Week 1: Bears at Rams

[JudasIscariotTheBird]

[minnesotacubsfan]

Has Rodgers completed a pass yet?

[raw]

 

Again, the decisions don't bother me. But there is no logic to anything. Why Week 4? Are you OK with starting 0-3, but no worse? They've said "we'll know when Fields is ready", does that mean they estimate he needs at least 3 more weeks to be ready? What's that based on? If he's not ready why is he coming on the field in redzone? Why not all redzone, just some plays in the redzone? Oh and why the random short yardage play in the middle of the field? Is he some short yardage plays, some goalline plays? It all just seems random and arbitrary. And I know they don't have to tell us why they do what they do, but it doesn't give me any confidence they actually know what they are doing when what they are doing has no rhyme or reason. And I know teams do this stuff all the time with packages for their young QBs. But they do them with veteran QBs who are actually starting caliber players with experience in the offense.

[minnesotacubsfan]

That's the craziest part of it for me raw; Andy Dalton knows this offense about as well as Fields. He hasn't had 3-5 years with Nagy, he doesn't know anything about the system really. Why is he teaching your future QB anything by starting over him? He should be holding a clip board, teaching Justin how to be a "pro" on the sidelines

[UMFan83]

[Soul]

He not really executing a plan. At this point he's just painting by numbers. You play the vet, because.....you play the vet.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

 

Again, the decisions don't bother me. But there is no logic to anything. Why Week 4? Are you OK with starting 0-3, but no worse? They've said "we'll know when Fields is ready", does that mean they estimate he needs at least 3 more weeks to be ready? What's that based on? If he's not ready why is he coming on the field in redzone? Why not all redzone, just some plays in the redzone? Oh and why the random short yardage play in the middle of the field? Is he some short yardage plays, some goalline plays? It all just seems random and arbitrary. And I know they don't have to tell us why they do what they do, but it doesn't give me any confidence they actually know what they are doing when what they are doing has no rhyme or reason. And I know teams do this stuff all the time with packages for their young QBs. But they do them with veteran QBs who are actually starting caliber players with experience in the offense.

 

I'm guessing Week 4 is as long they think they can go without a locker room revolt or they just don't want Fields to face the Rams and Browns' defenses.

[WrigleyField 22]

He was just banking on everyone trusting the KC process I guess. Until he realized that wasn't gonna work so he played him 5 random snap?

 

Literally can't understand the thought process.

[UMFan83]

He was just banking on everyone trusting the KC process I guess. Until he realized that wasn't gonna work so he played him 5 random snap?

 

Literally can't understand the thought process.

 

I find it interesting that Shanahan and Nagy both did something fairly unusual with their rookie QBs on the same day. Can't remember too many times where a rookie QB doesn't start but plays snaps sporadically during the game. I'm going to guess Lamar did it and that is who they are copying.

[jersey cubs fan]

 

Again, the decisions don't bother me. But there is no logic to anything. Why Week 4? Are you OK with starting 0-3, but no worse? They've said "we'll know when Fields is ready", does that mean they estimate he needs at least 3 more weeks to be ready? What's that based on? If he's not ready why is he coming on the field in redzone? Why not all redzone, just some plays in the redzone? Oh and why the random short yardage play in the middle of the field? Is he some short yardage plays, some goalline plays? It all just seems random and arbitrary. And I know they don't have to tell us why they do what they do, but it doesn't give me any confidence they actually know what they are doing when what they are doing has no rhyme or reason. And I know teams do this stuff all the time with packages for their young QBs. But they do them with veteran QBs who are actually starting caliber players with experience in the offense.

 

I'm guessing Week 4 is as long they think they can go without a locker room revolt or they just don't want Fields to face the Rams and Browns' defenses.

I'm guessing the reporter was just giving a specific date to a thing the Bears themselves have not given an actual date, but mostly your point. I believe they want to get the offensive line settled, know what they have and more importantly do not have while facing the toughest opponents, before giving him the keys. My early guess was week 4-6 timeframe. If they lose again and look bad doing so, it may be sooner. But what they really want is a win on Sunday to calm the masses and allow them to settle in that offensive line and keep prepping Fields with spot duty, before going all in some time in the middle of the season.

 

This year was all about showing progress with the offense at the sacrifice of defensive talent. If they give up 25+ every game they will live with that if the offense starts racking up yards and points, and they know that won't happen with Dalton.

