WEBVTT - Pace, Nagy, Phillips ready for kickoff | Coaches Show 0:00:00.080 --> 0:00:02.560 And a pleasant, good evening everybody, and welcome to our 0:00:02.640 --> 0:00:05.600 Labor Day holiday special edition of the Bears Coaches Show. 0:00:06.440 --> 0:00:08.640 A plethora of guests, including the head coach of the 0:00:08.680 --> 0:00:11.639 Chicago Bears, Matt Nagee, President at CEO Ted Phillips, and 0:00:11.680 --> 0:00:15.360 General Manager Ryan Pace. This is our special Labor Day edition. 0:00:15.560 --> 0:00:19.639 Normally we are at the Walter Peyton Center all together 0:00:19.840 --> 0:00:23.160 enjoying the kickoff of the season, but due to circumstances 0:00:23.160 --> 0:00:25.759 beyond our control, this is the case. We have the 0:00:25.840 --> 0:00:28.800 great season ticket holders virtually, but in the contingency role 0:00:28.880 --> 0:00:30.920 we now live in and we dapt and overcome. So 0:00:31.000 --> 0:00:33.480 the Labor Day Coaches Show, as we all know, traditionally 0:00:33.520 --> 0:00:37.200 the kickoff event for the season exclusively for season ticket holders, 0:00:37.200 --> 0:00:39.960 and we're glad you're here with us as well. It's 0:00:40.000 --> 0:00:42.280 not the same obviously, nor will the season opener be 0:00:42.880 --> 0:00:45.640 same or another home opener without fans in the stands, 0:00:45.680 --> 0:00:48.000 but we're thinking of all of you and can't wait 0:00:48.040 --> 0:00:50.920 for the day while here you're cheering on in Pearson. 0:00:51.120 --> 0:00:54.240 So without further ado, let's get going, and we're brought 0:00:54.280 --> 0:00:56.440 to you by Whippley and good to have everybody along. 0:00:56.480 --> 0:01:00.880 We'll start with Matt. Matt good evening, what access just 0:01:00.920 --> 0:01:03.640 to even get here today? Yeah, how you doing, Jeff. 0:01:03.640 --> 0:01:06.280 It's it's great to be on here and it's here, 0:01:06.400 --> 0:01:08.520 you know, it feels good. It's been a long time. 0:01:08.560 --> 0:01:11.040 We've been through a lot together. But I think all 0:01:11.080 --> 0:01:13.640 the players are I know from from being in here yesterday, 0:01:13.720 --> 0:01:16.240 they're excited to get going. They can feel it. You 0:01:16.240 --> 0:01:19.160 can feel the energy, the buzz and and you know 0:01:19.240 --> 0:01:22.680 we're only days away now, so we can't wait. And 0:01:22.959 --> 0:01:27.360 Ryan Pace, you know, you are in a unique situation 0:01:27.480 --> 0:01:30.840 with a building that was prepped for as it turns 0:01:30.840 --> 0:01:33.399 out to be a moment like this at hallis Hall. 0:01:33.720 --> 0:01:36.000 Everything that went into it. You met the media today 0:01:36.000 --> 0:01:38.959 by zoom, you went into some detail I don't know, 0:01:39.120 --> 0:01:42.720 weeks ago about all the protocols and just the size 0:01:42.920 --> 0:01:45.600 and the footprint of the building certainly has helped adapt, 0:01:46.560 --> 0:01:49.680 no doubt, Jeff. I think that's a competitive advantage for 0:01:49.800 --> 0:01:52.560 us as we enter these times. You know, Matt and 0:01:52.560 --> 0:01:56.080 I went into this process knowing we needed to exercise 0:01:56.320 --> 0:02:00.240 spatial distancing and be safe with our players, but this year, 0:02:00.320 --> 0:02:03.360 size of our facility gives us tons of advantages in 0:02:03.360 --> 0:02:05.920 that area. So we're real fortunate to have what we have, 0:02:06.880 --> 0:02:09.160 and the president and CEO Ted Philip's good to see 0:02:09.160 --> 0:02:11.280 you as well. I'll leave it to you to give 0:02:11.360 --> 0:02:14.079 us a little state of the franchise right now, but 0:02:14.240 --> 0:02:18.520 to see you, Jeff. Definitely a different year. It's been 0:02:18.560 --> 0:02:22.840 a different offseason. I think that it's going to be 0:02:22.880 --> 0:02:25.520 as different a year as we've ever had. It's going 0:02:25.560 --> 0:02:29.640 to continue that way. What I'm happy about is that 0:02:29.800 --> 0:02:35.320 every single employee, the coaches, the players, have shown an 0:02:35.400 --> 0:02:42.280 unbelievable