WEBVTT - All Access: Nichols on improving in offseason 0:00:01.160 --> 0:00:04.600 The following is a presentation of the Chicago Bears Network 0:00:04.720 --> 0:00:08.639 and Chicago Bears dot Com. Download the Chicago Bears official 0:00:08.680 --> 0:00:11.640 mobile app for up to the minute Bears content every 0:00:11.760 --> 0:00:16.319 day and now welcome to Bears All Access. You're All 0:00:16.360 --> 0:00:21.040 Access passing to Chicago Bears football. Bears All Access is 0:00:21.079 --> 0:00:25.640 brought to you by IGS Energy and sponsored by CDW, 0:00:25.800 --> 0:00:29.800 Miller Lite and Ford. Time to talk a little Bears 0:00:29.800 --> 0:00:32.440 football For the next hour, walkome in everybody Johnny Ac 0:00:32.479 --> 0:00:34.559 along with Tom Fair from news radio seven eighty and 0:00:34.560 --> 0:00:37.040 one oh five point nine FM w BBM. Jim Miller 0:00:37.040 --> 0:00:39.760 will be along as well and cough it up. Shortly, 0:00:39.760 --> 0:00:42.040 we'll be joined by Well now he's out of his 0:00:42.120 --> 0:00:45.199 rookie year, Big Tom Balam Nichols, the defensive lineman for 0:00:45.240 --> 0:00:48.599 the Bears fifth round draft pick last year, so we'll 0:00:48.640 --> 0:00:50.760 talk to him about his season and what he's looking 0:00:50.760 --> 0:00:54.360 forward to. He's out in an NFL event and parts unknown, 0:00:54.360 --> 0:00:55.840 so we'll be talking to him. But we're just with 0:00:55.920 --> 0:00:59.400 you on Friday. But short turnaround. Not a lot transpired 0:00:59.440 --> 0:01:02.480 since Friday obviously when we met and talk with Bobby Massey, 0:01:02.560 --> 0:01:04.760 but there's always something going on in Today was the 0:01:04.800 --> 0:01:07.360 first day in the NFL, you can tag players. So 0:01:07.440 --> 0:01:09.640 nobody that I know of yet has been tagged any 0:01:09.640 --> 0:01:11.960 of the tags, but there's certainly a lot of names 0:01:11.959 --> 0:01:14.880 out there and a lot of other movement around the league. Yeah, 0:01:14.920 --> 0:01:17.360 you know, the franchise tag, it's it's kind of a 0:01:17.360 --> 0:01:21.319 fragile thing. Sometimes when you're franchising guys and you want 0:01:21.400 --> 0:01:24.479 to be a positive influence inside the locker room, they're 0:01:24.520 --> 0:01:28.000 disappointed that they're getting franchise or franchise because they want 0:01:28.000 --> 0:01:31.720 the long term, big money, guaranteed contract. So it turned 0:01:31.720 --> 0:01:34.560 out weird here for al Sean Jeffrey and that whole process. 0:01:34.600 --> 0:01:39.160 So I no team has the perfect franchise tag scenario. 0:01:39.319 --> 0:01:41.720 You look at what happened in the Pittsburgh Steelers with 0:01:41.800 --> 0:01:44.480 Levon Bell, So you know, that's just part of the 0:01:44.520 --> 0:01:47.480 growing process of how you develop a team, how you're 0:01:47.520 --> 0:01:49.600 going to spend your money, and where do you think 0:01:49.640 --> 0:01:52.440 you want to secure a position or a player the most. 0:01:52.480 --> 0:01:55.080 And you know a couple of guys that people have mentioned, 0:01:55.080 --> 0:01:57.960 certainly in the secondary because it is hard to find 0:01:58.080 --> 0:02:00.640 a really good nickel defensive back. So would the Bears 0:02:00.680 --> 0:02:02.840 be interested in doing that with Bryce Camahan. You also 0:02:02.920 --> 0:02:05.760 have Adrian Amos at the safety position. Things will discuss. 0:02:05.800 --> 0:02:07.240 I think we have Jim Miller with US now and 0:02:07.280 --> 0:02:10.239 Big Jim from Serious x MNFL Radio, Good Evening. What's 0:02:10.240 --> 0:02:14.799 what's made news today? Well, Antonio Brown, of course, of course. 