Pace reflects on the Draft | All Access

bring you the latest on the Bears. After the rookie mini camp, moving through the phases of the offseason training camp, will be here before you know what. I'm Jeff John Yac along with Tom Thamer, broadcast partner from News We're gonna go seven eighty and one to five point nine FMWBBM coming up at our next segment where we joined

is always by former Bears quarterback Jim Miller. And at the bottom of the hour, kind enough to take some time to night general manager Ryan Pace to look back at the draft class at twenty twenty one, Big Tom, how you you know, Big Jeff, I'm glad you said that things are going to be star starting at such a rapid pace, because I don't think unless you've been around the NFL for a long time, how quickly time goes in between all the different landmarks you go through

in an off season. But then before you know it, man, you're in training camp and it's serious business with last year's off season unlike anything we've ever seen in our life, with so much uncertainty about whether it will happen, how is it going to happen, how is everything going to play take place? Now you have a little bit better understanding and hopefully things are back to normal. But again

that pushes the pace of these off seasons. And whether you're an experienced veteran, whether you're a veteran that's fighting for a position, or you're a new kid on the block that you know these things, these playbooks, they're gonna come at you at a rapid rate. So invest your time wisely and be prepared once you start getting ready for training camp. I was just thrilled to see the guys on the grass, as they say, you know, working towards getting to understand what the is ahead here at

training camp. Real football, certainly a rookie mini camp is not real. A lot of guys running around, But you do get impressions of players, and I was pleased to see a lot of things, especially on the offensive line. For example, just watching Tevin Jenkins and Larry Born both through their drills, you you kind of instantly get an idea on their footwork, their body types, and just how athletic they are. And I know that's right up your

alley of course, being an offensive lineman. We'll get that out of the way before we start talking at Jim Miller about quarterbacks and whatnot. But you know it's and we're going to bring this up with Ryan Pace. Just a lot of home grown offensive lineman by virtue of the draft and undrafted free agency over the last several years, provide the bulk of what is going to be the offensive line here in twenty twenty one. Yeah, but you know, I think you have a lot of certainty and a

lot of versatility and the interior this offensive line. So a lot of the question marks going into the season was about the offensive tackle position. They allowed Charles Leno to move on, they allowed Bobby Massey to move on. They know what they have and you heard when Wan Castillo approached the Zoom meeting about what Jermain Effetti is going through and what an asset he's become. But jeff I was probably as I was as excited about the offensive lineman that I saw in the rookie minicamp as

I was about all the high, high profile positions. So I'm really excited about the future, about the development and about the role that the offensive line is gonna play. Because when you talk about the development of an offense and the different the different ways this offense could go, I think it's a it's as as exciting as any position on the field. Yeah, Obviously Tevin Jenkins, the second

round draft pick, Bears thought very highly of him. He's already got budding relationship with the guy that he needs to right now, and that would be Cody white Hair.

I had a few reach out to me. The one that I've been talking to mostly is Cody Whiteher, who's a guardier, and I've been talking back and forth with him, and basically he's just reached it out to, you know, if I need helping hand or anything, if I need an extra help anywhere I can, And all that I really say is I really appreciate him, and I really appreciate things he's doing for me. And now, now that doesn't happen everywhere. You could say it does, but people

aren't competing for jobs. It didn't happen in your day. You tell me the story after story after story, but you know what, that's the guy Cody is though. Yeah, you know all the offensive lineman that I was competing against. I didn't expect them to reach out to me and give me any congratulatory welcoming about being a bear because

it was all about competition from that point out. However, the one thing Tavian has to realize is that Cody is an extremely talented offensive lineman and there's no assurance that he's going to be the guard playing next to him, because Cody Whitehair can fill any role in the interior or that offensive line. If James Daniels is a more balanced and well prepared offensive lineman at the guard position,

those two guys will know each other equally as well. However, I have a tremendous amount of respect for Cody Whitehair. Everything that's ever been asked of him throughout his career, he's done at a moment's notice, and he's performed at a high level. He is a professional, So I think Tevin is really fortunate, just like boram Is, to have assets on the offensive line like these guys that have the willingness to reach out to them to get them

acclimated to what they're gonna go through. Once this whole season gets underwent, It's always a tight group, that's for sure. When the center of the roster is settled, it's a tight group. That's how they hang, that's how they are supposed to and it's an important part and maybe the most important part of offensive football. What happens up front of the offensive line will continue on our discussion talk more about the old line and all the rookies and

more with Jim Miller coming up after this break. Our producer tonight, Brandon Friar, Thanks Dan BURRELLI and Jordan trut Up, and thanks to you for listening. Tonight, Ryan Pace, the Bears general manager. At the bottom of the hour, just ahead here on Chicago Sports Radio six seventy the Score, Welcome back to I Bears All Access, brought to you by IGS Energy with Tom Tare I'm Jeff Joni. Choose clean energy for your home at IGS dot com because

