Kmet previews the Vikings | All Access

this week's edition of Bears All Access. As we're buried down on a Vikings arrival at Minnesota on Sunday at noon, a massively important matchup for both teams, with the clock ticking on the season, it narrows down and still conversation about a potential for a postseason berth by one of these two teams, maybe neither, but maybe both. Who knows, You never know what This wacky twenty twenty Jeff John Acolong with Tom Day were brought to you by IGS Energy. Tonight,

good evening, Tom Hyfield. I feeling good, Jeff, you know, kind of really interested in this game because there's so many different elements to this issue of Minnesota Vikings Stage two or Minnesota Bear Stage two than it was stage one and there's a lot on the line. There's a big point of emphasis by both head coaches how much

this game means to each organization. You know, there's issues with the kicking game in Minnesota, and there's issue or there's just you know, hope for the continuous improvement of the Bears and they can capitalize on the good things they did last week. It does sound like Zim is gonna stick with his kicker. Dan Bailey says he has faith in him. He's missed seven kicks though in last two games. We're gonna discuss that with our old front

Pete Bursitch, the radio analyst for the Vikings. He'll be coming up at about six ten, and then at the bottom of the hour we'll be talking to rookie tight end Cole Commet and he'll have a lot of things to say about what's going on offensively, and that's really

been the theme all week time. A lot of questions, a lot of discussion about how the collaboration is worked with coaches, Man Naggie Mitchell, Trubisky's involvement in it, things that he is asked for in this offense and that they're allowing him to do and that clearly is the movement. Clearly the types of plays they're calling, the pace, the tempo, all things that we know over the years that Mitch

has excelled at. Right, you got to have input from the quarterback because when you talk about the first fifteen scripted or like Matt and Naggie said in this press conference today that they're making adjustments by series, I think Mitchell Trubisky has to have a lot of input in that, whether he's talking on the phone to Bill Laser upstairs or eyeball to eyeball with Matt and Naggie and they

got Dave Organ and John d Philippo. So I think the inclusion of the comfort zone that you can put with um Mitchell Trubisky and in them with the most confidence, I think you have to take his what he says and maybe that that is the angle to it, because it's assumed that it is series to series, but getting

the quarterback more aold in that aspect of it. I can understand, oh, one hundred percent, you know, because you know what traits are recognized by Mitchell Trobisky to you know, to put him in the most positive and confident, you know, frame of mind, that he can be put in and that's using his legs, that's moving pockets, that's identifying receivers no matter what the defense changes to during the course

of the cadence. Because when you look a lot of those completions that include yards after catch, a lot of them didn't matter what the defense was doing with the cadence, they the offense knew what they were doing. So what do you make of that aspect of things? Because early in the year the Bears were near the bottom of the league in yards after the catch, So yes, there are rising We saw some of the big plays last

week against the Texans in their defense. But why is there so much separation now versus earlier in the seasons? Too much thinking early in the season. If you're having you're having multiple guys on the offense, you know, the whole offensive line in their protection, every receivers, whether they're

seeing man or zone. Are the quarterback the two plays that he calls in the huddle, what best fits the defense you're seeing during the course you're cadence and you're talking about all these decisions made in the matter of seconds. So how about we call a play. I don't care if you stack eleven guys behind each other down the middle of the field. Whatever we have called, we're still we're still able to run with confidence. And so I think that's what you know, what we're seeing right now

at this stage of the season. Injury news today, four guys miss practice, caldel Mac one of them with his shoulder. So that accounts to me more towards a veteran's day just to get better because there's nothing stopping that guy. He will be on the field on Sunday against the Vikings. But in the second day you got three guys buster screen,

still in the concussion protocol. Jalen Johnson working through his shoulder injury, which you know, over the course of the week it hasn't sounded like it's going to be something that's going to be a long term thing. But whether he's able to play or not that that remains the question. Against the Vikings. Then Dan Bush, who's a part of that. I'm package that Chuck Bagana likes to use out today with a foot injury. What do you make it all? You know, the uncertainty is only in the rookies, Jeff,

because we know what Khalil is capable of doing. We know that bunch of buster screen will and can't answer the bell at a moment's notice if he needs to. Same thing with Dion Bush Jayalen Johnson, that's a great unknown. What can you do at an NFL level if you miss the entire week of practice. Look, the practices aren't

that physical anymore. It's about the mental portion of it that you gotta be on your feet and you gotta communicate with everybody else, whether it's a linebacker in front of him, a safety, or a nickel corner to the to his inside. So you know to me all those other guys, Hey man, they could sit in the training room until Sunday morning and they could They could play, And I think Jalen could too, but we don't know that about him. Guess the same could be said about

Eric Kendricks and Kyle Rudolph. They were out today with the Vikings, two veterans, Rudolph missing last week. Kendricks also dealing with some things. An outstanding linebacker and I gat you got a block if he's on the field on Sunday. We'll discuss all that with Pete Bursache, the veteran radio analysts of the Minnesota Vikings and Chicago area product and Notre Damer. We can talk a little Clempson Notre Dame as well this weekend. It's all coming up next here.

