Larry Borom on Ravens defense | All Access

the folks here at the score. Coming up on the program tonight, We'll be joined by rookie right tackle Larry Borham and also the voice of the Baltimore Ravens Jerry Sandusky. Lots to break down coming out of the bye week time, and I thought it was interesting today up at allisall the coordinators speak. So you got Sean Decai, you got Bill Laser, and you got Chris Tabor, all being asked questions something that happened ten eleven days ago in Pittsburgh.

They're on the Baltimore and I get it. Writers want to fill their stories and fill in the blanks to their stories for the week about what happened in that Steelers game, and a lot happened, and a lot happened good in the second half, especially offensively that we hope we'll carry in past the bye week into the final

eight games of the year. But you know, from a player or a coaching perspective, to go back at a game before the buye we can break it down how difficult it is that and how difficult would be for you because you want to talk about the next thing. Yeah, but it's fresh in the memory of every one of those coordinators. So if there's a question that someone wants to answered, yeah, they can ask him. But it is

about moving on to the next event. And when you look at all three of these guys, Tabor's going against a head coach who's a special team's coordinator by trade. They have the most exciting and explosive quarterback in the game right now that Sean Decid, first time defensive coordinator has to get prepared to go against. And then you have Bill Laser, who's calling the plays for a blitz happy,

blitz heavy, physical football team. It's unbelievable what all these guys have at stake and what this game really means. To get a judgment of where you're at, well, there's a lot to unpacking that team. They're in first place and they are coming off a loss to Miami and the Dulphins really through the kitchen sink at him. That really got our attention as well. Do you feel that the Bears can do anything related to that against Lamar Jackson?

I hope they at least attempted, because when you go back and you look at that Miami game, you know from last Thursday, they had a defensive game plan that I've never seen before. You don't go up there in line everybody up in the line of scrimmage. Then you have a row of three or four defensive backs and there's a separation of space in between because there is

no linebackers at the linebacker depth. It was an unbelievable game plan that the Miami Dolphins went and chanced their aggressiveness, their approach, and they were really able to confine the explosiveness of a guy like Lamar Jackson. All Right, so let's listen in the Shawn to site earlier today and just what they have in their sights. Lamar Jackson. He's a unique and special talent, and you see why he's in the MVP conversation. He's, you know, deserving that his

game has developed so much. They've done a great job there with him. Obviously, he can beat with his feet, he can beat you with his arm, and he's throwing the ball accurately, you know, over the top of the defenders, and he's hitting a lot of underneath throws also, So I think he's playing the full component of what you want a quarterback to play like in this league. And he can extend plays obviously, and even when he's extending it, he's not like some some other guys where he's looking

to run right away. You know, he's still looking to kind of gash you in the pass game, and he's got the confidence of Beach in the run game. Well, the bigger thing about that all is that when he gets out, and he will, he'll get out of the pocket a little bit, or he'll make a play. The yards after contact and yards after the catch. That makes a difference. Because they got a kicker over there. They

can kick sixty six yard field goals. So when you get your chance to make these tackles, make these plays defensively, you got to make him in this game. Yeah, you have to make the tackles when the opportunity is presented, but you also have to condense the size in the space where these ball carriers, the receivers, and most notably the quarterback has a chance to escape too. So you know, it's exciting when you hear Sean Decide talk about Lamar Jackson.

That's the way I hope we're talking about justin Fields eventually, because he has those types of talents where he's going to hold the ball a little longer to try to make you pay in the long run, either throwing it or running on you. So it's a really exciting opportunity to watch these two quarterbacks at this two stages of

their careers. And I brought it up to you earlier this week justin Fields final drive in Pittsburgh, because of the environment, what was at stake, they had a lead, they could have won the game on the final kick. If they had had that offsides on Pittsburgh call, then maybe that kick would have been good from sixty. It was right down the middle as it is, And I thought, you know what, this team has lost four in a row.

Can they maintain focus where they want to go to work with eight games to go, because it's a lot on the schedule yet. But I think that was answered when to Sean Gibson was asked about that final drive about his the offensive teammate justin fields because they think these guys time are going to be engaged. Oh yeah, I think that energies everybody seeing a drive like that. You know, obviously that's huge, that's shoes for him, that's

hused for his momentum. That's huge for the team when you can have a quarterback that that that, you know, man, longest we give him enough time, longest we give him the ball back, we know that good things gonna happen. And I was just one of those things where you know, I just feel confident that whole drive, that one gonna make a play. That's that's some of my own offense gonna make a play. And they did just that. So, like I say, that's just a testament to the growth

that he's making from weeks three to now. And you can be more happy about that. Man, he's trending up in a right direction, and you know it's it's in a perfect time and for us to catch their stride and and you know, we got some tough games ahead of us, man, but I wouldn't want him to catch this stride any other time than right now. So he's doing what you gotta do, man to put us in position to win football games. We just gotta play complimentary,

complete football, right now. That's it, and that is a good point. Guys got to play complimentary football. But do you agree with my premise that this team will be more engaged as long as and if Justin Fields continues to rise. Of course, you know, the first of all,

they know what's at stake individually for all of their jobs. However, when you have that type of effort, that type of future, and the explosiveness and the excitement he can contribute, oh yeah, I think if these guys are playing selfishly, then they're not going to worry about the big picture of this team. But I think he really is an element that is bringing a sense of excitement here that, like you said, it carried into the second half of the Pittsburgh Steeler game.

