Previewing the Raiders | All Access

Jonnyac and Tom Fair. The week five road trip to Vegas Just ahead on Sunday, and welcome into Bears All accesses brought to you by IGS Energy. The three and Run Raiders in beautiful Allegiant Stadium awaiting the two and two Bears. We're with you until seven o'clock tonight. We're

brought to you again by IGS Energy. Program Tonight includes up and coming Bears outside linebacker Travis Gibson, the second year Tulsa product, rocking and rolling right now off his best game as a Bear against the Lions, and we get the latest on the Vegas Raiders from radio analyst

and former Raider left tackle Lincoln Kennedy. Thanks to our producers Jordan tread Up, Dan Billi, and the folks here at the score time, Justin Fields named the starting quarterback for now into the future, as long as that may be against the Readers Sunday, and if all goes well to he stays healthy, it's a job he's going to

keep for a very long time for the Chicago Bears. Yeah, you know, staying healthy is the key here, Jeff, because we've been haught to buy some backstories of young quarterbacks that are inexperienced and then they succumb to some type of injury, most notably Joe Burrow last year after having

an MVP Rookie of the Year type of season. So now that being said, we've seen enough incremental improvement throughout time from OTAs, throughout training camp and in the early part of the regular season that it's got to be explored this team may be more threatening on offense with his type of athleticism respected, but now it's got to be the perfect combination of Bill Laser's play calling and the way that Justin Fields can play behind center. That's

a much needed ingredient in the future. Six sass of Justin. Yesterday, Matt Naggie talked about the process continuing to develop for justin fields. It's very important. You want to you want to be able to see growth and what is that and there's there can be a long definition to what

the growth and development is as of a quarterback. And so that's that's our job as coaches to be able to do that not just on game day, but prep from Monday to Saturday and have him understand, you know, how he can get He can't just get better on Sunday, right, He's got to do that, but he can't just get better there. He's also got to get better on Monday through Saturday. And there's ways to do that, and that's where the coaches and teammates come in and that coach

is offensive coordinated to Bill Laser. John d. Filippo, the quarterback coach. Laser talked about it earlier today, just how much practice has impacted his thinking about the development of justin fields and how he's taken it to Sunday. It's

not always going to look the same. There are certainly variables that are in play, including the other defense, but that practice thing seems to be a big hook and his ability to bounce back from the adversity in Cleveland and take it to the field at home against the Yeah, you know, but there's two different sizes of the thinking process during the practices for Bill Layser, Matt Naggie, John D.

Flipp and all the officsive coaches. Whenever you're evaluating your player, whether it's one looking the offensive line or these guys looking at the quarterback, you've got to look at how all this improvement and development fits in what's your next opponent. So it's not only looking at Justin thrown this type of pass better, but how does this play work well against what the rate you're going to see from the Raiders? How is he seeing this protection according to this third

and whatever situation he's facing. So it's never a one dimensional thought process. It's always how are you developing according to the plan of the future. And Justin Fields says he really appreciates how Matt Naggie and the coaching staff last week set the tone by listening, talking, discussing about even the game plan. I think, you know, put it

in the game plan last week. So you know that's just perhaps the coach Naggi stening to us and you know, kind of just putting in with the players want and with the player's thoughts to h you know, get us more confident about the game plan and stuff like that in kind of us all on the same page about everything, just listening to maybe some of the ideas that they came up with, and what those are we will never know.

But in terms of specifics in plays or what's called, well, you know, throughout Justin's career and especially when you come from a program of high profile Ohio State University, you have a chance to have these same discussions with your coaches at that level. And that's why Justin has developed into the quarterback he is, because he can be included in the conversation to the coaches of what he sees or where this game plan can go and how it

can grow. So all those types of things that Justin says, I really admire me, you know, Jeff. But one thing about Justin, the more I hear him talk at the podium, the more I like him. Because he's a thoughtful guy. He has a good understanding of how to not how to answer questions of what he he wants to say and the way he thinks about him. So you can see this guy might be light years ahead of the

development process. But you know, he's going to have the opportunity to continue to show it now throughout the season. I'm really happy to hear how the quarterback room is dealing with this. It's not easy, there's no way around it. And you had a veteran and a very classy guy in Andie Dalton called up Justin Fields the night before

said hey, I got you. And that really is a big part of this secession plan at the moment, because it could get real ugly if it was any other way, you know, And because a lot of the stuff that Justin has said about Andy Dalton I had, I couldn't have any more admiration for him than I do. Obviously, he survived in the scenario that he went through a Cincinnati, did what he did last year in Dallas, and now he has a different trial throughout his career this year.

