Week 15 Bears vs. Vikings, MNF

[Splendid Splinter]

People been talking about Justin Fields and his fumbles. It does suck that he's coughing it up a bunch in his rookie season, but it's not like it's out of the norm for a QB. It could very well be an outlier so I will chalk it up as growing pains at the moment. Hopefully he'll learn to protect the ball a little bit better, but it's not a dealbreaker because QBs fumble A LOT.

 

Here is a list of QBs I looked up (past and current) and # of seasons in which they fumbled 10 or more times:

 

Tom Brady: 4 (all within his first 6 seasons)

Peyton Manning: 1

Brett Farve: 7

Philip Rivers: 2

Matt Ryan: 2- has 9 right now this season so could be 3

Eli Manning: 4

Aaron Rodgers: 3

Joe Flacco: 2

Donovan McNabb: 2

Russell Wilson: 4

Jay Cutler: 3

Tony Romo: 2

Cam Newton: 1

Kirk Cousins: 2- has 8 this season so far

Steve McNair: 3

Derek Carr: 5- has 11 this season so far

Andrew Luck: 2

Michael Vick: 5

Dak Prescott: 2- has 10 this season so far

Patrick Mahomes: 0- has 8 so could get to 10 this season

Alex Smith: 2

Ben Roethlisberger: 1- has 9 this season so far

Randall Cunningham: 5

Warren Moon: 8

Daunte Culpepper: 4- had 23!!!! in 2002

 

Then you have Kyler Murray (11), Jared Goff (9), Ryan Tannehill (9), and Josh Allen (8) rounding out the top 10 leaderboard this season along with Justin Fields 12 and the guys I've mentioned above.

[Tim]

 

Realistically, what do we need to add for next year to feel like we're putting Justin in a real position to succeed? Something like this?

 

- 2 starting caliber WRs

- 1 starting caliber TE

- A starting caliber Center

- A starting caliber guard (ideally just extend James Daniels)

- A tackle (these last few weeks to determine how good he needs to be)

 

With the cap space open this offseason, that's probably actually doable? You're left bargain hunting on defense, but I'd be happy to finally have a team that can win games 34-27.

I think the biggest thing is the WR and a better scheme. Bring in a bad ass #1 and a quality slot receiver. I know Kmet has had some drops, but he's shown enough as a second year guy that I'd prioritize other spots over him. Extend Daniels and bring in a just-in-case tackle. If there's a cheap upgrade at center, go for it. Spend the rest on the defense.

[UMFan83]

People been talking about Justin Fields and his fumbles. It does suck that he's coughing it up a bunch in his rookie season, but it's not like it's out of the norm for a QB. It could very well be an outlier so I will chalk it up as growing pains at the moment. Hopefully he'll learn to protect the ball a little bit better, but it's not a dealbreaker because QBs fumble A LOT.

 

Here is a list of QBs I looked up (past and current) and # of seasons in which they fumbled 10 or more times:

 

Tom Brady: 4 (all within his first 6 seasons)

Peyton Manning: 1

Brett Farve: 7

Philip Rivers: 2

Matt Ryan: 2- has 9 right now this season so could be 3

Eli Manning: 4

Aaron Rodgers: 3

Joe Flacco: 2

Donovan McNabb: 2

Russell Wilson: 4

Jay Cutler: 3

Tony Romo: 2

Cam Newton: 1

Kirk Cousins: 2- has 8 this season so far

Steve McNair: 3

Derek Carr: 5- has 11 this season so far

Andrew Luck: 2

Michael Vick: 5

Dak Prescott: 2- has 10 this season so far

Patrick Mahomes: 0- has 8 so could get to 10 this season

Alex Smith: 2

Ben Roethlisberger: 1- has 9 this season so far

Randall Cunningham: 5

Warren Moon: 8

Daunte Culpepper: 4- had 23!!!! in 2002

 

Then you have Kyler Murray (11), Jared Goff (9), Ryan Tannehill (9), and Josh Allen (8) rounding out the top 10 leaderboard this season along with Justin Fields 12 and the guys I've mentioned above.

 

Fields has 12 in 9 games (9 starts, one was a half game, and another half game vs. CIN). Prorate that to 16 games (to compare historically) and that's 21.3 fumbles which would be the 3rd most fumbles in a season in NFL history (the record is 23). It's a lot.

 

Also concerning is that I feel like several of Fields fumbles are coming in the open field. Tom Brady's likely weren't coming on designed runs. Like the one last night...that can't happen. Getting blindsided as you drop back to pass is quite a bit more excusable. I don't mean to be overly negative about it because this doesn't mean he can't clean it up at all, and if he's rushing for 400+ yards a year you can live with it, but I think its a problem right now.