every good choice adds up to a better world. Sorry, everybody. We have these inside humor that you just can't share on the radio. And he got me. He got me right before the commercial coming out. Thanks a lot, Tom. You know, he's just a little bit of a little bit of a knuckle, a little little bit of a rascal, I would say, And it doesn't take much to crack me up. So I got nobody else antagonized. You're my only guy, he's going. Plus we're looking at each other

on Skype, so we get all this right. That brings us to our good buddy and serious sex and the NFL radio host and former Bears quarterback Jim Miller. We get out the laughing out the way now in the offseason before it gets all serious. Jim, Well, it's such an easy target time. You know that. Remember when you were recovering up recovering punts on a beach. Yeah, everyone saw that on the social Oh no, I mean that covering punts. That was a Bears Bears fan trip. Wait,

you gotta bring that up. A Kim Hicks is running the show and teaching selected fans and this person wasn't a part of the traveling party. It was a woman that was on vacation there and she said, well, let me try to punt, and I was standing right there with a microphone. She punted it right that the nose of the football right in my mouth like and Keim was so stunned his jaw dropped. He could not believe

what transpired. He goes, dropped the ball and kick it, and that's exactly what she did, right in my face. And thankfully nothing broke, didn't break a jaw, didn't lose any teeth. That was my number one concern, losing my chicklets. But I think people have a lot of respect for punters because they know that there's a couple different ways.

Now they tom immediately shifts into the analysis. Oh my gosh, Well, I know what was worse me going through that experience on a vacation slash work trip, or when I did a story on brand Maynard and how his ball would tail away from the returner. And I went out there in a suit and wingtips and tried to catch punts inside the Bayton Center. Didn't catch a one, not one, not one. Does the return ability that's why you're getting hit in the jaw. All right, big Jim, how's it going?

How's it going? And I know you weren't here to watch rookie minicamp, but it was good to see the guys running around and see exactly what new blood comes into the organization. I think it's a bunch of versatility overall. I think there's some undrafted guys. And you know, we'll talk with general manager Ryan Pace coming up at the bottom of the hour about what he saw. But you know, the first thing I think you look for as a coach or an observer is is somebody way out of place?

And no one look way out of place. Yeah, you know, I like what I saw. I caught what I could of the players when they were on the field. You know, it's a shame coach Naggie wasn't able to be out there with the players, but he got all the intel that he needed. And like Tom said it, you know, I want to see the shake up on the offensive line.

How is it ultimately going to settle for the best five guys to get on the field, and how they because they have some guys that have some position flexibility, so that's always interesting how the best five will will work itself out. But no, I don't think anybody looked out of place. I'm excited about the plan for Justin Fields. They've named Andy Dalton the starter right now, and again, you know, there's nothing that needs to be forced here

for Justin Fields. He's a tough, strong, athletic quarterback from Ohio State, and he's gonna get the opportunity and he will get the reps that he needs to prepare himself to play. I don't think Nick Foles really needs to take a lot of reps. So Justin Fields still going to get a lot of work, even though Andy Dalton is named the starter, and there's no rush to really get them on the field. So I'm excited to talk

to Ryan Pace about that tonight. But I think overall the bearers were pretty happy with how they're draft unfolded. You know, It's kind of funny because you finally get a and they always say you got to pass the eye test, And this is our first opportunity to get an eye on approach of a lot of these players. And when you see the athleticism of Justin, you see the size of Tevin and Larry Barham, and then I think, Jeff, I think we are most impressed with the lower body

of Khalil Herbert. Yeah, okay, because you know we're not like we don't see these guys very often. When you guys go to the combine, you have an opportunity to see these guys go through all the drills and you didn't have access to all these types of workouts. And so every single guy from daz Knewsome to Graham to Herbert, every one of these guys had a trait that you could see why they were drafted. You can see how

much depth and competition they're going to provide. So this is an exciting group of rookies that are gonna come in here and you know, have a chance to change the face of their positions, but also get in there and compete no matter who the veterans are in front of them. Great time to get your reps now, because when training camp comes, you know, the tomb starters, however they lay out on both sides of the ball, they're gonna get the majority of their reps. And now you're

just biding your time to hopefully impress. And that's what happened last year with Darnel Mooney. He brings up the running back position. I feel it's a tough position to evaluate when you're just looking at workouts and then watching their game tape depending on where they play, what was around them. Yes, instincts usually come and come fast. So a guy who's undrafted can immediately make an impact in the national football They gonna really matter what round you're

drafted in it. But this Khalil Herbert can do more than just that, and I think that to me as well. He also has all this special team's ability and he touched on that as we interviewed him on Zoom last week. Able to use my vision, you know, playing running back, being able to set up blocks, frank tackles, and you know running north and south thing is a really big thing. To just be able to hit that whole full speed,

no fear and ghost man. Now that's added you also, who knows what else he can do on special teams? He already knows. That's we're pretty much where his ticket gets punched to be on the active roster and game day Jenner, Yeah, no, this guy's impressive. He had a twenty three point five average as a kick return ability from that standpoint, so we know that he that he transferred. But this guy gets after I saw him down to

