WEBVTT - Previewing the Packers, '85 Bears memories | Bears, etc. Podcast 0:00:00.160 --> 0:00:02.719 Right, what justin middle to field forty five to fifteen 0:00:03.040 --> 0:00:05.760 bring Russ in front of a leading Lions in this way? 0:00:06.080 --> 0:00:10.800 I am Jeff Joniadicklitz is not donig up her. 0:00:11.960 --> 0:00:13.800 What was like playing for coach Bigdom? 0:00:14.520 --> 0:00:16.560 I don't want to answer any questions like that. Sixty 0:00:16.600 --> 0:00:17.400 one yards? 0:00:17.800 --> 0:00:26.960 What's Sunday stroll for? Justin Field? Bears et Cetera With 0:00:27.040 --> 0:00:33.680 the voices of the Chicago Bears Jeff Joniac, It's that 0:00:33.800 --> 0:00:37.640 time again. It's Bears Packers trying to be dramatic time 0:00:37.880 --> 0:00:39.920 trying to set the scene here on the Bears et 0:00:40.000 --> 0:00:43.919 Cetera Podcast, Episode forty eight. The season began with the 0:00:43.960 --> 0:00:48.479 Packers with the Bears in week one. The Bears are 0:00:48.479 --> 0:00:51.760 a different team as we enter Week eighteen, nothing else 0:00:51.800 --> 0:00:56.200 to play for but their own ride and their own 0:00:56.280 --> 0:01:00.360 big finish as a platform to twenty twenty four, which 0:01:00.400 --> 0:01:05.560 promises to be extremely intriguing. Packers. Well, they're trying to 0:01:05.600 --> 0:01:08.360 secure a playoff spot with a win, and they could 0:01:08.400 --> 0:01:10.440 have a six or seven seed in the playoffs. We'll 0:01:10.440 --> 0:01:12.640 get to all of it in this episode. Thank you 0:01:12.680 --> 0:01:15.039 for joining us. We appreciate your time. As always, we 0:01:15.080 --> 0:01:19.119 also have special guest Mike tom Zach, Tom's teammate from 0:01:19.200 --> 0:01:22.240 the eighty five Bears, now an assistant football coach on 0:01:22.280 --> 0:01:24.679 a volunteer level at Youngstown State, something he's done for 0:01:24.680 --> 0:01:26.320 the last eight years or so. I think you'll find 0:01:26.360 --> 0:01:31.720 the conversation riveting and entertaining, and we're gonna hear it. 0:01:31.720 --> 0:01:33.880 You learned a lot of stuff you never knew, didn't you? 0:01:34.440 --> 0:01:38.759 One percent? Yes? And I every time I think I've 0:01:38.800 --> 0:01:43.039 heard every eighty five Bear story. That's why Tom, as 0:01:43.080 --> 0:01:48.280 we digress for just a smidge, No documentary that has 0:01:48.360 --> 0:01:51.840 ever been done or will be done, could ever capture 0:01:51.920 --> 0:01:57.160 every single strain and thread of that eighty five Bear team. 0:01:57.400 --> 0:01:57.840 You can't. 0:01:59.200 --> 0:02:01.200 You can't because first of all, you can't do a 0:02:01.240 --> 0:02:05.680 documentary long enough. And then, you know, it just happenstance 0:02:05.800 --> 0:02:08.720 that you and I got on different subject matters and 0:02:08.800 --> 0:02:13.560 different avenues of interest that affected both myself and Mike 0:02:13.680 --> 0:02:18.400 because we are incoming Bear rookies together. You know, it 0:02:18.520 --> 0:02:21.440 kind of kicked off of friendship that has lasted this 0:02:21.680 --> 0:02:26.120 long and beyond. I'm friends with this entire family, was 0:02:26.160 --> 0:02:29.480 close to his dad and everything. But the behind the 0:02:29.480 --> 0:02:31.880 scenes stories that you don't get a chance to hear. 0:02:31.840 --> 0:02:33.919 Until you actually sit down and talk about them. 0:02:34.200 --> 0:02:36.800 I think people will really get a kick out of 0:02:37.560 --> 0:02:41.959 some of the chance meetings and some of the things 0:02:41.960 --> 0:02:44.720 that happened throughout our careers together unreal. 