 

Edit: Though looking back at the league leaders you posted, many of them are running QBs, so maybe that's just the price you pay for QBs who run a lot, though he needs to get better in general

[minnesotacubsfan]

People been talking about Justin Fields and his fumbles. It does suck that he's coughing it up a bunch in his rookie season, but it's not like it's out of the norm for a QB. It could very well be an outlier so I will chalk it up as growing pains at the moment. Hopefully he'll learn to protect the ball a little bit better, but it's not a dealbreaker because QBs fumble A LOT.

 

Here is a list of QBs I looked up (past and current) and # of seasons in which they fumbled 10 or more times:

 

Tom Brady: 4 (all within his first 6 seasons)

Peyton Manning: 1

Brett Farve: 7

Philip Rivers: 2

Matt Ryan: 2- has 9 right now this season so could be 3

Eli Manning: 4

Aaron Rodgers: 3

Joe Flacco: 2

Donovan McNabb: 2

Russell Wilson: 4

Jay Cutler: 3

Tony Romo: 2

Cam Newton: 1

Kirk Cousins: 2- has 8 this season so far

Steve McNair: 3

Derek Carr: 5- has 11 this season so far

Andrew Luck: 2

Michael Vick: 5

Dak Prescott: 2- has 10 this season so far

Patrick Mahomes: 0- has 8 so could get to 10 this season

Alex Smith: 2

Ben Roethlisberger: 1- has 9 this season so far

Randall Cunningham: 5

Warren Moon: 8

Daunte Culpepper: 4- had 23!!!! in 2002

 

Then you have Kyler Murray (11), Jared Goff (9), Ryan Tannehill (9), and Josh Allen (8) rounding out the top 10 leaderboard this season along with Justin Fields 12 and the guys I've mentioned above.

 

Fields has 12 in 9 games (9 starts, one was a half game, and another half game vs. CIN). Prorate that to 16 games (to compare historically) and that's 21.3 fumbles which would be the 3rd most fumbles in a season in NFL history (the record is 23). It's a lot.

 

Also concerning is that I feel like several of Fields fumbles are coming in the open field. Tom Brady's likely weren't coming on designed runs. Like the one last night...that can't happen. Getting blindsided as you drop back to pass is quite a bit more excusable. I don't mean to be overly negative about it because this doesn't mean he can't clean it up at all, and if he's rushing for 400+ yards a year you can live with it, but I think its a problem right now.

 

Edit: Though looking back at the league leaders you posted, many of them are running QBs, so maybe that's just the price you pay for QBs who run a lot, though he needs to get better in general

 

fields absolutely needs to tuck the ball better when he takes off, but I also dont hold the fumbles against him. Poor decision making and int's would scare me much more

[JudasIscariotTheBird]

Can we talk about his slide-technique, which is clearly inviting concussions?

 

(This is not a serious statement.)

[raw]

 

Realistically, what do we need to add for next year to feel like we're putting Justin in a real position to succeed? Something like this?

 

- 2 starting caliber WRs

- 1 starting caliber TE

- A starting caliber Center

- A starting caliber guard (ideally just extend James Daniels)

- A tackle (these last few weeks to determine how good he needs to be)

 

With the cap space open this offseason, that's probably actually doable? You're left bargain hunting on defense, but I'd be happy to finally have a team that can win games 34-27.

 

I don't think they need a TE. Kmet is fine. He's like 15th in receiving for TEs. Sure he's not anything special, but he also doesn't really need to be replaced. He's fine and most importantly, cheap. You don't need a 2nd TE. Nagy running his 2 TE stuff isn't going to be here and it's not like the Bears are utilizing 2 TEs effectively. They went over 200 total yards for the backup TEs on the last play yesterday. Get better WRs and there's no reason to throw to the TE group more than they already do.

 

I think I'd REALLY focus on the interior OL position. Re-sign Daniels, but you gotta get a stud inside. Whitehair is interesting. He's apparently very average or below average at this point, you could cut bait with him and try to find a better interior guy. But I'd probably be inclined to keep him around and move him back to C. Draft the best guard you can in the 2nd (yes, even ahead of drafting a WR) and build a strong unit that is young in 4 of 5 spots, and cheap in 3 of them. If you can get a legit stud C then you can do that and move on from Whitehair, but I don't think the Bears will A) spend 30Mil on the interior OL (Daniels, Whitehair, FA C) or B) trust a rookie to man the C position.

