Preparing for MNF, Vikings | All Access

one in the NFL this season. And wow in the situation the Bears are in overall today, as folks may have heard by now, nineteen players not practicing, eight with an illness, five with injury, and then six more added to the reserve COVID list. That includes guys like Allen Robinson, Jesse James, Joe Ea, Booney Way, Eddie Jackson, and Ryan Noah and practice squadwide receiver Isaiah Coulter added to the list.

That's Eddie Goldman, Maury Edwards, Junior, Larry Boram, and then the three coordinators Sean decided Chris Tabor and Bill Laser on the COVID list as well. A real big impact on the offense with the illnesses. That's not to say those guys won't be ready to play in four days, but the clock is ticking. How do you size all of this up? You just gotta be as mentally prepared

as you possibly can given the circumstances. Yeah, there's some things at this late stage of the season you're not going to be able to get out there and physically do. But when it comes time for Monday, you got to be mentally prepared to play, no matter if your name is called in the last seconds before the game or if you recover from the COVID list and you get

your opportunity to get on the field. They're kind of fortunate they've been through these circumstances all throughout the last year and a half to get a better understanding of it. But you can never be prepared for a situation what's going on frustration indeed from head coach Matt Neeggie, well, you never know going I can remember going into last year thinking, man, this is you know, are we gonna be able to get through this? And we did, and then you get into this summer and you say, Okay,

now we're past it. We're gonna we got you know, vaccinations and these are this is what's going on. We've been there, done that, we know how to do it, and here we are and and all of a sudden, here what you see as a spike in numbers and for different reasons and and uh, but what you have to do is you have to understand that again that you have to what we say last year, expect the unexpected, that this is the unexpected. It's here. Uh. And so what we got to make sure that we do and

maintain as leaders in this building. And what these leaders, the players that we have, is make sure that they stay focused. Sometimes as hard as that can be. You have to do it. That's our obligation. And that's why we're here. And so the teams that do that the best will work through it. And uh, you know, you got to look for where's the Where's where's the positive out of this? I don't know, but maybe maybe there's a player that ends up playing that wasn't going to

play that that does something I don't. I don't know that, but maybe there is. And uh, I think that's that's how you got to approach it. Well, it's a fair question to ask, you know, because first of all, we don't know if more will be at it throughout the course of the week, if if something spreading, it's uh, it's wise to do what they're doing remote meetings now on zoom and whatnot. But there's only walkthroughs, there's no practice throughout the course of the week, and you really

don't know. You can't count on anyone right now. Do they have enough players to play? They you know, they will buy money. But but you know, Jeff, we were just you know, have this example of Tevin Jenkins from last Sunday night. He didn't think he was gonna play. All of a sudden, at a moment's notice, Jason Peters gets fell on boom. You're in Tevin Jenkins and there's no looking back. I think that's the same mentality that a lot of these guys are raised with since the

time they get into the NFL. A lot of these guys were stars in their college team and they played every day and every down. But then you get into a backup role on the NFL and you never know when your name is going to be called. Some of these guys can go through a full career and never get that opportunity. But again, that's why these guys are in the profession they're in not you know, you never

knew it was going to hit. But you also have to you have to be prepared for the role that these coaches that put you in, they have trust, faith in understanding that when their time comes, you're going to be ready. Where are your concerns league wide right now? Because it's not just Chicago, it's Washington, it's Cleveland, it's the LA RAM shutting down their facility over a hundred new COVID cases this week throughout the league in the

last couple of days. Just from your perspective as an announcer right now calling these games, what are your concerns? I have more world concerns than I do NFL concerns, because if they had to shut the NFL down for one week and get everything cleaned up and try to get control, get back into every day testing, have separation in the work atmosphere, and try to get this thing back on track until the end of the season and through the Super Bowl, then that's what they would have

to do. To me, it's hard ignore what the big picture of the world is, and so m I don't want to minimalize and only thinking about the NFL because they can work things out. They showed last year that they were capable of doing this when there wasn't a vaccine, when circumstances were affecting people, you know, in a more destructive way. So now it's about making sure you get everybody on track, understand the testing procedures, and possibly get

back into the everyday testing profile. Justin fields full go today says he's been better ninety percent after the game against Green Bay, admits some soreness after that game took some pops in that one. Tried to limit as many as he could, but his focus is exactly where you had put it, Tommy. I mean, we've done this before, so it's not new. You know, we had it week, we played Detroit on Thanksgiving, so it's not like some new to us. So um, I mean, at the end

of the day, we're all grown in. We all are here for one reason and that's to win game. So if you guys can't lock in for a walk, dude, and you know that's on him at the unit of the day, and you know it's no part partly my job to make sure that the other guys around me are locked in and you know, you know, taking the Walterrough seriously, he has proved many times that he's got a really, really fierce determination no matter what the circumstances.