0:02:44.760 --> 0:02:46.840 We're also going to hear the entire news conference from 0:02:46.880 --> 0:02:49.760 Wednesday from Bear's quarterback Justin Fields. Thought it was his 0:02:49.800 --> 0:02:52.880 best one of the year. I think he's in a 0:02:52.880 --> 0:02:56.200 really good place mentally. He's in a good space, and 0:02:56.560 --> 0:03:00.600 he feels he feels good about the progress that he's 0:03:00.600 --> 0:03:02.480 made individually, the team made as a whole, and he 0:03:02.520 --> 0:03:05.720 puts everything about the team, everything about what is right now. 0:03:05.760 --> 0:03:09.440 He's not really engaging on anything beyond that. 0:03:09.560 --> 0:03:12.440 That kind of frustrates me about the press conference is 0:03:12.480 --> 0:03:15.600 because they ask him so much about his future, which 0:03:15.639 --> 0:03:19.960 is irrelevant. In Wednesday of Packer week, it's about the 0:03:20.000 --> 0:03:21.240 Bears Packers game. 0:03:21.600 --> 0:03:23.639 What have you done to improve. 0:03:23.520 --> 0:03:26.320 From the first time you played the Packers Week one? 0:03:26.480 --> 0:03:28.760 What are you doing right now that makes you feel 0:03:28.800 --> 0:03:32.400 more confident going into lambeau Field. Who on your team 0:03:32.440 --> 0:03:35.960 have you developed a working relationship with that can help 0:03:36.000 --> 0:03:39.560 you beat the Green Bay Packers Sunday? And that's all 0:03:39.600 --> 0:03:44.800 those questions that go on and asked because everybody wants 0:03:44.840 --> 0:03:48.320 to get the same answer to the same question of 0:03:48.600 --> 0:03:52.320 that everybody asks and so to me, SIS be a 0:03:52.360 --> 0:03:55.839 little angst and angry. It's packer week, but I think 0:03:55.840 --> 0:03:58.680 it's a little bit unfair about the questions that they 0:03:58.760 --> 0:04:02.640 continue to ask just every time he goes to the podium, 0:04:02.840 --> 0:04:04.760 whether it's postgame or midweek. 0:04:04.920 --> 0:04:07.840 Good new Chicago United Airlines is getting brand new planes 0:04:07.840 --> 0:04:10.400 with all the bells and whistles like Bluetooth connectivity screens, 0:04:10.440 --> 0:04:13.320 hit every seat in room for everyone's rollerbag. United Proud 0:04:13.320 --> 0:04:16.280 to fly the Chicago Bears and you too. Let's get 0:04:16.279 --> 0:04:19.640 the status at hallis some movement on the roster. Colin 0:04:19.720 --> 0:04:22.520 Johnson the big receiver, big number eighty and now the 0:04:22.560 --> 0:04:26.679 active roster. They wave linebacker DeMarcus Gates, long snapper Matt 0:04:26.720 --> 0:04:31.320 Overton an emergency addition on the practice squad. With Patrick 0:04:31.360 --> 0:04:34.120 Scales dealing with a foot injury. They're trying to see 0:04:34.120 --> 0:04:37.520 how he makes it through the week. Also, Tyreek Stevenson 0:04:37.560 --> 0:04:41.279 Tom named NFC Defensive Player of the Week. Four pass breakups, 0:04:41.320 --> 0:04:43.600 two interceptions. We've talked a lot about him. He's been 0:04:43.640 --> 0:04:46.840 one of the most targeted corners in the NFL in 0:04:46.960 --> 0:04:49.599 neon lights. I'm a rookie, you know, have at it 0:04:49.680 --> 0:04:52.280 with Jalen Johnson on the other side, but he has 0:04:52.720 --> 0:04:58.840 got better the entire season matured, and he has never 0:04:58.920 --> 0:05:01.200 gone into tank tom never, not one time. 0:05:01.240 --> 0:05:05.880 You know, outside of quarterback, cornerback. 0:05:05.200 --> 0:05:07.440 Is the position that you have to have the thickest 0:05:07.440 --> 0:05:10.919 skin because if you think of a quarterback throwing in 0:05:11.040 --> 0:05:15.880 interceptions his approach to the sideline, there's a million things 0:05:15.920 --> 0:05:16.880 going through his head. 0:05:17.440 --> 0:05:20.280 You are cornerback and you give up a. 0:05:20.200 --> 0:05:23.919 Touchdown, there's a million things going through your head, and 0:05:23.960 --> 0:05:26.559 then there's a lot said about you after the game. 0:05:27.040 --> 0:05:31.680 I admire Justin Fields and I admire Tyreek Stevenson because 0:05:31.760 --> 0:05:35.960 of two of the thickest skin positions on an NFL team. 0:05:36.320 --> 0:05:38.320 Both of them have put that on display. 