Week 1 - 49ers at Bears, Noon CT, FOX

[WrigleyField 22]

 

I'm sure they could get money for doing infrastructure, but the money would only pay for the infrastructure (ie train stops, freeway extensions, etc). the Bears themselves wont be able to direct those funds

Can't they direct it in the sense that design of those things will be built to accommodate the related needs they want for the site? So if a 290 extension is done to accommodate new underpass walk/roadways and specific exits, it will?

 

Or if they want their transit hub to have certain amenities it will?

 

yes, but those are generally paid by the applicant in infrastructure development fees. what I would imagine is the city/state will waive those fees. its money in a sense, but more of a trade-off in saying "look, I'll move here"

But won't they also just figure out little tweaks and things that qualify them for federal grants for minor modifications, which then get negotiated between the Bears and whichever entity (say Metra) is applying for the grant?

[David]

 

But, this year, Matt Eberflus did something no Bears coach has ever done before. He asked to switch up the sod.

 

“Totally surprised,” remarked Soldier Field general manager Tim LeFevour.

 

So, Kentucky bluegrass is out and Bermuda grass is in, which Eberflus saw firsthand on the practice field in Indianapolis.

 

“Summer is the most stressful time for Kentucky bluegrass. It’s never really at a weaker point than it is at the end of the summer,” said agronomist and Carolina Green Corp. Field Maintenance Division vice president and superintendent Chris Ecton. “Bermuda grass is a warm season grass, so it just went through its favorite time of year. It’s never going to be stronger than it is right now.”

 

“It’s so much tighter – the plant and the footing,” LeFevour added. “Players are going to feel that difference. It’s going to be a faster game, I think, you’ll see on this turf. We would have gone to this years ago if we felt we could grow it longer into the fall season.

 

“Bermuda loves warmth. Bermuda loves heat. With the Kentucky blue we wouldn’t turn our heating system on until mid-October, third week of October. We’ll be turning our heating system on tonight”

 

The strain is called Tahoma 31. It started growing in South Carolina last fall. Then in early April, a 50-acre swath was transplanted to a plastic grid in North Carolina. Because Carolina Green’s crew only cuts the sod into strips and not from underneath, they don’t have to worry about the grass taking root.

 

“You’re not cutting off half the roots. The roots grow down. They hit the plastic and they start growing horizontally,” explained Ecton, who worked for the Steelers for 20 years.

 

“It’s like growing a plant in a pot,” echoed Carolina Green president Chad Price. “We pull out a potted plant and it’s all root-bound. You can’t tear it apart. That’s exactly what happens with Bermuda on plastic. It makes the roots really tight and they lock in together. When we harvest it, we’re bringing all of that here. That plus the weight of it makes it where you can play on it immediately.”

 

“It’s nice to have a week,” Ecton said. “In a stadium setting, you don’t always have a week.”

 

“This is typical of what you’ll see. We’ll finish a preseason with the Bears and we’ll always want to give them a new field to start the season,” added LeFevour. “We’ll see how long this field goes. For us, we’ll typically replace a field two to three times a season. Learning what we’re learning so far about the Bermuda grass, it might be a full season. It might be one other replacement.”

 

Chad and his Carolina Green team have had similar rollouts in the past, installing NFL fields for the Ravens, Titans and Chiefs.

 

“The proof is in the pudding,” Price said. “Kansas City played an entire year on our field last year and played deep into the season. It held up well and Kansas City is a pretty tough climate in the winter.”

 

Fans might notice it begin to turn brown as it gets colder, but they’ll add rye to help keep it green.

[Old Style]

Flus knows grass.

[Brian707]

If this AH stadium does happen.(I hope it does) what year are we looking at for the Bears first season there? I would assume it will be 2024 at the earliest that any construction would begin. Not to mention all the road work and other infrastructure and government funding.

[Tim]

All I want out of it is for the long-dead 53 extension to finally go through. I'm far enough off of it that it won't have any negative impacts on my property value. I'd be close enough, though, that the increased access would add to the value significantly.

 

I'm sure the rich asshats in Long Grove will still manage to stand in the way of progress, though.

[Brian707]

 

I'm sure the rich asshats in Long Grove will still manage to stand in the way of progress, though.

 

That's a given

[Omar]

They should build a giant moving walkway from the train station to the stadium.

