WEBVTT - Roquan Smith talks Packers Week | All Access 0:00:00.280 --> 0:00:03.680 The following is a presentation of the Chicago Bears Network 0:00:03.800 --> 0:00:07.720 and Chicago Bears dot Com. Download the Chicago Bears official 0:00:07.760 --> 0:00:10.720 mobile app for up to the minute Bears content every 0:00:10.840 --> 0:00:15.400 day and now welcome to Bears All Access. Your all 0:00:15.440 --> 0:00:20.119 access passing to Chicago Bears football. Bears All Access is 0:00:20.160 --> 0:00:24.160 brought to you by IGS Energy and sponsored by Athletical 0:00:24.160 --> 0:00:29.080 Physical Therapy and CDW. I really love that promo right there, 0:00:29.480 --> 0:00:31.600 right before we got on here. That kind of gets 0:00:31.600 --> 0:00:35.680 you jacked up about the impact of this game. Drama, 0:00:36.159 --> 0:00:40.280 dripping and gripping as the Bears get ready to meet 0:00:40.320 --> 0:00:42.199 the Green Bay Packers for a right to go to 0:00:42.200 --> 0:00:44.720 the playoff. Both teams right now situated at one and 0:00:44.840 --> 0:00:48.519 seven in the NFC Playoff picture. My broadcast partner Tom there, 0:00:49.000 --> 0:00:51.879 welcoming you too, Bears All Access brought to you by 0:00:51.880 --> 0:00:56.040 IGS Energy with our producer Adam Studzinski, thanks to Dan 0:00:56.120 --> 0:00:58.760 Barelli and Jordan tread Up. Tom, let me take your 0:00:58.760 --> 0:01:04.240 temperature right now where yet? Mentally? Oh, you know, Jeff, 0:01:04.400 --> 0:01:08.400 It's been fun really to approach this game because I 0:01:08.440 --> 0:01:10.720 really believe in what the Bears have been able to 0:01:10.760 --> 0:01:13.200 do in the last couple of weeks. It puts a 0:01:13.240 --> 0:01:16.000 whole different flavor to this game. If it was a 0:01:16.840 --> 0:01:20.160 stagnant offense going nowhere and you're accounting on the emotions 0:01:20.200 --> 0:01:23.400 of the division to carry you over the top, that's 0:01:23.440 --> 0:01:27.039 not necessarily what you need. You need the same improvements 0:01:27.040 --> 0:01:29.240 that you had the last couple of weeks. You need 0:01:29.280 --> 0:01:32.319 Mitchell Trubisky to be the most confident player on the field. 0:01:32.760 --> 0:01:34.920 You need everybody else to have a hand in the 0:01:34.959 --> 0:01:37.920 movement and the motion of the football, and the defense 0:01:37.959 --> 0:01:41.119 has to have a hand in stopping the football, tackling 0:01:41.240 --> 0:01:45.520 to perfection, making sure every one of their responsibilities are fulfilled, 0:01:46.640 --> 0:01:50.640 praying and hoping. Chuck Bagano is aggressive every single chance 0:01:50.720 --> 0:01:53.320 he gets. I do not want to see a three 0:01:53.360 --> 0:01:56.520 man line after Aaron Rodgers where he's just waiting to 0:01:56.560 --> 0:01:59.400 see where he's not going to throw it. Not necessarily 0:01:59.400 --> 0:02:01.680 that he has to throw it. So there's a lot 0:02:01.720 --> 0:02:04.960 of emotions that are built into this game. But I'm 0:02:05.000 --> 0:02:08.440 as excited for a Bears Packer contest this late in 0:02:08.480 --> 0:02:10.840 the season as as excited as I bet in a 0:02:10.880 --> 0:02:13.400 long time. To me, it boils down to some things 0:02:13.400 --> 0:02:16.560 that will get into deeper but it's stopping their run 0:02:16.800 --> 0:02:19.160 or at least containing it so that they just don't 0:02:19.200 --> 0:02:21.959 have the ability to keep beyond edge every single second, 0:02:22.040 --> 0:02:25.240 which the mere presence of number twelve does that anyway, 0:02:25.360 --> 0:02:28.640 and the Bear's ability to do so against a improving 0:02:28.760 --> 0:02:31.840 run defense, or at least an adjusting run defense like 0:02:31.919 --> 0:02:34.919 they did adjust to Derrick Henry with more beef up front, 0:02:35.520 --> 0:02:38.200 they are giving up a lot of yards per carry 0:02:38.240 --> 0:02:40.480 for the season four point six seven. That's still in 0:02:40.520 --> 0:02:42.880 the twenties in the NFL. But they seem to me 0:02:42.960 --> 0:02:44.720 to have gotten a