threesa's senior Bowl. He had four plays last year of fifty plus runs in twenty twenty, so he does have the ability for it to be a big playback. Not proven on the third down stuff. Gonna have to prove some stuff in the in the blocking ability, I would think from that standpoint. But you know, it's kind of a breakout year for him last year. It's kind of you know, it's basically a one year starter after transferring his own scheme runners. So I think that fits what

the Bears are trying to do. Here's what I love about him too. Out of his five hundred carries that he had during his college career, but essentially only two fumbles. Only two fumbles, So he is he secures the football is what he does. And so you know he's a guy you take a flyer on, has that breakout year and won't be wholly finds himself with an opportunity for the Chicago Bears. I mean, but minimum, like you said, he knows where he's got to make his hay is

on the special team side of it. You know, no matter what position we're talking about in this draft, from offensive line to quarterback to receiver, a defensive back to running back, there is no more one dimensional football player in the NFL anymore. If you don't fill a variety of roles from special teams to everything that's required out

of you from your specific position. Could you see if, yeah, we drafted this offensive lineman because he's exclusively a great run blocker, and so now every time we throw the ball will sub No, that's not the case. You have to be multidimensional. I think that was kind of neat thing to see with all these guys. When Chris Tabor, the special team's coordinator, has his periods, he has all these guys involved in active roles of what they can

possibly do in terms of game day roster requirements. And when you talk about return ability both on the punt return and kickoff return, it's it's it's fun to watch. And then when you look at what the quarterback in the offensive linemen are capable of being throughout throughout the course of their career, they can fill every phase of what's going to be asked to them. So there is

no one dimensional football player in the NFL anymore. And even when you look at das Knewsom, this guy can play a wide receiver, he can play a slot receiver. And you saw some of the really nice connections that were made between he and justin doing the course of that rookie Meani camp. And it excites you because Darnell Mooney, he earned his burst onto the scene, wasn't just handed to him. And so you look at every one of these guys and you think they're all capable of the

same opportunity. Dads is somebody. It looks like he's gonna be an entertainer, a guy who pulls people together, a fun, fun loving guy. He's not afraid to, you know, have fun with the media. But told us football really is in his blow from the time of your little kid, my dad was coach. I want to and and really just me just seeing a bunch of players. I've been in the water boy since I was like six year

ago oldtil I was in seventh grade. Just seeing all those players, I said, when I first got on the sideline, I thought he was in high school. And we just seeing all the players and seeing my brothers the game through my city and all that. We've just seen all those players how to move and had missed. I just picked the pieces of man righting and just be putting in my game. Yeah, that area the country or Newport News where he's from. Me he had a lot of

connections to a lot of great players. It's it's not the easiest place to grow up there either, but athletics really really gets them on the right track, and many have found their way to professional sports, just not the NFL. We need to take a break coming back with Jim Miller and Tom There. This is Bears All Access brought to you by IDs Energy Juice Clean Energy for your home at I dot com because every good choice ended up to a better world. Back with more on the

score after this. The second of the Bearers All Access has brought to you by Athletical Physical Therapy. Visit Athletical dot com to request an appointment in clinic or virtually and start feeling better tomorrow with Tom There, Jim Miller from six or second of the NFL Radio's Boot and Chains with Pat Crowin on, Jeff Jonahac justin fields. Um. Maybe this was the best quote of the week last week when he met the media as he began his

NFL pro career at Allis Hall. Because the spotlight is on, it always is on every quarterback and he's had plenty of experience dealing with that. Yeah, I mean, just like you said, I've been, you know, kind of by licensed high school song. I kind of feel like I'm you know, made for this. I'm built for this. So it's it's it's nothing new to me. I'm just going to confine the right card every day. How significant is that? Yeah? I think for him, I think his toughness is gonna

be something that carries him through. And I when I talked to his coach, Ryan Day, he raved about his toughness. It wasn't just in that game against Clemson. He said there were other games too that he continued to play that that he was beat up in. And I think there is a great desire because I think when people were trying to shoot bullet holes into him leading up to the draft, I mean, it's about his desire for

the game and does he work hard enough. This is the guy that petitioned the Big Ten to even play football last year. It was justin fields. So I think his leadership, his toughness are going to carry him through. I think he does have a great work ethic. He's young at playing the position. You know, he's basically only a two year starter. He transferred from clem or from college. We know why he transferred to to Ohio State. Yeah,

it was Georgia. Excuse me that he transferred from just due to tough from and from was going to be the quarterback and from ultimately got drafted by the Buffalo Bills out of Georgia, but goes into the Big Ten. He's the two time Big Ten quarterback of the Year. And he's still young in his game. So he's he's still I don't want to say he's raw in a lot of respects because he's not raw. He's a tremendous player, and he can throw the ball, and he's athletic and

in all those things. But he is still young in terms of his sample size of playing the position a quarterback. And so just take your time with him and if you if you bring him along the right way, he's a quarterback that definitely has every tool to succeed in the National Football League. Tom, would you think of how he moved out there? Inspiring? You know, because it was so fluid, it was so easy, it was so natural

to him. There wasn't a thinking process after the ball left his hand to make sure his hand or his body or his feet were in the right position. It was a natural kind of movement for him. And when you see the accuracy and the relationships that he was developing throughout the reps, throughout the periods they were going through throughout the couple days that they were going through practices, it was kind of it was kind of fun to watch.

