WEBVTT - Teven Jenkins on his progression, OTAs | Bears Weekly 0:00:00.640 --> 0:00:05.920 Welcome in Tumble Bears Weekly, Chicago Bears Network production download 0:00:05.960 --> 0:00:09.240 the Chicago Bears Official at brought to you by Verizon 0:00:09.400 --> 0:00:11.920 to follow the team on the go. Bears Weekly is 0:00:11.960 --> 0:00:15.920 brought to you by Advocate Healthcare, Beth Rivers, CD Dowing. 0:00:15.960 --> 0:00:17.800 Connie's Pizza, and Miller Liked. 0:00:18.120 --> 0:00:20.560 Now it's time for Bears Weekly with the Voice of 0:00:20.640 --> 0:00:24.840 the Bears, Jeff SHODYA tonya on the New Bears Radio Network. 0:00:25.680 --> 0:00:27.920 Well metum building towards the start of the twenty twenty 0:00:28.000 --> 0:00:30.920 three NFL season with Phase three of the offseason program 0:00:30.920 --> 0:00:33.520 getting out Away this week up at Hallisall. It's ota 0:00:33.680 --> 0:00:35.800 season and we're here to break it down tonight on 0:00:36.000 --> 0:00:39.040 Bears Weekly. Here on ESPN Chicago one thousand and the 0:00:39.040 --> 0:00:41.480 Bears Radio Network. Good to have you alongside. I'm Jeff 0:00:41.520 --> 0:00:44.680 Jonahack and as always my broadcast partners Tom Thayer and 0:00:44.760 --> 0:00:48.120 from Serious XMNFL Radios moving the change former Bears quarterback 0:00:48.159 --> 0:00:50.920 Jim Miller. We're here until seventh tonight. Our producers Dan Brilly, 0:00:50.960 --> 0:00:55.279 Jordan Treadip, William Bridgeforth, and we're also joined by Executive 0:00:55.280 --> 0:00:58.480 producer Bears Radio Network, Eric Ostratski. Thank you for taking 0:00:58.480 --> 0:01:02.000 care of business at the PN one thousand studios. Fellas, 0:01:02.000 --> 0:01:04.880 how we feel in Tommy, you're almost back. You get 0:01:04.920 --> 0:01:07.160 a couple couple of days left in MAUI will be 0:01:07.240 --> 0:01:09.800 looking forward to it and get you out there at 0:01:09.840 --> 0:01:12.360 some OTAs. But you've heard about it, You've read about it. 0:01:13.160 --> 0:01:15.880 You know exactly what goes into these things, and I 0:01:15.959 --> 0:01:20.280 will say the optimism is high just watching everybody pretty 0:01:20.280 --> 0:01:22.280 good turnout too well. 0:01:22.280 --> 0:01:25.000 You know, optimism from the other side of the desk 0:01:25.120 --> 0:01:27.440 or the podium where the players and coaches are being 0:01:27.480 --> 0:01:30.119 interviewed are different from those of us that look at 0:01:30.120 --> 0:01:31.199 it from the. 0:01:31.120 --> 0:01:34.600 Front of the table, because you know this is a 0:01:34.640 --> 0:01:35.400 second time. 0:01:35.240 --> 0:01:38.440 Around for Matty Eberflus. We all have a better understanding 0:01:38.520 --> 0:01:41.880 what he's about. I think they brought in some free agents. 0:01:42.160 --> 0:01:45.040 I love listening to Edmunds. I think he's a super 0:01:45.480 --> 0:01:47.880 talented football player, but he means as much in the 0:01:47.920 --> 0:01:50.840 locker room, and so I think you have to you know, 0:01:50.880 --> 0:01:54.760 the expectations have to be increased significantly, Jeff. There's no 0:01:54.880 --> 0:01:59.840 way that because they were three and fourteen, you can't 0:01:59.840 --> 0:02:02.640 have that mentality going in at the start of OTAs. 0:02:02.680 --> 0:02:07.559 Everything has to be expectations, you know, of division winning 0:02:07.600 --> 0:02:09.799 football team that you're gonna come out here and you're 0:02:09.840 --> 0:02:13.680 going to turn this thing around quickly, improvements significantly in 0:02:13.760 --> 0:02:16.520 some key positions, and we'll see how it goes. But 0:02:16.600 --> 0:02:18.679 I like listening to Matt, and I like listening to 0:02:18.720 --> 0:02:20.079 the other players at the podium. 