And if it were tomorrow, he'd have a potentially you know, four new starters on the offensive line. Yeah, but his role is will be a quarterback. It's not to go up in the line of scrimmage, block as a tackle, go back, catch the snap and then throw the ball down field. Just do your own job. And we hear

that preach by coaches all around the NFL. So Justin has to, you know, take stock and the fact that there will be five guys in front of them that Juanca still is going to get these guys mentally prepared and you have to shift positions around to make sure that you got five healthy guys up there. It's the same circumstances every NFL team is facing time three week window to come off ir for Duke Shelley and jermainea Fetty Germaine's been out for quite some time. Maybe they're

ready to go. How would you feel about that? It would certainly help out because the defensive secondary hurting right now as well, with Eddie Jackson now on the COVID list. He was playing Nickel for crying out loud in the LAMBA game on Sunday nights. Xavier Crawford out today with that concussion, So a lot up in the air in that regard too. Yeah, but you know, listen, man, if your numbers called, Jeff, you gotta be ready no matter

what the situation is. And this is the most most unique situation that we've ever been through in our lifetime in the NFL. Is you got to be ready to play, whether you're coming off of an injured an injury list, or you're in a backup role and you're ready to go out there and get a starting opportunity. This is a a situation too. You're you're hoping for guys to stick their hand up in the air. Hey, I may not be close to being one hundred percent, but we are

in an acute situation here. Yeah, we're four and nine, But you know, is this is important. This is our family. Yeah, No, one's one hundred percent. And that's the That's every NFL player will say that every single time. You know, I can't remember who it was a couple of weeks ago, they were talking to one of the receivers and saying, look, after the first day of training camp, you never feel good until a month after training camp is over and

Marquis Goodwin, yes, there you go. So I mean it's you know, whether you're a big guy as an offensive lineman or a smaller guy at the wide receiver position, you're never gonna be one hundred percent healthy man Naggie. Putting all this in perspective, you have to make sure that, like for the coordinators there, they have to zoom, which is what I did, and you have to make sure that when you're zooming, the only difference is that they're they're not there in person. I mean, that's really the

biggest difference. And then when you got to practice, they're not there, so you have to It just creates a little bit more for you to for the backup plan of however that is, whether it's game day or whether it's the day of practice, or whether it's in meetings. You know, it's there's some things that you got to work through. But when you keep, you know, a mindset of understanding that we're not the only team right now in the NFL that's going through this, or really any

league sports league. There's other teams that are going through this. When you keep that mindset, you understand it. You try to stay as positive as you can real quick. On the coordinators, they've got some experience on the staff obviously, and Matt mentioned it earlier today throughout the name of Mike Petton that to me would make sense on the defensive side of the ball. And they have Tom Herman, who has been a head coach, has helped out the

offense and special teams. That could be a guy that also could be leaned on here, right, You know, everybody's role has to be elevated. I've never seen a situation like this where a team is facing a Monday night football game and there without their three coordinators in the

week's preparation. Like I said, they're fortunate they have been through this zoom process before going through the meetings and if the coaches are healthy and now they can be on the opposite side of the screen and leading every one of the meetings just like we're doing now this segment of bears One access is to you by athletical

physical therapy. Visit Athletico dot com to requested appointment in clinic or virtually and start feeling better tomorrow back here on Chicago Sports Radio six seventy to score Jeff Joniak and Tom Thayer. Coming up later in the program will be joined by Pete Bersich, the radio analyst for the Minnesota Vikings. Tom As we look at what the impact of certain players are this year, we're looking at a lot of young players as we look to the future here,

a lot of growth potential. Obviously, we can talk about Justin Fields and Darnell Mooney and David Montgomery, Khalil Herbert. But the one guy, the guy who's already made a name for himself and is rising, is Roquan Smith. What are your thoughts on where he's come. We're gonna listen to him a little bit here in a minute. What is your overall view of what Roquan's impact is now

will be in the future. Still a young man. Well, when you talk about impact, Jeff, it's what can you do for your teammates and a leadership role, both by example in the off season, throughout OTA's training camp and then during the regular season into the games. I think Roquan Smith has developed enough of a voice in that locker room where if something needs to be said behind closed doors or words of encouragement before or after a game.

Roquan Smith has earned that right. And I think that's the best thing that you can say about a football player, is that, amongst sixty seventy a type of personalities, that Roquan Smith is one of the leaders of the entire room. So let's listen in this is our avocant healthcare player profile Roquan Smith, Sunday morning, ten thirty on Fox thirty

two Chicago and Bears Game Day Live. All right, a ro KANDAM gonna start out with a quote from Matt Naggie, And I don't know if you ever heard it, but he practices how he plays, and he plays how he practices. This guy is extremely motivated. He's a football player high iq Missiuana Field. He's out the show everybody why he's the best middle linebacker in the National Football League. Does Matt Naggy have the pulse of Rokuan Smith? Hey, that's

exactly it. You know, I feel like I'm the guy, you know, bost my tail day in and day out, and the same thing on Sunday, give it my all every single second I'm out there, and I just always remind myself Hey, this could be your last play. So that's why I go as hard as I do. Why is it important to you to be the best middle

