2025 Bears Offseason Thread

[gflore34]

1 hour ago, We Got The Whole 9 said:

It sounds like Caleb still has horrible ball placement. Understanding the playbook and all of the different ins and outs of the offense, obviously that's going to take time. But I hate hearing that he's still sailing passes, not even close on a wheel route. Johnson and Co. have their work cut out for them. 

 

 

Don't believe ball placement was a problem in college, I think it'll get better.

[musclemom]

The true season...waiting for it to start///

[CubinNY]

I think the Bears have finally found their coach. I'm not sure if they've found their quarterback yet. Hopefully, Williams is open to learning to improve and doesn't think he's a finished product. 

[Brian707]

3 hours ago, CubinNY said:

I'm not sure if they've found their quarterback yet. 

 

[Outshined_One]

7 hours ago, Brian707 said:

 

Just let him be. He was a grumpy gus in 2016 and he eventually came around.

[BigbadB]

19 hours ago, CubinNY said:

 Hopefully, Williams is open to learning to improve and doesn't think he's a finished product. 

Based on what I'm hearing from camp reports this just isn't an option. Ben Johnson is all about teaching and drilling home his teachings, and not patting a guy on the back/saying nice job if he fails to execute. All of the players are saying there is a tremendous and noticeable difference between Eberflus and Johnson's coaching styles. 

Hell, Eberflus just didn't have the foot to the throat mentality that is needed to win at the highest level of sports. How many games did he let slip away that could have been won? Johnson already seems like a guy with his foot on your throat and he's kicking you in the balls with his other foot.

[gflore34]

On 6/7/2025 at 6:43 AM, BigbadB said:

Based on what I'm hearing from camp reports this just isn't an option. Ben Johnson is all about teaching and drilling home his teachings, and not patting a guy on the back/saying nice job if he fails to execute. All of the players are saying there is a tremendous and noticeable difference between Eberflus and Johnson's coaching styles. 

Hell, Eberflus just didn't have the foot to the throat mentality that is needed to win at the highest level of sports. How many games did he let slip away that could have been won? Johnson already seems like a guy with his foot on your throat and he's kicking you in the balls with his other foot.

Typically, being a nice and not holding people accountable doesn't work, in almost any endeavor, most especially sports.  You play like you practice, if you goof around and horsefeathers up in practice that's going to carry over into play.  We've seen many this times with Bears under Eberflus.  You can still be a nice guy before and after practice, before and after the game, hell, you can probably be nice during practice or a game.  It's the lack taking responsibility and holding you players accountable, that's the real killer.

[minnesotacubsfan]

On 6/6/2025 at 8:32 AM, CubinNY said:

I think the Bears have finally found their coach. I'm not sure if they've found their quarterback yet. Hopefully, Williams is open to learning to improve and doesn't think he's a finished product. 

He did 3600 26td/6int with invalids for coaches

 

hell be fine

 

 

*shooting from the hip on those numbers, but they were in that neighborhood

 

 

[Derwood]

Chubb expected to sign with Texans

[gflore34]

13 hours ago, minnesotacubsfan said:

He did 3600 26td/6int with invalids for coaches

 

hell be fine

 

 

*shooting from the hip on those numbers, but they were in that neighborhood

 

 

Given what we've learned of the gross incompetence surrounding Caleb, I don't think people grasp just how much Caleb was able to accomplish.  Sure, there's plenty of negatives to site, there's also plenty on the positive side.  I really don't believe any of the QB's in Caleb' class would have been able to put up the same numbers in the same conditions.  I think Ben Johnson saw this and realizes Caleb is special, has better tools than Goff, and, knows he can bring Caleb to the next level.  Caleb is going to cook this season and he's going to out produce all of Daniels, Maye, Nix and Penix, showing everyone why he is the number one pick.

[UMFan83]

17 hours ago, minnesotacubsfan said:

He did 3600 26td/6int with invalids for coaches

 

hell be fine

 

 

*shooting from the hip on those numbers, but they were in that neighborhood

 

 

Ahh I’m gonna sound like a dick here so I’ll just say upfront that I still fully believe in Caleb and can’t wait to see him make the leap under Ben Johnson. 

But the whole 3600/20/6 thing sounds nice on the surface but in reality he finished 28th in QBR, 30th in PAA, 28th in RAW (explanation on stats at bottom of link), 28th in YPA, 27th in completion % and had 19 turnover worthy plays (71st in NFL, guessing this includes all skill positions). 

A lot wasn’t his fault, bad coaching, bad line, conservative play calling (Being made into a WR screen pass merchant killed his numbers but also probably prevented some turnovers). Some of it was his fault and you’d expect it to improve in year 2.  There are also some very encouraging things we saw from him, particularly in 2 minute drills when he could just play freely and balled out. So ultimately I don’t think we should be greatly concerned or anything but I don’t like the characterization that Caleb low key had a good season. He had a decent season with some red flags and a lot of caveats IMO. 

