to do the same thing. Where are you at on an offensive coordinator's mindset, not just about players, but just philosophies and how to use personnel.
Yeah, it's one thing to talk about scheme, but that's why I always bring up ron Erhart. You know, his offense has been in numerous Super Bowls, probably more than any offense in the NFL.
It's the one that.
The Patriots currently use today, all right. So it's very flexible at gearing the offense to the players that are the key players. Like I mentioned, the one year was very Foster was our key player and we've fed the run game. One year Eric Green, it was an incredible tight end. You know, he led our team in receptions with sixty five. And then Eric Green had some issues and then Yancey Thigpen was brought into the mix and
they incorporated the Yancy Thigpen where he was featured. And obviously when drafting slash, Cordell Stewart had the slash role in vented. So it was very flexible in order to feature, you know, key players that are big time players, because that's where you want to focus on, and every offense should be flexible that way for that very reason to feature weapons, whether that's DJ Moore or Cole Comet or the running backs that the Bears currently have, and obviously
Justin's talents as well. So I think you always got to have an open mind if you're an offensive coordinator, because you've got you know, if you've got weapons to feature. How do I incorporate all these weapons? How do I get them all out there so that the you know, this offense can be tough to defend.
What branch of the famous offensive minds was airhout from He was unique.
Every offensive numbering system is based on Ron Earhart. But guys who were behind him are like the great Tom Moore, him, Tom Moore, Bruce Arians. Those guys were like thicke as thieves. They were in Pittsburgh at one time together.
Tom, go ahead, how about you what branch? When you played?
Listen, it was more of a run game emphasis.
When I played, I didn't think they got super creative with the passing game until you know, I guess Eric Coriel and uh, you know those.
Types of guys.
But I think when you go back and you look at it, from Franco Harris to Walter Payton to Earl Campbell, you know, Pete Johnson to all the great running Tony dor said, it was a run ephesis type of influence.
To every offense.
When I first got involved and I watched the transition when they tried to incorporate guys like I mentioned earlier Mouse Davis and then they had the k gun up in Buffalo, and you know the different types of offenses.
In college that they had at BYU. So there's a lot of them.
But it always seems like the running game was always the staple of any successful offense and you needed to do that well to incorporate everything else.
Here's Ryan Poules on how field presence impacts who may be hired for offensive coordinator.
Yeah.
I got a lot of faith in the process that we're going to get kicked off in terms of funding the right fit, and we talked about it a little bit. But the ability to be adaptable to the talent that you have is critical. I think Matt hit it and we saw it across the league. There's some teams that actually got better with some a lot of changes. If you don't have the ability to adapt that adjust to the talent that you have at that position, it makes it really hard.
So that's going to be a part of our process. And as you look at the quarterback decision you have to make. Is there a world where you can draft.
A quarterback with the number one pick justin or you of the belief that that's a non temple situation that would have to be one.
Of the other.
So my brain has gone crazy all year just thinking about the just a million different scenarios.
But I'm sure that's that's one of them.
I'll just stay very wide open with the different paths that we can go and as we collect information, if that closed, you know, closes some of those those pathways down, and then we'll.
Do that to the other ones. But I'm gonna be wide open about this.
And here's Matt eberflush on what he wants the offense to be.
Yeah, I think you have to have identity for sure, but you also have to be able to adjust.
You know, you have to be.
Able to stand on something. You know, run of the football is one of them. And I also think that being adjustable and adaptable is another one. You know, getting the explosives, which I think you know was referred to there is obviously how you score points.
That's how you score points.
And again we're gonna have to continue to grow that way.
Yeah, Hey, Jim, Tom Fellas, we're all speaking the same language here. I'm hearing the same things independently of what they had to say at the podium yesterday and it's how you guys are thinking about the game.
Jim, Yeah, well, I think you know that identity of running the ball is important. You know, look at the you know, look at Cleveland even without Nick Chubb and how well they've ran the football this year, right, key player that they lose, and they lost four out of five offensive linemen. But pretty creative guy. When you look at Kevin Stefanski and Bill Callahan, who's a good offensive line coach, and how they were able to run the ball.
You know, now they're featuring Joe Flacco a little bit more. Last four games Cleveland, they've thrown for over three hundred the last three games. So that's kind of adjusting to the talent is when i'd say for the for the Cleveland Browns. So numerous examples out there, and you know, they need more balance. I think we're aware of that.
They do need more explosives because there are you know, quick scoring plays and change of direction and all those type of things that can happen that they want to incorporate to be a feared offense in the NFL. And we'll see if they can get to that point.
You know, Jeff, when I look around the NFL, and I'll look talking specifically about Green Bay and when they've gone through the Hall of Fame quarterbacks they've had. You take Aaron Rodgers out of the mix, or you have him on the team. The second most important player on that team is Aaron Jones because everything that he can offer you, from the running game to the running back
passing game, is a major influence on their offense. So you can have Hall of Fame talent at quarterback, but unless you have that influential running back, I think it's hard to have the overall development of the different schematic portions of an offense that you need for its effectiveness.