linebacker in the NFL? I feel like that's just pay back to myself, my community, everyone that's instilled a lot of great things in me, and just all the hard work that I put in a year in and year out, day in and day out, and it's just like, hey, I want to be the best, so I gotta show that each and every day. You know, you're the leader of the team right definitely one of the leaders of the team. Now. I didn't say one. I mean you're

the man right now. This team is about Roe quant Smith And I know you're humble and I'm putting words in your mouth, but the fact of the matter is the leadership void has to be filled and it's the younger guys that are going to pave the way for the future. And you're one of those guys right now. I know it's important to you to stay humble and just lead by your actions, but your voice is louder it is, but you break down the team before games. People are turning to you. Now, how does that feel?

And are you okay? Do you have shoulders for that. Oh absolutely, It's a tremendous on the first and foremost to be consider one of the leaders of this amazing team, amazing brotherhood of guys and knowing that a lot of guys depend on you in tough moments and when time's get tough. So I just try to be that guy everyone can depend on, and no regardless of the situation or the circumstances, I'm always be me and I'm always give it everything that I have. And I think guys

have no choice but to respect that. What triggered this because you made many comments intimated often publicly and on social media that you're driven by something. What is that something? And what is the criticism that kind of put a bird in your saddle that got you to think, you know what? People don't People didn't always believe in me. Yeah, absolutely, and that's always there, always been a lot of naysayers

and people saying you can't do this, do that. So it's a lot of time just the daughter is just like proving those people wrong and then just proving the individuals and the people my family and others that believe in me. Just proving those people right. And I think that's kind of a thing that's just deep inside of me and just like, hey, I'm not gonna let myself down, nor am I gonna let my people down. So I think when I'm thinking about that day in and day out,

is just like it's a tremendous feeling. And then I'll just be like, hey, I gotta do it whatever it takes to make sure I don't let anyone down and prove those other cats wrong. Do you know who those cats are? There's a lot of them, So I don't really get into life a lot of them. You really think there were a lot? Yeah, I think there's a lot, man for sure. And at least I'll keep telling myself that. So that is just keep extra motivation on me and just keep this chip on my shoulder and that I

always forever have. Now that's funny to me, he admitted. Yeah, maybe it's contrived because he wants to think that that, you know, but that's been this thing here for the last year and a half. When he does go on social media time, it's brief, but it's very focused on those who don't believe in what he's doing or what this team can do down the road. For one. It's most important to develop belief in yourself because I still remember high school kids Jeff saying negative things to me

when I decided to go to Notre Dame. They told me to my face, I was not academically qualified athletically, I would never make it. And I still know who they are. But when you look at Roquan Smith and you look at the level he's at in the belief that he's developed in himself, and then you go back and you look at what he's put on display the first game, first play of the Cleveland game, he was covering Odell Beckham Junior out of the slot Sunday night.

He read the left guard pulling it was in the backfield for a tackle for loss before the play got started. He's made sacks from the outside, He's made sacks from the inside, and he puts it on display week in and week out. That shows you his commitment to work ethic, but also shows you the belief that he's developed within himself to know that he's capable of doing and going beyond everything that's asked of most football players. He's in a great place. You could hear it in his voice.

Time things aren't going well, bears are four and nine. You've got COVID cases popping up left and right. You've got all kinds of issues going on. Uncertainty rules the day right now. But ro Quant Smith is in a very good place. Is that very good for the organization foundationally moving forward? It's unbelievable because he's setting an example for the other guys to pay attention to. There's a lot of that outside noise they often talk about that you have to ignore, and it's about how you get

yourself prepared physically and mentally year round. This is not something that's the seventeen time year job for Roquant Smith. This is three hundred and sixty five days a year, and you know, throughout the offseason, throughout OTA, throughout training camp, throughout the regular season. We've never seen a decline in ro On Smith at any element of his job since the day he's got here. And I think that's what's elevated our expectations for him because what he's put on

display to us. Yeah, he was there every day during the offseason. That was something we heard about. We weren't able to see it personally, but we know we heard about it. He was there every single day, and that really bodes well for the future as well, as I say, somebody that can shoulder that kind of demand and that kind of load. What's next for him? What do you want to see from him as a next level to reach? Because you're never satisfied. So you know, is it more

splashed plays? It is it being deployed in a different way to use his unique skill set? What is it? You know, Jeff? Eventually he's going to be rewarded with a new contract, and then that changes the perception of every other guy that's looking at you in the locker room. How does Roquan Smith, How does every player around the NFL react when they get that second contract? But that's what we need to see, the void, the voice of

rod Quand Smith become louder in the locker room. He needs to prepare at the same level he's been preparing at an improving year in and year out, because once you get rewarded that money, once you earn that money, every other guy is looking how can I do that? And why did ro Quand Smith? Why was he able to do it at such a high level? All right,

coming up next, we're gonna step away. We'll be hearing from Sam Musta for analyzing not only the Vikings, but his own play and how the Bears will move forward on their offensive line. Is they get ready to meet the Minnesota Vikings Monday night football at Soldier Field for the seven fifteen kickoff. This is Bears All Access on Chicago Sports Radio six seventy. The Score back in a minute. Welcome back to Bears All Access, brought to you by

