WEBVTT - Recapping Bears and Bengals Joint Practice | Bears Weekly 0:00:00.840 --> 0:00:05.040 Welcome in to Bears Weekly, powered by IGS Energy, by 0:00:05.160 --> 0:00:09.160 Chicago Bears Network Production. Bears Weekly is brought you by 0:00:09.320 --> 0:00:12.720 Advocate Healthcare, Athletico Physical, Apparently. 0:00:12.680 --> 0:00:12.959 C D. 0:00:13.200 --> 0:00:16.759 Gallaghy, Connie's Pizza, IGS Energy. 0:00:16.720 --> 0:00:17.759 And Meller Liked. 0:00:18.280 --> 0:00:22.520 Here are your hosts, Jeff Chiliac aka the Mayor of Bearsville, 0:00:22.680 --> 0:00:25.800 and his sidekick Tom the Surfmaster Thayer. 0:00:26.840 --> 0:00:28.400 And a pleasant today of everybody. 0:00:28.440 --> 0:00:31.280 Welcome in to another edition of Bears Weekly, headed towards 0:00:31.360 --> 0:00:33.440 the home debut of the twenty twenty four Bears and 0:00:33.479 --> 0:00:36.440 what will be a raucus welcome indeed for rookie quarterback 0:00:36.520 --> 0:00:40.159 Caleb Williams. I'm the rest of the Chicago Bears who 0:00:40.159 --> 0:00:42.400 worked in the rain today against the Cincinnati Bengals. 0:00:42.440 --> 0:00:43.479 Here at Hawisaw. 0:00:43.479 --> 0:00:46.600 I'm Jeff Jonaiyak, my broadcast partner, super Bowl winning Bears 0:00:46.600 --> 0:00:49.560 guard Tom Thayrelong our special guest this week, an interview 0:00:49.600 --> 0:00:53.040 with Bears defensive end Daniel Hardy. Had such a terrific 0:00:53.040 --> 0:00:56.400 game along with Austin Booker in Buffalo, but now it's 0:00:56.440 --> 0:00:59.200 moving on to Cincinnati. Joe Burrows guys practice today with 0:00:59.240 --> 0:01:02.240 the Bears. They'll meet on Saturday night. At Soldier Field 0:01:02.240 --> 0:01:04.639 in the ESPN studio spending the Dallas to night Kendrick 0:01:04.640 --> 0:01:07.319 Smith thanks to our producers Dan Brilly and Jordan Tredap 0:01:07.319 --> 0:01:09.880 from the Bears, and the executive producer of the Bears 0:01:10.000 --> 0:01:14.479 Radio Network is Eric Ostrowski. Tom Thair joining us now, 0:01:14.560 --> 0:01:19.479 Big Tom practice with the Bengals just like we did 0:01:19.520 --> 0:01:20.120 as kids. 0:01:19.920 --> 0:01:21.640 When we played in the park in the rain. It 0:01:21.720 --> 0:01:22.480 was nice. 0:01:22.240 --> 0:01:25.520 And you know, pouring, but you know, a little slipping 0:01:25.560 --> 0:01:27.360 slide here and now in again, but overall, got some 0:01:27.360 --> 0:01:27.840 good work in. 0:01:27.840 --> 0:01:29.319 Today, a lot of good work. 0:01:30.000 --> 0:01:34.600 The atmosphere was a good working atmosphere. The conditions worth 0:01:34.640 --> 0:01:37.800 the perfect. But again, every time you get a chance 0:01:37.840 --> 0:01:40.720 to go up against an NFL player, I think you 0:01:40.800 --> 0:01:42.240 have a chance for an improvement. 0:01:42.640 --> 0:01:44.679 And then the defensive front that they are. 0:01:44.560 --> 0:01:49.880 Facing against the Cincinnati Bengals was much more beneficial because 0:01:49.880 --> 0:01:53.120 they've been playing against their own front since the beginning 0:01:53.160 --> 0:01:55.520 of OTA's mini camp and training camp. 0:01:55.800 --> 0:01:57.880 All right, what is the first thing you learned about 0:01:58.280 --> 0:02:01.680 what you saw out there today? It's hard to digest everything. 0:02:01.720 --> 0:02:04.600 We said this one of the Miami Dolphins. We said 0:02:04.600 --> 0:02:06.560 it a long time ago. When the Bears practice with 0:02:06.600 --> 0:02:10.799 the Rams at Western Illinois. Remember we're up in the 0:02:11.400 --> 0:02:13.200 the what do you call those things? 0:02:13.200 --> 0:02:13.640 The lift? 0:02:15.040 --> 0:02:19.359 Who was the Rams with the head coach that was 0:02:19.400 --> 0:02:21.680 here in the offense Mike Martz. Mike Martz and the guys, 0:02:21.840 --> 0:02:23.240 it's hard to digest everything. 