Gipson Sr talks 2021 defensive outlook | All Access

Tom Thayer and Anthony Herren. There'll be my teammates for the next fifty seven minutes as we get it right close to training camp, just around the corner, as the players are prepared to report the training camp. A lot

of excitement about the Chicago Bears football team. Eddie Goldman willing the defunch playoff to snuff, so that's going to be interesting there No Matt Naggie was in the news this week talking about the number of carries they want to give their star running back at David Monco Race. We'll get into that plus as well as the show rolls along, we're gonna be joined by Bears safety to Shawn Gibson obviously resigned a one year deal for the Bears.

Thought he was a bright spot in that secondary sixteen game, sixteen starts, two interceptions, seven passes, defense than sixty six total tackle, so played with a lot of passion for the Chicago Bears. Good to see him in the mix for Chicago here in twenty twenty one. So what I'll further Ado, I'm gonna welcome in my co host. We're gonna talk all things Bears and we'll talk to Deshaun Gibson about six thirty pm Eastern time. So let's welcome in Anthony Heron and Tom Thayer get their thoughts on

Bears as they're about to report to training camp. Anthony, Tom, good to talk to you guys. Anthony, I'll start with you. It's been too long, buddy. I hope your summer is going well and how you feel about this Bears club as training camps about to kick off. Yeah, Jim, productive summer so far, and I think a lot of folks around the National Football League are hoping that their team has done the right thing, and Bears fans hoping that everything that's so exciting coming out of the draft will

now be showcase on the field. Really, just days away from the opening of training camps, you kind of feel that juice, that energy is starting to pick up with folks really looking forward to seeing what not only justin fields, but this entire bars squad is going to bring to the table. Man, I can't wait, Jim Good to talk

to both of you guys. I think, you know, there's a different plot in my mind also as the season approaches, because you know, you have a lot of the elements that you take into consideration from last year and then you got to kind of fast forward and think about

this year. And I kind of have a thought that I've been thinking about during the course of the week that I'd like to bring up to both of you guys and see how you feel about it, Jim and Anthony, because when you start looking at the preseason and you start to talk about the distribution of reps, I start thinking about the three preseason games, and to me, I would almost like to see all the players, including the veterans, have a lot more reps in the preseason game, even

if that takes away some reps in the in the practices, because I think the element of speed, you have to be up and ready to go by the time the first game gets here and now with only three preseason games. All right, if you want to pull back a little bit, you want to give him a veteran day, then give it during the course of the week of practice, because you're really only going about seventy to eighty percent anyways. And so I would like to think to have these

guys ready to go at a faster pace earlier. I would like to see more reps, more game reps given to these guys during the preseason games. And I'd like to get both of your thoughts and see what you think about that. Yeah, your thoughts, Anthony on his question there. I was really excited, guys two years ago when coach Nagy was going throughout the offseason program and as the preseason was approaching, and you know, we were kind of thinking, how's he going to handle things at this point, how's

he gonna split reps? And then we saw him use a similar approach to what he did in his first season coaching the Bears, when you really didn't get a lot of work for the starters during that phase. And then last offseason, you know, before everything had really truly materialized with the pandemic and we were still anticipating some preseason games being played early in the year he announced it.

He told everyone, the assembled media, everyone covering the Bears, everyone looking forward to it, Guys like us who you know, I'm confident all three of us were kind of hoping that the starters were going to see more action, and that was his plan going into last preseason, and of course, for ab yeous reasons, wasn't able to materialize. So I'm happy to hear that Matt Naggie has the same plan for this coming preseason that he would have implemented last year,

where we'll see more work from the starters. I think, to your point time, I'm curious how much is going to be more, because you know what I mean, Andy Reid, he's been at this for a long time, and of course that's who Matt Naggie most notably studied under in his time in the NFL before getting the big whistle with the Bears here, and Andy Reid doesn't necessarily shy away from letting guys get reps, letting guys get a

little contact out there. Obviously there's certain individuals who get a little bubble wrapping there exempt for good reason, but it's not like game. The reasons getting guys on and off the field in ninety minutes every time they take the practice field, and I think for coach Nagie that that's gonna be. I would imagine a bit of the wrestling match for him, because his sensibilities we've seen up to this point have been to make sure that he

is prioritizing health, prioritizing safety, and that's great. But for this team and especially this offense, to get as much as they can out of each other, not I really shouldn't shy away from including the defense in that. With Sean Dasai coming over to that side of the ball and running things as well. There's a lot of prominent players who I think will be at their best if they do get some work during the preseason, certainly more

than we've seen them getting years passed under coach Nagie. Well, I think that the nflpa's not going to be happy about what I'm gonna say right now. I think teams should should really schedule more of those inner squad scrimmages for all the things that you guys both just mentioned that because at least there you can script them as a coach. So if you want to get time, you know, if you want to do an active goal line period.