And that's one of the things that's most impressive because he never lost faith after some poor field position to start the game. Justin Fields coming up as two best performances as a Bear quarterback now goes up against the guy he's watched and study, Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens coming up next, We'll be joined by Bears rookie right tackle Larry boorm It's all ahead here on Bears All Access on Chicago Sports Radio six seventy The Score.

Welcome back to Bears All Access, 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. With my broadcast partner Tom Fair, the Super Bowl Bear Guard, I'm Jeff Johnnyak. Welcome back to Bears All Access here in Chicago Sports Radio six seventy to Score. Please to be joined by a fifth round pick, a starter in his first year in the National Football League

at right tackle, Detroit's very own and Missoo's Larry Born. Larry, thanks for taking the time out after practice here today to talk to Tom and I. We we became aware of you at rookie minicamp and we were like hmm. We kept looking at each other like, hey, this guy, this guy, now, hold on, now, this is this is gonna be interesting to see. And that has been the

case for you. Has been a steady climb, a couple of blips along the way, with some injuries and the COVID situation, But Larry, how has this journey been from the time we got to the Chicago Bears to where we're at right now. Oh, like you said, I mean, I kind only do a couple of things. It's kind of like a roller coaster has been Honestly, it's been greater. I really wouldn't change anything. I'm gonna believer that everything happens for a reason. So I've enjoyed. I'm home. I mean,

I love everything about it. You know, Larry, Back in the day, Jeff, here's this all the time, I was a fourth round draft choice, and I was really disappointed. I was drafting in the fourth round. When I first got my eye, when I first saw you, I was going, Wow, this dude's a fifth rounder. Were you disappointed at being chosen in the fifth round or you know where? Did you have your sight set at that time? Honestly, I

don't really think I thought too much of it. Always I felt like I just need to get my foot in the door, and I was just the first step of being able to do that, to be a drafted period, no matter where I was to go. So I wouldn't be disappointed. I want to say that. So you know, the offensive tackle, that's the money position. But I heard a lot of people talking about you possibly being an

offensive guard and how they were evaluating you. Did you ever consider that you could be coming out of college as a guard or were your sight set an offensive tackle from the time you got here. Honestly, I always said to play anything they needed to be to play. But coming out of college, I mean I knew what I could do personally, and just seeing different things about like athleticism and stuff like that, I kind of just didn't even really pay too much attention to it. I

felt like I still come out and play. Well. What about the weight fluctuation, because you know, it's something when you see a guy get as big as what you were described as being. To the point when we saw you the first time in shorts in a jersey, he said, Man, this guy's this guy's physically gifted and physically fit. Was it a challenge to change the weights or can you do that easily? Um? When I first started it, I feel like it was just a mental challenge trying to

really get into a strict diet. But now I feel like I learned my body that I can I can control. It shouldn't be It's not gonna be issue. Again, how strict was it, Larry, because hey, we all can use a little advice. I wouldn't necessarily strict being out in California training. I mean the options were there are a lot of good options. Um. So really it was just me doing a lot of extra as far as like

extra conditioning and stuff just before workouts. So maybe after a workout, just trying to get an upper hand on what I need to hand them. You know, when you're doing something like that and you're looking at a career as opposed to a sport, because there is a difference. Now it is a business and you're you're bankrolling your future by getting yourself in the most perfect condition that you're possibly able to be and then to perform on Sundays.

So but we all have weaknesses, man, I mean we all have things to cheat on all the time with food and so forth. As you began to lose that weight and at how it translated to your athleticism then on the field and through your workouts. Was that the motivator then to keep on going? I run a marathon and you know I've run two as a matter of fact.

But to get there, you know, and to stay there required really some significant discipline that frankly, I don't have right No, I'll say when they when I first started training and would not really have my mind on it, it became addicting, like seeing the results. Seeing routine in good results to me is always like a pleasure. So

at that point, I just I can't wanted to do it. Hey, Larry, So Jeff mentioned that y're from Detroit, Michigan, and I'm not getting ahead of ourselves, but it's a game that I played in quite a few times, the Thanksgiving Day game in Detroit. Were you ever aware of that game, the role, the importance of it growing up as a kid, or were you a fan of a different NFL team growing up? I mean I knew there was a Thanksgiving Game.

