Johnson on adapting to new defense | All Access

eleven am. Pregaming noon kickoff on NewsRadio one O five nine w BBM. I'm Jeff Johnny Ac my broadcast partner Tom. They are also rare and ready to go. We have broken this thing down in every which way already. We're excited to see what Matt Eberflus, Allan Williams, defensive coordinator, Lujetsie, the offensive coordinator, and special teams coordinator Richard Hytower having store for Kansas City and their head coach Andy Reid. Look, it's like a fifteen to twenty plays for the first team.

It's fluid, Tom. It depends on what guys we're talking about, but we're all looking to see what QB one does well, you know. Detroit head coach Dan Campbell also said Jared Goff is going to play the entire first quarter. He played five or six plays and he was gone. So there's nothing ext in the stone by how much you

can play and you know how many reps. So I'm interested to watch what the team is going to bring to the field because there's been so many things talked about what they want this team to be in the long run with this new coaching staff, and tomorrow will begin that evidence. And one of the guys we're gonna be looking forward to watching is Braxton Jones, the rookie

left tackle out of Southern Utah fifth round pick. This is what he had to say about where he's at right now, working with the first team head to get into the first preseason game. All right, we'll get to that in just a minute as we get you set for Bears football tomorrow. Some of the things we're looking at right now in terms of what the Bears are gonna do. The running game, obviously is something of significance tom It is something that I'm excited to see. This

wide zone. We keep hearing about a stable of running backs. Not certain if David Montgomery will play tomorrow, but there's plenty there, include the undrafted rookies and Cleil Herbert from

a year ago. Yeah, Jeff, you have to have an impact with the running game because if you want Justin Fields to be everything that he possibly can be, you better have somewhat of a dominant portion of your running game to have such a factor of the defensive coordinator trying to stop that one element that it opens up

more opportunities for the rest of the team and Justin specifically. So, yeah, we've heard so much about this outside zone running play, and if they do run it perfectly, look for Justin to get more opportunities down field. All right, here's that Braxton Jones. I've got a ways to go, But just understanding how fast it is actually, even with linebackers and all that type of stuff. Guy, have a better understanding of how fast it is. But doing that into my

game and stuff like that. And that's another thing too. It's not always going fast fast fast. It's kind of like you gotta hold space a little bit more. You can't just go fly out to anything because they're so quick they'll you know, they'll come right in under you or something like that you just gotta really lay its happy medium. I really like tom how he explains what he's seeing. He does so very thoroughly and pretty transparently about what he's learning and how he's going about his business,

and we continue to be impressed. He's got the feat, he's got the length, He's using that length in a way he never did back in college. He's got all the tools, as he says, to learn this position the right way at the NFL level to stop those edge rushers in clear space in the running game. Now we gotta see if he can prove it. Yeah. I mean, reality's gonna hit you in the face tomorrow. You know you're gonna break the huddle and you're not gonna have

coaches around you. So it's about what Braxton Jones can do to get himself prepared and an understanding of the guys he's playing against, because he's gonna guy. He's gonna have guys coming in here. They're gonna be keep competing equally as hard for a spot on their roster. So I think tomorrow really is the beginning of what can be a great future for a guy like Braxton Jones and another rookie Jaquan Brisker. We're looking forward to seeing

him as well. He likes the way the chemistry is brewing right now, the back end of that defense with the veteran and two time pro bowler Ready Jackson, just off the field, just knowing, you know, still communicating off the field, just make sure we're still watch a film and they own the field, just knowing where he's gonna be. We just work on the same page, just you know,

showing different disguises and different things like that. You know, we're always you know, doing different things that we're on the same page. So really good. Yeah, with him right now, it's that that inner, inner force that he's ready to unleash. I think, you know, he's a physical guy, grew up that way, played that way at Penn State. And I like the way he's been making plays on the balls. You're catching everything yet no, but he's making plays on

the ball, breaking the ball up. Well, that's gonna be the kind of the signs of his success and where he's at. Because when you come into the scheme and what they want to do defensively, how fast they want to play, how they want to disguise, the coverage and everything that's the effect of the defense. But Jeff, what's gonna happen when he has a big coverage responsibility downfield? Or what happens when a running back breaks through to the third level and has a full running start at him.