[minnesotacubsfan]

Can't they direct it in the sense that design of those things will be built to accommodate the related needs they want for the site? So if a 290 extension is done to accommodate new underpass walk/roadways and specific exits, it will?

 

Or if they want their transit hub to have certain amenities it will?

 

yes, but those are generally paid by the applicant in infrastructure development fees. what I would imagine is the city/state will waive those fees. its money in a sense, but more of a trade-off in saying "look, I'll move here"

But won't they also just figure out little tweaks and things that qualify them for federal grants for minor modifications, which then get negotiated between the Bears and whichever entity (say Metra) is applying for the grant?

 

the shear size of the project will mean it will receive the upgrades, and will also likely qualify for federal infrastructure grants/monies. thats not really a thing the Bears would like get involved with but the city/state/county will to make it happen. Again, the Bears themselves will likley never touch that money

[David]

Here you go, Derwood

[UMFan83]

I found this interesting:

 

https://www.sportsmockery.com/chicago-bears/why-matt-eberflus-ryan-poles-finally-gave-the-real-reason/

 

(Yes sports mockery but its not reporting, its taking pieces from an Athletic story: https://theathletic.com/3570776/2022/09/07/ryan-poles-bears-general-manager/)

 

HIS NFL DREAM ENDED AT FINAL CUTS, BUT WHAT RESONATED WITH POLES THEN — AND WHAT STUCK WITH HIM LONG AFTERWARD — IS HOW THE BEARS PRACTICED UNDER THEN-COACH LOVIE SMITH.

 

“THE RELENTLESSNESS, THE FINISH — THERE WOULD BE BALLS THAT WOULD BE TIPPED AND GO TO THE OTHER FIELD AND ALL 11 WOULD BE SPRINTING TO IT, PICKING IT UP AND RUNNING TO THE END ZONE,” POLES SAID. “THERE WAS A PURPOSE. THERE’S A STANDARD FOR HOW THEY PRACTICED.”

 

IT’S HOW POLES, THE BEARS’ FIRST-YEAR GENERAL MANAGER, WANTS HIS TEAM TO LOOK TODAY. IT’S WHAT ATTRACTED HIM TO COACH MATT EBERFLUS, AN EXTENSION OF THE TONY DUNGY/SMITH COACHING TREE THROUGH EBERFLUS’ TIME WITH FORMER DUNGY/SMITH ASSISTANT ROD MARINELLI IN DALLAS.

 

“IT’S NOT EVEN REALLY AN OFFENSE-DEFENSE THING,” POLES SAID. “IT’S REALLY A DEMAND TO DO THINGS THE RIGHT WAY. AND I THINK FROM THERE, YOU CAN BUILD THAT FOUNDATION AND GROW FROM THAT. THAT’S IMPORTANT.”

 

Not sure why its all caps but whatever. So basically he wants to rebuild a Lovie style Bears team with maybe a good QB this time?

[jersey cubs fan]

I found this interesting:

 

https://www.sportsmockery.com/chicago-bears/why-matt-eberflus-ryan-poles-finally-gave-the-real-reason/

 

(Yes sports mockery but its not reporting, its taking pieces from an Athletic story: https://theathletic.com/3570776/2022/09/07/ryan-poles-bears-general-manager/)

 

HIS NFL DREAM ENDED AT FINAL CUTS.”

 

Not sure why its all caps but whatever. So basically he wants to rebuild a Lovie style Bears team with maybe a good QB this time?

 

I mean, yeah, we knew this.

[raw]

Here you go, Derwood

 

How the hell do I get the Bears over Detroit and Philly, which are both closer to Pittsburgh than Chicago? Not that I'm complaining.

[Derwood]

Yeah, I was not expecting to get this game.

[UMFan83]

Yeah, I was not expecting to get this game.

 

Im not shocked. In non-NFL markets they often choose games starring prominent regional college players (like Fields). I remember back when Favre was playing, the southern part of Mississippi always seemed to have the Packers game on.

[David]

Bears biggest single team market in the NFL, Niners are seen as a SB contender and are also a major franchise with a major following.

 

The Bears seem to get plenty of island games too even when they're expected to be bad. The networks know what they're doing at this point.

 

That's also probably major reason the national media has spent so much time [expletive] on them while not really paying attention or knowing anything about what is going on - they have to justify giving them attention even though they're just run of the mill bad, not WORST TEAM IN THE LEAGUE!!!

