Bears talk 2.0; Fields era begins for real for real

[Mbrahv0528]

I'm actually ok with Nagy starting Dalton Sunday v. the Raiders as long as he uses the same sort of play calling as he did v. DET- i.e. a fair amount of deep to medium routes, and not just dink and dunk all over the field.

It's ok for Justin to sit a game or two, it's not going to kill him. And the Raiders are a good team. Most likely it will be an ugly day for the offense again. But let Dalton have another game or two to see what he can do. If it is more of like what we saw the first couple of games, and esp. if the Bears are 2-4 at that point, then it makes sense to go back to Justin.

But whoever plays on Sunday, it's likely not going to be pretty. I think Carr is going to Carrve up the Bears defense, so we'll be playing from behind, which is going to make our running game less of a threat.

I also don't believe any of this garbage about Nagy's ego getting in the way, or him not connecting with Justin, or him trying to sabotage Justin. All that is just gossip as far as I'm concerned. Let's see the results on the field, and if they aren't good, then it's up to Nagy to adjust.

The problem is Andy can't throw the deep route anymore

maybe not like fields, but this looks pretty effortless:

Read on Twitter

First comment under this tweet-

"If *chemistry means when the defensive line isn't playing full speed and trying to bury Any Dalton, then yes, chemistry. Good luck in games with this POS."

He's not wrong.

Sent from my SM-F707U using RealGM mobile app

[Susan]

Notes:

Anthony Miller got cut by Houston - we traded him and a 7th for a 5th from Houston - Houston is a bottom 5 team, so that's a pretty good trade considering his attitude and injuries got him cut in Houston

Demian Williams was a full participant in practice today as was Tashaun Gipson, Raiders held out Josh Jacobs and their starting safety Abrams.

Jakeem Grant has 5 return TDs since coming into the NFL in 2016, he's a plus returner who can KR and PR. Considering how woeful the other PR guy was, Cohen's slow return and Herbert going to strictly RB duties due to Monty's injury, I really like this move.

[Chicago-Bull-E]

The problem is Andy can't throw the deep route anymore

maybe not like fields, but this looks pretty effortless:

Read on Twitter

First comment under this tweet-

"If *chemistry means when the defensive line isn't playing full speed and trying to bury Any Dalton, then yes, chemistry. Good luck in games with this POS."

He's not wrong.

Sent from my SM-F707U using RealGM mobile app

That comment got zero likes.

How is Dalton a POS?

[fleet]

Watch on YouTube

[Dresden]

I will respond one more, only to put a cap on the continued “metrics” questioning. Andy Dalton at his age/production level (see Dallas) puts up a few junk stats in this Nagy offense that doesn’t score in today’s NFL. Defenses basically just let him have completions because it is so difficult to maintain an 11 play short yardage 8 minute drive all the time, it is losing, antiquated football, and Dalton can’t expand his game to suit the need when it arises. Whatever his relative completion percentage…is unconvincing. As soon as a penalty or negative play happens drive is likely stalled. Explosive plays is where winning modern offense is at, and that is (hopefully?) Fields.

I agree that having an offense that can pick up chunks of yards at a time is important. You can't let a 3rd and 10 situation mean the end of a drive. But I dont believe what you are saying about Dalton is correct either. He was running Nagy's game plan. His career yards per attempt, while not great, is not that much worse than many other quality QB's. And it hasn't fallen off a cliff the last year or two either. So I think the narrative that Dalton can't throw it downfield is likely false. If I remember correctly, he did have some longer completions in the game he got hurt in, too.

I have a feeling we will be seeing more of Andy Dalton this year anyway (with our O line, it's likely Fields will get banged up sooner or later too and miss some time) so we will get to see at that point how he performs under a different sort of game plan.

[Susan]

Watch on YouTube

Love the idea of us sticking to the run and playing mostly with just two WRs. There's a serious drop off after Robinson/Mooney whereas there's depth at RB (Monty is a stud and Williams/Herbert are capable) and TE (4 guys who are all roughly close to one another).

This takes so much pressure off of Justin, takes pressure off of the O-Line and plays to the strength of the roster vs having 5 wide with 2 subpar WRs out there and an O-Line that can't hold up throwing it 40 times a game.

No idea what the ceiling of that offense is, no idea what the floor of that offense is either but it's going to be a hell of a fun time watching it.

[Mbrahv0528]

maybe not like fields, but this looks pretty effortless:

Read on Twitter

First comment under this tweet-

"If *chemistry means when the defensive line isn't playing full speed and trying to bury Any Dalton, then yes, chemistry. Good luck in games with this POS."

He's not wrong.

Sent from my SM-F707U using RealGM mobile app

That comment got zero likes.

How is Dalton a POS?

That part was a bit over the top from that guy, but the overarching point is valid. Effortless while the defense isn't trying to bury you...is meaningless then.

Sent from my SM-F707U using RealGM mobile app

[IliketheBullsNBearstoo]

Well Gruden might be in trouble. Wonder if it affects the upcoming game at all.

[fleet]

Well Gruden might be in trouble. Wonder if it affects the upcoming game at all.

Not enough time to marinate. Everyone has heads down focused on Sunday prep

[dice]

First comment under this tweet-

"If *chemistry means when the defensive line isn't playing full speed and trying to bury Any Dalton, then yes, chemistry. Good luck in games with this POS."

He's not wrong.

Sent from my SM-F707U using RealGM mobile app

That comment got zero likes.

How is Dalton a POS?