That is when the differences of Jaquon Brisker is going to be shown. We know he can cover, we know that he can catch the ball, we know that he's super intelligent, and that's why he's on an NFL roster. But it's about those details of tackling. Is really gonna tell you what's happening with him? Well, the one thing you don't want to have happened, It unfortunately does happen. Knock on wood. It won't to the Bears or anybody else around the league, frankly, But you try to get

out of the preseason games. It's healthy as possible. Already You're looking tonight Atlanta leading Detroit fourteen to ten of the second quarter and their first round picked there in Atlanta wide receiver Drake lund And suffered a knee injury. He had to leave the game. So you don't you don't want to see that business right now? No, But you know, Jeff, you can't really think about it. You don't want it to happen, but it's a constant threat

when you do play professional football. However, that's why they sit out there and coach ninety guys. So someone is going to increase their opportunity by their performance going into this preseason. But they have to make sure on September eleven that they have a healthy roster to go into the start of the regular season. All right, coming up next, they're gonna be joined an interview I did this week with cornerback Jalen Johnson as he gets ready for his

third NFL season with the Bears. It's all coming up next here on Bears All Access, brought to you by IGS Energy. At producer tonight season Prez and we also think guys always Dan Brilliant, Jordan tread up with Tom Thayer. I'm Jeff Joniak, and this is Chicago Sports Radio six seventy the Score. Welcome back to Bears All Access. It's brought to you by IGS Energy. Choose clean energy for your home at IGS dot com because every good choice

adds up to a better world. Tom, they are sitting this one out, but Jalen Johnson is not the starting cornerback entering year three for the Chicago Bears, kind enough to take some time to join us before the preseason opener against Kansas City. Good to see you. Good to see you too. Hey, it's great. Honestly, I'm over here smiling because it's like you really have that voice, like a radio voice, like a really John Madden, like a

real legendary like voice. Yeah, yeah, that's really see I'm blushing. Yeah. When did you know that? Like you could like you would be like, really, you know what, This is a really long story. I'll tell you to you sometime, but I I it's a miracle. Honestly. It was where hard work met opportunity. About that. But no, but you know, as a kid when you were growing up, you know you're clearly a great athlete. I thought I was, you know, and I tried to play baseball. I tried to walk

on at Iowa State University as a second baseman. That lasted about four minutes. You know, how do you how did you know that this is gonna be what you wanted to do? I mean, honestly, because we all think we're gonna be somebody and if your love sports, we all played it I mean I tried to play everything. I would have been wonderful to do it, But what

about you, I mean mine wasn't. Mine was a different process because I played of course, I played football and basketball growing up, but I was on varsity as a freshman in basketball, I was getting looked at like I had interest in basketball before I did football. So, I mean my first two years of high school, I was like, I might as well just hang football, love, I'm gonna just play basketball because I wasn't. I was a sophomball in varsity and not really getting too too much playing time,

and then basketball was just going great for me. So I mean I almost gave football up, and then I ended up getting hurt in basketball, and like my whole perspective just saying, I'm like, nah, like I can't play football no more, like forget basketball. Yeah, then I really like started after my injury. I came back and I really just locked in. Was like, nah, I'm gonna get a basketball love. Like my love for football is later

than basketball for sure. And it's like like the training, the process that I went through for basketball and football, I would I would choose football. Yeah, it must fit your personality because you gotta love this game. To play like basketball, you gotta have some specific skills too. So did you have a growth spurt or did you say, you know what, I don't know. I don't know what

can I be in basketball? I mean, honestly, it was like basketball for me because I was I was small in my first two years of high school really, so I didn't get It's funny because I didn't get figured. I didn't get like my true athleticism until day after I gave it up, something like, hey, if I would have this high end this, what's your vertical? Yeah, what's your vertical? What was your vertical? High as I got to like thirty nine, there you go, it was like, dang, okay,

you could shoot. You could shoot the jay. Yeah. It's like crazy because that's I got older, I got better in basketball. So I'm like, if I would have had this gun, I might have kept to it. But everything happens for a reason for sure. Yeah. The funny thing though, when I first met you and we interviewed you, because on your Twitter it's it's the NBA, So I thought, this guy loves the NBA. Here here which something different? Something different? Jalen Johnson our guest here and Chicago Sports

Radio six seventy to score. This is Bears All Access brought to you by IGS Energy. So you got a new system, new people, new coaches, everything new, big big fresh coat of paint, and you're fitting in. You're smiling. That's good. Oh No, I mean honestly, football is football for me. And it's like, at the end of the day, my job is to stop people from catching the ball.