That's the way it's been presented to him. So I think the Bears are really fortunate to have a guy like Annie Dalton that's willing to commit himself to help Justin become the best player he can this year in the shortest amount of time. Injury news, of course, David

Montgomery sideline with a nice brain. No official timetable on his return to the field, so that gives a great opportunity for Damian Williams and also Khalil Herbert, the Bears rookie running back, will delve into all that talk defense coming up next though, with outside linebacker Trevis Gibson. It's all just ahead here on Bears All Access, brought to you by IGS Energy. Here on Chicago Sports Radio six seventy The Score. Welcome back to Bears All Access. We're

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 Thayer, I'm Jeff Joniac here on Chicago Sports Radio six seventy the Score. This is Bears All Access and please to be joined by Bears outside linebacker the second year Terror right now, Trevis Gibson. Trevis the Terror. I like it. I don't know what kind of nick game you might have added, Tulsa, but Trevis the Terror is not too bad right now?

How you feel about it? I feel pretty good, man. You know. The nickname is the come and go, which everyone sticks is the one I'm gonna wrong with. But right now I'm feeling good and motivated with a lot of confidence. What did they call you in college? By the way, they actually just called me trail. You know I never weird lead thou my football career, I haven't. I haven't acquired a nickname, so that would be something

I look forward to. Yes, if you keep you keep sacking quarterbacks and breaking up passes, you'll be getting a lot of nicknames. But it must feel good after not getting a ton of playing time last year, we saw you coming on strong and training camp, and you're delivering right now. This is probably the best you've played, right, Yes, sorry, it is. I feel like I'm at my pea. I hate Trevor's first of all, been reading quotes there. You're you're throwing out Roddy Roddy Piper's name. Are you old

enough to know who he is? I'm actually not, man, My coach, My coach told me an old wrestling video that actually that I stole that quote from so and I actually liked the video. It was pretty interesting, right, I just think it's funny and older guy like me, sixty years old, I'm super familiar with Piper. So when I heard you go swallow, this guy's this guy's old school but let me ask you something. So your junior year in college, you know, I'm kind of leading up

to the question to now. So your junior year in college you have four sacks, nine tackles for loss. Your senior year you have eight sacks, fifteen tackles for loss. What was the difference in those two years that you you had such improvement from one year to the next. Um, you know, I think I just I just sort of led loose. You know, it was my last year in college. I knew I wanted to play in the NFL. You know,

I dedicated more time to my past rush. You know, the previous years before that, I really was just focusing on my body, making sure I was in the right shape and size to be able to compete in the position that I was in, considering it was a three down a linement front for our defense. So you know, I sort of started working on my pass rush. I went to the Von Miller pass rush Summit, and I think I acquired a lot of techniques from those guys. So I took that into my senior year and just

left it all a lot on the show. Okay, then they let's speed up till now because Jeff and I were out of training camp every day, and you know there's certain guys that kind of catch your eye with regularity, and it was, you know, you look faster, you look bigger, you look like you had a larger arsenal of pass rush moves and you were performing them a lot better. So was there a significant improvement this year throughout the

off season? Because when I look at your staffs from junior senior year, then I look at you from a rook now to your second year, you look like a completely different player. Oh yeah, man, you know this um this pass off season, I took my main focus to my pass rush, but also my body. You know, a strength condition coach Loco. He helped me out a lot on my explosiveness, change direction, you know, just getting my body ready for the career that I won and a half. So you know, I took a lot of time to

invest into that and I think overall the help. Trevis Gibson, our guest here on Bears All Access. It's brought to you by IGS Energy on Chicago Sports Radio six seventy the Score. Hey, Trevis, when you talked about the Von Miller camp, and I know you've touched down at souls Cole commet in terms of the tight ends and what he did with that tight end class with George Kittle, And there's little things you pick up so you analyze guys.

I'm sure you popped down a bunch of tape of guys past and present that rushed the pastor But when you're analyzing these things like we analyze you now, if you're analyzing them in our shoes, are you surprised at the subtle differences that lead to success for each individual pass rusher? And you think to your man, can I actually do that move with my traits and my skill and my athleticism, or you know, maybe maybe you can't.

Maybe you can't replicate that. Are you as an awe of certain guy and how they work their technique and their foot feetwork, footwork and their skill as we are looking at you guys and analyzing you as a great athlete. Oh yeah, most definitely. You know, Um, I try to look at guys that sort of have the same body type similar to me and try to still move from those guys. But it's so many things that I have still to learn. You know, I feel like I'm still a raw player. So when I look at these older

vets and the grace that we talk about. You know, Um, there's so many little things that I overlook or as a young player, that I don't typically think of. So when I do see those things, it's like wow, like I didn't even or it's almost like I asked myself why I didn't I think of that, because it's so it's so many crazy things that could work. But it's just,

you know, football is so it's so scattered. There's so many things that you can look at, from down in distance to tendencies on the offensive tackle to things that you and due to you know, make your game uncertain to the opponent obviously. But yeah, yes, I'm I'm always in awe, especially with the guys in my room, Robert Quinn and Khalil Mac. You know those guys, the way they watch film and the way that they do certain things with their body on their pass rushers. It's it's

amazing to me. Well, you know, can you get as low Robert Quinn does when he starts to turn the corner and bend that edge or you know, I'm always fascinated and times heard me say this too, just the hands of somebody it looks as though you know, you have to slow down the tape frame by frames sometimes to see a guy's hands unlock their pass rush. It's not clear to the naked eye. You gotta slow it down. Is that something that you even look at? Oh? Yeah,

