Chicago Bears preseason

[jersey cubs fan]

As expected Williams and other starters won’t play HOF game 

[CubinNY]

Before anything happens - What will a successful season look like for the Bears? I'm interested in what people think. 

[Brian707]

Just now, CubinNY said:

Before anything happens - What will a successful season look like for the Bears? I'm interested in what people think. 

10-7 a playoff birth. Williams and Odunze put up solid numbers.

[CubinNY]

Next question, when did a defensive end become an "edge"

[David]

4 minutes ago, CubinNY said:

Next question, when did a defensive end become an "edge"

Think it's because those same guys are either DEs or OLBs depending on the system.

[jb10194]

9 minutes ago, CubinNY said:

Next question, when did a defensive end become an "edge"

I believe Khalil Mack is a reason why it is used for All-Pro. In 2015 he was both an All-Pro defensive end and linebacker. Afterwards they switched to edge rusher and interior lineman.

Edited July 30, 2024 by jb10194

[UMFan83]

Record wise, I'd be happy with a winning season, 9-8

If they don't have a winning record, I'd consider it successful if at the very least they walk away from the season with clear knowledge that Caleb Williams is our long term QB.  I know it seems unlikely that Williams proves he's the guy and the Bears have a losing record but I could see it happening...we do still have the same coach that inexplicably blew all those games last year.

It seems like the daily reports out of camp are that the defense is "winning" every day and but also plenty of "wow" moments from the offense which I think is what I expect with a new offense led by a rookie QB and several other new pieces going against a defense with a lot more stability.  Looking forward to seeing the offense make strides as the preseason progresses and eventually flipping the script on occasion.

[We Got The Whole 9]

Moore extended 4/110/82 

 

Fair deal. Not sure it was necessary yet. He might have been barking behind the scenes, maybe?

[jersey cubs fan]

Just now, We Got The Whole 9 said:

Moore extended 4/110/82 

 

Fair deal. Not sure it was necessary yet. He might have been barking behind the scenes, maybe?

Brad Biggs covered this eerily similarly to how the Blackhawks beat writers covered their extensions. He was blatantly underpaid and a good sport about it, well deserved. 

[WrigleyField 22]

34 minutes ago, We Got The Whole 9 said:

Moore extended 4/110/82 

 

Fair deal. Not sure it was necessary yet. He might have been barking behind the scenes, maybe?

27.5 isn't bad per se... That's like #7 WR now and in two year when that money kicks in it's prob borderline top 10.

 

The bad news is that its his age 29-32 seasons.  Thats old.

 

I'd have rather just straight up renogotiated his 2 years remaining or tack on one extra year at a slightly higher pay then evaluate again in 20276 or 27. Even if you charitable say that part of the extension is to "right size" his current contract, I don't get going 4 new years.

[WrigleyField 22]

There's also this weird factor where DJ Moore looks underpaid partially because Carolina ate a huge signing bonus and dead caps.  If Moore had signed that deal with Bears and they were carrying his dead cap hits a lot less people would probably look at him as underpaid, even though the cash is the same.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

5 hours ago, CubinNY said:

Before anything happens - What will a successful season look like for the Bears? I'm interested in what people think. 

Everyon happy with Caleb Williams is all I ask. Good enough to keep his future median projection where it is now.

For wins and losses, there's *so* much volatility, very few outcomes would surprise me.   We've got a complete unknown at the most important position in sports.  QBs have come in and had big seasons relatively more often in recent years, but it's still the exception rather than the rule.

Besides Williams, all those draft picks we've used in the last few years are about to hit their 2nd/3rd year make-or-break seasons.   DBs, DL, RT are all full of guys who are the right age and pedigree to have solid or better seasons but haven't proven they can do it yet and could easily suck out loud too.   And got help our interior line yet again.

 

[UMFan83]

Wonder if this affects any potential extension for Allen. Feels like he is probably a one and done and I’m ok with that given his age. 

Also I have no idea if this makes sense but I was thinking the other day about how many of the elite teams in football actually carry 3 elite WRs on the roster (assuming Rome becomes elite). Obviously for many teams it’s not feasible because a big chunk of their cap is tied up on the QB. So you see things like the Chiefs getting rid of Tyreek Hill and Bills trading Diggs. Rodgers always bitched about lack of weapons but did just fine with Adams and scraps. Brady had that one monster season with Moss but in general lacked elite WR1s. 
 

It’s great that for Caleb’s rookie season he has 3 potential WR1s on the roster.  It will really help him get him acclimated to the NFL, especially with an extremely QB friendly WR/safety blanket in Allen. But if Caleb progresses like we hope, maybe we try to entice him with a 1-2 year extension. But if the excess cap room we have from Caleb’s rookie contract can better be used at a different position group, then I am on board with not bringing him back because if Caleb really does become an upper echelon QB, the need for numerous elite WRs is lessened greatly. 

[Hairyducked Idiot]

I'm generally skeptic of contract extensions in football.  Moore's was unnecessary and not great, but I've seen worse.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

I don't have any interest in extending Allen.  32 is "Wile E Coyote running on air until he looks down" age for WR in the modern NFL.  One year at a time is fine.