I never really understood the really the why behind it, why it was so important, But I mean now I understand it. So when when you go to these atmospheres, like you know, Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, one of the loudest environments that you'll go through, and some of the other opportunities, how has that transition been for you in terms of making sure that you understand the snap count, knowing that you're not going to be able to hear when you're at that exterior position on the offensive line.

How has all that learning process been for you and do you get advice um from Jason about you know, the subtlety of perfual vision or watching your guard or

the different aspects of staying on time. Oh yeah, everyone's been been really helpful as far as tips and how to get off the ball in an environment that, like you said, you can't hear anything um to me, I really just trying to focus on it that whole week of practice beforehand, even if it included me jumping off maybe a little bit, but I just wanted to make sure that was my main focus because that's one of the key things to being a tackle, of being able to get off the ball. What one what was a

bigger thrill for you know? You see you get it, you get the goal against t j Y, You go against Nick Bosa, but shoot man, you go to training camp, you line up again Clill Mac one of the first couple one on ones you go to. Did that help you process of the from the guys that you were gonna play against in regular season games? Oh yeah, it

was definitely. It was like a wake up moment kind of for me, like every week weekend and when we got it's gonna be super sorry going against you know when you face these guys when Larry Boram the Bears starting right tackle, getting ready for the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday at Soldier Field. We'll have it on WBBM starting at nine am with our pregame noon the kickoff. Tom There, Jeff Joning at here in Chicago Sports Radio six seventy the score. When when you are facing veterans and you're

in your early twenties, can you feel their strength? Can you feel the difference in their body types? I mean, you've got you've got youthful exuberant and youthful enthusiasm, But when you face technicians that have worked their craft for years, can you feel that difference? Um, you can't feel a difference. To me personally, I don't try to make it something

bigger than It's still a game of football. And at the end of the day, I just fall back on my technique and they're just gonna they're gonna have to be me. Yeah, And it's a tough guy to get around, that's for sure. You know, you have a basketball background, obviously that was your first love of We've talked to

you about that before in the past. It's almost like giving up one dream to chase another here, But has that basketball agility, the light on your feet, the way your feet move clearly is an athlete that has played other sports. Has it translated to football for you in ways that you could describe me? Oh? Yeah, most definitely. And one I mean, I'll say past chasing is all about full work. Basketball is all the ball. Full work. That's helped me a lot. I can say that's one

thing that's really translated back and forth. So now you know you're playing on both sides of the ball, which is really unique for a rookie. You get the personality of Cody, you get the personality of James Daniels, who in the process of the game talks to you more or are you just kind of staying you know, they maybe fill in a phrase or a sentence. But is do one of those two guys talk to you more

frequently than the other? No, I would say we all tried to have that open line of communication, just being able to talk, whether it's a call or whatever it may be. Just have the open line. I would say, it's about about even. How about on the sidline, you know, you go back right to you sit on the bench, you sit in your position, and then coach Castillo is there, you know, in your face with a tablet and all the information. How was that relationship between you and he developed?

And Donnie for that matter, Um, you know, how is that relationship helped guide you in the early part of you know, what could be a ten twelve year career for yourself. Um, it's just grown a lot. He say, he trust me as faith in me, and that's that's the best thing you could add for it. So being able to come to the sideline and him talking to me and coaching me up. I mean, I take it

taking indeed, Larry, what has this line gone through? If you could describe to us, because you've had certain situations developed obviously with injury and Jason coming right before the season and just to come together as you have with a rookie quarterback in justin fields making that change, and just the dips and and peaks of a season, how

could you describe what that group has gone through. Um, definitely went through some banks, but I mean we came together where a little mini brotherhood and our of physition group. I mean, everyone's just prepared to have their jersey, did number call it? And when they do is you gotta make the most of it. And you got another rookie, your buddy in the twenty twenty one class now getting back on the field, and I don't even know how to describe what he's gone through. Tevin Jenkins him getting

back out there. Man, I'm happy for him. He's my guy and that's that's that's that. I'm happy for him. All right, Well, he'll be back soon and we'll see where he winds up as the Bears get ready with the Ravens. Here for Week eleven, back with more Larry Boram with Tom There. I'm Jeff Joniac, first to break here on Chicago Sports Radio six seventy. The score the Bears match up with the Ravens is brought to you by Signa, the official partner of the Bears Salute to

