Matt Bowen previews Draft prospects | All Access

Bears All Access. Happy Thursday night, everybody with my broadcast partner from WBBM News Radio seven eighty one to five point nine FM, mister Tom Thair, back with us and coming up at our next segment, and for most of the show we joined by our special guest each week series x MNFL radio host Jim Miller, the former Bears quarterback. Special guest tonight, Bottom of the Hour local product, former NFL player and really outstanding analyst at the ESPN national level,

Matt Bowen will join us as well. Tom. Good evening, How you fee Big Jeff? You know I'm confused, and I know we're fourteen We're fourteen days away from the draft, and the more draft information I ingest, I get more confused. About the actuality of this draft, because you talk about every different line of you know, how how people the mock drafts and everything, and then I see Charlie Casserley today say Justin Fields is going to go twenty fourth

to the Pittsburgh Steelers. Now for months, for months, though, Jeff, I see how quarterbacks are gonna go one, two, three, four for the first time in the draft. So now, fourteen days before the draft, is he going to be the next Aaron Rodgers? Is he gonna be the next you know, falling you know, falling quarterback that sinks? Or is it going to be a guy like Mac Jones. So the more information I try to adjust, the more

confused I get. Well, you know, begins with this premise, though, what is your feeling as a as a former NFL player and now as you call yourself a football describer, as an analyst, how serious do you take all of these mock drafts? Because I hope you don't. Well, I don't take them serious though, But it's the huge discrepancy in between one week when they do their mock their first mock draft, and then a couple of weeks later

they do the their third mock draft. And then these more of these quarterback days that I sit here and watch. They don't impress me. I don't get over excited about what a quarterback can do with no one else on the field other than them and a receiver, no matter who it is. I'm talking about all the candidates here. I'm not picking on justin fields. I'm talking about each

and every one of them. So, like I said, and even watching the big defensive edge rusher, which is the term I've learned to hate this this pre draft information is the edge. This the big guy from Miami who doesn't have a great deal of experience, but now they're trying to elevate them because they get a chance to look at him on the field with no shirt on on the way he runs through drills. Listen, Jeff, running through drills is nothing like playing the game of football.

So again, I'm really looking forward to the draft because I know I'm gonna be more confused next week when you say, hey, what's up, I'm gonna know you know what. You're not gonna be confused. You know why, because you're gonna sit there You've been watching. You're the best way

you can without watching the all twenty two tape. You've been watching guys, and what happens on tape is the ninety nine percent of what you're going to evaluate these guys with, not because these guys may have opted out and chiseled up their body to show off with their shirt off on a pro day forty. So don't get on. My advice to you, my good friend, is don't get agitated.

These are There's so many draft analysts out there rely on what every scout in the National Football League and hopefully every general manager and coach rely on your instincts and your eyeballs. Tom, that's it. That's I have to pass the eye test. It's funny you say that, because last night I was watching some information about some of these NFL ready players that we're working out. This is

the all physique draft. I know. It started with the big receiver from Seattle when he walked into meet Pete Carroll and took his shirt off before he entered a DK metcalf. So when I look at these guys this year, it's it's some of the most impressive physiques of football players that I've ever seen. But I've seen a lot of great football players that haven't had that impressive of

a physique. So again, it'll be interesting to see how we see this draft in a couple of years, because it's not gonna be You're not gonna get a team a grade after the draft. It's gonna be about where are these guys two years, three years down the road? Well, most importantly, where is their health at. That's a big part of this two making sure there okay. But your guy, Quinn Miners, the Wisconsin whitewater product, threw up thirty three on the bench today at a pro day, so that

was the only thing he had left to do. So he probably solidified himself as a higher end first I mean, second day draft pick than our early third day draft pick. But a good looking guard center looked like they're going to project in the play center, and you were kind of interested about him. We'll break all that downtom. You kind of dap yourself down a little bit. I know you're all worked up. That's a great way. You're like the Tim Anderson of the show. You know, he's back

in the white sax shorts up. Add some juice to the story. You know, that's what you're doing for tonight's show. And I appreciate that very much. I know our listeners do too. A fired up tom Day or is the best. I watched every pitch of the no hitter last night, so that was something else. So as a fast topic number two, Yeah, that was something else. A lot to discuss, one pack some of it with Jim Miller coming up next. This is Bears All Access brought to you by IGS

Energy on Chicago Sports Radio six seventy the Score. Welcome back everybody to Bears All Access or brought to you by IGS Energy. Fine folks, choose clean energy for your home at igs dot com because every good choice adds up to a better award, a better show. When Jim Miller drops in, our analyst and former Chicago Bears quarterback leading at oh one unit to the playoffs, got a great nugget this week, Big Jim on Marty Booker. I

threw times when I saw it on Twitter. Your guy, your guy, Marty Booty, Yeah right, he was we talking about him on this show before. But Julian Edelman and his retirement and the idea that you know, I don't know if you guys talked about it on Serior Sex m NFL Radio or show with Pat Crowd and moving the chains every weekday about a potential Hall of fame,

But they I don't. I think it was I think it was CBS on Football or somebody came up with the stat line of Marty's career and Edelman I threw it at Tom and I said, who what what former Bear receiver does this remind you? And Tom nailed it, he said, Marty Booker, we actually scored more touchdowns in Edelman man. I didn't play for playoff games, nor did he win a super Bowl or be an MVP. But it was just a nice little comparison. He was a heck of a receiver. Oh, Marty was a terrific recive.