0:02:20.080 --> 0:02:22.320 Hey, Jim, this is not a typical three and fourteen 0:02:22.360 --> 0:02:25.280 team coming back because so many games were close last year. 0:02:25.320 --> 0:02:27.920 The feeling was very strong in that locker room. There 0:02:27.960 --> 0:02:32.200 was competitiveness, guys undrafted fighting for jobs. Those guys now 0:02:32.200 --> 0:02:34.800 are in year two fighting for jobs again and maybe 0:02:34.840 --> 0:02:37.359 walking around with a little bit of chest out that Hey, 0:02:37.400 --> 0:02:40.440 you know what, I earned a few stripes last season 0:02:40.440 --> 0:02:43.400 in my NFL? Is that all fair? You've been on 0:02:43.720 --> 0:02:46.119 teams that haven't done well and come back the next 0:02:46.200 --> 0:02:48.720 year and have really stormed everybody. Do you do you 0:02:48.840 --> 0:02:52.120 since despite some still areas of need here, that this 0:02:52.160 --> 0:02:53.320 could be that type of team? 0:02:54.000 --> 0:02:56.400 Yeah? I think this team, you know, they're not starting 0:02:56.440 --> 0:02:59.200 from square one, you know, that's for sure. They've laid 0:02:59.200 --> 0:03:04.080 a foundation. There is an expectation. They know, as Tom said, 0:03:04.120 --> 0:03:06.760 going into the second year of Matt everflus what those 0:03:06.800 --> 0:03:10.560 expectations are, and now you can quick you know, quickly 0:03:10.720 --> 0:03:14.280 bring the other players along who they drafted and anybody 0:03:14.360 --> 0:03:17.120 knew in free agency. They'll pretty much fall in line 0:03:17.120 --> 0:03:20.560 pretty quickly because everybody else has that base underneath them 0:03:20.600 --> 0:03:24.200 of what the expectation is, how the practice, how the 0:03:24.240 --> 0:03:26.880 meetings go, all the routines that have been put in 0:03:26.880 --> 0:03:29.760 place last year. So it could should go much quicker, 0:03:30.040 --> 0:03:33.160 but in the same sense, you're still starting from square one, 0:03:33.320 --> 0:03:36.360 because every year is a new year. You know, it 0:03:36.480 --> 0:03:40.320 starts over the install from the play, the techniques, how 0:03:40.320 --> 0:03:43.800 they're done, all that to Yeah, will be repetitive, but 0:03:43.960 --> 0:03:47.240 that has to be you know, gone over with a 0:03:47.280 --> 0:03:50.120 fine tooth comb so that guys understand what they need 0:03:50.160 --> 0:03:53.920 to do to execute. And so you know, it's you know, 0:03:53.960 --> 0:03:56.000 it's a lot of hard work, it's a lot of effort, 0:03:56.480 --> 0:03:58.920 and hopefully it's worth it to all those players because 0:03:59.080 --> 0:04:00.880 I think they understand where they want to get to. 0:04:01.120 --> 0:04:03.840 We bring this up every year with OTAs the value 0:04:03.880 --> 0:04:07.240 of them. The union obviously is adjusted and agreement with 0:04:07.280 --> 0:04:10.520 the NFL on off season work and how much you 0:04:10.560 --> 0:04:13.200 can do and how intense it can be. But I 0:04:13.240 --> 0:04:16.200 was talking with Jimbo Colvert at practice yesterday. The Hall 0:04:16.240 --> 0:04:19.000 of Fame left tackle was there observing, and I just 0:04:19.080 --> 0:04:20.800 let them go. Man, it was fun to talk to 0:04:20.880 --> 0:04:24.640 another offensive lineman with his opinions on how things are 0:04:24.680 --> 0:04:26.800 done today. But you know, he was talking about his 0:04:26.880 --> 0:04:29.760 time Tommy and Jim in the mid eighties and into 0:04:29.800 --> 0:04:32.680 the early nineties. You know, there was no OTA program. 0:04:32.720 --> 0:04:35.200 Obviously we've discussed that with you guys in the past. 0:04:35.240 --> 0:04:38.600 But he goes, these guys they need this, and he 0:04:38.720 --> 0:04:41.320 was impressed by the type of drills, the intensity of 0:04:41.320 --> 0:04:43.760 the drills, the speed of the drills, the different types 0:04:43.760 --> 0:04:45.920 of things. Even saw the offensive lineman doing with the 0:04:46.279 --> 0:04:49.560 medicine ball, hitting it back and forth using quickness of hands. 