Service initiatives. Jeff Joniac Tim there with our guest today, right tackle Larry Borham, Tommy Larry. Right before the break, Jeff talked about the development of the offensive line, and you guys have seen now four different running backs of the different styles of running. But you're the quarterbacks specifically. You know, when you talk about Justin and his athleticism,

is creativity, your responsibilities and pass protection? Is there anything you guys got to talk about to make sure that, hey, we got to sustain the block a little bit longer or he could possibly get outside with such immediacy. And you don't have eyes in the back of your head, how do you kind of develop an understanding of Justin fields at the quarterback position. I want to play two games behind him, well in front of him, but with him being a quarterback man, he can make a play

out of anything. So I mean, personally and as a whole, we're all just we haven't understanding that we got a block, We got a block forever. Anything you could happen, you could take off and run, you could throw it to prepare for it, you know. So are you content with your body style right now or is this something that you know next year when we see you again. Not getting ahead of myself, but are you content with the

body weight and the structure you're at right now? Or is there something you want to invest in the sports science department with Jen Gibson or going to the weight room with Jason or even footworker and technique with coach Castillo. I mean, technique, footwork, that's all. That's all wait has to get better for me personally. I find that's a big thing to work on, to continue to work on. Body Wise, I'm content, but I want to just continue

to tone up. I mean, that's fine about it. Larry borm Our guest here on Chicago Sports Radio six seventy to score of the Missouri Product, the Native of Detroit. So, you know, digging back into your past a little bit, tell me about that faded blue Chevy Venture because that was what you drove every day, I guess from your

sixteenth birthday to your graduation from high school. But tell me the history of that what that kind of symbolize A little bit um that just symbolizes man, the struggle, the hard work that I mean I had to put in driving that thing from point A to point B. It was literally just for point A to point B.

It was not anywhere else. It lasted me from when I first got my license to literally the last day of high school my senior year, that last week up until then when I would put it in park and go to turn the car off it would start smoking from the front and never understood why. I never really cared to figure it out. I was like, man, I'm out of here a week or two. So after that,

it was. That was it. And the backstory of it is the significance is is your mom Joel it might pronounce it right, hersham persan pershman okay, saved it from the scrap yard for eight hundred bucks and it was probably the hardest eight hundred bucks she could scrap together and the best eight hundred bucks that you could possibly imagine. Yeah, that was definitely that was it was. See, we had to get it as he found a way. Thankful for

that opened up a lot of doors too for me. Man, they were taking my sister to school before I went to school and just different stuff like that. So it was it was well needed. What happened, what happened to it in the long run, what happened to it? I think it gave out. He gave out, and I forgot what we did with it. But definitely after that last week at school, like I think it had a couple more weeks and that was it had like some thousand

miles on it. Larry It's kind of funny because when first rounders get interviewed at the being and a all say, hey, what are you gonna buy? You know you're finally gonna come into some money. But when you're a fourth and fifth rounder, that questions rarely asked exactly have you have you, um, purchased anything? Have you like rewards yourself or even something practical that you know that hey man, you've you've really accomplished a lot in a short amount of time. Um,

I got a car. But that's that's about it. That's about it, Durango. I was proud of that. That was my gift myself. And I mean, I'm not really into splurs in right now. Like you said, it's not a lot of worder to be done. When you think of seventeen games in an NFL season from what you've gone through in college and the amount of games you played, does seventeen in one year seem a lot to you mentally?

Or you know, you're a young cat man, you should be able to go is you know as long as I personally, I was trying to taking one week at a time, So I don't really want to think about it as a whole seventeen, as far as this this game in the names Larry Boring our guest here on Chicago Sports Radio six seventy to score with Tom There Jeff Joniac. So I would imagine a guy of your size had a lot of nicknames. I saw a quiet giant. Was that a popular one in college? That was my

mom's name. Your mom called you the quiet John. He tell us more about your mom and what impact she had on you, and man, why you're mat She's uh one of a kind of wonderful ladies. He worked seven days a week up as a waitress from six am to about two three. He was an open shift. Uh. Sometimes the word doubles man. He sacrificed every day just to be able to get me to a point where I could take it and run with it and they able to support them. So see, he means a word

of me. You know, my mom was a waitress too when I was growing up as a kid. I come from a big family, a lot of kids, And I want to say, sometimes there were donkey backs that came from the restaurant. Yeah, that was some of the good food we got. Yeah, what's it like growing up in Detroit and we're you're a huge Pistons guy. Uh. Grown up in Detroit. I mean it's it's it's a tough city. It is what it is. I made the most of it. Uh growing up, I was a businessman, um until recently.

But you know you're coming over to our side. Oh yeah, that's definitely. It's a fun team. If you watched the Bulls play yet this year, I haven't watched what I've been keeping up with it. They're they're going crazy right now. Wow, you gotta get yourself over the United Center or one of these days because they got something going on right now, that's for sure. Was it hard giving up your dream of basketball? Um Man? It was at first, just because I know like the background behind it, and I really

that's all I knew. Still football is still relatively new to me, so basketball is like, I know what I'm doing right now. Having to give that up, it was. It was tough, but I mean it paid off. You recall, you the best game you ever had on the court, or a big moment, one you'll never forget one I'll never forget. Uh. I had two of the game tying tips to send us into the double overs on one game, and that was that's right. My most cool moment. I was like, what would you say is an adjective to

describe what this draft classes? Like? Are you guys tight and and how do you guys look at because you got you got a franchise quarterback here in Justin Fields, So it's also about the future. So do you guys as a group I have that bond and do you even like talk about becoming the new new leaders down the road? Um, we're all just focused on this season right now, really just signing to work, that's it and put out what we can do. But we're definitely close.