ability to adapt, and they've shown patience, resiliency, and 0:02:42.680 --> 0:02:46.280 I'm confident that whatever challenges come our way, and I'm 0:02:46.320 --> 0:02:49.560 sure there's going to be some that we can't even predict, 0:02:50.080 --> 0:02:52.519 that we're going to be able to meet those. And 0:02:53.240 --> 0:02:55.520 you know, we've kind of talked about how the teams 0:02:55.520 --> 0:02:59.360 that are best prepared and that and that can take 0:02:59.480 --> 0:03:02.359 personal accountability to do the right things are going to 0:03:02.440 --> 0:03:04.760 be the ones are going to be most successful. So 0:03:04.840 --> 0:03:09.200 I think we're well situated with that. And the leadership 0:03:09.280 --> 0:03:14.120 from Ryan and Matt has been unbelievable. They've never once 0:03:14.280 --> 0:03:20.040 complained and their entire football lives have been turned upside down, right, 0:03:20.080 --> 0:03:22.720 And we all know, everyone's a creature of habit in 0:03:22.760 --> 0:03:27.440 this business, but they have immediately adjusted and adapted and 0:03:27.880 --> 0:03:30.560 can't wait to get the season started. This is the 0:03:30.560 --> 0:03:33.359 Bears coaches show here on a holiday Labor Day. Hope 0:03:33.360 --> 0:03:36.040 it all goes well for everybody out there and everybody 0:03:36.120 --> 0:03:40.760 is safe in doing well. Matt. The conversation geared all 0:03:40.800 --> 0:03:44.320 toward the quarterback competition throughout the last couple of days, 0:03:44.360 --> 0:03:46.480 and I know Ryan took a lot of questions about 0:03:46.480 --> 0:03:49.560 that from the media today. Was it the most difficult 0:03:49.600 --> 0:03:53.480 decision in your three years as a head coach? Yeah, 0:03:53.520 --> 0:03:56.000 there's a lot of really difficult decisions that you have, 0:03:56.080 --> 0:03:57.960 but I would say for me, yes, you know, you 0:03:58.040 --> 0:04:01.280 have to say that it's one that you put so 0:04:01.400 --> 0:04:04.080 much time into with these players. We all spend a 0:04:04.120 --> 0:04:06.960 lot of time with them, our coaches, you know, just 0:04:07.000 --> 0:04:09.360 trying to give them the best opportunity possible. And then 0:04:09.400 --> 0:04:13.160 these two players compete against each other. They realize the 0:04:13.240 --> 0:04:15.480 importance of what it is to what it means to 0:04:15.880 --> 0:04:18.880 win the job, and so it's not easy, but I'm 0:04:18.880 --> 0:04:22.440 just really proud of the way that those two players, 0:04:22.560 --> 0:04:24.720 along with Tyler Bray, who was right in the middle 0:04:24.760 --> 0:04:29.400 of that with those guys are coaching staff, Ryan, Ted 0:04:29.480 --> 0:04:32.599 and George, just with the communication throughout the whole process 0:04:32.600 --> 0:04:35.800 of not just that competition, but everything, all of our 0:04:35.800 --> 0:04:38.159 discussions of how this team goes and how we like 0:04:38.240 --> 0:04:41.800 to do things here. It's it's good people, and when 0:04:41.839 --> 0:04:44.080 you deal with good people and you have tough decisions, 0:04:44.080 --> 0:04:46.200 it makes it a little bit easier. Both of the 0:04:46.200 --> 0:04:48.800 guys handled it really well, and now they're just ready 0:04:48.839 --> 0:04:50.839 to go out there and Mitch is ready to go 0:04:50.880 --> 0:04:53.200 out there and help us win games, and Nick's ready 0:04:53.240 --> 0:04:55.440 to go help us, you know, support them on the sideline. 0:04:55.640 --> 0:04:58.200 And Ryan. This was months in the making obviously, in 0:04:58.320 --> 0:05:01.800 terms of the process putting heads together, Matt and his staff, 0:05:01.839 --> 0:05:05.040 the four new assistant coaches that get to know you session, 0:05:05.120 --> 0:05:09.200 with Nick not having a chance to be here, the 0:05:09.200 --> 0:05:14.799 circumstances of Mitchell Trubisky's career and how that arc has developed, 0:05:15.120 --> 0:05:17.560 and all the different aspects of it. There's a lot 0:05:17.600 --> 0:05:20.159 to break down. Where you pleased with how the whole 0:05:20.160 --> 