most definitely. You know, UM going to Robert's Quinn, ben, you know, he used to wrestle most of his yeah, basically most of his life high school. But you know that gives him that beIN So I know that's something that I need to work on to help me turn the corners. But as far as hands man, it's um. You know, they teach me so much about just the basic mechanics of the body, and that's something that I

feel like I've sort of overlooked up until now. You know, just knowing if I pull one guy's arm, how it affects his opposite shoulder. Just crazy stuff to help these guys get to the quarterback. And like I said, there's so many things, man, I could see here for hours and talk about it. You know, Trevil, when I watched Robert Quinn, I watched Khalil Mack. You remind me more of Khalil Mack than you do. Robert Quinn. But there

are two different types of players. And you talk about three time heavyweight state champion, Chip Wrestler and Robert Quinn. You know, there's a little bit of that mobility that has to a pass rusher. But to me, I'm more interested in your second move because there's a lot of good offensive tackles. They're gonna stand up, kind of stabby in the chest and ride with you and then you

have to use your second move. Is it something that comes to you through during the pass rush or are you already saying, Okay, I know what the down and distances, I know what this guy does if he gets hands on me. This is what I'm gonna come back with if you need that second move. You know, honestly, it's sort of both. I like to look at the down and distance and know, like you know, if it's third and forever, they might run a screen. So I'll see

if he try to jump, says me. And if he does and then running back falls out, then I'll just play the screen or just little subtle things. But majority at the time during pass rush is really off of reaction, so you know, I already have a move in mind. Or my favorite counters that we like to call them. But you know, I go to my go to move or if I do if I do a bull rush one one play, then the next player I might do

a speed rush. It's really just like playing chess, you know, keeping your opponent on the hills and trying to see you know, basically what they'll give me and what I can give them, and basically, whoever comes out on top or whoever plays the best mind game along with technique usually as the one who comes out with the win. You know, when you look at last year's training camp, condense a couple of weeks you don't get you barely get any reps. This year you got a new defensive coordinator.

You also have the full length of the time for training camp, and you get a ton more reps. You got a lot of snaps in the preseason. Do you think that like took you to another level of player just because you have the opportunity not only to work on your moves but get more familiar with offenses in the NFL. And just how beneficial was that for you? Oh? Yeah, most definitely. You know, the more reps make an actual big difference. It can make a difference in my confidence

and actually my comfortability. So it's really just about, you know, the more reps that I get, the more things I start to notice, the more things I pick up on, the more comfortable I feel. So you know, it builds my confidence, It gives me actual tape to teach myself on things that I can do better, to make myself more unpredictable, and you know, it's it's a whole mountain

of things that reps can do. But I feel like that's been the biggest thing that has helped me improve my game because I get to feel the game more. I get to you know, run pass rushes and do you know, stop the run and things that I didn't really get a chance to last year. So I think that's been the biggest thing that has helped me. With Trevis Gibson Jeff Jonny Ack in time Fair, one more segment to go with the Bears outside linebacker First to break here on Bears All Access on Chicago Sports Radio

six seventy the Score. This segment of Bears All Access is brought to you by Athletical Physical Therapy. Visit athletical dot com to request an employment in clinic or virtually and start feeling better tomorrow with Trevis Gibson, Bears outside linebacker out of Tulsa, taking advantage of great opportunities right now with the Bears here in twenty twenty one, Timmy, Yeah, we're talking about the pass rush arsenal that you have. But so Trev as an offensive lineman, I liked blocking

guys in two point stands. I didn't like blocking guys in three point stands because I think they held their leverage, their lower leverage better. So now you have the opportunity to do both. Where's your comfort zone two point three point, yes or well? To me, it's um. You know, when I'm in the two point stands, I feel like I can see the field more. You know, I can see the motions from the coming from the office side of the field, if the bank was, the flip sides, just

little things like that. Um, you know, that's that's something that helps me with my two point Now with my three point stands, I feel like I can get off the ball faster. I come out the I come out of my stands with more explosions. So you know, it's just taking those chances, you know, some pass rushes or some pass or snaps I might get into three point.

If it's deep, you know, I feel like I need more speed to get that is, and I might jump in at three point, or if it's a shorter down, I might stay at the two points, just in case it's a it's a tricky play, you know, a draw or a screen or something. It's just it really all depends on the field of the game. Man. It's one thing to just have these guys go do their thing,

but it's another to deploy them. And I think Sean is deploying by, for example, moving Khalil, you know, with Robert Quinna on one side, the stunts, the twists that matter and dictated by whomever you're playing. Do you feel as well as you're being deployed this year? Oh yeah, yes, sir, I do. Man. You know, I feel like they're using my strengths to help us win games. And you know, we have a like you just said, we have a ton of stars on our defense and even more on

our offense. So you know, I feel like things are going well. You know, I know Coach Design knows my strengths and my weaknesses, and I think he's putting me in the best position to be as successful as I can be. People are getting to know you, Bears fans, so I get asked a lot of questions about you, and you know, sadly we haven't had the one on one time extensively to get to know players. But I have told me come from a very athletic family. And you've been on this show before when you in your

rookie year. I think when when you first were drafted. But everybody in your family's an athlete. Go down the list a little bit, and what do you think you pulled from each of these folks. You know, my grandfather on my mom's side, he did football. My grandfather on my dad's side, he did football. So I think that's where my main football traits come from. You know, my dad did basketball, my mom did a little bit of soccer.