IGS Energy. Choose clean energy for your home at IGS dot com because every good choice adds up to a better world. With Tom there Jeff Joniak here on Chicago Sports Radio six seventy the score as we ventured into the deep deep waters of Bears Vikings coming up on Monday Night. Tommy Sam Mustifer talk this week. Haven't heard from him in a bit during the regular week, but you know, digging out of four and nine, that was

one of the topics here earlier this week. Anytime you sit in this situation where you're you're four and nine, you're you gotta find solutions. However, you know, I can be better for this team, better for this franchise. That's all I'm looking at. How can I be the best center to help you know the Chicago Bears win. That

that's what matters to me personally. There are things that are out of my control and to put my energy and effort into things that are you know, above me or out of my control, that that's not going to help the Bears win. What helps the Bears win is if I come up Sundays, Thursday, Monday nights to perform to the best of my ability. He always has the right mindset, no matter what the performance, no matter what the outcome. Sam Mustifer's got his head screw down right,

Tommy Right. You know, ultimately we're looking at the overall performance of five guys. But if you don't have the organization, the control, the concentration of a guy like Sam Mustaffer in the middle, because really Sam's job affects two other guys. That's the offensive guard to the right and the offensive guard to the left. And he's got a great working relationship. He's another one of these guys like Roquan in the show, that's been there every day. He doesn't look for veteran

days off. He's been able to transition through multiple quarterbacks throughout his time already here with the Bears, and it's important to him, and I think that's the biggest reflection that an offensive lineman can have because it's not a star studded, pat on your back type of job. It's just making sure that you do the dirty work to get yourself prepared to go out there and play on a regular basis. And Sam has a really important role in the future of this football team, and that's a

topic he also discussed. And if he sees himself as a part of the future. You know, that's a unique question because a year ago, or wasn't really even sure, like what was I was kind of, you know, in the situation that Tevin is, and not in this sense that I was the second round draft pick because but because I was just into the fire. So you know, I've been to I was. I was telling the guys, actually that was my first time being on Ford Field when we played on Thanksgiving, and the last time I

was there, I was sitting in the suites. So like, I understand how quickly this game can be taken away from you. So I have a unique perspective in that that when I come into the building every day, like I only think about today, like tomorrow really isn't promising. I'm not even talking about from a life or death standpoint. I'm talking about from this is a cutthroat league. It's what can you do for me now? And that that's all that matters. M So, you know, we try not

to focus on that. We try to focus on tomorrow and understanding that Monday night it's a huge opportunity for us, regardless of if we're four to nine or what like. Every day you got an opportunity. We're in coming to building tomorrow and practice as harder we possibly can and correct the things that we messed up during the Green Bay game. So that's all we're focused on. And it's good to have a group of guys who are like minded and who love the grind. That's really important for

offensive one. Is that also the mindset though of an undrafted guy, Well, you know, I'm glad you asked that. You know, Cheff, he's got to leave the fact that he was a free agent in the rearview mirror. It's what's expected of Sam Muster for going forward. Yeah, you could once be evaluated in the position and where he was not picked. Where he chose to go, and that was the Chicago Bears. He's been a part of a great supporting cast that he's been able to galvanize, but

they've also been able to help him. So Sam has earned himself out of that free agent role because right now he's a starting center in the NFL, and that mindset will never change for him, whether it's with the Bears or anybody else in his career. He's always going to be looked at as a starter. All right, let's talk Vikings with Sam Musterer's viewpoint of what that front seven, the challenges of Minnesota's defensive front. They do a great

job disguising certain things. I mean, Harry Smith's also a veteran safety. You can be at the line of scrimmage and be on the back end in a split second. So you know, I understanding how the playclock works, what they're looking at, what tips they're study, and understanding that they're listening to our calls, and you know there's got to be ajustments. Man, Tom, what do you see when the Vikings as you have it right, because Harrison Smith does linger around that line of scrimmage, but so do

just about everybody on that team. They had some big guys up front to deal with, and Michael Pearson Dalvin Tomlinson. The edge guys are out, as we'll learn from our conversation coming up, I'm sure with Pete Bursts, the radio analyst, but the Vikings are not ranked very highly in stop on the run, stopping the pass, or in yardage allowed. You know, for a guy like Sam must have burned

the offense as a whole. It's identifying the whereabouts of the defenders, who's in their stance, who's the responsibility of the offensive line, who's on the second level, who is the responsibility of an extra offensive lineman or a possibility the back. But then you got Harrison Smith, Jeff. He can lie in all the way up at the line

of scrimmage and be considered a defensive lineman. He can hang around that second level where he's in between the responsibility of a running back and maybe a tight end or an extra offensive lineman, or he can come all away from the defensive backfield. So it's gonna be about having your head up in your stance, all offensive lineman and tight ends and running backs, identify your responsibility and then get some landmarks of where these guys are coming from.