But you know, that kind of goes along with the quarterback position when they choose or they gravitate towards that position whenever it becomes their role in football. I came from a high school that we never threw the ball, but everybody was always, you know, looking at the quarterback position. So as the quarterback and the whole position started a morph into a role of such extreme importance for a team, Hey, this is something these guys become used to and adapting

to the playbooks something you have to work hard on it. Um, you know, at whatever. So um, I want to be great at you know, knowing the playbooks. So I'm gonna work hard at it, of course, But it has been I would say, you know easy with you know, coach Naggie Flip Laser Snide, everybody teaching me the playbooks. So they made my job way easier by teaching it to me. And of course it's just kind of coming time with with with me studying that and you know, just just

just getting it down. Hey, Jim In regards the playbook, because plays are installed. Even during rookie Minicamp on the second day on Saturday, there was more added into it, according to Matt Naggie. And it's almost like when you go to college and if you if you miss your first couple of classes or you didn't buy your books

and you missed a well you're already behind. And if you don't adapt immediately at the quarterback position and the other ten guys in that huddle, whether it be in his role, which we anticipate what his role will be, it's really problematic because it's going to keep building, right, Yeah, Yeah, it's a it's a foundation. You know, even through a rookie mini caamp, like when I went to my first one for the Pittsburgh steel As, they didn't give you

the whole enchilada. You know, they're just giving you the basics of the base offense just so you have that foundation underneath you. But you're right, it's going to continue to grow every single day. You know, plays or added every single day, and it's going to compound and get bound and it's going to continue to grow. And he's gonna have to continue to learn. And you do. I mean, you know, I remember because even then we did two

days back in our rookie mini camps. I remember, even over the course of in between practices, I found myself, you know, just in the playbook the whole time. No, I don't need lunch. I need to be able to go out there and be confident to call plays because again, you're you're trying to present yourself as a leader to your team. You're in control that huddle, and how can you be in control if you don't know what your assignment is, let alone what their assignments are going to be.

So you try to be confident, exude all the things that are necessary that you need to present at the position. And it's it's a grind, it'll take a little time, but if you're putting in the work, players see it. They will buy in to what you're doing. All right, Jim, We're gonna take a break. When we come back, we'll be joined by the general manager of the Chicago Bears, Ryan Pace. This is Bears all Access brought to you

by IGS Energy on Chicago Sports Radio six seventy. This score, this segment of Bears All Access is brought to you by CDW. People to Get It with Tom Fair, Jim Miller from Sirius sex M, NFL Radio. I'm Jeff Joniac. Welcome into the program, everybody, with our producer Brandon Friar in time to turn it over to gentle manager Ryan Pace. Ryan, thanks for joining us tonight. Thanks for taking some time as we walk back through the NFL Draft twenty twenty one.

I know every draft has its own story to it, and this story when it involves a first round as tense as it was, and it was a great piece written by Adam Johns of The Athletic all about it in great detail. Fans haven't read to check it out. When you await the call from the New York Giants, I'm going to hand the ball off to you there and take us from there because it is a great moment. It's probably something you're never gonna forget. Hey, Jeff, Yeah,

good to catch up with you, guys. Yeah. I guess as you reflect back on that moment, you guys know, there's so much work and preparation that goes into it from so many differ from people in our buildings. So that's the culmination of a lot of hard work, a lot of preparation, playing out a lot of scenarios. You know, we had kind of talked throughout the day with numerous teams, but you know, a lot with the giants and got

a really good rapport with day gentlemen. So to see it kind of come down to that moment and you're on hold for it seemed like forever. It's probably about a minute and a half. Then to realize, okay, guys, it's going to happen. We're on the clock and we're gonna be able to get this quarterback. Was it was a great moment I think for the for the entire building.

I think Adam Rhodo was eight thirty nine PM because forget about it, Yes it's a quarterback, and that that gets so much attention, certainly in the in the top ten fifteen doesn't matter really anymore with quarterbacks, could be a third round pick grabbed the attention. But just were you calm? I mean, do you stay calm or were you I mean, how do you handle that moment? Because some of it is out of your control. Yeah, it's

it's crazy. Jeff, you are you are calm, It's it's you'rem And I think I think it just comes from going over it over and over and over and plan out every single scenario that could happen. UM. So yeah, you're you're calm through all that, and we all work really well together. I think we've got a real cohesive unit. So you know, between everybody, you know, obviously we've talked a lot about Josh Lucas and Joey Laine and Mats at my side and in Champ and Jeff King and Sadowski,

and we're all there kind of working through it. Um. And so it is it is calm at that moment. And then I think you once you're you're finally on the clock, you make the selection, you call the player. Then there is a delay, like by the time that TV kicks in, there's there's been a delay. UM. So we might not you might not feel the emotion in the room that that that took place just minutes before when it's on TV. UM, But then that's when it

kind of hits you and it settles in. Like, man, we put so much work into this We've talked about this for so long, We've been through so many scenarios and we made it happen and that and that's what it feels gratifying. Hey, Ryan, the difficulties in scouting this past season because of the depth and the um the

versatility of the interior offensive line. Did you were you able to focus on the offensive tackles specifically because I love what I see out of Tevin, I like what I see out of Boreum, and I think they have exciting futures in the NFL. Yeah, Tom, You're right. There was a lot of depth of offensive linemen this year, and we knew it, and we knew there were there were some lead players, uh, some some tackles that we're gonna go that we're gonna go high that we really liked.

