WEBVTT - An NFC North Deep Dive | Bears Weekly 0:00:00.400 --> 0:00:04.800 Welcome in Tumble Bears Weekly, a Chicago Bears Network production. 0:00:05.200 --> 0:00:08.280 Download the Chicago Bears Official Act, brought to you by 0:00:08.440 --> 0:00:11.440 Verizon to follow the team on the go. Fears Weekly 0:00:11.560 --> 0:00:15.840 is brought to you by African Healthcare, Athletico Physical Therapy. 0:00:15.640 --> 0:00:20.160 Beth Rivers, CD Dowing, Connie's Pizza by Gens Energy, and 0:00:20.400 --> 0:00:24.639 Miller Life Kierra. Your hosts Jeff chilneyak aka the Mayor 0:00:24.680 --> 0:00:28.280 of Bearsville and his sidekick Tom the surfask. 0:00:27.920 --> 0:00:31.080 Ther NFL writers and analyst Field. 0:00:31.120 --> 0:00:35.239 The NFC North is arguably potentially the most competitive and 0:00:35.320 --> 0:00:36.640 challenging division of the NFL. 0:00:36.680 --> 0:00:39.400 Here in twenty twenty four? Is it true? Will it 0:00:39.479 --> 0:00:40.240 proved to be true? 0:00:40.280 --> 0:00:42.960 We dig into that conversation tonight on Bears Weekly here 0:00:43.000 --> 0:00:46.320 on ESPN one thousand and the Chicago Bears Radio Network 0:00:46.400 --> 0:00:48.720 with Super Bowl winning Bears guard Tom Fayer. I'm Jeff, 0:00:48.760 --> 0:00:51.960 Joniake and from Serious XMNFL Radios moving the chains, we 0:00:52.040 --> 0:00:54.720 have former Bears quarterback Jim Miller. Thanks to our producers 0:00:54.800 --> 0:00:58.120 Dan Brilly and Jordan Treadap and of the ESPN Studios. Tonight, 0:00:58.200 --> 0:01:00.320 Kendris Smith, the executive. 0:01:00.000 --> 0:01:00.319 Are you sure? 0:01:00.320 --> 0:01:03.320 The Bears Radio Network is Eric Ostrotski coming up. We 0:01:03.480 --> 0:01:06.680 visit with Vikings radio analyst Pete Burshitch Lions play by 0:01:06.760 --> 0:01:08.640 play man Dan Miller of the Voice of the Packers, 0:01:09.200 --> 0:01:12.679 Wayne Lereviv Fellas. Good to talk to you, rookies report 0:01:12.760 --> 0:01:16.200 next week to Hallis Vets come in training camp begins. 0:01:16.680 --> 0:01:18.880 We are on tom it is time to go. 0:01:19.920 --> 0:01:23.639 Yeah, So do we visit the topic of contracts yet 0:01:23.840 --> 0:01:26.600 or do we wait till next week when we see 0:01:26.640 --> 0:01:29.440 all these guys walk in the building with the hard. 0:01:29.319 --> 0:01:30.679 Knocks cameras rolling. 0:01:30.880 --> 0:01:33.840 Yeah, So I think it is something that you can't ignore, 0:01:34.280 --> 0:01:36.840 but you hope in the modern day of the collective 0:01:36.880 --> 0:01:41.319 bargaining agreement, they can come to a contract resolution and 0:01:41.520 --> 0:01:44.680 Jeff day one, everybody is on board and ready to go. 0:01:44.840 --> 0:01:47.680 Jim, obviously they're talking about the Caleb Williams and Roma 0:01:47.760 --> 0:01:49.800 doone day contracts still yet unsigned? 0:01:49.800 --> 0:01:51.840 What are your thoughts at this point? Yeah? 0:01:51.880 --> 0:01:54.040 I think you know, you got the you know, two 0:01:54.080 --> 0:01:56.200 of the top ten, you know, and obviously when you 0:01:56.240 --> 0:01:59.720 look at Caleb Williams, his was an unusual situation and 0:02:00.120 --> 0:02:02.360 how he was drafted and how he was interviewed and 0:02:02.400 --> 0:02:04.760 all that, and so I would think his contract is 0:02:04.800 --> 0:02:07.000 going to be different. He's going to have certain demands 0:02:07.000 --> 0:02:09.320 that he wants. But I think we know from the 0:02:09.400 --> 0:02:13.080 rookie page scale that's pretty much slotted and slated. So 0:02:13.160 --> 0:02:15.120 if they do get a little bit more, it's not 0:02:15.200 --> 0:02:18.040 going to be out of the realm of what pickoverall 0:02:18.120 --> 0:02:20.960 number one had last year plus inflation and pick number 0:02:21.040 --> 0:02:24.639 nine overall last year plus inflation. That's how these contracts 0:02:24.639 --> 0:02:25.480 will be reflected. 