little better stop of the run, 0:02:44.919 --> 0:02:48.200 and the Bears will have to establish the run. They 0:02:48.240 --> 0:02:50.520 have to. Yeah, but you know the thing about it too, 0:02:50.560 --> 0:02:53.600 The Bears are different monster in terms of just the 0:02:53.600 --> 0:02:55.840 ground game, and they were the first time they played 0:02:55.840 --> 0:02:58.480 Green Bay, or even what they were three or four 0:02:58.560 --> 0:03:01.200 weeks ago. So when you see what green or what 0:03:01.320 --> 0:03:05.200 the Bears are capable of now, either the configuration of 0:03:05.280 --> 0:03:09.440 the running game, the configuration of an interior power running game, 0:03:09.800 --> 0:03:14.120 and the athleticism of Mitchell Trubisky the defensive, Green Bay 0:03:14.160 --> 0:03:16.600 has a lot more thinking to do before the balls 0:03:16.600 --> 0:03:20.360 ever snapped, rather than just concentrating on trying to race 0:03:20.840 --> 0:03:24.440 to the quarterback. That's in the tackle box behind center. 0:03:24.560 --> 0:03:26.840 There has been a dramatic change. It's been talked about 0:03:26.960 --> 0:03:30.519 at length Allan Robinson to daytime on the dramatic change 0:03:30.800 --> 0:03:33.320 in how this offense has turned on a dime. It's 0:03:33.320 --> 0:03:35.240 not something that you can pinpoint, you know, I think 0:03:35.280 --> 0:03:38.120 across the board, you know, I think once we started 0:03:38.120 --> 0:03:40.040 get the run game established and then started being able 0:03:40.040 --> 0:03:42.520 to create some explosives, you know, started getting some first 0:03:42.520 --> 0:03:44.360 downs on first downs, you know, we didn't get we 0:03:44.400 --> 0:03:47.080 didn't get into as many third and longs and third 0:03:47.080 --> 0:03:50.080 now situations became more manageable. Once we again started getting 0:03:50.080 --> 0:03:51.760 more explosives, you know, we started getting in the ras 0:03:51.840 --> 0:03:53.360 on more. Once you get to the rest on, more 0:03:53.680 --> 0:03:55.360 able to run the ball and things like that. You know, 0:03:55.400 --> 0:03:57.720 your resin efficiency goes up because you're able to run 0:03:57.720 --> 0:04:00.240 in pass, you know. So across the board, it was 0:04:00.280 --> 0:04:03.720 tough to pinpoint one thing because we've gotten better at 0:04:03.760 --> 0:04:08.480 you know, offensively, really every category statistically across the board. 0:04:08.520 --> 0:04:10.560 So again I got said before, Man, I think it's 0:04:10.560 --> 0:04:12.280 just a true testament to everybody going out there and 0:04:12.280 --> 0:04:14.400 putting the work in east and every day and trying 0:04:14.440 --> 0:04:17.680 to get different results and trying to change what wasn't 0:04:17.680 --> 0:04:19.560 happened early on in the season. So a lot of 0:04:19.600 --> 0:04:22.080 dominoes fell there is he went step by step to you, 0:04:22.240 --> 0:04:26.039 what is the most significant domino to start the chain 0:04:26.160 --> 0:04:28.280 of events that has happened over the last three or 0:04:28.320 --> 0:04:32.040 four weeks. You know, listen, I don't want to sound 0:04:32.080 --> 0:04:34.440 just like I'm supporting a guy because he went to 0:04:34.600 --> 0:04:38.000 Notre Dame or he's an offensive lineman. But this what 0:04:38.160 --> 0:04:42.640 Sam Mustafer has done for at the center position. He's 0:04:42.720 --> 0:04:46.919 made Cody a more powerful football player at offensive guard. 