So it's like my job doesn't change. My job hasn't changed. Um, the emphasis, I mean, there definitely are some things that are being preached, um, that are are different from from last year. For sure. There's definitely some principles that we played by that we want to live literally live and die by. Really um So, I mean just really adjusting to those adjusting to playing this new staff style of

ball has been I mean interesting for me definitely. Um. It wasn't easy in the beginning, but as time what wasn't easy really just committing. Um. I mean it's different, like change comes, nobody's really familiar and it's like you have, Okay, well this is what you're used to doing. My first two years in the NFL, I got used to a certain way around here, and now that there is a different way, it's like, Okay, I'm not really trying to

do that or like why being like this. So it's like for me, I got to a point where it's like, let me just really step back and see what they're really asking me to do, seeing what they what their true intentions are. And then once I kind of took a step back, and it's like, okay, let me just commit, let me buy in, let me push myself, and let's see where it goes. Because I mean, it's hard for me to not really buy in and expect great things

to happen. So it's like, let me just really buy and let me commit and get other guys to commit, get other everybody really on the same page, and let's see where it can really go. And then really after that, I mean, we'll see when season comes. But it was really just a mental process to really commit and buy in. And I mean, now the way that they want things to go for me is it's I'm not gonna say easy, but it's definitely something that is natural for me now.

So is that Jalen Johnson is changed, has changed always been hard. I wouldn't for me, I wouldn't say that change is hard because it's like, since I want to say, my freshman year at high school, I've always had like different head coaches, Like I had five head coaches in my high school career. Wow, So it's like I have change. It is inable, inevitable on this sport exactly. So I mean just have even having that was just like okay, dang,

you just gotta keep recommitting to the process. And it's like at the end of the day, man, football is football covered. One is coming, one, two is two, three, Like I'll just kind of keep it, keep it simple, keep the main thing the main thing, and really buy into the philosophy that the coaches have. Um and I mean with this staff, I mean, like I said, it's definitely different, but you just really got to buy in and really give your all to it and then take

the good with the good and about the back. You know what the thing is if you step back, like you just explain that you did for yourself, and if I just stepped back and yeah, your job is to prevent people from catching footballs and making sure you tackle them and take the ball away. It is pretty simple, but one of the hardest things to do for sure. You know it sounds exactly you gotta you know, are

you better? I'm not saying you weren't before. I'm saying as you get older in this sport, at this level, and now you're getting tutored in a different way by this staff, and they have specific things you want in this particular defense. I'm not going to just give it a blanket cover two. There is that, but there's there's elements. Yeah, but you know, trusting your eyes, I mean, are your eyes better trained three years in than they were when you first got here or they Yeah, okay, that's that's

not even a question. Just the reads, the progressions, I mean, they just comes. It comes natural at this point. It comes easier to reads and even adjusting. Like you said, they're in minor intricates in the defense that are different. Your reads may be here and you gotta look at certain things and it's like, hey, you would have asked him to do this my rookie year, and I'm like, damn, this is a whole lot like but now it's like I've been doing this for some time now, my third year,

getting a lot of reps. I have thousands and thousands of reps So I mean, really what they're asking me to do? Is it easy transition? Because I've been doing it for some time now, going on my third year. Um, so I mean it's really not not too bad at all. Eyes are gonna be on the quarterback, yeah, period, not much turning the back to the quarterback and this defense.

Is that true? Oh for sure? Yeah, I mean there's definitely like they're definitely some times where we gotta lock up and we gotta go man to man, but that's that's with any team. But they're definitely are more emphasis with eyes on the quarterback and breaking on the ball. So coach he reflus when he first got here, and but he said it's gonna be the hardest thing you've ever gone through as a player. Has that proven to

be true? Because he did tell he's told me he said, you wait a year from now, players are gonna come and say, yeah, coach, that was the hardest thing I ever had to do. Has it been the hardest thing you've had to do so far in my professional career? Yes? And why because it's like there's in a sense when you get like like in college college campus, a whole lot harder than NFL NFL camp. But it's like when you get kind of to a professional level, there's normally

there's a way of doing things. They're the way okay, like yeah, you burst to the ball, you get your three hard steps, but it's like no, no, no, we're full speed. Like some of the expectations are almost like unrealistic, like coach like ain't like you want me to do this, this and this, like okay. So I mean in that aspect of having to adapt to really the expectation, I

feel like that's the hardest part. But I mean we're where our body should be in shape, and we should our body should be able to adapt really on the physical side of things, if you're taking care of your buying new things right, But really to just train your mind, it really is starting in the mind because I mean just really being able to say I'm going to push myself.