 

I feel like there's so many avenues to add WRs. Cheap FAs, trades of Day 3 picks, middle of the draft. Probably bring back Jakeem Grant. Hope Dazz or the other PS guys develop. There's your 4 and 5 WRs. Add a FA and a draft pick and you're good to go. Don't even have to break the bank. Guys like DJ Chark, Devante Parker or Will Fuller coming off injuries would be cheap. Brandin Cooks could get cut or traded (for the 4th time) for very little. I'd lean cheap, short term over another Robinson type signing and develop a guy in this draft. Fields has had plenty of success throwing to Mooney, Byrd, Goodwin and Grant. If needed, have a 1st in 2023 to draft a true #1 (looking at you, Jaxon Smith-Ngiba).

[minnesotacubsfan]

Can we talk about his slide-technique, which is clearly inviting concussions?

 

(This is not a serious statement.)

 

 

very clearly too upright. like sliding into 2nd. bad

[UMFan83]

Can we talk about his slide-technique, which is clearly inviting concussions?

 

(This is not a serious statement.)

 

 

very clearly too upright. like sliding into 2nd. bad

 

In addition to concussions, I'm worried he's going to tear up his knees the way he slides.

[Splendid Splinter]

 

Realistically, what do we need to add for next year to feel like we're putting Justin in a real position to succeed? Something like this?

 

- 2 1 starting caliber WR + a WR who isn't necessarily a starter caliber (% of plays-wise) but can play either slot/outside... ideally one of these HAS to be a big WR... lacking in size really hurts us IMO. Scheme/playcalling from the new HC will be more important than getting 2 starters at WR.

 

- 1 starting caliber TE I would let Kmet be the main guy and let him sink or swim and then get a decent backup that doesn't cost whatever Graham is costing us. If Kmet disappoints, then you can draft a TE or sign one for 2023 season. I would save $$$ here so it can go towards WR or C.

 

- A starting caliber Center- Definitely need one at this position.

 

- A starting caliber guard (ideally just extend James Daniels)- Extending Daniels would be best assuming he won't get 10+/mil a year. Who else will be a FA that is starting caliber?

 

- A backup tackle (these last few weeks to determine how good he needs to be)- I would let Jenkins and Borom run with it next season regardless. We need to know exactly what we got with these guys. A decent backup swing tackle would be nice to have for injury purposes. Try to save $$ here as well for WR or C.

 

With the cap space open this offseason, that's probably actually doable? You're left bargain hunting on defense, but I'd be happy to finally have a team that can win games 34-27.

 

 

I think this is a more realistic approach for this offseason. I think this would still be enough to put Fields in a position to succeed, but it's on the lower end of the spectrum. Think of it as bare minimum as you're asking a lot to sign quite a few starters (5- possibly 6) on one side of the ball in one FA signing period.

 

The question becomes is if we extend both Daniels and Roquan Smith (he should be extended IMO), will we have enough to do all of this? I would also like to sign a decent CB opposite Johnson or in the slot on the defense side. I really like what I saw from Graham last night, but I would feel better if we got another CB that we can rely on. The rest of the D we can bargain hunt like you said.

 

We have an early 2nd and 3rd in the draft where one of those picks could fill one of the spots up above. Plus we got all those cuts/restructures that we could do although I haven't look at the Bears roster and salary cap that closely yet.

[minnesotacubsfan]

 

Realistically, what do we need to add for next year to feel like we're putting Justin in a real position to succeed? Something like this?

 

- 2 1 starting caliber WR + a WR who isn't necessarily a starter caliber (% of plays-wise) but can play either slot/outside... ideally one of these HAS to be a big WR... lacking in size really hurts us IMO. Scheme/playcalling from the new HC will be more important than getting 2 starters at WR.

 

- 1 starting caliber TE I would let Kmet be the main guy and let him sink or swim and then get a decent backup that doesn't cost whatever Graham is costing us. If Kmet disappoints, then you can draft a TE or sign one for 2023 season. I would save $$$ here so it can go towards WR or C.

 

- A starting caliber Center- Definitely need one at this position.

 

- A starting caliber guard (ideally just extend James Daniels)- Extending Daniels would be best assuming he won't get 10+/mil a year. Who else will be a FA that is starting caliber?

 

- A backup tackle (these last few weeks to determine how good he needs to be)- I would let Jenkins and Borom run with it next season regardless. We need to know exactly what we got with these guys. A decent backup swing tackle would be nice to have for injury purposes. Try to save $$ here as well for WR or C.

 

With the cap space open this offseason, that's probably actually doable? You're left bargain hunting on defense, but I'd be happy to finally have a team that can win games 34-27.

 

 

I think this is a more realistic approach for this offseason. I think this would still be enough to put Fields in a position to succeed, but it's on the lower end of the spectrum. Think of it as bare minimum as you're asking a lot to sign quite a few starters (5- possibly 6) on one side of the ball in one FA signing period.