All Right, we're gonna take another break here.
Segment four coming up, we'll hear a little bit more from Poles and eber Flus, and then in our final segment tonight all Kevin Warren in his thoughts about the direction of the franchise, the stadium, talking all that. It's all coming up ahead here on Bears Weekly out of ESPN one thousands radio network.
This is Bears Weekly with the voice of the Bears for twenty three years, Jeff Jonyak on the Bears Radio Network.
This segment of Bears Weekly, brought to you by Athletico Physical Therapy is at Athletico Don comer a question in clinic or virtual appointment to start feeling better Tomorrow.
Jeff and Tom and Jim Miller from Serious X and NFL Radio's moving to Chains.
Looking at the press conference yesterday up at Hallis saw Is. The off season is officially underway and the planning is going on. Here's Matt eberflu somebody's looking for in new coordinators and that may include a defensive coordinator addition, certainly somebody to help him out even if he chooses to continue to call play.
I'm really looking just to enhance the staff, you know, and it's got to be a good fit. But you're looking for an all star staff on both sides, and you know, dynamic guys that can take from the classrooms to the drill work and then really put that on the on the field. That position is going to be tying that together, you know, of course, you know, and working with me to do that as well. But it's important that we find the right person that has you know, great character.
You know, that's a that's a great.
Motivator and it can be in front of the room when I'm not in there, when I'm with the offense or preparing for, you know, something else and working inother other areas of the building.
But that's an important piece to.
It, and certainly Matt being in the NFL a long time as many different connections. As we take a look at what he thought were positives this season, here's aber some things that.
I'm proud of this year in terms of just statistically, you know, the rush offense continue to really shine. It was fourth in the league, you know, the last eight games, you know, so the last back half of the season, you know, and then the interceptions, the interceptions were down to the.
Last half of the season. You know. That was really good to see that.
Something we emphasized with Justin you know, that in the sack total, and he did a really good job of doing that. Defensively the last eight games, first in the league and scoring defense.
That was really good to see the guys come together that way.
We were fifth in the league and rush defense the last eight the quarterback rating the QBR, we were first in the laitue.
So that's really proud of that.
And also the interceptions and the interception and the ball Hawking that our defense displayed was really good.
And then what's the most important that as a turnover march?
How do we go five and three in the last eight that was really the turnover marchin right, it's plus twelve, Right, that's second in the NFL during that time.
So those are all winning ways.
I talked to the players about that, and that's what they are, and that's that's proof and progress.
That we've done a good job there. And then there's some individual performances.
Of course, Cairo had a great year, DJ Cole, TJ Edwards, main, all those guys had great years, Jalen you know. So there's a lot of guys that had really good performances there to really help us going into the future.
And those are things he's always going to emphasize. Tom He is going to emphasize the positives even in the in the face of losses. That's well, that will be matty reflush and that's what he talks about with his team in addition to going through things that need to.
Be worked on.
Yeah, it's disappointed I didn't hear Darnell right, Braxton Jones ten, Oh, that's coming, and that's coming because listen if you're not talking, if you're talking about team development in the back half of the season, and you're not including some of the younger offensive linemans that you have aboard, then I think.
That you have a bigger hole to fill.
And I do think there's a new a couple new offensive linemen that need to be brought aboard and going forward for seventeen game stretch of success, it's going to take every component.
That you have on a team.
You know, Jim, you know it's coming.
Ryan Pole's going to talk about Darnell Right and Braxton Jones here in a minute.
But yeah, we'll get We'll get Toms offensive lineman.
Well, I mean, yeah, you got to be excited for Darnell Wright and you know the young lineman that got in there and participated in Some guys had to be thrown in there.
Right.
It was unsettled for you know, long stretch of the season towards the middle, when they kind of hit their stride, I think for the for the Bears offensive line. But yeah, a lot to like, they have a lot of improvement to do on that side of the ball. I think everybody's aware of that. But you know, when you look at Roshan Johnson started to mix him in later in
the years. He had some positive things that happened from his standpoint, and you know, I think there are some silver linings of what they can do and where they can go with this offense. And we'll see where it settles with the offense quarter, because that's got to be the first domino to fall.
Here's Paul's on right, Darneld that I'll send him job.
You know, he continues to work on this technique.
I think once he closed that gap, you know, the technique gap and the consistency of using the right techniques versus the right players. There's a rollerdecks that you got to build out in terms of the pass rushers that you go against because they all have different stuff. So once he starts putting that together, you're gonna see a really good player. He's out there right now, you know, as a rookie, he's out there just using his natural ability and in a lot of games that was good enough.
But there were some games and some reps where it wasn't good enough. And he's got to continue to get better. And I know he's gonna put the time in, but he's made it the right stuff. He's tough, he's strong, like all of those core pieces are gonna allow him to build off of that, and I think we are really good.
And here's Braxton Jones.