0:02:15.000 --> 0:02:17.440 Finally you know you got should cry your way out 0:02:17.440 --> 0:02:19.720 of town. Now. That's that's what happens in the NFL. 0:02:20.160 --> 0:02:22.560 I mean, geez, it's as hard to believe. There's just 0:02:22.600 --> 0:02:24.840 so much drama. I was a part of that organization 0:02:25.320 --> 0:02:29.120 and never never once experienced They've never been shy about 0:02:29.120 --> 0:02:31.680 cutting the corda on players, whether it was Rod Woodson, 0:02:31.760 --> 0:02:34.760 Cornel Lake, There's been some great players, Kevin Green have 0:02:34.919 --> 0:02:37.160 moved on from there, and it sounds like finally they've 0:02:37.160 --> 0:02:40.160 they've had enough of Antonio Brown and we'll try to 0:02:40.520 --> 0:02:42.800 we'll try to seek a trade for him. You just 0:02:42.840 --> 0:02:45.320 wonder how much compensation they're going to get for him, right, 0:02:45.360 --> 0:02:48.160 But I mean, I saw headlines today that there's people 0:02:48.160 --> 0:02:51.000 are saying that he's not worth the first rounder, and 0:02:51.280 --> 0:02:54.080 he's got ability, but it's the baggage I think is 0:02:54.200 --> 0:02:58.200 making him decline in the terms of his value. It's 0:02:58.240 --> 0:03:01.120 just bizarre. Tom I mean what that guy has done 0:03:01.240 --> 0:03:04.360 literally over the last six months. I mean the issue 0:03:04.400 --> 0:03:07.679 down in Floridas, him throwing furniture off a balcony. I mean, 0:03:07.720 --> 0:03:10.880 that's still in court in legal proceedings. Then you've got 0:03:10.919 --> 0:03:14.640 the speeding issue. Then he goes a wall on his team. 0:03:15.040 --> 0:03:17.440 Not to mention the Facebook live posts that he had 0:03:17.720 --> 0:03:20.280 a couple of years ago, but I mean, minim, just 0:03:20.600 --> 0:03:23.360 the guy flat out walked out on his team. You know, 0:03:23.400 --> 0:03:26.720 even Mike Tomlin just said enough is enough. That you know, 0:03:26.919 --> 0:03:29.600 his agent calls, Drew Rosenhous calls the day of the game, 0:03:29.600 --> 0:03:32.120 and Tomlin's like, nah, that's not how it works here. 0:03:32.120 --> 0:03:34.359 He can't just not show up all week and then 0:03:34.400 --> 0:03:37.720 expect to play in the game. And then even today 0:03:37.840 --> 0:03:41.520 the bizarre post he had on Instagram. It's just I'm 0:03:41.520 --> 0:03:43.280 with you. I mean, what team wants to take on 0:03:43.360 --> 0:03:46.920 that baggage. To me, his value has gone down because 0:03:46.920 --> 0:03:50.640 he wants a new contract that's completely guaranteed. The team's 0:03:50.680 --> 0:03:52.400 not going to give up a lot. It's definitely not 0:03:52.440 --> 0:03:56.000 going to be first round compensation. I think it'll be 0:03:56.040 --> 0:03:58.720 a late round draft. It's kind of you know, Jim, 0:03:58.720 --> 0:04:01.360 it's kind of weird. What when Dallas Cowboys went and 0:04:01.360 --> 0:04:03.880 traded for Amari Cooper and what he did for the 0:04:03.960 --> 0:04:06.960 receiver position there in a short period of time. I 0:04:07.040 --> 0:04:10.080 do believe that's the influence of that that they think 0:04:10.120 --> 0:04:12.920 Antonio Brown is going to have on whatever team he 0:04:12.960 --> 0:04:16.440 goes to for the receiver. For the receiver group, you 0:04:16.560 --> 0:04:19.520 better have a strong personality at quarterback. But you know, 0:04:19.640 --> 0:04:22.080 Amari Cooper is kind of leaving a fresh thought in 0:04:22.640 --> 0:04:24.880 people's minds about what a receiver can come in to 0:04:24.960 --> 0:04:27.960 do a help a quarterback. Yeah, definitely think it's going 0:04:28.000 --> 0:04:30.000 to have to be a veteran quarterback that he's going 0:04:30.040 --> 0:04:32.000 to be dealing with. I mean, because Antonio Brown would 0:04:32.000 --> 0:04:35.719 absolutely walk over, walk all over a young quarterback that 0:04:35.800 --> 0:04:39.880 really probably doesn't have the strong fortitude to really stand 0:04:39.960 --> 0:04:42.120 up to him, is what I think. And you better 0:04:42.160 --> 0:04:45.039 have a veteran coach then too. I think this wave 0:04:45.080 --> 0:04:48.800 of new coaches has less tolerance for that me kind 0:04:48.839 --> 0:04:52.880 of activity. And I'm still shocked that it occurs. Now. 0:04:52.920 --> 0:04:55.320 This guy came from humble beginnings and worked his way 0:04:55.320 --> 0:04:57.400 into start