Week 10: Bears vs Giants, noon on FOX

[CubinNY]

3 minutes ago, Derwood said:

Caleb has started 26 games and has thrown just 10 picks

Peyton Manning threw 28 in his rookie year alone
Brees threw 16
 

That's not that much of a flex. The reason is he holds the ball too long and would rather take a sack or scramble a run. Interceptions are obviously bad, but numbers without context mean nothing. 

Edited November 10, 2025 by CubinNY

[Derwood]

2 minutes ago, CubinNY said:

That's not that much of a flex. The reason is he holds the ball too long and would rather take a sack or scramble a run. Interceptions are obviously bad, but numbers without context mean nothing. 

It also means his misses are where no one can get the ball. I'd rather him overthrow a ball to the sideline or past a streaking receiver than underthrow into traffic.

[jersey cubs fan]

1 hour ago, Geographyhater8888 said:

Burden and Loveland are overtaking Kmet and Ozz. Nice to see Bears rookies contribute at this level. 222 yards on 18 targets for Burden and 248 yards on 50 targets for Ozz.

I really had to think hard about who Ozz was. I’m not sure I’d classify it as “taking over” from an afterthought of a signing that never stood a chance to be a featured player. I guess he held down a spot for a few weeks but the 2nd rounder was always going to take center stage 

[Old Style]

16 minutes ago, jersey cubs fan said:

I really had to think hard about who Ozz was. I’m not sure I’d classify it as “taking over” from an afterthought of a signing that never stood a chance to be a featured player. I guess he held down a spot for a few weeks but the 2nd rounder was always going to take center stage 

I still don’t know who Ozz is. Does he mean Trapilo? The guy that plays a different position?

[BigSlick]

OZ - Olamide Zaccheus, who I have to imagine was getting the number of reps he was because he’s a vet, likely could get the scheme down, and is a willing blocker

Unfortunately, the man’s hands are driving me nuts and I want him banished to the quantum zone 

Edited November 10, 2025 by BigSlick

[Geographyhater8888]

23 minutes ago, jersey cubs fan said:

I really had to think hard about who Ozz was. I’m not sure I’d classify it as “taking over” from an afterthought of a signing that never stood a chance to be a featured player. I guess he held down a spot for a few weeks but the 2nd rounder was always going to take center stage 

Right, but it doesn’t always work how it’s drawn up with the Bears which is why it’s nice to see this happen on merit. Olamide Zaccheaus (Oz) had 3 drops yesterday and I hope we see even less of him as Burden continues to develop. The extra Z was unnecessary.

Edited November 10, 2025 by Geographyhater8888

[Geographyhater8888]

9 minutes ago, Old Style said:

I still don’t know who Ozz is. Does he mean Trapilo? The guy that plays a different position?

 Olamide Zaccheaus (OZ). Added an unnecessary extra Z.

[BigSlick]

My main guess is that Burden hadn’t had the scheme down by the beginning of the season and that explains most of the playing time disparity, because, physically, you can see the talent differential 

[jersey cubs fan]

2 minutes ago, BigSlick said:

My main guess is that Burden hadn’t had the scheme down by the beginning of the season and that explains most of the playing time disparity, because, physically, you can see the talent differential 

Yeah, rookie receivers who aren’t top of the first round picks rarely step right into a regular role. Burden seems to be getting a fair introduction to nfl status 

[Bertz]

Looking at this seems more or less that if the Bears want to make the playoffs they need do at least one, maybe both of:

- Get to 10 wins

- Beat the 49ers in week 17

[We Got The Whole 9]

PFF says they set a league season-high with 6 drops yesterday, 3 by Zacheus. 

[Rcal10]

2 hours ago, Derwood said:

There were one or two plays yesterday where he scrambled to his left and there were two receivers crossing to the left (one underneath, one mid-field) and he chose to tuck and run rather than leading either receiver to the sideline

Running to the left and throwing the ball down field is the toughest throw for a right handed QB. If there are yards to be made just running I think that is the better play. I don’t know exactly what plays you are referring to and maybe he could have set a thrown the ball, but more often than not the better play is to just run. 

