raw

Yeah, Carolina's schedule opens up a bit after last week's bye. They only have 3 games left vs. teams that currently have a winning record. One the 4-3 Falcons. One Week 16 vs a Jags team that may have sewn up that division by then. I'd feel a lot better about the Bears chances to get that #1 pick if Carolina loses this week to the 3-3 Texans and Arizona somehow beats the Ravens giving every team a 2-game cushion over the Panthers.

I don't think any of the examples named are really good examples of what Fields would be trying to do on a 2nd team. Favre- 1 year, 0 starts for Atlanta Harbaugh- was a 7 year vet with 65 starts by the time he went to Indianapolis Steve Young- had 19 starts in Tampa, but then sat for 4 years in SF Orton- had 33 starts as a Bear, he wasn't very good, but did win 21 of those starts. He lost 21 of his 33 Denver starts Flutie- only 1 Bears start, 13 in a couple years in NE, then a 9 year break between starts in his prime Smith- 75 starts in SF, 76 in KC. I thought of guys like Hasselbeck (didn't flame out in GB), Geno Smith (sat on bench, then broke out 8 years later), and Sam Bradford (never really all that good) Brees is an interesting comparison, but he turned the corner in Year 4 still in San Diego. And the shoulder was a big reason he was let go. The equivalent would be the Bears taking Caleb (then trading him to the team that takes Drake Maye), sitting the rookie, while keeping Fields next year when he finally breaks out.

So, this seems to suggest that Fields is not only really good at the quick game, but the best EPA in the league. Just doesn't do it nearly enough. https://x.com/throwthedamball/status/1716994256017977452?s=20

That may just be Bagent's game. Like Kyle said, he did try to go downfield vs. Minnesota and it was wildly unsuccessful for the most part. So unsuccessful that the team didn't even put him on the field for a Hail Mary attempt. It's hard to say that those were training wheels. In fact, Bagent said publicly to the media that he didn't want any restrictions and that he could run the whole playbook.

They've won 2 out of 3! ****Pay no attention to the losing streak behind the curtain.

Just going off of memory, it feels like Fields' issues come with static routes. He seems to play much more naturally when the routes are moving and not stop routes like curls, comebacks and guys sitting down vs zone coverage. Granted, he still misses open guys on the move, but I feel like he's better on crossing routes, go routes, corners, outs, etc. Slants he's had trouble with though. It feels like really simple stuff that he's not getting too, which is frustrating.

He was confident vs. Denver and Washington, though.

He tested pretty well on mental aptitude tests. I think I read the best score ever, actually. But it does appear to be a mental thing with him. Like you said, he's not throwing to guys he knows are open. That says to my non-expert mind that he's thinking too much. Like it feels like fear of, "have I been staring at this too long and the DB gonna jump this throw?".

Fields probably isn't capable of that same Bagent gameplan. But he also shouldn't be. You'd be completely neutering Fields with that type of gameplan, whereas that's all Bagent projects to be able to do. But yeah, there's the floor/ceiling thing with Fields. Vs. Washington, he passed for 120 yards more than Bagent last week, but also doubled his rushing total and his offense put up 17 more points. Then we saw pressure completely destroy what he wanted to do and they couldn't beat an otherwise mediocre defensive team that put up 12 offensive points. And as was said, the frequency that these type of games happen is the biggest issue. But we also can't act like Bagent's style of play can consistently win you games at the NFL level. You have to be able to threaten the defense down the field.

You're like the 2nd or 3rd person to say this. What are they doing/not doing that you want to see? I feel like ya'll are expecting perfect prospects, which don't exist. Or at least expecting some sign from above that this prospect can't miss or something.

Bagent is exactly what you want. He's Gardner Minshew. He's a guy you want in a pinch that is the cliche "plays within himself" QB that gets rid of the ball. I love that he's got a completely different game than Fields, but he isn't a complete talentless hack like Peterman or Chase Daniel. I think it makes it harder for teams to adjust on the fly like this with 6 days of preparation. But with the extra tape on him, I'd imagine it'll be much tougher for him this weekend. If it's not....then Rocky may be onto something.