him I get it, but wow, it's a 0:04:57.440 --> 0:05:02.160 total twist in his person ality and his way in 0:05:02.240 --> 0:05:05.360 his approach to this whole thing. Yeah, well that's what 0:05:05.480 --> 0:05:07.360 I think. I mean, that's what this shocks me about 0:05:07.400 --> 0:05:09.840 the Steelers. When you got le beyond Bell said, now, 0:05:09.880 --> 0:05:12.240 you know his I can understand, it's business right, it's 0:05:12.240 --> 0:05:15.240 a franchise tag. He had the choice not to show up, 0:05:15.240 --> 0:05:17.719 and he elected to go that route. But Steelers have 0:05:17.839 --> 0:05:21.400 always been about team, team, team, you know, it's kind 0:05:21.400 --> 0:05:24.200 of like, you know, the fans, it's just the heartbeat 0:05:24.240 --> 0:05:26.719 of the city and everybody has really rallied around that 0:05:26.800 --> 0:05:29.360 team and that's what it's always stood for. And then 0:05:29.400 --> 0:05:31.960 this is kind of just a typical of of how 0:05:32.080 --> 0:05:35.400 Steelers react. And I think, you know, Steelers fans are 0:05:35.440 --> 0:05:37.520 just like, yeah, just get rid of them. We're ready 0:05:37.560 --> 0:05:39.640 to move on. We don't we don't need him to win, 0:05:39.839 --> 0:05:43.000 and they certainly didn't need him the last week of 0:05:43.000 --> 0:05:45.080 the season, as they were able to still win that 0:05:45.160 --> 0:05:47.360 game without him, even though he went a wall gave 0:05:47.440 --> 0:05:50.000 up on his teammates. Jeff Jonny Actim Fair, Jim Miller 0:05:50.080 --> 0:05:51.719 with you here on Bears all the Access we brought 0:05:51.720 --> 0:05:54.240 to you by IGS Energy Here on Chicago Sports Radio 0:05:54.279 --> 0:05:56.240 six seventy to score. Jim, what are you what are 0:05:56.240 --> 0:05:58.160 you hearing on your end of the of the fence 0:05:58.760 --> 0:06:01.200 in terms of the Bears. Are people asking about here 0:06:01.240 --> 0:06:04.440 in this office early offseason? Well, I think for like 0:06:04.520 --> 0:06:07.360 anything here, you know, we talked to Bobby Massey last week. 0:06:07.400 --> 0:06:09.640 You know, will they free up when I heard here 0:06:09.720 --> 0:06:12.360 in Thom's conversation about Bryce and Callahan, who I think 0:06:12.440 --> 0:06:14.839 is a really good player. He really has performed well 0:06:15.240 --> 0:06:17.160 as a Chicago Bear. But then you look at how 0:06:17.200 --> 0:06:19.800 Sheriff McMahon is filled in late in the year. This 0:06:19.880 --> 0:06:23.839 is a really good draft in terms of safeties and corners. Again, 0:06:24.120 --> 0:06:26.440 so you just wonder how much, you know what the 0:06:26.440 --> 0:06:29.200 Bears elect to match the offers that are out there, 0:06:29.200 --> 0:06:32.320 whether it's for Adrian Amos or Bryce Callahan. A lot 0:06:32.320 --> 0:06:35.719 of safeties were scooped up early last off season. That 0:06:35.800 --> 0:06:38.640 was probably the position that was probably the hottest position 0:06:38.960 --> 0:06:41.839 that was scooped up the fastest in free agency. And 0:06:41.920 --> 0:06:46.120 again I think with market forces like good safeties coming 0:06:46.120 --> 0:06:48.880 out in this year's draft, you know, if those guys 0:06:48.880 --> 0:06:51.600 are off, you know, off the boards, and the Bears 0:06:51.600 --> 0:06:54.160 don't want to pay that highest dollary if it gets 0:06:54.160 --> 0:06:57.159 too steep, they'll have plenty of options come draft time 0:06:57.240 --> 0:06:59.400 is what I think? That's Jim Miller, Blond Nichols or 0:06:59.400 --> 0:07:01.559 the Bears. Would you want us coming back? After this break? 0:07:01.600 --> 0:07:06.880 On Chicago Sports Radio six seventy the Score to escape 0:07:06.920 --> 0:07:09.400 the cold and head to the Reu Palace, Coasta Majaris 0:07:09.400 --> 0:07:11.800 and Kancoon with your favorite Bears players in Putting Prince 0:07:11.840 --> 0:07:15.440 and Mulcamara, Roquan Smith and Bilal Nichols, plus Inside the 0:07:15.440 --> 0:07:18.920 Bears host Lauren Screeten and Anthony Adams visit Apple Vacations 0:07:18.960 --> 0:07:21.840 dot Com Slash Bears to book today and we're please 0:07:21.880 --> 0:07:23.920 to be joined by Bilal Nichols here on Bears All 0:07:23.920 --> 0:07:27.520 Access were brought to you by Igs Energy, Jeff Jony Actom. There, 0:07:27.560 --> 0:07:30.280 Jim Miller, you're looking forward to that Mexico trip my brother? 