[gflore34]

15 minutes ago, UMFan83 said:

Ahh I’m gonna sound like a dick here so I’ll just say upfront that I still fully believe in Caleb and can’t wait to see him make the leap under Ben Johnson. 

But the whole 3600/20/6 thing sounds nice on the surface but in reality he finished 28th in QBR, 30th in PAA, 28th in RAW (explanation on stats at bottom of link), 28th in YPA, 27th in completion % and had 19 turnover worthy plays (71st in NFL, guessing this includes all skill positions). 

A lot wasn’t his fault, bad coaching, bad line, conservative play calling (Being made into a WR screen pass merchant killed his numbers but also probably prevented some turnovers). Some of it was his fault and you’d expect it to improve in year 2.  There are also some very encouraging things we saw from him, particularly in 2 minute drills when he could just play freely and balled out. So ultimately I don’t think we should be greatly concerned or anything but I don’t like the characterization that Caleb low key had a good season. He had a decent season with some red flags and a lot of caveats IMO. 

I was getting at that is probably near the best he could have done in a, lets face it, toxic environment.  No way in the world does Justin or Mitch even comes close to those numbers in the same environment.  Caleb' numbers, as you state, were bad enough but, could have been far worse.

[We Got The Whole 9]

It's so on-brand that Loveland and Burden are basically gonna be starting from scratch, having missed all of camp with bs injuries and still quibbling over guarantees in the contract. The draft does not seem like one that will provide immediate impact. Maybe Trapilo. Poles better hope so. Right now it looks like a terrible draft.

Edited June 25, 2025 by We Got The Whole 9

[MidoreX]

Poles got an extension for the next 5 years, per ESPN

[NorthsideAvenger]

34 minutes ago, MidoreX said:

Poles got an extension for the next 5 years, per ESPN

He is.now in line with Johnson. If Johnson fails both are gone at the same time.

[jersey cubs fan]

2 hours ago, MidoreX said:

Poles got an extension for the next 5 years, per ESPN

Don’t believe the extension is for 5, just that he’s tied to bears for next 5, which is probably a 3-4 year extension. He certainly doesn’t “deserve” it but he’s lined up with Johnson so whatever happens happens 

[Soul]

On 6/25/2025 at 5:46 PM, We Got The Whole 9 said:

It's so on-brand that Loveland and Burden are basically gonna be starting from scratch, having missed all of camp with bs injuries and still quibbling over guarantees in the contract. The draft does not seem like one that will provide immediate impact. Maybe Trapilo. Poles better hope so. Right now it looks like a terrible draft.

Loveland had a very significant injury that everyone knew was going to keep him from hitting the ground running.  Bears selected him anyway, over a more highly-regarded prospect.

I’ve seen this movie and its crappy sequels before.  Definitely on brand.  I really hope Loveland turns out to be great but I’ve got major Bears PTSD over him.

[BigSlick]

God I can't wait for the season to start. The wait between NFL seasons is absolutely the most mind-numbing of any major sport. Made all the worse by the change of coaching staff and anxiously anticipating Caleb's progression. 

[Rcal10]

On 6/8/2025 at 6:19 PM, minnesotacubsfan said:

He did 3600 26td/6int with invalids for coaches

 

hell be fine

 

 

*shooting from the hip on those numbers, but they were in that neighborhood

 

 

He threw 20 td passes. I wouldn’t consider 26 “in the neighborhood”. But I think he will be fine.

[We Got The Whole 9]

Bears signed their 2nd round picks. 

 

Burden becomes the first 39th overall pick to get a fully guaranteed deal. Good for him.

[Derwood]

ESPN.com article today has the Bears with the 15th best roster in the NFL, behind such vaunted teams as the Bucs and Texans

[jersey cubs fan]

11 minutes ago, Derwood said:

ESPN.com article today has the Bears with the 15th best roster in the NFL, behind such vaunted teams as the Bucs and Texans

Uh, yeah. Those are two returning 10 win back to back division champs.

Chicago has averaged 5 wins per season for three years running and added exactly nobody this offseason. Their entire hopes rest on a new head coach/play caller and a second year qb ascending into his expected/hoped for ability. 

[jersey cubs fan]

Chicago doesn’t have a pass rush 

 

their defense is reliant on the secondary as the only standout area 

 

the roster is definitely average. If Caleb takes a leap they can win more than they lose but they aren’t going to Eagles anybody. 

[Derwood]

2 minutes ago, jersey cubs fan said:

Uh, yeah. Those are two returning 10 win back to back division champs.

Chicago has averaged 5 wins per season for three years running and added exactly nobody this offseason. Their entire hopes rest on a new head coach/play caller and a second year qb ascending into his expected/hoped for ability. 

Added exactly nobody, huh?

[Brian707]

18 minutes ago, Derwood said:

ESPN.com article today has the Bears with the 15th best roster in the NFL, behind such vaunted teams as the Bucs and Texans

I thought they would be around 20ish