He was absolutely fearless going over the middle, had big play potential all around him. And once he you know, he said a little weight and got even in faster. But Marty was a terrific athlete. I don't think people realized he could throw a football like eighty yards. Just a really laid back guy, but worked extremely hard. You know, he has that just that southern laid back attitude. Well boy, he would get once he put that helmet on, man,

he turned into Superman out there. Awesome. You know, Marty Booker was kind of the old generation style of receivers that it wasn't necessarily your forty time. It was like, what type of physical presence did you bring down field? Could you go up and catch a ball even though there is a defensive back in your face? White Tupper? What type of courage and presence did you have across

the middle? And I thought Marty Booker throughout his time here with the Bears, he got the most out of his gifted ability and he had huge hands, he had the ability to take footballs away from defensive backs, and I think he got he got the best out of his career. And when Jeff brought up the similarity in the numbers, because the first narrative after Edelman did retire was the Hall of Fame is he gonna be? Is

he a Hall of Fame candidate? And so when Jeff brings up those types of numbers, Yeah, the one side of it, you know, Marty didn't have the side of it success that Edelman had. However, in comparison of performance, Marty Booker was everything that Julian Edelman was. Hey, Jim, I need you to help me out, help our friend here. Because he started the show with the Laddino if you heard he started with a ladder man. He's getting irritated

with all the different mock drafts. He doesn't understand how you know, Justin Fields could be pick twenty four according to Charlie Cash really today. So will you please tell him it's just an exercise and fun, you know, because yeah, yes, there's not a lot of there's some that have an idea and a range of where guys are gonna fall based on what they hear from teams. But there's a lot of mistruths out there are a lot of rumors.

But I think Tom Tom needs a little uh, I don't know what you need a little You need a little bit more direct information from the people in the league that know what's going on. All that all that misinformation is out there and some of its planet. You know, it's just like the other day that you know, it's it's somewhat you know about Justin Fields not being a worker and he is the last one in the building,

last one league. And I kind of when I heard that one, uh, you know, I kind of laughed about it because it was Justin Fields of Ohio State who Axley got the Big ten to play football last year, right, He's the one that got everybody together to push it over the goal line to even get the Big ten to play. So he cares about football tremendously. But I think there's just a lot of non sense out there.

And probably the funniest mock draft I saw was Kyle Pitts fallen out of the top ten as a tight end from Florida, which there's no way that's going to happen. So you definitely have to be leary what's going on

out there right now. You know, one thing that Casserley did say that I think is right if when you look at Joe Burrow last year going to Cincinnati to a poorous offensive line and then getting injured in the long run on how much abuse he took during the season, is Cincinnati closer to a Super Bowl than he said?

Justin Fields is going to go twenty fourth to the Pittsburgh Steelers, and it's a good organization and they have a track record of success unlike a lot of others, and so maybe it would be better for Justin Fields to go to Pittsburgh. Then it would be to one of the top teams that are in desperate need of a quarterback. So that is the one, you know, a thing that I said, Wow, you know, maybe he's not

wrong and maybe this is the best thing for Justin Field. Well, he's gonna drop that far that Mattagus at his workout yesterday the second workout s Jim, don't let him go past twenty. Yeah, I would think so. I don't see him getting out of the top ten for Justin Fields. I mean, his numbers were off the charts. He's got the big wins against a top ranked team. You know, he if you go back and look at he and

Trevor Lawrence. Trevor obviously has more games than him under his belt, but basically their wins against top competition are the same. I do question his fumbles has probably one issue I have about Justin Fields. He's got twelve fumbles in two years. So that's like Sam darnold territory. But Sam still went high to the Jets. But unfortunately, as Tom mentioned, when you're getting drafted that high, you're getting drafted by bad teams. There's not a lot around you,

you know, even look at since Nattie this year. Yeah, they've been active in free agency, but is there enough around Joe Burrow that they're still not going to finish fourth in their division in the AFC North, I mean with Baltimore and Pittsburgh and now the emergence of Cleveland. I mean, if they get to eight and eight, you would think Cincinnati is making strides just because they're bad teams that need to put a lot of a lot of good pieces around their young quarterbacks in order to

build them. And unfortunately that wasn't in place last year and Jill Burrow got hurt and couldn't finish the season.

