Whitehair on virtual offseason | All Access

usual Thursday night brought to you by IGS Energy. Jeff Joni actom Fare, Jim Meller will be along as well our producer Tonight, Adam Stadinsky and a Chicago Sports Radio six seventy to Score Studios. Good to have you long coming up at six ten. Bears Offensive. I'man Cody Whitehair joins the program as we now have flipped into July, Tom and that means this is when you get angry. Well, I was going to bring that safety out because me I talk about the heat, you don't dwell on it.

But I think when we talk about football and getting ready for the start of training camp at the end of July, these are the type of days that football players think about when they're training through them because you have to pick a time during the morning, afternoon, or evening when you can go out there and get your work done. And for me, I was always trying to avoid the heat. But again, you know, this is like you said, it's the middle of July. This this is

early July. This is what sum are supposed to be. Right to you, it feels like mid July right now, because as soon as that thermometer hits ninety and the humidity goes up, you start to you go in a little bit of a panic. Well, well, it's more of the as a football player, it's more of the angst in the preparation for training camp and it kind of

hits you like a month out. And we'll be able to talk to Cody Whitehair about this to kind of see if he's in the same frame of mind that I was throughout my entire career from high school, college and pros. Because in the anticipation of training camp, it's not a fun time. It's not baseball players bringing your golf clubs to training camp. It's about hoping that you stay healthy and that you're healthy at the end of training camp. So then you can hope to again stay had,

stay healthy, and continue that path during the regular season. Well, theoretically it's cooler in gross Point, Michigan, the birthplace of one Jim Miller, former Bears quarterbacks. So you know, as you have the same feelings about the heat of camp in July when that calendar flipped, Jim, Yeah, well, I just remember it shocked me how warm it gotten in Platteville when I first arrived for the Beers, for those training,

just the humidity of it. So yeah, I think, you know, you shock your system from that standpoint, and you do get used to it training in the heat. But things were different back then, you know, I don't want to say back in the day. You know, we walked two miles both ways uphill, you know, but we did practice two days in pets and Tom will remember sometimes we did three days pads and it's a little bit different, so you could get in shape pretty quickly. It was

pretty rigorous, it was pretty intense. All the practices were pretty much alive back then. I remember my first practice for the Steelers that you know, there's just a lot of hitting going on when you put those those pads on and everything kind of cranks up and that intensity used to go six weeks straight pretty much. It felt

like groundhog Day and how you had to strap them up. So, you know, players prepare themselves differently, and certainly this year, I do think coaches are going to really keep in mind that they've got to get these players acclimated. They've been away for a long time and the build up I think is going to take some time for these guys get ready to go. You know, as Jim talks about the days that we are playing, you don't want to talk about them being the olden days, but things

have changed since then. A couple of weeks ago or last week, we talked to sports science director Jen Gibson, and that was a coaching position that wasn't even on board when we were there. We were grabbing salt pills as we are walking out the door to go out to practice, and we thought that was the fountain of

youth or the fountain of hydration. So again, you know, when you talk about Andre the head athletic trainer, you talk about Jason the head weight room trainer, and you talk about Jed and Gibson the director of sports science, those departments have become so important and maximizing your ability to go out there in practice but also stay in

a healthy frame of mind. Jeff, there are times that I went back to Platteville and cramped up on my bed where I lay there with ivs in both arms, where the doctors would come into your room after practice. So I just think they're going about business nowadays in the NFL so much more intelligently on behalf of the players, So I do think it helps them. I kind of feel bad, Jim. I mean I did was bring up

the temperature, and we've talked six minutes about it. But I was on a IV in mile high Air in Denver one December when we had a game, remember that one time? So I feel your pain, Well, that was psychosomatic altitude sickness. I'm talking about actually sweating because of preparing to play the game. I hear you. Well, hey, all this talk and we might have a shortened preseason. We'll get into that and many other topics coming up here in moments. Our pal Cody Whitehair Bears starting center

joining the program. This is Bears All Access with Tom day Er, Jim Butler, I'm Jeff Joniak along with Adams Todinsky our producer, Thanks as always, with Jordan trut Up and Dan Barilli. You're on Chicago Sports Radio six seventy The Score. Welcome back to Bears All Access, brought to you by IGS Energy, a proud partner of the Chicago Bears, providing electricity, natural gas home warranty products to over one million customers across the country. Learn more about IGS Energy

at igs dot com. Jeff thom and Jim joined by Bears center Cody Whitehair kind enough to join us here on Bears All Access. How you doing, Cody? Good? How are you guys tonight? Pretty good? Pretty good? Getting ready for a holiday weekend as much as we can these days. But good. Good to hear you a guy that is as committed as you are in the weight room and a guy who's around the facility as much as humanly possible. U. Has this been a real challenge for you, Cody, in