My brother does pro basketball. So I think I you know, my agility and quickness, I would say I grabbed from the basketball players and my family and the toughness and grid and the determination. I think I grabbed from my grandparents on both sides, and so my dad and brother. So I mean, I know I didn't come from my brother, and I think you know, they they all taught me a lot of a lot of different things. And it's really the determination in me, I feel is what helps

me make a lot of plays. And you know, just not being denied. You know, I don't I don't like being denied. I'm a I'm not a good loser. I don't like to lose. So that's that's just a tip on my shoulder. I like to carry around with me. Well, you're being humbled because your grandpa time was a defensive tackle. I have it here for the seventy one Oakland Raiders. And your mom played soccer and ran track at North Texas.

Your dad played basketball at Texas. And your brother is playing pro basketball or has pro play, played play basketball in Finland. This is great bloodlines right now. Could you have played any of these other sports the soccer, run track, or play basketball with the best of these guys, including mom, with the best of them. I don't think so, man, I don't think so. As much as I would like to say I could, I don't think so. I just

wouldn't let them run out over me, though. I think I had to try to put a little bit of physical physicalness into the game. From the football side. Trevi, you know you got the guys in the past that played football when technology was a lot different. Dieting was a lot different, scientific hydration was a lot different. You know, all this stuff of watching tape of your opponent and all the other stuff that's helping construct Trev into the

player ultimately he's going to be. How beneficial is all that ben for you in the last year and a half to have access to a variety of healthful opportunities, Man, it has been tremendous. You know, I think the biggest thing for me has been recovery. You know, I didn't I mean, Tolsa was obviously a great school, tremendous school and nice school, but I didn't really have access to the recovery methods that I did there that I have now here in Chicago. So, you know, Andre, Andre, it's

been helping me out. Our athletic trainer, you know, they make sure that everything is good, I'm healthy, but they also make sure I'll recover and that's not their job. But they've shown me different ways to help me do my job, which is recover. So you know, that's I think that's been a big thing that has also helped my game continue to go upward. And um I plan on, you know, just keep soaking things up. You know, everybody, I'm still young. This is only my second year in

the league. You know, I got so many events on my team, so many that it's almost it's almost impossible not to be a sponge around these guys. So, you know, that's that's something I'm grateful for and I keep and I'm going to continue to look forward to it. You know, you know trap back of the old San Francisco Stadium, it was probably the worst locker room I've ever been into the history of my sports life. Now I hear John Gruden complaining about the visitors locker room at so

Far Stadium. Can you take us into that locker room and tell us was it Did you notice it? Was it a pain for you the way it's constructed, or is it just you know, kind of a complaint that means nothing. You know, honestly, I think it's a complaint that you know, I don't even think it needs to be said. I don't. I didn't see anything wrong with

the locker room. I mean, I'm appreciative to be in the position that I'm in, but you know, I didn't see anything wrong with the locker room regardless, it's not it's not affecting the play on the field. So I don't think that was I don't think that was a factor that needed to really be filtered into anything. Honestly. You know, traveling the locker room in the old San

Francisco Stadium was built for baseball teams. You had about three and a half too many big guys in there for the space, and I do think it affected the game. So I was just interested to hear your point to see. You know, probably nothing made of it. Just a head coach is complaint, especially after a lot. I'm sure he wasn't happy at all. How are you looking at these Raiders? What do you see it on tape? It's got your attention, trevis Um. You know, I gotta, I gotta to my

hats on. They're a good team. The ass speed um, the offensive line is physical. You know, they like to run. It's it's so much, especially taking from today that all the information that we were giving. You know, they're they're a team that you have to respect. But we're gonna go in there and fight to fight, and it's gonna be a good It's gonna be a fun one. Yeah, I venture to say, there'd be a lot of Bears fans traveling to Vegas as well. All right, now the

fun portion of our show, Quick five questions. Whatever pops in your mind, let it rip, all right, there's just some fun stuff. Pregame ritual? Do you have one? Um pregame ritual? I usually just chill listen to the music in the locker room the night before. I like to eat fresh TOAs. I think that's my ritual. I'm a big fan of fresh soa, so I'd like to over eat some fresh soca or something wherever we are, and you know, just enjoy get ready for the next day.