0:02:25.560 --> 0:02:29.600 Jim in terms of that, what is the and JJ 0:02:29.720 --> 0:02:32.399 McCarthy is also unsigned in Minnesota? 0:02:32.840 --> 0:02:34.000 What are they. 0:02:34.560 --> 0:02:38.200 Looking for the Vikings Dallas Turner also unsigned. There's several 0:02:38.280 --> 0:02:40.400 in the first round. What are the little nuggets that 0:02:40.480 --> 0:02:43.920 agents and teams have to negotiate that kind of sneaking. 0:02:44.440 --> 0:02:46.960 Yeah, well, I think for quarterbacks it's different. You go 0:02:47.040 --> 0:02:49.360 back to even when Brady Quinn I think, was taken 0:02:49.400 --> 0:02:52.919 twenty two overall by Cleveland and he and he held out. 0:02:53.400 --> 0:02:56.680 He held out because he felt he was a quarterback 0:02:56.880 --> 0:02:59.760 and quarterbacks make premium money that he could have got 0:02:59.800 --> 0:03:02.200 more money. And that could be the case for you know, 0:03:02.280 --> 0:03:04.960 Caleb Williams right now, he's the number one overall pick 0:03:05.480 --> 0:03:07.760 the guaranteed money, what's it going to be plus, there's 0:03:07.760 --> 0:03:09.919 probably going to be some incentives in there as well, 0:03:10.000 --> 0:03:12.120 and I would assume Roman doom Day is thinking the 0:03:12.160 --> 0:03:14.280 same thing. You know, he's brought in to be a 0:03:14.760 --> 0:03:17.919 major key weapon of the future in his is probably 0:03:17.919 --> 0:03:19.360 going to be incentive based as well. 0:03:19.520 --> 0:03:19.760 Tom. 0:03:19.800 --> 0:03:23.520 The good news is this salary cap and the discussions 0:03:23.560 --> 0:03:27.880 over the years have eliminated long term holdouts, and I 0:03:27.919 --> 0:03:31.160 think that's very important, not only for the player itself, 0:03:31.200 --> 0:03:33.760 the rookie, but for the team and how they can 0:03:34.160 --> 0:03:36.280 set course right out of the gate and not have 0:03:36.360 --> 0:03:39.280 that distraction. It hasn't been a big topic of conversation 0:03:39.400 --> 0:03:42.920 in recent years, and I felt it was an important 0:03:42.920 --> 0:03:46.760 thing because so much time and effort and energy was 0:03:46.800 --> 0:03:51.160 spent on a first pick negotiating and an agent holding 0:03:51.200 --> 0:03:55.520 out for the absolute best possible deal that those distractions 0:03:55.560 --> 0:03:57.000 dominated the start of training camp. 0:03:57.280 --> 0:03:58.640 We rarely have those anymore. 0:03:59.040 --> 0:04:00.960 Yeah, you know, That's why I kind of hope Caleb 0:04:01.000 --> 0:04:05.280 Williams signs before Roma doonsay, because I think Caleb Williams 0:04:05.320 --> 0:04:08.400 can kind of set the bar of exactly what does 0:04:08.400 --> 0:04:10.760 the maximum you're gonna make and what is the trickle 0:04:10.800 --> 0:04:13.400 down effect after that? Because if you go and you 0:04:13.440 --> 0:04:16.760 have roma Doonesay sign first, then the first pick in 0:04:16.800 --> 0:04:19.279 the draft is still an unpredictable amount. 0:04:19.360 --> 0:04:21.000 So I think if you can. 0:04:20.920 --> 0:04:24.680 Get those top couple guys signed, then you're gonna start 0:04:24.760 --> 0:04:27.240 understanding how that money's gonna flow downhill. 0:04:27.480 --> 0:04:28.600 Jim, what are you gonna be looking for? 0:04:28.640 --> 0:04:31.239 You're coming up to camp, I think the weekend after 0:04:31.680 --> 0:04:34.440 and we'll sit down with serious x MNFL radio and 0:04:34.480 --> 0:04:37.479 that's always a good time at havisaw. So what will 0:04:37.520 --> 0:04:39.080 you be looking for or your eye is going to 0:04:39.160 --> 0:04:40.800 take you to the field when you arrive. 