Because the last thing you want to do leaving a player is intelligent as Harrison Smith to freelance and allow him to come unblocked. That's when he creates havocs. So Sam understands Harrison Smith. Where you got to identify him and then what position you have to look at him depending upon where he lines up before the snap of the ball. What are your impressions of their defense? They have forty one sex that leads the NFL, and that's without a full season of Everson Griffin and Daniel Hunter.

They combined for eleven snacks before they were out of commission. But getting a bunch of people, there's fifteen dudes that have had a half a sacker more. It kind of reminds me of Mike Dicko when he used to run the projector in charge of the offense when I played for the Bears. Mike Zimmer is in charge of the defense, and you can imagine sitting in the meeting with him as he's running the projector with every one of those defensive members on the squad because he knows every single

person's assignment. I think you got to live up to the expectations of Mike Zimmer when you play defense for the Minnesota Vikings. I like their attitude. They've always been a really feisty group. Kendricks is one of the better linebackers in the NFL, complimented by Harrison Smith, and they've

always had good edge pass rushers. Right now, with Hunter and Everson Griffith out of the lineup, they'll be moving bodies around, but they're also going to look at the vulnerabilities of the offensive line and where they determine where they can best fit and attack the Bears offense. So again, it's about studying during the week, but stand the defensive

mentality you're going against comes from the head coach. All right, that's Tom there, I'm Jeff Jioni, Yakris step away when we come back, joined by Pete Burstitch, the radio analysts for the Minnesota Vikings. This is Chicago Sports Radio six seventy the Score and this is Bears All Access. Stick around a lot more ahead. Welcome back to Bears All Access. This segment is brought to you by CDW. People to

get it learn more at CDW dot com. With Tom Thare Jeff Jonia here at Chicago Sports Radio six seventy the Score. He is the Pride of Providence, Pride of Providence, New lex High School, Notre Dame and the analyst, the long time analyst or the Minnesota Vikings. He's the Chicago Bears version at Tom there at the Minnesota Vikings. Pete Burstitch, how you doing, How are we doing? I'm good, I'm good. You mentioned long time and I'm sitting here and I'm going, yeah,

I'm almost fifty. So and you know, I know Thayer longs for the days when he was fifty. But yeah, I've been doing this now. I've been with the club twenty six years, so it's in one capacity or another. They kept firing me, and I kept coming back, you know, as a coach when I couldn't play anymore, and now when I couldn't coach anymore, I do this. But it's been it's been a wonderful run. And I've enjoyed it immensely. Oh, you do a great job on the radio and your insight. Thankina.

I listened to your game, your last game, and so learn learned a few things about your ball club. But the biggest thing I learned is that offensive line cleared some big, big holes for your guy Dalvin Cook against the Pittsburgh Deals. They did, and you know, we we've you know, you go into a game, the second game in a row, where you've moved three of your linemen. We had Holy Udo playing right guard and he struggled

a little bit there. He's athletic, but so they moved in the left tackle and then they bring Bradbury back in who had been out for a while because Mason Cole was starting at center. So they moved Mason Cole the right guard and put Bradberry back at center. And it was the second week of that of that lineup, per se. And uh, you know for the Steelers without t J. Watt, they're they're a different team. You know,

there's six and two with him. Um the only two losses they had when he was in the game that he came back from being injured. Um. And we took advantage of their their front and Dalvin Cook what's he's He's the heart and soul of this team. Um. You know, people talk about cousins and the things that he can do and justin Jefferson, but when you know, when when Dalvin Cook comes out with the shoulder brace, I mean he's old school, came out had the shoulder brace on.

He was fifty fifty going into the game, he had two hundred and six yards and then had a TfL on his last carry, so brought it down to two h five. But what a what a competitor. He's tough um, and we're gonna need him in a game like this coming up against Chicago. Hey Pete. So I go back and I'm looking at the Pittsburgh steal our game. The third play of the game. You got four guys lined

up to the right of the center. Then you pull the left guard to the right, who's being followed by a fullback, all creating a point of attack for Dalvin Cook. Is a formation? This aggress on one side of the ball. Is it a product of replacement offensive lineman? Is it? Or is it what you needed to do to Dalvin Cook to get him up into that second and third

level before he's ever touched. Well, I you know, we bring we like to we like to throw in an extra offensive lineman for a tight end, just to get that blocking on on the edge. And when you play these three four type teams, they're outside linebackers are so good. You want to have a bigger body out there. So we'll we'll substitute an extra big guy up front. And you know, I think for for Pittsburgh, you know, they played Baltimore the on the Sunday before they played US.