0:02:24.360 --> 0:02:27.119 Well, you know, the thing about it is, you don't 0:02:27.160 --> 0:02:30.280 want them to be able to have everything digested before 0:02:30.320 --> 0:02:32.840 you face them. You want to have a guy like 0:02:32.919 --> 0:02:39.040 Caleb Williams, a young quarterback that's seeing personnel, athleticism, different 0:02:39.200 --> 0:02:42.560 lineup of defense for the first time in something you're 0:02:42.600 --> 0:02:47.040 not necessarily prepared for. Because now you're putting into practice 0:02:47.440 --> 0:02:51.400 the work that you put in during the course of meetings, 0:02:51.840 --> 0:02:55.760 and you have to reconfirm the information you learned about 0:02:55.800 --> 0:02:59.079 your offense can fit according to the defense you're seeing. 0:02:59.600 --> 0:03:01.760 Yeah, I mean, I'm just I'm just saying I had. 0:03:01.919 --> 0:03:03.639 You know, your eyes take you everywhere. You want to 0:03:03.639 --> 0:03:06.200 watch the number one offense against the number one defense 0:03:06.240 --> 0:03:07.880 of the Bengals, but you want to watch the defense 0:03:07.880 --> 0:03:10.200 of the Bears against Joe Burrow, and it's it's hard 0:03:10.240 --> 0:03:11.799 to take your eyes away. 0:03:11.840 --> 0:03:13.840 You know what it is, It's honestly hard to take 0:03:13.880 --> 0:03:14.400 your eyes. 0:03:14.240 --> 0:03:16.480 Away from Caleb Williams in the offense to see what 0:03:16.480 --> 0:03:19.720 they're doing. But I did manage a few snaps with 0:03:19.800 --> 0:03:22.919 Jason McKee out there on the practice field today, and 0:03:23.360 --> 0:03:27.200 Jalen Johnson just keeps making plays, the defense keeps making plays, 0:03:27.240 --> 0:03:31.160 the linebackers keeps swiping the football. I mean another one 0:03:31.160 --> 0:03:34.280 today by Tremaine Edmunds. So and that's against it. You know, 0:03:34.520 --> 0:03:36.880 a very very good quarterback. They're an established quarterback. 0:03:36.880 --> 0:03:40.640 And Joe Burrow today, Yeah, but he's facing eleven strong 0:03:40.720 --> 0:03:44.000 on the Bears first team defense, and so he's got 0:03:44.000 --> 0:03:46.720 to be saying in meetings tonight, boy, the Bears can 0:03:46.800 --> 0:03:51.480 really play fast, aggressive back seven defense, and they're complimented 0:03:51.520 --> 0:03:53.000 by good rushes up front. 0:03:53.400 --> 0:03:55.520 So I think depending. 0:03:55.120 --> 0:03:58.440 Upon where you're having your conversation in the meeting room 0:03:58.480 --> 0:04:01.280 with Cincinnati or in the me with the Bears, is 0:04:01.360 --> 0:04:05.240 kind of the same thing. Because I mentioned Caleb Williams 0:04:05.600 --> 0:04:09.400 being able to enact his system and the players that 0:04:09.440 --> 0:04:12.200 are involved without a lot of preparation time. 0:04:12.400 --> 0:04:15.160 Also, good day, I thought for Rome at Doonesday. All right, 0:04:15.280 --> 0:04:17.800 we've been waiting to find out what's going to happen 0:04:17.839 --> 0:04:19.520 on Saturday at noon at Soldier field. 0:04:19.560 --> 0:04:21.880 In terms of the Bears starters, here. 0:04:21.680 --> 0:04:24.320 Is a chunks of today's news conference with head coach 0:04:24.440 --> 0:04:26.240 Matt Eberflus. 0:04:26.040 --> 0:04:29.120 In terms of the starters this week. You know, I'm 0:04:29.120 --> 0:04:29.840 just going to say this. 0:04:29.880 --> 0:04:32.760 We feel really good about our plan and the process 0:04:32.760 --> 0:04:36.560 that we've been through so far in training camp, and 0:04:36.920 --> 0:04:40.240 you will see the starters in that game, you know. 0:04:40.320 --> 0:04:43.480 So again, I talked about competitive reps the other day, 0:04:43.839 --> 0:04:45.200 and I feel like we've gotten a lot of good 0:04:45.200 --> 0:04:49.200 competitive reps, you know, on ones, a lot of good situations. 