I got a question for both of you and time just from you know, your degrees of separation from so many people that have played from the USFL from Notre Dame to your NFL career with the Bears and Jim being with multiple teams and now making this a career for yourself and one of the names that have popped into my head because you know, Jerry Angelo always you say you got to have a plan whenever your draft,

you better have a plan for that player. But that plan has to include is, particularly at the quarterback position, that you put enough assets around somebody. You just can't send the guy out there and think I don't care who it is and think he's just going to make everybody better. Those number of quarterbacks you can fit on your thumb in the history of the game period. But I think of a guy like David Carr. So in your respective views of him as a player, Tom and Jim,

I'm sure you interviewed him many times. I mean, would that guy's career have turned out differently if he was protected, because I can't recall quarterback that took more of a beating in his first several years in Houston and David Carr and it kind of ruined him. I mean, well,

you know, am I wrong in that analysis? You're right because the first player they picked was Tony Basselli and the expansion Draft, and then they never drafted an offensive lineman above the third round when he was there with Houston, So you're exactly right. They never surrounded him with the protection that he needed in order to have the you know, add the competitiveness of the quarterback position, or be safely protected or being able to be an asset where he

you know, he had better opportunities distribute the ball. So when you think about Joe Burrows and Cincinnati and you talk about that offensive tackle from Oregon. Yeah. See, now I look at film of him today and he's got a harness on his left shoulder. So if he's going to be a career left tackle and he's already got a harness on his left shoulder in college, is his

left shoulder okay? Because if his left shoulder is not up to the abuse that it's going to have to put forth when you're playing that position, are you already bringing in damaged goods? So if you're going to get a quarterback, you better bring in players that are healthy and ready to go from the moment they get there to kind of grow throughout their career together. Yeah, I think it's you know, you look at Sam Darnold, did this?

I mean, look at all these first round quarterbacks that are now in new homes, whether it's Jameis Winston, Marcus Mariota. Sam Darnold's the most recent where they don't want to put the fifth year option and they end up trading

him to Carolina. Sam Darnold did not have a lot of help and a lot of talent around him for the New York Jets, which historically they've had some bad teams as of late, so they've got a lot of work to do there because it looks like they're going to be drafting another quarterback again, but they're better suited with all the assets that they have to put, you know, put some good talent around, whether it's Zach Wilson or Fields or whoever, whatever quarterback they select, at least now

they've got some assets where they can add to their team. Ads. For David Carr, I thought it was a little bit of both because I remember watching tape on David Carr for Houston and he for me, he struggled going through his reads. A lot of times, he wouldn't get from one to two. He locked down as receivers, then he'd be getting sacked, the ball wouldn't be getting out of

his hands. So I think there was a little bit of both going on where the offensive line was getting thrown under the bus for the Houston Texans, when some of that was on the quarterback as well, who didn't develop immature over time. But maybe he got shell shocked. I don't know. Jim. Let me ask you a question.

Throughout your career in the NFL, did you have a time frame within your head that you knew that you had to get rid of the ball, and maybe when a kay like David Carr that knew he didn't have those four seconds or whatever your number is in your head, that he's thinking, oh my god, I don't have time to get to my third read because I know I'm

going to get hit here soon. So can that affect a quarterbacks development throughout his career if he knows he only has that two point two seconds rather than the number that you're gonna give me. Yeah, yeah, every play, at least pass plays, they're going to have a rhythm to it. You know where where you're when you're dropping back and you're already going through your read. Say it's a seventh step drop, I'm already dropping to say it's I'll just call arbitrary to play. Let's call eighty two

x in. Let's just call zero strong eighty two x in. X is on the end, cut s's on the post. Tight end is dragging across the field to the opposite hash and then your backs, Your backs are really just checking. Why all right, it's a basic play in football. You know, when I'm dropping back and I see maybe the free safety, say it's a single high safety, and I see the safety creeping towards the x in, I'm already off of that x in. Or if the will backers dropping deep,

I'm already onto my second read. All right, my second read's going to be my tight end, you know where I'm going to check it down to my tight end. Or say, if that free safety comes over, I may pump that post route as my second read. And I know I'm going deep because that free safety has now crept over trying to take away the incut. Now my front side post route should be open. So by the time I hit my seventh step, all this is being processed.