So you talk about a team schematically offensively, you know, that's antithetical to what we do. I mean, it's completely opposite. And I just don't think that they, you know, made the transition, so to speak, from you know, from there to playing US. But the power running game, um, I'd love to see it come back. I mean, that's what took teams out of that, you know, proverbial forty six zone bare front to begin with back in the eighties, and you start being able to get double teams and

moving guys up front. Um, you're you're able, I think, to do those things. So we're much better man blocking counter iso draw a type of affront than we are just running the zones left and right, because um, our guys up front aren't huge, and so we're happy of a penetration, especially against guys like blul Nichols and the Keem Hicks and some of the animals that you guys have upfront. All right, Phil in the blank here, the Minnesota Vikings are going to the playoffs because is that

the MVP of the team. Is it is it is the quarterback or is it Dalvin Cook? I think it's I think it's Dalvin Cook. I mean, um, Dalvin is is the the most consistent player we have. Um, I think he can you know, the reception that he had late in the game when we needed, you know, we needed to move the chains, he comes up. But when Dalvin is rolling, then Kirk is usually a much better quarterback.

And that's because of the play actions and the different things that you can do off of the run action, which allows Kirk to to buy some time and let him. If you let Kirk Cousins sit in a pocket unmolested, he's gonna he's gonna pick anybody apart. I mean, he has that accuracy. You have to get after him. You have to make them moves. You've got to make him

feel uncomfortable. Uh. And when you're running the football, and running the football at a good clip, at a five yard per carry type clip, something similar to what we had against Pittsburgh, it's hard. It's hard for those d linemen to shift gears and go think about the run and then have to shift gears and then and go after the quarterback. You stay out of third and long. I mean that's been another nemesis of ours is when it's third and eight, third and ten, defensive lineman could

pin their ears back. You know, you can, you can widen out your your nose tackle and you have two three techniques. You do those kinds of things to make it more difficult for cousins to be protected. So I think Dalvin Cook has been is absolutely the MVP of this team, and if we can get him going Monday night, I think the Bikers have a pretty good shot. Pete Burst, it's our guest here on Chicago Sports Radio six seventy to score. This is Bears All Access, Jeff and Tom

with you the local product. Pete Burst hitch former NFL player, coach and broadcaster right now with the Minnesota Vikings. So I was telling Tommy, looking back at the last time we played the Vikings, looked up my old board team with six and seven, same as a year ago as they Yeah, honestly, but I know and you did not

make the playoffs last year. But the difference is I counted twenty seven I think twenty seven new faces on the current fifty three man roster, which is more than that bottom third of a roster that overturns every year, how is that continuity come around, especially on the defensive side of the ball. And what do you feel you guys are doing well? The numbers don't say you're doing very well in terms of yards, but how how are you overall doing defensively? What should the Bears be bracing

for well? I think situationally, there are some good things. We're We're a good third down team. We just unfortunately don't always steal a lot of third downs. You know, we're pretty good team in the red zone. I think what Mike Zimmer made a comment in his Monday Monday morning presser and he was talking about the difference between

the first half. I mean, we were up twenty nine to zero and the Steelers were able to come back and make that a game, and he talked about the difference between the first half and the second half, and the bait. The bottom line is this is it's not that the players changed or the calls changed. It's just a lack of discipline. It's the lack of making sure

as a corner. But Shad Brelan that you're lined up perfectly, that you're not too far inside that you're not too far outside that you're doing and paying attention to all the little things. And you know, when when teams want to throw the football, you take out you know, Dalvin Tomlinson and Michael Pierce. Now this was the first game. Think about this. We had these We had Michael Pierce, Dalvin Tomlinson, Eric Kendricks and Anthony Barr set up to

go into the season. It wasn't until last week that we had all four of them on the field at the same time. And oh, by the way, or without Daniel Hunter and Everson Griffin, who I believe are still either our sack leaders are still right at the top, and they haven't played in weeks. So the defensive line, as you know, we've we've substituted some people in there, and we've gotten some juice out of some guys that we don't normally have. But that's kind of the identities

those four guys in the front. You have Harrison Smith and Xavier Woods in the back end, very very smart. I look forward to seeing what they can do to fields and in a way that they can shift and confuse. They work in tandem. They work well together to give looks and then to make things shift and change. So we're gonna need some of that, you know, absolutely against the Bears. And it's just a matter of what team shows up. I mean, you guys have some explo receivers,

some explosive players. It's just a matter of how discipline we can be. And again, we go from shutting a team out in the first half to giving up you know, almost thirty some points in the second half. And it's not the calls, it's not the people. It's just the guys on the field executing what they're supposed to do. And when they mentally take a step back or kind of mentally going to cruise control, oh my god, it's a disaster. I mean, it's been it's been a roller

coaster ride. It's been an absolute roller coaster ride. No team has given up more points in the latter part of a first or second half late in the game. Two minute offenses are killing you guys all year. Well, and then what's been what's been hugely you know, just you don't understand it is the last two minutes of the first half. I mean, I know, we've given up over one hundred points in the second quarter and I think three like seventy five percent of that one hundred