You know, in a preseason game, a goal line situation may not arise, right, it may not even happen if your team doesn't get down there. But in those inter squads scrimmages, and for the Bears fans out there, the Bears will be scrimmaging the Miami Dolphins prior to the preseason game that will be August eleventh. In August twelve, you know, think of coach flores from the Miami Dolphins in Matt Naggi, Hey, these are the areas we need to work on. We need to hit more red zone

or let's let's take this blitz period a little bit longer. Hey, we want to hit more more two minute drives or your or third down situations. What I like about there's inter squad scrimmages is you can actually script a situation that is going to be real in how it's going to unfold in the game when a preseason game it may not even happen. Tom, Yeah, I agree with you there, Jim.

I agree. If you need those specific type of periods scripted so you can put the exact type of personnel packages you want, then yeah, I do think you have to take advantage of that. A couple of years ago when the Bears went and practice against the pain Patriots, when coach Flores was there, you know, they understand what that tepo's gonna be about. And I think that's what

both teams have to understand. But to me, I just, you know, as I was trying to take into consideration the last few years about the veteran reps in preseason games, and sometimes you know, there's a slow start to the beginning of the season, and I, you know, I just want to see these guys up and ready, you know, So a guy like David Montgomery, you know, to me, David Montgomery, he doesn't need a thousand in game reps because there's other backs that need those reps more than

he does. However, I think when you look at the elements of what puts a team together, getting cole Commet ready from game one, getting Darnell Mooney up the speed when the season starts, same thing on the defensive side of the ball, with guys like Jalen Johnson and the younger crew of guys over there, you can't you can't, you know, kind of slowly step into the first game of the year. You have to be up and running

with the mentality on the understanding the pace. And I know it's got preseason games aren't going to equal the regular season games, but if you have more reps and maybe if you want to redooce during the course of training camp practices, I just would like to see him

go about it that way a little bit more. Hey, guys, I'm curious where where you think the approach will be on either side of the ball, because they even kind of caught myself a minute ago because the last couple of years, as I've been just watching the way that the Bears and coach that could go about their business and the run up towards the regular season, I've been I've been more urgent about wanting more work for the offensive players because of obvious reasons where the offense has

sort of started behind the defense and obviously have had the you know, the travails at quarterback and what's going on there with development, and just feel like, you know what, you've got a veteran defense, they've played at a high level. I haven't found myself as concerned with the limited sort of physical work that that side of the all had

gotten in years past. But even just as I was kind of thinking out loud about this topic of a moment ago while I was talking through it, because normally I'm thinking, yeah, this offense, they need the work man. The offense got to start fast. But it does feel more important to me for the defense this year than

it has in years pasted. Also one because of the new defensive coordinator, Sean Decide, and then also your factor in frankly, the defense they haven't necessarily looked like that same cohesive and explosive unit that we got a customed to them looking like before. So you know that that sort of sort of leads me to believe that maybe the defense could even use a little more preseason work than what I've kind of felt like they needed in

years past. Yeah, good thoughts, because to Sewan Decide will be the new play caller caller, they're the continuity is there pretty much everybody's back and in terms of the players, but how you know, every play caller has their idiosyncrasies. You know he's gonna call things differently from whether it's Vic Fangio or Chuck Pagano. Everybody's got their own twist on things. And obviously the players will get have to

get used to their new play caller. Guy's interesting day in the NFL, because, as we know, the franchise tags, teams had the ability to ink a long term deal with the players that are under the tag. The big deal done today was Taylor Moton down there for the Carolina Panthers. That's a four year, seventy two million dollars deal. Tom. I never thought, right tackles in guards would be getting what they're getting right now in the National Football League.

But out of all other players, I mean Brandon Sheriff of the Washington football team, he's gonna be playing under his second tag. You would think with all these deals in especially with Tuney's deal down there for Kansas City, right he signed the five year, eighty million dollars deal for Kansas City, I thought Brandon Sheriff would have the ability to sign. And then, of course, how it relates

to Alan Robinson in the Bears. It doesn't sound like negotiations were really happening towards the end of the year Bears placed the franchise tag on him. I think Allen Robinson will handle himself like a professional like he always does. But just thoughts on how it unfolded today. I'll start with you, Anthony in no long term deal for Alan Robinson, it's been, you know, fairly obvious throughout a Rob's career here in Chicago that he's been the most consistent offensive

weapon the Bears have had. And you look at the totality of his career where there's been uneven quarterback play, and he's always been a guy who's been able to find a way to make plays, to put up consistent numbers, to be sort of the consummate professional in the locker room and out of it and addressing the media and the big complaints there, and that's got more and more