Eberflus said today, no change. So, he's doubtful and probably not going to play. I'm sure he'll try to suit up toward the end of the week. Grip is coming back, but the concern is the zip on his passes with that thumb.

I feel like everyone has chalked this up as a loss on paper since the schedule came out. But I just simply can't assume anything with the Chargers ever. They SHOULD win this game, but they should have won a playoff game where they had a 30 point lead at halftime or whatever. The Chargers are NOT that good. The Bears are clearly worse, though. I feel like a 2nd Bagent start will be not as successful. In theory, him getting rid of the ball quickly should help against a good pass rush. But I feel like if Fields plays, he can take advantage of a really bad pass defense.....assuming he pulls the trigger, when he's not running for his life. And that pass D is bad down the field. 8.8 yards per attempt, 9.01 air yards per attempt, 12.8 per completion and a 105.6 QB rating against. All but that rating against are the worst in the league. The Chargers have been a Broncos level pass defense this year. To be fair though, they have played 1/2 their games vs KC, Miami and Minnesota w/ a healthy Jefferson.

I actually like McCarthy a lot. He's probably above Shedeur as my QB3 right now, and potentially is a top 10 pick. I fully expect Michigan in the national title game, so McCarthy will get a lot more exposure. I do worry about his frame. He's very slender, but it does look like he's added mass to his arms since last season. He kinda has a Derek Carr build (with a Zach Wilson face, this is a negative). I think he's probably your best bet to get the best of both worlds type of guy, between what we saw from Bagent yesterday and what we've seen from Fields in his better games. Can be a game-manager type when the gameplan calls for it. But I feel like he can push the ball downfield pretty well as well.

Apparently games against non-top 25 defenses. I mean, everyone struggles against top 25 defenses, that's why they are top 25 defenses.

Yes he does

IDK if this was in response to me, but I didn't say holding onto the ball was a bad thing. Nor did I say they weren't calling to his strengths. I literally said the opposite and that it's hard to continue to do that when a team forces the action by making him get the ball out faster than he wants. But yeah, I agree he's brutal with hot reads. And I said on Twitter this week when people were complaining about the playbook changing after Bagent got in to include more screens and RPOs, that Fields somehow isn't good at executing the RPO, despite running plenty of it in college. Basically it comes down to, round peg in a square hole. I mean, I think Fields has shown enough that I think he can get by in this league. He had 600+ and 6 TDs in a span of 4 days. He put together a 1000 yard rushing season. But if he's not going to be good enough with hot reads, RPOs, and the quick game in general, you better get him the best OL money and draft picks can by. The Bears didn't do that for him. Fields didn't make the adjustments to combat this. I don't blame the team for him not making adjustments. He knows he's taking a beating, but has essentially refused to do anything to protect himself. And it's his own damn stupidity/inability.