Then we knew there was going to be this kind of this next bash of guys. And when we got there, Tom, in that second round, there was a span of seventeen players selected there in the second round, and eight of them were offensive linemen. So that was kind of the run on lineman Um. But for us to get to get Tevin at that spot, Um, we were excited about that. And then Larry Boreum to get him in the fifth round, and that's that's a player that we would have been

excited about on the second day of the draft. So for us to get him on the third day of the draft in the fifth round, Um is something we feel really good about. Just fortifying our offensive line, continuing to add young talent to that position is really important. Ryan, Jim Miller, good to talk to you again. It was

funny because I talked to Dave Gettleman. Everybody was blasting him up to the draft that he never trades down, and here he traded down in the first and the second round, so he's opened up Trader Daves like Trader Joe's No, I guess what I was talking about. But let me let me ask you this before we get into talking about the draft picks. How was it for you collecting data here this offseason because you had no combine,

you can't get apples to apples numbers. You're going into these pro days where you know, some guys got fast tracks that are out there in terms of these college campuses or what they're the surfaces they're jumping off of to get to your vertical jump and all the things like that. How were you able to digest all that and really weed through it to get the comparisons in the data that you needed. Jim, that's a great question because there were so many challenges and you're dead on

some of these pro day numbers come in. Are they running on a trampoline? Like? It seemed like crazy result it's coming back, But you know what a lot of it comes down to. And I remember when I first started, there was an older scouts kind of took me under his wings. His name was Bill Quinner, and he always just said, trust your eyes. Trust your eyes when you're

watching this film. So it comes back to that, like what are you seeing on game film on how these guys are performing and not getting caught up so much and a lot of the data we collect once football has done playing. I mean, some of that stuff is important. The medical information was a challenge is here, But it really comes back to him to trust in your eyes

on what you're seeing on the film. And then and then our area scouts, our area scouts having relationships in those schools because there are some guys you know that didn't play football as you guys know this past season. So if you're really digging deep, you're going back on the tape if you're relying on area scouts that have built up a lot of rapport through those schools, and you're trust in your eyes what you see on tape with them playing football, which is the most important thing.

This is BEARS All Access brought to you by IGS Energy at Chicago, which Radio six seventy The Score General manager Ryan Pace with us for a few minutes here. Thanks for joining us once again. With Tom there, Jim Miller, Jeff Joniac. I want to talk about the offensive line more because if you put all the numbers together, you have four drafted linemen in the last two years on the roster. You got two undrafted with playing time one and Sam must have her. That's really grown quickly here

and when given an opportunity. So it's a homegrown approach to the offensive line. I think, I know, I think the numbers ten on the roster right now. Is that a plan that you put together in your mind to do that the home grown fashion? And if so, why is that important? Because I've heard Cody many times talk about, you know, having the right guy in the right culture for that room as well and believing you have that

with Boram and Jenkins added to the mix. Jeff, I really do, and I think it starts with Blancasto and just our confidence in our trust in him as the offensive line coach. You know, wherever we draft a play, or if it's in the second round, if it's in the seventh ront, wherever it is, Wan's going to develop those guys. Wane's going to maximize those players. And I just have so much confidence that whoever we put in his room, those players are going to grow because one

is so passionate about making these players better. So I think that's what you see. What's been really cool to see, guys, is how tight our officsive line is right now. Wherever they go, they're all together. All fifteen of them are always together. They all live together, they walk to the practice fields together, They're around each other all the time. It's one of the tightest, most cohesive old line groups that I think a lot of us have seen. And

it's early, but it's really neat to see. And there's some natural leaders in that room. There's a lot of young emerging talent in that room. There's a lot of versatility in the room too, where they can all play different positions and they're kind of cross train, which is going to protect us. So we're excited about the growth of development of that position. But a lot of it, Jeff goes back to Juan Castillo and our belief and trust in him. You know, Ryan daz Knewsome really looked,

he had a really nice rookie camp. He had nice relationship with Justin going early. So then you look back of what the contributions that Darnell Mooney meant to the wide receiver positioned from this football team, you think that inspires these young guys. Don't matter where they drafted. They have the feeling that they can come in here and have an impact or be an influence on that position because they have an example of Darnell and how he

was able to succeed his rookie year. Yeah, there's no doubt, Tom. You know, we talked to those guys about it. As soon as they come in the building. It doesn't matter where you were drafted, if you were a high pick or if you were a college free agent. We owe it to our locker room to keep the best players,

and there's a lot of examples of that. So once they get on the field, it's a clean slate, and I think there are some commonalities when you talk about those guys, and you know, Darnell is a perfect example, a guy that came in with professional mindset, worked his tail off and it paid off on Sunday. And I think Dad Das has like you know, every team you kind of need those spark plug guys. You know, Tarik