rare over the years. At the wide receiver position, as you guys know, where a lot of times somebody might spout off, because that just tends to be where those personalities and how they kind of go about their business, and that hasn't been Alan Robins. So so I respect the way that the Bears, where the Ryan Pace, Matt Naggie, everyone within the organization have paid Alan Robinson the proper

respects verbally in the media. Obviously, Robinson and his representation doesn't necessarily think the deal that's been offered by the ball club up to this point meets the standard they're

looking for, and organizations in a tough spot. But I understand exactly where Alan Robinson's at also because this is very likely to be his you know, one of, if not his last opportunity in his late twenties now you know, surgeries in his past and all that maybe his last chance at a big, long, most lucrative contract that he may have the opportunity to sign. So he's pushing hard

to get that. You know, the salary cap has come down, so it's a it's a tricky spot for him with the timing of it, But the Bears have cap difficulties at the moment to try to put any deal like this together. So I think that, you know, I'm not surprised where both sides are at the moment. While at the same time, you got a new rookie QB coming

in who knows a year from now. If you get through another really productive season and Justin Fields takes off at some point there, then maybe the Bears are in a position like the you know, the Seahawks, for example, where able to find themselves in under Russell Wilson with him as the QB early in his career. Maybe you get that where there's a window to maximize. A lot of teams around the league are trying to maximize right now.

Where you've got that rookie deal on a QB, perhaps they can still free up cap space after you get through this year, and maybe a rob isn't going into his final season with the Bears. But it doesn't surprise me where things sit at the moment. Tom the simplest answer I could give, because I don't think there's been any secret how much I admire Alan Robinson, his work. I think his dedication, what his leadership means of the locker room, it's hard to ignore because you see the

productivity on the field. Would I like to sign Alan Robinson to a long term contract? I would? Do I want to sign Alan Robinson to the highest paid receiver in the league. I don't, so. I mean there's got to be a medium, a happy ground there between what Alan Robinson is realistically looking for in what the Bears are willing to pay him, because he's, you know, exhibited every time that he's been challenged what a quality guy

he is. However, you do have to look at the reality of the financial side of it, and whatever they could come up with the deal, he can make him financially secure for generations to come. However, is he gonna walk out there as the highest paid wide receiver in the National Football League. I don't think that's going to happen for him as well. But to me, when I signed him, I would, well, we got plenty more to come here on Bears All Access when we come back.

Let's get into some of Matt Nagge's comments about the offense that time is now dedicated carries to David Montgomery wants to get a minimum of twenty touches a game in running the football. Also had some comments on Eddie Goldman, the big defensive tackles who hopefully will be there for the Chicago Bears, because his defense could be special here in twenty twenty one. So don't change it, Dial, keep

it right here on Bears All Access. The Chicago Bears Network presents Inside the Bears, brought to you by Verizon, Anthony Adams and Lauren Screen and cover the world of Bears football, on and off the field, every Sunday night at ten thirty five m on Fox thirty two. Chicago or watch anytime at Chicago Bears dot com or on

the Bears official app. Anthony, Herron, Tom Thayer, Jim Miller should be joined by Bears of veterans safety to Sean Gibson should be calling in here about six thirty pm Eastern time, so it'll be interesting to talk to him. He resigns the one year deal to come back to Chicago. Guys. I thought he really meshed well with the Bears, played with a lot of passion. I think he fed off the fans. He kind of got it right away and was a sixteen game starter, had the couple interceptions, and

was very active tackler for the Chicago Bears. But getting that cohesiveness back at the safety spot Anthony gonna be crucial for the Bears because this is a veteran group that have really all played together defensively for quite some time. It was gonna be the first time at the safety position we've seen Eddie Jackson paired with the same safety next to him in a few years now, and so

you would imagine that two things. One stylistically, I like the fact that to Shaun Gibson Eddie Jackson, they're not necessarily the same type of safety. Now thought that was a little bit of what made things tricky the prior season with how high Clinton Dix and how you know, they're stylistically kind of a similar type of guy, where Gibson can come in bring that thump a little more readily, and so you can kind of id which guy feels which role, not that either guy isn't incapable of doing

sort of the other responsibility. But I like the way that they've messed together and then having another season playing alongside each other. It's just enhance the way they communicate, the way they're spatially aware of where the other will be, the game situations they've been in where perhaps they can even recognize without even having the verbally communicated, some of those nonverbals that are going to be important with certain offenses,

certain tempos and formations and everything. The fact that they've been in so many situations together going into the season should just enhance the way they can play off of