This is a good discussion and it sucks that I'm late to it, but not to cop out, but I think it's both. Some QBs are successful by nature and some are by nurture. And I think a lot of it depends on which positive traits (and how much in the positive) the QB has. And I guess that also means how well the strength of the offensive coaching fits to the QB. Like we praise Andy Reid and Kyle Shanahan, but Reid couldn't get over the hump with McNabb or Alex Smith. He made them better, but not good enough. Shanahan couldn't do anything with the most moldable, 20-year old, QB in the world at the time, but is a SB favorite with the equivalent of D1 Tyson Bagent, who was picked 1 slot ahead of the UDFAs. But a lot is finding a way to get the most out of what a QB naturally does well, while minimizing the need for the QB to be put in positions to have to do things he doesn't do well too often. Also, I think you should NOT spend much time trying to correct what a QB doesn't do well to fit in your scheme. With Fields in particular, you have an OC who wants to throw quick to playmakers potentially in small windows, while you have a QB that wants things to open up down the field. I think Getsy did a good job of calling to Fields' strengths the previous 2 weeks, but it's pretty hard to do when the other team is sending more guys than you can block in front of him. And obviously, Fields' weaknesses mean he can't make the adjustments necessary to combat that, which seems to be his fatal flaw that takes him off of this team. But you also can't consistently run an offense to your QBs strength that likes to hold onto the ball if you have below average OL talent and WRs who can't separate. Then you throw on injuries on top of that and it's been a disaster for 2 years between getting the most out of Fields and the most out of the offense. And that part is not on him. Poles scouted him in college. There was every indication there he liked to hold onto the ball and they put him in a terrible situation to succeed almost intentionally. And if you think Fields likes to hold onto the ball too long, Caleb Williams has the record for time to throw since it's been calculated. He does seem to have enough of that Mahomes ability to adapt and get the ball out quickly when he needs to or the situation dictates it, but you never know until you put him in that situation. And if you put him behind remedial centers, a bottom 10 LT and you have injury prone players at both guard spots, you're going to find out in a hurry if he can overcome his negative traits well enough.

Davante Adams is unhappy about not getting the ball. So expect him to be force fed a bit. But he's also struggled vs Jaylon Johnson in the past, so this is a good chance for the Bears to either frustrate the Raiders best player some more or force a backup QB into some turnovers trying to make him happy. I actually don't think the gameplan will be as bad as you guys think. I expect some early down throws to try to keep the defense from pinning their ears back on potential 3rd and longs. Getsy can call the quick game he so dearly loves but his starting QB doesn't. Get the ball to DJ and Kmet early and often. Stay out of 3rd and long with Crosby on what could be backup OTs on both sides (Wright DNP today), and yes a lot of draw plays on 3rd and long. Script a good opening drive, play with a lead. Maybe score off a turnover on a short field. First team to 17 probably wins this game.

I don't think this is looking at things the right way. Sure, 2025 could be in the 20s. But it's still a second 1st round pick. Regardless of where those fall, they are valuable and potentially, blue chippers. But I also assume you are getting another 1st rounder this year as well. Like if they pick at 1, and trade 2, they probably are still getting a top 10 pick. So, still getting 2 bluechippers in this draft (how blue is up for debate), and especially if the Bears don't necessarily want Harrison Jr or give Braxton another shot at LT, trading down and getting a DE or DT at a less reaching spot may be the best scenario, when you throw in what is likely to be several other picks as well. That's still potentially 4 blue chippers (#1 pick, traded down pick in 24, Bears own pick in 25, additional 25 pick) added in 2 years.

Oh, there's plenty that are intrigued more by having the 1-2 picks than the team actually winning games.

It does. But DJ Moore being a legit stud WR means you have to weigh the opportunity cost of taking a WR2 (or 1B) over DE, OL, DT, even a CB if Johnson walks/traded.

Texans don't own 2 picks. Arizona owns Texans' 1st (Will Anderson), Texans own Cleveland's (Watson) and Cleveland's only

Yeah, the thing about this season being such a disaster, I don't really think you can bring back Fields and give him a 3rd offense in 4 years. It's either Fields is 100% sure the guy (and you probably have to suck it up with the current staff), or you have to move on from him along with the coaches. Whether they pick 1 or not, they are going to pick very high in this draft, and probably twice. Hopefully, this will be the highest they pick for the foreseeable future so you gotta take a QB. Whether it's Williams, Maye or you have to trade down a few picks and take a McCarthy, you can't pass up on the top QB prospects with what could very well be 3 different top 5 picks.

1. Who's criteria? 2. There was an article this week calling him a better prospect than any in the last 20 years, with a toss-up vs Luck (I believe). Not necessarily agreeing with that, but he's clearly up there to some people