I'm Bears All Access brought to you by IGS Energy with Tom Thare. I'm Jeff Joniac, our producer Tonight Rick Cap stick around more ahead here on Chicago Sports Radio six seventy to score. Welcome back to the Bear's All Access Show, brought to you by IGF Energy. Choose clean energy for your home at igs dot com because every good choice adds up to a better world. With Tom there, I'm Jeff Joniac and our good pal Pete Bursage. Man. He's just always available. That's what I love about. The

guy joining us from Minneapolis? Or are you a Saint Paul guy? Which is it? Am I a what guy? Are you a Saint Paul or a Minneapolis guy? Where are you living? Oh? I'm living at technically Saint Paul. Now okay, I just want to see what side of the fence you're on. My friend, Well, you know, yeah, the Saint Paul's more old school Hams beer was made there. Remember Hams? Oh yeah, my dad used to drink a lot of that in college. Yeah, this guy my dad used to love that, you know, a gift from dad

coming to Iowa state where I went to college. If he was driving up into a couple of cases of hams, it was like it was like in the mud Gray, honestly, no question about it. Well, Pets, the radio analysts of the Minnesota Vikings, as you all know, as uh, this NFC North keeps us all like family. Here, what's the big storyline coming out of Minnesota this week? Don't tell me it's about Dan Bailey. It's got to be more than that. Well, no, yeah, there's a lot more to

it than that. I mean, you know, you play a team in Tampa Bay that hadn't given up a sixty yard rusher all year, and Dalvin Cook goes down there

and puts up one hundred and eight on him. And the crazy part about this team, guys, is that they go down there and do something that difficult, meaning you're running the football against a really good defensive front, but you don't take care of the simple things and the easy things like turning the ball over, giving up too many sacks right, giving up you know what, six sacks, five sacks, penalties especially in the red zone. Defensively, you know, we get a past interference call on a Hail Marry

in halftime. That call hasn't been made since two thousand and nine. But yet we you know, we get one called against us. I mean, the team is just it's

so hit and miss. It is so hard to put your finger on what the problem is or what's going well, what isn't um it's it's frustrating, it's it's maddening almost and so week the week the week, I don't know, you don't know which team's gonna show up, you don't know which team you're gonna get, and you know we're just kind of it's it's so it's I hate that'd be able to I wish jooniac I could tell you this is the problem and this is what's going on.

It's but there's a lot more to it. Hey, Pete, When you look at Dalvin Cook and you look at your talented rookie Jefferson, you know, breaking records of Randy Moss Hall of Famer, who who is responsible for who is it Dalvin Cook in the running game is responsible for Jefferson to have the rookie season he's having or is the threat of Jefferson such a wide concern of opponent's defenses that maybe the line of scrimmage is a little bit looser and Dalvin Cook can capitalize on it. Um, Well,

no one's operating in the vacuum. I know that, And I think that there's one thing for sure with Kubiak our offensive coordinators. He you know, he knows how to who you know, and knows how to have a passing game that's based on the running game. And one thing about our passing game, it's not a short underneath tight passing game. I mean, you know, you look at Jefferson, He's origin almost seventeen yards a reception. You know, Adam

Sealen is close to thirteen. So it's about running the ball, getting the teams, you know, getting teams to dial in on Dalvin Cook and having to stop Dalvin Cook. And then you make them pay for it once you find out how they're going about doing it, and putting extra guys in the box to do it, You're getting a lot more one on ones in the outside. So I think Dalvin Cook, without question, is what makes this offense go.

I mean, he you know, he makes Kirk Cousins better because Kirk Cousins is a much better play action passor than he is just to drop back pocket type passer. So Dalvin is definitely, you know, he's really the starting point for the entire offense. You look at the Vikings right now, so you look at the injury report for the Bears. They got three defensive backs listening on the injury report. I raise an eyebrow if I look at that. If you're if we're looking at the Minnesota Vikings, where

what position are they the thinnest at right now? Well, we're sent a corner for you know, a very very long time. You know, you have Cameron Danceler and Jeff Gladney and then uh Chris Boyd or Chris Jones coming in uh to you know to spell them. Um, you know, defensive line, we have a lot of bodies. It's just a matter of you know, when you know you lose you know, you lose some of your better defensive lineman uh earlier in the season. You know you just don't

have really much left. And then you know it's those are the spots that we're thin I mean, Kyle Rudolph's still battling injury or Smith junior is doing a good job. Tyler Conklin is doing a good job. Um, but I think our you know, with our team, cornerback and linebacker two, Eric Kendricks is probably gonna be out. I mean, that's a huge, huge loss for us. We've been playing with Audam Todd Davis from the Denver Broncos has been doing