0:05:23.720 process ultimately went to where you are, Yeah, Jeff, I 0:05:23.760 --> 0:05:25.720 would say this. I thought our coaching staff did an 0:05:25.720 --> 0:05:29.880 awesome job and just really creating a competitive environment that 0:05:30.040 --> 0:05:32.360 was fair for us to valuate both the quarterbacks and 0:05:32.800 --> 0:05:35.680 you know, obviously Jeff to no preseason games, creating that 0:05:35.800 --> 0:05:39.919 environment was critical. So I just respected the process and 0:05:40.000 --> 0:05:42.400 I respected how Matt, you know, ultimately came to making 0:05:42.680 --> 0:05:45.560 making that decision. So proud of the process, I would say, 0:05:45.760 --> 0:05:48.000 and Ted you from your position as well, have to 0:05:48.040 --> 0:05:50.760 look at this as well, because it all matters to 0:05:50.800 --> 0:05:52.920 the entire building. It matters to each guy in that 0:05:52.960 --> 0:05:57.000 locker room how that process went. Yeah, just the whole 0:05:57.160 --> 0:06:00.680 the whole process of getting the building put together and 0:06:00.960 --> 0:06:06.000 to make given the players the sense that we're doing 0:06:06.160 --> 0:06:09.680 everything and more to keep them safe. You know this, 0:06:10.320 --> 0:06:13.359 I know this is that it's an emotional issue. This 0:06:13.520 --> 0:06:18.080 whole issue with COVID has affected everyone individually in a 0:06:18.120 --> 0:06:21.520 different way. But I know for a fact that certain 0:06:21.600 --> 0:06:25.159 staff and players it's a very emotional time. And I 0:06:25.200 --> 0:06:28.120 think when they've come in here and they've seen how 0:06:28.120 --> 0:06:31.600 the meeting rooms have been set up and everything that's 0:06:31.640 --> 0:06:37.920 been done for cleaning and disinfecting, they realize that they 0:06:38.000 --> 0:06:40.920 can't be any safer. There's never a one hundred percent. 0:06:41.800 --> 0:06:45.920 But I think right now the team feels like we're 0:06:46.480 --> 0:06:49.240 we've put them in a position to be successful and 0:06:49.360 --> 0:06:56.680 to feel good about coming in here every day. And 0:06:56.880 --> 0:06:59.160 welcome back to the Bears Coaches Show. We sincerely hope 0:06:59.160 --> 0:07:01.320 your Labor Day weekend has been enjoyable. This is our 0:07:01.360 --> 0:07:04.960 annual Labor Day special featuring Bears head coach Mattneggie and 0:07:05.000 --> 0:07:07.880 general manager Ryan Pace and President and CEO Ted Phillips, 0:07:07.880 --> 0:07:10.840 and virtually we are joined by some of the great Bears. 0:07:10.880 --> 0:07:12.880 Season ticket holders should typically come out to the Peyton 0:07:12.880 --> 0:07:15.360 Center on this day and join us to talk Bears football. 0:07:15.720 --> 0:07:17.720 It is a game week and I think many felt 0:07:18.120 --> 0:07:21.800 this might have been a long shot in many respects, 0:07:22.360 --> 0:07:25.760 and that's not the case. Football schedule for Sunday in 0:07:25.840 --> 0:07:28.520 Detroit against the Detroit Lions, and good to have you 0:07:29.120 --> 0:07:31.040 with us on the radio on Sunday with Tom there 0:07:31.160 --> 0:07:33.320 myself with a nine am pregame and a new and kickoff. 0:07:33.400 --> 0:07:35.640 Make sure to gear up for the Chicago Bears regular 0:07:35.680 --> 0:07:37.880 season with Jersey's caps and other must haves from the 0:07:37.960 --> 0:07:41.200 official Chicago Bears Pro shop shop now it's stored dot 0:07:41.280 --> 0:07:45.480 Chicago Bears dot com. Bat with Matt Naggie, Ryan Pace, 0:07:45.720 --> 0:07:51.320 and Ted Phillips. Matt Coaches are Wired differently laser focused 0:07:51.360 --> 0:07:55.560 on preparation. Is that how you've always felt in this 0:07:55.640 --> 0:08:01.200 process despite everything that has been going on, Yeah, it is, Jeff. 0:08:01.920 --> 0:08:05.520 The preparation part is very important. But what you need 0:08:05.560 --> 0:08:06.800 to do is you want to try to do as 0:08:06.880 --> 0:08:09.040 much as you can in the front end. And we 0:08:09.120 --> 0:08:12.440 talk about, you know, expect the unexpected, and you