0:04:49.440 --> 0:04:51.960 This day was another chance for us to get competitive 0:04:51.960 --> 0:04:56.080 reps against another opponent, another skill set which was outstanding. 0:04:56.520 --> 0:04:58.560 And then this week coming up on Saturday, we get 0:04:58.600 --> 0:05:01.159 another chance to get some reps there too, So we 0:05:01.200 --> 0:05:03.200 feel really good about that. It was great to be 0:05:03.240 --> 0:05:06.279 out there in the weather today for really everybody, just 0:05:06.320 --> 0:05:07.839 because of the ball. You know that you have to 0:05:07.839 --> 0:05:09.839 handle the ball differently and the wet, you know, and 0:05:09.839 --> 0:05:11.320 it was it was wet out there. It was a 0:05:11.360 --> 0:05:14.400 pretty good rain at times. But not only that, it's 0:05:14.400 --> 0:05:16.719 also the footwork. You know, the footwork matters. You got 0:05:16.720 --> 0:05:19.039 to keep your feet under your frame. You got to 0:05:19.040 --> 0:05:21.360 make sure that you're doing a good job with your footwork, 0:05:21.440 --> 0:05:24.200 you know, in terms of planning, driving, moving in that 0:05:24.240 --> 0:05:24.919 wet condition. 0:05:25.760 --> 0:05:27.400 So I thought that was a good experience too for 0:05:27.480 --> 0:05:28.160 really everybody. 0:05:28.400 --> 0:05:31.200 How has Nate Davis look since you get back out 0:05:31.279 --> 0:05:35.680 to practice and you were different talking about a player 0:05:35.680 --> 0:05:37.880 that's been out for a while with injuries with us 0:05:37.960 --> 0:05:40.520 as you have been maybe in three years with him, 0:05:40.520 --> 0:05:43.640 Do you think he was that used to get a 0:05:43.640 --> 0:05:45.040 message through to him? 0:05:45.440 --> 0:05:46.680 I will just say this about date. 0:05:46.839 --> 0:05:49.360 You know, he's uh, he's been working to get back 0:05:49.560 --> 0:05:52.160 and he's done that and it's unfortunate that he's had 0:05:52.200 --> 0:05:55.440 those injuries that he's had in his time here, but 0:05:55.480 --> 0:05:57.720 again he's worked every time to get back and when 0:05:57.720 --> 0:05:59.440 he was back, he did a nice job in there. 0:05:59.520 --> 0:06:03.120 So again that's a competition. We're looking at that for 0:06:03.160 --> 0:06:06.520 who the best inside players are for us. That's not 0:06:06.600 --> 0:06:09.320 solidified yet at center or at that one guard position. 0:06:10.120 --> 0:06:12.040 You know, we feel really good about TeV at that 0:06:12.080 --> 0:06:14.360 one spot. So we'll see where that goes going through 0:06:14.360 --> 0:06:15.880 this week and moving into the next week. 0:06:15.960 --> 0:06:18.359 What do you think Beats will be back out there? 0:06:19.320 --> 0:06:21.039 Yeah, he's weak to week right now, so I don't 0:06:21.080 --> 0:06:21.400 really know. 0:06:21.640 --> 0:06:25.560 I hope I'm hopeful that it's soon, you know, so 0:06:25.640 --> 0:06:27.240 I hope we'll you know, we'll see Matt with. 0:06:27.400 --> 0:06:30.200 Daylas going from I think with two's earlier in the 0:06:30.240 --> 0:06:31.480 week and get some one reps today. 0:06:31.480 --> 0:06:34.560 What has he shown you to earn those starters reps? 0:06:34.600 --> 0:06:37.320 Just toughness, you know, and he's he's able to handle 0:06:37.320 --> 0:06:37.880 that position. 0:06:38.600 --> 0:06:40.560 You know, you would think that, hey, I'm a receiver 0:06:40.640 --> 0:06:41.320 and then going. 