this offseason? Yeah? Yeah, it has. You know, It's just been a weird time, that's for sure. Um, you know, but I've managed to still be able to do some some working out and staying in shape and getting ready for this upcoming season. Have you had to get creative. Yeah, you do. Um, you know, you are limited to some extent um. Obviously. It's it's a little different than than being in the facility and having you know, all those

weights and everything. But you know, it's definitely been a challenge in a different time in this offseason, but we've made the best of it and looking forward to the season. You know, Cody, as simply as things appear when they're people are watching a football game and you talk about Mitchell Trubisky and you talk about Nick Foles and herbally, they do things different in the huddle. They have a different tempo to their cadence and that's one of the

things that helps develop an offensive line. Is it different this year that you've never you've never stepped in front of either of the quarterbacks because you've been around Mitch and you've been around Tyler, but not Nick Folds. So how has that been not being able to hear the tempo of a cadence of a new quarterback that you'll be lining up in front of in less than a month. Yeah,

I mean, it's definitely different. Obviously, you'd hope to have, you know, the Ota says and stuff like that to be able to to hear him again, but you know it, it'll all come together in training camp and uh, you know we'll be ready to walcome game time. You know, when we are introduced to Juan Castillo during a Zoom conference, he pounded his fist the bunch about how football offensive

line play is repetitiously done and repetitiously improved. How has he been able to come across in those meetings in terms of teaching what he wants out of you along with kind of installing, you know, the plays in the system, how he wants to run. How has that been from a screen rather than an on field type of work. Yeah,

it's definitely different, for sure. You know, he showed us some technique videos and stuff, and then you know it's kind of just been on us obviously, since we haven't been able to be around him or any of the other guys to just do some things on our own. So that's what we've had to had to do this offseason and it's kind of, like I said, it's kind of been a little bit different, but we're making the

best of it, that's for sure. Cody Jim Miller always good to talk to you, my friend, and let me ask you how do you build chemistry in a virtual world? You know, how do you gel together as a team? I mean, how how has that challenge been for you guys here this offseason? Yeah, it is different, um, you know, because the majority of it is just you know, mainly

the coaches talking to us. But there has been you know times where we get together and um, you know, have been fortunate that there has been a few guys in Chicago and we've been able to do some things together while distancing and practicing all that and being as shafe as we can, but we have been able to get together, which has been nice too. Any apprehension, I know you probably you know checking in with the NFLPA

and everything that that's ongoing right now. But any apprehension from your standpoint, I'm sure you want to go back to work, and I'm sure a lot of players do, but at the same time to do it as safe as possible. But any apprehensions from your standpoint is camp's just around the corner. I mean, I'm excited, you know. It's like I said before, it's been a different offseason where we haven't been able to get in the facility

at all. So we've you know, it's been been really different for I'm excited to get back to it, um, and hopefully we can figure out a way to do it as safe as we can. Cody white Hair, our guest on Bears All Access here on Chicago Sports Radio six seventy The Score, brought to you by IGS Energy, Jeff to Act top there, Jim Miller, and Cody Whitehair, Our guest. Is it gonna feel good to start a season at the position that you have had a lot of experience in the last few years. Yeah, it's it's

you know, that's where I feel the most comfortable. Obviously, I'm a team guy, and I'll do whatever they ask me to do, you know, if if it happens to be where they need me to play a different position, and you know, whether that be July twenty eighth when we come in the building or you know, whatever whatever that may be. Um, you know, I'm always down for it.

But you know, just being comfortable at that position and being played there for you know, as long as I have in the NFL, it's it's really exciting to say, you know, be able to be there to start with the season again. Hey, Cody, So go ahead, Tom I'm sorry, you know, Cody. Sometimes, you know, you're a young father, and sometimes along the way, as I was growing up, you see these young fathers and they happen to finish their kids' plates every once in a while and it

changes their diet. But you go to Hallis Hall during the season and you're exposed of the best diet in the world. The director of sports science there, Jen Gibson, does a great job of making sure all you guys eat properly. Has that been any different for you? Has it been any more difficult for you to, you know, have the diet constructed the way at Canada Allis Hall. Yeah. I mean I've been around gim long enough to know kind of what she prefers us to be eating and

recommends us to eat. And I've been trying to follow that as best I can. Obviously, you know, with our cafe there at Hollis All they do a wonderful job and making sure we're very well nourished, you know. But my wife and family have done a great job. And you know, I've been able to cook a little bit more too, you know, especially with it being a little bit nice out, you know, being able to start up that barbecue girls. So that's been nice too. You know,