0:04:41.120 --> 0:04:44.279 Well, I think for the Bears, where there's really competitive action, 0:04:44.560 --> 0:04:46.720 I would think at the center position, you know, with 0:04:46.800 --> 0:04:50.000 Shelton with Baits, you know, how's that competition going to 0:04:50.040 --> 0:04:52.960 work out? Certainly the young quarterback, you know, gonna be 0:04:52.960 --> 0:04:56.440 studying him his mannerisms. Is he mixing up his snap count? 0:04:56.839 --> 0:05:00.679 How is his mechanics, the timing of the livery because 0:05:00.680 --> 0:05:02.640 I think we know sacks have been a problem in 0:05:02.680 --> 0:05:04.680 the past. You know, is he in a good rhythm 0:05:05.240 --> 0:05:08.480 throwing the ball? And then just the overall talent that's drafted, 0:05:08.520 --> 0:05:11.480 you know, the growth of Jeron Dexter, you know, because 0:05:11.480 --> 0:05:13.640 He's going to be a key component on the defensive 0:05:13.640 --> 0:05:15.760 side of the ball. And I think for all those guys, 0:05:15.760 --> 0:05:18.200 the second year players and just how much they've grown. 0:05:18.120 --> 0:05:19.440 Tom, what are you going to be looking at. 0:05:19.839 --> 0:05:22.520 I'm going to see how Kevin Byard fits into the secondary. 0:05:22.560 --> 0:05:23.839 It's going to be interesting to see. 0:05:23.880 --> 0:05:25.599 I'm going to see if Nate Davis is on the 0:05:25.640 --> 0:05:29.760 field participating in his position and that he will hopefully 0:05:29.800 --> 0:05:32.599 be at day in and day out. Kind of looking 0:05:32.600 --> 0:05:35.880 where Braxton Jones and Tevin Jenkins are and Jim talked 0:05:35.880 --> 0:05:38.960 about the center battle. But you know, I was looking 0:05:39.040 --> 0:05:41.400 up this morning and I know it's a topic I'm always. 0:05:41.160 --> 0:05:42.800 Interested as in first downs? 0:05:43.120 --> 0:05:46.640 So what type of offense is Shane Waldron developing in 0:05:46.680 --> 0:05:50.320 the passing game? Is it the big play strikeability with 0:05:50.440 --> 0:05:54.559 Keenan Allen Romadoonza and Dj Moore or is it first 0:05:54.600 --> 0:05:59.040 down opportunities with DeAndre Swift, Cole Comet, Gerald Everett and 0:05:59.160 --> 0:06:01.880 the receiver. Because when you go and you look at 0:06:01.880 --> 0:06:04.479 the numbers, I think the Bears were fourth and the 0:06:04.560 --> 0:06:08.000 division and first downs and they were number one in 0:06:08.080 --> 0:06:10.960 the division in first downs given up, And to me, 0:06:11.120 --> 0:06:13.320 I know, I kind of dwell on that. But when 0:06:13.360 --> 0:06:16.360 you look at the overall performance, especially with a young quarterback, 0:06:16.360 --> 0:06:18.320 and like Jim says, getting the ball out of his hands, 0:06:18.360 --> 0:06:20.760 I'm interested to see where that's going. 0:06:20.880 --> 0:06:22.719 Yep, first downs lead the touchdowns, Jim. 0:06:22.760 --> 0:06:26.320 And if this goes the way I envision, or at 0:06:26.400 --> 0:06:28.240 least I hope I envision, I mean, he's going to 0:06:28.360 --> 0:06:30.280 have opportunities with open receivers. 0:06:30.279 --> 0:06:31.760 There's going to be somebody open. 0:06:31.880 --> 0:06:34.560 Just find your completion, protection, holds, get rid of the football, 0:06:34.880 --> 0:06:37.080 and as the season goes on, or as a game 0:06:37.120 --> 0:06:40.839 goes on, the flare that Caleb Williams is entering the 0:06:40.920 --> 0:06:44.440 NFL with what he did in college, that instinctiveness, that 0:06:44.560 --> 0:06:47.360 spatial awareness in the pocket, his ability to operate within 0:06:47.440 --> 0:06:50.120 and around the pocket is going to come to fruition 0:06:50.240 --> 0:06:52.000 when a big play is needed in the clutch. 0:06:52.720 --> 0:06:56.480 Yeah, and hopefully Bears fans give them time to develop. 