0:07:31.160 --> 0:07:34.360 Oh yeah, definitely, definitely excited about it. Can't wait to 0:07:34.440 --> 0:07:36.560 get there. Yeah, get some warmth going on? What are 0:07:36.560 --> 0:07:39.360 you up to these days? Man? Yet? Got some time 0:07:39.400 --> 0:07:42.440 finally to yourself a little bit because last year, obviously 0:07:42.480 --> 0:07:45.720 going from Delaware to the Combine and getting yourself ready 0:07:45.720 --> 0:07:47.840 for an NFL draft, it was all about getting your 0:07:47.880 --> 0:07:50.600 body right, meeting with teams, and there's really no break. 0:07:50.800 --> 0:07:53.080 Then you go right into rookie mini camp. And this 0:07:53.200 --> 0:07:55.920 is the plight of young young players. They don't really 0:07:55.920 --> 0:07:59.440 have time to address, you know, getting themselves stronger in 0:07:59.480 --> 0:08:02.600 the office season because it really wasn't one. Yeah, it's 0:08:03.120 --> 0:08:06.320 definitely different. Uh, you know this this year, I kind of, 0:08:06.480 --> 0:08:09.480 you know, had some time to take off refresh my 0:08:09.560 --> 0:08:12.240 body and my mind and everything like that. And then 0:08:12.520 --> 0:08:15.600 now pretty much I'm just working out, you know, pretty 0:08:15.640 --> 0:08:18.960 much every day and then I give myself a couple 0:08:18.960 --> 0:08:22.040 of days off to regenerating my body. But it's definitely 0:08:22.080 --> 0:08:24.600 it's definitely completely different than last year. Like you said, 0:08:24.680 --> 0:08:26.320 last year it was it was a lot of my plate, 0:08:26.400 --> 0:08:28.000 had a lot of moving around to do a lot 0:08:28.000 --> 0:08:30.240 of working out. So you know, it's good. It's good 0:08:30.240 --> 0:08:32.760 to find the experience the NFL all season. Boy, it's 0:08:32.800 --> 0:08:35.280 so much different than last year. Because I was reading 0:08:35.360 --> 0:08:38.160 the combined results in the little story and that had 0:08:38.200 --> 0:08:41.720 a thing called prospect grade and it said blow Nichols 0:08:41.760 --> 0:08:45.480 five point three four and then it said NFL backup 0:08:45.600 --> 0:08:49.079 or special teamer. A lot has changed. How good does 0:08:49.120 --> 0:08:51.360 that feel? Just to give your sense of what you 0:08:51.360 --> 0:08:53.640 were able to accomplish in your first year and what 0:08:53.760 --> 0:08:57.640 you're going to accomplish in the future. US. It was good, 0:08:57.800 --> 0:09:00.560 I mean, you know, it's it's definitely something that you know, 0:09:00.640 --> 0:09:03.160 I used this motivation and stood to this day. UM. 0:09:03.200 --> 0:09:05.240 You know that few of me. Um, you know, I 0:09:05.360 --> 0:09:07.640 know what I was capable of. You know, the coaching 0:09:07.720 --> 0:09:10.880 staff helped me out tremendously when I got to Chicago, 0:09:11.000 --> 0:09:14.080 to help me reach my reach my potential. And you 0:09:14.120 --> 0:09:16.640 know I'm not even nowhere close to where I want 0:09:16.640 --> 0:09:18.640 to be, which is which is awesome. You know. So 0:09:18.720 --> 0:09:20.560 it's it's just good saying the hard work that I 0:09:20.640 --> 0:09:24.040 put in pay off. Well. Blaal Jim Miller here and 0:09:24.160 --> 0:09:26.920 congratulations on a great year the three sacks. And I 0:09:27.000 --> 0:09:30.000 just remember when you talked about the style of defense 0:09:30.080 --> 0:09:33.680 at Delaware where you know, really it wasn't an attacking 0:09:33.800 --> 0:09:35.800 style and more like what you were asked to do 0:09:35.840 --> 0:09:38.760 as it's just Chicago bearing. How quickly did did you 0:09:39.000 --> 0:09:41.880 get that aggressive nature and the techniques that you were 0:09:41.920 --> 0:09:45.800 taught by the Bears defensive coaches and how they wanted 0:09:45.800 --> 0:09:48.000 you just more attacking. How long did it take to 0:09:48.040 --> 0:09:50.720 settle in where you got comfortable with it? Um, I 0:09:50.840 --> 0:09:53.960 was comfortable with it, you know after my first few days. Um, 0:09:54.040 --> 0:09:56.680 you know, I always I always was pretty much used 0:09:56.679 --> 0:09:59.520 to playing I'm more of an attack style type of defense. 