0:04:47.279 --> 0:04:51.839 He's been able to use the time spent together between 0:04:51.880 --> 0:04:54.680 he and Alex bars in the time they invested in 0:04:54.760 --> 0:04:57.919 college is paying off as on a professional level. And 0:04:58.279 --> 0:05:03.240 the ability to again an interior point of attack running game, 0:05:03.600 --> 0:05:06.599 so David Montgomery can hit the hole in stride and 0:05:06.640 --> 0:05:09.160 convert it to a lot of extra yards. And then 0:05:09.880 --> 0:05:13.560 the snap factor for Mitchell Trubisky. If you look at 0:05:13.600 --> 0:05:17.480 the consistency on every shotgun snap since Sam has been 0:05:17.520 --> 0:05:21.680 in there, it's a consistent hip, high spiral snap. Now 0:05:21.720 --> 0:05:24.160 Mitch is not focusing on the flight of the football 0:05:24.200 --> 0:05:27.039 because it's coming at you oblong. It's coming at you 0:05:27.080 --> 0:05:29.919 in a spiral manner, so he's catching it, controlling and 0:05:30.000 --> 0:05:33.360 looking downfield without ever having to take his eyes off 0:05:33.800 --> 0:05:37.040 in when they're moving around, when they're trying to move 0:05:37.080 --> 0:05:39.719 before the cadence to either get into a blitz position 0:05:40.120 --> 0:05:43.520 or even trying to disguise coverage. So I know it's not, 0:05:44.120 --> 0:05:47.240 you know, a sexy position, but listen, man our man 0:05:47.360 --> 0:05:51.320 Sam Mustaffer is given some consistency. And again I remember 0:05:51.360 --> 0:05:55.080 you saying at five to survive with five games left, 0:05:55.080 --> 0:05:57.600 if he can find five offensive line and that would 0:05:57.600 --> 0:06:01.440 survive the rest of the season. And yeah, it's something 0:06:01.480 --> 0:06:03.799 that's stuck with me, and it's still part of their improvement. 0:06:03.880 --> 0:06:06.680 Five to surviving. Five are thriving. And today word that 0:06:06.760 --> 0:06:10.520 Bobby Massey will be getting activated off injured reserve, and 0:06:10.560 --> 0:06:13.400 so he'd become available, and not necessarily for this game, 0:06:13.920 --> 0:06:16.719 but another guy to throw into the mix, possibly for 0:06:16.760 --> 0:06:20.800 a playoff for the Chicago Bears. Mitch's twenty twenty journey 0:06:21.160 --> 0:06:25.160 significant with the start to sit down, the slide, coming back, 0:06:25.240 --> 0:06:28.200 working his way back, and now putting together an offense 0:06:28.240 --> 0:06:31.080 that's averaging thirty five points a game, certainly taking notice 0:06:31.240 --> 0:06:34.400 around the Lake. Heard from Aaron Rodgers today, Tom he said, 0:06:34.400 --> 0:06:37.359 this is a big Chicago versus a little Green Bay. 0:06:37.560 --> 0:06:40.520 You know, already starting at twist, twist and knife a 0:06:40.560 --> 0:06:43.279 little bit. But he says he does appreciate the rivalry. 0:06:43.800 --> 0:06:46.560 It's it's something signify. He likes playing here. He likes 0:06:46.600 --> 0:06:49.839 the fans uncertain, certainly no fans here, but he does 0:06:49.880 --> 0:06:52.640 like the environment. Yeah. I mean, when you look thro 0:06:52.640 --> 0:06:55.880 youre talking specifically about the population of the two home downs, 0:06:55.920 --> 0:06:58.440 you are talking about little against big. But I know 0:06:58.480 --> 0:07:01.599 what Aaron Rodgers the cyclo trying to say, and wy're 0:07:01.600 --> 0:07:04.240 trying to try to needle all of us. But as 0:07:04.480 --> 0:07:07.440 a player, as confidently as he is, he's got that right, 0:07:07.720 --> 0:07:09.720 Yes he does. Coming up next will be joined by 0:07:09.720 --> 0:07:13.280 Tom Silverstein, the writer for the Milwaukee Journal Senter who 0:07:13.320 --> 0:07:14.760 was covering the Packers for a long time. And at 0:07:14.760 --> 0:07:17.920 six thirty we'll be joined by Bears inside linebacker Roe Quantum. 0:07:18.080 --> 0:07:20.000 That's allah header on Bears All Access brought to you 0:07:20.080 --> 0:07:23.040 by IGS Energy with Tom There Jeff Joni on Chicago 0:07:23.160 --> 0:07:30.880 Sports Radio six seventy the Score. Welcome back to Bears 0:07:30.920 --> 0:07:33.520 All Access Everybody, brought to you by IGS Energy. Choose 0:07:33.560 --> 0:07:36.119 clean energy for your home at IGS dot Com because 0:07:36.160 --> 0:07:39.120 every good choice adds up to a better world. Jeff 0:07:39.160 --> 0:07:41.960 Joni Actum there with you on Chicago Sports Radio six 0:07:42.040 --> 0:07:45.200 seventy The Score, talking Bears and Packers Tonight on Bears 0:07:45.240 --> 0:07:48.000 All Access, now joined by Tom Silverstein, the Milwaukee Journal 0:07:48.040 --> 0:07:52.640 set No Packers beat writer NFL VET Tom. Happy New Year, buddy. 