0:06:56.600 --> 0:06:58.760 You know, there's gonna be some growing pains. I think 0:06:58.920 --> 0:07:01.839 Bears fans, you know, kind of got a little unrealistic, 0:07:01.920 --> 0:07:03.720 you know, thinking last year was probably going to be 0:07:03.760 --> 0:07:05.840 a Super Bowl year. There were some that even had 0:07:07.279 --> 0:07:11.320 you know, justin Fields listed as the league MVP, and 0:07:11.520 --> 0:07:14.280 look at where we are now. So just give young 0:07:14.360 --> 0:07:17.000 Caleb Williams the time to develop. He's got all the 0:07:17.040 --> 0:07:19.320 pieces around him. And I'm with you, Jeff. If he 0:07:19.360 --> 0:07:21.240 just goes through his reads, even if he doesn't know 0:07:21.320 --> 0:07:23.960 the coverage, he'll get to the right guy. And so 0:07:24.080 --> 0:07:26.280 he's got to keep his cool about him and understand 0:07:26.320 --> 0:07:27.800 he's going to make mistakes as well. 0:07:27.880 --> 0:07:30.720 So in the intro, Tommy I said, you know a 0:07:30.760 --> 0:07:32.280 lot of people in the lague think this is now 0:07:32.680 --> 0:07:36.280 the toughest division. And toughest doesn't always mean the best, 0:07:36.280 --> 0:07:37.360 but toughest division. 0:07:37.640 --> 0:07:38.720 I'll go to war with that. 0:07:38.880 --> 0:07:42.400 With these four teams remade in different ways over the 0:07:42.440 --> 0:07:45.640 course of time, in short periods or long stretches. 0:07:45.680 --> 0:07:49.080 So do you agree with that assertion or were you looking. 0:07:48.880 --> 0:07:52.400 At things and Jim can follow, you know, toughest, most competitive, Yeah, 0:07:52.600 --> 0:07:57.200 maybe toughest in terms of physical stature of these football teams. 0:07:57.520 --> 0:07:59.480 I think it goes along with the Steelers in the 0:07:59.560 --> 0:08:05.560 Ravens in Cincinnati and Cleveland. So yeah, I think it's 0:08:05.600 --> 0:08:07.760 going to be a super competitive division. And I think 0:08:07.800 --> 0:08:11.360 the Bears, you know, when they can climb over Detroit 0:08:11.360 --> 0:08:13.400 and they can climb over Green baythe and that's going 0:08:13.480 --> 0:08:16.600 to give them the opportunity of the hope that we're 0:08:16.600 --> 0:08:19.200 all talking about here in the early portion of the show. 0:08:20.160 --> 0:08:23.600 Yeah, I think to me, it's the second toughest division 0:08:23.600 --> 0:08:25.960 in football. I'm with Tom. I think the AFC North 0:08:26.360 --> 0:08:28.680 is just a bloodbath. You look at the quarterback play. 0:08:28.720 --> 0:08:31.960 You got the league MVP there. Now, Russell Wilson's in there. 0:08:32.000 --> 0:08:33.920 You look at Joe Burrow and we'll see where it 0:08:33.960 --> 0:08:36.640 goes with the Deshaun Watson. But I think for the 0:08:36.760 --> 0:08:40.360 NFC North, how these rosters are built, and granted a 0:08:40.400 --> 0:08:42.600 lot is going to be determined by the young quarterbacks, 0:08:42.600 --> 0:08:45.960 whether it's JJ McCarthy or Caleb Williams. But this is 0:08:46.000 --> 0:08:49.000 a tough, bruising division and I think, much like last year, 0:08:49.040 --> 0:08:51.760 it'll come down to potentially the last week of the season. 0:08:51.760 --> 0:08:53.000 And so did the AFC North. 0:08:53.040 --> 0:08:55.360 All Right, we've heard the all right, we've hit the 0:08:55.400 --> 0:08:57.959 first mile post, and coming up next we hear the 0:08:58.040 --> 0:09:01.440 Vikings talk from Pete Bursich, Chicago area man and the 0:09:01.520 --> 0:09:02.439 analyst for. 0:09:02.400 --> 0:09:03.720 The Vikings on radio. 0:09:04.240 --> 0:09:07.120 As we get you set for NFC North football here 0:09:07.120 --> 0:09:08.120 in twenty twenty four. 0:09:08.200 --> 0:09:11.040 This is ESPN Chicago and the Bears Radio Network. 0:09:11.280 --> 0:09:13.719 Is Bears Weekly with the voice of the Bears for 0:09:13.800 --> 0:09:18.080 twenty three years, Jeff Junia on the Bears Radio Network. 