0:04:49.600 --> 0:04:52.240 He goes, he kept saying, interesting, Interesting, I like that. 0:04:52.600 --> 0:04:54.720 I like that, and I like it too. 0:04:54.720 --> 0:04:54.760 It. 0:04:54.839 --> 0:04:58.200 I do think it's important to get these guys acclimated. 0:04:58.279 --> 0:05:00.960 And yes, there's gonna be a month of day Tommy 0:05:01.920 --> 0:05:04.479 after mid June until mid July, and you'll have to 0:05:04.520 --> 0:05:07.640 refresh again. But just to get them get their feet 0:05:07.680 --> 0:05:10.880 wet and bring them together, ninety guys to get to 0:05:10.920 --> 0:05:13.120 know each other and get to know what the expectations 0:05:13.160 --> 0:05:14.000 are to practice. 0:05:14.520 --> 0:05:17.880 Yeah, you know the thing about OTAs, especially a seasoned 0:05:18.760 --> 0:05:21.440 you know X NFL player like Jimbo Cobra, Hall of 0:05:21.440 --> 0:05:23.600 Fame and one of the greatest players in the NFL 0:05:23.680 --> 0:05:25.200 the minute he walked into the building. 0:05:25.680 --> 0:05:25.880 You know. 0:05:26.120 --> 0:05:28.920 Yeah, we didn't have OTAs, but we also went through 0:05:29.360 --> 0:05:32.840 a month and a half of double day sessions eight 0:05:32.880 --> 0:05:35.960 full past So I would take the alternative. If I 0:05:36.040 --> 0:05:37.960 was a modern day player, I would rather go to 0:05:38.000 --> 0:05:41.520 OTAs to have the training camps that these guys go through, 0:05:41.760 --> 0:05:44.839 because I think you have a chance to get stronger, 0:05:45.080 --> 0:05:47.560 put more effort into the weight room, and be prepared 0:05:47.600 --> 0:05:50.560 when the regular season starts. Whereas we went through an 0:05:50.560 --> 0:05:54.080 atmosphere in Plattville that we were beat up so badly 0:05:54.160 --> 0:05:56.440 at the end of training camp, you know, and then 0:05:56.440 --> 0:05:59.440 you don't have any time for recovery. So, you know, 0:06:00.120 --> 0:06:02.440 Jimbo's a unique guy because you know, you think of 0:06:02.520 --> 0:06:05.440 Jimbo Kobert being a Hall of Fame left tackle, and 0:06:05.480 --> 0:06:08.160 you think about all the different structures. 0:06:08.400 --> 0:06:11.159 Jimbo played left tackle out of a right handed stance. 0:06:11.720 --> 0:06:13.799 He didn't, you know, it wasn't There's always a change 0:06:13.880 --> 0:06:16.240 the balance and your push off league is going to 0:06:16.279 --> 0:06:19.640 be different in all these little changes that they try 0:06:19.680 --> 0:06:21.120 to make to college players. 0:06:21.400 --> 0:06:24.440 It's not a necessity. You know, you go and you 0:06:24.960 --> 0:06:25.280 do it. 0:06:25.640 --> 0:06:28.000 But Jimbo Kobert, the reason he's in the Hall of 0:06:28.000 --> 0:06:31.320 Fame and what he was able to accomplish in that position. 0:06:31.680 --> 0:06:34.600 You know, he's he's one of the oddities, but he's 0:06:34.640 --> 0:06:35.680 also one of the best. 0:06:35.760 --> 0:06:37.760 Jim At the same time, he had a top coach, 0:06:37.839 --> 0:06:41.120 did Gey in Dick stanfell into it though, this is 0:06:41.160 --> 0:06:43.600 what I'm going to do, and they didn't necessarily let 0:06:43.680 --> 0:06:46.200 even the footwork drills. He said, hey, you know, how 0:06:46.200 --> 0:06:48.520 about how about something a little different that we did 0:06:48.920 --> 0:06:52.680 over at pitt And eventually some of that trickled into 0:06:52.720 --> 0:06:55.680 the to the plan. But I would imagine it's a 0:06:55.720 --> 0:06:58.360 harder sell for today's young players to make that kind 0:06:58.360 --> 0:07:02.039 of a pitch to a coach or a position coach. 