0:07:52.640 --> 0:07:56.120 How are you doing? Oh, I'm doing great. Same to 0:07:56.200 --> 0:08:00.440 you as well. Are you jumpy? Are you Jeff? Backed up? 0:08:00.480 --> 0:08:06.080 Are you what you're feeling about this matchup? You know, 0:08:07.120 --> 0:08:10.680 I think we've been here before a number of times, 0:08:11.720 --> 0:08:16.440 both sides, you know, a big game at Soldier Field, 0:08:16.920 --> 0:08:19.960 And in fact, I was just kind of going through 0:08:20.080 --> 0:08:25.200 them a few of the games, and you know, it 0:08:25.320 --> 0:08:28.880 always comes down to the quarterback, at least it hasn't 0:08:29.080 --> 0:08:32.959 in the biggest of the games, and so you know, 0:08:33.120 --> 0:08:37.719 I think that's probably what's going to happen again. And 0:08:40.080 --> 0:08:44.960 whether Chicago can slow down Rogers, I don't know. It's 0:08:45.040 --> 0:08:47.040 been tough, and now he's got a little bit of 0:08:47.080 --> 0:08:51.240 a running game. So we'll see his potential for a 0:08:51.360 --> 0:08:53.920 third maybe even you might might most people say a 0:08:54.120 --> 0:08:59.280 likely MVP award Comparatively speaking, as you analyze his performance, 0:08:59.320 --> 0:09:01.840 how would this wants stack up to his first two. 0:09:03.760 --> 0:09:06.760 I think this one is he's assuming he gets it. 0:09:07.000 --> 0:09:10.840 I think this would be completely different. And another two 0:09:11.920 --> 0:09:15.760 two instances. I mean, he was he was playing at 0:09:15.960 --> 0:09:19.520 such a high level. You know, he was at AU 0:09:20.400 --> 0:09:23.480 he was at the Brady level at that time. And 0:09:24.679 --> 0:09:30.240 now he's he's a different player. Uh He he relies 0:09:30.400 --> 0:09:33.079 a lot on their run game, he relies on their 0:09:33.120 --> 0:09:37.719 play action. He's far less of a scrambler than he 0:09:37.880 --> 0:09:40.959 used to. He doesn't hold on to the ball like 0:09:41.120 --> 0:09:45.800 he used to. He's bought into Matt Lafleur's system and 0:09:45.920 --> 0:09:49.080 it's made him look really good. If he went back 0:09:49.120 --> 0:09:51.360 to playing the way he did in two thousand eleven 0:09:51.679 --> 0:09:55.640 they scored five hundred and sixty points or whatever it was, 0:09:55.760 --> 0:09:59.880 it wouldn't work. So you know, Ages has taken from 0:10:00.040 --> 0:10:03.599 things from him, but he's playing in an offense that 0:10:03.760 --> 0:10:08.160 he's totally bought into. Hey, Tom, when you look at 0:10:08.200 --> 0:10:10.440 the Green Bay defense, I do think around the league 0:10:10.440 --> 0:10:14.679 they're underrespected. But when you think about this game in particular, 0:10:14.840 --> 0:10:18.280 the emotions that are involved in the importance that's surrounding it. 0:10:19.080 --> 0:10:22.400 What does Mike Patton, what does the defensive coordinator have 0:10:22.600 --> 0:10:28.040 to do in order to control the new Trubisky lead offense. 0:10:28.120 --> 0:10:30.199 And I don't know how much of this offense you 0:10:30.320 --> 0:10:33.679 get to see, but there's a wide variety of guys 0:10:33.800 --> 0:10:36.360 are actively involved in getting their hands on the ball. 0:10:36.480 --> 0:10:39.679 The running game is better, The offensive line is really settled. 0:10:40.000 --> 0:10:43.120 So are the what are the defensive concerns you see 0:10:43.440 --> 0:10:48.520 about this new offense? Well, I think I think you 0:10:49.120 --> 0:10:52.280 definitely hit on one, which is the offensive line seems 0:10:52.320 --> 0:10:55.680 to be playing a lot better. I watched the Jacksonville game, 0:10:55.760 --> 0:11:01.640 and objectible, isn't that good? It looked like Trubisky was 0:11:01.760 --> 0:11:06.280 comfortable and like he could function in the offense and 0:11:06.400 --> 0:11:10.599 not have to worry about being under pressure immediately and 0:11:10.800 --> 0:11:15.040 have to use his legs. But I think, I actually 0:11:15.240 --> 0:11:19.319 think that is something that they are the most concerned about, 0:11:19.640 --> 0:11:23.000 is him