points has been inside the last two minutes. And it's not like the two minute defense is what's going out there and not getting it done. It's we've had some seven minute drives right at the end of the first half that that started with six seven minutes left and on a touchdown. And one week it's you know, one week it's this, the next week it's a penalty, the next week it's somebody just losing a guy. I mean,

you can't make it up. And again it goes back to that lack of focus and when you get laid into the halves of football games, that's what it's about. It's about focus, toughness, you know, making sure you get your job done. And that's the kind of thing that's I think that's been failing on us. It's been it's been a bizarre year in that in that respect. I mean every week it's something different. Every week you might might be a turnover, a penalty. It's it's just been

it's been a moving target for sure. Pete. You know, I love Harrison Smith and Kendricks. I think on the back of the defense, these guys are two of the better players in the NFL. But can they be the two better players in the NFL at that position if they don't have Griffin and Hunter up front? Um, I think Pierce, I think again, Michael Pierce and Dalvin Tomlinson helped those guys out quite a bit. I think Anthony Barr stepped up, you know, in a bit of a

leadership role. Last week we had a bad taunting tenalty and you know, Bar stepped up and kind of shoved the guy that did it and was like, you know, Chris Boyd's like that. You know, we don't do those kinds of things here, which which was great to see. But I think that that middle of the defense depends a lot on those two inside guys. And you know, we've got guys like Kenny Willikas who are picking up

the slack kid from Michigan State. Um on the outside. Um, you know, so dj Wanham is doing a decent job. You know, we we've had to move some other you know, some other guys around a different positions, so we're not getting we're not getting the juice. So we got out a Dideo Hunter. But I think for Kendricks and you know, uh, you know, for Kendricks in the middle of the field and Harrison Smith. So much of what they do depends

on that no's tackle on three technique combo. All right, Peter, our last question before I let you go appreciate it as always, Uh, what what are the rumblings right now out of Minnesota? Every team everything's got Wait, what do you mean we got we got I mean we're we're you know, it's you know, it is it is amazing. And I think that um, you know, with with Zimmer, he's just been around a long time and last year was a very very tough year to go through, a

lot of it doing dealing with injury. And it's kind of the same thing again. And this team just can't get to five hundred and over five hundred, we can't get over the hump. And I think the what the fans steak is it's getting stale, right, you know, they're they're talking about play calling and some other things. They're looking for stuff. The filling stale. Um. You know that that Zimmer has been around for a long time and the same voice, the same players, you know, and and

and I think that's where the frustration is coming from. Um, you know, the wolf the Wolf through the Wolf ownership group. They're tascic, they're very patient. I think they're gonna let the season absolutely, you know, play out, and you know, and see how this thing ends. And you know, you never know if these guys on the Vikings team decide that they want to do this and that they really commit themselves to it. I think that's the only that's

the only hurdle. And you know it's up to Zimmer to get those guys going and get him going on the road. All right, Pete, we'll let you go. Appreciate it. Tell our buddy Paul Allen not to come to Chicago and say, hey, take it easy on us today. I know he's a big city. That's how he preps me before every game that I see him. You tell him he's rolling in here with some confidence, but we hope to take it away all Paul's never at a lack He's never ad a lack for confidence, right, I mean

that he's never had a lack for confidence. Look forward to seeing you guys on Monday. Please stop in, Please stop in. That's beat all right, guys. Yeah, I will appreciate it. Appreciate it. With top there, Jeff Joniac. More coming up as we break down the Bears and Vikings here on Chicago Sports Radio six seventy The Score. Download the Chicago Bears app to play our new predictor game Risk It brought to you by bet Rivers for your chance to win two hundred fifty dollars in free bets

and a custom Bears jersey. Tom There, Jeff Joniac wrapping up our show tonight. It's riddled with questions, so many questions, no idea. Who will be ready to play because of sickness, injury and COVID nineteen reserve list, and then includes coaches as well. Twelve players now on the COVID list, all three coordinators on the COVID list, thirteen more players than that practice today seven to non cod illness, and includes

a chunk of offensive players. All right, with all that being said, Big Tom, how do you deal with the Minnesota Vikings. Let's start offensively, because it starts with stopping Dalvin Cook exactly while you said it right there is as good as Kirk Cousins as and the people that have put his name in the same paragraph as a possible MVP candidate in the league. It's about stopping Dalvin Cook and making sure that you attack the offensive line. Don't let it. They're an offensive line attack you. They

play some unique formations. They play some impactful and power point football. But the Bears defensively have always played really well against Minnesota Vikings at home, So don't give them any encouragement early in the game. Try to be as physical as and play as fast as you possibly can, and take Dalvin Cook off of his tracks. You know, he's playing with a little bit of a sore shoulder, so it's gonna take the physical element if you want to take any speed or power away from Dalvin Cook.