each other time. You know, Anthony GM, I think it was probably one of the most important signs of the offseason because when you think of are you taking consideration last year what he was not afforded in that shortened preseason, and then you have a new starting core back, you have a rotation at the slot corner, and you have to develop the relationship of the rest of the guys. So now you talk about the key ingredient as him and Eddie Jackson being back together, But now he's gonna

have to break in a new slot corner. He's gonna have to make sure Jalen Johnson comes along in his second year, and then there's a little bit of uncertainty who that next cornerback is going to be. So when you have all of his veteran experiences in making sure that everybody's lined up at the right position during the cadence or some of the more complicated receiver groups, you're gonna see. Shoot, I think getting to Sean signed was as as important as anybody that you could have brought

back into the fold at this stage of his career. Well, you look at Jalen Johnson. He was thrust into that role and he lived up to the hype. I mean, you got to give him a lot of credit with how he played as a rookie. But going into this year, you know Thomas Graham Junior, who's the sixth round corner

of the Chicago Bears chosen the draft. To me, Anton, it's gonna be tough for any of these young guys to really contribute this year, because that's what I mean by the veteran leadership and what's on defense for the Chicago Bears and why it could be a pretty special season. Like you said, there are some question marks. Who will fulfill those other corner roles when you bring in a veteran like Desmond Truffont and Duke Shelley gonna win over

that nickel corner job. But I think overall, all these guys have played and showed up, and they've been together to mesha as a defense. And what I really hope, Jim, is that the personality of the Bears defense shines through. I hope that exactly what Sean decides looking for, not only schematically, but just in the energy, in the approach,

in the passion they play the game with. I hope that shines through and ends up being a key factor and who ends up manning that at the corner position and who ends up being the slot corner in those nickel packages as well. Like I think a guy like a Thomas Graham coming in through the draft. I loved what I saw from him in college, called some of

his games in Oregon. He seems like a guy to me whose personality should mesh well with what the Bears will hope this defense can be going into this season. And I think that's a big part of why I love to Shaun Gibson as a football player, because that sort of lunch pale aspect of a guy who was an undrafted free agent and coming in and making such

a lengthy career in the NFL. He's one of those success stories that didn't necessarily come in as someone who everyone knew would make the squad or was, you know, an immediate starter from day one, but has worked himself into one of the better safeties in football. And I think that type of mentality, that lunch pale aspect of Gibson is something I hope sort of infiltrates the entire

secondary for this season. Yeah, you know about to Seawan. Also, I think he's a good reflection on guys like Kendallville Door and Duke Shelley and even Lardie Burns has to get a bigger picture of seeing him and Trey Roberson. There's a lot of other guys that you know, we're waiting in the wings to see because we didn't get the opportunity last year to kind of watch what these

guys could add to the defensive backfield. However, they all had a chance to sit there and watch how multi year veteran liked to Shan carries himself, his preparation during the week, and how it factored out in the game field. So I think again, they're fortunate to have evidence of hard work and how it can relate into success. Well, we should have plenty more to come here on Bears All Access to Sean Gibson, he'll show he should join us on the other side. So we'll step away. We'll

be back more Bears All Access right after this. This segment of Bears All Access is brought to you by Athletical Physical Therapy. Visit Athletico dot com to request an appointment in clinic or virtually it started feeling better tomorrow keeping it out the Bears defense with Anthony here and Tom Theory and obviously coach Nagy talked about it. They expect Eddie Goldman to show up the camp. They're even said publicly that they they're working with the player. What

the player. They believe the player will be there. And I mentioned this Anthony last week to Tom Theory and Jeff Jonia. I have the Bears, who we're going through every single position over on serious x M NFL radio and grading out the defensive fronts. And the Bears were nineteen points, came out on a scale of twenty with Eddie Goldman in the mix. They were the highest rated team that we had in the national Football And it wasn't just for me. Pat saw him in the top

five minimum for the Chicago Bears. I like the you know, being aggressive and you go out and you protect yourself by signing Mike Pannell. There's still some other potential defensive tackle free agents that are out there, Geno Atkins. We could go through a couple of names, but Eddie Goldman opted out last year. He's such a physical presence at the point of attack with what the Bears want to do upfront. But Pannell at least, you know, hinges that

bet with bringing him over from Kansas City. So Anthony, your thoughts on the situation, and I do I think Eddie Goldman will show up for camp for the Chicago Bears. We're certainly seeing a net workout videos on social media, you know, the videos that have been circulating there, not necessarily from his own Twitter account, but he doesn't seem to be trying to stop anyone else from showcasing a few workout videos here lately. Of the work he's putting in.