can 0:08:12.520 --> 0:08:14.360 kind of feel it right now in a good way 0:08:14.440 --> 0:08:17.960 in our building. It's here as far as the prep goes. Now. 0:08:17.960 --> 0:08:21.000 We we've been working on Detroit and we know where 0:08:21.040 --> 0:08:24.240 we're at and have an idea on things. But now 0:08:24.280 --> 0:08:26.600 you realize that, hey, you're you're really you know, six 0:08:26.680 --> 0:08:30.880 seven days away and you're finally into your normal schedule 0:08:30.880 --> 0:08:32.760 of how to do your you know, your day to day, 0:08:32.800 --> 0:08:36.920 hour to hour stuff. So it feels really good. I 0:08:37.040 --> 0:08:39.160 really love where our coaching staff is at right now 0:08:39.200 --> 0:08:43.400 with that, with being prepared, and so we're ready to 0:08:43.400 --> 0:08:45.440 get back at it tomorrow, get the guys in here 0:08:45.480 --> 0:08:47.719 for a little bit and get the week going. And 0:08:48.120 --> 0:08:50.719 Ryan going back to the offseason zoom meetings and all 0:08:50.880 --> 0:08:53.680 that went into that with players. What resonated with you 0:08:53.800 --> 0:08:56.640 on how Matt and the staff handle it, because we've 0:08:56.640 --> 0:08:59.680 heard a lot of very good things would have loved 0:08:59.720 --> 0:09:01.839 to have. I've seen some of those speakers that it 0:09:01.920 --> 0:09:04.960 came in and what they all meant, But overall, the 0:09:04.960 --> 0:09:07.640 players seemingly got a heck of a lot out of it. Yeah, 0:09:07.679 --> 0:09:10.400 you know, I've said this a lot. Everyone feeds off 0:09:10.480 --> 0:09:14.239 Mats leads, so he just operates with a positive mindset. 0:09:14.679 --> 0:09:17.040 You know, he's always looking for solutions, he's always speaking 0:09:17.040 --> 0:09:19.560 outside the box. And I just think that type of 0:09:19.600 --> 0:09:24.199 mentality that he naturally has really benefits our entire organization 0:09:24.320 --> 0:09:27.120 during these times. And I just think it's energizing to 0:09:27.160 --> 0:09:29.760 be around, and that's important right now, you know, Ted, 0:09:30.160 --> 0:09:34.640 I often heard even before this season, Ryan and Matt 0:09:34.720 --> 0:09:38.839 talk about no excuses. You talked about no complaining. Even 0:09:38.920 --> 0:09:41.880 before the COVID pandemic and everything else that's going on. 0:09:42.200 --> 0:09:46.040 They never talk about that other than there is no 0:09:46.360 --> 0:09:50.240 there are no excuses. They rise above circumstances. How critical 0:09:50.360 --> 0:09:52.920 is that for adaptation in this what Matt has called 0:09:52.920 --> 0:09:56.600 the Year of contingency. Well, it's huge, and I think 0:09:56.640 --> 0:09:59.360 some of the things they do so well together Matt 0:09:59.400 --> 0:10:03.040 and Ryan talking about is they get everyone pulling in 0:10:03.120 --> 0:10:08.240 the same direction, and they're always talking about solutions, not 0:10:08.320 --> 0:10:12.200 the problems. And when you have that kind of mindset, 0:10:12.360 --> 0:10:16.160 everyone feeds off of it, and they they have the 0:10:16.280 --> 0:10:21.760 ability to have a message delivered, and they're consistent on 0:10:21.800 --> 0:10:26.520 a daily basis of delivering that. It's transparent, it's authentic, 0:10:27.000 --> 0:10:30.600 and I can't be any more proud of how they've 0:10:30.600 --> 0:10:33.440 handled it because this, as I said earlier, this is 0:10:33.520 --> 0:10:36.160 a very different type of year, and we have to 0:10:36.200 --> 0:10:39.560 be ready on a daily basis for uh, you know, 0:10:39.640 --> 0:10:44.160 unknown challenges to pop up a matt Your theme messaging 0:10:44.280 --> 0:10:47.080 is always something intrigued by what you come up with. 0:10:47.120 --> 0:10:49.680 And I know it's been a big conversation from you 0:10:49.760 --> 0:10:52.240 about mental and physical toughness. This is the kind of 0:10:52.280 --> 0:10:55.720 team you want based on what transpired last year. Is 0:10:55.720 --> 0:10:58.240 the message any different than when you got the players together, 0:10:58.520 --> 0:11:01.160 then it will be on Wednesday. It's the first big 0:11:01.200 --> 0:11:05.280 practice for a preparation for week one. Right, No, it's not, Jeff, 0:11:05.600 --> 0:11:08.880 it is it's for us. It's it's about the details. 