Bears thread 13

[Dresden]

At least Tyrique and Kmet are starting to practice again, which means they are getting better.

I posted a graph the other day showing the Bears were 10th in the league in salary that is inactive due to injury. That may mean that the players hurt on the Bears just aren't that high salaried compared to other teams. But we aren't the 49'ers.

[panthermark]

The 2022 Lions weren't loaded with talent. Swift wasn't even their top running back that season, but the one who was, Jamaal Williams, is currently out of the NFL before reaching Age 30 and, for now, is an analyst for Fox Sports. Amon-Ra did make the Pro Bowl, but their receiver corps wasn't remarkable otherwise, and they traded away Hockenson midseason. They did have Ragnow and Sewell on the line.

They didn't have Gibbs, Montgomery, Jameson Williams, or LaPorta until the next season.

and amon-ra was a rookie 4th rounder who didn't start for much of the season. 350 yards thru 10 weeks, 600 yards the rest of the way

This is why I'm saying that the Bears are a more-structured QB away from having one of the best offenses in the league. The the offensive talent of the 2025 Bears is a lot better than the offensive talent of the 2022 Lions.

Goff may have had his NFL career resurrected twice -- once by McVay and once by Johnson -- but he plays on time, AND he can make more than one read, AND he can throw the ball on time to non-primary targets, AND they don't have to be five yards open for him to throw to them. And tight ends are legitimate targets.

He may not have as many platforms to throw off of like Caleb does, but the types of throws that Goff can make for an offense -- back shoulders, Cover-2-beaters, deep fades, corner of the endzone fades, touch throws between linebackers and safeties, and Hail Marys just to targets with defenders draped on their backs -- are a lot more varied than Caleb's, and he's a lot more consistent with them.

The Bears can try to keep Caleb's trade value high and then trade him away in the draft in order to draft a taller, more structured QB like Fernando Mendoza, or they can try to find a way to trade for Mac Jones or Purdy or even snatch away Daniel Jones. There are better options that fit Ben Johnson's offense than Caleb Williams does.

I think this is why folks want to see Agent Bagent start. It isn't a declaration that CW is a bust, or that Bagent is better. It for a comparison of styles. CW is more talented and dynamic, but Bagent plays more on script and within the structure of the offense.

It might just be me, but if feels like the offense is has more talent than what it is showing, especially under BJ. Part of it is penalties, but it seems like the weakest link is currently the QB. All we can do is wait for him to hopefully develop the skills that were a question mark before the draft.

[fleet]

Apparently, there’s a chance Flacco misses the game

Fool me twice…..

[molepharmer]

I wouldn't last very long if I had to take a drink everytime DA uses the word "look" during his pressers. Double shot for every "Hey, look..."

[fleet]

Read on Twitter

So people think he’s been getting better at this.

[Almost Retired]

and amon-ra was a rookie 4th rounder who didn't start for much of the season. 350 yards thru 10 weeks, 600 yards the rest of the way

This is why I'm saying that the Bears are a more-structured QB away from having one of the best offenses in the league. The the offensive talent of the 2025 Bears is a lot better than the offensive talent of the 2022 Lions.

Goff may have had his NFL career resurrected twice -- once by McVay and once by Johnson -- but he plays on time, AND he can make more than one read, AND he can throw the ball on time to non-primary targets, AND they don't have to be five yards open for him to throw to them. And tight ends are legitimate targets.

He may not have as many platforms to throw off of like Caleb does, but the types of throws that Goff can make for an offense -- back shoulders, Cover-2-beaters, deep fades, corner of the endzone fades, touch throws between linebackers and safeties, and Hail Marys just to targets with defenders draped on their backs -- are a lot more varied than Caleb's, and he's a lot more consistent with them.

The Bears can try to keep Caleb's trade value high and then trade him away in the draft in order to draft a taller, more structured QB like Fernando Mendoza, or they can try to find a way to trade for Mac Jones or Purdy or even snatch away Daniel Jones. There are better options that fit Ben Johnson's offense than Caleb Williams does.

I think this is why folks want to see Agent Bagent start. It isn't a declaration that CW is a bust, or that Bagent is better. It for a comparison of styles. CW is more talented and dynamic, but Bagent plays more on script and within the structure of the offense.

It might just be me, but if feels like the offense is has more talent than what it is showing, especially under BJ. Part of it is penalties, but it seems like the weakest link is currently the QB. All we can do is wait for him to hopefully develop the skills that were a question mark before the draft.

I don't want to play Bagent unless CW gets hurt. But I'm happy we have him as our QB2. I don't think we need to keep Case Keenum beyond this season. I would like to see the Bears sign Haynes King from Georgia Tech next offseason. The Draft boards right now have him listed as going UDFA. His short game is erratic. But he's got a cannon for an arm and genuine 4.5 speed. There are so many QBs that are going to be in the 2026 Draft. Dante Moore from Oregon. Ty Simpson from Alabama. LaNorris Sellers from S.C. Fernando Mendoza from Indiana. Nussmeier from LSU. John Mateer from OU. Cade Klubnick from Clemson. Drew Allar from Penn State. Carson Beck from Miami. King is likely not going to get drafted despite the recent glowing article on his toughness. The kid lives football 24/7. Hell of an athlete. As a UDFA we can keep him for less then $1M per and work with him. If he develops then Bagent might become a trade chip in two years.

[nomorezorro]

Read on Twitter

So people think he’s been getting better at this.

he's got the 11th best sack rate in the league, so yes, he's gotten significantly better at sack avoidance?

[Dresden]

Read on Twitter

So people think he’s been getting better at this.

Graphs can be misleading. What separates him from guys like Jalen Hurts is .2 seconds. What separates him from the league average is .4 seconds. That's not a big difference, although I'm sure it is having an impact.

I watched a breakdown on the last game by Chase Daniels. There was blame to share all around. On some plays, Caleb just threw a bad ball. On others, receivers were running poor routes, resulting in guys running into each other, or having too many guys in one area, resulting in Caleb having no one to throw to.

So part of the problem might be everyone learning where they need to be in Ben's offense, and part of it is on Caleb.

[Dresden]

I'd like to see them pass more on first down this week. Too often, they try to run it on 1st, get stuffed, and then it's 2nd and long and 3rd and long. That's contributing to Caleb's problems. On plays where they catch the defense off guard, and he has time to throw, good things usually happen. At least the odds go way up.

[biggestbullsfan]

Read on Twitter

Roschon Johnson really disappointed me. I was a fan in college and thought he was a steal. He hasn’t been available in the season and I don’t understand it. It might be time to cut ties. There’s RB available. Whose gonna back up Kyle on Sunday?!