0:09:20.160 --> 0:09:22.160 Good segment, The Bears Weekly is brought to you by 0:09:22.280 --> 0:09:25.439 Igs Energy, Tomtey or Jeff Joniak and Jim Miller from 0:09:25.440 --> 0:09:28.880 Serious x MNFL Radio. Now look at the Vikings as 0:09:28.880 --> 0:09:31.520 we break down the twenty twenty four NFC North and 0:09:32.000 --> 0:09:35.400 what many Pete is being described as one of the best, 0:09:35.440 --> 0:09:36.880 if not the best or the toughest. 0:09:36.880 --> 0:09:38.800 We've had our opinions on that. 0:09:39.200 --> 0:09:42.840 We're you sitting as the analyst of the Minnesota Vikings, 0:09:43.120 --> 0:09:46.719 Chicago area man and certainly excited to hit the season going. 0:09:46.760 --> 0:09:48.880 It's going to be fun, Pete, Yeah it is. 0:09:48.960 --> 0:09:51.240 And you know, you have two teams from the division 0:09:51.280 --> 0:09:54.520 who you know, the Lions, I hate to say that 0:09:54.600 --> 0:09:57.400 they disappointed. I mean, obviously they had a good football team, 0:09:57.440 --> 0:09:59.160 and then that the run the Packers had at the 0:09:59.280 --> 0:10:02.600 end of the year, you know, then that's that's the NFL, right, 0:10:02.600 --> 0:10:05.760 you carry that success over to the following year. And 0:10:05.800 --> 0:10:09.440 then there's Chicago who obviously through the draft has made 0:10:09.480 --> 0:10:11.520 some improvements and I'd like to think that the Minnesota 0:10:11.559 --> 0:10:12.840 Vikings have done so as well. 0:10:12.960 --> 0:10:16.439 So this time of year, everyone thinks are getting better. 0:10:16.800 --> 0:10:19.120 And you know, when you have two teams out of 0:10:19.120 --> 0:10:22.319 one division winning games in the playoffs, Yeah, it's gonna be. 0:10:22.760 --> 0:10:25.559 It's gonna be a tough, tough road this year for 0:10:25.559 --> 0:10:27.000 for all teams in this division. 0:10:28.120 --> 0:10:29.760 Hey, Pete, when you look at the history of the 0:10:29.880 --> 0:10:33.320 running back position with the Minnesota Vikings before you got 0:10:33.360 --> 0:10:36.080 there and since you've been there and beyond, when you 0:10:36.120 --> 0:10:38.120 think of what they're going to have this year, and 0:10:38.200 --> 0:10:40.240 Aaron Jones, to me, he's been one of the best 0:10:40.320 --> 0:10:43.040 running backs in the in the division for quite a while. 0:10:43.520 --> 0:10:46.479 What is Minnesota's expectations, especially. 0:10:46.080 --> 0:10:47.840 When you're breaking in a new quarterback. 0:10:49.360 --> 0:10:52.280 Yeah, he's you know, the running game obviously helps a 0:10:52.320 --> 0:10:53.280 younger quarterback. 0:10:53.800 --> 0:10:56.840 And you know, Tom, you this team. 0:10:56.880 --> 0:10:59.920 If there's been areas where this team has been deficient 0:11:01.120 --> 0:11:06.880 since Kevin O'Connell has been here, short yardage and third 0:11:06.920 --> 0:11:09.360 down and one fourth down on one and goal line 0:11:09.360 --> 0:11:09.760 as well. 0:11:09.800 --> 0:11:12.280 And shortyard is a tight goal line, tight red zone. 0:11:12.800 --> 0:11:16.319 And that's where I think Aaron Jones can help the most. 0:11:16.800 --> 0:11:18.760 And if he and so we're not asking for a 0:11:18.760 --> 0:11:20.800 ton here. But if he's able to convert some of 0:11:20.840 --> 0:11:23.680 these third and shorts, able to push, you know, be 0:11:23.720 --> 0:11:26.079 able to let the Bikings just run the football from 0:11:26.240 --> 0:11:29.600 the deep, deep red zone, that's gonna make a huge difference. 