0:05:39.400 --> 0:05:42.360 And the NFC Offensive player of the Week is who 0:05:42.400 --> 0:05:44.960 the Bears will be facing. Jordan Love. Five games with 0:05:45.040 --> 0:05:47.760 three or more touchdowns and a one hundred plus quarterback rating, 0:05:47.760 --> 0:05:50.520 time for most in the league. In the win over Minnesota, 0:05:50.560 --> 0:05:54.400 we touched on it in the Monday Podcast. Three touchdowns passing, 0:05:54.440 --> 0:05:57.360 one rushing, and two hundred and fifty six yards of 0:05:57.480 --> 0:06:00.760 passing and a one to twenty five quarterback rating. He 0:06:00.880 --> 0:06:04.320 is elevating, he is, He's elevating at quarterback. It'll be 0:06:04.360 --> 0:06:05.279 a heck of a matchup. 0:06:06.600 --> 0:06:10.160 Yeah, you know, Jordan Love will probably tell you he's 0:06:10.240 --> 0:06:13.560 the most fortunate player in the NFL to have the 0:06:13.640 --> 0:06:16.599 opportunity to be drafted in the first round and sit 0:06:16.680 --> 0:06:20.599 behind a quarterback like Aaron Rodgers for that long before 0:06:20.800 --> 0:06:25.279 he was put in as the starting quarterback. Because you 0:06:25.360 --> 0:06:29.000 can see his mannerisms, the way he looks at the offense, 0:06:29.120 --> 0:06:32.560 the things that he has seen repetitiously in the meetings 0:06:33.600 --> 0:06:36.200 that has spoke to him by the coaches, and he 0:06:36.360 --> 0:06:40.080 watched Aaron Rodgers do the way he handles himself in 0:06:40.120 --> 0:06:44.640 preparation through the regular season, through training camp. So Jordan 0:06:44.720 --> 0:06:47.680 Love throughout the course of the season has put a 0:06:47.680 --> 0:06:52.719 lot of those types of improvements on display, and deservingly 0:06:52.839 --> 0:06:54.040 so he wins the award. 0:06:54.800 --> 0:06:57.719 And the Bears have two pro bowlders, Tom announced last 0:06:57.800 --> 0:07:02.880 night and they were done so so kind of interestingly 0:07:03.320 --> 0:07:07.080 by the Bears Ryan Poles, the general manager, and Matt 0:07:07.120 --> 0:07:10.920 eberfluss in on it. So they called in cornerback Jalen 0:07:11.000 --> 0:07:14.720 Johnson and defensive end Montest Sweat on their off day 0:07:14.760 --> 0:07:16.920 on Tuesday, said they had some things for them to 0:07:16.960 --> 0:07:20.160 look at on plays from the game on Sunday, and 0:07:20.200 --> 0:07:23.400 so while they were both hesitant, they did arrive and 0:07:23.480 --> 0:07:27.560 there were GoPros in the office when they showed up 0:07:27.600 --> 0:07:30.280 and were told that they were Pro Bowlers. And the 0:07:30.320 --> 0:07:32.520 reactions you can check out on the Bear's website and 0:07:32.560 --> 0:07:35.760 the Bears social channels simply outstate. Jalen was with his 0:07:35.800 --> 0:07:40.280 whole family, he was going nuts, and Montest Sweat thrilled. 0:07:40.320 --> 0:07:43.960 So two Pro Bowlers from the Bears, and there was 0:07:44.000 --> 0:07:45.960 a late push by the fan voting and a number 0:07:46.000 --> 0:07:48.640 of Bears players made it into the top ten. Now, 0:07:48.640 --> 0:07:50.960 I know it's not a game. We can debate what 0:07:51.000 --> 0:07:53.840 this is all about, you know, on another podcast maybe, 0:07:53.920 --> 0:07:58.760 but it's a bunch of events now as opposed to 0:07:58.920 --> 0:08:01.120 just just the game. So it's not like it used 0:08:01.160 --> 0:08:04.680 to be. But the recognition is such that players do 0:08:04.680 --> 0:08:05.520 do appreciate it. 0:08:05.600 --> 0:08:08.240 I believe I'm all for Montese sled, I'm all for 0:08:08.400 --> 0:08:09.320 Jalen Johnson. 