That's an interesting one. Syrup or no syrup on the French toast light syrup just a little bit, not too much. If you have one. What is your worst habit in your opinion? My worst habit? You know, that's a I think if I was to say, I like cheeseburgers. Man, you know our facility, I know, yeah, our facility that makes some really good cheeseburgers. And I don't. I don't think it's been a week that has went by that I haven't grabbed at least one, So I don't know.

I don't know the health factors on that, but I think that's something. I think that's something I need to break to Tendessee up. I'm sure you're burning it off a little bit. You got a favorite actor out there in the movie world or TV favorite actor, favorite actor probably Michael B. Jordan or Will Smith. You know, I feel like those are great actors that played a lot of action movies, actually a wide range of movies. So I think about to go with any of those, it

would probably any of them. It will probably be one of those guys. Skill you'd love to learn. Oh, you know, I wish I could dance, man, Yeah, I guess I wouldn't say stage right, but you know, and as situations I have the opportunity to dance, I'm hesitant, you know. I'm yeah, I'm goofy. I like to joke around. I'm out going. But that's just one hump. I can't really

I can't get over man. Next three of us, right, and lastly, what advice we give to you younger, your younger self a younger Trevis Gibson, I believe standing now. I think I would say I put it in the most work that I could, But I would say even put I would say put it in even more honestly, you know, just uh, I mean, I see where I am now, but I just think about, did put in even more work than what I did? Where could I be right now? So that's something that I planned on

doing obviously this next offseason and every day here on out. Well, we do appreciate your time, and we know you're a committed player. Man. You've said that from the moment you got here. I think I think it all started when two hundred pund kid high school wasn't really recruited very heavily, and you've you've taken that a long way already and a big, big, bright future ahead for you. We really appreciate. Trevis. Have a great game against the Raiders. Thank you so much.

Thank you, Sorry, thank you, Bo. Trevis Skipson our guest here on Bears All Access. Tom and I will sit down and talk to Lincoln Kennedy, a former left tackle the Atlanta Falcons and the Raiders. Now the radio analysts. It's all just ahead here on Bears All Access on Chicago Sports Radio six seventy. The score. Back to Bears All Access with Tom Thayer. I'mjeff Joniac. Were brought to you by CDW. CDW people to get it learn more at CDW dot com. Please to be joined for a

look at the Las Vegas Raiders. Lincoln Kennedy, the former first round pick of the Atlanta Falcons and a decade plus player in the National Football League. You can't miss them. You look like you're still ready to play, buddy. Oh, believe me. I took a few plays off the field with me just so I can keep them in the closet. But no, this is a young man's game. I'm fifty years old right now. I don't need to go back out there that improve anything. I'm good. The funny thing is, though,

at the end of your career, you did right. You played three years after the NFL for the Tampa Bay Storm of the Arena Football League. Yeah. I can honestly say that I was one of those athletes or former athletes that had that itch. After hanging up my cleats, I thought I was done, said on my couch, started watching football again, and you know, got myself back in shape.

I was like, wait a minute, healed up from all the injuries and the beatings that I took, and said, waynut, I think I can give it another try, and so my agent at the time suggested, just try arena football so you can see, you know, people can see that you can play, and maybe you'll get another shot at the National Football League. But arena football took whatever football dreams the left I had in me took it out and I walked off the field from that and I

was like, I'm done. I'm definitely done. You know, it's something about the chances you tank, Lincoln, because I played my first three years in the USFL and kind of stepped outside the NFL box after I got drafted, and it was a great experience for me. But you know, reading about you, I can't I cannot wait to ask you this question because we played about the same amount of time. I played offensive guard, you played offensive tackle. In my time, I think I recovered one fumble. I

read that you recovered nine fumbles in your career. Is that true? Yeah, well, I mean I don't know the

exact step that that sounds about, right, Tom. The thing is is that since college, pride myself of always trying to be around the ball, help protect the ball carriers or the receivers, and so I would hustle down the field to either pick my guys up off the floor or in the ground or just or you know, just be around the ball, as I said, And there were times there were opportunities where the balls out and you got to go in there and try to pride. But being on both the bottom of most of those pots,

I can tell you anything goes. Everything happened to everybody's trying to go for the football. So it was it was one of those play This is where I just try to take my big body and curl up with the fetal position and can take myself until the rest of dusted everything off. All right, let's talk about your

big body and the big bodies of offensive tackles. Can you look at you know, six six six seven frame, three hundred plus pounds when you look I don't know if you had a chance to watch Robert Quinn's rushes yet when you see his bendability with that positive forward movement, what advice would you give to a young offensive tackle. You know, they just played Penna sul Up in Detroit, and you know, so you know, you guys got leatherwood there and curators. What advice do you give a big

tackle about how to play a guy with that bendability. Well, you know what, here's the thing. Time the game has reformed itself where it actually just evolved itself to seven years. I mean in seven days a week, twenty four hours a day, year around. It's no longer like it was for us what we had the majority thought that it was six months on, six months off. You've got to