I've been grilling a lot of steaks lately. You know, I have fired up the tregger a couple of times and you know, smoke some ribs and stuff like that too. So um, you know, anytime I can be outside and and either you know, get on the trigger or the webber grill, you know, that's always a positive. Well from your standpoint, Cody, I know you're a veteran now, but as you're getting to know Juan Castile, how without giving anything away, how how was the pace of install for

the Chicago Bears offensively? I know, obviously coach Naggy let you guys go about a week and a half early from that standpoint, but just the pace of the install and how it went from maybe the previous years, yeah, you know, it's it was great. You know, Wand did a great job as far as detailing things and making sure we understand what he wants out of us. Um, you know, so we thought it went really smooth, and

obviously the coaches did too. With then letting us go a week with Cordy White here our guest here on Bears Access a couple of more moments with the Bears Veterans Center. Cody, I know that I've heard from many players, and I hear from Matt Naggie just reading between the lines that and I've used this term to describe it a little bit, the jaws kind of been set, Meaning you, guys, we're pretty angry at how the season unfolded in twenty

nineteen after the success in eighteen. How would you put it into context what the mission is with your guys? Because you know the room as well as anybody you've been there. You're part of the big changing culture there at Househall. Are you guys? Are you guys pretty angry and you guys ready to take it to the field that way? Yeah, you definitely feel the anger and the sense of some unfinished business. But I guess the best way to stum up our virtual off season would be motivated.

I mean, we know how much we left out there, and you know the season wasn't the way we wanted it to be in or in nineteen. So I would say the biggest thing is guys are motivated. Guys are excited to get back to work and start the season. Hey, Cody, do you feel that there's any more pressure on the offensive line as a as a whole group, because you know, you look at some of the stats of last year for the running game obviously has got to be a component needs to be better. Matt addressed at the first

topic at the podium after the season was over. So I'm not talking about a negative pressure, a pressure that you can turn into a positive knowing that the stats provided by the offensive line and the overall run game has to be better. Yeah. Absolutely, And you know you want your offense to be able to count on that run and especially in obvious situations. You know, that's where an offensive lineman's really got to, you know, be at his best, and whether that be obvious pass or obvious run.

So you know, it's something we take pride in. And the run game, you know, everything starts up there up front and making sure we can get a hole open for those guys in the back tild because when we do that, we're going to be dangerous. How about for

you personally? I know it's different for every player, and you know, with the NFL coming out with two less preseason game as the acclamation period, it sounds like that's going to be a little bit more Get guys in football shape, And I guess where do you feel you're at And how long do you think it'll take you to get acclimated, because I mean, let's be honest, you guys haven't even broken a huddle here this season on

a field together. Yeah, it's gonna take some time, you know, But I think I don't think it will take us too long. Um. You know, we're pretty young bunch of guys that you know, for the most part, we've we've worked together for you know, especially up front, we've worked together for a couple of years. So, um, you know, I don't think it'll take too long. But you know, like I said, we're really looking forward to it and

ready to get this thing rolling. Cody white Hair, our guest here on Bears All Access on Chicago Sports Radio six seventy to score. We'll let you go before we do. I understand that your daughter, Blakely, was baptized recently and the godfather is another none other than That's rights who quarterback Mitch quarterback man. I was, I was setting you up, so how cool is that to have a teammate be the godfather of your daughter? And I know you guys are super tight to begin with, but Uh, that takes

a I'm a godfather. I know those things are not taken lightly. Yeah, it's you know, it's it's a big thing in our family too. And you know Mitch is such a tremulous young man that you know he's going to be a great role model for my daughter, that's for sure. Well, best of luck, congratulations to you and your family. I know, uh number one is always always a great thing for a young man. So good to have you. Best to Hannah as well, and we'll see you soon up at Hallisall. Have a great rest of

you something Tody, you bet, thanks guys. Cody white Hair our guest here on Bears All Access Coming Back. We'll talk Allen Robinson with Tom There and Jim Meller. I'm Jeff Joniac on Chicago Sports Radio six seventy the Score. This segment of Bears All Access is brought to you by CDW. People to get it learn more at CW dot com. Jeff Jony Act, Tom There and Jim Mella with you on Chicago Sports Radio six seventy the Score.

Big Jim. I always like listening to Cody because he's a man of few words, but he keeps it real and he is one of the guys in that locker room that people do look up to. And there's different ways you lead and he's one of those guys. Yeah, we definitely is accountable, reliable, productive, pretty much always ready to play, in versatile. So you know, he commands a lot of respect. He's definitely has earned that since he's been a Chicago Bear and just how he's been such

an accountable player. I think players respect him, they look up to him and look for a guy for that type of leadership, and you know, you try to pick his brain. You want to know why he's so successful in the NFL with how prepared he is, so definitely a lot of tips to be learned from a great teammate like Cody White here and last September, Tommy gets a five year extension, so a big year for him as he settles in there to this offensive line spot.

