WrigleyField 22

not sure who Mond is, but Jones is nothing like Trubisky. Trubisky had an arm but very very little playing time. Jones is almost the complete opposite. I think he meant Mond only was Trubisky 2.0. Hes a 4 year starter (I think, maybe 3) from Texas A&M. I think he's a tad less athletic that Trubisky, but above average. His biggest knock has been consistency and decision making. I've seen some Prescott comps for him, never seen a Trubisky comp.

I don’t know about very very mediocre. They were ranked 7th in the league in defensive DVOA going into this week, maybe there are better stats out there to evaluate defense, feel free to suggest. But your remarks on the individual players are valid, so maybe as a collective unit they hold their own but their individual pieces are not at the level were at 2 years ago. Still think the secondary is a strong unit but are often burdened by a lack of pass rush. Jaylon Johnson has potential but for every big play he’s made, he’s countered with a glaring mistake. But he’s a rookie and I like what I’ve seen The defense is fine. The NFL is not catered to defenses carrying teams, and hasn't been for a while, hence why the Bears have made the playoffs like 5 times in 25 years. Every 5 years or so they find the needle in the haystack that is an offense carried to the playoffs by an elite defense. Roquan is great. Goldman is coming back. Johnson and Nichols are solid building blocks. Fuller is solid and should be extended for a lower cap hit. For next year, gotta hope for better health for guys like Mack and Quinn. And you gotta hope a change in scheme (new DC) brings back whatever has happened to Eddie Jackson. I'm sure they'll keep Hicks around since everyone else is coming back (I'd probably release him and get 10.5M in cap space), but then after 2021 you can get out the Hicks, Quinn, and Trevathan deals. Either way, they should be a top 12 unit in DVOA again next year. Maybe a new DC and health gets them back to rushing the passer and creating turnovers more consistently, and they get back to a top 5 unit. But even if not, they should be good enough to win games if they get a halfway decent offense. If they do make a change in the D, I just want to get out ahead and say it should be a broad search and it can be a 3-4 or 4-3 guy. I think a few guys like Mack and Quinn may actually be better in a 4-3 and most of their rotation guys are FA anyways even if they were scheme dependent.

I'm still not convinced they let Pace lame duck it. But a token one year extension or something seems pretty blatantly admitting he's on the hot seat as well. I think barring a collapse theyre committed to Pace and probably Nagy too. I wouldn't be shocked at a Pace multi year extension. Even if they hadn't raked out a playoff spot, I think 8-8 seasons could buy this duo quite a bit more time that the average fan would want. That is unless there is any truth to the rumor about a unannounced extension and Pace already has a deal running through 22 and not 21. Needless to say this offseason will be interesting though. I think we'll see a relatively big QB investment and a lot of cap deferring games so they can go for it again in 2021, even though they definitely shouldn't be doing the latter. If a QB is drafted does anyone trust Pace? I could see him taking Jones or Mond who, from what I understand, are Mitch 2.0. Maybe, with Nagy' input this time they can get it right, don't trust they'll hit on the correct pick but, they've not had chance so, we don't know. I don't necessarily distrust him I guess? I think people put way too much stock into relatively small samples to say a GM can or can't evaluate a position. Fact is I'd expect a bad hit rate on QBs. If you count Trubisky, Glennon, and Foles as his major QB decisions, that's a pretty small sample for a position where most guys are pretty bad. Anyways there's likely a huge difference between a Jones or Mond investment. Jones may require a 1st round investment, probably at least 2nd rounder. Mond may be a day 3 pick. I would definitely like Mond as a early day 3 prospect. Hell, double up on the position, IMO. The most interesting prospect outside the top 4 consensus guys may be Ridder from Cincinnati. Seems to have as much potential as any guy in this draft. Not sure where he'll go, but I'm sure the pre-draft process will be big for him, but he could rise fast.

Eh. I'm happy to see them in a playoff game. They wouldn't be better off if they came up short. It's always been a good chance that Nagy/Pace will have a chance to select a QB in the 2021 draft, considering the timing of Nagy coming in after Mitch was already here. Unless Mitch takes them deep in the playoffs, they aren't going to need to give him a crazy deal. It will be something they can get out of in a year. If they show no progress in 2021 then they will be in a better position to clean house top to bottom and allow a new GM/Prez type to figure it out. I'm still not convinced they let Pace lame duck it. But a token one year extension or something seems pretty blatantly admitting he's on the hot seat as well. I think barring a collapse theyre committed to Pace and probably Nagy too. I wouldn't be shocked at a Pace multi year extension. Even if they hadn't raked out a playoff spot, I think 8-8 seasons could buy this duo quite a bit more time that the average fan would want. That is unless there is any truth to the rumor about a unannounced extension and Pace already has a deal running through 22 and not 21. Needless to say this offseason will be interesting though. I think we'll see a relatively big QB investment and a lot of cap deferring games so they can go for it again in 2021, even though they definitely shouldn't be doing the latter.