0:11:29.640 --> 0:11:31.840 And so we're not we're not asking for much. What 0:11:32.080 --> 0:11:34.400 my thing is is what's the identity of this running 0:11:34.440 --> 0:11:37.960 game going to be? You know, last year with Alexander Madison, 0:11:38.000 --> 0:11:40.040 we started running some more counters and some of those 0:11:40.080 --> 0:11:43.200 other things. From what I've seen out of Jones, he's 0:11:43.200 --> 0:11:45.880 his own guy. He's a long cut back kind of guy. 0:11:45.920 --> 0:11:49.240 He has great vision, he can set up blocks. Will 0:11:49.480 --> 0:11:52.880 the Vikings have you know, that type of a running game. 0:11:52.920 --> 0:11:55.960 I think from schematic standpoint, our running games and flux. 0:11:57.160 --> 0:11:59.160 So I'm really looking forward to That's gonna be one 0:11:59.160 --> 0:12:02.000 of my preseason things is just what's our running game 0:12:02.040 --> 0:12:04.080 going to look like? What's our identity going to be 0:12:04.400 --> 0:12:05.920 with the running game? And they're going to have to 0:12:05.920 --> 0:12:09.240 build it around Aaron Jones, But I guarantee you if 0:12:09.240 --> 0:12:11.720 he can help us in those short yardage situations. I mean, 0:12:11.760 --> 0:12:14.800 we lost the game to Cincinnati last year. Whereas third 0:12:14.800 --> 0:12:17.480 and run Quebec, you know, quarterback sneak. Then they tried 0:12:17.480 --> 0:12:19.400 it again out of fourth and one, we didn't make it, 0:12:19.600 --> 0:12:22.080 turn it over, and then you know, the Bengals go 0:12:22.120 --> 0:12:24.160 down and score a touchdown, right, you know, right soon 0:12:24.200 --> 0:12:28.719 after that. So these situations, these situations have come back 0:12:28.800 --> 0:12:30.640 turnovers did in the beginning of the year. And then 0:12:30.880 --> 0:12:34.040 you know that shortyardage running game needs to improve, and 0:12:34.120 --> 0:12:36.000 so Aaron Jones is going to be a big part 0:12:36.000 --> 0:12:36.240 of that. 0:12:37.320 --> 0:12:39.319 Pat Jim Miller here and good to talk to you. 0:12:39.360 --> 0:12:41.880 Hope your summer is going well. I just want to 0:12:41.920 --> 0:12:45.480 know how patient can the Minnesota fan base be? You know, 0:12:45.600 --> 0:12:48.640 if if Sam, let's face it, Sam Darnold, this could 0:12:48.640 --> 0:12:50.520 be his last shot to be a starter, and if 0:12:50.520 --> 0:12:53.520 it doesn't work out, they're going to turn to JJ McCarthy. 0:12:53.520 --> 0:12:56.120 And I only bring that up because Bears Bears fans. 0:12:56.559 --> 0:12:58.640 They threw Mitch Trubisky in their way too early, and 0:12:58.679 --> 0:13:00.880 they threw justin Fields in their way too early. How 0:13:00.920 --> 0:13:01.880 patient can they be? 0:13:04.640 --> 0:13:07.560 I as fans going all depends on the record. If 0:13:07.559 --> 0:13:10.120 we're winning football games, I think they're gonna be pretty patient. 0:13:10.120 --> 0:13:13.120 If not, yeah, they're gonna want They're gonna want. 0:13:13.000 --> 0:13:15.040 To move on to the future. As soon as possible. 0:13:15.080 --> 0:13:18.280 I think for McCarthy, you know, and for Donald, what 0:13:18.400 --> 0:13:21.760 the advantage they have is is Kevin O'Connell and the 0:13:21.800 --> 0:13:25.080 fact that he played the quarterback position in college, he 0:13:25.120 --> 0:13:27.439 played it in the NFL, he coached that position. He 0:13:27.520 --> 0:13:30.680 was a quarter now he's a head coach, so he 0:13:30.800 --> 0:13:33.480 knows that position. I think the hard part for fans 0:13:34.320 --> 0:13:37.200 is we're not going to know the progress of JJ 0:13:37.400 --> 0:13:40.080 McCarthy right because we're not going to see him on 0:13:40.160 --> 0:13:44.480 the field. So as Donald could get out there and 0:13:44.880 --> 0:13:47.439 look okay or not look you know, not look great. 