0:07:02.120 --> 0:07:05.760 Right, Yeah, well, especially when you don't have any experience 0:07:05.800 --> 0:07:09.520 plane you know, it's hard for coach to buy into that. 0:07:09.640 --> 0:07:11.480 But you know, this part of the year, it is 0:07:11.520 --> 0:07:15.720 so important because everything's alignment an assignment. Yeah, they're not 0:07:15.800 --> 0:07:18.840 out there hitting. Yeah, it's still intense, but this is 0:07:18.880 --> 0:07:21.560 where you go over all the different looks. You know, 0:07:22.600 --> 0:07:24.440 as Tom knows, you know you're going to have an 0:07:24.440 --> 0:07:28.400 outside zone run that could be run against multiple fronts 0:07:28.800 --> 0:07:31.200 or what if the defense stunts, or what if they 0:07:31.280 --> 0:07:34.960 slant a certain way or they pinch or all these 0:07:34.960 --> 0:07:37.400 things that they can do, and you're trying to get 0:07:37.640 --> 0:07:40.640 all those assignments and how they can change for the 0:07:40.680 --> 0:07:45.239 same play. It still maybe outside zoned run thirty six, 0:07:45.480 --> 0:07:48.640 but is blocked differently against all those different fronts, whether 0:07:48.680 --> 0:07:50.960 it's an over, whether it's an under, and so it's 0:07:51.000 --> 0:07:54.240 more assignment driven to where you know your assignments and 0:07:54.320 --> 0:07:55.880 what you're going to do. Of course you're working on 0:07:55.960 --> 0:07:59.680 your techniques as well, but that those techniques really don't 0:07:59.680 --> 0:08:02.680 come in to play until you put the pads on. 0:08:03.120 --> 0:08:05.200 You know, where you can get all these reps and 0:08:05.200 --> 0:08:08.880 now you hope all that technique kicks in that you 0:08:08.880 --> 0:08:11.120 know from the red site reps that you've gained in 0:08:11.280 --> 0:08:13.880 OTAs and it really hopefully will carry over. 0:08:14.240 --> 0:08:16.320 Jim, one of the things I noticed yesterday and Tommy 0:08:16.480 --> 0:08:21.080 is that the communication between players, forget about the coaches 0:08:21.080 --> 0:08:23.400 for a minute, was very different than a year ago. 0:08:23.960 --> 0:08:26.920 The veteran players, even a guy like Chase Claypoole trying 0:08:26.920 --> 0:08:29.440 to explain a couple of things to Robert Tunyan the 0:08:29.440 --> 0:08:35.520 new tight end, and I written, Justin was very very 0:08:35.559 --> 0:08:39.200 different approach, meeting guys off the field, putting his arm 0:08:39.280 --> 0:08:43.360 around the guys talking, talking the offense. They're talking business, 0:08:43.480 --> 0:08:46.040 the business on the field, and that was that's a 0:08:46.160 --> 0:08:50.079 very strong direction that they're taking right there. 0:08:50.160 --> 0:08:53.360 Jim, Yeah, I think you know all those things. You 0:08:53.360 --> 0:08:56.719 know for Robert Tanian, maybe it's a certain look or 0:08:56.760 --> 0:08:59.760 a certain coverage defensively and say it's a two man, 0:09:00.160 --> 0:09:03.080 all right, and you say he's supposed to take the 0:09:03.080 --> 0:09:05.960 middle read, but maybe he's got the option on two 0:09:06.000 --> 0:09:08.520 man to turn it out, which is a good way 0:09:08.559 --> 0:09:13.280 to get uncovered in that specific coverage where he may 0:09:13.320 --> 0:09:15.280 look like he's taken the middle. All of a sudden 0:09:15.280 --> 0:09:17.800 he makes a sharp book and maybe Justin's going over 0:09:17.840 --> 0:09:20.040 something like that. I'm just using this as an example. 0:09:20.240 --> 0:09:23.000 Hey man, we get that two man coverage again, This 0:09:23.080 --> 0:09:25.520 is what I'm expecting, especially if that guy's right in 0:09:25.559 --> 0:09:28.520 your trail hip of your pocket. Here's a good way 0:09:28.520 --> 0:09:30.560 that we can uncover. But we've got to be on 0:09:30.600 --> 0:09:32.920 the same page. We've got to read it the same 0:09:32.920 --> 0:09:35.560 way and see it the same way. And that's those 0:09:35.559 --> 0:09:39.800 are the things you're communicating of maybe certain expectations versus 0:09:39.840 --> 0:09:42.160 coverages or fronts or whatever. 