I mean you're going to get tired in practice, and it's really just having that trained thought or developing that habit of let's run, keep running, keep running, keep running, keep running, keep going. That's that's that's where it it's hard at well, you know, like Tom always says, fatigue makes cowards of us. All gets tire fast exactly. Jalen Johnson,

our guest. We're gonna step away, get a commercial break in here, and then another segment with the Bears starting cornerback on the eve of the preseason opener against the Kansas City Chiefs. This is Chicago Sports Radio six seventy to score. This segment of Bears All Access is brought to you by Athletical Physical Therapy. Visit Athletical dot com to request an appointment in clinic or virtually and start feeling better tomorrow. Jalen Johnson, our guest here on Chicago

Sports Radio six seventy. The score tom there will be along in a while. The chemistry, as much as the orchestration is necessary from a footwork standpoint on the offensive line or the stunts and the game's upfront for a defensive line. We say it all the time, it's got to be spot on in the chemistry on the secondary side as well. Do you guys feel, even with some new young bloods and Eddie Jackson and yourself, that you guys are really making Hay here in that regard? Oh yeah,

we're built. I thought it was a complete reset. Yeah, really, everything that we kind of had from like from a scheme perspective, I find it's totally different, which means our bond is going to slightly shift because we're being asked to do different things. We're not playing the defense the same way. So I mean normally when it's like Okay, Eddie, I know I got you in the post, isn't the same now because it's like his reads are slightly different

or he may have something a different responsibility. So I mean, definitely gotta keep learning the defense together and learning okay, when you can have some help, or when you can take a rich because you know you got your safety help, and when you can and can't use them. So I mean, really just getting on that same page. It really learning

the defense and bonding and jelling in that together. I'm just seeing really just I mean it's something we learned something new each and every day with each and every situation. Just how we all see how a play comes out or Okay, are you going to stay hi? Are you gonna stay low on this if he comes out like this, if he comes behind the linebacker, because are you going

to take him? You want me to take him? Just really, I feel like messing up helps us build and bond together and figure out what's the best way to play it and how I see it and how he sees it. And I felt like everybody's really trying to figure all that out together. I mean, not just me and Eddie Jaquan. He's doing a good job and asking me, hey, how do you see this? Or I tell him, hey how

do you see this? Just so we can really bond together because there's no doubt that he's going to be on the field, So I mean just really finding out how gods really see the offense or see this defense, and really continue to learn. I mean even the coaches, they're still making adjustments to the defense. So really top to bottom, just really learning and jaeling together. You believe in yourself, otherwise you wouldn't be here. When you get a new regime, it's the first time for you at

the professional level. It's only natural your new bosses. Did you ever fear if they believed in you? Oh, one hundred percent? And if I felt like it wasn't anything that I did or didn't do. I just felt like it's different watching it on film versus coming in and having somebody in your system. Um, and it's like they have their own way of doing things. Their values are different than what we were doing previously in the past.

So I feel like what you've seen on film, I felt there was no question from a talent standpoint, I don't. I don't think that should have ever been a question. But I feel like my work ethic may have been in question if I really was going to work hard, if I was gonna buy you in my attitude um. So I mean, I felt that was just some question marks that they had. They didn't really know if I was gonna work hard, if I was going to be a leader, if I was going to buy in and

commit um, and different things like that. So I mean, I feel like there was no question that they were a few question marks around me for sure, just knowing what you put in every offseason or what you've talked about from the time you were drafted. You are a worker for sure, and you put in a great deal of work. So but I guess everybody needs to see the proof. You know, I get that. Why are you

better this year physically? Let's start with that. We touched on the mental stuff because you have a brother that is very good at what he does in the training aspect of things, and do you feel you you advanced yourself in this because you got to recreate your safe

every year? Kind of Oh no, I mean I'm talking to my brother after after the training and kind of heading in the camp, and it was just like you're on a different level, and it was like after last year, it was like okay, like you're on a different levels. So it's like nice just to keep getting better from year to year offseason, offseason. I feel like there's no question. I mean I even hired a specialist on full time and definitely committed to that making that sacrifice because I

mean that definitely cost me a pretty penny. And what was the specialist for. Really everything's top to bottom in terms of my body injury prevention, strength and instability balance from really head to toe and then of course my brother on the field side of things, technique, full work and different things like that. So I mean having those two guys full times, I mean, my brother's always full time, but having that trainer now that's full time, really is

getting my body right. And then after practice whatever, I get extra work with my brother doing full work, and then even when we go back to the hotel for rest, I mean I'm in the gym, getting more work, in doing doing more works. I mean, there's always there's always work to be done, and I really just want to give myself the best opportunity to be successful. And I feel like hiring that trainer and having keeping my brother

around is definitely going to give me the opportunity. Jalen Johnson our guest here on Chicago Sports Radio six seventy to score. This is Bears All Access, brought to you by IGS Energy. All Right, you look at Darnel Money and you see him lining up across from him, and he also is very much like yourself, a worker. B man, this guy is a grinder. Does that inspire other players? Does it inspire you? Do you feel, even though he doesn't play your position, that okay, you're pushing guys and