Yeah, I thought Brexton did a good job. Obviously, he got a little dinged up. That was the first time he's missed a game. He did a nice job. He continues to get better. I was proud of the progress. He spent a lot of time with ol in this offseason just working on his anchor, and I thought you saw improvements there.
I do believe it is starting left tackle.
But if it comes down to a situation where we increase competition then and that's what's best for us, then we'll do that.
But I'm proud of Brexit last year. The number one at this time. Let you not go number one because some small field stuff.
I was a run on. Sorry about that. Go ahead, Tommy, Well, you know, I think.
Both of those guys they have to invest a lot of time in the weight room, and I think that's got to be the thing that offensive lineman take most in the consideration in the offseason, because we're not going to ask you to run a five four, five forty, but we are going to ask you to try to bench five hundred pounds with those types of body weights, and how much strength is confidence on the field.
Kevin Warren's comments coming up next in our final segment here on Bears Weekly on ESPN one thousand and the Bears Radio Network.
Excuss Bears Weekly with a voice of the Bears for twenty three years Jeff on the Bears Radio Network.
Well, this segment of Bears Weekly brought to you by CDW people to get it, Jeff, Joni, Ktom Thayer, and Jim Miller from Serious x MNFL Radio is moving to chains a team. President and CEO Kevin Warren likes what has been accomplished where it's headed as well.
And look at the progress that we've made.
And so once you feel like, yes, you're not where you want to be, We're not where we're going to be, but we're pointed in the right direction. And the key is having the right places, I mean the right people in the right places, doing the right things at the right time for the right reasons. And that's what I'm focused on. So this is reminiscent of the process that
we went through in Saint Louis. It's reminiscent of the process we went through in Minnesota, you know, six and ten, eight and eight, ten and six, twelve and four, And there were many times that we were meetings and that we would say, we're not making enough progress too quickly, and we would have to take a step back and say, but are we on the right track?
Do we have the right people, and are we focused on the right things?
And as I sit here today, unequivocally I believe that we have the right set of individuals. And my expectations going into this season are extremely high. They're always the same that we need to win the NFC North. That's where we should be, and so we're going to do everything we possibly can to make sure that that's not a word of hope, but it also is reality and we and it starts with making sure you have the right culture, but it also starts with making sure you
get really good players in here. And I think everyone would attest to the fact that the acquisitions that we made last year in the draft and in free agency is really positive. And I'll tell you this, having rookies playing, that's one of the things that impressed me about Matt. Many coaches will not play rookies or they shy away from it. But having those rookies played, you saw toward the end of the year that is going to play major dividends not only next year but also into the future.
Yeah, you know, playing rookies is important.
And I think bringing in alpha males like DJ Moore and like Montes sweat and I think Darnell Wright has that ability to morph into that one of those veteran type A personalities. And I think it's important when your pursuit is to make sure that you win the division to get yourself into the playoffs. And I'm glad Kevin brought that up as a point of ephesis, because if you shy away from anything other than that being your goal, it's just, you know, it's not really what you're in the sport for.
Jim, Yeah, it's money in the bank.
Playing all those rookies, it really is. You need about nine blue chip players on your team, you know, So I'd say Sweat, Jalen Johnson, TJ. Edwards I think is a blue chip player. Obviously DJ Moore is a blue chip player. And we'll see where it goes with those young players like a Tyreek Stevenson and brisker where he continues to grow. And so the getting those blue chip players and developing these players in the blue chip players. So that's money in the bank when you're logging that
many snaps from a rookie class. They did it last year, and they did it this year, and they've got better as a team.
I love his enthusiasm for this position, his outlook and where it's going. And then, of course the timeline for a new stadium. Options remain Arlington Heights and the city of Chicago.
Ideally, you know, just from the way the market is, you know, the longer you wait, the more expensive it is of building any project. So I'm make sure I'm focused on not rushing, but making sure that we're deliberate in that stadium process because you know, truly in that world, time is money. And I've said it all along, is at the moment that a shovel goes in the ground, I'm confident that we will be able to have a building to play in thirty six months after that happens.
It'd be exciting, can't wait.
It's ambitious, it's ambitiously you know, when you consider a snowstorm like what we're on the cusp of coming in and that being part of the thirty six months. I'm excited to hear it though. And that's kind of the time frame that I would like to I would like to be a part of.
And he wants it to be a model franchise gym, not just down the field but in business.
Yeah, and it needs to be. But Tom, I got to correct it. The frost laws don't come off and until normally April, so that's when the shovel goes in the ground just for building backgrounds laws.
Never heard of it.
They're called frost laws.
Yes.
Oh wow, that's interesting.
Boy, you learned something every time you turn Jim Miller or it's not there. Hey, we're out of time, fellows, we got to run. Thanks as always for you guys. We'll talk to you next week, Big Jim. For Tom, I'm Jeff. This has been Bears Weekly. Thanks to our producers and coming up next Black and of Dalla take you the rest of the way this evening.
Enjoy the show.
We'll talk to you next week on Bears Weekly out a ESPN one thousand and the Bears Radio Network.
Thank you for.
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