I mean, you know, maybe he's not planning on playing football and National Football League this season. The types of workouts that I'm seeing out on social indicate to me that, I don't know, maybe he's trying to be in the World's Strongest Man contest or Mister Limpy or something. He's putting the work in as though he's planning on reporting,

planning on showing up. So it's nice that that's out there on social I'm a little curious just you know, why there's perhaps not some public pronouncement from Eddie Goldman, just you know, sort of putting some of the rumors to rest, putting Bears fans, Eddies, maybe even putting some folks in the front office Eddies. If there's still you know,

some question mark about it. But it's at least nice to see that, just in the day and age that we're in at the moment, where you know, things can be parsed via social media and you're trying to figure out what this means and what that means. It's at least a very it's a quality indicator that it seems like Eddie Eddie Goldman is planning on showing up and that when he does, he's looking like just from some clips there, looking like on social media, he's going to

be in shape when he does. And after a year away from the game, that's obviously going to be a big question mark for the guy who plays on the interior right there in the middle of your defense, because you know, weight can fluctuate and the amount of hits you're taking, all those things can rack up at different

rates and how they affect guys. So just hopefully after a year away what we're seeing on socially, what we're saying on Twitter and ig of Eddie Goldman putting the work in, then maybe he'll come back looking like the Eddie Goldman of vote, because we saw what the Bears

run defense looked like without him last season. The domino effect of how it affected Kim Hicks had affected the inside linebackers trying to roll other guys in like with Lal Nichols, who weren't, you know, sort of accustomed to that zero that one technique right in the middle of all the action. You get Eddie Goldman back in their time. A lot of other guys are more comfortable and played. Told that thought todd because I believe we've got our

guest available. So let's go out to the guest side and welcome in ten years safety of the Chicago Bears to Sean Gibson, to Bears all access to Sean, You got Jim Miller, Anthony Harren time there here. Thanks for joining us and going into your tenth training camp. I mean, do you prepare any differently to Sean? Thanks for joining us today. Oh man, I appreciate you guys for having me. Man, And you know, honestly, year ten, it's kind of a

little more crucial obviously. Man, you gotta train a little different. You gotta get the body and custom a little different. Man. You're not a young spring chicken anymore. You're not twenty three years old. So you definitely got to make sure that you take care of the body a little more rigorously and just do the things, the small things to make sure that your body can uphold a sixteenth or seventeen game season. Now you see how it's a little different.

Now we're playing an extra game. So definitely got to make sure that you're training and preparing yourself for the upcoming season. Quite a little different, man. You know, you can roll out of bed and you can have an ache and a pain. Man. You know, once you hit thirty compared to twenty one, the body, the body act different. Man. But in my mind, I like to think that I'm still twenty five. So I just try to continue to just you know, grind and take a day by that.

Pay to Sean to talk about the defense as a whole. When Nig went to Mandatory mini camp, it seemed like the defense really brought the electricity. Is it something you guys talk about beforehand or is it just the natural closeness of this group? You know, I think that this is a mature group. So when you're looking at a mature group, a lot of people like to point out age age is a thing in a new school NFL.

But the purpose of having a veteran group like this, man, is you have that family camaraderie and with us, it's just a beautiful thing to have. You know, we have a mixture of good younger sinding talent. You look at guys, young guys who in my opinion, would be very dominant in this league for a very long time. And you have a collective, a collection of veteran players who are established players and you know, just bringing that that big brother mentality. Man. So it's like a big fraternity, a

big brotherhood. And when you see that, you understand these guys. You might take a look at practice and seeing or think that we've been playing together for four or five years, man, And that's just a type of the way that coach design man, the way that he coached us. Man. The closeness, the togetherness, man, And you know, those are the guys that you're gonna go to war with Dan and day out. So I think that those are huge things because, like you know, this only been my second year. Man, I

feel like Chicago is my home. I feel like this team I've been on these guys for years. It just was it was so exciting and so fun to have everybody back together. And you know, there's those are the things that you need in order to build and have

successful defenses. Man. Like I say, I feel like we have the recipe to do it Bears safety to Sean Gibson, senior our guests here on Bears All Access going into a decade now in the National Football League, and to Sean, You're going to go into like your reference second year in Chicago, also specifically second year playing alongside Eddie Jackson.