0:10:00.080 --> 0:10:03.000 Just happened when my coaches staff made to change my 0:10:03.040 --> 0:10:06.080 senior year in college. That was just the defense that 0:10:06.200 --> 0:10:08.000 they that they brought in and that they asked me 0:10:08.040 --> 0:10:10.040 to play. So you know, I had to really like 0:10:10.200 --> 0:10:12.079 kind of adjust my game. But I was so used 0:10:12.120 --> 0:10:15.360 to playing in an aggressive type of defense like I'm 0:10:15.360 --> 0:10:18.199 playing it now, so you know, it was pretty natural 0:10:18.240 --> 0:10:20.760 for me to go right back to it. Blow Nichols 0:10:20.760 --> 0:10:23.080 our guest here on Bears All Access with Jeff Jonning, Act, 0:10:23.080 --> 0:10:25.440 Tom Thayer, and Jim Miller on Chicago Sports Radio six 0:10:25.480 --> 0:10:28.960 seventy The score below. You're getting your first taste of 0:10:29.040 --> 0:10:31.880 a coaching change in the NFL. Not your head coach, obviously, 0:10:32.400 --> 0:10:34.920 but with a new defensive coordinate, VIC Fan Joe Off 0:10:34.960 --> 0:10:37.880 to Denver to run that program and Chuck Bugatto coming in. 0:10:38.000 --> 0:10:41.240 But you did keep Jay Rodgers here, your defensive line coach. 0:10:41.520 --> 0:10:44.040 How impactful is that to you to be with him 0:10:44.120 --> 0:10:46.720 for another year? And have you had any conversations with 0:10:46.760 --> 0:10:50.439 coach Bugatto yet? Yeah, it's awesome. You know that coach 0:10:50.520 --> 0:10:53.000 Jenny is still here. You know, he's he's helping me 0:10:53.000 --> 0:10:55.719 out tremendously. I a lout of a credit to him 0:10:55.720 --> 0:10:57.880 and the bets on you know, my progress this year 0:10:57.880 --> 0:11:00.319 and the things I was able to do. He's a 0:11:00.320 --> 0:11:02.760 guy that always kept things straight up with me. You know, 0:11:02.800 --> 0:11:04.200 he would tell me what I need to work on 0:11:04.280 --> 0:11:05.840 and tell me what I did think he's good and 0:11:06.000 --> 0:11:08.559 tell me what I didn't bad. And you know it's 0:11:08.679 --> 0:11:10.960 love with respect there where. I really appreciate him and 0:11:11.000 --> 0:11:13.079 the coach and you know, he's one of those guys 0:11:13.080 --> 0:11:15.640 he prepares just like he's a he's a player or 0:11:15.679 --> 0:11:18.520 even better, you know, he's he's all in every weekend. 0:11:18.960 --> 0:11:21.240 You know, he comes in and he works hard just 0:11:21.400 --> 0:11:24.320 just like we do. So you know, I'm very grateful 0:11:24.360 --> 0:11:27.000 to still have him here. And you know he's he's 0:11:27.400 --> 0:11:30.000 my d line coach to it. He still continues to 0:11:30.000 --> 0:11:31.559 tell me things that I need to work on, which 0:11:31.640 --> 0:11:35.240 is which is which I appreciate. Hey, I'm sorry, Blo, 0:11:35.520 --> 0:11:38.240 go ahead, No, I was just gonna say that I 0:11:38.280 --> 0:11:41.160 did talk to coach Bagano. He reached out. You know, 0:11:41.400 --> 0:11:44.400 we changed some text messages. You know, it's good to 0:11:44.440 --> 0:11:45.880 hear from me, and I just can't wait to get 0:11:45.880 --> 0:11:48.000 started with it. You know, it seems the better you 0:11:48.080 --> 0:11:51.000 learn the defensive systems, the faster you play. And then 0:11:51.040 --> 0:11:54.760 you start learning the NFL the complex offensive systems. Now 0:11:54.800 --> 0:11:57.719 you do start filtering a little bit new system. What 0:11:58.320 --> 0:12:01.120 what was it more complicated for? Are you learning the 0:12:01.120 --> 