We're I caught him, my brothers, we're all close. We got Tod Ravens because they like the blitz now, so you prepare for this and what will be the challenge with that? They bring a lot of different things and they're funking defense. They'll like to do a different and a lot of different things. But I mean, excuse me, we have our our plan for it and he's gonna

prepare for that and fall back on that. You know, Larry, when you have an opportunity to hear the cadence come out of Justin's mouth, there's an increase your ability to get off the ball or when you can't hear it. When you said you're just coming off on a time, Is there kind of a different flow to your game when you can hear the snapcot at home and you cannot on the road. No, No, I want to say, no,

that's not necessarily. Um, it's definitely easier to get off the ball where you can hear, but also at the side account. I mean, I'm looking at the ball and it's kind of it's it's hard, but it's it's not that hard. Larry, we got five quick ones and we'll let you go. These are just quick hitters. Have fun with you a little bit. Who's your favorite hooper of all time? Jordan? Why? I mean he's used to go No, no debating. Is there a food you have to eat before a game because you just have to do it

because it's your routine? No? Favorite comedian? Uh? Kevin Hart? Dream vacation spot, Dream vacation spot. Um. I have not been to any places. Uh. Where would I want to go? Probably an island or somebody that. How about the how about the Pro Bowl in Las Vegas? There you go,

that's a good thing to whine. Appreciate taking them time today problem I appreciates Thanks Larry barn With Tom there and I coming up next, we'll join by the voice of the Baltimore Ravens, Jerry Sandusky here on Chicago Sports Radio six seventy The Score. This segment of Bears All Access is brought to you by Athletico Physical Therapy. Visit Athletico dot com to request an employment in clinic or

virtually and start feeling better tomorrow. Tom There, Jeff Joni Act here on Chicago Sports Radio six seventy The Score kind enough to be joined by the voice of the Baltimore Ravens, Jerry Sandusky, man who wears many many hats, but working that microphone for the always talented and always dangerous Ravens is his specialty. Jerry, thanks for joining us.

You know this team, first thing Matt Andeggie talked about is, you know, get ready for another punch in your face kind of game against an AFC North opponent, with the Bears already faced the first three in that division and now you're the fourth. And then yeah, you know this team has three overtime wins, so that sticks out to him. What sticks out to you about the twenty twenty one Ravens. Well, the biggest team, Jeff. The sticks out to me is that I never know what to expect, and thank god

I'm not a better because I'm wrong every time. I never know what this team is going to produce. I mean, like sixty six yard field goal to beat the Lions, that didn't see that coming, getting getting upset in Miami, didn't see that coming, demolishing the Chargers, didn't see that coming,

and getting demolished by the Bengals. So I just this is the most unpredictable Ravens team I think I've ever been around, and I'm hoping that as they get a little bit more healthy this week, they start to be the Ravens we expected, which is a ground first offense and a defense that's strong and takeaways because we just

have not seen that consistently. Well, Jerry, you talk about being unpredictable, but the most predictable thing about your football team is Lamar Jackson's the most explosive player on your team. But do you think he has too much on his plate leading rusher, leading passer, quarterback of your team. Yeah, I'll be honest with the team doesn't put too much on Lamar. My concern is that Lamar puts too much

on Lamar. And what I mean by that is if you go back and you look at his days at Louisville, he had a really bad offensive line, he had some inconsistent wide receivers, they were iffy in the backfield, and so he always felt like he had to do more. And Lamar can do so much, but he's no different than any other athlete. If you get outside of your window what you should be doing, invariably things break down.

And so if you look at some of his turnover, some of his mistakes, it's never because he's just sloppy or he's he's careless. It's always because he's trying to push the boundaries a little farther than he should. And that's why this week they get Pat McCarry back and right tackled, they get Latavis Murray back in the backfield, and I'm hoping it gets Lamar back to just be Lamar, make the plays that present themselves and don't worry about trying to do more than one guy, even one guy

named Lamar, can do. You guys have a lot of injuries or highly publicized around the league on your officive side, of the ball. If it was the offensive line or running back and he needed that position to be healthy. What's one of those two positions is it for you's offensive line? No. Over the years, we've seen a lot of guys is who were not a high draft picks become special running backs on teams and a great offensive lines. Pro football has evolved. This change has gone from running

the passing difference teams. At the end of the day, you win every Sunday, starting with winning at the point of attack. When the Ravens win at the point of the attack, they dictate the terms. They get the running game going, the pass action flows off of that. Then Lamar becomes a nightmare. But when their offensive line breaks down, teams are trying to figure out how to contain Lamar. If the running game doesn't get going, they become as