If it's all covered, then I'm just going to hit one of my probably my weak side check whide by the running back. So by the time I hit my fifth step or my seventh step, excuse me, I hitch, and that ball is out. That's the timing of that play. All that has to be digested of during your drop, not at the top of your drop, during your drop, in order to get that ball out of your hand. And some guys just don't process that process all that

information quickly enough. It takes time. You get better at it over time, the more you do and the more you understand defenses, where you get that ball out of your hand. So replay is gonna take on, you know, have its own timing to it or when that ball needs to come out. XS and Ouser, Tom Thayer and Jim Miller here on Bears All Access brought to you by IGS Energy. We're gonna take a break. Coming up at the bottom of the hour, We'll be joined by

Matt bowing. This is Bears All Access on Chicago Sports Radio six seventy to score. The Chicago Bears Network presents Inside the Bears, brought to you by a Verizon. Our good friend Anthony Adams and I equally a good friend, Laurence Greed, and cover the world of Bears football and off the field every Sunday night, ten thirty five pm on Fox thirty two Chicago, or watch anytime at Chicago Bears dot Com or on the Bears official app. Moments away from Matt Bowen joining the program, All right, Jim,

here's one for you and Tom. Take quarterbacks out of the first round of the draft. Who would be the first three picks of the draft in your respective opinions if it was not a quarterback? And I'm gonna start with Jim m Yeah, I'd probably say Kyle Pitts, the tight end from Florida, would probably go first, and then I'd probably say Jamar Chase, the LSU wide receiver, would go second. And then I'd probably say Pennay Sewell, the

Oregon tackle who were sticking on the offensive mine. There's never been a tight end draft at number one overall and a wide receiver last time. I think it was Keyshawn Johnson Tom in ninety six. And as it is, there may not be a defensive player with the quarterbacks and the names he just mentioned that will be picked until you know, possibly after ten, eleven, twelve. So who are you? Who are your tap three? No quarterback? Um?

You know is reluctant as I am to go with Sewell because I need to see his health and his structure. I like him. Like Jim said, with the first pick at the at the tackle position, Um wow, it's kind of a you know I I you know, Jeff, honestly, I would probably go offensive line across the board top three. Um yeah, so you got a little Jim pinks in you.

You got a little Jim pinxing you. I do. But you know, if I had if I had that Aaron Donald out there, and again I kind of und I underdrafted when he came out of college, but his performance obviously speaks for itself. If there was that kind of dominator at that position, I'd have to think there, but I would have to go offensive line across the board.

It depending upon what my quarterback position looks like. I'm not saying I would pick a quarterback, but I need protection for my quarterback, all right, So I'm assuming yeah, And I would throw with Sean Slater in there of Northwestern as one of my top three. And I have to do one of the receivers, but Jim, I can't. I can't decipher which one Wado, Davante Smith, Chase Third.

I mean, my goodness, you can't go wrong. And I definitely, and maybe this would burn both of us, but I would definitely put Kyle Pitts as the number one pick. He just seemed Tom Shaking has said more man hours lost at the tight end position, but this guy, he doesn't even seem like a tight end. He just seems like a skill player period. Well you know the the tight end in Oakland, Darren Waller or in Las Vegas.

You see how what he's been able to do for the Raiders in the development of his career, in turn, more to an explosive, thick receiver than a really blocking tight end. So if you're going after Pitts, you're looking at the one dimension and that's him performing like a big time receiver. If you're gonna go to a three tight end package, if you're going to a goal line short yardage offense, don't include him at the point of attack because that's not the type of guy that is

going to extend his career. That's not what he's going to be in the NFL for I think it'd be effort is there and he'll get better at blocking. But that's the thing with Pitts what's good about him. You know, if you split him out and flex said him, a linebacker has to walk out of the box, so there's one less guy in there where you can run the football where he created he an Now he's created space just as a threat as a receiver. So I think the effort is there, But he's a chess piece You're

gonna move all over the field. It's what he is. He's got freakish numbers, unbelievable wingspan, his yards after the catch is ridiculous with what he provides, and he's definitely a mismatch out on the field, whether it's you know, if you do walk him out and flex him like I said, if you try to bring a safety in to cover him, good luck with that. He'll run right past these guys or a linebacker trying to cover him. It's an absolute mismatch with the physically what he's able

to do. Maybe maybe better with a tap next to a tackle if he's putting his hand in the dirt a three point stance. But as it is, he has a chance to be the first tight end taking in the top five. Tim and Jim in fifty years, can you name one of them? Riley Oldhams remember Riley Odam's time when you're growing up Denver Broncos. All right, let's switch gears, fellas, and welcome at our guest here for

about fifteen minutes or so. Please to be joined by our good friend Matt Bowen, who had a very good NFL career and does his work now for ESPN National and also does some prep football coaching here in the area. Tom and Jim, as we walcome in, Matt Bunn, Matt I know this is probably not ideal for you because you are swamped right now. You got a lot of balls in the air. But how things going. Things are going well. You know, obviously we're playing a spring football season.