0:12:04.600 defensive system so you could play faster or being influenced 0:12:04.640 --> 0:12:10.760 by the complex NFL offensive systems? That's that's a great question. Um, 0:12:10.800 --> 0:12:15.440 I would say learning the defensive system. Um, you know, 0:12:15.480 --> 0:12:17.079 you kind of got to learn that first to really 0:12:17.120 --> 0:12:20.840 get your seat wet, get yourself started. I feel like 0:12:20.840 --> 0:12:23.160 that's the most important thing learning and skinny a defense, 0:12:23.280 --> 0:12:25.319 how your coaches want want you to play in and 0:12:25.480 --> 0:12:28.160 you know what you're good at, what you can do 0:12:28.240 --> 0:12:31.079 to contribute to your team. Once you fully understand that 0:12:31.200 --> 0:12:35.000 and you understand like what type of mindset the defenses, 0:12:35.600 --> 0:12:38.360 whether it's you know, more aggressive or more conservative, you 0:12:38.400 --> 0:12:40.319 can really even get to play faster and just let 0:12:40.320 --> 0:12:42.920 the game come to you. And then uh, naturally or 0:12:43.000 --> 0:12:45.000 as a time goes on, you'll start to pick up on, 0:12:45.480 --> 0:12:48.000 you know, the things that the offense runs or tendency 0:12:48.040 --> 0:12:49.959 said they like to have that. That's kind of what 0:12:50.080 --> 0:12:53.040 happened to me drop my rookie years is the season 0:12:53.040 --> 0:12:56.960 went on, I started to notice certain things and you know, 0:12:57.440 --> 0:13:01.000 just that made me play faster with noticing things with 0:13:01.080 --> 0:13:03.319 the offense, like you know formations, would they like to 0:13:03.400 --> 0:13:05.439 run out of SA formations? Where were the cop plays 0:13:05.440 --> 0:13:09.080 in these formations and stuff like that. Well, getting better 0:13:09.120 --> 0:13:11.680 in the system that you just mentioned about. What what 0:13:11.720 --> 0:13:14.040 do you think here? If you talk to Chuck mcganna, 0:13:14.120 --> 0:13:15.640 what do you think you need to work on? Is 0:13:15.640 --> 0:13:18.679 it initial witness quickness? I love your hustle man, You're 0:13:18.679 --> 0:13:21.920 always hustling to the football, but you know, things like 0:13:22.000 --> 0:13:24.360 playing too high? Is it your techniques? What are things 0:13:24.360 --> 0:13:27.640 maybe you want to own it here on this offseason. Yeah, 0:13:27.720 --> 0:13:30.080 one of the things I've been really really focused on 0:13:30.080 --> 0:13:32.079 it is just my pad level. You know, it was 0:13:32.120 --> 0:13:34.000 tiling this year we're going on. You know I had 0:13:34.120 --> 0:13:36.360 when I played with great pad level, I was I 0:13:36.440 --> 0:13:38.079 was a very great player and it was Kyle's where 0:13:38.120 --> 0:13:39.920 you know, I could have played with better pad level 0:13:39.920 --> 0:13:41.640 and it would have made be a better player. Well 0:13:41.920 --> 0:13:44.320 explained that to the listeners. So what do you what 0:13:44.360 --> 0:13:46.560 do you mean by by pad level when you're going 0:13:46.600 --> 0:13:49.720 against an offensive linement, what you know, talk about where 0:13:49.760 --> 0:13:53.320 it needs to be where you like, you know plan 0:13:53.480 --> 0:13:56.000 was the most important thing for a defensive plan would 0:13:56.000 --> 0:13:58.760 just simply being lower than the man that you're going against. 0:13:58.840 --> 0:14:02.520 You know, with with with us being bigger guys, um, 0:14:02.559 --> 0:14:04.520 you know, it's more natural for you to stand up 0:14:04.559 --> 0:14:06.760 and take on blocks instead of you know, getting low 0:14:06.840 --> 0:14:09.200 bity your knees and getting under your man, getting under 0:14:09.200 --> 0:14:12.440 his pad. So you know, for for bigger and taller guys, 0:14:12.800 --> 0:14:15.720 it's kind of more natural for you to stand up where. 