a great job. But still when you have Eric Wilson, Todd Davis and Troy Die a rookie from Oregon Oregon State, I can't remember which, but when you have those guys is out there in linebacker, you, yeah, it just makes you makes you a little nervous. I guess our guest is Pete Bursus, the radio analyst for the Minnesota Vikings here on Chicago Sports Radio six seventy the Score. This

is Bears All Access with Tom There Jeff Joniac. But you know, when you talk about that cornerback position, this was the plan though, right, You're going with young guys and try to weather the storm. But you know you thought maybe a little bit more upfront would would take care of the pass rush. But you lose Daniel Hunter, you don't resign Verson Griffin and gock Way comes but he goes you know, we played you in week ten and he's still you're leading sacker. Has that impacted what

goes on in the back end? You know, you know, you're exactly right. I mean you I mean you look at the number of guys on our defensive line with multiple sacks, you know, not many. You know, dj Wanham is leading our defensive line group with three and then you have a Foty Identibo with three and a half. I mean, that's it. Cameron Danzler is a you know, third round pick. Um. He's starting to play better. You know, he had an interception a couple of weeks ago, a

forced fumble and a fumble recovery. He's starting to play with some confidence. And Jeff Gladney is as well. Um, but he moves inside whenever teams go three wide, and so that'll bring you know, like Chris Jones out or Chris Boyd out, you know, onto the field and that's usually where teams are, you know, trying to go having defensively, having the blitz more to get pressure on the quarterback. We can't just do it all the time with a four man rush. So Harrison Smith has been more involved.

Eric Wilson's a very good blitzer. Um, and we have to you know, we have to send sometimes an extra guy just to get the ball out quickly. So Um, but we knew that, we knew we were going to be young at corner going into this season. But um, you know we were. They're getting better, The young guys are getting better. Jeff Gladney's a competitor, he's healthy, he's staying on the field, he's getting better week in and

week out. And it's like it's about time, you know, we start, you know, seeing and getting some return on some of these younger corners. Let's talk special teams because all I read Monday and Tuesday weren't do we have to? Well listen, the anger I want to take is is the history of it? All your writers there went through the entire history of the impatience, I guess is the best way to describe with Zim in terms of not

tolerating much and moving on from things. And here he's sticking with Dan Bailey after seven miss kicks in two games. I mean, what is the real story about your Special Teams unit? Because I always felt it was pretty dog on a good unit and they do play hard it may not be as highly thought of as as years passed, but overall, is that is that an accurate depiction of what's going on from a Mike Zimmer point of view? Well, I I the fact that Mike sticking with Bailey, I

think is you know, it's a prude. It's the prudent thing to do. I mean, Um, they know what's going on more than we do. Uh, they know where Bailey's head is more than than any of us do. Um. And for you know, for him to stick by him, um, you know that's I think it's I think that's awesome that he's doing that. I mean special teams wise. What's been hurting us too, is just our punt return Um. You know, kJ Osborne was was as young as a rookie from Miami. We've had him on some kick returns

and some punt returns been you know, been disappointing. I mean you look at Cardill Patterson and what he's done. I mean we've had forty nine yards of punt returns this season, guys forty nine told the whole year. You know, Chad beebe muffing a punt and then fortunately comes back later in the game catch touchdown to win the game.

I mean, we we've had so many mistakes on special teams um, so many uh you know, kick returns, punt return It's just it's been it's like as soon as things get good, they get better, then all of a sudden, something else rears its ugly head. And it's just been kind of moving around. You know. We had Austin cutting the long snapper that we brought in and then we had to release him. I mean, it's been it's been

a revolving door. And in a lot of ways, uh, colquitt, our punter has been consistent, so yeah, we got a consistent punter um. But overall it's just been a very inconsistent group on a lot of that I think has to do with a lot of these guys having to play defense. You know, when you're down starters. The guys that you have is your special teams unit. They're out there on the field, so then you got to limit their snaps and you know, um, it's yeah, we haven't.

We've lost more games with the special teams than we've won, and that's usually not a good thing. We're talking about is than kickers. But I got to ask you one

more question. Do you think there could be a little bit more emphasis that Bailey's got to hit the ball out of the end zone given the fact that Corderyl did return a kick off against you guys, Because you know, it's kind of like when you put that type of pre sure I'm a kicker, maybe it interferes with his integrity or just his ability just just to go out there and concentrate and get the ball off of his foot. Well,

you know, guys, it's one thing. There's one thing that's changed throughout the twenty thirty years, last three years of football, all the things that have changed. One of the things that's changed the most is just these kickers and how far they can kick the ball. And really, right now, it's not hard or it's not too much of a challenge for anyone to be able to send it out of the back of the end zone. And I mean,

discretion is the better part of valor. I mean, you know, why, why why let Cordell Patterson have the opportunity, Why even give them the chance when you can start at the twenty five and you know, make make those guys go up and down the field. You want to know why, it's fun why, Because that's why. Don't kick it out of the back end for you guys, don't extend your arms. Let's have a little fun, Pete, I know for sure. Fine, right, okay, yeah, well we'll we'll put our we'll put Amrabdula up against

your Cordarell Patterson and we'll see what happens. Right enough enough, kicker talk. Hey, So now, last last time the Bears played the Vikings, Kirk Cousins got over the hump of winning on Monday Night football. Does Kirk Cousins feel like he's got a bigger hump to get over because the consideration for both teams is they're still in the playoff hunt. And you know, Kirk Cousins seems to be the stir that the straw that starts the drink. Well, you know he had. I think the win down to New Orleans