And I'll tell you what Jeff I got you on the phone. Saint Francis High School and they got us in week one and coach McMillan is doing an excellent job there. Since we're talking about the draft, quarterback Tommy Rittenhouse, you tell about all these traits in the draft. He is as Zach Wilson of Illinois High school football. I'll tell what his movement ability, his ability to throw off platform. I know it's his quarterback coach Greg Holcombe out here

in the Western suburbs. But a lot of credits to Saint Francis. They got us in week one and coaching film. But I think our team has really developed. It's been a fun season and just to have the kids back on the field, the mental boost that they got. And I'll tell you what's the mental boost I got from being back coaching, not having the opportunity to do it in the fall. So it's a positive for everyone. You get to play football, the seniors get to you know,

put the pads on for a couple more weeks. It's all, it's all positive, and you're over it. I see over there in Elmhurst and you do a great job there. And the reason he brought it up my daughters are Saint Francis graduates, and that that family of Tommy's is outstanding athletic family. So, uh, you know, you were supposed to invite me to that game. I was going to patrol the sidelines with you, buddy, and I I saw a two weeks to score. Two weeks later, I'll tell

you what. Hey, well, we will play in Wheaton next year, so I will invite you on our sidelines. We go out to Wheaton next year to play for sounds good, Hey, Matt, be careful of the Hilltoppers. They put forty nine on carmel Mondo line last week, so just to you know, keep your head on the swivel, hey, Matt. So we're just talking. We're just talking about pits, the tight end from Florida, and you know every ever we've all heard enough positive information. Is there a safety in the NFL

that can cover them? Or how would you how would you fit this guy into your defensive game plan, something would be extremely tough. I mean, that is a huge matchup advantage. You know you're gonna need someone what's coverage traits who can roll down from and play over the slot or flex out wide with him. You know, someone like a makeup fits bator comes to mind. But you gonna need a high level talent to match up to him. And when I look at Kyle Pitts, I look at

him as a movable piece in your office. Yes, we know we can play the tight end position and works to middle of the field, But how I would utilize in guys is almost like a wide receiver. He has wide receiver traits. At six foot six, two hundred forty six pounds, with four or four speed, he can be your backside X receiver and three by one sets. You can put him in the slot and he can separate

birthly on those third level throws. And more importantly, I think when you get into the red zone, especially the low red zone I call that the ten yard line, an end that creates a lot of matchup issues for your defense because everyone wants to play man coverage in that area of the field. Everyone wants to challenge receivers at the line of skimmers. Well, you have to have someone the can matchups to the fade and all the

endbreakers they're running today's NFL. And that's why I think he is going to be a top ten pick and maybe even a top five pick because of that matchup ability in the traits he brings to the field. Yeah, I couldn't go as early as four with Atlanta. We'll see what happens there with that Atlanta pick. Always good to talk to you, Matt. In terms of the top dbs coming out, I mean, I love JC Horn the South Carolina Obviously, these guys they got bloodlines to the

NFL and Patricks or Tan out of Alabama. But I mean because it looks like with the quarterbacks going, then you've got some skill position players with those receivers, and then it will start to get into defense. So whether it's the cornerbacks or ten or JC Horn or even Micah Parsons from ten State, you know, who do you think potentially would be the first defensive player off the board. That's a great question, Jim and I you know, I

think it would be at the cornerback position. I think it'd be ten, and that's would be my bet because he's a prototype for the position right now. And look, everyone, even zone heavy teams like we just talked about, there are certain situations you want to play man. Everyone wants to play man, but you need the guys who can do it and with certain you know six two, two oh eight, he's got explosive traits. He can play press covers. What I love about him is how he's coach at

Alabama because he's a complete players the position. You know, he brings a physical play style. I think he's a tone setter at the cornerback position and he's in a set an edge in the run game. If I'm a secondary coach, I want that. I mean I really want that in the room because I can play press man. I can play cover two with him. We know he can play cover three, but I know when that ball bounces outside, he didn't go and make a play, And

I think that brings energy to your secondary. You need to put that stuff on tape for other teams to see in the league. But it ultimately comes down to the coverage traits, and I think they're high end, just like jac Horne. Jim, he brought up Jac Horne, another press man corner. He's got length, he's physical, ultra competitive in coverage, and you can win with that. In an NFL secondary Matt Board, our guest here at Bears All

Access were brought to you by IGS Energy. Matt working for ESPN does a tremendous job breaking down tape and explaining the game of football to each and every one of us, from the diehards to the average fan, because we're putting you in a scouts mode as I am with Jim and Tom for that matter. What's been complicating your process this year? Because certainly there are challenges. We had the combine last year. We had Pro days last year.

This year we did not. The Pro days were generally very different and you only saw X number of players as you're looking obviously because the first and second days of your responsibilities and all of ours are about the big names that the top sixty four players in our minds, but then the rest of it is also analyzed. So has that been challenging for you? I think in certain positions are because you know, you do want the testing numbers, right,

Everyone wants the testing numbers because that's comparable date. That's what it did. I mean, it's historical data to look back at those specific positions, and I think there are still a couple of stop watch positions. You know, it's mainly wide receiver in corner, you know, as the safety. If you have a safety, it runs the four to six and plays at a four or five clip on

tape to fine. You know, that's perfectly fine. But at a quarterback position, you're looking for that long speed, that recovery speed, and obviously a wide receiver, especially in today's NFL with the passing game howadays, he's looking for guys that can stretch the field and run after the catch, and not having those numbers from India is a little tougher. Now we're getting Pro Day in numbers because the guys have seen these numbers are blazing fast. The blazing fast.