running all over the place, and that they're 0:11:23.000 --> 0:11:25.040 gonna want to try to keep him in the pocket 0:11:26.080 --> 0:11:30.040 and try to get him to throw a few more 0:11:30.080 --> 0:11:33.360 of those balls like he threw into the end zone 0:11:34.880 --> 0:11:38.040 you know that got picked off. I think it's really 0:11:38.080 --> 0:11:42.560 about not letting him get first downs, don't let him 0:11:42.679 --> 0:11:45.319 run out of a third and ten and get a 0:11:45.840 --> 0:11:48.839 get a running first down. I think they'll take their 0:11:48.920 --> 0:11:53.959 chances with him throwing. But I also think they're worried 0:11:54.000 --> 0:11:58.439 about Montgomery. You know, they just faced Derrick Henry and 0:11:58.600 --> 0:12:02.440 they played great against him. But they had a plan 0:12:02.760 --> 0:12:06.679 to totally force Tennessee to throw the ball in the 0:12:06.760 --> 0:12:10.760 snow and they couldn't do it. This will, this will 0:12:10.800 --> 0:12:13.400 be a little bit different than that. I think Chicago's 0:12:13.480 --> 0:12:17.120 not as married to you know, they're running back as 0:12:17.240 --> 0:12:20.679 Tennessee was. You know, it's something to see. You know, 0:12:20.800 --> 0:12:23.319 Mitch Trubisky has been able to take a page out 0:12:23.400 --> 0:12:27.200 of Aaron Rodgers snapcount playbook. In every game he gets 0:12:27.320 --> 0:12:30.199 one or two free plays a game. So when you 0:12:30.280 --> 0:12:33.320 think about the atmosphere, not only this week, but going forward, 0:12:33.920 --> 0:12:38.560 it does Green Bay they don't earn as much other 0:12:38.640 --> 0:12:41.920 than the temperature when they have home field if they 0:12:42.000 --> 0:12:45.000 get home field advantage through the playoffs. So is uh 0:12:45.800 --> 0:12:49.800 is Aaron Rodgers' ability and his voice control equally as 0:12:50.559 --> 0:12:53.240 as a destructive and illegal on the road as it 0:12:53.400 --> 0:12:57.199 is at home. Yeah, but you know, teams have really 0:12:57.360 --> 0:13:02.840 worked at not falling for his heart count. I mean, 0:13:02.960 --> 0:13:06.720 he's not had a lot of success with the heartcount 0:13:07.040 --> 0:13:10.360 this year or the twelve man. He's always really good 0:13:10.480 --> 0:13:15.560 at at when teams try to substitute getting them while 0:13:16.360 --> 0:13:19.400 they're you know, have a twelfth guy on the field. 0:13:20.240 --> 0:13:23.040 But I think the one thing he has been able 0:13:23.120 --> 0:13:29.400 to do is communicate freely with the players, and really 0:13:30.120 --> 0:13:33.280 they do a lot of check with me kind of stuff, 0:13:35.080 --> 0:13:38.960 a lot of run pass option where he can he does. 0:13:39.120 --> 0:13:42.080 He can call a run and if the corners eight 0:13:42.200 --> 0:13:44.839 yards off of devote Adams, He's going to throw it 0:13:44.920 --> 0:13:50.920 to him. There's a lot of It's not really sophisticated 0:13:51.120 --> 0:13:54.360 checks and audibles and things like that, but it is. 0:13:55.040 --> 0:13:58.920 You know, he's giving guys a lot of information at 0:13:58.960 --> 0:14:01.959 the line of scrimmage. And I think in a in 0:14:02.040 --> 0:14:06.439 a road atmosphere that might be different. If fans were 0:14:06.480 --> 0:14:09.240 in the game, I will say, though, you know, they 0:14:09.320 --> 0:14:14.839 are counting on Lambeau being a cold weather venue and 0:14:15.000 --> 0:14:18.280 not having an impact. You know, I wouldn't matter against 0:14:18.320 --> 0:14:23.880 the Bears. It probably wouldn't matter against Seattle. It probably 0:14:23.920 --> 0:14:27.800 wouldn't matter against Washington. But maybe New Orleans, Tampa Bay, 0:14:29.800 --> 0:14:32.520 you know, teams like that, maybe they would have a problem. 