[David]

Will Kittle dodge his favorite team??

 

[Hairyducked Idiot]

I honestly can't tell if we're actually promising or if we're really about to bottom out tanking.

 

Part of me wants to believe that Justin Fields is about to become a breakout star and that bringing in lots of fresh bodies for the meat grinder is actually a good thing.

 

Part of me suspects that we're just throwing out random crap because we don't care about this season and want to go hard rebuild, and maybe I shouldn't be so hype about a QB who threw for less than 175 yards/1 TD per start last season.

[UMFan83]

I honestly can't tell if we're actually promising or if we're really about to bottom out tanking.

 

Part of me wants to believe that Justin Fields is about to become a breakout star and that bringing in lots of fresh bodies for the meat grinder is actually a good thing.

 

Part of me suspects that we're just throwing out random crap because we don't care about this season and want to go hard rebuild, and maybe I shouldn't be so hype about a QB who threw for less than 175 yards/1 TD per start last season.

 

Kind of how I feel too. Despite reading nothing but articles about the Bears being terrible this year, I can still kind of talk myself into thinking that if things go right and coaching is competent and fields takes a leap they can be a surprisingly decent team. Don’t get me wrong, we’re talking about 7-10 or 8-9 instead of 4-13 but that seems so much more satisfying and enjoyable. Probably just a homer trying to have hope against all odds but who knows.

 

I just hope they aren’t unwatchable bad like some of those Fox era teams. Give me something to look forward to each week even if it’s Fields making strides

[David]

Sunday's forecast looks like crap. Hopefully it changes a bit between now and then.

[gflore34]

I honestly can't tell if we're actually promising or if we're really about to bottom out tanking.

 

Part of me wants to believe that Justin Fields is about to become a breakout star and that bringing in lots of fresh bodies for the meat grinder is actually a good thing.

 

Part of me suspects that we're just throwing out random crap because we don't care about this season and want to go hard rebuild, and maybe I shouldn't be so hype about a QB who threw for less than 175 yards/1 TD per start last season.

 

Kind of how I feel too. Despite reading nothing but articles about the Bears being terrible this year, I can still kind of talk myself into thinking that if things go right and coaching is competent and fields takes a leap they can be a surprisingly decent team. Don’t get me wrong, we’re talking about 7-10 or 8-9 instead of 4-13 but that seems so much more satisfying and enjoyable. Probably just a homer trying to have hope against all odds but who knows.

 

I just hope they aren’t unwatchable bad like some of those Fox era teams. Give me something to look forward to each week even if it’s Fields making strides

 

For me the outcome of the game is unimportant, I just want to see Fields light up Niners thereby, giving the national media and other experts a collective middle finger. Of course, it's the Bears so the most probable result is the usual garbage we've come to expect.

[raw]

Quite a trial by fire for the rookie starters this week.

 

Braxton Jones? Here's Nick Bosa all day

Kyler Gordon? Here's Deebo Samuel

Jaquan Brisker? You got Kittle underneath

 

I'm kind of backing off on the "Bears could surprise this game". I think too much is being made about them keeping Jimmy G around. Also, Lance's last preseason performance wasn't great, but it also wasn't terrible. And he had a pretty good couple series in his other preseason game. Lance is probably going to be good, if for no other reason than his head coach and playcaller. The Niners are likely to be very good because they brought back most of a good team from last year and potentially are more mobile and explosive at QB.

 

I'm thinking best case scenario may be similar to last year. Fields plays well, but the Niners just have too much firepower and win by double digits.

[David]

I found this interesting:

 

https://www.sportsmockery.com/chicago-bears/why-matt-eberflus-ryan-poles-finally-gave-the-real-reason/

 

(Yes sports mockery but its not reporting, its taking pieces from an Athletic story: https://theathletic.com/3570776/2022/09/07/ryan-poles-bears-general-manager/)

 

HIS NFL DREAM ENDED AT FINAL CUTS, BUT WHAT RESONATED WITH POLES THEN — AND WHAT STUCK WITH HIM LONG AFTERWARD — IS HOW THE BEARS PRACTICED UNDER THEN-COACH LOVIE SMITH.

 

“THE RELENTLESSNESS, THE FINISH — THERE WOULD BE BALLS THAT WOULD BE TIPPED AND GO TO THE OTHER FIELD AND ALL 11 WOULD BE SPRINTING TO IT, PICKING IT UP AND RUNNING TO THE END ZONE,” POLES SAID. “THERE WAS A PURPOSE. THERE’S A STANDARD FOR HOW THEY PRACTICED.”