0:11:08.880 --> 0:11:11.840 But really, more importantly, I think a lot of our players, 0:11:11.880 --> 0:11:14.400 coaches and support staff, everybody in this building. They keep 0:11:14.440 --> 0:11:17.920 hearing attacking and aggressive and there's a lot of different 0:11:17.920 --> 0:11:19.720 ways that you can look at those two words, but 0:11:19.760 --> 0:11:22.679 that's something that we all felt that we can be 0:11:22.720 --> 0:11:25.520 a lot better in in a lot of different areas. 0:11:25.559 --> 0:11:28.439 And so that mindset of having that attacking and aggressive 0:11:28.440 --> 0:11:32.559 mentality is important. But then also too we like you said, 0:11:32.559 --> 0:11:35.480 we talked about being physically tough and mentally tough now 0:11:35.520 --> 0:11:38.800 at the time, we didn't realize that we were going 0:11:38.880 --> 0:11:40.720 to have to be as mentally tough as we all 0:11:40.800 --> 0:11:44.200 horror right now because it is. It challenges you every 0:11:44.200 --> 0:11:46.719 single day when you wake up, there's a possibility as 0:11:46.760 --> 0:11:48.920 something being new that none of us have gone through. 0:11:49.320 --> 0:11:51.120 And just one thing I want to make clear too 0:11:51.240 --> 0:11:53.960 is you know Ted was talking about the relationship with 0:11:54.120 --> 0:11:56.920 Ryan and myself and and you know everybody knows how 0:11:57.280 --> 0:11:59.079 I feel about that and how close we are and 0:11:59.360 --> 0:12:01.800 when we think a lot alike and support each other. 0:12:01.840 --> 0:12:05.040 But also Ryan and I have had a ton a 0:12:05.160 --> 0:12:08.600 ton of support from Ted and from George and Missus 0:12:08.640 --> 0:12:12.040 McCaskey in helping us be able to do what we'd 0:12:12.080 --> 0:12:15.160 like to do. And when you have that support and 0:12:15.200 --> 0:12:16.960 you feel good about that, and I'm talking about the 0:12:17.120 --> 0:12:19.040 you know, you have to come up with a plan 0:12:19.120 --> 0:12:22.120 on how are you going to attack the way you 0:12:22.160 --> 0:12:24.160 want to go about with COVID and all the rules 0:12:24.160 --> 0:12:27.160 that they give you, and they've given us the resources 0:12:27.400 --> 0:12:30.120 to keep our players safe. And when our players got 0:12:30.160 --> 0:12:33.400 here for the first day in person, they felt safe, 0:12:33.720 --> 0:12:36.440 they felt comfortable, and we Ryan and I can come 0:12:36.520 --> 0:12:38.440 up with ideas, but if you don't have support to 0:12:38.480 --> 0:12:41.520 do that, then you can't do it. And we had support. 0:12:41.559 --> 0:12:43.520 And I think it's from the top down, and that's 0:12:43.559 --> 0:12:46.280 what's so cool about this Ryan, that includes you know, 0:12:46.480 --> 0:12:49.360 Matt's talking about players, but in his families, it's it's 0:12:49.400 --> 0:12:53.000 the assistance. It's Matt himself, it's you yourself. You know 0:12:53.280 --> 0:12:57.560 what kind of contingency plans are in place if if 0:12:57.600 --> 0:13:00.840 it outbreak hits and it impacts you or an effects 0:13:01.000 --> 0:13:04.080 impacts Matt, and that you know, Jeff, we've thought through 0:13:04.120 --> 0:13:07.080 all the different contingency plans and I think as we 0:13:07.160 --> 0:13:09.560 work through the process. Really this started back in March, 0:13:09.679 --> 0:13:11.760 so this is one of those deals you open one 0:13:11.800 --> 0:13:13.920 door and there's six more questions, you know, as we 0:13:13.960 --> 0:13:16.800 go through this. But as you said, we have to 0:13:16.800 --> 0:13:19.880 have plans for all possibilities. That's for our players, and 0:13:20.160 --> 0:13:22.480 the league has done given us a lot of avenues 0:13:22.480 --> 0:13:24.640 to help protect our players and for our staff, and 0:13:24.679 --> 0:13:28.480 I think no matches said it from the McCaskey