Cohen's one of those guys. Um, Dad has that personality, just a lot of choose, a lot of energy, UM, a lot of humor in a really good way. UM. And he's kind of had some spark plug to him. He plays like that. You know, he's he's hard to cover from the slot. He's a good punt returners. For us to get him late in the draft like that, we felt pretty good about it. Well you know where I'm going right to the quarterback end. Justin Fields had the opportunity to talk to him. Very impressed with that

young man. I specifically like the mental toughness about him. Ryan Day. I told him it's not just his ability to go out there and play hurt. Everybody saw that with the Clemson game and there are other games he did that where he came in and played through a knee injury and some other things. But to have the mental makeup, you know, I do think there are certain markets out there. Chicago is one of them. I would say New York as another that you have to have

a tough mental makeup as a quarterback to endure. There's going to be criticism. I mean everybody understands that. And just a little on ut Fields in his mental makeup and what you saw on him, Yeah, no doubt, Jim. I mean you're right, you know, Chicago, Philadelphia, New York, there's certain markets where you need that. Justin naturally has that um you know, you saw it throughout college. You know, we did a lot of research on that. And then now watching him walk in our building right now, Jim,

and you just feel it right away. Just he's off to such an impressive start. You know, obviously the physical talent, but there's a work ethic and there's a focus that's really cool to see. There's a calmness to him and a confidence to him that's really cool to seem. I was just talking to our strength condition and coach, Chasing Loscazo, and he was telling me how hard he works in the weight room and how focused and dialed he is

in the weight room. Things like that. You know already just you know, we've been together for what a week and a half and already feel that just confirms a lot of the things we knew about him. And you know he's entering a quarterback room with two vets in there and that are really going to help him. You can already feel that cohesion those guys with Andy, with Nick Um, I think it's a really good environment for him.

But he has the mental toughness, the focus, the work ethic and the determination I think to have a lot of success in any market, but especially this one. Yeah, well how about you know, because I know what Naggie had said about Andy Dalton being the starting right away, everybody assumes, oh, he's getting all the reps. You know, Justin Fields is going to be able to get reps. You know, you look where Nick Foles is that and

Nick can still get his work done. But can you give us anything of how they'll they'll be distributed, because everybody just thinks, because Andy's the starter, that Justin Fields isn't going to be getting his plethora of work and reps that's going to be dedicated to him to bring him along growth of development. Yeah, Jim, it's a good question. And that's when you know, you rely on the experience

of our staff. So with Matt and with Bill Laser and Flip, and they spent a ton of time thinking about that right there, like how can we maximize all these reps for the quarterback accident. It's important, you know, make sure you know, Andy's getting getting these reps as are as our starting quarterback, and and he's learning the offense, and he's learning the new players, but also the development

adjustin fields and making sure he's getting the reps. So I think our coaches you can already feel it, I've done a great job at making sure that that's handled the right way. Um, and it will continue to be handled that right way, you know, fortunately for us, you know, uh, we'll have a preseason this year which will be big for us, not just for the quarterback but for a

lot of positions. But I think our coaches are our veteran coaching staff, We've got, you know, three coaches right there that are very familiar with this position, has spent a ton of time focusing on that right there and making sure the reps are handled its appropriate way. Hey, Ryan, when you look at the defensive back Grammy drafted. I love his confidence. Um when he answered the phone because he said he was frustrating a little tired. And when we talked to him last week, I said I had

the same thing I was. I wanted to be drafted higher. And I think every guy in the NFL all does. But that's the kind of the attitude that you want to have, Like you said, coming in the locker room, for a guy that has a lot of tremendous amount of belief in his self is development and how badly he wants to be a part of this for sure, Tom and I felt that from Clio Herbert. I felt it from Tonga. I felt it from Boring like that. That's a good you want him to have a chip

on your shoulder like that. And I think, you know, with Thomas Graham, you know, I think him not playing last year, you know, maybe that affected some of it. You know, he did go to the Senior Bowl and had a good Senior Bowl. But what we like about him is the first thing that stands out. I thought every scout said this when we were evaluating him, was really good ball skills and really good ball clock, so like the ability to time up PBUs when the ball

arrives or interceptions. He just has a knack for timing for time that up, the coordination that comes with that, and then I you know, he has this instincts awareness feel peripheral vision to kind of play that nickel spot too, which is going to be important for us. So you know,

he's training outside and inside. But there's just a lot of traits, Like I said, his instincts, but I think his ball skills are something that he naturally has um and you know what, maybe maybe if this is you know, such a different season in twenty twenty, he could have possibly gone higher. But we're fortunate to have him on our team and it fell the way we wanted to fall. Ryan, one more question. We'll let you go appreciate it as always,