always keep yourself in shape. And what I try to suggest, especially the offensive linement, was that when I play, I did things like acupuncture, I did things like pilate, yoga, just everything I could to keep myself limber. You've got to keep yourself limber because you never know, as an offensive linement, when somebody's going to fall in your legs and awkward places. So flexibility is absolutely key and essential as well as just the overall investment in your body

you have to figure out. I read a lot of books and one of the best ones was eat Right for Your Blood Type, which showed you foods that are more beneficial to your body style bodies type than others, and those are the type of the investments that you have to do in your body, in my opinion, in order to stay around. You see guys like Tom Brady, Lebron James. They invest tons and tons of money into

their body just so they can keep performing. I think offensive linements need to soon take a page out of that, because you know it's hard. It's hard, and it's hard to stay on that level and stay at that competitive edge. You've got to invest in your body if you want to do it. Link and Kennedy our guest here on Bears All Access. It's brought to you by IGS Energy. As Tom and I break down the Raiders, we start always with the offensive line of every team, and so

I'll redo all redo with that group. And some big names no longer a part of that or on the injured list right now, how is that line adapting? We watched them on Monday night obviously against the Chargers. But Leatherwood is a great place to start because he comes from a big program and a lot on his shoulders right now. Well, I like Alice Leatherwood because he loves to play football. More important, he likes to be people up.

So he's right and same mentality that I had as an offensive lineman right there, but more for them, he still needs to belt. There's still things that especially at his pass sets. He needs to work on it, and the only time is going to tell what kind of player is going to be. And I've always believed offensive linemen and quarterbacks are two of the positions that need as me reps as possible. So you don't put anybody

on a sieline and make them hold a clipboard. They've got to be out there, They've got to see it, They've got experience. Schematic wise, there are things that coaches can do to help protect some offensive tackles or offensive players that struggle, especially in the offensive line. But we're yet, We're still seeing that developer Tom Cable and coach Rod and staff with the Raiders. But for the most part,

I think Alice Leatherwood is going to be good. I like the fact that he can be a strong run blocker. He's coming along in the past game overall with the offensive line, especially with the interior apart, you guys know that we've had some changes. Denzel Good, who was listed as a right guard, went down in Game one in his own iron for the rest of the year with a torn up knee. Richie Incognito has yet to play yet, and they grud has really been hush hush as to why but he's been put on the ir for the

next couple of weeks, so he's down. So John Simpson, with the former third round draft choice that they got from Clemson a few years go, has been thrust it into the starting position, as well as Germania Leminoire, who was a recent addition right after the training camp. He's got some experience coming out of a Texas A and m I think he's a fifth year player from my mistaken have my notes right in front of me. And then Andre James, who played mostly tackle it in his

college days but has been converted to center. He struggled a little bit, but Tom, you know, I had the utmost confidence in coach Cable, the offensive line coach. He's the one who got Colt Miller a few years ago. It turned out to be a good franchise tackle for the Raiders left tackle. This is a work in progress, but overall it's it's a group that I see improving as a year goes on. John Gruden's father was our running backs coach when I went to college, so it's

kind of an offensive centric family. When you think about the defense though the Raiders, you know they always had that tough guy reputation going back to when I was a kid. Does Gruden have any hands on approach to the defense or is he totally quarterback offensive centric and then the defense coaches take care of themselves. Totally offensive minded. He always has been, even the days when I played

for him. He's always been offensive minded, focused on the quarterback, focused on the offensive game plan of skiing in scheme. He's turned over the defensive tourists to Gus Bradley, who has done a fairly good job so far. The Raiders are three and one after the first month of football. I don't think you can you mean, you can ask for better than that before. No, but it's unlikely, especially

the party that's in today's game. But for the most part, Gruden has turned over the defensive Gus Bradley, who's got those guys spired up. Now. This is a case where you know, there's gonna be a few injuries, especially in the secondary, that they have to deal with. But for the most part, the strength of this defense right now is the pass rush. Of pass rush ability from the defensive line, if they can generate some movement and some you know, some rush stores of quarterback to make those

quarterbacks feel uncomfortable. That's that's the big process, that's the key to this defense, playing discovers to the cover three style defense. You know, Jeff and I came from Cleveland two weeks ago. We talked about the black hole in the Midwest. What is the atmosphere inside the Vegas Stadium on behalf of the Raiders? Absolutely wonderful. I mean, you guys, if you guys get a chance to come out with

the Bears, you'll see it firsthand. But this is the first time I've been affiliated with the Raiders well over twenty five years, quarter of a century, and this is the first time I can honestly say the Raiders have their own home. When they were in LA, they had to share with sc and was a bigger name, a bigger draw at the Coliseum in LA even though they

won a Super Bowl there. And when they were back in Oakland, they had to share the stadium with A's and it was really, you know, really it was really it wasn't fun to play on that infield turf, and it really wasn't you know, a good thing to feel that you had the most elapidated stadium in the in the National Football League when everyone else was getting new stadiums. You were left to play in that disaster. But now that they're in Vegas, they've got their own home. A

legion is beautiful. It's a definite home advantage the crowd has played into in the two games that they played there so far. And more importantly, it's the Raiders home. So when you walk through Allegia Stadium, it's everything Raiders. And that's the first time that I've seen this since