one dimensional as anybody else. So I think it's easier to find fill in replacements in the backfield than it is on the offensive line. Jerry Sandeski are guests here on Bears All Access. It's brought to you by Igs Energy Town. There Jeff Jonick with you here on Chicago Sports Radio six seventy the score. We were both and we've talked about it. Tom and I since the game last Thursday, just really impressed by what Miami did at

the line of scrimmage defensively for the entire game. I mean, it was basically as Tom described, two level defense and really took away all the exits for Lamar and made him hurry everything and really shut things down. Did you see that coming? And do you now think that every team is going to be trying to do something like that? Not every team's scheme is equipped to do that or have the guts to do that, but they certainly did so. No,

I don't. I didn't see that coming because on the Thursday, you know, you just never really sure what teams are going to do, and I think Thursday factored very much into that. And the Dolphins deserve a ton of credit for having a very aggressive package in place on Thursday, far more aggressive than they had been look their number two in the NFL and blitzes this year, so it's not completely out of character, but they did so much

cover zero and because the Ravens had the combination. Again, Tyl and I were just talking about the idea that they didn't have Pat McCarry, who's their backup right tackle. Alejandro vien A wave left tackle is their right tackle. So they're three deep on the depth charter right tackle, and you're looking at all running backs who were not a part of the team's plan in training camp, so you're you're having all kind of blitz pick up issues.

Lamar has no time, and the receivers did not do a great job of beating their man, so you know, those three things will will blow up in offense every time. To your other point, I think it's a little bit like a baseball player who gets elevated from Triple A to the majors, and if they figure out he can't hit the curveball, he's got to get a steady diet of curves. Until he does, raveels will probably see a lot of cover zero until they proved they can beat it.

All right, So just tell me exactly what we're expecting from a defense that is really engineered to do the same thing to imposing quarterback, and that's blitz from all angles, because until he proved he can hang in there, evade, or make a big play down the field. I was concerned with justin fields being able to identify and deal with the blitzes. So I guess he should be ready

for it. I would say so if you if you look at what Wink Martindale has done against rookie quarterback since Wink became the defensive coordinator four years ago, it is a steady diet of blitzes and it's not cover zero blitzes. Justin Fields isn't going to just see nine on the line and they're all coming. He's gonna see six on the line. He'll see seven on the line. They'll see three on the line and they'll rush five.

He's gonna see blizz packages that he's not seen before, and they're designed to just kind of put a little brain freeze on a young quarterback. Now, it doesn't work in the second and third year, but these are He will see blitzes on Sunday that he hasn't seen before, and they're designed to build in a little hesitacy. He, however, has escapability. He's a great athlete. He reminds me that as I watched tape on him this week, he reminds me of a young, more slender version of Cam Newton.

He's got the big arm, he can he can wing it. He's not afraid of all the tuck and run and he's a he's a straight line runner. Lamar is like an etch a sketch. He's all over the place. But Justin Fields is he picks his direction, he goes, and he runs with decisiveness. So, yes, the Ravens are gonna bring blitz packages, but they have to bring in discipline because Justin Fields is show now he can figure out what the escape routes are and he can get positive yards.

You know, at the end of the Pittsburgh Steelers game, Matt Naggie trotted out Tyrol Santos for a sixty five yard attempt. You guys have the best kicker in the league. To me, I wanted to see him throw Hail Mary when you saw what he did with the sixty six yard or earlier this year. Are you okay with those types of attempts again for Justin Tucker or you know, does it depend on field conditions? You know, obviously if the weather was deteriorating at the end of the year,

it may be different. But you got to have a lot of confidence in that kid from those types of distances. Yeah, I mean Tucker's he had seventeen game winning field goals. He hasn't missed a fifty yarder I think his last twelve tries. He hasn't missed in a fourth quarter overtime in some absurd length of time. So there's a huge

built in factor. But when you go to look what Naggie did and what John Harball does in Detroit, the leadership decision in those situations is never, Okay, do we try to run a play here or do we eat burritos and call it a day. It's you know, it's never, it's always. It's always a choice between the unpalatable and the impossible. I Hail Mary realistically is virtually impossible. So you know, you gotta make that decision on the fly.

And I have no I have no problem with what Naggie or Harball did and that Yeah, it's it's improbable that that Santos is gonna hit a sixty five yard, but darn if you didn't put it off the crossbar. It's improbable that Justin Tucker's gonna hit a sixty six yard, but darn if it didn't bounce it off a crossbar.