0:13:47.520 --> 0:13:50.360 But if McCarthy is behind, or if they don't, if 0:13:50.360 --> 0:13:51.920 they're and they're not gonna come out and say this, 0:13:51.960 --> 0:13:53.719 They're not going to say, hey, it's taking McCarthy a 0:13:53.720 --> 0:13:55.800 little bit longer to pick things up. We're not comfortable 0:13:55.880 --> 0:13:58.240 putting them in yet. They're not going to say that. 0:13:58.280 --> 0:14:01.480 They're just going to stick with darn right. That's the 0:14:01.559 --> 0:14:04.719 part that that that you know, is frustrating and that 0:14:04.800 --> 0:14:07.000 fans have to keep in mind is you have to 0:14:07.040 --> 0:14:09.960 have we know he's the future. You know, he's a 0:14:10.120 --> 0:14:12.719 top fifteen pick in the NFL. He's going to be 0:14:12.840 --> 0:14:16.400 the quarterback you just got to have patience and have 0:14:16.600 --> 0:14:20.080 trust that the powers that be are going to put 0:14:20.120 --> 0:14:22.560 him in when he's ready and when it's best for him. 0:14:22.760 --> 0:14:24.720 You know, for a lot of fans, that's good, that's 0:14:24.760 --> 0:14:27.360 today right. For a lot of fans, they want to 0:14:27.520 --> 0:14:29.480 they want to see him stay. You drafted them, might 0:14:29.520 --> 0:14:31.000 as well just throw him in there. But you guys 0:14:31.080 --> 0:14:33.440 have seen I think the other side of that coin, 0:14:33.960 --> 0:14:35.800 by what can happen if you put guys in too 0:14:35.920 --> 0:14:37.000 soon and they're not ready. 0:14:37.400 --> 0:14:40.000 Pte Bursts, radio analysts for the Minneso the Vikings, a 0:14:40.000 --> 0:14:41.960 our guest here on Bears Weekly on the ESPN one 0:14:42.000 --> 0:14:44.480 thousand of the Bears Radio Network. Let's look at your 0:14:44.520 --> 0:14:46.880 defense no more daneil Hunter wreaking havoc on the Bears 0:14:46.880 --> 0:14:49.000 that they meet him in week two against Houston again, 0:14:49.840 --> 0:14:52.280 what's that pass rush looking like? And how do you 0:14:52.320 --> 0:14:54.920 feel it stacks up in the division in terms of 0:14:54.960 --> 0:14:55.640 pass rushes. 0:14:57.480 --> 0:15:01.200 It's gonna you know, it's gonna have it was good 0:15:01.280 --> 0:15:01.760 last year. 0:15:01.760 --> 0:15:04.520 We got a lot of productivity out of our outside linebackers, 0:15:04.840 --> 0:15:06.080 you know, Jonathan Gernard. 0:15:06.120 --> 0:15:08.040 They're gonna have to replicate that. 0:15:08.160 --> 0:15:10.800 Right, uh Van Ginko will see how he's gonna be 0:15:11.160 --> 0:15:14.600 health wise going into the season. But the more those 0:15:14.640 --> 0:15:18.160 five guys upfront can rush, the better off that we're 0:15:18.200 --> 0:15:22.640 gonna be. Now, Dallas Turner, you're gonna throw him in 0:15:22.640 --> 0:15:26.000 there right away. We're gonna see what he's all about. 0:15:26.320 --> 0:15:30.920 These guys, though, have more position flexibility. They're true outside linebackers. 0:15:30.920 --> 0:15:33.280 So I think that's gonna change the floor as defense 0:15:33.320 --> 0:15:34.880 a little bit. It's gonna be a little bit easier 0:15:35.080 --> 0:15:37.200 to put certain guys in coverages. He didn't want to 0:15:37.200 --> 0:15:40.040 put the ney of the Hunter in coverage, right. Every 0:15:40.040 --> 0:15:41.600 once in a while he drop out and kind of 0:15:41.600 --> 0:15:44.440 take up space. You have guys at the outside linebacker 0:15:44.440 --> 0:15:48.080 position now that that can do that, that can cover. 0:15:48.280 --> 0:15:50.280 So it's gonna give flora As I think, a little 0:15:50.280 --> 0:15:54.240 bit more flexibility with with the guys that he has. 0:15:54.320 --> 0:15:56.440 But we're gonna, yeah, we're gonna We're gonna need to 0:15:56.440 --> 0:15:58.280 get after the quarterback. I don't think that's gonna be 0:15:58.320 --> 0:16:00.640 as much of a challenge. Iss just be physical and 0:16:00.680 --> 0:16:04.080 holding up to the run. Right, We've gained a lot 0:16:04.120 --> 0:16:06.560 of speed, but we've lost a lot of size, right, 0:16:06.680 --> 0:16:10.600 d Neil Hunter, you just you have a big body 0:16:10.640 --> 0:16:12.680 out there and he was key for us, especially against 0:16:12.680 --> 0:16:15.880 Atlanta and some goal line plays. So will those guys 0:16:15.920 --> 0:16:18.160 be able to hold up physically and hold up against 