0:06:41.160 --> 0:06:43.520 Back to you know, to the tight or the half 0:06:43.560 --> 0:06:45.800 back spot is uh, you got to have some toughness 0:06:45.839 --> 0:06:47.880 in there, and he does. And he's able to get 0:06:47.880 --> 0:06:49.960 the reads down and he's slowly getting it. You know, 0:06:50.000 --> 0:06:51.720 it's not easy to learn how to run the outside 0:06:51.800 --> 0:06:54.080 zone and the you know, the inside duo play and 0:06:54.120 --> 0:06:55.800 all the players that everybody runs in the league. That 0:06:55.839 --> 0:06:58.279 takes some time. And then really about the protections, you know, 0:06:58.320 --> 0:06:59.960 he's learning that. I know he was up here talking 0:07:00.040 --> 0:07:03.359 about that, but he's getting those two might sound silly. 0:07:03.240 --> 0:07:06.800 But as with every opportunity you've given them, he seems to. 0:07:07.400 --> 0:07:09.080 You said Austin, You said Booker. 0:07:08.880 --> 0:07:11.800 Austin Booker, it seems with every opportunity to find his 0:07:11.880 --> 0:07:14.240 way to make an impact in some way. Does that 0:07:14.280 --> 0:07:16.320 make you want to see him out there possibly against 0:07:16.360 --> 0:07:18.760 the Ones this Sunday, so him get some run versus 0:07:18.760 --> 0:07:21.000 the Ones today, maybe just to see Okay, you've. 0:07:20.880 --> 0:07:23.080 Shown it verse the two, shown it versus three. Let's 0:07:23.080 --> 0:07:23.880 see what he can do. 0:07:25.480 --> 0:07:25.720 Yeah. 0:07:25.920 --> 0:07:27.320 I think he. I think he's earned that. 0:07:27.360 --> 0:07:27.480 Now. 0:07:27.480 --> 0:07:29.240 We got to talk about that as a staff, you know, 0:07:29.280 --> 0:07:31.040 but we definitely, uh, you know. 0:07:31.080 --> 0:07:33.800 Rotate those players who we see as. 0:07:33.720 --> 0:07:36.040 The rush group, you know, so you're rotating at least 0:07:36.080 --> 0:07:37.800 six of those guys during the course of a game 0:07:37.840 --> 0:07:39.680 if you if you have eight up er you know, 0:07:40.360 --> 0:07:43.680 active for the game. And uh, you know, he's really 0:07:43.720 --> 0:07:45.440 shown well in terms of that. He's like I said, 0:07:45.440 --> 0:07:49.880 he's a natural rusher, real instinctual, does it predetermined prior. 0:07:49.760 --> 0:07:51.200 To and you saw that today. 0:07:51.240 --> 0:07:54.320 Again He's got some guys just have natural slip and 0:07:54.360 --> 0:07:55.480 be able to turn the corner. 0:07:56.760 --> 0:07:57.720 You know, He's got that. 0:07:58.040 --> 0:08:00.720 And so he's you know, improving and the most important 0:08:00.720 --> 0:08:03.120 thing he has is motor. You know, he throws his 0:08:03.160 --> 0:08:06.240 fastball every play and that's what a good d lineman does. 0:08:06.680 --> 0:08:11.560 Next step for last week, you said the operation awareness 0:08:11.560 --> 0:08:13.440 in the pocket for Caleb. What's the next step you 0:08:13.480 --> 0:08:15.360 want to see from him this week. 0:08:15.600 --> 0:08:17.440 Just much of the same really, Like I said, he's 0:08:17.440 --> 0:08:19.400 going against a different structure here, So I think that 0:08:19.960 --> 0:08:22.840 just you know, much of the same and improving and 0:08:22.880 --> 0:08:25.560 doing the basics of quarterbacking. And I think that he 0:08:25.640 --> 0:08:27.680 did that last week at a solid rate. You know, 0:08:27.720 --> 0:08:29.640 there's a couple of things with the footwork under center 0:08:29.640 --> 0:08:31.320 and those types of things where he's got to improve, 0:08:31.400 --> 0:08:33.440 and he's worked on those this week. But really much 0:08:33.480 --> 0:08:35.240 of the same and just a level it up, you know, 0:08:35.280 --> 0:08:36.520 as we go through these weeks. 0:08:36.840 --> 0:08:37.160 All right. 