you touchdown. Herbert and Tom got two very serious guys about how they go about their business too, and that showed just real quick snapshots on what you saw and just in general how you felt the rookie minicamp point

and we'll let you go. Yeah, so, uh, you know, when when you go to uh, when you go to clear Herbert, to me, he was standing out Jeff on our draft board and we looked up that magnet standing out because we had him great to hide in that area the draft, and he's got such natural vision and patience and running stincts. He really sits in to kind of the wide zone the scheme. Just yeah, just some guys just have a knack for that. He one hundred

percent does when you see him in person. Just how he's built, his body type is perfect for the running back position and what we want to do. And then you throw in the added special team's value that he provides, the kick return value that he provides, just a real pro mind set, and he's off to a great start. And then Tonga just a you know, I thought last year with us losing you know, Roy Robertson Harris and John Jenkinson, Brent Urban, you know that's going to happen

in free agency. But and we were able to resign Mario Edwards, but he had a guy like Tonga late and he's just got a strong stout player can naturally naturally anchor in there. It just gets us excited about our d line. When you talk about a team Hicks getting Daddie Goldman back Blal Nichols you know, we talked about Mario Edwards and then a guy like Tonga coming in. He's kind of a natural nose tackle that can place out inside. Was a big did for us. So everyone

was excited. Rookie minicamp. You know, you can tell this this rookie class, it's just a real serious, focused field to them, a real professional feel to them. You know, I think you know, Justin kind of leads that. And we had a productive mini camp starting with him. All right, Ryan, we appreciate it all the time. Hope to talk to you soon again, and good luck with the offseason program.

As he continues forward here, thank you, thanks right, thanks guys, Thank you As Bears general manager Ryan Pace back with Moore on Bears All Access on Chicago Sports Radio six

seventy The Score. The Chicago Bears Network presents Inside the Bears, brought to you by a Verizon Anthony Adams and Lauren Screeden to cover the world of Bears football on and off the field every Sunday I had at ten thirty five pm on Fox thirty two Chicago, or watch anytime at Chicago Bears dot com or on the Bears official app.

Jeff Jony acc along with Tom there. Jim Miller from Sirius XM NFL Radio just heard from general manager Ryan Pace, said, Jim, any any thoughts on anything that jogged your mind about what he had to say. No, I think you know Ryan Pace, And you know the reason why I asked me that question is, I was, you know, about just

collecting data. I kind of took a you know, it's not a scientific poll or anything, but that's what I asked a lot of the gms but that we talked to on serious sexm and there were quite a few of them. Uh, they were struggling with the medicals. And here Ryan brought that up. That was some of the last data that even came in prior to the draft. Uh that that teams you know, we're trying to collect and get all the information so they could make an

informed decision about drafting players. Granted, everybody's draft boards different and how they're going to grade players because it's it's what they do for your your scheme and what they you know, present to utilize in your schemes. So every

board is stacked different. That's why the Bears when he said, hey, when we saw Herbert there, he stood out like a sore thumb because on the Bears board they had him probably graded higher than than what they had another team maybe had him or rated and why and he brought it up. Hey, he runs a lot of the wide zone there. That's the principles we lies here with the Chicago Bears. So he's going to have more value to the Chicago Bears then say the Baltimore Ravens, who run

a gap scheme. So everybody's board is graded differently. So yeah, I thought, you know, he was pretty expansive with all his answers and why they love the players they did, even Kiris Tonga, the defensive lineman they drafted. If you go back and look at at Tonga, everybody's said, oh he's three undred twenty five pounds, he's a run stuffer. Yeah that's true. Go look at his batdowns. The guy has twelve batdowns, so he is awareness level is good, so he may be in there on first and second down.

We all know though, teams are gonna run play action and do certain things on first and second down where they throw. This guy's a very aware player and all those batdowns kind of prove that and why Ryan Pace says, hey, kind of trust your eyes time. They also feel very good about Larry Boram. He could tell that they had him ranked a lot higher than being a fifth round pick, but he happened to be there. Yeah, you know, one thing that we talked about before this draft was the

draft players according to where they play. And I think when you look at Das Newsome, you look at Graham, you look at Larry Boram, and Tevin Jenkins, every one of these guys, you know they have a foundation of a career that's gonna move further. And I think all of these guys can have an impact on the Bears.

And I know that. You know when you look at Herbert he's a little bit different of a back than David Montgomery, but David Montgomery's one hell of an example of the kind of back you want to emulate yourself after, and he is a three down back. So I got to say that one of the most exciting players that you know, kind of cap caught my attention at rookie camp because I didn't know a lot about him, was