family, George, Ted. 0:13:29.040 --> 0:13:32.600 We've been given the resources to protect our team in 0:13:32.640 --> 0:13:34.839 a first class manner and you feel it throughout our 0:13:34.880 --> 0:13:38.440 whole setup at Household, a whole new setup. But right now, 0:13:38.600 --> 0:13:40.559 like our mindset is, we cannot let our guard down. 0:13:40.679 --> 0:13:44.080 We cannot be complacent, especially as we're about to hit 0:13:44.120 --> 0:13:50.480 the road for Detroit. And welcome back to the Bears 0:13:50.480 --> 0:13:53.640 Coaches Show, brought to you by a Whippley CPA's and Consultants, 0:13:53.640 --> 0:13:56.000 a proud partner of the Chicago Bears. Learn more at 0:13:56.000 --> 0:13:59.200 Whippley dot com. Jeff Jonny AAC along with Matt Neeggie, 0:13:59.760 --> 0:14:02.040 Ryan and Pace and Ted Phillips here on the Bears 0:14:02.040 --> 0:14:03.960 Coaches Show as we get up for the twenty twenty 0:14:04.000 --> 0:14:07.120 regular season opener in Detroit on Sunday. Home opener a 0:14:07.160 --> 0:14:10.560 week from Sunday against the Giants in our Labor Day special. Hey, 0:14:10.640 --> 0:14:12.200 we'd love to be in front of the fans at 0:14:12.200 --> 0:14:13.880 the Payton Center, no doubt about it, but that's not 0:14:13.920 --> 0:14:16.120 the case tonight. But we sincerely look forward to seeing 0:14:16.120 --> 0:14:18.280 everybody out and about at some point in the near 0:14:18.360 --> 0:14:22.760 future and season ticket holders virtually joining the program. Tonight, fellas, 0:14:22.840 --> 0:14:26.520 let's start taking some questions from our season ticket holders 0:14:26.560 --> 0:14:30.200 that they sent in. We're gonna start with coach Naggy. 0:14:30.520 --> 0:14:34.560 This is from may Lean, Alabama, section four forty one 0:14:34.600 --> 0:14:37.000 from Mark Teachman. Wants to know what changes will the 0:14:37.040 --> 0:14:41.440 Bears be making to improve their overall performance in twenty twenty. 0:14:41.480 --> 0:14:44.320 Broad question, of course, because coaches like to say we 0:14:44.440 --> 0:14:48.120 got to improve everything. Yeah, we do, Melee, and I 0:14:48.160 --> 0:14:52.240 think for us, the changes that happens every year, every 0:14:52.320 --> 0:14:55.480 every team is a little bit different. So you know, 0:14:55.760 --> 0:14:58.680 I feel like for us as coaches, we can coach 0:14:59.680 --> 0:15:03.280 the these guys with the details better. The players can 0:15:03.360 --> 0:15:05.720 really take these details in and then go ahead and 0:15:05.760 --> 0:15:08.440 execute it. Um. You can look across the board, whether 0:15:08.440 --> 0:15:11.240 it's offense, defense, special teams, and like like you said, Jeff, 0:15:11.400 --> 0:15:14.680 it can be a broad question. But for us, we 0:15:15.080 --> 0:15:18.520 just know offensively we want to score a lot more points. 0:15:18.600 --> 0:15:22.560 We want to protect the football, create an identity on offense, 0:15:22.640 --> 0:15:26.480 and then defensively, we want to continue with that aggressive 0:15:26.480 --> 0:15:29.960 mentality that we've had, get you know, get that football 0:15:30.000 --> 0:15:33.800 away from the offense and play fast and play with energy. 0:15:33.840 --> 0:15:36.200 I think the biggest thing for us all three phases 0:15:36.200 --> 0:15:39.040 special teams too, is get that swag back. I think 0:15:39.040 --> 0:15:41.320 we lost that a little bit last year. So if 0:15:41.360 --> 0:15:43.360 there's one big thing that we can all get better at, 0:15:43.400 --> 0:15:46.600 it's getting that energy and that that juice back. Is 0:15:46.640 --> 0:15:51.440 that you included, that's me included? Yeah? Well, I h yeah, 0:15:51.680 --> 0:15:53.560 it is. It's me. I know I can be better 0:15:53.600 --> 0:15:56.520 in that area and being able to help out these players. 