0:08:37.160 --> 0:08:39.679 Matt Abraflu's portion of his news conference with the media 0:08:39.720 --> 0:08:41.440 up here at Hall, I saw I got a couple 0:08:41.480 --> 0:08:44.280 of notes, Tommy, one about Booker because that was one 0:08:44.280 --> 0:08:46.680 of the last things you talk about. Just you know, 0:08:46.960 --> 0:08:49.840 what you're noticing as much as the power and the 0:08:50.080 --> 0:08:53.960 overall width and size and length of Javon Dexter. But 0:08:54.640 --> 0:08:58.880 when they loop Booker inside, he's wiry. He does have 0:08:59.040 --> 0:09:01.560 a long reach. He gets his hands very close to 0:09:01.920 --> 0:09:04.559 not only tapping the ball down but intercepting the ball, 0:09:04.760 --> 0:09:07.000 which happened in practice today with Joe Burrow. 0:09:07.000 --> 0:09:11.240 Right, But he keeps himself separating from the blocker. He 0:09:11.360 --> 0:09:13.480 never allows a guy to get his hands on him 0:09:13.520 --> 0:09:16.760 purely where that makes it that strong offensive lineman is 0:09:17.040 --> 0:09:19.960 in control of his upper body. And so when you 0:09:20.160 --> 0:09:22.720 look at a guy like Austin Booker when he's rushing 0:09:22.760 --> 0:09:25.559 from the edge or he's working a stunt on the inside, 0:09:25.840 --> 0:09:29.199 he's very elusive and he's really difficult for an offensive 0:09:29.240 --> 0:09:32.959 lineman to commit to him because he can slap your 0:09:32.960 --> 0:09:35.120 hands away, make him miss and get into the path 0:09:35.160 --> 0:09:35.840 of the quarterback. 0:09:36.000 --> 0:09:38.240 And we're certainly excited about hearing the starters are going 0:09:38.280 --> 0:09:41.400 to play. How much we'll know when it actually happens. Yeah, 0:09:41.440 --> 0:09:42.720 so we'll be looking forward to that. 0:09:43.280 --> 0:09:46.040 You know, I'm glad they're gonna play, And I'm glad 0:09:46.080 --> 0:09:49.800 they know this beforehand because it changes your mentality a 0:09:49.880 --> 0:09:54.079 little bit, getting ready to go to the stadium on Saturday, knowing, Okay, 0:09:54.320 --> 0:09:56.439 when I put my uniform on, I am going to 0:09:56.480 --> 0:09:58.400 get out there and get some valuable reps. 0:09:58.600 --> 0:10:00.520 Only bummer today fans could be here. 0:10:00.800 --> 0:10:03.360 The weather was not conducive for that kind in the 0:10:03.760 --> 0:10:06.960 fear that lightning would cause a delay. In practice, everybody 0:10:07.040 --> 0:10:09.079 have to get indoors at the Peyton Center. The place 0:10:09.160 --> 0:10:11.640 is just not big enough to hold everybody, So there 0:10:11.679 --> 0:10:13.640 could be something that works though to get fans out 0:10:13.640 --> 0:10:16.079 here next week. All right, that's Tom there, I'm Jeff Joniac. 0:10:16.080 --> 0:10:19.760 When we come back, we'll be joined by another pass 0:10:19.840 --> 0:10:23.560 rusher of notes, especially pairing with Austin Booker, and then 0:10:23.559 --> 0:10:26.400 win over Buffalo. Daniel Hardy joined us on ESPN one 0:10:26.400 --> 0:10:28.000 thousand of the Bears Radio Network. 0:10:28.240 --> 0:10:30.920 This is Bears Weekly with a voice of the Bears 0:10:30.960 --> 0:10:35.400 for twenty three years, Jeff Jonyak on the Bears Radio Network. 0:10:38.800 --> 0:10:41.240 Welcome back to Bears Weekly on ESPN one thousand of 0:10:41.280 --> 0:10:43.760 the Bears Radio Network. We're brought to you by IGS 0:10:43.920 --> 0:10:46.760 Energy with Tom Thayer Jeff Joniac. Tom will rejoin us 0:10:46.760 --> 0:10:48.760 in just a moment, but please to be joined by 0:10:49.040 --> 0:10:52.080 defensive end Daniel Hardy, the Bears third year player out 0:10:52.080 --> 0:10:53.040 of Montana State. 0:10:53.720 --> 0:10:56.319 Wonderful performance in Buffalo. 