And I'll tell you I ran much faster in my pro day Jeff. And the reason why there was a tornado off I eighty in the summer and we had a bubble and it blew the bubble away, okay, so that it was old as the term, so it sat in the sun all summer. That was the fastest track I've ever run out of my life. So of course I ran faster at home that I did in Indie. So you always have to look at PROTA times and understand that they're not gonna be the same as they

are an indie. But really, this year, guys just about washing tap. That's what it has to be. It has to be about washingtape. That's what I do ESPN is this is all going to be based on tape evaluation. So not having those numbers, what I do think it forces you to do is study players more and try to get a feel for what type of game speed or play speed they have. Hey, Matt, when you let's look back to the Super Bowl for a minute, because I'm really enamored with what Todd Bowles did against the

Kansas City offense. So do you think when you're evaluating players, whether on the offensive side of the ball, mostly on the defensive side of the ball. Now defensive coaches have in mind that type of effort that they put forth against one of the most explosive offenses in the NFL. Do you think that's going to change the philosophical thinking about the type of athletes they want to have on defense Because the defense was in control of that offense.

That offense was never in control of Todd Bowles's defense. I agree, Tom, and I think it's a great point because I think everyone in the league, I say, looks at the Super Bowl champion says what do they do? What do they do from a roster construction standpoint, and what type of players are they putting in their system. It's the same thing we're doing our Matchup draft shows. We look at the Super Bowl champions say, Okay, that is gonna really create a path in terms of how

people draft this April. And I'll tell you one thing. What I believe you get from that football game. One defensive lineman Town who have versatile trades. Okay, can a line up in different techniques, whether it's a no is, a three technique, a five, or outside defensive end, multiple fronts, And we did on the Matchup Show all last year. There's so many more multiple fronts than today's league because

you're trying to scheme one on one. You're trying to occupy guarder tackle, a lot of twists and loops, slants and stunts inside and then the second level speed. I think that's so important. With Devin White and Lavonte Dave in that Tampa defense, the linebackers who can get sideline. The sideline can cut off the edge and the run game and have that pursuit speed. Also can drop back in the coverage underneath, and then the secondary. I think

this where the NFL is going. It's going more split safety heavy, like we see here in Chicago with the Bears, a lot of quarters, cover two, cover six, which is quarter, quarter and then a half because I think one that allows you to have defensive backs on top of vertical routes down the field and also allows you to cut the middle of the field. You take those safeties like we've seen so many times with Eddie Jackson and cut

those inbreakers and crossers. So what you're trying to do there obviously pressure the quarterback that has never changed, but obviously in the secondary is closed that middle of the field and limit explosive places. You're gonna beat Kansas City, You're gonna give up someplace throughout the game. I think that's how defensive coordinators have to think now, as we're not going to completely limit an offense, but can we limit the big plays down the field. And I think

that's why you're cmore split safety coverage. My next one is going right to the quarterbacks. I don't know how much work you've done on Trey Lance. I'm struggling with this player from North Dakota State because you know, the most he's thrown a ball in a game is basically about twenty times. We know he's only got nineteen starts, certainly runs a lot, it's very athletic. Watched his protas. Believe you can drive the ball and all that. But you want to what Matt like you said about watching tape.

I've never seen him in a two minute drill, you know. I've never seen him lineup shotgun and make every throw you need to make with no timeouts and drive a team eighty yards because they basically North Dakota State has dominated everybody. I do believe he's draft worthy of man, there are some rosspots to this player that I'm struggling with. Well, I think what you're getting at their gym, and I agree with you, is that lack of reps to seventeen

career college games, all versus FCS competition. As well. I did write a report on him. One thing I wrote in their gym was limited game reps versus FCS level competition. Didn't see consistent NFL situations like you're talking about right, You didn't see consistent NFL situations, whether it's the pocket he's thrown from or specific game situations. I think with someone like Trey Lance, you have to really project the traits in draft the traits and bet on those trains.

And this is you know, not as similar. But I made this mistake last year with Justin Herbert. As I watched the film Jim, I said, I had some concerns in the film. I concerned about the offensive structure and organ would it translate to the NFL. But in terms of the traits Justin Justin Herbert, you know the physical tools, the physical traits, the arm talent, the ability to move, and now you put them in a scheme to pro offense.