I think you got a better shot with a strong leg kicker than you do with hail Mary, just so you know it didn't hit the crossbar they were When you watch it from a different angle, it looked like it did, so I thought I missed it too. I'm like the next day, I'm like, oh please, Mother Mary, No, because you know, it's a big story if you know it was five yards short. But the beauty of that play Jerry and Tom is that the Bears really did deserve an offside's penalty on number ninety TJ. He was

lined up offside. That would have been five yards and I believe that kick would have been good and we would have been talking about a whole different coming out of the bye week with momentum story on the Bears Tommy, because that would have made it. It It was right down the middle. He would have made it if he had that kick. And Jeff Brain was a great point when

you're when you're trying a hail Mary. I've never seen a defense jump offside and hail Mary because they got eight guys dep But in a game winning field goal, even though it's a sixty five sixty six yarder, guys are amped up. I mean those guys, those guys are trained to just hand in the dirt, come flying in and if you can get one guy to flinch all of a sudden, now you're in a better situation that a hail Mary is not going to put you in.

You're tight End's pretty explosive. It seems like they're trying to get Cole commet to the point where Mark Andrews is right now. Because Mark Andrews the most important guy out there. I would say he is because he's the most diverse. He can he can do a lot of different things, whether it's over the middle, whether it's on the flat, whether there's blocking and releasing. He's extremely gifted. And Mark Andrews has has a talent that I don't

know you can coach. And I remember the very first Mini camp practice I saw of him, and look, what's more misleading? Right there watching guys in mini camp the first time as rookies, and I looked to a scout and I said, what did you guys see in that Mark Andrews. He there's nothing about him. It didn't look explosive, it didn't look there was nothing that really jumped out. And he said, you're not going to see it when

they're in shorts. You gotta wait until they're in pads and helmet, and you're gonna see this kid has the most uncanny ability to find the hole in the defense, whether it's man to man, whether his zone, whether it's cover two, cover three, cover four. He just has a knack for finding the open space. And darn I thought scout wasn't right. And that's what makes Mark Andrews so dangerous. It's not like he's got good size, he's got good speed, he's got good hands, but he has this intangible and

he's on the same wavelength with Lamar. He just knows sometimes where to break off the route where the defense is going to be vulnerable, and he knows how to get there, and Lamar knows how to get him the ball. So I would actually say he is more valuable than Hollywood. As good as Hollywood is, you can go to Mark Andrews first and ten, second and five, third and three, and he's going to find a way to get open. All right, last question, we'll let you go. Jerry appreciate

it all the time. What from a Ravens perspective, as you're analyzing this and watching the tape of the Bears, what things do you circle about this team that would concern the Ravens. I think you got I think you got a good pass rush. I think you're really athletic. In the second area, I think you're going to do a lot. I think we'll see a lot of Cover one, especially after the success the Dolphins had with Cover zero, and so I think some of your corners are going

to match up really well. And look, the biggest thing I see is six and three verses three and six. I understand at three and six now he's probably under a lot of job pressure and people are down on the Bears, and I got all that, But when you're three and six, you're almost playing with house money. When you're six and three and you're in first place and you haven't been playing that great and two of your last three games, the pressure starts to build a little bit.

So I think the Ravens are going to see a very aggressive Bears team that whether they think they have anything to lose or not, they're not expected to win this game. And to me, the most dangerous opponent is the one who has nothing to lose, and that, to me is what concerns me about the Ravens going to Soldier Field. Nice synopsis, appreciate your time, Jerry will see on Sunday. All right, sounds good. Guy's great visiting with it.

That's Jerry Gardski, the voice of the Baltimore Ravens, Tom and I with one segment to go to put finishing touches on the matchup. Be back after this on Chicago Sports Radio six seventy the Score. This segment of Bears All Access is brought to you by CDW. People to get it with Tom Thayer Jeff jony Ak wrapping things up in our final segment tonight, getting ready for the

Bears and Ravens. The headliners obviously Lamar Jackson and Justin Fields because of their similarities mobility, athleticism, speed, what they can do to create plays. And I've been impressed with Lamar becoming a passer because you always wondered if that was going to be an area that he was going to excel in. But he's looking to throw the ball even when he leaves the pocket Tom and looking to go deep. He's using that tight end, Mark Andrews, he's

using Hollywood Brown, He's using everything to his disposal. He's got a great arm, you know the thing about it. He's got a strong arm that can be precise, to be accurate, can throw a fireball to a lofted ball down field. He's got such escapability that he can run away if there's a loose defender coming at him. Miami kind of took a little bit of that away from

him and didn't give him the luxury of time. But if you have a defensive game plan that gives him any luxury of time, he'll make you pay with the arm, feet, mind, ability, anything that he needs at that moment. Till Bengals did something like that as well, not exactly like Miami. Hey, Detroit, they held him the fifty eight rushing yards in sixteen to thirty one passing. So he loves to check down. He loves to go to the bubble screens. He did it nine times at or behind the line of scrimmage