As you've had opportunities to play alongside the same safety for an extended period of time in the past, how would you describe what what type of difference that makes? How does that enhance the way that you and e jack should be able to play off of each other this season? You know, I think that's a benefit for

both of us. You know, you look back on um I think I've seen something that said that Eddie hasn't played with the same safety since um amost I believe was here with him, you know, and I think that what the new guy, new Skill said, you have to get up, you know, you supplant with you know, the guy next to you, that's kind of like me and Eddie is kind of like we locking next to each other. I kind of gotta be in his head. He gotta

be in my head. I gotta know the way that I played Eddie is gonna have my back and vice versus. So I think that that puts a strain on on just growth and development Man, and for me to being able to come back in and he see that familiar face and he understand what he's gonna get out of three eight, and for me to understand what I'm gonna get out of three nine or four, whichever one y'all want to call him. Um, it's huge for him, Man, and I think that's huge for both of us, and

obviously him being a top tier talent. I don't think that he get enough credit. I think that he, in my opinion, Man is one of the most gifted athletes at the safety position the National Football League. So when you can buy that with with just him having that that familiar face to play alongside of him, Man, that way he can just kind of say, Okay, I know what I'm getting game in and game game out. I've played with the guys sixteen games. It's not a new

guy who I don't know what to expect. I think we can get get used to seeing Man Eddie go out there and do what Eddie been doing and people people fail to realize he did it last year. He did it last year had a couple of unfortunate cause call back, but that was one of the more exciting things. Man, to be able to come back and play with a guy like him. Man, he's like a little brother to me. Man. And for him to have a success that he's had and the accolades. Man, he is still a student of

the game. He still asks questions. He still is a guy, man who who appreciate my veteran leadership Man, And you know, he's not too big for the game. And guys like that, man you root for and you you hope for him and has success and he's been having success, man, And I think that that's super exciting to be able to team back up with him. And I think that we're

just going to continue to grow. Well, yeah, just called the Bears, you know, being back home, and you know, that's what I thought was pretty special about you last year to Sean. Know, you've had experiences where you you know, you left Cleveland, went into Jacksonville, then went into to Houston's locker room now here with the Bears, and it just it seemed seamless for you. It clicked really early

for you. And this seems that you know, just to me, you get it, you know, and uh maybe just touch on that was it those other travels that allowed you to get ingratiated a lot quicker in Chicago because it just seemed to click right away, right. I think that a lot of the times when you when you kind of been around obviously that kind of helped that way. You kind of know how to verse yourself into different locker rooms. Every locker room is different, and anybody that

played football dating back to college had high school. You walk in locker rooms, man, Every locker room different. The atmosphere is different, man. And it's just a test to kind of how mister Pace and Naggie runs the organization where you think about it. One of the biggest things for me was when I signed there, I had one of my closer friends in the National Football League in Bus, the Screen. I have history with him. So when I when the Bears reached out to me, I asked them

as many questions as possible. The biggest thing in the most consistent word that was thrown around from when I talked to coach Nagy during the process last year, and mister Pace was just that this is a family and you know, everybody said, but not everybody mean it. And when I walked into SLocker room was a family orient

It was just a family oriented locker room. And it's hard to come by that, man, And I'm not big on comparing left to write up to down, but this by far was with my most exciting lockeromly be a part of man because it's not egos. You have guys that's gonna be Hall of famers and gods like Khalil Mack and things like that, and you have top tiers, superstars in the league, and all these guys men just

walk around here like normal guys. Man treat everybody with respect from the trainers and every and those things are huge when you come around and you realize, man, this thing is a big family. So I think that that was one of the things that kind of helped me trying to ease my transition into being that new face in the locker room. You gotta think last year was a little different due to COVID, so man, I truly

was a new guy. People didn't have OTAs to kind of get a field for my personality and my gameplay. It was just like, truly I was thrown into the fire man and people kind of everybody have relationships and I'm the new guys. So for people that just embraced me the way that they did, Man, it just shows it's just a testament to how this locker room's ram and the leadership in the locker room and man, the

leadership of the organization. You know, to John, you talk about getting to know your teammates and trying to get to know the system. You're aware about the whole facility and everything. But so now let's go to year two. You have a good understanding of the teammates around you. Now, you started with Matthew Stafford last year. You start with Matthew Stafford again this year. Can you have kind of quarterback conversations early and throughout the preseason with the rest

of your defensive backs? And I know, you know, it's a long seventeen game season, but hey, he happens to be the first quarterback he played against last year and the same first quarterback you're gonna play against this year. Yeah, I think that that shoes man, obviously. You know, and the guys in Chicago, you have guys like Eddie and Danny and those guys who has played them far more than I have being in the Division one for four

or five plus years. Those are things that are huge. Obviously, Man, you just you you you play these guys long enough, man, and just like they have tails and tales on you, even some of these top tier quarterbacks. Man, you begetting to understanding half tails on them. You know, you look at guy's good great quarterbacks such as guy like Aaron Rodgers.