You know, he is a team guy. He's been bouncing all over the place, but the regular snaps at one position. How do you think that will help him? Well, you know, I think it's it's going to benefit him because, like we saw Wanca Stiosa during his Zoom meetings, everything is repetitiously learned by the offensive line. And that's one thing every one of those guys is they need reps together. Well, okay, let's insert two quarterbacks that are fighting for the job

with the center position. So there's a lot of different details that go along with that, and we talk about their tempos, their cadence, the way they call plays, the way they see the line of scrimmage. So Cody isn't you know, he is involved with the quarterbacks and the way he calls out the protection responsibilities for the line. So he's got a couple different dimensions to his job. But I think if there's anybody on the offensive line or on that team that can hold up to anything

that's asked of him, Cody's that guy. All right. So today I read where Jim, You're in the Big ten country up there in Michigan. Alan Robinson made the Big Ten Networks Big Ten All Decade team with Tyler Johnson,

who just came into the NFL out of Minnesota. And so I thought, go back to some of these coaches and some of the zoom meetings in this offseason, a little collige here of Alan Robinson or as he gets ready for another Bear season looking for a new contract, and then his position coach Mike Fury, who's really blown away by the man's professionally, I'm feeling great shape. I feel I've been extremely productive feeling throughout this quarantine and

throughout this offseason. So a game from me, you know, like I said before, I know I know for a fact, you know my best days of football are are I'm ahead of me. You know, I'm still trying to continue to stack these word days in the bank, you know, so I can bring that to the table. That's the season. Alan Robinson's probably one of the most professional players that I've ever been around in my playing and coaching career.

And his voice is not just going to be huge in regards to the social justice issue that's going on today. His voice started three months ago or four months ago, and we started these meetings when he got in these rooms and was helping guys and getting on guys for not you know, maybe they weren't sitting right in meeting, maybe they were walking around too much on the video. So his voice has been around for four months. Man, he's gonna have big impression on these young receivers that

come in. Ted Gin junior as a veteran would also help in that category. But Tom and Jim overall, just can you stress the importance of what this man brings, not just what he's doing on the field, and his connection at this point with Mitch Trubisky and he had a very good season last year despite the offensive struggles, the two of them. What it means to this entire offense right now? Well, you know one thing about Mike Fury there when he's talking about Alan Robinson has a voice.

He has a voice when there's a matter of importance that needs to be addressed, either in the social issue department or in the locker room department. Alan Robinson's a leader by example. He doesn't need to say a lot because the younger players, either on either side of the ball offensive defense, all they have to do is look at his work ethic. You know, when we were all introduced to Alan Robinson as a Chicago Bear, he was coming back from an injury, and you didn't know what

to expect of him. If you never you ever knew that he had an injury, you wouldn't have known it by the way he went about his business. And then year two he comes up and He's even has a shows a higher profit than he did after he was recovering from his knee injury. Obviously. So you know, when Mike speaks of one of the most important guys, the most the best hard working guys he's ever played with or coached, that's saying a lot because Mike Fury has

been around a lot of receiver rooms. But hey, we've all seen the examples at Alan Robinson leaves in the practice field, in the game field, and as a result, and up there in Michigan, he's got quite the reputation at the high school level. Two coming out of Detroit, right, Yeah, Orchard Orchard Lake, Saint Mary's, you know, very well respected high school, moves on to Penn State, has a great career there and then has been special in the pros

as well. Hard to believe he's going on a seventh year and has over come quite a bit with those injuries that you mentioned, Tom, But you know he isn't you know, He'll say something when he believes something needs to be said. But when you know, Tom knows, and I know and Jeff, you know, when you're brought into the NFL and they tell you about Hey, this is what it's like to be a pro or to be

a professional. That's always kind of thrown out there about being a professional, and it's different than the college ranks. It definitely is about being a paid professional, and I think he takes that very seriously, you know, And I think he's very determined about his craft. I think he does want to be the best. He dedicates himself extremely hard to be good at his craft, and I think, you know, when something needs to be said, he'll say it, and he does it in a professional way. Is what

I've encountered in all my discussions with Alan Robinson. So excited about him. He's just one of those players I think, you know, as a team that you can count on, much like Cody white Hair, that he's going to be prepared to play every single weekend and that accountable ability factor. Nobody questions that about Allen Robinson. You need a bunch of those guys, fellas, You need a bunch of those guys,

and I do believe they are on this team. And you mentioned professionalism, and it reminds me of what even Terie Cohen admitted to in this offseason, is that, Okay, you know, professionalism isn't a sometime thing. It's an everyday thing. And it's not just your rookie year, your second year, it's in the tenth year of your career. So you gotta remind yourself of that. And you know, I thought it was very open minded of him to agree that. Okay,

I wasn't necessarily that way in twenty nineteen. You know, he really looked up to Benny Cunningham when he was here. Now he's got to be that guy in that running back room. But you know, you guys are in two different spots, obviously in your lives and in your career. And looking back though, could you have you guys were professional from day one? I'm assuming you guys felt you knew how to be a professional from day one. Is this learned behavior at sometimes in the NFL for players,