UM a year ago was huge. To that overtime victory UM. I think that answers a lot of questions. I mean, I think for Kirk this is the bottom line. If if you try to do what Carolina did at the end of a game when you're rushing three people, UM and you turn it into a seven on seven drill Kirk Cousins, will shred, will shred you. I mean he if you let if you give him time and let him just survey what's going on. But you know in the defensive backfield, he can just go up and down

the field. Where teams have had successes is in pressure and keeping him in the pocket and keeping pressure on him. I mean, those are the things. More so I don't think he carries a lot of that with him into these games where he feels like, you know, this is an opportunity for me to do this as an opportunity for me to win Monday night game. This is an opportunity for me to do this on the road or at home. I think for him it's it's really getting into a rhythm of a game and understanding and seeing

what's going on downfield. And he doesn't do that very well when he has people in his face constantly. So protection is something that's huge. And if you want to get him off off his game, you get pressure on him, you just don't let him sit back there and get comfortable. Beat versus you. Our guest here on Bears All Access on Chicago Sports Radio six seventy to score a couple of minutes to go with you. Let's switch gears because you know you Golden Domer's got a big one. Where

are we What are we thinking? Here? Well, we're playing When are we playing? Clemson? Come on, man, you help us out. What are you thinking? What are you thinking? Where's your where's your where's your thought process? Put your analysts capped on both of you, guys. Uh time you got time? You go ahead and take this one. I don't watch a whole lot of college football anymore. I

just don't have time. Well, you know, when you look at the quarterback position, in the most high profile position in the country, and you have the marquee quarterback in the country for Clemson and they didn't play him last time they got together, it seems like, you know, uh, Lawrence is gonna put him over the hum. It's gonna put him over the edge. He's gonna take this one. This,

you know, championship Conference championship game down. But I think this is probably the best defense that Clemson will face, uh this season. You know, and not luckily Notre Dame has had a lot of chance to play games and they you know, kind of have a good thing going on the defensive side of the ball and always, and it's always seems in you know, in the last ten years or so I've been watching them, is that there you're just lacking speed and lacking speed, especially on defense.

And I don't know if that's as much of an issue this year as it's been, But when you get to these sec SEC teams that spread the ball out, I mean, you've got to have some speed in the back end of your defense. They missed that Pete versage speed. Uh you know, yeah, no, the defense of the Irish anyway, Well, hey, Ipe, you'll watch at least yeah, right, I hope you're gonna Hey, hey, hey, clear your schedule, watch watch your alma mater for crying out loud, will you? Well, well, come on, I got

stuff to do. You know. Well, any before we let you go, last thing, what's your view on what a lot of changes on that Bear offense? Yes, there, you know you get I think with Rubisky you see a lot of the you know, you understand the routes that he can throw. I mean, you can keep on the move, bootleg him and all that, but the driving dig, you know, the shallow cross of the dig behind it or the high low he's been completing a lot of those passes.

It seems like, you know, nag, he's got him in a in a bit of a rhythm there, so to speak. If he sees pressure and you know it needs to get rid of it, he's just gonna throw, you know, throw a fifty fifty ball up to Alan Robinson, you know, and it's working. And then whenever David Montgomery you can break one no matter how, and you make the defense have to stop the run, then you know, yeah, you

have a little something there. It's it's all related. You know, the offensive line is better, um, and then you know, not great. I mean that's I think that's where that team, you guys need to have the most amount of investment and in the offseason is you know, I don't care who you have a quarterback. When you don't have an offensive line, um, yeah, you're gonna have problems. So Rubisky, you know, Drubisky can't just sit back and be pocket passer. You gotta keep moving. And I was it was a

good you guys. You know, you played well against Houston, which you should have, but you guys did. It's the biggest win you've had one a year and a half two years. I mean that's that's good. Good for the Bears, all right, Pete, good luck on Sunday, not too much luck, and Merry Christmas to you and your family, all right, buddy, Hey, you guys, you guys have won the last two in a row up in Minnesota, so right turned out to make it a little different now this one has a

lot more Marry Christmas all you guys too. Man, All right, Pierre, good to talk to you, coming up. Actually joined by Bears Rookie tight End, Cole Commet. This is Bears All Access on Chicago Sports Radio six seventy the Score. Everybody, welcome back to Bears All Access here on Chicago Sports Radio six seventy the Score. This segment of Bears All Access brought to you buy Microsoft Surface End CDW people who get it and learn more at CDW dot com.