0:15:56.560 --> 0:15:58.960 It's happening right now, Jeff in practice. If I hope 0:15:59.000 --> 0:16:00.840 you can tell that the times you've been out there 0:16:00.880 --> 0:16:03.240 and you can feel it. There's just a different vibe 0:16:03.320 --> 0:16:06.240 right now in this building in a good way. And 0:16:06.320 --> 0:16:07.600 I love that and I don't want to take that 0:16:07.640 --> 0:16:09.840 away from anybody. Ryan. I'm gonna build off of that 0:16:09.880 --> 0:16:13.280 with you, because the player procurement aspect is in your 0:16:13.320 --> 0:16:15.920 hands and your staff and getting a guy that you're 0:16:15.920 --> 0:16:18.840 familiar with back to New Orleans. Jimmy Graham. Oh, I 0:16:18.880 --> 0:16:23.440 find as just an amazing story and journey through this 0:16:24.000 --> 0:16:26.840 life of his. Nothing came easy for Jimmy Graham, and 0:16:26.880 --> 0:16:30.080 he's turned out to be a guy that as Matt 0:16:30.440 --> 0:16:32.680 uses the word juice. He brings juice to practice, he 0:16:32.720 --> 0:16:36.880 brings leadership to that room. On offense, you got developing 0:16:36.920 --> 0:16:40.040 guys in that regard that you've drafted in in that 0:16:40.120 --> 0:16:44.880 building team Matt coming in. I think Roquine could be 0:16:44.920 --> 0:16:47.320 that guy and Eddie Jackson. So do you feel you 0:16:47.320 --> 0:16:50.760 have guys almost in every position group that can bring 0:16:50.840 --> 0:16:53.480 some of what Matt's talking about? Oh for sure. And 0:16:53.240 --> 0:16:55.840 that's that's a conscious effort as we've built the team, Jeff, 0:16:55.880 --> 0:16:58.920 to add those type of leaders throughout our building. And 0:16:59.280 --> 0:17:02.200 you mentioned Jimmy Graham, and I mean beyond the physical 0:17:02.240 --> 0:17:04.680 skill set that he brings, which has been evident in practice, 0:17:04.960 --> 0:17:07.680 the leadership that he brings, as Matt says, the juice 0:17:07.720 --> 0:17:10.520 and the energy that he brings it's infectious to the 0:17:10.520 --> 0:17:13.879 locker room. The swagger and confidence that he has. I 0:17:13.920 --> 0:17:16.639 feel like we had that in every position group now, 0:17:17.240 --> 0:17:19.840 and that's huge as we start this season because, to 0:17:19.920 --> 0:17:21.679 be quite honest, that hasn't been the case in some 0:17:21.680 --> 0:17:24.200 previous years. But we feel good about that in every 0:17:24.200 --> 0:17:26.480 position room as we go forward. I think people would 0:17:26.480 --> 0:17:28.080 be in tried to know what your choice would be 0:17:28.119 --> 0:17:30.800 who brings the juice on special teams. Is it Corderrel 0:17:30.920 --> 0:17:33.879 or is it Cherik or I mean because because Cordarrel 0:17:34.040 --> 0:17:37.760 is doing just about everything, including being a gunner. One 0:17:37.800 --> 0:17:39.919 of the best players of the year last year was 0:17:39.960 --> 0:17:42.600 his play putting that ball down inside the one. Remember 0:17:42.600 --> 0:17:45.360 that one? For sure, I'd say, you know, definitely Cordero 0:17:45.680 --> 0:17:48.960 and Tariq would be in that in that talk. And 0:17:49.400 --> 0:17:52.399 then Shark just with the consistency that he brings on 0:17:52.440 --> 0:17:55.159 special teams has been huge for us over the years. 0:17:55.640 --> 0:17:58.200 Ted this is from Bourbon at the old home of 0:17:58.240 --> 0:18:01.199 the Bears in terms of training at Mark Morgan from 0:18:01.280 --> 0:18:05.400 Section two fifty six. Since social distancing is an accepted practice, 0:18:05.440 --> 0:18:08.520 why can't the NFL allow so many fans based on 0:18:08.640 --> 0:18:11.120 a team's capacity to attend a game. In the Bears case, 0:18:11.160 --> 0:18:14.879 this would amount to roughly sixteen thousand fans per game. 0:18:15.280 --> 0:18:17.919 This is a big topic, no question. Just heard that 0:18:18.200 --> 0:18:20.600 the Browns and the Bengals from their governor, and that's 0:18:20.680 --> 0:18:24.920 part of this government impact is saying six thousand fans 0:18:24.960 --> 0:18:26.920 can show up. What can you tell season ticket holders 0:18:26.920 --> 0:18:29.800 and fans in general about what the plan is moving forward? 