0:08:09.560 --> 0:08:10.440 I think TJ. 0:08:10.720 --> 0:08:13.960 Edwards rees, you know, he deserves the Pro Ball as well. 0:08:14.240 --> 0:08:16.600 I think justin Fields should get consideration. 0:08:16.960 --> 0:08:19.680 Let's listen in to Justin Fields at the podium and 0:08:19.800 --> 0:08:22.200 have us all on Wednesday feel like you were showing 0:08:22.200 --> 0:08:22.600 the world. 0:08:22.560 --> 0:08:23.600 Kind of what you're capable for. 0:08:24.480 --> 0:08:25.680 I mean, it just felt good to go out there 0:08:25.680 --> 0:08:28.200 and get a double with my teammates. You know, I 0:08:28.200 --> 0:08:32.120 think everybody played well offense, defense, special team. So you know, 0:08:32.120 --> 0:08:35.720 it's always good, a good feeling when you get a home. 0:08:35.840 --> 0:08:38.280 Is there satisfaction though, when when you play a good game, 0:08:38.280 --> 0:08:39.040 man you get the win. 0:08:39.559 --> 0:08:40.920 Man, I'm just doing my job at the end of 0:08:40.920 --> 0:08:44.080 the day, I'm doing what I'm supposed to do. You know, 0:08:44.280 --> 0:08:46.439 in my eyes, I could have played better, didn't play 0:08:46.440 --> 0:08:49.200 good enough. But like I said, good team win. Everybody 0:08:49.200 --> 0:08:51.360 played well on all three phase of the football and 0:08:52.400 --> 0:08:52.920 good team win. 0:08:53.000 --> 0:08:57.200 So how much better have you got and this team 0:08:57.559 --> 0:09:00.360 gotten since the first game against Green Bays start year? 0:09:00.640 --> 0:09:05.439 Yeah, I mean, I think we've improved tremendously in all phases. 0:09:06.600 --> 0:09:10.880 And I think that's players and coaches. So we've grown 0:09:10.920 --> 0:09:13.080 a lot as a team. Our chemistry is going with 0:09:13.120 --> 0:09:17.280 each other. So excited to go out there Sunday at 0:09:17.480 --> 0:09:20.600 three forty five and well up. 0:09:20.640 --> 0:09:22.360 So that's a long time ago. 0:09:22.800 --> 0:09:24.959 But does that factor end? 0:09:25.000 --> 0:09:27.520 Is there any kind of motivation or incentive to be like, hey, 0:09:27.559 --> 0:09:30.640 we want to show the Packers what we are? What 0:09:31.040 --> 0:09:33.200 to that beating you guys to start the season. 0:09:35.040 --> 0:09:36.480 Does the factor and that they beat us earlier in 0:09:36.480 --> 0:09:36.839 this season? 0:09:36.920 --> 0:09:37.160 Yeah? 0:09:37.240 --> 0:09:38.640 Yeah, I mean we want to win every game. It 0:09:38.640 --> 0:09:40.600 doesn't matter when they beat us. We're not thinking of that. 0:09:40.800 --> 0:09:40.920 Uh. 0:09:41.160 --> 0:09:43.199 You know, our mindset is just go out there and 0:09:43.440 --> 0:09:45.760 playball like how we've been playing, and you know, win 0:09:45.800 --> 0:09:48.360 the game. So every game we want to win, no 0:09:48.400 --> 0:09:55.280 matter against just the your field part whatever you know 0:09:55.400 --> 0:09:57.599 team or the green bad Packers. So every game we 0:09:57.679 --> 0:09:59.199 step on the field, we want to win the game. 0:09:59.280 --> 0:10:02.520 So early this year, you pointed to the Lions of 0:10:02.559 --> 0:10:04.520 last season, the turnaround that they had and kind of 0:10:04.559 --> 0:10:07.800 setting the foundation. Obviously, the parallels are starting to become 0:10:07.800 --> 0:10:09.559 more clear now with the success you guys have had 0:10:09.559 --> 0:10:10.160 as elated. 0:10:10.240 --> 0:10:11.880 Do you think back to that could all? Do you 0:10:11.960 --> 0:10:13.440 look to that as an example still? 