0:09:42.760 --> 0:09:43.160 It could be. 0:09:43.200 --> 0:09:46.960 Anything that they're discussing offensive lineman, two tight ends, or 0:09:47.240 --> 0:09:50.679 offensive line to quarterback, you name it, all those discussions. 0:09:50.679 --> 0:09:53.680 This is a great place for it to happen and unfold. 0:09:53.720 --> 0:09:56.600 Hey, Tom, real quick, I got to tell you, the 0:09:56.720 --> 0:10:00.960 offensive line is the law is the tallest. I can't 0:10:01.000 --> 0:10:04.720 remember any listening to these numbers now, and everybody was 0:10:04.720 --> 0:10:07.520 talking about it on the sideline yesterday, even jimbo So, 0:10:07.840 --> 0:10:11.240 Darnelle Wright six ' five, Dieter Iceland six y four, 0:10:12.080 --> 0:10:14.559 six ' six, Josh lug He's out of Notre Dame, 0:10:14.640 --> 0:10:18.480 undrafted rookie free agent, six ' eight, roy and Betetica 0:10:18.520 --> 0:10:22.240 out of Nigeria. You got a six ' five Braxton Jones. 0:10:22.240 --> 0:10:25.760 You got a six five and seven eighth USC undrafted 0:10:25.840 --> 0:10:29.640 Robert Haskins tackle. You got a six y five Alex Leatherwood. 0:10:30.080 --> 0:10:34.400 Lorenz Metz he is six ' nine three sixteen playing 0:10:34.559 --> 0:10:38.720 guard at Cincinnati. Out of Cincinnati, a six six ' five. 0:10:38.800 --> 0:10:41.920 Larry Borham a six almost sixty six Tevin Jenkins, a 0:10:42.040 --> 0:10:45.080 six to seven Kelendish, an undrafted player a year ago 0:10:45.120 --> 0:10:47.079 that came to the Bears out of Arizona State, and 0:10:47.120 --> 0:10:51.080 a six six Gabriel Houey out of Pittsburgh. What is 0:10:51.160 --> 0:10:51.640 going on? 0:10:52.000 --> 0:10:53.280 You better have bendability. 0:10:53.440 --> 0:10:53.640 You know. 0:10:53.760 --> 0:10:57.760 The height doesn't impress me because it's not. It doesn't 0:10:57.760 --> 0:11:00.680 all sudden make you a good offensive lineman. And if 0:11:00.679 --> 0:11:03.880 you're running to the line of scrimmage in your six whatever, 0:11:04.480 --> 0:11:07.600 if you don't have vendability and striking power and feet 0:11:07.640 --> 0:11:08.760 and balance. 0:11:09.040 --> 0:11:12.320 You know, sometimes that can be a detriment to your success. 0:11:12.640 --> 0:11:14.520 If you play tall out of your stance and all 0:11:14.559 --> 0:11:17.360 of a sudden, you're losing leverage to these guys and 0:11:17.400 --> 0:11:21.719 then you're getting pushed around. So it's something you know, Yeah, 0:11:21.760 --> 0:11:24.559 obviously there's guys all over the NFL that aren't getting 0:11:24.600 --> 0:11:27.600 bigger and stronger and all that stuff. But you know, 0:11:28.440 --> 0:11:31.840 you better accompany weight room strength with that type of height. 0:11:32.320 --> 0:11:35.400 And so I don't mean to be a downer. I'm 0:11:35.440 --> 0:11:39.599 just saying you better to put your athleticism on display 0:11:40.040 --> 0:11:42.280 if you're going to bring in, you know, guys that 0:11:42.320 --> 0:11:43.319 are that tall. 0:11:43.480 --> 0:11:46.160 Coming up next, one of those offensive linemen first team 0:11:46.240 --> 0:11:48.480 left guard at the moment, Tevin Jenkins and joined the 0:11:48.520 --> 0:11:50.960 program with Tom Bayer, Jim Miller, Jeff Joniak. This is 0:11:50.960 --> 0:11:54.160 Bears Weekly on ESPN one thousand and the Chicago Bears 0:11:54.240 --> 0:11:57.480 Radio Network. Welcome back, everybody to Bears Weekly here on 0:11:57.800 --> 0:12:00.560 esp in Chicago and one thousand and the Bears Radio Network. 0:12:00.640 --> 0:12:04.720 Jeff Joniyak joined by Tevin Jenkins, the third year offensive 0:12:04.720 --> 0:12:07.360 lineman for the Chicago Bears. I mean it goes fast, 0:12:07.400 --> 0:12:08.119 my friend. 