Carving out some time for us tonight, Rookie tight End, Cole Commet, Good Thursday evening to you, Cole, how you feeling, Hey, how are you guys doing? Okay? Called doing all kay? I'm sure you still got a lot of a lot of your work. They still left. It never ends, and certainly yesterday with the curveball, no baseball pun intended, because you know you could throw one with the best of them. Um, it's it's a challenge every week because you know, creatures

a habit preparation the way it is. You guys like to get your work done and very specific time frames and to be able to digest it all, get your work in mentally on the field and what not. I'm sure it's been one of the bigger challenges for everybody, let alone a rookie. Yeah, no doubt. You know it's been weird, the ever changing schedule. I think Jeff we talked about it one other time last week, and it

just changes, you know, day to day. So you know, finding a rhythm is tough, no doubt, especially in a year like this. But um, you know it's been good so far, and you know you just gotta kind of take it, take it day by day and whatever the day brings it. You kind of kind of have to attack it that way. You know. A word that pops into my head here and certainly you never played this many games one season. Well you know are going to any way, but it's survival a little bit, especially this year.

You're just trying to survive each week, hoping everybody's going to be okay, in addition to your own health physically, from the from the rigors of a game, and just you know, try to be mentally as tough as possible here. Is that something that is discussed, I mean between you and the guys or you know, even fellow rookies. Yeah, I think that's something you know, definitely leading into this season was something that I think we were all kind

of concerned about, especially US rookies. Um, you know, trying to find a way and you know, it's been tough, no doubt. I mean I think, you know, whatever, whatever the situation comes, like the other day when you know, we kind of had to wait because you know, whatever happened with our test results and you know, how to go back in and get um, you know, the quick test and then and then everyone was clear to come

back in later in the day. Um. It just kind of things that I've been happening this year and just something you kind of have to deal with and you know it can be mentally exhausting sometimes, but you know, just kind of is what it is. In twenty twenty, Minnesota is a beautiful playing atmosphere when you look at the conditions last week, natural surface outdoors at Soldier Field and now a little late season indoors, perfect playing conditions

and an artificial surface. Do you have any preference as to what type of surface you play on. Yeah, So it's kind of funny. Um. You know, obviously, in college Notre Dame, we switched to turf when I got there, so that's all I was used to, and that's all that we practiced on. And then, you know, that's kind of what I was used to in college because most of the college stadiums had had turf. And then coming into Chicago and you know at Hallis it's all grass,

and that's all I was on for training camp. And then we go the first week of the season against Detroit, we're kind of forced inside because of the weather, and you know, we were on turf for a couple of days, and you kind of realize you get pretty sore on turf, but even though you're flying around and you feel good while you're playing on it, the next day is not

so great. So I think, you know, for one game, you know, or for one day out of the week, you know, it's I think we all love playing on turf. Because you feel fast and you're moving around quick, but you know there's definitely some aches and pains that come along with it afterwards. So a couple of weeks ago, you play the Minnesota Vikings, and you were less included in the game plan than you are up at this point.

So when you talk about preparing in your personal time, not when you're sitting there in the meetings with the rest of your teammates, will you take time to invest in watching the first Minnesota game or will you invest most of your time in the last week's Tapa game Tapa Minnesota game. Yeah, So I think it's kind of funny when looking at us, uh, you know whatever that was six weeks ago against the Vikings. Our offense is

a little bit different right now in a lot of ways. Um, we got more movements going on, and there's there's just a lot more going on that we weren't doing against Minnesota six weeks ago. So you know, in that in that state, you know, we kind of I've kind of been looking at teams that have been running and were stuff to us the past couple of weeks, and you know, looking more at more recent games with the Vikings, So looking at Tampa and whatnot. So, um, yeah, it's definitely

a little different to see and kind of cool. I see how our offense has changed just from six weeks ago. So when you think about six weeks ago and when we are listening to the coaches talk today, Bill Laser and Matt Nagee, and they talk about, you know, Mitch being able to share what he likes, what he feels

confident with. When you are game planning, have you had an opportunity to talk to either that your position coach, or Bill Laser or Matt and Nagee about the types of plays that you would like to be included for yourself or what you where your comfort zone is or are they just supplying you with the information you need

to know and then you have to study that. Yeah, I think that's kind of how it was in the beginning of the season, where I was just getting supplied information and you know, I just kind of took the information and did what I had to do with it. But I think recently, you know, I've been a great relationship with our tight ends coach, Clancy Browne, and you know, he's a guy that has really helped me learn how

to watch film and whatnot. So I've been able to go to him and say, hey, I like doing this stuff, and a lot of it aligns with what with what Mitch likes to do. You know, I like moving around, being in motion, you know, coming back across the field, you know, having dump off passes then you know, allowing myself to get yards after the catch. So those are some things that I like and I know and Mitch likes as well. So that's been a good fit for