They certainly unleashed him against the Pittsburgh Steelers, but in i'll due respect, the Steelers really didn't give much of a fight up front, and the blocking was on point for Minnesota. Yeah, I think whenever you play the Minnesota Vikings at home, it's the perfect playing atmosphere. It's an extremely fast surface in the sports turf. It's indoors. You're gonna be able to get stretched out as well as you possibly can at this point in the season. But

now circumstances are going to be different. It's gonna be at home and Soldier field on the natural grass surface. You're always thinking of all your footing. That's why the Bears they have to have a good, powerful first drive and take a little bit of the sting out of the Minnesota Vikings. Yeah. Cook three point six yards a carry and along at twenty and five career games against the Bears on eighty eight, carries a couple of touchdowns, a couple of fumbles. He will put the ball on

the ground if that opportunity presents itself. Jalen Johnson gonna have a busy daytime dealing with Justin Jefferson. What a talent he's become. Outstanding route runner. Has a chance to set records for two years in the league, passing Randy Moss and also will likely pass well. He will he will pass in a game or two, depending on how the Bears defend him this week. He'll pass Odell Beckham for the most receiving yards in a two first two years of a career. Yeah. You know, that's kind of the

the cool thing about the NFL. When you look at a league, Why when you have a guy like that that unexpectedly burst on the scenes and has a great season complimented by an experienced quarterback like Kirk Cousins. You want to see if they can back that season up, that same star potential, that same big play quality. He's been able to do that. And now with Adam Feeling gone with a high ankle sprain, now there's even more put on Jefferson's plate. Can he not necessarily do it

single handedly? But can he stretch the field like a big number one receiver. They do have tight ends that's developing and building, and they always have Dalvin Cook who has game breaking explosive speed from and at the line of scrimmage. But Jefferson he's the big play go to guy right now. And like I said, single handedly without Adam Feeling, going to be another active day for the linebackers defensively. We touched him early in the show, but I want to bring up Patrick Peterson after a great

career in Arizona at one corner. Maybe he's not the athlete and he was, but he's still a physical corner, likes to mix it up on the outside. Yeah, then get physical back with him. You see where he's at at this stage in IF's career. I think the least impressive thing about the Minnesota Vikings as a team is

their defensive backfield outside Harrison Smith, some of these guys. Yeah, they're up in age, but listen, they still got Darnell Mooney who has big play potential, and they have running backs that can catch it out of the backfield if they want to challenge defensive backs at the line of scrimmage. But it's gonna take Justin to have confidence in his past protection as some accuracy downfield, and maybe you get more targets to the tight end position if you are

missing some key wide receivers. You just gotta keep Justin free from getting tagged in this game against the Minnesota Viking special teams kickoff coverage on alert with Knai Wongu two touchdowns this season against the forty nine ers and raving something to watch and Tom Dull back into your past. Just saw the Bears posting today on Twitter a happy birthday William Perry, big number seventy two, And they put the highlight in the London game when he ran in

for the touchdown. I saw fifty seven out there doing his thing the goal line and Fritz scoring in London again to Dallas Cowboys, Remember that play, Jeff, the first play they ever used William Perry was against San Francisco forty nine ers in San Francisco, and I was right at the point of attack. The only thing that was going through my mind was make sure you get movement on your block or else William Perry's gonna drill you

right in the back. The more playing time, the more opportunities he got in the backfield in short yardage and goal line, he was great incentive to make a key block to get out of the way or else. William Perry wasn't going to make a shifty move in the backfield. He was going to lower that three fifty in drill you're right in the back. So I love Fridge, Love that guy to death. He made Offensive Football Fund for us because he was important part of just the enthusiasm,

the excitement in the world, renowned attention he got. It was, it was. It was just a straight hand it to William. There was no name. You didn't name your play, Yeah, there was no fancy. Yeah we didn't name the plays when you had multiple people in the backfield from Walter Payton to Dennis Sentry to Thomas Sanders to Neil Anderson, so on and so forth. But when you introduced William Perry to the backfield. It's just handed to William and

get out of the way. So you're telling me in the huddle, Hey, we're gonna we're gonna give it to William here block. That's it. Yeah, nothing else. No, that's just like a bunch of kids in the park. Hey, you know, we're gonna just we're gonna give it to the big gay. Well, I mean, so you know he would so if he's replacing a running back and we had a thirty one influence, if we had a slant twenty four, so Williams in position of the four back

and yeah, slant twenty four. But Williams getting the ball. So it wasn't a secret to the opponent. It was just they recognize that after he ran. After he was a lead blocker in San Francisco. Then he carried the ball against Green Bay and then Dick says, okay, William, now we're gonna throw you the ball. And it was just a simple pass pattern to William outside into the at threw him the touchdown, and he became history. And we're history, Tom. We're out of time, so we're gonna

wrap things up here on bears All Access. Talk to you on Monday night, Tom Bears Vikings. Tom, please stay healthy, will you. Hey, I'm staying in the house by myself. All right, folks. That's gonna wrap us up. Thank you so much to our producers and everybody at the Score for Tom There, I'm Jeff Joniac. That'll do it for us tonight on Bears All Access on Chicago's Sports Radio six seventy the Score. Goodnight, everybody.