0:10:56.600 --> 0:10:59.200 I mean you talk about a tandem attack with you 0:10:59.280 --> 0:11:01.760 and Austin book A way to go. That was a 0:11:01.840 --> 0:11:05.400 wonderful experience to watch two pass rushers get after it. 0:11:05.559 --> 0:11:07.720 Identical stat line. I don't know if you know that. 0:11:07.760 --> 0:11:10.920 Really, Yes, you guys had the exact You had five 0:11:11.040 --> 0:11:14.079 tackles each, two and a half sacks, each same number 0:11:14.080 --> 0:11:16.400 of tackle for losses. So you guys as a pair 0:11:16.559 --> 0:11:17.319 did some damage. 0:11:17.760 --> 0:11:19.400 Hey man, that's what we're all about as a D 0:11:19.440 --> 0:11:20.559 line man, just wreckon shop. 0:11:20.880 --> 0:11:21.120 Yep. 0:11:21.200 --> 0:11:23.439 And how did you guys play off of each other? 0:11:23.440 --> 0:11:28.040 Because that's also something that defensive ends. When you're really cranking, 0:11:28.160 --> 0:11:30.120 you guys can play off each other even though you're 0:11:30.160 --> 0:11:31.040 on the opposite sides. 0:11:31.120 --> 0:11:34.280 Oh, absolutely, Especially you know the energy aspect of it, 0:11:34.840 --> 0:11:37.760 you know, kind of is everybody second preseason game. You know, 0:11:37.760 --> 0:11:39.640 everybody's still trying to make sure you don't mess up. 0:11:39.640 --> 0:11:40.920 And it was just we got two point in the 0:11:40.960 --> 0:11:43.280 game where some of the vets came in and they said, 0:11:43.280 --> 0:11:45.040 you make sure you guys are celebrating, man, make sure 0:11:45.040 --> 0:11:47.160 you're loving each other up. And so we really made 0:11:47.160 --> 0:11:49.200 an emphasis of that and we just started feeding off 0:11:49.200 --> 0:11:51.120 each other's energy and it just kept building and building 0:11:51.120 --> 0:11:52.760 and building. It not just me and Book, but you know, 0:11:53.000 --> 0:11:55.559 the whole D line as a whole, and just playing 0:11:55.600 --> 0:11:57.400 as a team, rushing fours one and getting out of 0:11:57.440 --> 0:11:57.880 the queue. 0:11:57.960 --> 0:11:58.560 Yeah, I'll tell you. 0:11:58.960 --> 0:12:03.720 Watching Hard Knocks last night, ebra Flus was miked up 0:12:03.760 --> 0:12:06.200 and he kept asking for a takeaway and he wanted 0:12:06.200 --> 0:12:09.160 points out to take away, and sure enough, the pressure 0:12:09.160 --> 0:12:11.600 breaks pipes and Mica of Baskerville comes up with a 0:12:11.640 --> 0:12:12.120 pick six. 0:12:12.160 --> 0:12:14.520 Sat a mile away almost got too excited when. 0:12:14.360 --> 0:12:16.880 I was calling it because I could have called it 0:12:16.960 --> 0:12:20.800 before they even got in his hands. But they married together, obviously, 0:12:20.880 --> 0:12:22.520 and that's what will be the mark of this football 0:12:22.559 --> 0:12:24.240 team in the big picture. How do you feel that's 0:12:24.280 --> 0:12:25.360 coming along as a unit? 0:12:26.200 --> 0:12:28.880 It's I mean, we're building every day. Yeah, you can 0:12:28.880 --> 0:12:32.720 never be perfect, but that's what we're striving for, and 0:12:32.760 --> 0:12:36.000 we're getting better and better every day, and we continue 0:12:36.040 --> 0:12:37.679 even you know, even when the season starts, that's still 0:12:37.679 --> 0:12:38.920 going to be the same thing. We talk about that 0:12:38.960 --> 0:12:41.400 a lot of just every day coming out and trying 0:12:41.400 --> 0:12:43.599 to be better, better than we were yesterday, and just 0:12:43.679 --> 0:12:47.040 keep taking steps forward. And that's that's what wins championships, 0:12:47.040 --> 0:12:49.160 that's what wins super Bowls, and so that's you know, 0:12:49.200 --> 0:12:51.120 that's our emphasis, and that's the direction we're gonna keep 0:12:51.120 --> 0:12:51.360 going in. 0:12:51.520 --> 0:12:53.520 No easy way to get to the NFL is there. 