0:10:15.240 --> 0:10:16.680 I mean I was just kind of given an example, 0:10:16.720 --> 0:10:18.679 but now we're not basing our team based off of 0:10:18.720 --> 0:10:22.320 their team last year. I was just just simply comparing, 0:10:22.400 --> 0:10:25.240 you know, our season this year versus theirs last year. 0:10:25.280 --> 0:10:28.400 But yeah, they did finish last year with a week 0:10:28.400 --> 0:10:31.080 a team winning lambo. What would it mean to to 0:10:31.160 --> 0:10:34.040 cap the season off with the victory there? And rival 0:10:34.240 --> 0:10:35.920 You're not the significance for you guys. 0:10:35.800 --> 0:10:38.800 Within you know, I think it means a lot to uh, 0:10:39.120 --> 0:10:44.040 you know, the team, the fans of the city. I think 0:10:44.040 --> 0:10:45.960 it'd be great. You know, we know that Green Bays 0:10:46.040 --> 0:10:47.599 playing for a lot at stake. They're playing for a 0:10:47.600 --> 0:10:50.600 playoff spot right now. So I just think with you know, 0:10:51.360 --> 0:10:52.920 kind of all that on the table, I think, you know, 0:10:52.960 --> 0:10:54.679 it would be great, a great feeling that you know, 0:10:54.760 --> 0:10:57.400 in the season off with the winning lambo up there. 0:10:57.520 --> 0:10:59.520 But you know, we're just going to take a day 0:10:59.520 --> 0:11:00.960 by day wry about you know, the rest of the 0:11:01.000 --> 0:11:04.400 day and tomorrow and you know, of course leading up 0:11:04.400 --> 0:11:06.760 a Sunday, get ready to play boss because. 0:11:06.800 --> 0:11:07.719 What's at stake for them? 0:11:07.720 --> 0:11:10.400 You're going to walk into a pretty big game environment 0:11:10.520 --> 0:11:11.040 on Sunday. 0:11:11.040 --> 0:11:12.679 What's the value for a. 0:11:12.640 --> 0:11:16.040 Team like you guys and just gaining experience in those 0:11:16.040 --> 0:11:17.920 big game, big stage moments. 0:11:18.480 --> 0:11:19.920 I don't see it being that much different. 0:11:19.920 --> 0:11:24.080 I see it, you know, because everybody always the rivalry 0:11:24.120 --> 0:11:25.640 or whatever I think it's going to be, you know, 0:11:25.679 --> 0:11:28.480 the same environment, so I don't see it being too 0:11:28.559 --> 0:11:30.280 much different. But I mean, like I said, it's gonna 0:11:30.280 --> 0:11:32.520 be fun. It's gonna be a fun environment to walk into. 0:11:33.160 --> 0:11:35.120 You know, their home field. I know their friends gonna 0:11:35.120 --> 0:11:37.400 be loud because it's not much to do in green bags, 0:11:37.400 --> 0:11:38.120 I watch football. 0:11:38.120 --> 0:11:40.600 But it's gonna be. 0:11:40.600 --> 0:11:42.360 A great environment to us for us to play in 0:11:42.400 --> 0:11:44.959 and you know, hopefully have a great game and get 0:11:44.960 --> 0:11:45.640 the double on Sunday. 0:11:45.679 --> 0:11:46.680 So where where do. 0:11:46.840 --> 0:11:51.120 Where is Having DJ as a teammate helped you grow 0:11:51.160 --> 0:11:52.720 as a quarterback the most this year. 0:11:54.600 --> 0:11:57.400 You know, I'll just talk about, you know, how smart 0:11:57.400 --> 0:12:02.480 he is, how he understands leverages, coverages, has tempo you know, 0:12:02.679 --> 0:12:04.559 in and out of his routes, and of course he's 0:12:04.600 --> 0:12:07.720 just a great play player and playmaker. So you know, 0:12:07.720 --> 0:12:09.520 it's it's it's great having him on the team. He 0:12:09.600 --> 0:12:12.600 makes my job easier. Like I always say, you know, 0:12:12.679 --> 0:12:15.800 he's pretty much always open unless they double team him. 0:12:16.320 --> 0:12:18.599 But I mean it's been great. You know, anytime you 0:12:18.640 --> 0:12:20.880 can get the ball in his hands, you know you're 0:12:21.000 --> 0:12:23.640 most likely going to get an explosive play. He's hard 0:12:23.640 --> 0:12:25.120 to tackle, he's like a running back after he gets 0:12:25.160 --> 0:12:27.400 the ball in his hands. So, like I've said, throughout 0:12:27.440 --> 0:12:29.840 this whole year, he's made my job easier and been 0:12:29.880 --> 0:12:30.800 a great asset to the team. 0:12:30.800 --> 0:12:33.880 I've been a