Justin Fields’ make or break camp begins

[UMFan83]

Sounds like the starters will play some this weekend. Makes me a little nervous considering at least 3 starters on the o-line will be out and Buffalo is also playing their starters but I guess a good test of depth since I don’t think we know for sure how long Jenkins and Wright will be out. 

[raw]

So, I know a trade and subsequent long-term deal for a RB doesn't seem like a Poles thing. But Poles wouldn't give Roquan the deal he wanted, and Eberflus even stated that off ball LB isn't a premium position....just to have Poles go out in the offseason and add the top off-ball LB on the market, pay another top LB, draft a LB, and bring in now 3 FA LBs in camp to try to find a guy for the bottom of the roster. He also traded a knowingly high 2nd for a WR in the middle of what he knew would be a lost season.

I honestly don't know if we know what kind of GM Poles is at this point. Jonathan Taylor may not be a premium position, but he is a premium player. This isn't Dalvin Cook or Austin Ekeler, pushing or at 30. JT is only 24 and getting a premier player at any position may be worth the risk to Poles as far as we know. I think that's the logic that went into signing Edmunds.

[minnesotacubsfan]

JT would be an amazing get, but how much of a cost when you still have other holes to fill? OL, DL to start. I feel like a 1st is too much

 

 

[We Got The Whole 9]

I wouldn't be surprised if no team is willing to give a 1st and the Bears 2nd is the closest to their wish. 

[jersey cubs fan]

3 hours ago, raw said:

So, I know a trade and subsequent long-term deal for a RB doesn't seem like a Poles thing. But Poles wouldn't give Roquan the deal he wanted, and Eberflus even stated that off ball LB isn't a premium position....just to have Poles go out in the offseason and add the top off-ball LB on the market, pay another top LB, draft a LB, and bring in now 3 FA LBs in camp to try to find a guy for the bottom of the roster. He also traded a knowingly high 2nd for a WR in the middle of what he knew would be a lost season.

I honestly don't know if we know what kind of GM Poles is at this point. Jonathan Taylor may not be a premium position, but he is a premium player. This isn't Dalvin Cook or Austin Ekeler, pushing or at 30. JT is only 24 and getting a premier player at any position may be worth the risk to Poles as far as we know. I think that's the logic that went into signing Edmunds.

Yeah, I really don’t get the “this isn’t a Poles move” sentiment. It probably won’t happen, but not because it’s a thing Poles wouldn’t do.

What is a Poles move?

Last year it was sit on your hands and do nothing. Then trade away defensive veterans for draft picks followed by trading draft picks for offense. This year it was ignore positions of need on the lines in free agency and double down on others. Then load up on tight ends while extending the one you already had. There isn’t really a Poles playbook, except for stressing athleticism and youth, or signing a nearly 40 year old. 

[jumbo]

23 hours ago, PackLandVA said:

Agree with the first sentence. Don’t necessarily agree the last sentence.  
 

Taylor is in the last year of his rookie deal. It doesn’t appear that Indy is seeking to trade him.  So it’s safe to assume they prefer to keep him. At a minimum, JT would be franchised the next two season which WILL pay him like a top 5 RB in the league. JT understandably wants the assurances before the season starts.

I get why Indy is hesitant to jump right into an extension given JT’s injury history last season ultimately ending in off season ankle surgery. JT may not like it but those are the rules.

Taylor will be really pissed when he gets franchised next offseason. He'll have to call Saquan to get tips on coping

[jumbo]

4 minutes ago, jersey cubs fan said:

Yeah, I really don’t get the “this isn’t a Poles move” sentiment. It probably won’t happen, but not because it’s a thing Poles wouldn’t do.

What is a Poles move?

Last year it was sit on your hands and do nothing. Then trade away defensive veterans for draft picks followed by trading draft picks for offense. This year it was ignore positions of need on the lines in free agency and double down on others. Then load up on tight ends while extending the one you already had. There isn’t really a Poles playbook, except for stressing athleticism and youth, or signing a nearly 40 year old. 

My take on Poles' words so far is that he wants to build for the long term through the draft. Pretty common GM speak, but that doesn't match up to trading for a RB in a contract year. I think this is the argument behind the "Poles move" comments. 

Your take on what he's actually done is irrefutable. He took a lot of OL/DL this past offseason, but none before that. They've focused on LB and RB in FA, but also targeted more critical positions like WR/CB.

He's all over the place, but I think that's the messy reality. Just get talent, wherever it's available. Ideally the right players reach FA/draft so you can grab them, but it doesn't work out for lots of reasons.  

[jersey cubs fan]

2 minutes ago, jumbo said:

My take on Poles' words so far is that he wants to build for the long term through the draft. Pretty common GM speak, but that doesn't match up to trading for a RB in a contract year. I think this is the argument behind the "Poles move" comments. 

But he literally traded away a 2nd round pick that everybody knew would be very high, in a year he was tanking (successfully at the time) for a WR 1.5 years from free agency. 

[UMFan83]

56 minutes ago, jersey cubs fan said:

But he literally traded away a 2nd round pick that everybody knew would be very high, in a year he was tanking (successfully at the time) for a WR 1.5 years from free agency. 

Yeah that was honestly bizarre and it does throw off perceptions of how Poles operates a bit.  He also could have likely gotten a 3rd 1st round pick in the trade for 1.01 but went for an established player in DJ Moore (which I'm not saying was the wrong move at all, just goes a bit against a hyperfocus of building through the draft).  Yeah I dunno I guess I retract my original statement but I still believe its unlikely the Bears trade for JT.

Edited August 25, 2023 by UMFan83

[Derwood]

ESPN lists Fields as 6'3", 228 lbs. If he's 13 pounds heavier than Donald Trump, we're going to have YUGE problems

[minnesotacubsfan]

27 minutes ago, Derwood said:

ESPN lists Fields as 6'3", 228 lbs. If he's 13 pounds heavier than Donald Trump, we're going to have YUGE problems

nah, its just muscle vs hot air

 

 

[David]

 

now this i can get behind

 

[UMFan83]

31 minutes ago, David said:

 

now this i can get behind

 

Yeah I've seen rumors that there is a framework worked out for a trade w the Bears if the Chiefs cant work out an extension with him but didn't post it because the sources were sketchy, But obviously DeFalco has quite a bit more legitimate.

Of course this is a rando that is saying that DeFalco said something

Edited August 25, 2023 by UMFan83

[UK]

Acquiring Jones would put them in playoff contention. I just can't imagine that it would be anywhere near the Mack compensation and would likely require a sign and trade to make the deal happen especially if he wants 30 mil per.

[UMFan83]

Fields not a great 3 and out opening drive. Now the Bills are driving the ball down the field. Glad it’s still preseason!

[Tryptamine]

Yeah, that was a less than ideal opening drive on both sides if the ball

[Tryptamine]

Another 3 and out.

[UMFan83]

2 drives, 2 yards, 0-3 passing. Fields 3 yards rushing is the entire offense so far 

Edited August 26, 2023 by UMFan83

[Tryptamine]

I think 2 of the 3 passes were catchable balls, but they wouldn't have really mattered anyway

[UMFan83]

Nice work Stevenson. Finally the Bears starting D gets a stop/turnover, albeit against the backup QB

Edited August 26, 2023 by UMFan83

[UMFan83]

Ok this has gotten more fun

[UMFan83]

 

[Tryptamine]

6 minutes ago, UMFan83 said:

 

No need when you weren't going to make the roster

[Tryptamine]

6 minutes ago, UMFan83 said:

 

No need when you weren't going to make the roster

[Tryptamine]

Double