I think it is. I think you have to go through the process of it. So you come in as a rookie. There's always someone you look up to in that room, no matter if he's as a good player, a bad player, whatever the cases. There's always somebody older than you. And as you start climbing the ladder and this older guys start trickling out of the room. Then it's you. You're going to set the standards not only

for the room, but for yourself. And so I'm encouraged by what I hear about Tree Cohen of you know, being better to himself. That will make him a better player. And you know, Alan Robinson. I don't think it's difficult for a guy for like Javon Wims to look across the field or across the meeting room to see how Alan Robinson is carrying himself. And some of these young

guys they they need an Alan Robinson. And Tree Cohen if he thinks that he can step up to the plate and be the leader of the multiple rooms he goes into that's special teams, receiver and running back. I'm glad that he sees that he needs to apply himself better. Yeah, it's definitely learned. I totally agree with Tom. I. You know, you just find out as a young player, you know, just your itinerary, just how things are structured in the pros, the things you have to do on your downtime in

order to get better. You know, say, you know, like your first Tuesday off, Tuesdays are always off right, and you know you quickly learned other players are out there working to get better. You know. I remember Neil because we lived Neil Donald. We lived in the same subdivision, just he rented a townhouse and I did. And he

would call me be and say, hey, come over. This is what I do on my off days in order to prepare for the next game, whether it's a lifting routine, We studied some tape, things like that about the opponent, things like that. And you know, the first probably you know, before Neil got to know me, probably the first six weeks of the season, I was just like, oh, you know, Tuesday's your day off. You know, nothing to do, you know, and you quickly learn that, hey, this is what it

takes to get really good at your profession. You know, you can never really get away with it or you know, get away from it. And after that when the old kind of introduced me to that, and that's how I approached the rest of my career. And never, even on your off day, you're always thinking about it, all right, what can I do to get better? And I, you know, I just think for a lot of players, that's how you've got to be. You know, you've got to be that it's always on your mind in order to give

give yourself an edge for the next game. So for you two, what moment in your mind did you become a true professional? I mean, what year, what season, what snap, what day? Because there's always these crystallizing moments. I'll start with Jim because I'm just you know, reminding myself where you played. You played at many different stops. So you're talking about Nail Donald in Pittsburgh. Were you there for two plus years? Yeah? And I think for me, you know,

I had a really good camp my rookie year. I ended up breaking my hand. I was probably challenging Mike tom Zack for the backup job as a rookie, and then unfortunately I broke my thumb and some ligaments and stuff, and so that year was shut down. But the next year they drafted Cordell Stewart. It wasn't known whether I was going to make the team. I ended up making the team that keep four quarterbacks, and Neil Donald breaks his hand and I get an opportunity to get in

some games and played. It was really a Monday night game down in Miami. Mike tom Zack gets pulled. I get in the game right before half, and we ended up, you know, we were down two scores. We ended up coming back and almost winning the game. It was a late tipped interception to Yancey Thigpen. You know, it was the last second throw by me to try and get us to win. But you know, played against Dan Marino, played really well the entire game. It's Monday night. It

doesn't get any better than that. And I knew after that game, I said I can do this, and I felt it in that game that my confidence. You felt more comfortable as the game went on and you felt, hey, I can do this and I can do this for a long time. You know, my biggest influence in preparation for the NFL was a coach in the USFL. It was John Titerlink. He used to encourage me about being

prepared when I went to that next level. Every single day, that guy was relentlessly on me about being prepared for the NFL. And he was a d line coach, never took a day off. He's the most instrumental guy in being prepared in the for the NFL. Recently passed away, Jen Terlink outstanding coach Tom always. I remember you introduced him to me in the language of this man, Oh my goodness, anyway, This is Bears All Access on Chicago

Sports Radio six seventy to score. Lace up your sneakers and join us July tenth through twelve for the first ever BNC Chicago Bears Virtual five K and Kids Dash. This year, a portion of every paid registration will be donated to Bears Care support local communities in COVID nineteen relief.

Register today at Chicago Bears dot Com Slash five K. Jeff Toom and Jim and I challenged Anthony Adams on Twitter today and Lauren screedon and you know, Anthony doesn't he doesn't want to race, and he said, just gave me, He gave me the hand, so to speak. So I'm kind of disappointed. I thought he was a competitor. I

think Lauren would, I think Laurne would beat you. Well, I'm talking about Anthony, I'm not talking about I mean you may listen, come on the go after the athlete out of those two, right, Okay, Well that a Anthony might have an issue with that statement. Jim, Right, Uh, you might be back in the days in Denver. The air is a little thin. I don't know, you may fall a little short on that one. Jim I don't know. Maybe all right, So, speaking of short there could be

a shortened preseason. Not official yet, Big Jim, it looks like the idea is to trim week one and week four. The preseason coaches, though, looking at every game as a critical rep, and even earlier this offseason Bears head coach Matt Naggie were in it committed to more game reps in due part to the quarterback dirt. That's the best time for us to be able to get that evaluation process going. We need to get as many reps as we can to be able to see what they're doing.