 

The question becomes is if we extend both Daniels and Roquan Smith (he should be extended IMO), will we have enough to do all of this? I would also like to sign a decent CB opposite Johnson or in the slot on the defense side. I really like what I saw from Graham last night, but I would feel better if we got another CB that we can rely on. The rest of the D we can bargain hunt like you said.

 

We have an early 2nd and 3rd in the draft where one of those picks could fill one of the spots up above. Plus we got all those cuts/restructures that we could do although I haven't look at the Bears roster and salary cap that closely yet.

 

 

I want Graham starting the rest of the season to see if last night was real or just an adrenaline-fuled fluke, but I loved seeing him breaking up passes left and right

[Splendid Splinter]

I want Graham starting the rest of the season to see if last night was real or just an adrenaline-fuled fluke, but I loved seeing him breaking up passes left and right

 

 

I do too, but you do need 3 solid CBs every season with how pass happy the league is so having that reliable 2nd CB with Johnson would just ease my mind with the secondary. Especially how meh Eddie Jackson is these days.

[minnesotacubsfan]

I want Graham starting the rest of the season to see if last night was real or just an adrenaline-fuled fluke, but I loved seeing him breaking up passes left and right

 

 

I do too, but you do need 3 solid CBs every season with how pass happy the league is so having that reliable 2nd CB with Johnson would just ease my mind with the secondary. Especially how meh Eddie Jackson is these days.

Jackson is still pretty solid in pass coverage, he just inst getting the int's

[WrigleyField 22]

Rumors!

 

https://twitter.com/peggykusinski/status/1473415211533090816?s=21

 

https://twitter.com/peggykusinski/status/1473421911711440902?s=21

[minnesotacubsfan]

Who is Kusinski and why should we believe her?

[David]

Who is Kusinski and why should we believe her?

 

if only there were some way you could have seen this within one second with the click of a button

 

Started in Bristol then home to ChicagolandTV, ESPN Radio1000 & NBC5 Chicago sportscaster. Now Host "The Sportscaster And Her Son" & Pass the Mic on YouTube…

[WrigleyField 22]

It's a big step up from Patch guy okay.

[minnesotacubsfan]

Awesome

 

Imagine being hired by someone to represent them and then being hired to fire them

[UMFan83]

I was gonna say “you don’t know Peggy Kusinski” but I guess you aren’t local. She’s pretty legit locally

[jersey cubs fan]

I was gonna say “you don’t know Peggy Kusinski” but I guess you aren’t local. She’s pretty legit locally

Was she on BrandMeier’s show or Kevin Matthews?

[minnesotacubsfan]

I was gonna say “you don’t know Peggy Kusinski” but I guess you aren’t local. She’s pretty legit locally

I thought about googling her name but driving home in traffic, I felt it easier to talk-type the question to googleNSBB instead

 

 

Thanks for helping me with it all, I appreciate it

[Brian707]

They going to do a Bulls type Chrismas Eve firing? I doubt it

[WrigleyField 22]

They going to do a Bulls type Chrismas Eve firing? I doubt it

Would be a Boxing Day firing if anything.

[Brian707]

They going to do a Bulls type Chrismas Eve firing? I doubt it

Would be a Boxing Day firing if anything.

 

 

That will work, after the Seattle game

[raw]

They going to do a Bulls type Chrismas Eve firing? I doubt it

Would be a Boxing Day firing if anything.

 

 

That will work, after the Seattle game

 

What if they win, though? Seattle is a very winnable game. They aren't going to fire Nagy after a win, unless they fully admit that they told him he was out this week beforehand, and that's still a sore spot with this organization.

[WrigleyField 22]

Would be a Boxing Day firing if anything.

 

 

That will work, after the Seattle game

 

What if they win, though? Seattle is a very winnable game. They aren't going to fire Nagy after a win, unless they fully admit that they told him he was out this week beforehand, and that's still a sore spot with this organization.

This org is so backwards.

 

The Kusinski logic above is the only reason I'm not pissed about it happening. But even that is such backwards logic.

 

This brings me back to last year when there was a lot of talk about people wanting a full clean sweep from Phillips down. And I made the point then, if that was the goal, the best thing was actually to do President only last year. Then they could evaluate a full offseason and season of Pace and Nagy and then be in a position to be in the building, prepared for a new GM/HC search after that. Here we are with weeks to go until the end of the season and the org still contemplating a major org shift? But unlike last year there's basically no chance they can lame duck the HC/GM situation either.

 

So now I am actually pissed, but for much more nuanced reasons.