they're pushing guys. It matters, right because not everybody wants to do it and not everybody knows to do it. Now. I mean, for me, the way I see it is, there has to be those alpha mills, and not even from I don't want to say from my superior standpoint or like those alphas that feel like they're better, but those alpha mills that you know, are like, Okay, he's just a dog. Like the way he works, the way

he moves, he just does things the right way. And you can kind of feel that you don't have to really, there's not too much to be said. And I feel like he has taken that role of one of the alpha Mel's on that offense for sure. Him adjusting that put in an unbelievable amount of work, and even being across from him going against them, I definitely have seen that work and felt that working. And we push each other every time. We always want to go against each other.

I'm gonna make each other better. But are you one an Alpha Mel? I was hoping you'd say that because kind of a thing I could close my eyes and tell you who they are. I don't think i'd be far off. I mean, you definitely have that in yet, yes, sir. And it's like and it's it's one of those things where it's like you don't have to force it. There's not something where you just wake up, Okay, let me just try to be organic. Yeah, no, you just be yourself, um,

and you stay true to who you are. And I feel like, and my dad all always said, like the clean gonna rise to the top. If somebody thought they were and had to tell you they were, then they wouldn't be. Yeah, definitely, And you know you've been around guys done that guy, loud talkers, really the alpha milla,

all right. So there's a whole buffet of types of receivers you're going up against here, and they're all trying to find I kind of kind of compared to lobsters and a lobster pot, you know, trying to make, you know, get seen and find a way because it's it's size, shape, speed, a lot more speed, youth. Not a lot of them are banged up right now. But has that helped you

in any way? Oh? Definitely because of the variety. Oh yeah, for sure, because I mean we're going to I mean, they're they're a lot of talented receivers on the teams that were want to play this season. So I mean definitely having, like you said, that variety, that versatility of guys. Um the smaller, quicker guys, the bigger, stronger guys, the

longer guys who play user size and play big. I mean, just being able to go against those guys are definitely good preparation for what I'm going to see this this season, all right? Tell us about Alan Williams. He impresses me the way he stands in front of the media at the podium and just his uh what the way he delivers messages. What do you what do you think of your defensive coordinators? Just definitely a man, I would say,

of morals and principles. Um. Just talking to him and really learning more about him as a man and not only a coach. I mean, the coach coaching stuff is going to speak for himself. We're gonna soon find out. But I feel like he stands on good morals, stands on good principles. It is very articulate. M has good intentions for sure. So I mean, just really trying to

learn what he's about really as a man. Being around him more and more, I feel like has given me a different perspective, different light on who he is and kind of the way that he goes about life, the way he looks at life. Um. So I mean I'm definitely pleased with I would say, the man that he is. The loafs. Have you had any oh, everybody, I'm for sure I've asked a loaf now, that's no question. And it's like it's funny because it's like, can you plead your case or is it an this is it? You

can definitely plead your case. You can definitely. It's not a hard loaf. It's like, okay, coach, well I was seeing this, thinking this maybe, and it's like sometimes it's like okay, yeah, I can see it, but no loaf. And then sometimes it's like okay, like I can understand that. But I mean, for the most part, it's it's really one of those things where it's like a loaf is inevitable because it's like we're not we're not perfect, and there's so many different ways you can get a loaf.

But it's really I would say about limiting those loafs, especially when we get into the game or that game tape. Now, yeah, if you know you had one, oh yeah, no, Monday morning's gonna suck. Yeah. I mean, honestly, it's like one of those things where it's like you don't want to have too many. Yeah, um, I find the less you want to be on the on the less side of that, for sure. Do you know how many interceptions you've had in camp so far? Do they keep Talli's yeah, we

keep tall. I think I only really got one, all right, that numbers going out. Yeah, it's not good. You're never going out. It's not good. And it's one of those things for me to us like Justin knows when he throws the ball, gotta be a good ball. And it's like he definitely hasn't made the balls too easy to catch. It's always a finger tip for a one hand catch. But I definitely got to find a way to bring those balls in because I mean, I'm I'm I'm gonna

be in good position. I just have to find a way, whether because I mean the balls aren't gonna be thrown right to me, but just finding a way to bring those tough balls in. I have a feeling just the way it's been pounded in you guys. And I've seen this before with Lovey Smith's you know, team team principles, you know, and the same thought process, and so I would always say, hey, listen, you know there's a matter of luck involved also and taking the ball away, and