 

IT’S HOW POLES, THE BEARS’ FIRST-YEAR GENERAL MANAGER, WANTS HIS TEAM TO LOOK TODAY. IT’S WHAT ATTRACTED HIM TO COACH MATT EBERFLUS, AN EXTENSION OF THE TONY DUNGY/SMITH COACHING TREE THROUGH EBERFLUS’ TIME WITH FORMER DUNGY/SMITH ASSISTANT ROD MARINELLI IN DALLAS.

 

“IT’S NOT EVEN REALLY AN OFFENSE-DEFENSE THING,” POLES SAID. “IT’S REALLY A DEMAND TO DO THINGS THE RIGHT WAY. AND I THINK FROM THERE, YOU CAN BUILD THAT FOUNDATION AND GROW FROM THAT. THAT’S IMPORTANT.”

 

Not sure why its all caps but whatever. So basically he wants to rebuild a Lovie style Bears team with maybe a good QB this time?

 

It took you until now to realize this is what they're doing?

[CubinNY]

I honestly can't tell if we're actually promising or if we're really about to bottom out tanking.

 

Part of me wants to believe that Justin Fields is about to become a breakout star and that bringing in lots of fresh bodies for the meat grinder is actually a good thing.

 

Part of me suspects that we're just throwing out random crap because we don't care about this season and want to go hard rebuild, and maybe I shouldn't be so hype about a QB who threw for less than 175 yards/1 TD per start last season.

 

Kind of how I feel too. Despite reading nothing but articles about the Bears being terrible this year, I can still kind of talk myself into thinking that if things go right and coaching is competent and fields takes a leap they can be a surprisingly decent team. Don’t get me wrong, we’re talking about 7-10 or 8-9 instead of 4-13 but that seems so much more satisfying and enjoyable. Probably just a homer trying to have hope against all odds but who knows.

 

I just hope they aren’t unwatchable bad like some of those Fox era teams. Give me something to look forward to each week even if it’s Fields making strides

 

For me the outcome of the game is unimportant, I just want to see Fields light up Niners thereby, giving the national media and other experts a collective middle finger. Of course, it's the Bears so the most probable result is the usual garbage we've come to expect.

Fields doesn't have the supporting cast and can't do it himself. Everything that's happened to this point suggests that they aren't invested in him being successful.

[gflore34]

 

Kind of how I feel too. Despite reading nothing but articles about the Bears being terrible this year, I can still kind of talk myself into thinking that if things go right and coaching is competent and fields takes a leap they can be a surprisingly decent team. Don’t get me wrong, we’re talking about 7-10 or 8-9 instead of 4-13 but that seems so much more satisfying and enjoyable. Probably just a homer trying to have hope against all odds but who knows.

 

I just hope they aren’t unwatchable bad like some of those Fox era teams. Give me something to look forward to each week even if it’s Fields making strides

 

For me the outcome of the game is unimportant, I just want to see Fields light up Niners thereby, giving the national media and other experts a collective middle finger. Of course, it's the Bears so the most probable result is the usual garbage we've come to expect.

Fields doesn't have the supporting cast and can't do it himself. Everything that's happened to this point suggests that they aren't invested in him being successful.

 

Which brings us back to WTF was Poles hired if not fully invested in Fields' success? Doesn't make sense that Poles would just immediately write him off without at least, seeing what they have to work with. Is that what a smart GM would do? Moreover, I get the sense that many think Poles had the roster flexibility and, or draft picks to make some kind big time moves on offense. Thanks to Pace' ineptitude he didn't, I'm not defending Poles just stating realistically, there's not much he could have done this offseason.

[CubinNY]

 

For me the outcome of the game is unimportant, I just want to see Fields light up Niners thereby, giving the national media and other experts a collective middle finger. Of course, it's the Bears so the most probable result is the usual garbage we've come to expect.

Fields doesn't have the supporting cast and can't do it himself. Everything that's happened to this point suggests that they aren't invested in him being successful.

 

Which brings us back to WTF was Poles hired if not fully invested in Fields' success? Doesn't make sense that Poles would just immediately write him off without at least, seeing what they have to work with. Is that what a smart GM would do?

I agree.