against Miami. Miami was reading every bit of it, though, So now Bear's defense got to be on their guard because but he so. In Detroit, you're saying they held him to fifty eight yards. I know that's the quarterback. I mean, we're not talking about holding Barry Sanders the fifty eight yards rushing or Walter Payton. You're talking about holding the quarterback and a stick is still a heck

of an effort by him. Yeah, indeed. All right, So Bill Laser this week on The Bears Coaching Show on Monday Night basically said how the Bear stopped the Ravens pressure package. Like we alluded to in the first segment. Tonight, we'll say a lot how successful or not the Bear's passing game will be. To me, all those things are going to keep developing for him, you know, and week

to weeks can be a little bit different. Challenges guys will they'll be challenging and his ability to defeat the blitz and that'll be the number one thing both and how we protect it and then how he handles it. So it'll be interesting to see. And that's true every week, but for some reason, against Wink Martindale, it just has my attention a lot more. Yeah. You know, the thing about it is if you're not successful running the ball, you have no success that you're not gonna have any

chance at all. Because if you're sitting there trying to get third and sevens and third and eights all afternoon, Jeff, they're gonna open up and they're gonna explode into your backfield because they're gonna try to take away that time for Justin, like we talk about taking away time for Lamar. So this is one thing, you know, one of those game plans where it Bill's gonna have to be committed and get the running game to help you as much

as possible. You know what it really impresses me. Darnell Mooney. We've talked him plenty of times, but here in Justin fields this week say that he's got to maybe step up his game of preparation because he watches Mooney and how much he gets ready and he's getting ready every day at home on the practice field. That is a leader brewing right here, and I like where his mindset is heading into the final eight games. Definitely feel you know, a little motivated, you know, going into the second or

the half. The second half of the season is put in the first half behind me and just try to you know, start this second has as if it's a totally different new season, and in some respects you have

to do it that way. But for these young guys, these young guys on this team, guys that know they're going to be here because of their draft status, their contract status or whatnot, they are still building for a future which includes justin Field does the quarterback and on the defensive side of the ball, guy like Roe Quant Smith, who at some point we've got a long term contact extension twenty five years of age. These two guys are becoming the faces of your franchise moving forward, and I

think there is plenty to play for here. No matter what the rumor mill or any other things that go on around them, they gotta focus and play elevated football here in the final eight games beginning Sunday. I guarantee you this, Larry Baum, Sam Mustafer, Cody white Hair, James Daniels, that whole group of guys Cole come at. They're not thinking about anything other than improving their efforts weekend and week out that lead to wins that get them into

a division opportunities where they go to the playoffs. If your sites are set on anything else than that, then you're kind of waste in all of our time. So I like the attitude. I like with the reflection of the way they need to work during the week to get, you know, to put these guys in the best possible position. And the exciting part of it is is to watch the continuous development of Justin Fields and how he factors and every one of those other guys I just mentioned.

All right, So special teams, you know it's going to be an important part of this. So Devin DuVernay at twenty four point six and kick returns sixteen point three and punt returns, he's number one in the NFL. It has the attention to Chris Taber, does it have your attention? And Justin Tucker and Sam Cook the punter, they're very

good ninety three percent chance to rain on Sunday. Special Teams is always a concern to me because you talk about the different types of you know, windy, you know lakefront wind at this time of year, if it is rainy, and John Harball is an ex Special Teams coach, who's their head coach, I think there's a lot of little dynamics to the Special team's battle that could, you know, happen on Sunday if those types of points matter. Are

you considered about the health of the Bears defense right now? Again, Khalil Mack and Akim Hicks and Eddie Jackson still working through some things. I am, I am you know, I am probably most about Khalil because I'm a little underwhelmed by Trevis Gibson and Sam Kamara what they've contributed from a real, you know, pass to quarterback type pressure that Khalil is always expected to have. So, you know, if Khalil can't play, I want to see better out of

those guys. Because what I saw out of Trevis Gibson that training camp, I have higher expectations for his ability anything on the offensive side of the ball that you feel the Bears can exploit on the Baltimore side of

the defense to wrap us up today. You know, I still think using multiple tight end packages and somehow get Jimmy Graham involved in red zone a little bit if you get yourself down there, because it you know, when a Rob talked about chemistry a couple of weeks ago, with or without Justin, you know, it doesn't seem like there's a lot of chemistry with Justin and Jimmy in the red zone. So you give him one or two opportunities and you make teams aware of him, it's going

to open it up for everybody else. That's certainly opening up for Cole Comet. Indeed, Bears have their two pronged running a tech and maybe Damian Williams back in the mix as well, and the offensive line ready to roll as the Bears get ready for the Ravens. Time and we'll see you at the field. I'll be there all right, Tom there. Thank you for joining us, Thank you for listening to everybody. Thanks again to our producers Dan Really

and Jordan Tredap and the folks at the Score. We'll talk to you next time on Chicago Sports Radio six seventy to Score. Good night, everybody,