[Derwood]

I know I've mentioned this before, but isn't the Andy Reid coaching tree pretty "meh"? All these coaches get credit for being coordinators at KC, but most of them are completely mediocre as head coaches

 

John Harbaugh has been the best, Doug Pederson had flashes, but after that.....Ron Rivera, Brad Childress, Matt Nagy, Leslie Frazier, Sean McDermott, Todd Bowles, Pat Shurmur.....GROSSSSSSSSSS

[UMFan83]

Some select PFF grades for yesterday if you are into that sort of thing from this article: Offense and Defense

 

Reminder on the scale:

100-90 elite - 0 Bears players

89-85 Pro Bowler - 0 Bears players

84-70 starter - 4 Bears players - all within 3 points of the lowest possible starter score

69-60 backup - 13 Bears players

59-0 replaceable - 21 Bears players

 

QB:

Justin Fields - 68.0

Andy Dalton - 63.1

 

RB:

Damien Williams - 71.7

David Montgomery - 64.5

Khalil Herbert - 60.0

 

WR:

Marquise Goodwin - 73.0

Allen Robinson - 59.5

Darnell Mooney - 58.0

Damiere Byrd - 49.7

 

TE:

JP Holtz - 71.1

Cole Kmet - 69.4

Jimmy Graham - 59.5

Jesse James - 51.0

 

OL:

Elijah Wilkinson - 63.1

Jason Peters - 61.7

Germain Ifedi - 59.6

Larry Borom - 56.0

James Daniels - 50.7

Sam Mustipher - 41.7

Cody Whitehair - 37.4

 

DL:

Angelo Blackson - 58.5

Akiem Hicks - 54.9

Damion Square - 44.9

Bilal Nichols - 37.8

Khyiris Tonga - 28.7

 

LB:

Jeremiah Attaochu - 70.3

Robert Quinn - 68.4

Christian Jones - 65.7

Khalil Mack - 61.7

Roquan Smith - 52.3

Trevis Gipson - 37.5

Alec Ogletree - 29.1

 

CB:

Kindle Vildor - 68.2

Jaylor Johnson - 61.7

 

S:

Tashaun Gipson - 60.1

DeAndre Houston-Carson - 59.7

Eddie Jackson - 52.5

Marqui Christian - 29.7

[Tryptamine]

I can't get over all of the people claiming Dalton was alright. His QBR and passing yards were both bottom 10 this week. Is so little expected that anything short of a disaster is ok?

[Bertz]

He was just banking on everyone trusting the KC process I guess. Until he realized that wasn't gonna work so he played him 5 random snap?

 

Literally can't understand the thought process.

 

I find it interesting that Shanahan and Nagy both did something fairly unusual with their rookie QBs on the same day. Can't remember too many times where a rookie QB doesn't start but plays snaps sporadically during the game. I'm going to guess Lamar did it and that is who they are copying.

 

Honestly I could be convinced that having a guy play partial games to get worked in is a savvy way to ease him into the NFL. Akin to using a Starting Pitcher in relief.

 

That said, A) I'd think you'd want to do at least one full series, even this early on, and B) when something looks like it's either super progressive or super meatball-y, Nagy does not get the benefit of the doubt from me that it's the former.

[jersey cubs fan]

I can't get over all of the people claiming Dalton was alright. His QBR and passing yards were both bottom 10 this week. Is so little expected that anything short of a disaster is ok?

I think he did okay in comparison to expectations, given who he is and who the opponent was and the environment they were playing. I had little hope for the Bears regardless of the QB. I didn't expect an above average performance in comparison to QBs who got to play non-stud defenses. Dalton was a stupid acquisition and a waste of resources, but he was fine in the role they asked of him (taking one for the team). Foles probably would have done the same thing though.

[WrigleyField 22]

It was reminiscent of a solid Trubisky 2020 outing. Executed what was asked of him which was very little. The stats aren't gonna look good when receivers arent running past 10 yards. Edited September 14, 2021 by WrigleyField 22

[Wilson A2000]

Still waiting for Mack to have good games when the lights are bright

[raw]

It was resiminscient of a solid Trubisky 2020 outing. Executed what was asked of him which was very little. The stats aren't gonna look good when receivers arent running past 10 yards.

Agreed. That's also known as "not good enough". It also concerns me that when and if Fields takes the helm that this is the offense that he will be forced to run.

 

Nothing about Nagy screams to me that he'll open things up with a rookie, especially for the first few (to several) weeks. And if that's the case, they can keep him sitting.

 

Maybe it was because the OL uncertainty. Maybe it was because of Aaron Donald and the Rams pass rush. But then what are you gonna do when you play Zadarius Smith and Kenny Clark vs GB twice? What about TJ Watt in Pittsburgh? The Ravens usual strong pass rush? JJ Watt and Chandler (5 sacks in week 1) Jones for Arizona? The OL is gonna be an issue all year. There will be great pass rushers every other week, and mediocre ones that look much better because of facing a bad OL.