these past couple of weeks. Cool come at Bears rookie tight end John I guess here on Bears Alt Access with Tom There Jeff johnyak Here in Chicago Sports Radio six seventy to score. Hey, Cole, how does that feel as a player and even with the veterans and just your discussions, because I do feel even though you guys aren't sitting in the locker room just hamming it up and talking, you know, in between practice sessions and meetings,

there is a lot of conversation going on. You've got your executive counsel kind of with the with the team

and the leadership. But how does it make you feel that the coaching staff has allowed this free flow of information in this effort, and I got to call it a valiant effort because the frustration level I'm sure all of you had felt, and I felt it even from from coach Naggi and the coaches just keep trying to find ways to get this offense, which statistically it was at the bottom of the barrel in the league and now slowly working your way out of that. Um, it

had to really wear on everybody. But the open mindedness of going to you guys and sharing some information that has that been an important development here in the last post bye week. Really yeah, no doubt. I mean, I think at the end of the day, you know, coaches and players were all in this together and we're all trying to get w so, UM, I think I think he was a grueling, you know, six game losing streak that we had, and UM, I think we were learning

a lot about each other through that process. And you know, it was tough week to week, you know, having that happened, especially when you know there was there is winnable games in there. And you know, I think I think us just as the communication line between the players and coaches has been great, and you know, really ever since the bye week, and you know, we've been trying to give input and they and they've they've understood our point of

view and certain things. So you know, I've seen obviously, you know, the older guys kind of take charge of that, and you know, me as a rookie, I get to kind of watch from afar and you know, obviously support my guys. But you know, it's been it's been good these past couple of weeks. And you know, obviously it's exciting when you get to see the players and coaches gel together, and you know it starts to click on offense.

Cool when you went back to work this week, the first time you get together, whether it's in person or on zoom, and now you could start finishing sentences with playoff picture because you couldn't do that in the midst of the losing streak. Was it a different atmosphere when you got together or you could see your teammates faces and you could honestly say, look, man, we are making a push here for possible playoff position. Yeah, no doubt.

I mean I think we offensively kind of felt that actually after the Detroit loss, where that was a heartbreaking loss and we thought we played really well and we thought we punished them up front for ninety percent of that game, and you know, obviously to come out and have it slip away from us from the last two minutes,

that was really tough. But we knew we were in a good spot and I think that led into the next game against the Texans, and I think that's just going to keep going on for the rest of the season. So I think, you know, we feel confident with where we're at, and you know, we know offensively we execute and do the things that we need to do offensively. You know, our special teams in defense has been playing

great all year. They're going to take care of their things and and we're gonna be able to move the ball and control the clock as well. So I think with that, you know, it's just about about getting hot right now and go and want to know each week for the rest of the season, and we should be in a good spot. Cool come at a couple of more minutes with the Bears rookie tight End here on Chicago Sports Radio six seventy to score. This is Bears

All Access Bears getting ready for the Vikings. Everyone wants to know, everyone wants to hear what it's like right now. With Mitchell Trubisky versus what it was early in the season. That seems to be a curiosity for almost every day of questions from the media here locally and just from fans in general. What perspective can you give a Bears fan right now what that dynamic is like? Yeah, I think, I mean, I can just speak to us to right now.

I think Mitch is he's confident, He's having a lot of fun a practice, and you know, he's just doing his thing out there. I think I think he's, uh, he's confident and understanding as to what he wants and what he likes. And you know, I think that that's shown, you know, really since the since the since the bye week, and um, you know, he's just been a great, you know, positive attitude for us to have, and he's just been bringing a ton of energy and you know, I think

we've all been feeding off of it. Hey, Cole, is there any is there any similarities between Mitchell Trubisky and Ian Book. Honestly, there there are a lot. You know, they're both uh, they're both got the same type of athleticism, I think, and um, you know the same type of attitude and and charisma. So they both kind of share that.

And I actually mentioned that, um to Tommy Reese, our our OC at Notre Dame a while back in the summer when I first started to get to know Mitch and you know, obviously was staring around with him a little bit, and yeah, they're they're very similar u athletically and you know, just kind of how they handled themselves on the field. All right, So what are you thinking

your boy's gonna get it done? I mean the remakeh yeah, of course, I mean this is our We're undefeated first of all, in the in the history of Notre Dame football. We're undefeated in conference games. Um, so we got that going for us. Um. Obviously this is our first ACC championship game. But I think the boys are feeling good with where they're at. Very good ship. Must see TV,

no question about it. I'm sure you'll enjoy it and you'll be Yeah, it's a little different perspective now as a fan, right, no doubt, no doubt you're back to the fan part of it, and you know you don't have the TV all the time and whatever. But you know, it's a lot of fun and you know, I love those guys and you know all those guys are my best friends over there. Yeah. Good group of guys, very talented team, no question about it. Cole, good luck on Sunday,

