gflore34

There's no such thing as "irrational" pessimism when it comes to the Cubs. Really don't trust Jed and the GM to get the best possible value.

Eh, if we're talking 6th to 10th we're still pretty far from replacement level too. More like 20th to 40th. The only real depth they added was day 3 rookies who rarely out produce replacement level vets. Yeah, I've had so many discussions this offseason that "Jason Peters was a shadow of his former self and James Daniels wasn't that good". Well, yeah, but now you got guys who you don't even know can play that well and all of them are about the same age or even older than Daniels was last year. Same with Robinson, sure he was bad. But Byron Pringle is coming off his only year producing more than Robinson and it's nowhere near most of ARob's career. Different does not equal better. My guess is their counting on an offense tailored to what Fields does well as the difference maker? Because their actions on the player acquisition side have spoken to them not being on board with Fields development is our number one priority. They couldn't even bring themselves to draft the best WR available in Brisker' slot instead, waiting and drafting a long shot in Jones. What I don't get is why Poles was hired or, even considered, without being 100% committed to doing everything he can to help Fields improve.

Definitely, they may struggle a little coming out the gate however, towards the end of the season I could see them being very good with a real chance to finally make it past the first weekend of the tournament.

From a competitive standpoint Boston - Golden State should be a better match up than Miami - Golden State would have been, could see it being an entertaining 7 game series.

I was thinking about who Siemian had on offense, did not take the time to look nevertheless, I do not think its beyond the realm of possibilities that Fields will improve. At the very least this coaching staff will make a better attempt at putting him in a position to succeed, this alone should make a positive difference. I am assuming Fields does improve, but improving on his rookie year doesn't necessarily translate to more than a handful of wins this season. If he eclipses 3,000 yards with 60% completion percentage and throws as many TDs as INTs while fumbling only 10 times with this supporting cast he will have shown marked improvement from last year and this team will still suck. I'll take the marked improvement, at this point it's all that matters, wins and losses are not that important now. Development of younger players and Fields should be the priorities.

The lack of playmakers on defense and lack of even decent players on offense does keep the #1 pick on the table. I bet it won't happen. But I'd be shocked if they are drafting outside the top ten in 2023. And they are absolutely going to run run run manage the clock and hope to generate TOs. The only part of the offense that is remotely above average is the running back room. They have a little bit of depth and diversity there. They have one receiver who can easily be double teamed and shutdown with no other threats. Siemian had Demaryius Thomas and Emmanuel Sanders, both coming off multiple 1,000 yard receiving seasons when he put up those numbers for a defending super bowl championship team. Fields is in the first year of a new system with a horrible supporting cast. It's not the same situation. I was thinking about who Siemian had on offense, did not take the time to look nevertheless, I do not think its beyond the realm of possibilities that Fields will improve. At the very least this coaching staff will make a better attempt at putting him in a position to succeed, this alone should make a positive difference.

I think that's more or less the plan for 2021. Not that they won't try and develop Fields progressions and stuff, but I think they'll lean on a run game and hope to end up in positions where they're just playing from behind and have to throw. Wouldn't the video apply to both the year reference and the style of football?

You can probably count on one hand the number of 1st round draft pick QBs who've been abandoned by a new regime. I think there's a 3rd option in there. They have some level of faith in Fields but not enough to carry this team in 2022, which is what they'd need to contend this year. They aren't giving him weapons because if they did he'd be expected to use them? So they are going into 2022 with the hopes of being a run first, second and third team, maybe throwing 18 times a game just to mix things up. Load up on young depth on the offensive line, pound the ball, create an identity on offense while not actually scoring points, let the defense keep you in the game and maybe you win a couple unexpectedly. There are enough bad teams on this schedule that they can beat a few just with competence and turnovers, and then you load up in the 2023 draft with all the talent you can give Fields to open it up. If Fields stumbles in 2023, you draft your QB in 2024 and hope that guys shows enough in his 2nd year to net everybody a contract extension. Or if Fields survives this gauntlet you get that contract extension even sooner. Because by then you should have the surrounding cast to help a young QB. The other issue though is I don't see how this defense can be anywhere close to dominant enough to keep this team in games this year. I think there's plenty of faith in Fields. But Poles isn't willing to stake his career on his faith that Fields is the guy. If Poles had put all his eggs in on the "Fields is the man" basket and Fields isn't the man, then he's on the hot seat. If he had gone out and gotten involved in all these big WR trades and signed a couple linemen, that'd be a waste of money if Fields isn't the QB they expect him to be. I wanted Armstead once I saw how the OL market went, but if Fields isn't the guy, Armstead would have been too expensive for a team with no QB. He'd also be too old by the time they find a new QB. If they had traded for Amari Cooper or AJ Brown or Tyreke Hill or something, you'd be paying 20Mil+ for a WR with nobody to throw them the ball. And most of all, you'd create expectations. Expectations for the team, for Fields, and most of all for Poles. If you fail to meet expectations, the GM is on the hot seat. And if Fields fails with a ton of resources spent to help him, then the Poles would be looked at as the guy who didn't hire a coach to develop Fields. Nobody would care that Pace is the one that drafted a bust. The way Poles has played it, he's hedging his bets. Like, I believe my wife is forever faithful, but I wouldn't put her in a room with a naked Jason Momoa. He can believe Fields is great, but he shouldn't necessarily bet his future as a GM on a guy he didn't draft. This gives Poles and company 2022 to evaluate Fields, in person. If he is not the guy, then they probably have another similar offseason this time next year, because they are stuck with Fields for for at least 1 more after this one. But if he is the guy, now you have a full allotment of draft picks, potentially a lot of young pieces on defense (Smith, Johnson, Gordon, Gipson, Brisker all 26 or under), and a bunch of cap room in 2023. They are definitely tanking 2022 for the most part. But I don't think they will be as run heavy as you think. I think they will throw plenty. But they will definitely try to get the ball out of Fields' hands quicker and to playmakers. Rodgers has thrown the ball quicker and shorter in the last 2 seasons (under Getsy) than he ever had in his career. And the results were back-to-back MVPs. Obviously, Fields isn't putting up those level numbers, but I do think they will throw short a bunch. And it's something Fields needs to work on so he's not holding onto the ball as long as he's used to and not taking as many hits as he did last year. It allows you to take advantage of his deep ball prowess if the defense also has to respect the short game. And if executed properly, I think this team can perform much better than a tanking season would indicate. Well, ESPN' FPI has them getting the number one pick, citing the Mack, Hicks and Robinson departures. Which doesn't make much sense, since all of those players were basically MIA non-factors last season. I believe we'll see, compared to last season, a big jump from Fields, every QB in an offensive scheme that Getsy' going to run has improved on his previous season. Even Trevor Siemian managed an 8-6 record with 3000+ yards, 18 TDs and 10 INTs under the same offense, I think its safe to say Fields has more than Siemian. An improvement from Fields should translate into more points thereby, giving the Bears a chance to win enough games to stay away from the #1 pick. May still end up in the top 10 but, not lose enough to garner the first pick. Just please no more of the meathead run, run, run manage the clock and hope to generate some TO's BS.