0:14:32.880 --> 0:14:36.640 La Rams, Tom Silvers down our guest Tera the Packers 0:14:36.680 --> 0:14:40.360 beat writer for the Milwaukee General Sentinel, remaining moments with him, Tom, 0:14:40.400 --> 0:14:42.680 if you had to pick one thing on the team, offense, 0:14:42.760 --> 0:14:46.600 defense or special teams that has been a weakness that 0:14:46.720 --> 0:14:49.480 has evolved over the course of the season into a strength, 0:14:49.600 --> 0:14:51.960 what would it be for the Green Bay Packers. For 0:14:52.080 --> 0:14:56.720 the Packers, well, first, I'll give you a weakness, that 0:14:56.720 --> 0:14:59.720 a state of weakness, and that I think you can. 0:15:00.080 --> 0:15:02.960 I think you can. I think the Bears will try 0:15:02.960 --> 0:15:05.760 to exploit that. And that's their special teams. They've been 0:15:05.880 --> 0:15:08.400 just giving up big play second half of the year. 0:15:08.960 --> 0:15:13.240 And you know, Sean Menenga, their special teams coach, was 0:15:13.280 --> 0:15:18.400 an assistant with Chris Tabor and Cleveland, so that's kind 0:15:18.440 --> 0:15:22.000 of his mentor. And I can imagine Tabor knows a 0:15:22.120 --> 0:15:27.520 lot about Menenga, and you know, you know, they're friends 0:15:27.600 --> 0:15:31.640 up until kickoff, So I would expect I would look 0:15:31.720 --> 0:15:37.120 for a breakdown there. As far as something that's become 0:15:37.280 --> 0:15:40.680 better for the Packers, I would say inside linebacker, they've 0:15:40.680 --> 0:15:45.040 got two young two rookies who've come in and they're 0:15:45.680 --> 0:15:49.720 more physical. One of them is really good, Chris Barnes 0:15:49.920 --> 0:15:52.960 at getting everyone set and they had signed a long 0:15:53.080 --> 0:15:56.880 term you know, time veteran Christian Kirksey and these other 0:15:56.920 --> 0:15:59.480 two guys about played them. So that's probably where they've 0:15:59.520 --> 0:16:04.400 improved the most. The receiver position, after Davante Adams, who 0:16:04.480 --> 0:16:06.800 they rank him as the number one receiver in the league, 0:16:07.440 --> 0:16:09.920 is your second best option Tony in the tight end 0:16:10.440 --> 0:16:13.760 because it doesn't seem like there's any other clear candidate 0:16:13.840 --> 0:16:16.440 out there that is getting a lot of attention by 0:16:16.480 --> 0:16:19.200 Aaron Rodgers other than a lot of bootlegs to the 0:16:19.280 --> 0:16:24.680 tight end, but they're runofficially. Yeah, Tonyon has become kind 0:16:24.720 --> 0:16:27.960 of a big play guy. He's got ten touchdowns and 0:16:28.640 --> 0:16:31.720 they're not you know, they're not like red zone touchdowns, 0:16:31.840 --> 0:16:35.640 not all of them. He seems to find a way 0:16:35.720 --> 0:16:39.960 to get open, especially when the coverage is going towards Adams, 0:16:40.880 --> 0:16:46.160 but free just down to down. I think Lazard is 0:16:46.840 --> 0:16:50.760 the number to target. It's just that he's been a 0:16:50.880 --> 0:16:54.960 little bit off because he had core muscle surgery earlier 0:16:55.000 --> 0:16:58.400 in the year and he's just not quite as explosive. 0:16:58.760 --> 0:17:03.560 But he is, you know, a third and seven. He 0:17:03.800 --> 0:17:06.520 is as comfortable going to Lazard as he is going 0:17:06.760 --> 0:17:10.640 to Adams, and he's the kind of guy who will 0:17:10.680 --> 0:17:14.480 get first down. Adams is gonna break it for a touchdown. 0:17:14.880 --> 0:17:18.639 Lazard's gonna, you know, run his comeback right to the 0:17:19.400 --> 0:17:24.200 first down marker, but Rogers is gonna feel really confident 0:17:24.280 --> 0:17:26.800 about throwing it to him. So it's kind of That's 0:17:26.880 --> 0:17:29.959 kind of how it's been. Yeah, great year for Tanya, 0:17:29.960 --> 0:17:33.680 the mckennery High School East All Conference quarterback turned tight 0:17:33.800 --> 0:17:36.360 end out of Indiana State. Also played in basketball Mary 0:17:36.400 --> 0:17:40.680 and Kaeptic and a workout pel of George Kittle, who 0:17:40.840 --> 0:17:44.080 proclaimed himself a Bears fan growing up. I'm sure Tonyon 0:17:44.240 --> 0:17:45.840 was as well. Hey, we're gonna let you go. Tom, 0:17:46.000 --> 0:17:48.040 appreciate it. Happy New Year to you and your family, 0:17:48.119 --> 0:17:51.359 and we'll talk you down the road. Absolutely, take care, 0:17:51.440 --> 0:17:54.040 guys out a happy new year. Thank you, Tom Silverstein. 