0:12:08.120 --> 0:12:08.600 Yeah, it does. 0:12:08.720 --> 0:12:11.319 I mean just yesterday I felt I just got drafted, 0:12:11.559 --> 0:12:13.840 especially with the draft just came back in a couple 0:12:13.840 --> 0:12:15.640 of weeks ago. You know, it's like a lot of 0:12:15.679 --> 0:12:18.760 feelings happen when it happens. But uh, looking back at it, 0:12:18.760 --> 0:12:23.120 now ton does really obob very fast, like it's it doesn't. 0:12:23.320 --> 0:12:25.320 It doesn't slow down for anybody, but you know, like 0:12:25.400 --> 0:12:26.600 had it happened in the blink. 0:12:26.400 --> 0:12:26.840 Of an eye. 0:12:26.960 --> 0:12:30.000 Yeah, it forces you and only to adjust to a 0:12:30.040 --> 0:12:34.560 new lifestyle, a new environment. But maturity, I mean you 0:12:34.640 --> 0:12:37.040 got to you gotta be a man in a hurry 0:12:37.200 --> 0:12:38.280 in this league, don't you. 0:12:39.640 --> 0:12:39.840 Yeah. 0:12:39.920 --> 0:12:42.280 Yeah, especially like coming with now you know we're trying 0:12:42.320 --> 0:12:44.600 to be more of a vanced football team and war 0:12:44.720 --> 0:12:46.760 last year. You know, you gotta mature a lot faster 0:12:46.880 --> 0:12:49.720 than you think, and I'm trying to fill that role 0:12:49.760 --> 0:12:52.000 where they can, where it could be accountable. 0:12:52.400 --> 0:12:55.280 We often refer to year three as a takeoff yere 0:12:55.960 --> 0:12:59.240 for guys rookies. You know, when you come in, you 0:12:59.240 --> 0:13:01.560 get your feet wet, you get adjusted. Second year, you 0:13:01.600 --> 0:13:04.920 make a rise started games, and now the year three 0:13:05.000 --> 0:13:06.360 is taken. Do you look at it the same way 0:13:06.400 --> 0:13:09.640 if they've impressed upon you this year three's takeoff here? 0:13:10.240 --> 0:13:10.800 Yeah? Yeah. 0:13:10.800 --> 0:13:13.160 For me, ultimately, I like to think it as my 0:13:13.200 --> 0:13:18.000 approval year, and I would assume everybody around me was 0:13:18.480 --> 0:13:21.560 think the same. And for me for this year, I'm 0:13:21.559 --> 0:13:24.880 expecting big things out of myself and so as the 0:13:24.880 --> 0:13:26.560 people in the front office and everybody around me. 0:13:26.640 --> 0:13:31.080 Can you outline it a little bit about your own expectations. 0:13:30.360 --> 0:13:34.880 Uh, expectations is to you know, last year, I feel 0:13:34.920 --> 0:13:37.840 like I gave up too many pressures, even like too 0:13:37.880 --> 0:13:40.360 many sacks. My goal for this year is always going 0:13:40.400 --> 0:13:42.760 to be zero sacks for myself in the old line. 0:13:43.320 --> 0:13:46.280 But going into this year, I just wanted to be 0:13:46.840 --> 0:13:49.320 a dominant force and somebody that could be accountable for 0:13:49.320 --> 0:13:49.680 my team. 0:13:50.320 --> 0:13:53.080 Yeah, you know the running aspect of things though too. 0:13:53.160 --> 0:13:55.839 I mean, everybody focuses on past protection. Obviously we got 0:13:55.840 --> 0:13:59.440 this dynamic quarterback here justin fields you want to protect. 0:13:59.480 --> 0:14:00.920 But I mean, you guys led the league in a 0:14:01.000 --> 0:14:03.160 rushing in large part to what he did, but also 0:14:03.200 --> 0:14:05.000 on large part to what you guys did up front. 0:14:06.000 --> 0:14:08.320 Is that still a point of emphasis? I know coach 0:14:08.360 --> 0:14:10.360 Eberflus is changing things up a little bit in the 0:14:10.400 --> 0:14:12.439 OTAs and how you go about fitting up in the 0:14:12.480 --> 0:14:15.000 run game just to walk through as opposed to the 0:14:15.000 --> 0:14:17.160 way they did it last year, and he still making 0:14:17.160 --> 0:14:19.000 that emphasis. Do you feel that too, that they want 0:14:19.040 --> 0:14:20.800 to put it on you guys on the offensive line? 0:14:21.040 --> 0:14:24.320 Yes, yes, you know, we pride ourselves in our run game. 0:14:24.480 --> 0:14:26.520 You know that's gonna be our bread and butter. Basically, 