0:18:29.840 --> 0:18:31.800 I know in initial stages that's not going to be 0:18:31.840 --> 0:18:36.359 the case. Yeah, that's you touched on it, Jeff and Mark. 0:18:37.560 --> 0:18:41.919 The reality is the league realized they couldn't dictate to 0:18:42.000 --> 0:18:45.720 each team, so it's up to each individual team to 0:18:45.840 --> 0:18:50.639 work with their local and state government. Everyone's got different 0:18:51.520 --> 0:18:54.879 rules and regulations. And I can tell our season ticket 0:18:54.880 --> 0:18:58.679 holders this that we have worked tirelessly to come up 0:18:58.720 --> 0:19:03.920 with a plan reduced capacity. The plan that we had 0:19:03.960 --> 0:19:06.719 presented to the city and the state was about eleven 0:19:06.800 --> 0:19:12.360 thousand fans. The building was broken up into fifteen different 0:19:12.480 --> 0:19:18.200 zones with dedicated ingress and egress, and dedicated restrooms and 0:19:21.080 --> 0:19:25.000 food and beverage, and with one hundred people or less 0:19:25.040 --> 0:19:27.520 per each seating section. That's how we got to the 0:19:27.560 --> 0:19:31.680 eleven thousand. The good news is the government officials, the 0:19:31.800 --> 0:19:36.640 public health officials, they loved our plan. The problem is 0:19:36.720 --> 0:19:40.480 that right now State of Illinois and the City of Chicago, 0:19:40.560 --> 0:19:45.240 the COVID cases keep increasing, and until that curve breaks 0:19:45.640 --> 0:19:48.919 and they get to start heading downward, we're not going 0:19:49.000 --> 0:19:51.159 to be able to have fans. The feeling is that 0:19:51.200 --> 0:19:55.000 it's not safe, but I know this that the plan 0:19:55.119 --> 0:20:00.160 that we have people will feel very safe. We've worked 0:20:00.160 --> 0:20:04.000 with Populace, which is a global stadium architecture firm, and 0:20:04.640 --> 0:20:08.200 the plan we have has been responsive to the city 0:20:08.240 --> 0:20:11.200 and the state, so we have it. We haven't waiting 0:20:11.240 --> 0:20:15.439 there and we're just waiting now for the number of 0:20:15.520 --> 0:20:19.320 cases to start dropping where we can implement it. And 0:20:20.080 --> 0:20:22.080 we can't wait because we want to get our fans 0:20:22.160 --> 0:20:25.960 back in the building. Obviously great home field advantage. We've 0:20:26.000 --> 0:20:31.200 got the best fans there are in the league. Welcome 0:20:31.240 --> 0:20:33.720 back everybody. During the twenty twenty season, the Chicago Bears 0:20:33.760 --> 0:20:36.159 are giving away one hundred one thousand dollars to a 0:20:36.240 --> 0:20:40.480 deserving nonprofit organization in the Chicagoland area. So visit Chicago 0:20:40.560 --> 0:20:43.400 Bears dot com slash community all Pros for more information 0:20:43.640 --> 0:20:46.200 and how you can help out. Back on the Bears 0:20:46.200 --> 0:20:48.639 Coaches Show, sponsored by and brought to you by A 0:20:48.680 --> 0:20:52.480 Whippley CPAs and Consultants, Jeff Joni accled on with Matteneggie, 0:20:52.560 --> 0:20:55.959 Ryan Pace and Ted Phillips as we continue our conversation 0:20:56.000 --> 0:20:58.920 building up to the twenty twenty opener on Sunday at 0:20:58.960 --> 0:21:03.120 Ford Field. Uh, gentlemen, I don't I don't think anyone 0:21:03.240 --> 0:21:07.320 could have foreseen the reaction that has happened over the 0:21:07.320 --> 0:21:10.119 course of the last several months in our country and 0:21:10.160 --> 0:21:12.840 within each of our lives, and in your lives and 0:21:12.880 --> 0:21:17.600 your building. Matt Nagie the Social Injustice movement concerns that 0:21:17.800 --> 0:21:20.359 you emphasize that listening was always going to be the 0:21:20.400 --> 0:21:23.960 big key, but no one was ever really, no one 0:21:23.960 --> 0:21:27.119 could be prepared for what happened. How revealing has this 0:21:27.200 --> 0:21:31.440 been for you and for the organization. Yeah, Jeff, it's 0:21:31.600 --> 0:21:37.240 um it really makes you take a step back when 0:21:37.240 --> 0:21:41.560 you do listen. We all think that we have all 0:21:41.560 --> 0:21:44.040 the answers. We all think we have our own stories. 0:21:44.520 --> 0:21:47.400 But when you sit back and you listen to other 0:21:47.480 --> 0:21:52.600