I've been affiliated with the program. Link Kennedy our guest a couple of more moments with the former left tackle and now radio analyst, and that fast turf, I'm sure is exactly what is making Max Crosby deadly at home sack in the quarterback. So he's an interesting character that we were introduced to when we played you guys in London, and he was kind of a surprised guy as a later round pick from Eastern Michigan. But he's a different player on the home service, isn't he. Well, there's no

doubt about it. And you know what, I took my hat to Max Frosby because in this offseason, especially after his second year, he really cleaned himself up. He cleaned himself up mentally and physically. And what I mean by that is he did this no secret. He went to a rehabilitation center and got his life straight and discerned that he was going to invest a lot into hisself.

And right now it's paid off. He's playing at a really high level, and the Raiders kind of were kind of looking forward to that this is a very critical time. We know the breakout season that he had as the rookie, and then of course it was almost like a sophomore slump, but it was just the fact that more offenses were paying more attention to him than they did his first year and keying on him, so that took him a

little bit of a step back. But this is so far this year, he's been an absolute crowd record And as I mentioned a moment ago, you know, the key to this defense, playing the style of defense is you're gonna have press coverage on the outside receivers, but you've got to have a front four that can generate pressure or at least make the quarterback feel uncomfortable to get

rid of the ball. You'll take a lot of the short underneath stuff because as you get closer to the red zone, you guys, know, the field becomes more compact and becomes tighter, and it becomes less and less than ability for you able to stretch it like that, So you know you've got to have a pass rushing Max Crosby and crew have really stepped up this year. Alan Robinson and Darnell Mooney. They had eight catches for one hundred and eighty eight yards. Biggest game of the season

now Monday Night. To look like you guys had some cornerback issues with guys leaving the game. I don't know their status. What you know is that going to Is that going to be a matchup that the Bears will be able to take advantage of, or is this some kind of a recoverable injury scenario for the Raiders? You know what, Tom, In all honesty, we don't have any clarity as a significant or the extent of the injuries on the defensive backs. Trayvon Mullen was one of them.

David Arnett also went out. Casey Hayward is in the corner. I think actually finished the game if I'm not mistaken. So we do have some issues at corner, and yes it is an issue. It's something that can definitely be exploited because unfortunately, you know, as a Raider guy, I

don't want to say that, but it's true. You can see teams going at it, you know, and it's bad for in sense, not necessarily bad, but it's concerning for the Raiders because for all the types of purpose, it seems the Bears with men able to figure out justin pills at least one game. So the last thing you want to do is come in when your defense is struggling and going up against an offensive seems to get it hot. And that seems we've gotten hot. So yeah,

it is a case we're concerned. All right, last question, We'll let you go link, appreciate all your time. We say the best for last Derek Carr. He's had a great start to the season and then couple that with the slow start issue going on with you guys. Has it been pinpointed as to why because Bears went through that last year? You know, in my opinion, it's execution.

I've always felt that coaches, coach players played, you can put the best game plan together in the world to defeat every defense or every offense however you want to look at it, and you could still come up short. If you don't have the execution, the slow starts to sort of them as the execution. And it's unfortunate because you've seen what Derek can do when he gets protection or when he gets tired. Derek has been able to exploit, exploit all the weapons that he has in his arsenal.

You know Henry Ruggs, Brian Edwards, Hunter renfroll as well as Darren Waller. They have yet to really get the run game consistent, but I think that's a work in progress. With the two additions, especially at Guard that there weren't a plan to expect it to be there when the season started. So u this is an offense that has the potential of being a high explosive, powerful offense. Hasn't seen its full potential yet. But it's all to me and when it's slow started is attributed to its execution.

In my opinion, I appreciate it and Hunter Renfroze hit literally had me jumping up in the air. I was hosted by myself. I'm like, oh my gosh, what a great play. I love players like that. So looking forward to seeing you out there. Thank you so much for taking the time. And Bears Raiders will be a big draw, not only for the Chicagoans headed down with for the Raider fans welcoming them to Allegiance Stadium. Thank you so much, appreciate it. Thanks for having me, guys. One more segment

to go here. I'm Bears All Access with Tom There, I'm Jeff Joniyak, and this is Chicago Sports Radio six seventy the Score. Download the Chicago Bears App to play our new predictor game risk It brought to you by Bette Rivers for your chance to win two hundred and fifty dollars in free bets, and a custom Bears jersey with Tom There, Jeff Joni aac our final segment here tonight, hon Bears All Access brought to you by Ags Energy.