[The_Achiever]

I love Caleb Williams.  That is all.

[Banedon]

From Bleacher Nation:

Quote

It took Matt Eberflus 27 games to pick up his sixth win. It took Ben Johnson just nine.

 

[UMFan83]

1 hour ago, BigSlick said:

My main guess is that Burden hadn’t had the scheme down by the beginning of the season and that explains most of the playing time disparity, because, physically, you can see the talent differential 

Right, he missed all of rookie minicamp, OTAs and I believe the first week or two of training camp.  That said, it seems like Caleb did develop some chemistry with Zaccheaus over that time so he was going to be given an extended shot.  Unfortunately his career long issues with drops didn't magically get better and Burden is a beast so here we are.

[mul21]

3 minutes ago, UMFan83 said:

Right, he missed all of rookie minicamp, OTAs and I believe the first week or two of training camp.  That said, it seems like Caleb did develop some chemistry with Zaccheaus over that time so he was going to be given an extended shot.  Unfortunately his career long issues with drops didn't magically get better and Burden is a beast so here we are.

The thing that really stands out about Burden to me is how strong he is for his size.  He's listed at 6' 210 and that checks out based on the combine stats but he really runs through tacklers.

[jb10194]

43 minutes ago, Banedon said:

From Bleacher Nation:

 

Ben Johnson got to his 6th win on November 9th of his first year.

Eberflus didn't get to his 6th win until November 9th of his second year.

[Derwood]

Bears comeback gets Daboll fired. Sorry, not sorry

[Soul]

1 hour ago, mul21 said:

The thing that really stands out about Burden to me is how strong he is for his size.  He's listed at 6' 210 and that checks out based on the combine stats but he really runs through tacklers.

Definitely.

[Soul]

The blocking downfield by TEs and WRs is a hugely impactful improvement that cannot be overstated.

[BigSlick]

16 minutes ago, Derwood said:

Bears comeback gets Daboll fired. Sorry, not sorry

There was something very Eberflusian about the Giants effort down the stretch there. That was 100% the type of game the Bears would lose in the Giants situation over the past.... well about 15 years. 

It's very strange to have a team and a coach that doesn't lose that kind of game. Still not used to it. 

[Tim]

8 hours ago, CubinNY said:

That's not that much of a flex. The reason is he holds the ball too long and would rather take a sack or scramble a run. Interceptions are obviously bad, but numbers without context mean nothing. 

How is Bryce doing these days? Still think he's going to be better than Drew Brees?

[UMFan83]

8 hours ago, CubinNY said:

That's not that much of a flex. The reason is he holds the ball too long and would rather take a sack or scramble a run. Interceptions are obviously bad, but numbers without context mean nothing. 

I think you're mixing up Caleb Williams and Justin Fields.  I'm not saying he doesn't still have occasional issues finding the open guy and hitting them accurately and in rhythm, but I really don't think there is a processing issue there like there was with Fields.  He seems to have improved considerably this year at understanding the defense pre-snap, calling out audibles and adjustments.  You can consistently see him go through progressions post-snap as well.  He does break out of the pocket too soon at times, he does try for the big play when sometimes a dump off will do (like the 4th down play that DJ dropped in the end zone.  Incredible throw but it was from like the 30 yard line and 4th and 4), but the reason for his TTT and Fields TTT is completely different IMO.  While you want Caleb to improve better as a pocket passer, I've noticed that a high percentage of the Bears explosive plays (I believe the Bears are still towards the top of the league in explosive plays) are on plays that Caleb scrambles.  I've stopped looking at those as bad things, they are a part of his game and what made him so highly touted.  He needs to find a better balance of when to bail out and when to step up in the pocket but he's still a work in progress.

[Old Style]

I’ll disagree. Caleb has more than just the occasional issue missing wide open receivers (not seeing them as well as missing the pass badly when he does see them) and he absolutely holds the ball too long. Is he better than Fields? Absolutely. But those are still serious issues that need to be corrected ASAP, if possible. 

Edited November 10, 2025 by Old Style

[BigSlick]