he'd have none of it, you know. But I do believe that because they're the attacking nature, there's gonna be a lot of tip balls. There's gonna be breakups that are gonna result. I think that's a part of it, and it becomes a feeding frenzy a little bit. Don't

you think that that is possible here? Yeah, definitely the way that the style of ball that we're gonna play gonna give us some more opportunities at getting the ball, whether it's fumber recoveries, tip passes, just being aggressive to the ball and having guy's really trying to punch the ball, I'll break the ball out, and just being aggressive on the ball, breaking through the receiver's hands and popping the

ball up in the air. I mean, as long as we're running to the ball, there's no reason why we shouldn't have a lot of turnovers. Belief is that also something that has to be organic in each other? And do you guys believe? Yeah? I feel like that that'll

build as we see guys putting in the work. And I find that's one of those things where it's like you have to prove that to your teammates, prove that to your coaching, pull that to the staff each and every day of what we're going to get out of somebody, what they're going to bring to the table um, And I mean only your actions can really determine what somebody

believes in. Um so, I mean really just trying to me personally, trying to put the right things out there for my teammates to believe in me, and then also push guys to really lock in on what's going on, lock in a situation, talking on pushing, pushing themselves and pushing each other to where we build that belief in one another. All right, a couple of fun ones to wrap this up. We'll get you out of here. Cheat food? What is it? Cheat? Yeah? What what you go through? Yeah?

Well maybe maybe just one that you know, like a meal or can it be a desert? Yeah, it can be you know, a cheap food, like yeah, I probably shouldn't be eating this, but I'm gonna. I don't have like a certain diet or anything like. So you eat where you eat. Yeah, so that's all I'm saying like that, all right, So you're not a snack shack? You know, at midnight you're raiding the fridge or what are you doing? No? No,

I try to control that, all right. I would think that would be are you a guy that sets an alarm? And are you a guy that hits snooze more often than that? Just getting up. No, I definitely set an alarm. I don't. It's funny because I use snooze fucking additional alarm, so like, I'll okay, snows and then I'll get up and okay, let me make sure I'm out of the shower before the snooze button comes on or something like that. But no, definitely, and most of the time I'm up

before my alarm. Have you developed any hobbies since you become a pro anything anything different about jailing off the field? No, you just yeah, I'm just yourself. Yeah, I'm all ball. I go home and then I talked to my daughter, talk to my family or something. Just relaxed, watch a movie or something. But other than that, I mean, I'm all ball. All right, chief Sounse. Saturday, looks like you guys are gonna play maybe fifteen to twenty snaps first team.

You're looking forward to that, oh for sure. Yeah, but getting out there and competing with the guys that aren't wearing bearrass colors. All right, Well, good luck, have a great year, appreciate all the time. Thank you. Jalen Johnson our guest. Coming up next, we'll be joined by the voice of the Kansas City Chiefs Mitch Holt us to talk about the game Saturday at Soldier Field. This is

Chicago Sports Radio six seventy the Score. Welcome back to Bears on access here in Chicago Sports Radio six seventy the Score, Tom Thayer, Jeff Joniak were brought to you by CVW the people to get it with Mitch Holtis, the voice of the Kansas City Chiefs, legendary voice, and they'll be coming to town Saturday to meet the Bears. You'll be shaking hands with Ryan Poles, the former thirteen year front office man of the Kansas City Chiefs now GM of the Bears. What can you tell us about him? Well,

first of all, here's the first fifteen plays. That's it. I like it. I love Ryan Ryan's He's seen life all the way around the horn. He was with us Priorday, Andy Reid and coming here and so he saw us go to two and fourteen in the depths of the Earth, Dan and the phytoplankton at the bottom of this ocean. Then he SAWCE win a Super Bowl championship. So he's seen it all. But he's got an understanding very comprehensive as an approach. It won't be anything. Hey, I'm I'm

gonna cave into somebody putting pressure on me. He knows the right thing to do might take some time. I know the last seventy two hours haven't been a lot of fun for him. But that's what the hot seats about. But you've got a good guy there, very very very steady, but very knowledgeable Mitch. When you're in a system that has such a foundation, you know everything that they're going to do in practice. Now Jeff and I are at the opposite end of the spectrum. We're in a new coach.