It's probably a bit irrational on my part however, Miami just might be one of the weakest number one seeds I've ever seen. Nothing impressive about them, I don't get it, I must be missing something.

That sounds reasonable, don't think there's any intent however, in a playoff series I could see their opponents really getting aggravated and tired of it. Another thing about Giannis why in the hell does he keep shooting 3's? If he was a Bull that would drive me nuts, his 3 attempts are basically a TO. Part of that is that you have to be willing to shoot it from the outside once in a while if you want people to go for ball fakes so that you can drive past them. If you never shoot from the outside, it makes defending you easier. He does shoot, mid range, that I could live with it, maybe, it's he shoots too many three's, he's a career 29% 3-pt shooter so, its safe to say he's not very good from the beyond the arc. Nevertheless, he is amazing and fun to watch, heard Boston fans yelling - "..Giannis it's not football.." - last night, thought that was funny.

He is freakishly long, is my best explanation. And you can tell it's been drilled in his head to keep the ball high in traffic so smaller guys don't steal the ball. So, the contact I do believe is incidental, but for sure it happens a bunch. That sounds reasonable, don't think there's any intent however, in a playoff series I could see their opponents really getting aggravated and tired of it. Another thing about Giannis why in the hell does he keep shooting 3's? If he was a Bull that would drive me nuts, his 3 attempts are basically a TO.

The Celtics managed to do what the Bulls couldn't - make Giannis beat them. For the most part, they shutdown the Bucks supporting players and let Giannis get his, he's great and all but, there's no way he wins 5 on 1. Series, were it not for a miraculous 4th quarter, should been done in 6 games. Questions- Is just me or does Giannis, via "incidental" contact, hit defenders in the face quite a bit? Perhaps, more, than usually occurs over the course of a game and series?

Did you really think the Bulls were flopping? Maybe I'm a homer or blind to my team but I sure didn't see much of any flopping by the Bulls in that series. Giannis just flat out runs over defenders because he usually gets away with it. Flopping might not be accurate, just appeared to me they had the mindset of trying to get a call rather than punishing him right back. I didn't see the Bulls pound on him like the Celtics thus far have.

Like the Celtics approach, instead of flopping trying to draw a charge call on Giannis, they're absorbing the contact and giving it right back to him along with not letting the Bucks supporting cast beat them. Don't know if it'll lead to a series victory but, its sure as horsefeathers a superior approach to that of the Bulls.

First thing that came to my mind as well, its uncanny at first glance.

The Illini, to my surprise, ended up signing Skyy Clark along with getting a commitment from his little brother Zachariah "ZZ" Clark, can't remember the last time a recruit such as Skyy Clark has followed through with Illini. Followed through with the Illini staff supposedly having the inside track but, there it is. Illini also got a portal commitment from Terrance Shannon Jr., really like the chances of them finally getting to the second weekend in the near future. Athletic team, RJ, TSJ, Skyy, Hawkins, with a bunch of slashers who can get to the hoop and a sharp shooter in Goode, plays much better in the tournament.

Again, then why would the McCaskey' hire Poles if that was the case? Just doesn't make sense they'd go with someone who's priority was something other than putting Fields in the best possible situation to succeed.

I was disappointed with the pick of Jones, fast sure but, he only managed one good season with all that speed, coupled with everything I read suggesting, if the stars align, his ceiling is a kick returner. Would Brisker would have been there at 71? Possibly. Should have gone with Pickens at 49 and, taken your chances at 71 with Brisker or the like being available. Apparently, Poles and Fields personally scouted Jones and Fields came away really liking him so, guess, we'll see if he amounts to anything beyond a special teamer.

And of course, the horsefeathering Packers take Watson but, hey, the Bears got Getsy burrrrrn.

3-technique DT. You're right.

Let's see who the best available edge rusher the Bears draft at 71, I'm calling it now.

Beginning to wonder about that as well, I can understand the pick at 39 but, not going offense with the latest pick is pretty disappointing. This defense, defense, defense nonsense is really tiresome.

Plus no more Coby White, he'll have that occasional hot game but, for the most part, he's worthless. Can we package him with Vooch to get some new basketballs and a few gallons of Gatorade? Works for me.

Plus no more Coby White, he'll have that occasional hot game but, for the most part, he's worthless.

This team can't shoot period. Milwaukee' not really playing any defense to speak of.