0:16:18.160 --> 0:16:18.480 the run? 0:16:18.520 --> 0:16:19.800 But we'll see, you. 0:16:19.760 --> 0:16:22.040 Know, Pete, I think our division has the best tight 0:16:22.120 --> 0:16:24.320 ends in the league when you look at every team. 0:16:24.760 --> 0:16:26.560 So I know there's a little bit of an injury 0:16:26.600 --> 0:16:30.880 set back to the tight end up in Minnesota. What's 0:16:31.040 --> 0:16:34.640 what's the status and if TJ does is not on 0:16:34.720 --> 0:16:38.680 board immediately, what is the tight end situation with you guys? 0:16:39.200 --> 0:16:41.160 But well, I think they're still trying. You know, they're 0:16:41.160 --> 0:16:43.240 still trying to figure that out, you know what I mean. 0:16:43.280 --> 0:16:45.600 And for Hockinston, they're not going to you know, they're 0:16:45.600 --> 0:16:47.360 not going to rush him back, but we need him 0:16:47.520 --> 0:16:50.040 as quickly as possible. And Tommy bring up a good 0:16:50.040 --> 0:16:52.480 point because there's still a lot of question marks as 0:16:52.520 --> 0:16:55.080 to who our number three wide receiver is going to be. 0:16:55.160 --> 0:16:56.920 And then so you kind of have that. 0:16:56.840 --> 0:17:00.600 Number three, number four wide receiver tight end snell group 0:17:00.600 --> 0:17:01.360 are you gonna use? 0:17:03.080 --> 0:17:05.160 Yeah, it'll be it'll be interesting. 0:17:05.240 --> 0:17:07.360 I don't have all the names, you know, right off 0:17:07.400 --> 0:17:09.480 the top of my head, but that's it's gonna be 0:17:09.480 --> 0:17:11.879 a key spot in one that we're gonna have to 0:17:11.880 --> 0:17:12.920 to keep a close eye on. 0:17:13.000 --> 0:17:16.120 In the preseason final one for me, Peters, you've talked 0:17:16.160 --> 0:17:18.520 about running the ball three or four times. Finally get 0:17:18.520 --> 0:17:22.000 back Dalton Reisner at the guard spot and basically the 0:17:22.000 --> 0:17:25.679 lines intact. And I guess your thoughts on Aaron Jones 0:17:25.720 --> 0:17:28.240 because we were sold to a bad bill of goods 0:17:28.320 --> 0:17:30.960 last year about Alexander Madison and he's a three down 0:17:31.040 --> 0:17:33.119 back and I thought they never should have got rid 0:17:33.200 --> 0:17:36.840 of Delvin Cook. But just the the infusion of Aaron Jones. 0:17:37.160 --> 0:17:40.159 Yeah, well it's again. I think the main thing is 0:17:40.160 --> 0:17:42.880 gonna be that short yardage thing. Getting Dalton and Reisner's back, 0:17:43.400 --> 0:17:47.560 you know, was important between he and and Ingram. We 0:17:47.720 --> 0:17:50.600 got some guys that are they struggle at times in 0:17:50.680 --> 0:17:53.960 pass protection for what they will do is hit somebody. 0:17:54.400 --> 0:17:57.520 And we tried this to Madison a little bit more 0:17:57.600 --> 0:18:00.359 toward the end of the season, especially with tych Handler 0:18:00.359 --> 0:18:01.439 played a lot ty Chandler. 0:18:01.480 --> 0:18:03.680 North Carolina ran a lot of counter and. 0:18:03.640 --> 0:18:07.040 Power, so we started pulling guards and Raisner is gonna 0:18:07.080 --> 0:18:07.640 hit somebody. 0:18:07.880 --> 0:18:09.240 Ingram's is just gonna they're aggressive. 0:18:09.280 --> 0:18:13.399 They'll they'll hit somebody, so that counterpower running game prepped 0:18:13.440 --> 0:18:15.560 in a little bit more towards the end. Again, that's 0:18:15.600 --> 0:18:18.639 why I go back to identity. But Reisner is definitely 0:18:18.720 --> 0:18:21.240 a leader. He's definitely aggressive. He's a kind of he's 0:18:21.280 --> 0:18:23.320 you know, he's like here, he's a guard. He's this 0:18:23.400 --> 0:18:25.560 guy that you you know that you want. It's just 0:18:25.560 --> 0:18:28.000 gonna grind things out, be nasty and do the you know, 0:18:28.080 --> 0:18:31.160 do what, do what the absolutely has to be done 0:18:31.200 --> 0:18:35.800