and thanks for taking out this time. We really do appreciate it. Yeah, I appreciate you, guys. Cole commet bears tight end looking good. He mentioned Tom. I think it was the word was a ruggedness or I can't remember now, but he's planned like that right now, a rugged with the ball in his hands, and the blocking aspect of things to me is really a significant part of this

puzzle right now. Well, you know, one of the things when you listen to Bill Laser and Bill Laser in his conference today, he talks about players have to earn the NFL respect if they want to interject something to the game plan, if they want to be more noticed. It's never just handed to them, and it's all about

being earned. And I think that was one of the telltale signs here for Cole in the early part of the season was make sure that you can be a really destructive good blocker, whether it's on the mover or on the line of scrimmage, and you're going to increase opportunity these for yourself and I think that's the way

he's gone about his business. All right, Well, you're gonna learn a little bit more about Cole Commet this weekend on our Bears Game Day Live show ten thirty on Fox thirty two Chicago with our buddy Luke Cannellis, Tom and I in our player profile. He's the feature this week, Tom, So I'll be looking for that on all the Bears social media platforms as well. We're gonna step away for a break here on Chicago Sports Radio six seventy the Score.

This is Bears All Access and it's sponsored by IGS Energy. Back in a minute with Tom Bear, Jeff jony Ac back on Bears All Access brought to you by IGS Energy. This segment of Bears All Access it brought to you by Athletical Physical Therapy. Visit Athletico dot com the request an appointment in clinic or virtually and start feeling better. Tomorrow, my broadcast partner from WBBM, Tom There, We'll have a pregame in nine kickoff at noon on WBBM with the

Ron Gleason, Jim Schwanz, and Jay Hilgenberg. In that pregame trio, lots of discussion to be had about these Minnesota Vikings. When you get into Division tim, it's where it's your lifeblood to get to get to where you need to go. So it's gonna be a ta I'm glad it's not the last regular season game of the year against the Vikings, because meaningful game in mid December against the Vikings a different measuring stick. Yeah, But you know, I think the

seriousness of the approach of both head coaches. You have one that's more defensive minded, defensive oriented, and Mike Zimmer, you know, a real one of the ultimate tough guys of head coaching, cut coaches in the NFL. And you got Matt who is you know, he talked about his pass as a quarterback. That's how he understands the game, That's how he sees it. He's got more. Both of these guys have more on their play than just offensive defense.

But they're the head coaches of their football team. And I think from the very beginning of this week it was early notification that you better approach this with the playoff type atmosphere. And I know you're just trying to stay into the race of the playoffs, but you have to consider yourself in the playoffs at this point. Yeah,

earlier in the week. This wasn't today, but earlier in the week, Matt Naggy, you know, specifically about Mitchell Trubisky's play and if it's a real sign of growth, Let's play a clip of what Mets feeling about that is. Yeah, I think it's real. And I say that because I'll kind of go back to when everything went down the first three weeks, and there was times where we were even then moving the ball really well and we were just struggling a little bit in the red zone. We

were struggling a little bit on third down. And as y'all know, you know, we we've changed some things right schematically as to this offense and what it was even two years ago in twenty eighteen to try to work around the strength of our players and when we made the move to Nick again at that point in time, it's it's really hard to accept for Mitchell, but I do believe that for a lot of different reasons, that's going to end up really helping him out in his career.

And what it's done is it's it's enabled him to take a step back and see where we're at. And now these last three games. We're feeling an identity within this offense, and he's a big part of that. You know, he's able to see some of the stuff we're doing with the nakeds and the movements, and he's changing his arm angles. He's making good decisions where he's looking down field and if it's not there, he's getting the ball down to the backs and the tight ends and they're

making plays. It's hard to defend when you do that. When you get the run game going we did early on and then you know towards the end there when they knew we had to run the ball, that's where I thought they stopped us a couple of times. But that's okay. Our guys are still working through that. I've mentioned the identity part the last couple of weeks, and we feel that way and the guys are playing with confidence, and I do believe it's real for Mitchell right now.

And I like where he's at and he's just kind of staying in his own lane and he's just being a leader and making plays, and that's what's important. Tom. There's a late season arrival at defining an identity. Is there enough time? Do you have enough time to utilize that to get to where you need to go. I mean, you're always going to be scoreboard watching or looking at the side of your eye of what other teams are doing around the league to see if you're staying in it.