We don't know very well. He's developing a system. When you go to work every day, Do you know exactly what we're gonna see? Because Jeff and I go to work every day and we just don't know what we're going to see pretty much, although and he's always changing stuff. Andy Reid's brilliant. He's so underrated as a head coach. Yeah, he's fifth and all time wins, but I mean, Hallis is one of them ahead of him, So let's just put that in perspective. That's one of the five four

ahead of Andy Reid. But he does have consistency in the program. So I think that's where and respect. This is an awesome culture. And I've seen other cultures. Boys, I'm like Poles. I've been around the basis here a couple of times, and I've seen it on the other side and it is no fun. But Andy Reid when he came here, in fact, when he came here, it was like the first thirty days he was here, we had a we had a discussion. I said, coach, it

seems like this league is changing. It's like you started distrust instead if I'm talking to you guys, and I started zero, like can you trust Mitch Holtis or not? Now it seems like you're starting at minus five. He said, ah, I don't know. He goes a little bit, that's true, but he goes, it's also the environment that maybe you've been in like the several years. He goes, it'll be different with us, you'll have I will give you information.

Then he looks at me and he goes, this is your first and last warning, like with the zo and I soiled myself and I thought to have a Super Bowl ring from this guy. He's amazing in the way he respects the human spirit. That's his biggest attribute. He's a big time cat man. Mitch Alt is our guest here briefly on Bears All Access on Chicago Sports Radio six seventy to score with Tom and Jeff. What are you going to see from the Chiefs Saturday? Yeah, there's

Here's the first thing about this team. They're hyper focused and they're a little bit ticked off. They've won the AFC six straight times. It never happened in the history of the division, going back to the first day of the AFL in nineteen sixty, never happened. Raiders haven't done it, Broncos haven't done it. And yet everybody's thinking the Chiefs are gonna be Mount Vesuvius and covered in molten lava

by Halloween. That's been all you know. We have nothing but talk in this league for five months, and all the talk has been look at the AFC West. All the chips are in in the riverboat gambling game, and the Chiefs will die. Goodbye Chiefs. Well, let's take these

guys off. The coach still here, the quarterback's still here, and in four years as a starter of all the metrics other than touchdown passes, Marino's got that byers a few Mahomes has all of the other boxes checked qbr tdd NT ratio, and he's fifty sixteen is a winner. He's still here, okay, and Kelsey's still here. The best time end to ever play. And I will tell you there's a few surprises here. This has been an outstanding

camp for these guys so far. So the first thing is can they continue this pop and says against another team at Soldier Field on Saturday. The second would be these renaissance men. I don't sure. Frank Clark's got to play much and Chris Jones won't play much, but they've had outstanding camps. This is also a very good rookie class, really good bunch of rookies. Mitch Well, the loss of Hill changed the perception of you guys around the NFL about having the fastest team with the fastest, most t

arm talented quarterback in the league. I don't know. We still have McCole Hardman. He pops at four two seven. Okay, we could walk watch video tonight. We'll rent a theater on Michigan Avenue and show that video. They get sky more. He is not in the cheetah range. There's only one Cheetah and Tyreek Hill. So it's not equals a comparison. This is an algebraic equation where you're gonna get five variables. Maybe, but this is not a team lacking in speed. Mark

Quisveld Scantling. You guys saw him in the division, right. He led the league in yards per catch in twenty twenty and he con zoomed by you two last year. In fact, Pro Football Focus had him measured as the fastest guy in the league. Get a seventy five yard TDed. He was going to twenty two point seven eight miles an hour. You're not going to see a soldier field Saturday. Go oh, these guys are slow. Tyreek Hill's gone. It's like they're going to run the wishbone and look like Army. Now, no,

it's not. I love Army. By the way, it's nothing against the Black Knights, but this is still a team that is a lot of speed. And I'll tell you where they picked up speed, boys, and that is on defense. This is a much much faster defense that the Chiefs will take into twenty twenty two. All right, last question, Mitchinoia. You gotta run, but offensive line plate, that's the big conversation here in Chicago to see what goes in front

of justin fields. This mobile quarterback with a great arm and Ryan Poles has great experience at helping build lines there in Kansas City. Many feel yours is one of the best, if not the best, in the league as it's currently constituted. What's his mindset about offensive lineman that we should be encouraged about here in Chicago because he found Tyler last year. For you guys, He's got some guys in late rounds here that caught our attention, including

Braxton Jones, the fifth round pick at left tackle. No question, I love that pick. It's the old adage from weddings right, something old, something new, something borrowed, something red, in this case getting at left tackle. You go get Orlando Brown Junior. Now he's playing another franchise tag at left guard as Joe Tuney gave him m King's ransom to bring him in. But we were after Super Bowl fifty five, we were

searching at center. You get the highest rated rookie by Pro Football Focus in the whole league, and that's Creed Humphrey. You get him in the second round, ninety one grade at right guard. You get the Steel of the twenty twenty one draft in trade Smith because he's just a stud and he's a road grader. He's the Bears fans would love him like he'll drive you into the earth, help you up, and then take your lung out the next play. And then a right town. You have Andrew Wiley,

so a veteran who's grown in your system. You get a Steel draft pick. You get a Steel draft pick. You go pay for a guy, and you go pay for a guy. It's a little bit of all of that. You can't have too much money in your offensive line against the camp I understand it. But that's why you get free agents and you draft to it. Look for Poles to do that over time. He's already started with those draft picks. He's already got all right, Mitch, thank you for the time. We'll hope to see you Saturday.