And we saw what happened during his rookie season. So I think with Trey Lance, maybe not an immediate starter in his rookie season, But again you're projecting out and saying, Okay, we take this player who has the high level traits and put them in our system and develop them. Then we have a future starter that can win a lot of games for US. Matt Bow and our guest here on Bears All Access brought to you by IGS Energy

with Tom Thayer and Jim Meta. I'm Geoff Johnny a couple more for you if you got some time at so if you were looking at the entire quarterback class, no matter the round, and if the Bears are inclined to do that and draft a quarterback with their available picks, what would be your recommendation, our suggestion based on the tape you've seen of this class that would fit what they want to do? Right? Well, I think you know, drafting at number twenty unless you make a major move,

which we never know. Guys could happen to move up if someone slides out of that top ten because that's sometimes how the draft works, and the Bears have to move up and get him. Let's say they don't. Let's say that all five of these quarterbacks go in the top ten, top twelve area, and the Bears are probably looking at Day two of the draft, right, That's what I would expect. You know, when the player I liked,

there's Davis Mills from Stanford. You know Davis Mills, the former five star recruit, and he has traits and I've said this beform. People say, well, high school rankings don't matter, I understand it, but the trades do. And if you're granted as the five star recruiters being done for a reason. Now, he's not a high level mover. He's more of a pocket thrower. But in terms of his arm talent, that's where you see the high level traits you can throw

with the anticipation location. He has enough arm talent to tack all levels of the field. Didn't play a bunch of couch I think only as thirteen career starts. But again, you're drafting out, you have Andy Dalton as your schedules this year. You're drafting projecting for the future. But I do think the Bears have to look at the quarterback in this trap because if you don't, then we're getting into a situation when you're living year to year at

that position. I don't think it stuff to develop a team and stuff to develop a consistent winner when they're living year to year. You want to have somebody can develop under your coaching, your coaching staff, your infrastructure within the building that you believe you can maximize those traits. And again, like I said, with David S. Mills, not an elite mover, but Canny run boot. Of course he

can't Canny learns and navigate a pro pockets. Sure he can with represent coaching, but what you can't coach is the armed him. You just can't coach. Those are uncoachable trade. So that's one player I look at if the Bears go quarterback in the day two and I think that's the range for David S. Mills. But that would be my pick. Hey man, if the Bears brought in a

new safety too, they need a starting safety. What has to happen going down the road for Eddie Jackson and is he is he in the position that he's going to play throughout his career or can they bring in a safety that has quality traits If they have to move Eddie Jackson around even though a new defensive coordinator, Shaw decide. But they also have help and advice from Mike Patton. Yeah, I think bringing in Mike Petton is important.

I really agree with that, you know, getting another voice in there and experienced voice in there to a young defensive coordinator. Everyone needs help. We all understand that when you're starting off at a new position and running entire defense. But look, Eddie Jackson has proven before he can make plays in the football. He has dynamic playmaking ability, dynamic traits, ball skills. There's no question about that. So if I'm a coach in that situation, I have to find out

what allows him to get back to that level. Is it a way he's coached, is it a certain coverage he likes to play in certain game situations. I would sit down with Eddie and say, okay, tell me, let's go back to twenty eighteen. Let's watch that film again, and you tell me why you made all these plays. What were you seeing with your eyes? Why were you aggressive here? Why did you take this angle? I would go through all those big plays with him and say, okay,

how can we recreate that in our defense? But I do think the Bears opposite Eddie needn't answer that. There's no question about that. As you want any to play back, you know, back from the line of scrimmage, you want any to have that forward I use the term forward ability. Guys, when you're playing split safety coverage. That's Eddie's ability to drive extremely quick on the football and use his eyes

and make plays. That's that forward ability. We know Eddie also has range and not then being split safety all the time, but the being single high cars, so you need that safety opposite Eddie that also brings a physical element to the box. Someone who will tackle in the run game, so I will cut off the ball the run games. Something that can master the tight ends underneath, so you have your playmaker over the top of the defense. A lot of teams use that rock and roll. We're

both got to be interchangeable up in there. And you know, I really like to Sean Gibson last year. He's hasn't been resigned by the Bears. But maybe some safeties that stick out in your mind. I know Richie Grant, I kind of fell in love with the UCF safety down in Mobile with what he showed. But maybe some of your safeties that you really like him as a draft approaches your bat Jim, I agree about Richie and Richie Graham is a former two star recruit, does not have

high level trade. So he's a football player. I mean, you saw John the Senior Bowl. You can see it on tape. He can play as a split safety, he can bring that physical elements the run game. He's got much better coverage ability than I expected. When you're talking about safety coverage ability, the ability to cover down. You know, if you're bringing pressure, you're playing number three to trips. Very patient with his footwork, keeps his shoulders squares, got

some short area speed to close in the football. I'm very impressive with Richie Grant. Jamar Johnson from in the End. I watched his tape last week and obviously Indiana had a great season. Jamar Johnson is ideal for the Bears defense in terms of schematic fit because he plays for words, he plays a dpack. He's got the ability to play underneath as well, and I think you need to have that ability. And you know in your base and your sub package, who's to have that safety is your overhang