0:14:16.320 --> 0:14:18.560 You know, in the in the NFL, if you're standing up, 0:14:18.600 --> 0:14:20.840 you know, if you're getting double team blocks or you're 0:14:20.840 --> 0:14:23.480 getting blocked block one person, you're gonna get knocked off 0:14:23.520 --> 0:14:25.280 the ball a little bit. So you know, it's all 0:14:25.320 --> 0:14:28.240 about that pad level, locking out, keeping that leverage. That way, 0:14:28.440 --> 0:14:30.760 you know, whether it's a double team or one on 0:14:30.760 --> 0:14:32.480 one block, you're not getting moved at all, You're not 0:14:32.480 --> 0:14:34.720 getting pushed, you're not getting up in the ground. Hey block. 0:14:34.840 --> 0:14:36.720 Just a little bit about the fun side of football. 0:14:37.200 --> 0:14:40.320 Did you experience anything like postgame celebrations when you were 0:14:40.320 --> 0:14:43.640 in college and do you like the postgame celebrations and 0:14:43.800 --> 0:14:46.440 just the looseness that you get to have with this 0:14:46.520 --> 0:14:49.160 group of guys inside this locker room or something that's 0:14:49.200 --> 0:14:52.600 new to us and maybe as well as to you. Yeah, 0:14:52.680 --> 0:14:56.000 you know we uh, it was definitely new to me 0:14:56.080 --> 0:14:59.040 this year because you know, we we were able to 0:14:59.040 --> 0:15:02.760 have a twelve worst season, which which was wonderful. So 0:15:03.080 --> 0:15:05.400 you know, at the every game it was like a celebration. 0:15:05.560 --> 0:15:08.160 It was like, you know, Club Doug was really the 0:15:08.240 --> 0:15:11.000 thing going on. We're in college, but we would celebrate, 0:15:11.080 --> 0:15:14.000 but never to that extent, you know, only we would 0:15:14.040 --> 0:15:15.800 be like a top ranked team in a country or 0:15:15.800 --> 0:15:18.560 something like that. But you know, every week with us, 0:15:18.640 --> 0:15:20.600 it was like whenever we won, it was like, yo, 0:15:20.680 --> 0:15:24.040 let's get back to the locker room so we could party. Well, 0:15:24.080 --> 0:15:26.920 hopefully that I'll continue in twenty nineteen. Man, all right, 0:15:26.920 --> 0:15:28.760 before we let you go, you're a fifth round pick. 0:15:28.880 --> 0:15:30.720 Bears are not picking in the first or second round 0:15:30.800 --> 0:15:33.880 this year because of the deals that they made Kalil 0:15:33.960 --> 0:15:37.840 Mac included. There is a different mindset about guys that 0:15:37.880 --> 0:15:40.600 are drafted on the third day in the NFL. You're 0:15:40.640 --> 0:15:43.560 one of them? Is that almost a in this case 0:15:43.680 --> 0:15:45.640 because you don't have those top picks a positive because 0:15:45.640 --> 0:15:47.480 you're getting a player that has a lot to prove 0:15:47.520 --> 0:15:51.560 and they put chips on their shoulders. Yeah, I took it. 0:15:51.600 --> 0:15:54.880 That's exactly how I took it. You know, as a person, 0:15:54.920 --> 0:15:56.920 I can come in and just soak up all the 0:15:56.960 --> 0:16:00.800 information I wanted and just prove my work. I felt like, 0:16:01.680 --> 0:16:03.600 you know, I was one of the better players, and 0:16:04.320 --> 0:16:07.000 just just going on day three was just extra motivations 0:16:07.080 --> 0:16:09.720 for me. So you know, you know, it's kind of 0:16:09.720 --> 0:16:12.880 anxious to see what we do in those areas, you know, 0:16:13.000 --> 0:16:16.040 just to see how the new guys coming next year 0:16:16.080 --> 0:16:18.440 and what type of chip day I have on their show. Well, 0:16:18.480 --> 0:16:20.480 they'll be hungry, that's for sure. All right, But we'll 0:16:20.560 --> 0:16:22.560 let you go. We appreciate taking the time and we'll 0:16:22.600 --> 0:16:25.520 talk together here on the offseason. Good luck with everything, Okay, 0:16:25.560 --> 0:16:29.720 thank you, appreciate you guys. Have Bell Nichols our guest 0:16:29.800 --> 0:16:31.720 here on Bears All Access. When we come back, we'll 0:16:31.720 --> 0:16:33.720 take your phone calls three one, two, six, four four 0:16:33.880 --> 0:16:36.640 sixty seven sixty seven. This is Bears All Access on 0:16:36.760 --> 0:16:41.560 Chicago's Sports Radio six seventy to score. Welcome back to 0:16:41.640 --> 0:16:44.240 Bears All Access. Brought to you by IGS Energy, a 0:16:44.360 --> 0:16:47.560 proud partner of the Chicago Bears, providing electricity, natural gas, 0:16:47.600 --> 0:16:50.360 and home warranty products to over one million customers across 0:16:50.360 --> 0:16:54.200 the country. Learn more about IGS Energy at igs dot com. 0:16:54.280 --> 0:16:58.440 Jeff Jony Actom pair Jim Miller really enjoyable All Nichols. 