I remember any telling me things about him, and in my opinion, Aaron Rodgers, he was the best quarterback in football last year and he was being able to tell me like, hey, gift when he does this, look out for this. That that being familiar with your opponent, man, and taking it to the next level. It is how you are able to thrive in this league. So obviously playing against Matthew Stafford man having that familiar understanding of the way that he liked to play. Man. Obviously, Man,

he's a risk taker. He's like a breast spread farm. It's kind of guy. He gonna take his shots and if you give it to him sometimes, Man, he understand his arm, his top tier arm, and he gets a little cocky with it. These are things and conversations. Man, too fortunate to be able to have with the guys who probably have not had those experiences with him. Man, that can ultimately help you win football games, man, especially

guys on the back end. Obviously we have a young group besides myself, we have a very young group, um you know, with with Jalen and Kendall and a lot of the dude can a lot of these young guys who will have to step up. So that is definitely gonna be pivotal for sure, going until we want to shout.

I'm curious about the impact that that you've noticed you can't have on other guys on the field because of your physical brand of play and frankly, you know like Jim and and Time and they were both draft picks. You were an undrafted free agent like I was. I got five Yeah, yeah, that the mentality that you add to the defense. How do you feel like you can your presence can impact your teammates? You know, it's a

big thing, man. I think a lot of guys Man, just just even talking to you know, young guys like Thomas Graham, Man, you know he come in and you know, he he was asking me, man, what round did you get? You know a lot of the guys been when they come and they go into these youth teams. They check and see who's on a roster, you know, check the accolade, check that stats in. You know, he was mind bloom to know that I was undrafted, man. And you know those are the things that I ain't my hat on

this too. I think that it's huge for the simple fact that, man, look, I'm a blue collar kind of guy. Uh. You know, I didn't go to to to to the big college and I came in here. Man. I had to cause my way, man, and I was fortunate through through the grace of God. Man. God allowed me to have an opportunity in Cleveland to say, hey, if you can play football, you have an opportunity here. And I was able to drive and then I never looked back

from there. Man. So I think that the understanding of presence, man, that you know, people understand like, hey, nothing booshe about me. Man, I'm driving. I'm gonna drive old pickup truck to work. Man. I'm put my heart at on and I'm gonna go to work. And I think gods gravitate towards that in God's respect that you know, guys can appreciate a God like that. There's a lot of guys like that. But you know, obviously when you have guys we've been doing

it for a long time. You know, people respect time, people respect you know, when when they can see you physically go out there and say, hey, man, this guy's are undrafted three agent, teen years and year and he's still practice hard. He works hard, he he takes lifts serious, he takes you know, these things. These guys begin to gravitating. They begin to respect you not only as a player,

but as a man and as a person. And I think that that is huge, and I think that that's why I've been able to have the impact in the room. And year or two is just when it better, I'm a little more comfortable with people to face a little more for me, I'm not that new guy. Just just speaking out of term. That's kind of like, hey, you got to earn your right. You earn your right, you go from there. Well, don't let Anthony foolia to Sean.

I was like Tom Brady, a six rounder. It didn't work out the same though for some reason the same. But anyway, go ahead, no, no, no, I would saying, man, hey man, you got your name called man. That's what matters. That's right. It's all about the opportunity, whether you're drafted or undrafted's getting that foot in the door, no doubt about it. Well, we got a couple of weeks left up before training camp cranks up. No, you're about it.

You know, what do you do between now and then to get your mind right, to get your body right and get ready for this grind that you're about to undertake. Right, I think that the biggest thing about is making sure that you're physically prepared training camp, in my opinion, and you know, we all play football, it's like after the second after the second year, training camp is just like, look, let's get through it. Let's get it over with. Let's

get to the fun part. Right training campus to grind, it's the dog days, man, and you know you got to prepare and get your body activated for those just so so you know, I think that you go through the six week period, you know, from the from mini camp to training camp, you know you you got to

push your body. But then also you gotta know when you're to listen to your body and say, okay, it's time to clostest thing down, d load and kind of make sure I'll go in training camp temp top shape man and comparing for your the best season of your life. That's how you got to approach every training camp, so you know, do a little more with the family, enjoy because training camp, man, for that month, it's just going to be, you know, it's football, like you know, the wipe.

The kids they understand, Hey, phone calls is gonna be less frequent and less freaking behaved. You know it's only for a short amount of time and you know it's understood, so you know, kind of enjoy the kids a little more, especially that last week leading up to train camp, kind of take a little bit off of your body a little bit, making sure that you pretty much fine tuny itself. And that's what it comes down to, you man. So for me, yeah, well, we appreciate your time to Sean.