I'll shake your hand, my man. See your boys go get a great season. Thank you you two. Mitch Holt, his voice of the Chiefs here on Chicago Sports Radio six seventy. The Score back with more after this. Great seats available to see your Chicago Bears this season at Soldier Field. Get your tickets at Chicago fars dot com slashed think it's final moments here on Bears All Access before the Bears meet tomorrow at Soldier Field to take

on the Chiefs. Jeff Jonyak and Tom Fair. Tom, we can talk about a lot of different things, but it really boils down to the fronts both sides of the ball and see how that plays out. I'm really interested in seeing that part of the equation tomorrow night. But what else are you looking for to see you this morning? I mentioned half the team with money and all, but I am intrigued. I'm intriguing a lot of these young players. Well, you know, the offensive defensive line is probably has the

most competitive, healthy depth right now. So it's gonna make some interesting decisions for the coaches after each of these preseason performances. And then you know, you gotta find depth everywhere at linebacker because of the interplay of the linebackers and how important they are to the defense, what style of defense and what position and how many and what safeties can come and provide a little backup between for

Eddie Jackson and Jaquan Brisker. So I think you know, when you look at a team with a new coaching staff. Everything's gonna be interesting because it's you know, it's a play to play, opportunity to be successful, and like I said, catch the attention of a coach there that maybe hasn't really formulated a real opinion of what your capabilities are. You and I discussed this earlier today. You know, I always want to see health obviously, and just you know,

first downs to lead the touchdowns. But the effort more than the outcome. You know, yes, you'd like to win, start getting that culture that you believe in each other and you're gonna overcome whatev. But you know, just the effort that we've seen, we want to make sure it transfers well. Jalen Johnson he talked about and giggled at it.

Woaths are almost gonna happen to everybody, But you better not have very many of them games like this because when you talk about efforts, speed of the game, and what they want to do to help out every the performance of this football team, effort is going to be one hundred percent evaluated as much as your individual playing assignments. We should assume, I guess in many cases here with over twenty guys out of practice the last couple of days that that will be the case again tomorrow night.

But plenty of guys that still left. You know, the receivers and defensive backs have taken the hit. Tight end position is taken a hit, and then of course no rock Quan Smith, and that's the elephant in the room. Really, the negotiations and a new contract remainstalled. A big disconnect here. I don't think players are dwelling on that right now. You got to almost treat it like an injury and move on. You know, you can't let the business side infiltrate the locker room and the rest of the team.

That is something that ro Quan has gone through individually. That's not a part of the team. So he's got to get the business side of it dealt with. And then everyone, you know, we talk about the running backs on this team. If you don't have Dame of Dave Montgomery, you have a list of guys that showed that they belong competing for an NFL opportunity. And it's going to be excited if the offensive line in the plays called compliment the running backs and we see those big first

down runs that we need to have. All we got a minute to go equip around the division. You got Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins positive for COVID. He'll miss his Sunday game. Not sure he was going to play much anyway, and also Detroit tied up. Right now, it's seventeen with Atlanta. Deshaun Watson apologized. He apologized to saying that quote. He was truly sorry to all the women that I've impacted in this situation. There are decisions I made in my

life that put me in this position. I would definitely like to have back. He is starting tonight, Cleveland trailing thirteen nothing in Jacksonville's one up, five for seven yards. Yeah, you know, that's something that Cleveland needs to figure out. Deshaun Watson going forward, you know, apparently has to make better decisions for himself, and you know, and Cleveland has to try to get back on track and get away from the noise that's been surrounding them. All Right, I'm

gonna se at the part. You're going there right now. You're gonna get set up. I'll be there early, Yes, you will. For tom There our guests tonight, including Jalen Johnson and Mitch Holtis, for our producer Caesar Perez and Jordan Trudup. I'm Jeff Jonny Act. Thanks for listening, everybody. Gabe Ramirez is coming up next. I'll be with you till nine o'clock tonight here on Chicago Sports Radio six seventy to score. Good night, everybody. Thanks for listening to

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