Does that mean more reps? Possibly, yeah, probably, So We're going to do everything we can and then if we need to, you know, have more competition type levels, you know, eleven on eleven type deals in practice will do that too. Yeah, So finding reps in this situation Even so, a tweet yesterday from former Bear Chase Daniel, now with the Lions, saying nothing about this year is going to look normal at all in his opinion, and either he knows some

things we don't. In addition to all these suggestions, this is kind of the first thing that's come up throughout this entire offseason that the NFL is even considering knocking back a little bit. How do you frame all this and what's it kind of look like? Yeah, I mean I'm sorry, go ahead, Tom, No, No, go ahead, Jim, go ahead, Jim. Well, I just think you know, there

is going to be an acclamation period. I think all coaches have kind of acknowledged that now, you know, even without the scrimmages against other opponents, because at least in the scrimmages you can, you know, you can script situations. Not all those situations will come up in a preseason game, but it's good to see obviously your players and evaluate

your players going against another opponent. I think that always helps in a in a game like setting, it's gonna be very difficult, you know, to get looks and evaluates, especially you know, you look at college free agents that

potentially are on your team. I think everybody knows this is probably going to be a veteran laden season, so some of those young guys may not get the reps that they normally would get, you know, without the you know, two other preseason games, because I do think not that they don't want to go into the season healthy, they do and I'm sure there are coaches that may not play they're starters in some of these preseason games, but I think you're going to be surprised that the amount

of coaches that do put some of their star players out there just to see where they're at, because guys may not be ready, they may need more work. And I've been in preseason games and this was I know it's a long time ago, but you're just gonna get a series and you're gonna come out. Well, you go out there and look like crap, I've played a whole game, you know what I mean, where starters didn't come out for an entire preseason game. So I think it all

sounds good. But I think coach Nagy definitely wants to channels the players and they probably will get more work as starters here if they do ultimately play these two preseason games. Well, you know, there's two types of evaluation in games and practice. It Jim mentioned. The practices are specifically scripted offense and defense, and you're giving the specific play that you want to see to this quarterback or this cornerback, this whatever you whatever position you want to

challenge you. It's an exact science. One thing when you go evaluate reps in preseason games, it's representation. You're evaluating the unknown because you don't know how your opponent's going to react. You don't know how the individual players going to react to what they see on the field. You don't know the decision that's going to be made by

all the other players out there. So I think there's gonna be these periods of practices that are going to be really serious game style type of approach to them, and then you're going to evaluate the players in the course of the preseason games because again you're evaluating the reaction to the opponent. In practices, they can be perfectly scripted and you can look for exactly what you want to see Tom what tempo do you need to see him practices to be ready speed ready for week one?

On nine on seven. I need to see it full go. I need to see the offensive line constructing the organization they need so all five to seven of those guys can work at one and it's not a heavy impact because it's more of a collision between the offense and defensive line. But you know it's those reps on eleven on eleven one, it's an organized teamwork. I need to see these guys for designated periods when Matt lets them know, look,

this is full go. It's not necessarily tackling to the ground, but it's a good they refer to as a thud at the end of the play where you come up and you get a good hit by the linebackers of the DBS, the defensive line and so on. So I do think that they have the opportunity to designate the periods and practices to be as live as they can possibly be, just like the reps in the games Jim.

In terms of install a lot of it's been done already, but it has to be revisited, obviously and retrained and now to get the guys for the first time in front of their coaches on the practice field and whatever. How that's going to look with all the COVID regulations and whatnot that the NFL is installing. Is is that going to be difficult without two preseason games if they trim it down. Yeah, yeah, teams may have to trim it down. And I think it's going to depend on

how veteran of a team you are. You know, look at the teams that are returning all five offensive linemen you know, uh say, you know, whether it's the Indianapolis Colts or a team like the Chicago Bears, other than the right guard position, if you've got all five offensive linemen that are veterans that have played last year. That's why I bring up the Colts that that team did not one player missed one snap all year long. For the Colts, you probably can install at a faster pace.

If you've got a lot of young players that you're trying to get caught up to speed, you may have to stay more basic, like you said, trim things back. You may not be able to expand a lot early for those type of teams. And what Tom mentioned, I don't think you can have any standing around at practice. You know, normally when you go to a special teams period, offense and defense kind of separate and they're standing around.

I don't think you can do that. You got to take advantage of every single time or every single moment that you're on that field and go to a separate area to get some work done because you're probably gonna want more team periods because again, your team has to gel. It's not about you know, just one position out there. Oh, let's go one on ones. No, it's eleven on eleven in real football, and you're probably I know it goes against the social distancing practices and they'll be safety about it.

But you're gonna have to do a lot of team periods, I think to get guys caught up to speed with how this game is going to be played on Sunday. They're aware of it, the players, but they got to go out and do it. And I think the coaches will put them in that environment, you know, Jim, I think we got to think outside the players themselves here too, because you talk about that offensive coaching room, there's a lot of new bodies, a lot of new minds, a

lot of new faces. They haven't been out the field yet for those Ota reps where you got the offensive coordinator holding a micro Alwaukee talkie signaling or talking the plays into the quarterback's helmet and then see how all that type of transaction, that transfer of information goes. But then last year, also during the preseason, Matt Naggy allowed Mark Helfritz and Dave are Gone call plays during a preseason game. Now you don't have that luxury of four games.