0:16:58.480 --> 0:17:01.320 One of the very mature player, very mature guy in 0:17:01.400 --> 0:17:04.520 that locker room, coming from that smaller program at Delaware. 0:17:04.560 --> 0:17:07.320 But again, Jim, you pointed it out in time, you 0:17:07.400 --> 0:17:10.200 saw it. He had all the tools and the ship. 0:17:10.359 --> 0:17:12.639 He just played in a different style over there in college, 0:17:12.640 --> 0:17:14.040 and I think he was a good style for him 0:17:14.080 --> 0:17:16.400 here with a bear, you know. I, Jeff, I remember 0:17:16.560 --> 0:17:18.520 you and I were standing out of practice the first 0:17:18.600 --> 0:17:20.359 day at one on ones, and the first day at 0:17:20.359 --> 0:17:22.720 one on one he went over the center and they said, okay, 0:17:22.760 --> 0:17:25.440 he's going to develop into a nose guard. Maybe put 0:17:25.480 --> 0:17:28.080 some weight on him, and that's the position of that. 0:17:28.200 --> 0:17:31.439 He'll try to get his foot wet first. And then 0:17:31.520 --> 0:17:33.720 I think they started understanding they had he had better 0:17:33.760 --> 0:17:36.719 athleticism traits to be with the ability to move up 0:17:36.720 --> 0:17:39.000 and down the line of scrimmage. So he wasn't a 0:17:39.000 --> 0:17:41.520 one position player. He wasn't like an Eddie Goldman who 0:17:41.560 --> 0:17:43.399 could be a nose guard in a thirty four defense 0:17:43.520 --> 0:17:46.280 or in this defense. Bill Nichols could play defensive end 0:17:46.280 --> 0:17:48.320 in anywhere, and so I think that was the nice 0:17:48.359 --> 0:17:51.679 thing about him. Jay Rodgers defensive line coach, he has 0:17:51.720 --> 0:17:54.480 a really good working relationship with a Kiem Hicks, and 0:17:54.560 --> 0:17:57.360 it pays off that critical right. Yes, a Keem had 0:17:57.440 --> 0:18:00.439 his back all year, showed him what it takes in 0:18:00.480 --> 0:18:02.760 the locker room, on the field, on the practice field, Jimmy, 0:18:02.920 --> 0:18:05.040 he took him under his arm, man, he really did. 0:18:05.080 --> 0:18:08.520 And I thought that was a veteran leadership move for Balah. Yeah, 0:18:08.520 --> 0:18:10.320 and I think you know, when you tell about somebody, 0:18:10.320 --> 0:18:12.480 you're trying to emulate your game after. I mean, there's 0:18:12.520 --> 0:18:14.879 no quit in a Keen Hicks. The guy fights to 0:18:14.920 --> 0:18:16.959 the end. And that's what I noticed about Balal Nichols. 0:18:16.920 --> 0:18:19.040 The guy's got a ton of hustle. Man. That guy 0:18:19.240 --> 0:18:22.479 really fights to the football, doesn't give up on a play. 0:18:22.640 --> 0:18:26.280 I thought his initial quickness definitely got better as the 0:18:26.359 --> 0:18:30.000 season went along and he started to be impactful and really, 0:18:30.320 --> 0:18:33.040 you know, just make those explosive plays where he's kindetrating 0:18:33.119 --> 0:18:36.240 in the backfield ultimately gets three sacks, and I think, 0:18:36.320 --> 0:18:38.720 you know, as for a later round pick, like he said, 0:18:38.720 --> 0:18:41.920 and especially guys that contributed. I mean, I think pretty 0:18:42.000 --> 0:18:44.840 much all the Bears young draft picks, other than the 0:18:45.160 --> 0:18:48.800 young linebacker Eway, you know, really having an impact. His 0:18:49.000 --> 0:18:50.840 was more on special teams, but all of them I 0:18:51.160 --> 0:18:53.800 think contributed quite well. But you know, again, I think 0:18:53.880 --> 0:18:56.840 for a mature team and following veterans, I mean, they've 0:18:56.840 --> 0:18:59.119 got a good group to learn from. You know, a 0:18:59.200 --> 0:19:01.399