0:17:54.080 --> 0:17:55.720 Coming up at the bottom of the hour, rope quand 0:17:55.760 --> 0:17:57.639 Smith will join us. This is Bears All Access on 0:17:57.800 --> 0:18:06.560 Chicago Sports Radio six seventy. The Score with you on 0:18:06.680 --> 0:18:09.000 Bears All Access. Jeff jonn Yak in time day, We're 0:18:09.040 --> 0:18:10.760 brought to you by IGS Energy and go to have 0:18:10.840 --> 0:18:13.840 you alongside as we break down Bears and Packers. I 0:18:13.960 --> 0:18:16.560 cannot believe a couple of things I cannot do. Three 0:18:16.640 --> 0:18:20.120 things I can't believe todaytime a that it's week seventeen. 0:18:20.920 --> 0:18:23.760 It does you know. I'm sitting there this morning, sipping 0:18:23.880 --> 0:18:26.359 my coffee. I'm thinking, gosh, this whole thing started with 0:18:26.600 --> 0:18:30.040 so much uncertainty. We were freaking out about whether we're 0:18:30.080 --> 0:18:33.520 gonna have a season, We're gonna travel, were we not, 0:18:33.960 --> 0:18:36.520 you know, worried about how we're gonna call the games. 0:18:37.560 --> 0:18:39.520 So that that, and then we went to training camp 0:18:39.720 --> 0:18:42.600 and was summer, and now it's a snowy day yesterday, 0:18:42.640 --> 0:18:45.080 and it's it's a new year coming. It's just a 0:18:45.200 --> 0:18:48.440 weird thing. That's number one. Number two today happens to 0:18:48.520 --> 0:18:52.040 be Lebron James's thirty sixth birthday. It happens to be 0:18:52.119 --> 0:18:56.840 Tiger Woods is forty fifth birthday, Sandy Kofax's eighty fifth birthday. 0:18:57.560 --> 0:19:01.120 Three legendary figures in professional sports that kind of caught 0:19:01.200 --> 0:19:05.520 my attention, And now I forgot my third one. I 0:19:05.840 --> 0:19:08.639 remember now, I oh, here it is here, It is here. 0:19:08.680 --> 0:19:13.280 It is that the NFL today did say that they 0:19:13.320 --> 0:19:16.639 will hit the one million fan mark one hundred and 0:19:16.760 --> 0:19:20.000 two games of fans this year. None, of course, it's 0:19:20.000 --> 0:19:23.400 sold your field here in Chicago, much to everybody's disappointment, 0:19:24.400 --> 0:19:28.840 I would have never guessed that. I don't I don't 0:19:28.880 --> 0:19:31.120 even know. I mean, I haven't seen that. I haven't 0:19:31.160 --> 0:19:33.520 seen that many people during the course of the season 0:19:33.640 --> 0:19:36.360 and all the games that I've watched the season, So yeah, 0:19:36.440 --> 0:19:39.240 that really catches me by surprise. But back to the 0:19:39.320 --> 0:19:42.840 original point again, I admire the head coaches, the players, 0:19:43.359 --> 0:19:46.280 the staffs inside the building that we're able to keep 0:19:46.359 --> 0:19:50.520 these players self by self discipline or by the testing 0:19:50.600 --> 0:19:53.639 procedures that they went through, because I do think this 0:19:53.800 --> 0:19:57.760 season so far has paid dividends for the USA all right, today, 0:19:58.000 --> 0:20:01.560 for the world. For absolutely today I walked through for 0:20:01.640 --> 0:20:04.800 both teams. They both walked through today. The Bears still, 0:20:04.960 --> 0:20:07.000 if they would have practiced, would not have had rookie 0:20:07.040 --> 0:20:10.560 cornerback Jayleen Johnson getting better because of that shoulder on 0:20:10.640 --> 0:20:13.120 a tackling Sean Watson a couple of weeks backbuster screen 0:20:13.200 --> 0:20:16.280 stilling concussion protocol Dion Bush for the foot illness. Today 0:20:16.320 --> 0:20:20.280 for a Keem Hicks, any concerns about those three guys 0:20:20.359 --> 0:20:24.439 in the secondary or what they are facing if they 0:20:24.520 --> 0:20:27.800 don't play, and Duke Shelley and kindallville Doore going up 0:20:27.840 --> 0:20:32.160 against number twelve. My concern only for is the big 0:20:32.240 --> 0:20:36.760 picture of Buster buster screen because I enjoy his personality 0:20:36.840 --> 0:20:39.080 so much and he is a kind hearted person. To 0:20:39.240 --> 0:20:42.720 have this long of a concussion concern after having a 0:20:42.800 --> 0:20:48.040 couple of concussions, I, you know, whatever the decision has made, 0:20:48.119 --> 0:20:50.560 I just he needs to make the best decision for him. 0:20:51.080 --> 0:20:56.359 But you know, Jalen, he'll be back a Keem Hicks 0:20:56.720 --> 0:20:58.800 if I have to go in and suit him up 0:20:58.840 --> 0:21:01.479 and push him on the field, he'll be there Sunday. 