If they don't have it. So now you can dense it down to two and you kind of got to get that coaching staff and working order also decide who's going to be upstairs, who's going to be downstairs, how that transfer of information is going to go. So thinking outside of just the players, this is also an offensive coaching staff that gets that needs to get to know each other. All right, we just step away. One more

segment to go. We'll get cut up on news of the day around the National Football League, look at what some changes might be in store, and some other topics including Cam Newton to New England's all come up next. You're on Chicago Sports Radio six seventy The Score. Hey Bears fans, it's important to stay connected down more than ever, and at Motorola we love making that possible. With a new razor, you can enjoy staying connecting a little bit more.

It's a phone, it's an accessory, it's an icon reinvented. Hello Moto, Jeff, Joni Act, Tom Fair, Jim Mellow with you on Chicago Sports Radio six seventy The Score, brought to you by IGS Energy. Good to have you along. So we'll start with the quarterback on this one, Cam Newton in New England. Jim surprised. I know you broke it down on serious x MFL radio. I'm I'm certain of that. It's a proved deal when you get right down to it for him, and is it a good spot?

Is this seems something that is going to take root in terms of a true blue quarterback competition with Jared Stidham, Yeah, I think they do like Stidham. Obviously they dedicated a draft to him and they will they'll compete, you know, have those guys compete for the starting job. I do think Kim without a doubt, is the most you know, talented quarterback they have on their roster. Anybody, so, well, how's it gonna fit there? Don't worry Josh McDaniels. Nobody

knows what he's doing, and so does Bill Belichick. How they're gonna utilize Cam Newton. He's healthy when you look at him. He's posted his workouts. I know he's coming back from alz Frank I talked to Cam at the Super Bowl and he said his shoulder feels fantastic. He's basically another year recovered from that standpoint. So it's really about the foot and how his health. You know sets up and I think he is a motivated player looking

to put himself back on the map. And I'll ask you this, to get that caliber of a player for that price, it's not about the money for Cam Newton. He's out to prove a point and I do not doubt him. I think he will be the starter in New England. And don't write the New England Patriots off just yet. Everybody thinks that they're done not so fast

with the addition of Cam Newton. You know, one thing that confuses me about it is because we talk about how long processing information takes for a quarterback to jest assist him to go out there and play just on reaction. So now you introduce Cam Newton to the New England Patriots after he's been in the same or been in the same team, same system for so many years. I admire his just his physical approach to the game. I admired Bill Belichick because I think he's going to be

very game planned specific with Cam Newton. But how much can you really learn through things repetitiously done when you're you have a shortened period of time before the regular season's going to get here. In a shorter time in training camp. So I think it is the perfect coach quarterback combination with Bill Belichick in a short term least quarterback in Cam Newton and Matt I'm I'm looking forward to it. I think it's gonna make this season so much fun with Cam, Philip Rivers, Tom Brady and the

quarterback duel here in Chicago. I think it's gonna be great for the season. Now, did I get this right? Jim Scott Zolak, who's their color man on radio, said that he didn't think Cam's gonna be on the team. I think he told the station their sports hub in Boston, jar stid him it's gonna be the starter. Yeah, they like sdid him, they drafted him. But you know there's an open competition there. I mean, nothing is going to be given to Cam, you know. I I just personally

think that he is physically the their best quarterback. And Bill Belichick will utilize his skill sets of what you know, what the player has, and he will gear it that way and it ultimately will prove that that Cam Newton has the experience. I mean, jared'stid him. Ultimately. How many pass does he have in the NFL? I think one and he threw an interception. He got benched last year

in a preseason game. They like Stid him. I'm not saying they don't, but it's an open competition, and I think if it's just Mono Wan Mono, Cam Newton wins that hands down, and Bill Belichick will modify their offense to suit Cam Newton's skill set and he will prove with his experience, all of his knowledge, and Bill doesn't make these decisions just haphazardly went out. He talked to Norv Turner. Norv gave Cam Newton a glowing report of how he prepares for games. And that was Bill Belichick

basically finding out, is this guy coachable? Can I get along with this guy? What does he respond to? What are his go buttons? And that's what Bill Belichick was having that interview with Norv Turner. He wanted to get to know the player of how he can coach him to get the most out of him, and then ultimately decided, Yeah, this is a good fit. This player is going to be a good fit here. I was there when they traded for Corey Dillon. Everybody thought he was going to

be a malcontent. He was nothing of the sort. He was one of the greatest teammates I ever played for. You look at Randy Moss. People thought it wouldn't work with him. Worked really well with Randy mosson we could go on and not Rodney Harrison. Everybody thought Rodney Harrison was washed up. Here wins the Super Bowl, a couple of Super Bowls with the New England Patriots. So Bill will coach him, and Cam's gonna like it. And I think Cam's interested of learning a little bit more about

football from Bill Belichick. And it was very calculated on his part to really rebuild his career. A couple other nuggets today USA Today, they're football writer Dan Wilkins saying that college football officials in college football apparently broached the idea of the NFL moving back the draft in twenty twenty one because of a potential need to play the college football season in the spring, and apparently the NFL wasn't interested. Does that That's pretty much what you'd expect.