0:14:26.600 --> 0:14:28.560 it's going to be who we are. It's how we 0:14:28.600 --> 0:14:30.800 set the tone. And the thing is, even though we 0:14:30.880 --> 0:14:33.160 led the league in rushing last year, we feel like 0:14:33.200 --> 0:14:36.520 we lost We left a lot out on the field 0:14:36.600 --> 0:14:38.040 last year, like we could have been a lot better 0:14:38.040 --> 0:14:41.120 than we were. There's certain things on the outside zones, 0:14:41.120 --> 0:14:44.520 inside zones that that could be fixed technique wise and 0:14:45.520 --> 0:14:47.480 instead of it could have been seven yard game could 0:14:47.480 --> 0:14:51.560 have been like forty. Now we had like two thousand 0:14:51.640 --> 0:14:53.680 yard rushers to set one like we could have had 0:14:54.760 --> 0:14:56.800 four thousand yards intead of three thousand, Like we could 0:14:56.840 --> 0:14:59.720 have been a lot better than we were. 0:15:00.320 --> 0:15:02.480 And we're with Tevin Jenkins bears up through to your 0:15:02.480 --> 0:15:06.160 offensive lineman making the switch as of right now, I'm 0:15:06.240 --> 0:15:09.040 right to the left side of the offensive line. It's 0:15:09.160 --> 0:15:11.360 not so simple for the layman to say, it's just 0:15:11.440 --> 0:15:14.720 you know, you're playing off Explain the differences. 0:15:15.640 --> 0:15:19.200 Difference is you know, once your body gets conformed and 0:15:19.280 --> 0:15:22.480 comfortable to a certain side, like with your footwork, when 0:15:22.520 --> 0:15:25.120 you start putting it towards the other side, it's like 0:15:25.200 --> 0:15:27.120 a whole new thing because now you got to shift 0:15:27.120 --> 0:15:29.520 your weight. Your muscles are used to going a certain 0:15:29.520 --> 0:15:32.960 way and pushing off a certain foot, so now you're 0:15:33.480 --> 0:15:36.320 basically doing that all over again to the other side. 0:15:36.400 --> 0:15:39.200 Now you're getting a little sore on your knees because wow, 0:15:39.280 --> 0:15:41.080 like I haven't pushed off this knee and since a 0:15:41.080 --> 0:15:44.320 couple of years ago, and now you're gonna start working it. 0:15:44.400 --> 0:15:47.560 And now you also have a new guy next to 0:15:47.600 --> 0:15:49.480 you because he wasn't gonna be on the same side 0:15:49.520 --> 0:15:52.400 because you got moved. So now instead of working right 0:15:52.440 --> 0:15:54.240 tackle with my right tackle, now I gotta work with 0:15:54.240 --> 0:15:56.640 my left tackle. So it's a whole different game going 0:15:56.640 --> 0:15:59.640 on there. And there's a whole bunch of communication wise 0:15:59.680 --> 0:16:01.200 that we got to get used to with each other 0:16:01.240 --> 0:16:01.600 as well. 0:16:01.640 --> 0:16:04.640 And he's learning too. You're referring to Braxton Jones, a 0:16:04.720 --> 0:16:07.240 kid who just impresses me every second I talked to him. 0:16:07.240 --> 0:16:08.880 We had him on and I think last week on 0:16:08.920 --> 0:16:13.040 our show, and just so such a delightful young man 0:16:13.080 --> 0:16:15.680 and cares about the game in a way that is 0:16:16.360 --> 0:16:19.360 almost rare. I mean, he just you know, you can 0:16:19.400 --> 0:16:22.040 hear it. You can hear the wheels turning. He's constantly 0:16:22.080 --> 0:16:24.640 trying to work on every little aspect of his game, 0:16:24.680 --> 0:16:27.760 which you know, this is a fleeting opportunity. When you 0:16:27.800 --> 0:16:29.960 think about a career in the NFL. If you can 0:16:30.000 --> 0:16:32.320 get to ten years, you know you've done well. How 0:16:32.360 --> 0:16:34.440 do you look at him and how you're going to 0:16:34.440 --> 0:16:35.720 help each other Braxton. 