0:12:54.920 --> 0:12:56.840 I Mean, what I always do when I prepare for 0:12:56.880 --> 0:12:59.880 preseason games, I always take note of the guys that have. 0:13:00.480 --> 0:13:01.760 A long time to get here. 0:13:02.360 --> 0:13:04.080 There's a guy on the Bengals and I can't recall 0:13:04.120 --> 0:13:06.480 his name right now. He's been cut ten times, but 0:13:06.559 --> 0:13:08.199 he's still going after it. He was in the United 0:13:08.240 --> 0:13:10.839 Football League, and so when you're undrafted and you come 0:13:10.880 --> 0:13:13.800 into the league, it is extremely difficult. You were drafted 0:13:13.800 --> 0:13:17.280 by the Rams in the seventh round. That matters that 0:13:17.360 --> 0:13:18.120 you were a draft pick. 0:13:18.160 --> 0:13:19.200 There's a certain. 0:13:19.440 --> 0:13:22.280 Attachment to that, but it's no guarantee. As you found out. 0:13:23.240 --> 0:13:25.640 Do you appreciate the guys that have been doing it 0:13:25.640 --> 0:13:27.920 a lot longer than you, that are still trying to 0:13:28.040 --> 0:13:30.200 make a roster, a fifty three man roster. 0:13:30.360 --> 0:13:30.520 Oh? 0:13:30.559 --> 0:13:38.440 Absolutely, I mean there's nothing more devastating then, you know, 0:13:38.760 --> 0:13:40.640 coming out here and there's nobody who comes out here 0:13:40.679 --> 0:13:42.679 and doesn't give it their all, and you're trying to, 0:13:42.840 --> 0:13:45.160 you know, make the team, and then things just don't 0:13:45.200 --> 0:13:47.120 end up shaking your way. You know, it might be 0:13:47.160 --> 0:13:50.080 a numbers thing. It might be because you know you weren't 0:13:50.160 --> 0:13:52.800 quite you know, you didn't do everything right, but you know, 0:13:52.880 --> 0:13:55.120 nothing but respect for everybody who comes out here and 0:13:55.120 --> 0:13:57.000 who's laying it all out there and giving it everything 0:13:57.040 --> 0:13:59.840 they have. So but yeah, no, definitely those guys who 0:14:00.040 --> 0:14:02.240 and you know, thugging it out for years and years 0:14:02.240 --> 0:14:03.400 and years trying to make a team. 0:14:04.160 --> 0:14:05.480 You know, a lot of respect for them. 0:14:05.520 --> 0:14:07.720 And that is the hard thing about hard knocks. 0:14:07.760 --> 0:14:10.840 I mean, people seem to enjoy seeing behind the scenes, 0:14:10.880 --> 0:14:13.720 but when it gets later in the episodes, somebody's gonna 0:14:13.880 --> 0:14:16.120 get called to come to the office and that is 0:14:16.160 --> 0:14:20.640 a very very hard personal moment that does not go well. 0:14:20.680 --> 0:14:23.720 Typically it's hard to accept, but uh, you know, and 0:14:23.760 --> 0:14:26.640 I I don't know if you've been ever cut before, 0:14:27.560 --> 0:14:29.760 but it's a it's an awful feeling for for a 0:14:29.800 --> 0:14:32.920 guy trying to get to the NFL, isn't it absolutely? 0:14:33.000 --> 0:14:33.160 You know? 0:14:33.360 --> 0:14:36.760 And everybody says football is what you do and not 0:14:36.800 --> 0:14:38.960 who you are. But you know, when you've been doing 0:14:39.000 --> 0:14:41.200 it for as long as some guys have been, it 0:14:41.480 --> 0:14:43.360 becomes it's a piece of you. Like it's not just 0:14:43.400 --> 0:14:45.960 a you're not just out here doing this for fun. 0:14:46.000 --> 0:14:46.880 It's a part of your soul. 0:14:46.920 --> 0:14:47.080 Man. 0:14:47.120 --> 0:14:49.239 You put your your blood, sweat and tears. 0:14:48.960 --> 0:14:51.920 Into this thing, and not making a team can really 0:14:53.120 --> 0:14:56.040 look it just enjoys some people. Yeah, it'll mess you up. 0:14:56.080 --> 0:14:59.960 So but you know where all warriors were, all fighter 0:15:00.160 --> 0:15:02.640 and so especially, and that's why it's so just like 0:15:02.680 --> 0:15:04.440 I said, it's you have so much respect for guys 0:15:04.440 --> 0:15:06.200 who have been, you know, still trying for years and 0:15:06.240 --> 0:15:08.200 years and years to make the team because they're not 0:15:08.240 --> 0:15:10.760 taking no for an answer, and you know, and they're 0:15:10.760 --> 0:15:12.920 not backing down from anything, and they're picking themselves up 0:15:12.920 --> 0:15:15.720 when they fall, and and so you know, you just 0:15:15.760 --> 0:15:17.480 got to keep keep your head down and keep pushing. 