Good luck to you. Is sounding just a great a mental place right now to get ready for your your tenth year of the National Football League. So good luck to you here in twenty twenty one. And thanks for your time tonight on Bears All Access. I appreciate you guys for having y'all take here. Yep to Sean Gibson, everybody part of a very experienced defense returning for the Chicago Bears. We gotta hit the last break. We'll come back,

We'll close out the show. Bears All Access more. Right after this, the segment of Bears All Access is brought to you by c d W people who get it great stuff from Bears Safety to Sean Gibson and I do I think this defense can be special because it's got a lot of veterans on this defense. Obviously the edge rushers with Khalil Mackin and Robert Quinn, and then you go out and get a veteran and Jeremiah to Achu from the Denver Broncos. Think he adds a ton

of experience as well. So you hate to see great players goat like Roy Robertson Harrison. We wish him well down in Jacksonville. But I like the interior and where we were going Anthony with the defense upfront, because if Eddie Goldman is working and pounding those weights, like you said on social media, I like that rotation of interior defensive tackles. I thought Mario Edwards really started to come

on towards the end of the year. Obviously got the veteran and Keim hitson blow Nichols is just an ascending player, and they'd signing Evangela Blackson. He brings a lot of experience coming over from the Arizona Cardinals. I touched on Mike Panell, He's been a good rotational player in his NFL career. He comes over from Kansas City, and then you draft the young Kiris Tonga, who's obviously going to develop it and has that wide body that that fits

the Bear scheme so well. So I like this group upfront as a whole, and we'll see if it can

come to fruition early for this football team. We saw a last season where you know, John Jenkins did what he could as a rotational piece, but obviously you just didn't have that consistent mass and force on the inside of the Bears defense, and you had guys who sort of ended up having to play out of position at certain times and getting moved around to try and shore up things on the interior, which made life at times more difficult on Danny Trevathan and Rokuan Smith at the

second level. And so the matchups and training camp approaches here time, I'm really eager to watch not only some of the youth like Tevin Jenkins on the offensive line matching up against a veteran pass rush, but the health of James Daniels and what that looks like. Because it's it's a Bears offensive line that should they should probably feel as good going into this camp as they have at any previous time under Matt Naggy, and so they will still have a veteran and talented defensive front to

match up with. So that that matchup just in some those live settings you were talking about early really excites me. Yeah, I agree, you know, And the thing about it with Matt n Aggie saying that he has twenty carries a game intended for David Montgomery, I think that's is good for Tevin Jenkins because really the way you want to break him in is the ability to be in a powerful three point stance and use the traits of a

running game that that not come easier. But I think when you had you work in the combination blocks and you work with guards and tight ends, it's really a way to settle in a guy that you're trying to gain experience and trying to keep your offense better. And so I think this offensive line should should feel really confident going into the start of the season, and I think it will really benefit the Bears. You know, one thing about the defense is I wish that Eddie Goldman

wasn't such a secret. I wish that he would be bragging and talk about how excited he is to be back here. But one element too is if they ye Goldman is a first down defensive lineman, and if they're successful, then he's gonna get you know, he's probably gonna come out of the game because the opponent's gonna have to bring in more passing personnel and that's when you shift the balance of the defensive line. And so you know, I think Tonga and Panel and these guys are you know,

they have those capabilities. I think when Eddie Goldman showed some really bright signs and a true upside to what his talent level is and then the Bears rewarded him with the contract, I think that's the same respect that the Bears season ticket holders, players and coaches deserve. So I don't I don't want it to be a secret. I want him to come out here with just all the glory he can possibly have and be excited about getting in a stance and lining up for the first

time and over a year. Well, tom as we close out the show here on Bears All Access. What is the best way to bring along the young offensive lineman, whether it's Tevin Jenkins, whether it's Larry Borham when it comes to training camp. Is it one on ones? Is it the half lines? What you know, what specifically you think where they're really one because ste'll probably crank up

their reps. Yeah, I mean, obviously you're gonna have the coaching element that's going to be very specific when you go through those one on one periods that you're gonna be highlighted. It's just gonna be you against the snapcount

against the defensive lineman. But when you start going on to an eleven and eleven drills and you start implementing the running schemes, that you have to realize how many different guys that the left tackle or the right tackle they're gonna work with in order to fulfill their assignment. So the better they can know the offense, because you cannot break the huddle going there thinking while you're going

up to the line of scrimmage. You have to have an understanding and a knowledge that you know it's so perfectly, that the thinking is second nature, that all you're thinking about is the explosiveness at the snap of the ball, gets up movement, and let David Montgomery and the rest of these running backs be as creative as what we've seen they can be. Well, guys, time flies when you're having fund Always a pleasure being with you, Anthony Heron as always Tom, Always great to be with Tom Thayer.

And we'll do it next week. Bears All Access, thanks for joining us. Have a great 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 Miller Lite.