catch of his this year. That eat 0:12:33.960 --> 0:12:34.760 in game that you. 0:12:34.720 --> 0:12:37.640 Were even astonished by, I think the I think the 0:12:37.720 --> 0:12:39.480 last game was one of his best catches that I've seen, 0:12:39.520 --> 0:12:41.719 the shoulder. I think it was a third down or 0:12:41.720 --> 0:12:43.080 something like that. Yeah, that was a that was a 0:12:43.080 --> 0:12:46.320 pretty cool catch. But I've seen him make, you know, 0:12:46.360 --> 0:12:49.079 playing catches and practice that were wild. So you probably 0:12:49.080 --> 0:12:52.160 haven't even seen him. But I can't really think of 0:12:52.200 --> 0:12:53.720 any others that comes to the top of my head, 0:12:53.800 --> 0:12:55.640 you know, from game. But I think that one last 0:12:55.640 --> 0:12:56.360 week is pretty cool. 0:12:56.480 --> 0:12:57.240 That we talked you. 0:12:57.200 --> 0:13:00.680 Earlier about compartmentalizing whatever your future might be and just 0:13:00.679 --> 0:13:01.800 worrying about the next game. 0:13:02.160 --> 0:13:04.320 What happens next week? When there's no next game to 0:13:04.360 --> 0:13:04.839 worry about? 0:13:04.840 --> 0:13:07.240 Do you do you know whether you'll have any more 0:13:07.240 --> 0:13:09.360 clarity about your future and how do you deal with 0:13:09.400 --> 0:13:12.000 it when maybe there's not the focus you need so 0:13:12.120 --> 0:13:14.560 intensely every day where you might let your mind. 0:13:14.480 --> 0:13:16.080 Wander next we I don't even know if we're gonna 0:13:16.080 --> 0:13:17.680 get next week, brother, So I'm just worried about the 0:13:17.679 --> 0:13:19.840 rest of the day and you know, the rest of 0:13:19.840 --> 0:13:21.640 the night. So got these meetings I'm about to head 0:13:21.640 --> 0:13:23.400 to and you know, like I said, we got a 0:13:23.400 --> 0:13:23.920 game on Sunday. 0:13:23.960 --> 0:13:26.600 I'm not focused on you know what happens after that. 0:13:26.720 --> 0:13:29.880 So justin what have you appreciated most about the brotherhood 0:13:29.880 --> 0:13:30.720 in your locker room? 0:13:31.240 --> 0:13:32.920 Uh, you know, just how tight knit we are. You 0:13:32.920 --> 0:13:36.079 know how much we've grown over the season. You know, 0:13:36.160 --> 0:13:37.960 like I said, it feels like almost a college locker 0:13:38.000 --> 0:13:40.880 room where you pretty much live within the ten minute 0:13:40.920 --> 0:13:42.439 radius of all the guys. You're always hanging out and 0:13:42.480 --> 0:13:45.960 stuff like that. So the chemistry we have, the closest 0:13:45.960 --> 0:13:48.280 we have within our group is amazing to see. And 0:13:48.280 --> 0:13:51.080 it's it's it's it's rare in any NFL. So you know, 0:13:51.120 --> 0:13:55.000 I'm definitely grateful for you know, all of the relationships 0:13:55.000 --> 0:13:56.840 and connections I've made with you know, all of my 0:13:56.840 --> 0:13:59.160 teammates this year. So it's it's it's just been awesome. 0:13:59.160 --> 0:14:03.520 So a little bit the way your defense is playing 0:14:03.600 --> 0:14:06.800 right now comparatively to where it was, what's your level 0:14:06.840 --> 0:14:09.480 of appreciation for that side of the ball and what 0:14:09.520 --> 0:14:10.599 they've done to kind of fuel s. 0:14:11.200 --> 0:14:13.679 Yeah, I mean shoot, like I always say every the game, 0:14:13.679 --> 0:14:16.440 it makes my job easier when they give a short 0:14:16.440 --> 0:14:18.920 fields and take the ball away and really on offense, 0:14:18.960 --> 0:14:21.520 if you're having a slow, slow day, you can really 0:14:21.560 --> 0:14:23.560 just worry about field position, like I think Cleveland was 0:14:23.560 --> 0:14:25.560 a great example kind of the first half. You know, 0:14:25.560 --> 0:14:27.680 it was kind of a defensive battle at first, and 0:14:27.920 --> 0:14:29.800 field position was really important. You know when you have 0:14:29.840 --> 0:14:31.560 a when you get a team backed up or we're 0:14:31.600 --> 0:14:33.840 backed up, you know that's advantaged then. So you know, 0:14:33.880 --> 0:14:35.680 when you have a defense is playing really well, you 0:14:35.680 --> 0:14:37.160 know you don't have to four stuff downfield. You can 0:14:37.160 --> 0:14:40.000 take what the defense gives you and really just know 0:14:40.040 --> 0:14:41.400 that your defense is going to have your back. So, 0:14:41.440 --> 0:14:43.240 I mean, the way with the way that they've been playing, 0:14:43.840 --> 0:14:47.600 you know, I offense is our job as an offense 0:14:47.600 --> 0:14:51.080 has been way easier. Like I said, should we put 0:14:51.120 --> 0:14:52.840 up twenty eight points in the games pretty much over 0:14:52.920 --> 0:14:56.680 so you know, defense has been playing a great and 0:14:57.160 --> 0:15:00.000 looking forward to them playing lights out one more time 0:15:00.040 --> 0:15:02.080 this year, so it's gonna be fun. 0:15:01.680 --> 0:15:05.160 Most NFL quarterbacks get support from their teammates. 0:15:05.160 --> 0:15:07.080 But when your teammates talk about you, they really really 0:15:07.080 --> 0:15:07.680 gush about you. 0:15:08.000 --> 0:15:09.480 What does it mean to you to have that really 0:15:09.520 --> 0:15:11.360 strong support from the guys around you. 0:15:11.960 --> 0:15:14.120 Yeah, I mean, I just I think that just shows 0:15:14.240 --> 0:15:17.120 on how much we love each other, not only as players, 0:15:17.120 --> 0:15:20.000 but you know as people as uh, you know, people 0:15:20.000 --> 0:15:21.240 outside of the building building. 0:15:21.440 --> 0:15:21.560 Uh. 0:15:21.920 --> 0:15:24.160 You know, we've been a lot of We've been around 0:15:24.160 --> 0:15:25.840 a lot of guys you know, in the past on 0:15:25.840 --> 0:15:28.080 different teams and stuff like that, and you can kind 0:15:28.080 --> 0:15:30.560 of tell when people really love the game and really 0:15:30.600 --> 0:15:32.440 are passionate about the game of football. And you know, 0:15:33.080 --> 0:15:35.200 I would say all the guys in the locker room 0:15:35.240 --> 0:15:37.880 are so when you just see their work ethic, how 0:15:37.960 --> 0:15:40.480 much they care about the game, how much they care 0:15:40.480 --> 0:15:42.800 about you know, the team and winning the team success. 0:15:42.880 --> 0:15:44.680 You know, that just all brings us closer together and 0:15:44.800 --> 0:15:48.000 you know, focusing on accomplishing one one goal as a team. 0:15:48.080 --> 0:15:51.120 So I just think that's you know, goes back to 0:15:51.480 --> 0:15:53.000 what we talked about at the beginning of this year 0:15:53.040 --> 0:15:55.920 with you know, Coach Flus just getting us all together, 0:15:55.960 --> 0:15:59.000 getting us all close, having those breaking off in the 0:15:59.040 --> 0:16:03.200 groups and really getting closer to each other. Talking about 0:16:03.240 --> 0:16:05.680 you know, personal life from growing up and stuff like that. 0:16:05.720 --> 0:16:07.600 So when you know a guy's story, you know where 0:16:07.600 --> 0:16:09.360 he's came from, you get to connect on a deeper 0:16:09.360 --> 0:16:12.840 personal level which you know has which causes you to 0:16:13.120 --> 0:16:16.720 have that connection closer. So you just know a guy 0:16:16.840 --> 0:16:19.160 for who he is. Away from the game, that's when 0:16:19.160 --> 0:16:21.280 you really get to connect with the teammates and really 0:16:21.320 --> 0:16:22.160 start to grow as a team. 0:16:22.200 --> 0:16:24.920 So all right, you listened to it, Tom, and I 0:16:24.960 --> 0:16:28.280 did as well. I thought he was real strong up there, so. 0:16:28.240 --> 0:16:32.160 Do I I really admire justin from what he's gone 0:16:32.200 --> 0:16:33.200 through all season. 