NFL clearly wants to keep the schedule the way they like it. Well, you know, I think a lot of the scouts probably have eighty five percent of the work done on the next draft class already so what they want to do is they'll go and they'll look at all the reps that they're they do, you know, they evaluate going forward. But some of these guys that have great junior years also now they're thinking about their NFL opportunity and times they kind of take a tick back

in their senior year because they're so health concerned. Again, I think a lot of the scouting has done so. If they did want to move the draft back and it wasn't too confusing and they could do it, do it. But I don't know if there's any even though there's a plan in a date in place, I don't know if there is any planner date in place yet. Yeah, from the well, from the college side, if they're playing in the spring, that's the last resort right where they're

giving up on the on the fall season. Don't know if that's the case just yet. It seems like they still plan I played, even if they are short and season. I think the IVY League, even the IVY League decided that they will make a decision next week whether they just shorten their season or they cancel intercollegiate athletics. They're in the IVY League for the for the whole year, So still a little bit more time, but that would

be the last report resort for college football. And like Tom said, a lot of the information gathering has already happened. And even this past year's draft, teams proved that they could get all the information that they needed. You know, when the one team that I thought was interesting, Pittsburgh drafted an offensive lineman that they didn't have a forty time on because he was from a small college, didn't have a forty time on, didn't have a medical on him.

They went strictly off the tape and they said, yeah, this guy can play, and they drafted him. So teas teams will be able to do it again next year if that's the case. Also the possibility that teams could bring fewer than the ninety they ordinarily due to training camp. Again, these is all sources here in the last couple of days telling NFL writers predicting eighty or seventy five, but no one really expecting ninety. Any pitfalls in that if that were to happen. This is obviously in an effort

to avoid more exposure to COVID potentials. Yeah, you know, playing for a guy like George Allen. Early in my career in the USFL, he wanted as many bodies on site for training camp that he could possibly afford. Some coaches, like Jim said, or some teams that have a little bit more veteran experience, maybe you can tone down the physical side of training camp because you have a majority of your guys and that, you know, a veteran type

of state. Yeah, the only thing from my standpoint, you know, I understand why they're saying that, but I mean, god forbid, if there's an outbreak on your team, say four or five guys come down with COVID nineteen, you're immediately obviously gonna have to go out. Those players are gonna have to be what quarantine for fourteen days, So you're gonna be signing more guys anyway. I don't know if the I think the NFL and NFLPA are trying to work

that a right out for roster exemptions. You know that, say, if a team comes down with six guys, can they sign six guys right away from the amount of guys that they lost. So it's a fluid situation. Again, I understand why why teams are doing it, but I think we all understand it's not when it's not if it's

when somebody's going to test positive. Already, what nine more NBA players tested positives, So you're gonna need Ultimately, it's gonna be fluid where guys are coming and going on these rosters, and I think the teams are well aware of that, and I think, now, what's the balance for

that in terms of roster exemptions for football teams? Potentially, you know, I think each team will keep like we see what they refer to as a war room during the draft, where they have all the eligible bodies out there. I think each team will have one of those player rooms that have all the names of all the eligible players of every single position around the country, and they're gonna be maneuvering that a lot during the course of

the season. Just if God forbid a team does have a number of COVID that's yeah, that's why I hope it's roster exemptions. That's fine and great that they're increasing the practice squads of sixteen guys, but those are developmental players. You need veterans that are gonna be able to step in and fill in in a moment's notice. That's why I think Ultimately they'll decide potentially on those roster exemptions. All right, fellas, that's traveling music. Jim. What you thrown

on the grill this weekend? Some stakes? Maybe you know how? You know how? Roy. We're meeting potatoes around here in the Miller family. Tom, what are you cooking up? I'm gonna go with a little salmon, big Jeff. Okay, I'm right nice and clean. No, not eating right, but that one day I will he right. Appreciate you boys, Savusa Poliday. Best of your family's Tom Fair, Jim Miller. Thanks to our producer Tonight Adams Tadzinsky and to our producers Jordan

tread Up, Dan Barelli. Thanks to Cody White, Aaron. Thanks to you for listening. This has been Bears All Access on Chicago Sports Radio six seventy the Score. Goodnight, everybody, Thanks for listening to this Chicago Bears Network presentation of Bears All Access. Podcasts are available on Chicago Bears dot com and on iTunes or download the official Bears mobile app. Bears All Access has been brought to you by IGS Energy and sponsored by Miller Lite h