0:16:35.440 --> 0:16:39.360 Jones, I see him as a grateful player first and foremost, 0:16:39.480 --> 0:16:41.960 you know, I see him one dude who comes in 0:16:42.200 --> 0:16:45.240 and wants to work at the minute details that will 0:16:45.320 --> 0:16:48.200 make him not only a great player, but like an 0:16:48.200 --> 0:16:51.440 amazing player, Like I could see the potential in them 0:16:51.480 --> 0:16:55.760 myself and seeing what he can be and how much 0:16:55.760 --> 0:16:58.520 I can help him along with how much he can 0:16:58.560 --> 0:17:00.640 help me. You know, it's back and forth between guards 0:17:00.680 --> 0:17:03.920 and tackles. So as soon as I could be able 0:17:03.960 --> 0:17:06.320 to earn that trust in him that I could do 0:17:06.400 --> 0:17:08.359 it and he can trust me to be there on 0:17:08.440 --> 0:17:12.920 any slide sides, any double teams, I feel like we're 0:17:12.960 --> 0:17:13.280 me and him. 0:17:13.320 --> 0:17:14.160 We're gonna have a great year. 0:17:14.720 --> 0:17:17.440 He's a nice guy. You're a nice guy. You guys 0:17:17.480 --> 0:17:21.120 are nice guys, but on Sundays, Thursdays, Monday nights, you're 0:17:21.119 --> 0:17:24.200 not nice guys. On the field. Yeah, he's a very 0:17:24.200 --> 0:17:27.400 physical player too, playing that left tackle position, especially when 0:17:27.400 --> 0:17:31.000 he fires off and gets in that run mode as well. 0:17:31.080 --> 0:17:33.080 Do you guys have a similar mindset now on that 0:17:33.160 --> 0:17:34.280 left side. 0:17:34.280 --> 0:17:35.040 Yeah, I would like to think. 0:17:35.080 --> 0:17:38.439 So we have that that work work fund switch that 0:17:38.600 --> 0:17:42.919 always gets preached to us, even with or coach Morgan. 0:17:43.760 --> 0:17:45.960 Since we're on the radio, guys, you know, well, yeah. 0:17:45.760 --> 0:17:47.880 Some people don't know who seem away is right, So yes, 0:17:48.040 --> 0:17:49.240 Chris Morgan Chris Morgan. 0:17:49.359 --> 0:17:51.000 Yeah, yeah, So when we're on the field, you know, 0:17:51.119 --> 0:17:53.159 we know that it's time to work. We got to 0:17:53.200 --> 0:17:57.280 be on our stuff, me and him going on double teams, 0:17:57.960 --> 0:17:59.960 ripping off the ball as fast as we can, because 0:18:00.320 --> 0:18:02.800 that's our motto on the whole line, like we're trying 0:18:02.800 --> 0:18:06.080 to be the fastest people off the ball, and if 0:18:06.080 --> 0:18:07.720 we can do that with me and Braxton, there's a 0:18:07.760 --> 0:18:10.200 lot of people that get moved a lot faster because 0:18:10.200 --> 0:18:11.960 we can definitely move a lot of people just me 0:18:11.960 --> 0:18:12.280 and him. 0:18:12.720 --> 0:18:15.159 It's Tevin Jenkins with us here on Bears Weekly on 0:18:15.359 --> 0:18:17.400 ESPN one thousand of the Bears Ready a Network, Jeff 0:18:17.440 --> 0:18:20.639 Joniyak here. We'll rejoin Tom Thayer and Jim Miller in 0:18:20.680 --> 0:18:24.000 our next segment. What's different right now? What's different in 0:18:24.040 --> 0:18:27.360 this building? Some really talented players have come in by 0:18:27.359 --> 0:18:30.440 a way of free agency, trades and the draft. What's 0:18:30.440 --> 0:18:33.680 your perspective because you've been here for a couple of seasons. 0:18:34.119 --> 0:18:37.879 I say the perspective right now is very high. Of 0:18:37.920 --> 0:18:39.760 the people in the building. You know, we got a 0:18:39.760 --> 0:18:42.080 lot of optimistic views going on for us right now. 0:18:42.840 --> 0:18:47.560 We are very fine. We're getting fine Tooed in our techniques. 0:18:47.640 --> 0:18:51.760 We're getting great players. Like you said, we're trying to 0:18:53.119 --> 0:18:55.600 be all of our records we had last year, especially 0:18:55.600 --> 0:18:57.240 with the Russian record. You know, we have a lot 0:18:57.240 --> 0:19:00.280 of people that can and will do that this year, 0:19:00.680 --> 0:19:02.320 and I believe that we will go far. 0:19:02.680 --> 0:19:05.000 So on this offensive line. Right now, there are four 0:19:05.119 --> 0:19:08.520