0:16:33.800 --> 0:16:35.400 And not only I. 0:16:35.400 --> 0:16:38.600 Like the fact that when he talks about how close 0:16:38.880 --> 0:16:42.840 the locker room room, as he referred to as a 0:16:43.080 --> 0:16:46.640 as a ten minute radius, and that means, you know, 0:16:46.840 --> 0:16:50.200 just to analogize that the closest group of people in 0:16:50.240 --> 0:16:53.080 your football life for the guys inside that locker room, 0:16:53.760 --> 0:16:56.400 and a lot of times with the modern day world 0:16:56.480 --> 0:16:59.680 of cell phones, a lot of your closest people in 0:16:59.720 --> 0:17:03.160 your support are only a phone call or text message 0:17:03.200 --> 0:17:06.600 or an email away. When you have that closeness that 0:17:06.640 --> 0:17:10.720 Matt Eberflus and Ryan Poles and the organization has developed 0:17:10.840 --> 0:17:13.720 inside that locker room. I think it tells you a 0:17:13.720 --> 0:17:16.680 lot about the direction this organization is going. 0:17:16.800 --> 0:17:18.760 Well, it's time to tackle some game day deals. Then 0:17:18.800 --> 0:17:20.840 go with a grocer who's been part of Chicago since 0:17:20.880 --> 0:17:24.679 eighteen ninety nine, Juelasco, the official grocery store of the 0:17:24.760 --> 0:17:28.480 Chicago Bears. All right, in terms of what he's looking at. 0:17:28.760 --> 0:17:30.920 As we're going to start with the Bears offense against 0:17:30.920 --> 0:17:34.439 the Packers defense, you obviously got to talk about Rashan 0:17:34.560 --> 0:17:37.640 Gary on one end, Preston Smith the outside linebacker around 0:17:37.720 --> 0:17:42.119 the other, and of course Kenny Clark on the interior, Mattiebraflus, circle, 0:17:42.200 --> 0:17:46.960 JayR Alexander. They've got some young players added to that mix. Overall, 0:17:47.000 --> 0:17:49.760 the numbers don't compute, though the defense has struggled for 0:17:49.800 --> 0:17:52.359 Green Bay. What's attackable in your opinion. 0:17:53.640 --> 0:17:55.399 You know, you always have to start with the Bears 0:17:55.480 --> 0:17:58.000 running game, and if you can block Kenny Clark and 0:17:58.119 --> 0:18:02.439 kind of keep Preston Smith and the other guy you know, 0:18:02.800 --> 0:18:06.639 pushed to the exterior of the offense with contained concerns 0:18:06.680 --> 0:18:09.119 for justin fields and you can open up some of 0:18:09.160 --> 0:18:12.679 those point of attack runs with both Khalil Herbert and 0:18:12.800 --> 0:18:16.439 Roshawn Johnson, then I think that's the best exposure of 0:18:16.560 --> 0:18:20.080 success that you can have right through center field of 0:18:20.160 --> 0:18:25.240 that defense. But when you are going to incorporate pass protection, 0:18:26.000 --> 0:18:28.640 I don't think you're gonna be wise to just sit 0:18:28.680 --> 0:18:31.720 in the pocket with Justin fields because of the support 0:18:31.760 --> 0:18:35.000 of the crowd, noise, the deficiencies that creates for the 0:18:35.040 --> 0:18:39.320 offensive line getting off the ball all together and on time. 0:18:39.760 --> 0:18:43.360 Sometimes that takes a toll on your organized pass protection. 0:18:43.560 --> 0:18:47.440 So Justin's gonna have to be dynamic and his athleticism 0:18:47.480 --> 0:18:51.639 and his escapability. But still, if you want to have 0:18:51.680 --> 0:18:55.840 an identity that's figured out even late in the season 0:18:55.920 --> 0:18:58.359 and it is your run game, your run game is 0:18:58.359 --> 0:19:00.199 going to have to be as supportive as it has 0:19:00.240 --> 0:19:01.320 been the last two weeks. 0:19:01.359 --> 0:19:05.120 And certainly we cannot forget the first series in Week one. 0:19:05.320 --> 0:19:08.320 The inability to convert on third and fourth down kind 0:19:08.359 --> 0:19:10.960