But when you think about a player like Mitchell Trubisky, I don't think he's ever he's ever wanted, No player ever wants to be forced to take a seat. And then, because it's such a challenge to your preparedness, what are you doing with your time off? Are you still constructive about making sure that you pay attention to what's going on with your next opponent. Are you going out and doing in practice what's always been expected of you, whether

you're a starter or fighting for an opportunity. So I think Trubisky has gone on to show everybody that you know, he's willing to do what's being asked of him. But ultimately, Mitchell Trubisky wants to be a starting quarterback. He wants his role to be a starting quarterback in the NFL. All right, let's flip to the defense a minute, because they put in a terriffic pressure was consistent against the

text with seven sacks. This is a Minnesota team time that has given up ten sacks of Kirk Cousins in the last two games. So that's where they're vulnerable when that pressure's cranked up on a consistent basis. Off of that, you'd still like to see the ball fall into the hands of some of these defenders. Attack the football, secure it when it's out there, go and get it. There's been a drought for Eddie Jackson, there's been a drought for even Kyle Fuller. Jalen Johnson has not at an

interception this year. I'm talking about all the corners buster screens in fifty one games without an interception. To Sean Gibson, it's got the most interceptions out of that entire secondary in his career. On this interception drought today, oh man, I think that's the most frustrating part about it all. I mean, it's a bunch of guys in this secondary

that part ourselves on getting to the ball. When you got a guy like myself who's been proven to do it over in our career, you got a guy like eighty who is a top tier guy getting the ball, guy like Kyle, you know, the production on the balls just having been where we wanted to what can I attest to that. I mean, I'm not sure. It's so many things that going there. Luck is a lot to do with it, obviously, It's just some things that you just can't explain. You can be in perfect coverage, man,

and there'll be a PBu instead of a pick. Those those floaters, those tip passes that you know that they probably got back in twenty and eighteen when they was leading the league, and turnovers, those bouncers just not coming on win when they are, we just not capitalize on. It's a lot of things, man, obviously, and teams are getting the ball out a lot quicker than normal. Obviously, when you've got guys that can rush that way, that's

how you neutralize those guys. Man. So, um, whatever it may be, I have no clue, man, but I know the last three games, Man, I think that we're itching because that's unlike a secondary like this, And I think that everybody is aware that we want to get our hands on and have more opportunities to make plays on the ball. But it's nobody. We have nobody to blame but ourselves. And obviously, like I say, man, it's better late than never. Man, three games is a lot of

football to be played. Three games, a lot of opportunities to go out there and make plays in the ball. So who knows. Man, Hopefully that that that that street turns right now, man, and we can start to continue to do the things that we do. But at the end of the day, it's all about winning. The thing about what the Bears did great last week and it could be the perfect intersection against Kirk Cousins. His offensive line has given up a bunch of sacks the last

couple of weeks. Last week, the Bears game planned unpredictable pressure, so it wasn't always let's stop Khalil and it's somewhat no one else is going to get there. Okay, you know, I know Robert Quinn has taken a lot of criticism, but he's very unselfish when he's going to run a perfect stunt and end tackle stunt and he unselfishly gives up his body against two offensive lineman to set another

defensive lineman free. And then you got Balal Nichols capitalizing on a good rush from the opposite side of the line, seeing that void and be able to close the distance and get to the talented quarterback and then to put Roquan Smith in a position on the line of scrimmage that he becomes responsible the offensive line, and now you'll open up a one on one for Khalil mac against

their most vulnerable offensive linemen. That unpredictable pressure in the eyes of Kirk Cousins will speed speed the desire to get the ball out of his hands more quickly, and then that's when you result this tip ball into an interception. So if the Bears can formulate a really good pass pressure plan like they did this past week, we should see a couple interceptions. Scheme receivers open, you can scheme

pass rushers open in the same vein. And that's what Chuck Pagano has tasked with this week against the Vikings, stopping Dalvin Cook number one on the list though Roque at fourteen tackles season nigh against the Vikings and three tackles for Lust. I'll need to be that guy again on Sunday. All right, one more break, then we'll wrap things up on our show tonight. Throw a couple of

topics at Tommy. It's Bears Vikings On Sunday, We're breaking it down here on Chicago Sports Radios six seventy the score. Hey Bears fans, went shopping for your game day celebrations, don't forget to pick up your favorite variety of lays, Patata chips, end Tostitos, tostitos and ladies, an essential part of the game day tradition and the official chip of your Chicago Bears Gold Bears. All right, we got a

minute to go here, Tommy. Road teams have won forty nine point three percent of their games, highest since two thousand and one. The most ever was in seventy two. You know, right when you started playing forty eight point four percent. What will it take for the Bears to win? You got forty five seconds. Give me three reasons. David Montgomery. David Montgomery, David Montgomery. If you have any run game factor, if you have any line of scrimmage, influence, any awareness

without what fate. If Kyle Hendricks, They're talented, talented, talented middle linebacker doesn't play, then it is a big void in the middle. The guy's one of the best instinct linebackers in the league. And David Montgomery did not play against the Vikings in the Week ten meetings, So look out, here comes Montgomery as the Bears look to knock out

the Vikings in Stale live in the playoff hunt. That's gonna wrap this up here for top There, I'm Jeff jonny K. Thanks everybody for listening, and to our producer Rick Camp, Dan Burrelli, and Jordan tread Up. Get out of everybody. Thursday Night football coming up next, Chargers in Vegas. 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.

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