That part was a bit over the top from that guy, but the overarching point is valid. Effortless while the defense isn't trying to bury you...is meaningless then.

if anything, the defense getting after you gets you more juiced up to throw it. just less accurately

again, nobody's claiming that dalton is as much a threat on the deep ball as fields, but he's not THAT incapable. if he was, the coverage would be looser on the deep receivers and he wouldn't be able to complete as many passes underneath

[dice]

I will respond one more, only to put a cap on the continued “metrics” questioning. Andy Dalton at his age/production level (see Dallas) puts up a few junk stats in this Nagy offense that doesn’t score in today’s NFL. Defenses basically just let him have completions because it is so difficult to maintain an 11 play short yardage 8 minute drive all the time, it is losing, antiquated football, and Dalton can’t expand his game to suit the need when it arises. Whatever his relative completion percentage…is unconvincing. As soon as a penalty or negative play happens drive is likely stalled. Explosive plays is where winning modern offense is at, and that is (hopefully?) Fields.

I agree that having an offense that can pick up chunks of yards at a time is important. You can't let a 3rd and 10 situation mean the end of a drive. But I dont believe what you are saying about Dalton is correct either. He was running Nagy's game plan. His career yards per attempt, while not great, is not that much worse than many other quality QB's. And it hasn't fallen off a cliff the last year or two either. So I think the narrative that Dalton can't throw it downfield is likely false. If I remember correctly, he did have some longer completions in the game he got hurt in, too.

I have a feeling we will be seeing more of Andy Dalton this year anyway (with our O line, it's likely Fields will get banged up sooner or later too and miss some time) so we will get to see at that point how he performs under a different sort of game plan.

i did read that dalton's productivity when he DOES throw deep has declined over the past couple of years. and he never had a particularly strong arm to begin with. but again, if he was that incompetent downfield, the shorter routes that he has success with would be covered better

[dice]

Defenses basically just let [Dalton] have completions because it is so difficult to maintain an 11 play short yardage 8 minute drive all the time

it's pretty easy when they're letting you have completions

dalton is a low-end starter. which makes him better than a lot of guys with better big play capability that are riding pine or are out of the league because they can't do it consistently. i think that fields will avoid that pitfall because he seems level-headed, is willing to check down and has shown accuracy...but more evidence is obviously needed

[MalagaBulls]

Read on Twitter

[MalagaBulls]

Didn't know where to put this. OT but Smith retained as NFLPA director.

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[transplant]

I keep hearing media types say that "Lazor's offense is much better than Nagy's." Let's be clear, the Bears have been practicing plays from Nagy's offense since July. When on the Wednesday before the Lions game it's decided that Lazor is going to be the play-caller, he's calling plays from the Nagy offense. He's not calling plays they haven't practiced. The differences are in the mix of runs to passes (Lazor calls more runs) and the protection schemes (Lazor is more likely to keep TEs and RBs in to block on passing plays). As time passes, Lazor may be able to add some plays he particularly likes, but not until the offense has had a chance to run them in practice.

[fleet]

Nagy’s offense is the plays and formations he calls on Sundays if he is doing that. If Lazor is calling plays, it is Lazor’s offense. Just like Mike Martz’s offense was Martz’s offense. Not the head coach.

[Bluewaterheaven]

I keep hearing media types say that "Lazor's offense is much better than Nagy's." Let's be clear, the Bears have been practicing plays from Nagy's offense since July. When on the Wednesday before the Lions game it's decided that Lazor is going to be the play-caller, he's calling plays from the Nagy offense. He's not calling plays they haven't practiced. The differences are in the mix of runs to passes (Lazor calls more runs) and the protection schemes (Lazor is more likely to keep TEs and RBs in to block on passing plays). As time passes, Lazor may be able to add some plays he particularly likes, but not until the offense has had a chance to run them in practice.

Yes, they are using Nagy's playbook, but Nagy is not running those plays. Lazor is. Its Lazor's offense if he is calling the plays.

[fleet]

I keep hearing media types say that "Lazor's offense is much better than Nagy's." Let's be clear, the Bears have been practicing plays from Nagy's offense since July. When on the Wednesday before the Lions game it's decided that Lazor is going to be the play-caller, he's calling plays from the Nagy offense. He's not calling plays they haven't practiced. The differences are in the mix of runs to passes (Lazor calls more runs) and the protection schemes (Lazor is more likely to keep TEs and RBs in to block on passing plays). As time passes, Lazor may be able to add some plays he particularly likes, but not until the offense has had a chance to run them in practice.

Yes, they are using Nagy's playbook, but Nagy is not running those plays. Lazor is. Its Lazor's offense if he is calling the plays.

Correct. Nagy doesn’t own any special playbook, it is just a book of plays that in camp they have practiced, installed, and can run. Ok, Santa Sleigh lol. However on most teams, the offensive coaches often collaborate. Most NFL plays are run by most NFL teams, there’s not much odd play stuff in playbooks particular to certain teams. Its just about what they decide to use, how much to use. What they run out of certain formations etc. 5 wide empty is 5 wide empty. Max pro 2 wide is max pro 2 wide. Shotgun or Pistol is Shotgun or Pistol. Whatever routes are used and out of what formations and protection defines a specific play. But all the teams have the same basic playbook, and they can call any pro, block, route and formation they want. Some are thicker than others apparently. Lazor calls a different offense than Nagy does. At least for Fields and Trubisky he does. Absolutely, what is called on Sunday defines the offense. Not a playbook. And also, personnel help define an offense. The Bears just recently discovered speed. Of course they never used it until Fields plays. Bill Lazor’s offense to this point incorporates more speed because of the protections and personnel that he uses allows for more chunk plays. Remains to be seen what offense Nagy would run for Fields. The Cleveland game is probably a hint.

[dice]

[fleet]

They’re probably going to blitz Justin a lot. Hope they are ready to identify.