[Tryptamine]

22 minutes ago, Hairyducked Idiot said:

I don't have any interest in extending Allen.  32 is "Wile E Coyote running on air until he looks down" age for WR in the modern NFL.  One year at a time is fine.

Pretty much this. If he's willing to go year to year then I'd love to have him. I might even consider in him a 2 year deal depending on how he looks this year, but beyond that, absolutely not.

[Wilson A2000]

1 hour ago, Hairyducked Idiot said:

I don't have any interest in extending Allen.  32 is "Wile E Coyote running on air until he looks down" age for WR in the modern NFL.  One year at a time is fine.

Probably, but I want to see how Odunze plsys first

[David]

I'm not gonna put a number to it (mostly because every time I go through the schedule, I end up with what feels like an absurdly high number), but I think this team is better than most people realize.  I think a top 10 defense and a top 15 offense is likely, with the upside of a top 5ish defense and a top 10ish offense.  Those combinations make for very good teams.

The most likely path to downside seems like it's the OL being abysmal.  Fingers crossed that it's adequate, because I think that's all it needs to be.  The other wild card would be having a tough luck run in that late season gauntlet of divisional games.  The inverse is also true, though (run hot and get into a great position).

If Caleb is THAT dude (the type to have a big rookie year - stroud, herbert, prescott, etc. type - something that should be realistic for a prospect of his caliber) and they steer clear of bad injury luck, I have a hard time putting a ceiling on what this team can do, given what is around him.

[NorthsideAvenger]

I am pleased with the extension. 

[NorthsideAvenger]

9 hours ago, We Got The Whole 9 said:

Moore extended 4/110/82 

 

Fair deal. Not sure it was necessary yet. He might have been barking behind the scenes, maybe?

Maybe, maybe not but when you do things like this (like extended Moore before you have to) it makes players happy. The Bears clearly like the player and wants him here long-term. 

[BigbadB]

I have no qualms with extending DJ. He's deserving of what he got. Poles thinks he can make that contract fit with his roster going forward, so I'm super cool with seeing him here for the next several years along side Odunze. Allen has been missing enough games each season that he's a risk to extend. He's also not worth the $25m per year, at his age and the games he isn't playing, that he is likely expecting since he's making what, $23m this year? With all of the other playmakers on this roster, Allen likely won't have gaudy enough numbers to warrant that big contract anyway.

Maybe Tyler Scott becomes a serviceable #3 WR or they find a good one in the draft. Scott might be better than what we've seen given Fields' inadequacies as a starting QB. I think the same thing about the OLine. How good might they be with a QB willing to get rid of the ball or hit targets sooner. The going backwards/fumble guy made it hard for the OLine to look good the last few years.

[jumbo]

1 hour ago, BigbadB said:

I have no qualms with extending DJ. He's deserving of what he got. Poles thinks he can make that contract fit with his roster going forward, so I'm super cool with seeing him here for the next several years along side Odunze. Allen has been missing enough games each season that he's a risk to extend. He's also not worth the $25m per year, at his age and the games he isn't playing, that he is likely expecting since he's making what, $23m this year? With all of the other playmakers on this roster, Allen likely won't have gaudy enough numbers to warrant that big contract anyway.

Maybe Tyler Scott becomes a serviceable #3 WR or they find a good one in the draft. Scott might be better than what we've seen given Fields' inadequacies as a starting QB. I think the same thing about the OLine. How good might they be with a QB willing to get rid of the ball or hit targets sooner. The going backwards/fumble guy made it hard for the OLine to look good the last few years.

Pretty much all this.

I'll bet a bunch of Moore's money is hitting this years' cap, with two more years capturing almost all the guarantees. 

Allen year to year is the only way. 

If Allen is gone next year and Scott can be a legit speed threat a Moore-Rome-_____ trio looks pretty good. 

[gflore34]

With the upgrade at QB would not be surprising if one of Scott or Jones Jr. emerges or appears to be competent.  Think we're seeing some of Williams positive effective with Scott already, don't believe he was ever much of presence during last season' training camp, this year he's much more of a factor in camp.

[Tryptamine]

3 hours ago, jumbo said:

Pretty much all this.

I'll bet a bunch of Moore's money is hitting this years' cap, with two more years capturing almost all the guarantees. 

Allen year to year is the only way. 

If Allen is gone next year and Scott can be a legit speed threat a Moore-Rome-_____ trio looks pretty good. 

From what I've been reading, Scott looks capable in practices so far, but the one who has shined the most of all the rookies has been Odunze.

[jersey cubs fan]

13 hours ago, Hairyducked Idiot said:

I'm generally skeptic of contract extensions in football.  Moore's was unnecessary and not great, but I've seen worse.

Good teams sign good players to extensions all the time. You can’t win without keeping your best players for more than a couple years. 
 

and while it was theoretically “unnecessary” because he had two years remaining, that ignores the reality of the situation. You are basically daring him to become a problem next offseason. This team has cap space now. Sign him now to a reasonable number or wait a year and give him more. Both sides had some leverage to not get screwed over.