Talk about Bears jersey. There's gonna be a lot of them at Allegiance Stadium, Tom, and no question, I mean, I know Raiders fans. They are legit, passionate, crazy and supportive, and I'm certain they're gonna fill that joint. But I'll tell you I think the Bears fans are invading and they'll pay top dollar to be in that building. Yeah, you know, you got to pick and choose the way you cheer at a Raiders game if you are wearing the opponent's callers, because a lot of these guys don't

take too kindly to the opponents. Frans trading their stadium, and like when we talk to Lincoln Kennedy, he talks about the Raiders finally have what they can call a home because they were so makeshift for so many years, moving around and sharing facilities. This is a facility that they want to build into their their their home like never before. All right, let's listen to Sean Decay, the Bears defensive coordinator. Bears are leading the league in sacks

with fifteen pieces. It's a start. It's only a four weeks end of the season, so let's let's have that consistency keep building. But defending the Raiders not an easy test. They have a lot of weapons. With a quarterback right now that has confidence and is in sync with his head coach and John Gruden. The difficulties you're preparing for everything, and so you've got to be really good at everything. Is built. The Raiders I'm talking about is built to

attack everything. You know. They can attack your edges in the run game, they can hitch you downhill, Jacobs is a physical downhill runner, and you guys saw it on tape every week this year where they're gonna get their past explosives. Then there's gonna be points in the time where they're just gonna tell Rugs to run to the green grass and Derek's gonna throw it to the green grass and he's gonna go catch it, and they take a lot of shots with eighty nine on the outside

two eighty nine Brian Edwards. But the big part of this whole thing is dealing with that tight end. Though the tight end position obviously has blossomed with Darren Waller. I go back twenty two touchdowns in his career. Now he's got fourteen more in that period of time and over two hundred catches time. He is alload to deal with. But I think Sean decides defense that back end because they've given up five big shots that have led the touchdowns. It's tied for the most in the NFL. Yeah, you know,

I'll tell you what. When you have this quarterback coach relationship, and you've seen it throughout history in the league, whether it be Drew Brees and Sean Payton or some of the other relationships you have. That's what you really have to pay attention to, because if they recognize vulnerability in your defense, they're the type of guys that will attack it repeatedly. But when you have a weapon, like they're tight end, this guy can line up all over the field.

He can be a matchup nightmare from the line of scrimmage anywhere he lines up. So you don't want to show that you're incapable of stopping their tight end, but you want to make sure that you're capable of stopping their first big play efforts because if you don't, look for him to go over the top continuously. As we discussed with Lincoln Kennedy in our last segment, the Raiders

scored us on their opening offensive possession. Now, for the tenth consecutive game, dating back to last year, they've been in a twenty one point deficit, a couple of fourteen point deficits. So jump on him early, and just like last week, Germaine effete earlier this week discussing this, you know, Matt Nagy put it on the old line and David Montgomery delivered. Montgomery not here this week. The offensive line, though I would hope have that same kind of mentality

that they gave last week. We just want the opportunity to show who we are. And I think Sunday was a cool step in the right direction of all right, this is who we are. We can we can run it, we could throw it. We have too, we could throw it around. We've got some good receivers, and we've got some capable pass protectors, and we have a quarterbacks that can really sling it. But the fact that they trusted us and said, hey, we're gonna put it on y'all, let's y'all tight ends JP leading up in there a

few times. You know, It's it's really cool. It's cool. It's cool to be able to lean on guys because you start to you start to have an identity, you start to you start to make them feel you. When the defense start feeling you, you know, you start scoring points too. I think it's twenty one zero at one point. You know, that feels good. That feels good, and we

just want to keep having that feeling going forwards. We know we're we're capable, and we still let some points out there, so you can't believe it more so we'll keep going and keep We'll just keep building on it, but there's a really good start step in the right direction for us. Dam How does the line of scrimmage matchup in this game with the Raiders? But they come off the ball. Rod Marinelli is their d line coach,

so you know, get off is number one. Okay, you know what what Jermaineafetti said right there, that's the same every single game and offensive lineman will ever play. They are never going to change your number and start putting in some pass routes for Jermaine Effetti, Jason Peters, Cody

James Daniels or Sam Mustin for that matter. It's all how the tight ends will accept their responsibilities, jeff because we have receivers as tight ends, Jimmy Graham and Cole Commett and all and Jesse James and the rest of the guys. But what they did last week, the blocking display they put on. If they're unselfish and they're willing to do that week in a week out, they can match up against any front in the NFL, and so

they want to have those multiple blockers. I think the Bears offensive line can control this this defensive front and still be capable of doing any everything. Damian Williams, he had a twenty five carry game in twenty twenty, so he knows what that responsibility is about. Office line the same. Give me the tight end position what they did last week. It's Tomp there. I'm Jeff Jony Act. Thanks again to our producers Dan Billy and Jordan Trudup and the guys

here at the Score. Thanks to our guests Travis Gibson and also Lincoln Kennedy, the former Oakland Raider now Las Vegas Raider franchise analyst. That'll do it for us tonight. This has been Bears All Access on Chicago Sports Radio six seventy The Score A good night. Thanks for listening to this Chicago Bears Network presentation of Bears All Access. Podcasts are available on Chicago Bears dot com and on

iTunes or download the official Bears app. Bears All Access has been brought to you by IGS Energy and sponsored by Bett Rivers and Miller Litte