I don't tend to get too caught up in the individual play calls. Every playcall looks terrible when it doesn't work and brilliant when it does. They went 4-for-5 on 4th and short. Sometimes the defense just wins. Generally I'd agree with you, but that play had no chance from the outset. 2 receivers bunched to one side with a rollout that way and nobody going downfield on that side to clear any defenders. They'd crammed it down their throat several times already and gotten them with a spread formation. Why they didn't go with some variation o f what had already been successful I have no idea. Give it to Monty and have him get you a yard or have Mitch sneak it again. That's too pivotal a moment in the game to do something gimmicky like they did. I'm okay with doing something different, but that didn't seem to be it, even if there was a missed pick.

That's just a new GM Well they don't have the balls to fire Pace so this is the next best thing. But it's not really a thing I guess is my point.

That last 4th and inches call will put a damper on what was a fairly decent game plan. That was ugly as a call. Then things spiraled in minutes, mainly because they had no choice but to try and let Mitch win it.

That's just a new GM

So the NFL kind of proved you don't need a bubble for the regular season... They worked around it and it worked well enough to force a full regular season through. If one of these position groups like this misses a playoff game or god forbid the Super Bowl, man there's gonna be hell from fans.

Ball State! Had some fun nights there, and has several of my HS teammates play there. Congrats. My dad played there so I'm sure he's excited!

eh, 3 million. That isn't much, considering how much was left. It does make me wonder if the Padres are nearly tapped out, hence why they needed that 3 million. Maybe Preller isn't leaving any room for mid-season moves, and is banking on everything going well, or reaching into the farm to supplement. I had mildly wondered if they would try another big move, as they have the assets to try and make it happen still, but that 3 million does make me wonder. I mean you probably aren't doing your job if you negotiate with a big market team and don't ask for cash when absorbing a big deal. They may not need it, but it would be stupid not to demand something back.

If there is a correlation between good strip clubs and James Harden’s eFficiency rating in graph form that must be posted.

Obligatory:

I mean, after 35 year old pitcher, 28 year old catcher is the next logical piece to trade in a blow up right? What's Contreras arbitration/FA situation the next couple years?

I'm not gonna pretend I know jack about the players coming back. But let's get this fire sale going!

I’m ready to do the same and then start embracing the tank If it's true they're getting major leaguers back, doesn't seem to be a very ambitious tank effort.

Yea I figured that was the issue it's just funny they get that west coast road trip early in the year just like they used to.

Yea, they can't overpay Mitch. Even if this is the new/real Mitch that just isn't a QB you can pay 20-25M to. I'd give him something like 2/12 in guaranteed money and some snap count incentives that could bump it to 10M per year. Additional performance incentives they can bump it to 15m per year. If he can beat that on the market, do your best with a Flacco or whatever on a cheap deal and focus on the draft for acquiring a QB in the next 2 years.

Man the schedule gets ridiculously rough from here for awhile. 9 of next 10 on the road, 7 of the 10 against 2020 playoff teams 9 of 10 on the road? How did the Bulls get the old Circus trip in the year of Covid?

Bears Packers wild card matchup? yup our only hope is to hurt Aaron Rodgers Upon closer inspection they do also need Arizona to beat LA in that case. In any case, GB would need SF to beat SEA for the game not to matter but there's almost no chance that's decided first. So the Pack are playing for a bye and potentially to eliminate the Bears. Joy.

But if Ten comes back tonight, and the Bears manage to upset them next week..... Bears Packers wild card matchup?

Brock something from Boise State I think? Mid 2000s ish?

Packers fan relish it even more. I think gushing over white RB (or white WR) is just your typical NFL fan thing. The backup QB thing though definitely is unique to a franchise like the Bears.

Well probably get him on the same part of his career trajectory as Jimmy Graham and pay him twice as much.

Well hopefully once you learn a challenging task, subsequent efforts have a quicker turnaround lol. Though pro sports are rarely the forgiving type of atmosphere that allow the 2nd attempt like that.