Larry Boram. When you'll listen about this guy playing at three hundred and fifty two pounds in college, to me, that's a little heavy, but when he showed up at the Bears mini camp, he was in shape, he was more fit. He moves very fluidly for a big man, and so I'm excited to see the type of competition that he provides. And you know, is he one dimensional at right tackle? I don't. I'm not so certain about that. I think he has the capability and moved to a

couple different positions on the offensive line. So I'm excited to watch each and every one of these guys. And the guy that probably created the most excitement and the most big plays is das Knewsome. He had a kind of a relationship that developed early with Justin Fields, and Justin Fields put the ball in the exact place he needed to. But the types of catches acrobatically in coverage in a small window that he was able to go

up and make. It was fun to watch man, It was fun and bore him on his strengths and weaknesses. Sorry as I felt our capathit say, with the best of them. And I'm a big body that could run off the ball. And one thing I'm need to work on just just smaller, just a little technique things regarding just some things in the in the wine game. Maybe full work here and there and placement buzz or now

I feel like I can passalk with the best of them. Hey, Jim, typical offensive line conversation right from from an offensive lineman. Work on technique, that's the story. Yeah, hand placement, He's talking about all the all the right things that you need to focus on. From that standpoint, he knows what he needs to work on, and obviously offensive line coach is going to work with him hard. When you look at a Wan Castile, you know, I think you know you try him out at tackle. I think that's the

goal for for his size, but who knows. I'm with Tom. I think he easily could be a power right guard if need be too. As his career starts to get cranked up. I also thought about one thing, sorry about one thing about Larry Boreham, though, is he's gonna have to condition himself like and like any other time throughout his career. When you're that big of a man, you can go out there and damn dominate the college talent

you face. But at the NFL level, if you can't play from the snap of the ball to the whistle blows in a good knee bending position. You're gonna have guys like Khalil and stuff that can tip you over if you place two stiff legged. So that will be his challenge. Yeah, I know, I'll add this. I know Paul Alexander worked with him. He's Paul for There's out there. He coached over thirty years as an offen line coach.

He said, this is a big man with thought. He is powerful, has the bend that you're talking about, uh Tom, and thinks he will be ultimately become a good starting right tackle in the in the National Football League within a year. He thinks he could do that. Who knows. Maybe he's on an accelerated pace where he could fill that role right away for the Chicago Bears. And one last sound bite back to Tevin Jenkins, because there is going to be a process flipping from one side of

the offensive line to the other. He's had over four hundred snaps in college at that position, but it's a different ballgame in the NFL. That's i'd say right now is just muscle memory. That's the best two things ever. That's just we keep on doing it over and over and over until your body's very used to it. Your body is uh more, you know. I guess they're used to it and just keep on doing over and over

until I'm normal. Like it just feels normal every day and like everyday life, I'm gonna becomesay, I'm gonna become just less dander or something because I's gotta have to do how I kill myself. Is there a validity in that tommy muscle memory? Yeah, there is, you know, but you also recognize if you have the ability to convert to that. I played the year in college at left tackle. I knew that my days were numbered at that position.

I kind of suffered through it my junior year and then went back to the interior the offensive line and played with a great deal a lot more confidence. But when I listened to Teban at the podium, it almost sounds like Wan Castillo. You got to do it over and over and over and over again. And that is everything. Offensive football is repetitiously learned. And when you get those ten fifteen thousand reps underneath your belt, you start making

that comfortable non thinking about transition. Well, and the thing is stuck out the most, you know, the overall view of rookie minicamp, and we didn't get into talking about some of these undrafted guys or whatever. I would say. What Ryan hit on it was that they kind of took the queue from Justin Fields, who is quite serious and admitted that he is a serious business for Justin Fields, and that kind of was the own of those couple

of days. We were not there on Sunday, they had a shortened walk through level, but on those two days, you know, it's it's it's I always find it funny fellas when you you grab aunch of a bunch of guys from parts unknown, all over the country, you throw them on a practice field, you get them coached up for a couple of days in the in the classroom, and they go out and it looks like football. Yeah. Well, I mean, and it's good that Justin Fields did that.

And I would think that all the young draft picks there are something. There is something to be said about first impressions. You know. I'm sure Tom wanted to make a good first impression when he was working out for for any team, and I would think, you know, I know what I personally felt that way when I went into the Pittsburgh Steelers. I actually arrived a day early. Bill Cower had to kick me out of the out

of the three Rivers stadium. You know, to make a good impression early and uh, because if you do that,

you're gonna get more opportunities, potentially more reps. And then if you're able to build that trust with your coaches that they know that you're serious about football and you're going to attack it and you're you're taking everything that that you're being given and understand it and are able to apply It's that's why they want you as a player, and you're backing it up every single day you walk in that building. Yeah, and I leave you at this now,

let the process play out. I know everybody's got opinions on where things are going to be and what should be and what they want to be. But process is as important as the player you pick and the player you bring into the organization. Jim, thanks for hanging in there the entire show. Appreciate it and we'll talk to you next week. You got a guy's always good to be with you. Jim Miller from Serious x MNFL Radio Moving the chains, Tommy, We're out of time. Thank you.

You have a good week as well. We'll talk to you next week. Thanks everybody for listening. Thanks to our guest gentle manager, Ryan Pacer, the Bears, and our producers Tonight Brandon Fryer and the Score of Studios along with Jordan tread Up and Dan Barelli, Mark Rody and Anthony Hair on our next on Chicago Sports Radio six seventy to Score. Good night, everybody, thanks for listening to this

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