0:21:01.480 --> 0:21:04.720 That's right now. They need him. He was he wasn't. 0:21:04.920 --> 0:21:07.720 He's got to play. He wasn't in that first game, right, 0:21:07.960 --> 0:21:09.800 you know, for all the fans when we are sitting 0:21:09.840 --> 0:21:12.280 there watching the feed to get ready to broadcast the 0:21:12.359 --> 0:21:14.760 Bears game and a Keem Hicks came out and he 0:21:14.880 --> 0:21:16.720 was warming up before the game, he kind of get 0:21:16.760 --> 0:21:20.440 an indication, all right, he's feeling good, he's got his rhythm. 0:21:20.760 --> 0:21:22.840 And then when the inactives came out and he was 0:21:22.920 --> 0:21:25.240 not a part of the game plan, I had a 0:21:25.320 --> 0:21:29.040 really defleted sense just for the defense when he's not 0:21:29.200 --> 0:21:33.760 in the game. AJ Dylon getting his biggest day of 0:21:33.920 --> 0:21:37.399 work against Tennessee was impressive. He's two hundred and fifty 0:21:37.440 --> 0:21:40.280 pounds tom and runs a four to five. He'll run 0:21:40.359 --> 0:21:42.760 through you, aneron you if he's got space added to 0:21:42.840 --> 0:21:44.560 what they already have with Aaron Jones. I don't know 0:21:44.600 --> 0:21:47.200 what Jamal Williams will be. But what does that add 0:21:47.280 --> 0:21:50.320 to the mix here for the Bears. Well, you know 0:21:50.720 --> 0:21:53.600 the Dylan and he can catch the ball. So he's 0:21:53.600 --> 0:21:56.600 not a one dimensional big guy, you know. He you know, 0:21:56.800 --> 0:21:59.440 he's got a wide variety of skills that if Aaron 0:21:59.520 --> 0:22:02.440 Rodgers to put him out as the primary receiver in 0:22:02.560 --> 0:22:05.160 an out route or a wheel route, he'll he'll he's 0:22:05.200 --> 0:22:08.160 got the arm, confidence to go to him and he's 0:22:08.200 --> 0:22:10.639 just he's put that on display. But that's what Jeff 0:22:11.560 --> 0:22:14.720 My first key to the game is premium tackling. This 0:22:14.840 --> 0:22:17.000 has got to be the best tackling game by far 0:22:17.160 --> 0:22:20.280 of every single member of that defense, you know, from 0:22:21.000 --> 0:22:24.240 you know, every single from the defensive line, every level. 0:22:24.640 --> 0:22:26.640 They got to be able to come out and when 0:22:26.680 --> 0:22:29.359 they have a chance to have contact against a Green 0:22:29.440 --> 0:22:32.040 Bay player with the ball in his hands, it's got 0:22:32.160 --> 0:22:34.800 to stop there. You can't turn a two yard run 0:22:34.880 --> 0:22:37.040 into a seven yard run. You can't turn a twelve 0:22:37.119 --> 0:22:39.840 yard catch into a twenty five yard catch. It's got 0:22:39.920 --> 0:22:43.159 to be immediate contact. Hey, that goes for Aaron Rodgers too. 0:22:43.200 --> 0:22:45.479 If he's starting to scamper around, bring him down, man, 0:22:45.520 --> 0:22:47.800 don't let him. Don't let him scramble for anything. He's 0:22:47.800 --> 0:22:49.800 got a bunch of first downs again this year. Do 0:22:49.880 --> 0:22:54.200 you hear they claimed snacks Harrison off Waivers today? The 0:22:54.280 --> 0:22:57.800 Pack did not hear that. While another big defensive tackle, 0:22:57.880 --> 0:23:00.119 but the heart of their defense is led by the 0:23:00.200 --> 0:23:03.719 defensive tackles. He won't be eligible to play on Sunday. 0:23:04.000 --> 0:23:06.440 I wouldn't think so. I wouldn't think so. That's that's 0:23:06.520 --> 0:23:08.399 looking down the road of their playoff picts are all right, 0:23:08.440 --> 0:23:10.359 coming on neck. We'll be joined by a roe Quand Smith, 0:23:10.400 --> 0:23:13.080 the Bear star linebacker joining the program. Next. This is 0:23:13.200 --> 0:23:16.200