defender and drops the curl match the inside verticals. Another name mentioned Andre Cisco from Syracuse. It was coming off an injury, but Andre Cisco at thirteen interceptions and basically two college seasons, that's a ton. That is a ton and anyone who's played defense and those those things don't just fall from the sky. I wish they did. I mean I would have him a lot more, but you know, they don't just fall from the sky, so you have

to create those. He's got excellent rains ball skills, got an NFL frame and those are three safeties in terms of schematics hit with the Bears that I would look at Cisco coming off at ACL six feet five and a hay five and eight two sixteen could be a top one hundred selection. All right, I gotta ask the last thing. We'll let you go. Appreciate the time very much, so you know, I looked it up. You ran a four to five one at the combine. What'd you run on your pro day? Well, I told you you have

because of the turn. At my pro day, I ran a four three nine four three. Oh my real better. You better be teaching that stuff on Friday night time. He's playing Bishop Bishop McNamara on Friday nights. So good luck. All right, guys, I really appreciate it, Thank you, Thank you so much. Matt Bowen from ESPN our guest. We'll take a breakback with Jim Miller and Tom there after this on Chicago Sports Radio six seventies score. The segment of Bears All Access is brought to you by Athletico

Physical Therapy. Visit Athletico dot com to requested appointment in clinic or virtually and start feeling better tomorrow bottom moments with our guest Jim Miller before we let you go. Jim and Tom there with us here on Chicago Sports

Radio six seventies score. So I think, what now about ten teams through the NFLPA taking a stance on next week's start to the offseason program, a portion, or, as it was described in the release by the NFLPA, majority of the Bears locker room choosing to not participate in in person voluntary workouts frankly in the name of safety during the still this COVID situation as X players, the both of you weigh in on that and how you feel about what is taking place there, Well, I'd be

going into work. I don't know how Tom feels. You know, some guys are going to be bubble guys where they know it's going to be tough to make the team every year, and they're gonna want to be a part of that participation. Not to mention that if you get hurt, you know, it's better to be hurt at the facility where you'll be covered by the Bears because you've got

the whole support system there. And if I'm a player who definitely has a workout bonus, I'd be the first one on the phone line call on JC Treenter saying is the NFLPA gonna cut me my hundred thousand dollar bonus check for workouts. I'd like to know that because if you don't, I'll be going into work. And JC Treder is the NFLPA president, Tommy, I never felt I had job security where I could stay away from the facility.

If the doors were open, I was there, and then I would have that same kind of mentality right now. When Jim talked about Justin Fields got the big ten to play football, I would be one of the guys that would want to do things safely, but I would want to encourage the improvement of my football team through the camaraderie of the weight room and the training staff. So I kind of in the same boat Jim is in,

all right. So the voluntary phase expected to start four weeks right now, the league will be virtual and then there will be that time when there will be a mandatory mini camp and some OTAs that also are voluntary. But hopefully these guys will get back. I think it hurts the young players the most, and I do agree with Bruce Arey and said, you know, the advancement of young players is a challenging proposition when this goes on, Jim, wish you had more time. We're gonna let you go.

Appreciate it. As always, we'll talk to you next week. Good luck in your draft prep, buddy. All right, guys, always going to be with you. Appreciate it. Jim Miller back with one more segment with Tom before we wrap things up here on Chicago Sports Radio six seventy. This morn Fresh cut, Fresh Perspective book, an appointment with Chicago Bears Small Business offers one our Principal Barbers Visit Principal

Barbers dot Com. Jeff, Joni Act, Tom Day wrapping things up before we turn it over that Anthony Heron here on Chicago Sports Radio six seventy to score. All right, so it's now official in Atlanta, Cordarell Patterson signs with them and free agency A really, really good guy. Enjoyed him here. But the threat he brought to the table on special teams, both as a flyer on kickoff and then when you throw in his threat as a kick returner. I'll miss that guy on game day, right, you know.

Through the evaluation of the draft, Jeff, we really rarely talk about special team skills. That's kind of a desire that the player shows the special teams coordinator that he has the willingness to do these types of requirements. In Cordarel on kickoff return and a flyer and a punt return, that's pure desire. Skill is when you have to have the fancy footwork to be a cornerback or the intability to see where the holes are going to open up

as a running back. So when I think of Cordarel, I think of a four positioned player that you're gonna have to have multiple bodies to fit into those places. Opportunities for young guys. Now that Bear Special Teams unit. That's gonna wrap this up, Tommy, We'll talk to you next week. Thanks to Tom and Jim Meller and our guest Matt Bow and our producer Julio Rosseo as well, along with Jordan tread Up and Dan but really Anthony

Herron coming up next. We'll talk to you next week on Bears All Access, brought to you by Igus Energy. Have a good night, everybody. This is Chicago Sports Radio six seventy the Score. Thanks for listening to this Chicago Bears Network presentation of Bears All Access. Podcasts are available on Chicago bears dot com and on iTunes, or download the official Bears mobile app. Bears All Access has been brought to you by IGS Energy and sponsored by Miller Litte