0:15:18.000 --> 0:15:20.240 Daniel Hardy our guest here on ESPN one thousand of 0:15:20.280 --> 0:15:22.480 the Bears Radio Network. So you came to the Bears 0:15:22.520 --> 0:15:25.520 after the cuts and the practice squad. So the benefits 0:15:25.560 --> 0:15:27.920 of being here and now for the entire offseason as 0:15:27.920 --> 0:15:31.120 it made you understand the defense better, get them a 0:15:31.200 --> 0:15:33.800 better idea of who they're dealing with here and what 0:15:33.880 --> 0:15:36.200 you're all about, not just as a football player, but 0:15:36.240 --> 0:15:37.840 as a man, your character and so forth. 0:15:38.200 --> 0:15:39.240 Is it making a difference. 0:15:39.600 --> 0:15:39.760 Oh? 0:15:39.840 --> 0:15:42.479 Absolutely, And I feel like, you know, even more importantly 0:15:42.560 --> 0:15:45.840 than the playbook and understanding the defenses, understanding the culture. 0:15:46.800 --> 0:15:49.760 We talk about our hits principle, the hustle, intensity, the 0:15:49.800 --> 0:15:54.000 ball and smart and understanding that culture and how it 0:15:54.000 --> 0:15:56.760 plays into every single aspect of our game is very 0:15:56.800 --> 0:15:59.280 important and it gives you the ability to buy in 0:15:59.320 --> 0:16:01.040 because you know, yeah, I don't know about you, but 0:16:01.080 --> 0:16:03.320 it's a lot easier to play hard when you care 0:16:03.360 --> 0:16:04.800 about what you're playing for, you know what I mean? 0:16:04.840 --> 0:16:06.920 Sure, And you know, getting to know the. 0:16:06.880 --> 0:16:10.800 Guys and developing relationships with coaches and staff and all 0:16:10.840 --> 0:16:14.520 of that so very important. And you know, I've enjoyed 0:16:14.680 --> 0:16:15.960 every minute of my time here. 0:16:16.080 --> 0:16:19.640 How about Travis Smith again? Second season with him? 0:16:20.000 --> 0:16:23.640 Has he unlocked anything that previous coaches haven't unlocked with you? 0:16:24.760 --> 0:16:29.960 Really, it's just just talking about mindset and understanding. You know, 0:16:30.000 --> 0:16:31.520 you come to work every day and things might not 0:16:32.040 --> 0:16:33.560 you know, always go your way, but you got to 0:16:33.560 --> 0:16:35.800 be the same person every day and you got to, 0:16:36.040 --> 0:16:38.640 you know, just figure out what works for you and 0:16:38.680 --> 0:16:40.440 what isn't and then you got to make those changes. 0:16:40.760 --> 0:16:42.200 Trave doesn't. And that's the other thing. 0:16:42.280 --> 0:16:45.240 Trav don't miss a single detail. If you mess up 0:16:45.280 --> 0:16:46.760 one thing, he's not gonna let us slid because he 0:16:46.760 --> 0:16:47.960 doesn't want you to develop bad habits. 0:16:47.960 --> 0:16:49.880 So he's going to be right on it right there. 0:16:50.080 --> 0:16:53.240 So you know, excellent D line coaching doesn't want anything 0:16:53.240 --> 0:16:54.360 but the best for all of these guys. 0:16:54.400 --> 0:16:56.960 You know what impresses me about coaches. And I've been 0:16:57.040 --> 0:16:59.040 a part of this organization for twenty eight years, so 0:16:59.080 --> 0:17:02.600 I've seen a lot what you just said. You know, 0:17:02.720 --> 0:17:07.160 they notice the slightest thing with a hand placement, your footwork, 0:17:07.280 --> 0:17:09.640 whatever the way you get off the line of scrimmage, 0:17:09.640 --> 0:17:11.840