 

At some point, you gotta stop worrying about what other teams do well and figure out what you do well as a team. They've been trying to figure it out since 2018, and will be on their 4th QB with a 4th different skillset soon enough.

 

Sent from my SM-A115AZ using Tapatalk

[Old Style]

Some select PFF grades for yesterday if you are into that sort of thing from this article: Offense and Defense

 

Reminder on the scale:

100-90 elite - 0 Bears players

89-85 Pro Bowler - 0 Bears players

84-70 starter - 4 Bears players - all within 3 points of the lowest possible starter score

69-60 backup - 13 Bears players

59-0 replaceable - 21 Bears players

 

QB:

Justin Fields - 68.0

Andy Dalton - 63.1

 

RB:

Damien Williams - 71.7

David Montgomery - 64.5

Khalil Herbert - 60.0

 

WR:

Marquise Goodwin - 73.0

Allen Robinson - 59.5

Darnell Mooney - 58.0

Damiere Byrd - 49.7

 

TE:

JP Holtz - 71.1

Cole Kmet - 69.4

Jimmy Graham - 59.5

Jesse James - 51.0

 

OL:

Elijah Wilkinson - 63.1

Jason Peters - 61.7

Germain Ifedi - 59.6

Larry Borom - 56.0

James Daniels - 50.7

Sam Mustipher - 41.7

Cody Whitehair - 37.4

 

DL:

Angelo Blackson - 58.5

Akiem Hicks - 54.9

Damion Square - 44.9

Bilal Nichols - 37.8

Khyiris Tonga - 28.7

 

LB:

Jeremiah Attaochu - 70.3

Robert Quinn - 68.4

Christian Jones - 65.7

Khalil Mack - 61.7

Roquan Smith - 52.3

Trevis Gipson - 37.5

Alec Ogletree - 29.1

 

CB:

Kindle Vildor - 68.2

Jaylor Johnson - 61.7

 

S:

Tashaun Gipson - 60.1

DeAndre Houston-Carson - 59.7

Eddie Jackson - 52.5

Marqui Christian - 29.7

Why the hell is Montgomery so low?

[gflore34]

Still waiting for Mack to have good games

 

Fixed, I used to think he's getting held like crazy and for whatever reason teams are being allowed to do so but, I don think that's it, the guy's toast. He done having big impact games or being the guy other teams have to specifically scheme to stop.

[UMFan83]

Still waiting for Mack to have good games

 

Fixed, I used to think he's getting held like crazy and for whatever reason teams are being allowed to do so but, I don think that's it, the guy's toast. He done having big impact games or being the guy other teams have to specifically scheme to stop.

 

I still wonder how he finished as the number 1 graded Linebacker on PFF's grades last season. Not that PFF is end all be all, but its looking at every snap he took and how he specifically performed on that play. Either he's doing a bunch of horsefeathers that goes unnoticed (beyond drawing double/triple teams) or there's a flaw in the system.

[gflore34]

Still waiting for Mack to have good games

 

Fixed, I used to think he's getting held like crazy and for whatever reason teams are being allowed to do so but, I don think that's it, the guy's toast. He done having big impact games or being the guy other teams have to specifically scheme to stop.

 

I still wonder how he finished as the number 1 graded Linebacker on PFF's grades last season. Not that PFF is end all be all, but its looking at every snap he took and how he specifically performed on that play. Either he's doing a bunch of horsefeathers that goes unnoticed (beyond drawing double/triple teams) or there's a flaw in the system.

 

As you said, there must be something else, he's been pretty much invisible for what, at least the last two seasons?

[WrigleyField 22]

There is always the option of sending Mack to the Jets for mostly cap space

 

What’s the feelings on Kmet these days? I’m sure they’re hoping for more than 8 yards a catch but it was probably a good thing to get him some passes on Sunday

If they were going to trade Mack the time to do it was before they converted his base salary this year. Not that they still couldn't and maybe it makes him more valuable since it eats cost for receiving team...

 

But they aren't gonna do it. Really wonder what Gruden would have offered up though.

[David]

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Still waiting for Mack to have good games

 

Fixed, I used to think he's getting held like crazy and for whatever reason teams are being allowed to do so but, I don think that's it, the guy's toast. He done having big impact games or being the guy other teams have to specifically scheme to stop.

 

I still wonder how he finished as the number 1 graded Linebacker on PFF's grades last season. Not that PFF is end all be all, but its looking at every snap he took and how he specifically performed on that play. Either he's doing a bunch of horsefeathers that goes unnoticed (beyond drawing double/triple teams) or there's a flaw in the system.

 

Easy to game plan around Mack when you can pick on Quinn on the other side.

 

 

Speaking of, woof Quinn: