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Making Monsters: Adam Jahns recaps Bears injuries, camp standouts and position competitions · 2nd City Gridiron

• 0:09
  [SPEAKER_01]: Welcome back to another episode of Making Monsters.
• 0:11
  [SPEAKER_01]: I'm Taylor.
• 0:12
  [SPEAKER_01]: Dol joined now by Adam Johns.
• 0:13
  [SPEAKER_01]: You know him bears reporter for CHG O sports and also host of Hogan John so Adam thanks for hopping on and chatting some bears with me.
• 0:22
  [SPEAKER_00]: It's good to be here.
• 0:23
  [SPEAKER_00]: What's going on Taylor?
• 0:24
  [SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, so camp I mean we're right in the midst of things and unfortunately some injuries has started to pile up a little bit for the bears and some of them bigger hits than other so I would do want to start with that when the big news coming out we are recording this on Wednesday and so yesterday the news came out when it comes to Kobe Bryant and so that that time frame that was eight to ten weeks from whoever in the beginning has now turned to what looks like.
• 0:47
  [SPEAKER_01]: probably the season may be playoff return.
• 0:50
  [SPEAKER_01]: We'll see what that looks like.
• 0:51
  [SPEAKER_01]: But what are your thoughts on that?
• 0:52
  [SPEAKER_01]: How do the bears get through without having a Kobe Bryant on the roster this year?
• 0:56
  [SPEAKER_00]: Well, if I'm going to try to spin this positively.
• 0:59
  [SPEAKER_00]: Look, injuries happen.
• 1:01
  [SPEAKER_00]: Obviously, this is a huge blow to the bears defense.
• 1:04
  [SPEAKER_00]: They were expecting so much of them.
• 1:07
  [SPEAKER_00]: Like Ben Johnson does not throw compliments around.
• 1:09
  [SPEAKER_00]: And the way he was talking about Kobe Bryant, you could tell that they saw big things coming from him this season, especially in the
• 1:17
  [SPEAKER_00]: Now that's said, like at least they could pivot at this point.
• 1:22
  [SPEAKER_00]: Like it's not like right before the season.
• 1:24
  [SPEAKER_00]: It's not week one, you can't bring an Xavier Woods who's been here now for a few days and get him on the field of building them to get him in the meeting rooms with Dennis Allen.
• 1:35
  [SPEAKER_00]: They get him on the field with with L Harris, your beloved secondary coach.
• 1:39
  [SPEAKER_00]: So that would be the positive take on this.
• 1:42
  [SPEAKER_00]: That said, Kobe Bryant got the big deal for a lot of different reasons.
• 1:46
  [SPEAKER_00]: The expectations, like I said, a little bit earlier, were there.
• 1:50
  [SPEAKER_00]: But now the bears have to pivot.
• 1:51
  [SPEAKER_00]: I can't lose going to be expected to do more.
• 1:54
  [SPEAKER_00]: Dylan Thinam is going to be expected to do more.
• 1:56
  [SPEAKER_00]: But they have time to acclimate themselves for the regular season.
• 2:00
  [SPEAKER_00]: That's how I would do it right now.
• 2:02
  [SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, and that's what I mean, good point in the sense of they bring Xavier Woods when this news first came out before you know that time frame.
• 2:08
  [SPEAKER_01]: So they're had to have been a little bit of worry, but also even initially he was going to miss at least a couple games from those initial reports and so Xavier Woods having that familiarity without Harris obviously at his time and Dallas.
• 2:19
  [SPEAKER_01]: So how much do you think that kind of played into them bringing him to Chicago.
• 2:23
  [SPEAKER_00]: 100% Ben Johnson told us that in Hogan John's Ryan Pulse told us that in Hogan John's as well, he brings experience and I think they want that experience paired with Dylan Thane and Ben who's going to be thrown into the fire as a rookie.
• 2:39
  [SPEAKER_00]: He's already in the fire, I would say right now I'm trying to camp, coming up against Cole's the Lovelin, Cole come at, trying to stop the Yandres Swift, you know, in the alley, all those things, it's been a fun camp to watch Dylan Theatman kind of get his feet wet against all these talented players and offense, but
• 2:56
  [SPEAKER_00]: Yeah, that experience factor, it matters.
• 2:59
  [SPEAKER_00]: They were hoping that experience would belong to Kobe Bryant, but you can't throw too young players out there.
• 3:04
  [SPEAKER_00]: It's hard enough to make the NFL, especially in early in any position, but it's safe to hear what they're asked to do so much in today's modern NFL.
• 3:13
  [SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, talk a little bit more about Dylan Thineman and what you've seen in camp, obviously, a true test for him in a battle getting thrown in.
• 3:19
  [SPEAKER_01]: It will be interesting to see how they use him right away just in the sense of you know how versatile he is and from college being able to play free and strong and playing in the box and all over the place.
• 3:27
  [SPEAKER_01]: I'm guessing they more so ease him into that, but what have you seen so far through camp?
• 3:30
  [SPEAKER_00]: Well, early on, Taylor, to be honest, I think I've seen him more in the box and I have a single high safety, even with Xavier Woods now in the mix, it's him, it's Woods back at the free safety spot.
• 3:42
  [SPEAKER_00]: The single high safety, while Dylan Thineman spending most of his reps, most of his snaps.
• 3:47
  [SPEAKER_00]: In the box I think it's what it's what they want now they're going to meet some interchangeable qualities to what Dennis L wants to bring In his secondary, but I think they really want to get Dylan used to playing close to line of scrimmage Getting used to well, here's Cole come at you know here's Sam Rausch and oh by the way We're in the red zone go cover
• 4:11
  [SPEAKER_00]: It's not but an easy training camp for Dillon Thineman, and that's okay Because of all those players.
• 4:17
  [SPEAKER_00]: I just mentioned like go break up a screen the cleave Raymond It happens instantaneously good luck go get it go stop come calm on on guy and the whole good luck go get it That's not easy for any player let alone a rookie now the expectation just like for Kobe Bryant that they're high for Dillon Thineman, but
• 4:34
  [SPEAKER_00]: He's going through it a little bit in training camp and I'm trying to tell everybody that's okay especially given how talented the bear's offense happens to be.
• 4:43
  [SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, and I think when you talk about that, you talk about titans specifically and I was talking to somebody in the building about this the other day when it comes to the NFC North and general probably has the most stacked titan to room and the league when it comes from top to bottom of all the guys that you have to worry about there and then just very powerful and efficient offenses in general will see what the Vikings look like with Kyler they just announced him as the starter there in Minnesota, but
• 5:07
  [SPEAKER_01]: I mean, I guess it's good that you're going up against some of these guys and yeah, may look a little rough to begin, but you're, you know, that sharpen, what is it?
• 5:15
  [SPEAKER_01]: Iron sharpens iron type of mentality is, I guess, what they're looking at right now.
• 5:19
  [SPEAKER_00]: Well, like if he's going to have to cover Tucker craft.
• 5:23
  [SPEAKER_00]: What better, like pepperation is there and then covering coastal love on who might be better?
• 5:28
  [SPEAKER_00]: Yeah.
• 5:29
  [SPEAKER_00]: And then having to, you know, ward off a block from from cold come out and who I think is one of the best blocking tight ends in the entire NFL.
• 5:36
  [SPEAKER_00]: Like this work that Dylan Deanam is is getting.
• 5:39
  [SPEAKER_00]: It's not easy.
• 5:40
  [SPEAKER_00]: Sometimes he is losing.
• 5:41
  [SPEAKER_00]: That's going to happen, but it's going to make him better for the assignments.
• 5:44
  [SPEAKER_00]: He's actually going to get come the regular season.
• 5:48
  [SPEAKER_01]: Let's stay on the defensive backs, Kyler Gordon, another storyline been hurt for the majority of camp, and it doesn't really seem like there's any timeline at all.
• 5:57
  [SPEAKER_01]: I think Ben Johnson just kind of said, and we're hoping we'll get him back this season, which is a scary thing that here, but what's the chatter around the Kyler Gordon right now?
• 6:05
  [SPEAKER_00]: no time line and i think it's it's different when you hear wall full explanation uh... could be right when you're hearing that Luther burdens expected sooner sooner than later expected to return sooner than later when breks Jones is expected to return sooner than later you're not getting the same
• 6:23
  [SPEAKER_00]: same feeling for Caler Gordon and I think this is frustrating not only for bears fans, but for everybody involved at how to saw whether it's the coaching staff, whether it's personnel staff, whether it's maybe even the players.
• 6:35
  [SPEAKER_00]: So I think the frustration at this point is very real when it comes to Caler Gordon and his status with the Chicago Bears.
• 6:41
  [SPEAKER_01]: And behind that, we've seen guys, a Jalen Jones at times, Camelua set times, young Malik Haamid that they just drafted, playing all of those guys kind of rotating into fill-in for Kyler Gordon.
• 6:52
  [SPEAKER_01]: What have you seen in that when it comes to some of these guys that may potentially have to play for him a decent amount of the season?
• 6:58
  [SPEAKER_00]: Well, with Camelua's, dealing with an injury, Jalen Jones, dealing with an injury.
• 7:03
  [SPEAKER_00]: It's been Malik Haamid playing a lot of nickel back for the Chicago Bears with the first team defense that was true during the
• 7:11
  [SPEAKER_00]: on Tuesday and I think this is another good thing.
• 7:15
  [SPEAKER_00]: Why not throw your, and that's throws probably not the right way to put it, but go get your, your, your, your, your draft pick that you've covered it that you've talked so highly about.
• 7:25
  [SPEAKER_00]: Go get them some real action.
• 7:27
  [SPEAKER_00]: Go see what you can handle.
• 7:28
  [SPEAKER_00]: And I know this is kind of by necessity because of how much the injuries have changed the Nickelback position, but again, this is a great opportunity for a young player that you're very high on, high on, that has the competitive edge, the competitive energy that you want for your defense.
• 7:44
  [SPEAKER_00]: Go get them those opportunities right now in training game.
• 7:47
  [SPEAKER_00]: Go put them against.
• 7:48
  [SPEAKER_00]: Call some love one.
• 7:49
  [SPEAKER_00]: Go put them against Luther Burden when he returns.
• 7:51
  [SPEAKER_00]: Go put them against Khalifa Raymond in the slot.
• 7:53
  [SPEAKER_00]: Again, these opportunities will look bad in in some cases, just like for dealing with it, but at the same time, they can get better from it as well.
• 8:03
  [SPEAKER_00]: They can learn from playing against the bears best players.
• 8:06
  [SPEAKER_00]: So the same thing is happening for dealing with him.
• 8:08
  [SPEAKER_00]: And now I'm going to make my home.
• 8:10
  [SPEAKER_00]: It is in the same boat.
• 8:12
  [SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, I'm a lake on my home, and I know he didn't play a ton of nickel and college.
• 8:15
  [SPEAKER_01]: He was mainly an outside corner, but he was very vocal when he got drafted.
• 8:18
  [SPEAKER_01]: That he's willing to play anywhere and to me, this coaching staff has been very adamant about bringing versatile players, whether that's the offensive line, the defensive line, some of those linebackers and now back in the secondary.
• 8:29
  [SPEAKER_01]: So have you seen him be able to at least fit in in moments at that nickel corner spot?
• 8:34
  [SPEAKER_00]: Absolutely.
• 8:35
  [SPEAKER_00]: Now, there are some snaps.
• 8:36
  [SPEAKER_00]: I could vividly recall Rosha and Johnson kind of running him over.
• 8:39
  [SPEAKER_00]: I want to say when Caleb Williams had that long scramble inside the Walter Payton Center a couple days ago.
• 8:45
  [SPEAKER_00]: And he got caught cheating inside a bit, but that's neat.
• 8:48
  [SPEAKER_00]: It's going to happen.
• 8:49
  [SPEAKER_00]: what you like to see is that his coverage is getting better, that he's becoming sticky again, like some of the traits that you want from a corner back, and he's embracing his role.
• 8:58
  [SPEAKER_00]: A lot of conversations with Al Harris before plays, after plays, sometimes even during plays, but this is what's needed if he's going to take over that role and he said it himself when he was drafted.
• 9:10
  [SPEAKER_00]: He's not here to sit and watch.
• 9:11
  [SPEAKER_00]: He's here to compete and find a starting role and the bears have given him one right now to go get.
• 9:17
  [SPEAKER_01]: Another name I've seen a lot at him throughout camp so far and part of this is because TJ Edwards has an injury so that line-backing room will we've seen some guys getting mixed into their nose so we'll obviously still injured too but a Jordan Vandenberg I feel like I've seen his name all over Twitter when it comes to certain flashing and certain moments what have you seen from him I guess defensive tackle and that middle of the defense where have you seen him kind of stick out.
• 9:41
  [SPEAKER_00]: You always take note, Taylor, of when they have changes to the starting line up.
• 9:47
  [SPEAKER_00]: When the starters are on the field against other starters, one versus one.
• 9:51
  [SPEAKER_00]: Good versus good is coach is say, and when you see Jordan and Vanneburg out there in certain situations, it's like, oh.
• 9:57
  [SPEAKER_00]: all that good stuff that you're seeing, all those flashes that you you saw against the threes, maybe in one on one drills, too.
• 10:04
  [SPEAKER_00]: The bear is believing it, too.
• 10:06
  [SPEAKER_00]: It's not just a flash where, hey, and all the rookie might have something.
• 10:09
  [SPEAKER_00]: Well, now let's go see him against our better player.
• 10:11
  [SPEAKER_00]: So let's go put him against Joe Tuney.
• 10:13
  [SPEAKER_00]: Let's go put him against Garrett Bradbury and Jonah, Jonah Jackson.
• 10:17
  [SPEAKER_00]: See what he could do against our best.
• 10:19
  [SPEAKER_00]: Good on good.
• 10:20
  [SPEAKER_00]: Let's go see what he got.
• 10:26
  [SPEAKER_00]: The this scrimmage and the first period that they have is It's the first defense versus the the first offense in short yard of situations So there's obviously more offense a more defensive lineman out there, but included amongst those starters is number 96 toward November So to me that's a sign that the continuous growth is happening that the bears are starting to believe in him
• 10:50
  [SPEAKER_00]: And they're finding a role for him right now in short yard of situations.
• 10:54
  [SPEAKER_00]: Now the next question whether that can expand to third and long.
• 10:58
  [SPEAKER_00]: Whether that can expand to more first and second down opportunities.
• 11:03
  [SPEAKER_01]: What have you heard because we've talked about and focused so much on the past rush because I feel like that's I've been a clear issue the last several seasons outside of Montez what you're not getting much past rush from other players, but also the bears did not they struggled against the run a lot last year how much has the coaching staff put emphasis on that part of being able to stop the run this year.
• 11:22
  [SPEAKER_00]: Oh huge emphasis and I think the investment will not like significant, but you know considerable like signing level galamore, signing interview street, signing, I'm sorry, not signing, but drafting Jordan Vanderberg, this matters.
• 11:42
  [SPEAKER_00]: And you're starting to see some of the quickness in the speed that the bear is wanted to add to their defensive trenches.
• 11:48
  [SPEAKER_00]: Show up in all three of those players.
• 11:49
  [SPEAKER_00]: Street, Gallamore, and Vanderberg.
• 11:51
  [SPEAKER_00]: They're getting into the backfield.
• 11:53
  [SPEAKER_00]: There's causing pressures.
• 11:54
  [SPEAKER_00]: They're pretty good against the run.
• 11:56
  [SPEAKER_00]: Now, I think they're here more for their ability to get after the passer.
• 12:00
  [SPEAKER_00]: Vanderberg, I think, can be a very good three technique, which requires the defensive tackle to live.
• 12:05
  [SPEAKER_00]: And breathe in the back field and I think he's doing that, but overall, I think one of the more positive developments thus far is that the interior of the bears defensive line looks better, faster and deeper.
• 12:19
  [SPEAKER_00]: Now whether that really translates to the regular season, time will tell, but just from my vantage point watching them go against the bear starting offensive line, which is pretty darn good.
• 12:29
  [SPEAKER_00]: They've gotten better upfront in the trenches, and I think that applies to Austin Booker as well.
• 12:33
  [SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, we talked about having that competition earlier for Dylan Theneman and some of those guys he has to go up against.
• 12:39
  [SPEAKER_01]: It's not easy for that defensive line either.
• 12:41
  [SPEAKER_01]: Obviously you're not able to even really tackle Caleb Williams at this point, but we know how elusive Caleb can be and how well he moves once he is outside of that pocket and some of the things he can create an extending place.
• 12:51
  [SPEAKER_01]: The big thing is going to be some of that past rush and what's created awesome book or I think has a lot of expectations and that shows by kind of the lack of
• 13:00
  [SPEAKER_01]: additions in the soft season from the coaching staff and kind of feels like that end of the season from booker could be a start of a breakout and I feel like some people are thinking about that, but through camp so far have you seen anything from awesome booker that feels like we're going to get something out of him that next step out of him.
• 13:15
  [SPEAKER_00]: Taylor, do you know who's winning the left day?
• 13:17
  [SPEAKER_00]: I cook competition right now.
• 13:18
  [SPEAKER_00]: I think it's Austin Booker.
• 13:20
  [SPEAKER_02]: I was like, I don't know actually.
• 13:23
  [SPEAKER_00]: I think it's Austin Booker.
• 13:25
  [SPEAKER_00]: Um, he is a problem for Karana Magaji.
• 13:28
  [SPEAKER_00]: He's a problem for Judic Will's.
• 13:30
  [SPEAKER_00]: I want to say the Braxton Jones.
• 13:33
  [SPEAKER_00]: was a bit better against those guys.
• 13:34
  [SPEAKER_00]: I would still consider Brax and Jones.
• 13:36
  [SPEAKER_00]: I would consider Brax and Jones to be the favorite.
• 13:39
  [SPEAKER_00]: I left tackle right now.
• 13:40
  [SPEAKER_00]: We'll see what I see to Pillar can do when he gets back.
• 13:43
  [SPEAKER_00]: Ryan Poles did express him optimism about his return on Hogan Johns recently.
• 13:49
  [SPEAKER_00]: But Austin Booker, I think he's stacking good day after good day and you're right.
• 13:54
  [SPEAKER_00]: It is tough to tell if it's real or not because he can't hit kill blames But I'm telling you there are times where I feel like he could blow up kill blames and I'm just if you're the bear is your glad that he's not because
• 14:07
  [SPEAKER_00]: He's been that good.
• 14:07
  [SPEAKER_00]: He's got a great long arm move out working that I don't think I really saw consistently enough in the past.
• 14:13
  [SPEAKER_00]: I just think he's been a problem for all of the left tackles involved in this competition Now that could be a bad sign for the left tackle competition, but at the same time all three those players who have been involved in it should be motivated every single snap to prove themselves, but it's Austin Booker who's probably getting the the better of all of them more often than that
• 14:32
  [SPEAKER_01]: Had there been conversation at all whether it be late last season or throughout this off season when it comes to booker because he did have a couple what what should have been sex, I guess that we're called back due to penalties to against Jordan lovely in the season of having that that just line of being like go full send but also be smart and playing that.
• 14:52
  [SPEAKER_00]: Well, there was a play.
• 14:53
  [SPEAKER_00]: Um, when was it a few days ago, sorry, my, the, the practice is a start to start to start to start to start to start to start to start to start to start to start to start to start to start to start to start to start to start to start to start to start to start to start to start to start to start to start to start to start to start to start to start to start to start to start to start to start to start to start to start to start to start to start to start to start to start to start to start to start to start to start to start to start to start to start to start to start to start to start to start to start to start to start to start to start to start to start to start to start to start to start to start to start to start to start to start to start to start to start to start to start to start to start to start to start to start to start to start to start to start to start to start to start to start to start to start to start to start to start to start to start to start
• 15:15
  [SPEAKER_00]: Booker eases up and it allows Caleb to throw a pass down the, I believe was intercepted actually, but if that's a real game, yeah
• 15:25
  [SPEAKER_00]: Austin Booker may have blown up Caleb Williams like he was that fast that quick in the back field maybe to penalty because we've seen Booker call for such things before but to speed the relentlessness like the bears know that's always going to be there maybe it's the big message for a lot of other players is just finding consistency doing it more often but that relentlessness is something that's
• 15:52
  [SPEAKER_01]: Is there anybody else that you've seen when it comes to the the past rush area.
• 15:56
  [SPEAKER_01]: We know what Montez sweat is and then, you know, Dio, I think a lot more, a lot of people expecting a little bit more motivated Dio is what we're calling it.
• 16:03
  [SPEAKER_01]: I guess these days, but any other when it comes to the past rush in general that you've seen anything from.
• 16:08
  [SPEAKER_00]: Can I have Devin Bush this conversation?
• 16:10
  [SPEAKER_00]: Yeah, definitely.
• 16:11
  [SPEAKER_00]: Just because we know Dennis Allen likes to blitz and there's been a few plays where you see why they want a Devin Bush's speed and his own relentless, his own tenaciousness on this defense.
• 16:25
  [SPEAKER_00]: When he blitz is, you don't see a lot of,
• 16:30
  [SPEAKER_00]: players who could keep up with the quickness in the speed of Caleb Williams, but I'm telling you right now that Devin Bush can.
• 16:36
  [SPEAKER_00]: There was a play in the scrimmage on Tuesday where it's a rollout at the goal line, and you're like, oh, this is going to either go to the Colson Loven or Caleb Williams could run this in himself.
• 16:48
  [SPEAKER_00]: Nope, Devin Bush.
• 16:51
  [SPEAKER_00]: And again, if this was live, there was going to be a lot of contact at that pile on line backer on quarterback.
• 16:58
  [SPEAKER_00]: And I think Caleb was even surprised himself how fast number 12, which is still different to see a line backer on number 12.
• 17:03
  [SPEAKER_00]: But that's David Bush.
• 17:04
  [SPEAKER_00]: See how fast, David Bush closed.
• 17:07
  [SPEAKER_00]: on KL Williams on their play, extra all out.
• 17:10
  [SPEAKER_00]: But again, to add the cash rush conversation, Devon Bush is going to be involved, and his speed will be a serious threat for Dennis Allen's defense and plans.
• 17:21
  [SPEAKER_01]: I love that.
• 17:21
  [SPEAKER_01]: And maybe I'm getting ahead of myself a little bit, but I have been kind of excited.
• 17:25
  [SPEAKER_01]: I mean, the speed of Devon Bush, she was one of when you talk about PFF.
• 17:28
  [SPEAKER_01]: I know those grades aren't everything, but one of the higher graded linebackers when it comes to some of those things, a healthy TJ Edwards.
• 17:34
  [SPEAKER_01]: You saw what the Marco Jackson obviously he earned himself a contract this off season.
• 17:38
  [SPEAKER_01]: And so I'm kind of excited about what this linebacking room can look like, especially when it comes to the speed and kind of the versatility that they've added.
• 17:46
  [SPEAKER_00]: Yeah, and TJ Edwards is just getting back.
• 17:48
  [SPEAKER_00]: So, and I think he is an over-looked but an extremely important piece of what Dennis Ellen wants to do.
• 17:55
  [SPEAKER_00]: Just because of his smarts, his instincts, his leadership, everything that he brings in terms of intangibles, I don't know if the field, TJ Edwards place with the bears is still very important.
• 18:05
  [SPEAKER_00]: We've seen the Marco Jackson,
• 18:07
  [SPEAKER_00]: Rotate at Mike and Sam.
• 18:08
  [SPEAKER_00]: We've seen Jack Sam born Rotate at Mike and Sam.
• 18:10
  [SPEAKER_00]: We've seen John Randall, Radigan Rotate at Mike and Sam, but TJ Edwards.
• 18:15
  [SPEAKER_00]: He's gonna be your starting middle line backer.
• 18:17
  [SPEAKER_00]: We saw him in live drills for the first time
• 18:21
  [SPEAKER_00]: releases his return uh... in that scrimmage and he had a tfl erosion johnson he was really pumped up about it too so that linebacker core it's uh... i don't know if it's better quite yet because i haven't seen them i haven't seen devin bush play much with tg at words but it's something i'm looking forward to watching and taking notes on his training camp wraps up here
• 18:43
  [SPEAKER_01]: Let's flip over to the offense for a little bit.
• 18:45
  [SPEAKER_01]: You mentioned that left tackle competition of what's going on over there.
• 18:50
  [SPEAKER_01]: We heard some positive news to your point of Aussie Trepillo and his return it seemed.
• 18:55
  [SPEAKER_01]: scary at first the wording when that injury first came out in the timeline of we didn't know if it'd be this season or late this season or at all.
• 19:03
  [SPEAKER_01]: So it seems a little bit more optimistic in that sense, but Braxton Jones and Judgerc Wales and obviously Amagaji all kind of rotating through that has any of those guys specifically kind of stood out and I know Braxton's been a little banged up too.
• 19:14
  [SPEAKER_00]: I think Will's is getting better.
• 19:15
  [SPEAKER_00]: Okay.
• 19:16
  [SPEAKER_00]: His injury history.
• 19:19
  [SPEAKER_00]: Well it's long.
• 19:20
  [SPEAKER_00]: I mean missed a lot of football so getting back into football shape, getting back to just
• 19:27
  [SPEAKER_00]: just the operation of everything.
• 19:29
  [SPEAKER_00]: It's going to take some time, but I think he's getting stronger.
• 19:32
  [SPEAKER_00]: I think he's getting faster.
• 19:33
  [SPEAKER_00]: I think he's starting to feel like he can play football again at the level he needs to play football again, and we know he's a former first-round pick.
• 19:42
  [SPEAKER_00]: I was probably still listed as, well, Braxton Jones is your favorite.
• 19:47
  [SPEAKER_00]: It looks like Will's at this point has surpassed Amagaji.
• 19:51
  [SPEAKER_00]: And if I should be prologue to re-enter the conversation at some point, then I think this conversation is pretty, pretty different.
• 20:00
  [SPEAKER_01]: Yeah.
• 20:01
  [SPEAKER_00]: because we know Ozzy and what he can bring.
• 20:03
  [SPEAKER_00]: I think last year, he had settled in quite nicely as the bears left tackle of the future.
• 20:07
  [SPEAKER_00]: Then he obviously had the bad luck injury there and that's the conversation we're having at this point.
• 20:12
  [SPEAKER_00]: But I think right now, it's still Brex and Jones being, like, I still think he's the favorite, but it looks like Will is getting better and better every cycle day as he gets back to normal after all of it.
• 20:22
  [SPEAKER_00]: Like all of the injuries things he went through.
• 20:25
  [SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, and another one obviously Garrett Bradbury losing Drew Dalman was another blow throughout the soft season because of how well he played last year, but you're hearing a lot of good things, positive things from both Ben Johnson and Caleb Williams on kind of that connection and the relationship between center and quarterback, which we know is super, super important in this league.
• 20:42
  [SPEAKER_01]: So chat a little bit about that.
• 20:44
  [SPEAKER_01]: Does that feel like it is Garrett Bradbury's job right now?
• 20:47
  [SPEAKER_00]: Yeah, yeah, it's, well, it's definitely his, I, I'll look through my notes here in a second, um, but I don't like I've seen Logan Jones, the second-round pick play with the starters whatsoever.
• 20:58
  [SPEAKER_00]: And again, that's, that's okay.
• 21:00
  [SPEAKER_00]: Ben Johnson expects so much out of his centers.
• 21:03
  [SPEAKER_00]: They need to be cerebral, they need to be,
• 21:06
  [SPEAKER_00]: Well, vocal, they need to take a man, Garrett Bradbury did a good job of explaining how they work, him and Caleb work in tandem at the line of screenage.
• 21:14
  [SPEAKER_00]: I'm not sure Logan Jones is quite ready for all that.
• 21:17
  [SPEAKER_00]: Like Ben Johnson demands experience in,
• 21:21
  [SPEAKER_00]: Well, a lot of different things from a center puts a lot on his plate the same thing happened to Drew Dalman and Drew handle a bunch of that last year and Garrett Bradbury's doing the same this year.
• 21:30
  [SPEAKER_00]: So that is very much Garrett Bradbury's job.
• 21:33
  [SPEAKER_00]: I think really the storyline that's center right now is how much him and Caleb connect on and off to feel to have the same type of success that him and that Caleb and Drew Dalman had last year.
• 21:44
  [SPEAKER_01]: is the Jonah Jackson we saw last year the Jonah Jackson we you think that is the real Jonah Jackson because there's been a little bit of ups and downs throughout his career.
• 21:52
  [SPEAKER_00]: Yeah if he's all that he's a pro-law I think that right side of the line is just dominant we've seen that really from start since the start of training camp the bear strongly believe in the violence and the push and everything that right side of the offensive line provides.
• 22:09
  [SPEAKER_00]: You're done all right gets the attention and it gets the big contract with Jonah Jackson is 100% part of that conversation as well.
• 22:16
  [SPEAKER_00]: He looks good.
• 22:17
  [SPEAKER_00]: He's having a great camp.
• 22:18
  [SPEAKER_01]: good.
• 22:19
  [SPEAKER_01]: That's the stuff we love to hear because I know the offensive line for a lot of people was like, oh, no, Aussie's heard, and Drew Dalman retires, and there's this like sense of panic, but I feel like I don't even have to talk about tuning in right.
• 22:29
  [SPEAKER_01]: It's just that they are who they are.
• 22:31
  [SPEAKER_01]: And they know that, but always want to give them love.
• 22:33
  [SPEAKER_01]: When it comes to the past catchers, that's another thing with the burden.
• 22:36
  [SPEAKER_01]: I'm now dealing with an injury too.
• 22:38
  [SPEAKER_01]: Seems like there's positive some
• 22:40
  [SPEAKER_01]: optimism that he'll be ready to go week one, but it doesn't look like we'll probably see him throughout the rest of camp.
• 22:46
  [SPEAKER_01]: Any of those other young wider severs, we talk about a jade walker, you talk about bringing, I guess, Clay Freyman's not very young, but bringing him in new to the bears and then a drafting Xavier and Thomas.
• 22:54
  [SPEAKER_01]: Are there any of those guys to you that have stood out for camp?
• 22:57
  [SPEAKER_00]: It's even Thomas, his speed has stood out since really the spring.
• 23:02
  [SPEAKER_00]: When the bears, when the officials on the field aren't blowing, screen plays dead because the guy with the ball in his hands is just too fast to touch.
• 23:08
  [SPEAKER_00]: Like that is something to watch and something to take note of, because you know it's going to be part of Ben Johnson's offense.
• 23:14
  [SPEAKER_00]: And you know, Ben drafted him with a vision to use that speed.
• 23:18
  [SPEAKER_00]: Now, Xavier Thomas is dealing with a minor in the injury.
• 23:21
  [SPEAKER_00]: I don't think it's anything serious.
• 23:23
  [SPEAKER_00]: Expect him to be back sooner than later, too.
• 23:28
  [SPEAKER_00]: Really, um, everyone's like even close to love one.
• 23:32
  [SPEAKER_00]: They have so many different threats in this offense for Ben Johnson to use For for Kale Williams.
• 23:39
  [SPEAKER_00]: It is something to watch at Cleve Raymond's part of that conversation as well He is fast.
• 23:43
  [SPEAKER_00]: He is quick.
• 23:44
  [SPEAKER_00]: The Andre Swift is having an outstanding training camp
• 23:47
  [SPEAKER_00]: You could just see the town.
• 23:49
  [SPEAKER_00]: You could see how the reckoning this is for while the bears the fence and how it could come to fruition and game things when the games are real.
• 23:57
  [SPEAKER_00]: So there's a lot of receivers that have stood out.
• 23:59
  [SPEAKER_00]: Roma doons.
• 24:00
  [SPEAKER_00]: We even mentioned Roma doons.
• 24:01
  [SPEAKER_00]: Yeah.
• 24:01
  [SPEAKER_00]: Yeah.
• 24:02
  [SPEAKER_00]: by the way, you know, 50 yard catching run out of the unzone yesterday.
• 24:06
  [SPEAKER_00]: So he's having a very good camp.
• 24:09
  [SPEAKER_00]: The playmakers are there.
• 24:11
  [SPEAKER_00]: It's about distributing the ball to him.
• 24:13
  [SPEAKER_00]: You know Ben Johnson's hunting explosives, but he's got players, receivers, pass catchers, we could deliver those explosive explosives just across the board.
• 24:23
  [SPEAKER_01]: Has there been talk at all from DeAndre Swift when it comes to kind of a full circle moment of starting his career with Ben Johnson and then now having Ben Johnson like round two in his career at a different stop.
• 24:34
  [SPEAKER_00]: Yeah, I think so.
• 24:35
  [SPEAKER_00]: I think they are so excited.
• 24:37
  [SPEAKER_00]: Ben Johnson expressed this, Ryan polls that a little bit too, um, Dale Blams as well.
• 24:43
  [SPEAKER_00]: They are so excited by what they're seeing from the edges with at this point.
• 24:46
  [SPEAKER_00]: He looks to me, stronger than he did last year, faster than he did last year, quicker than he did last year.
• 24:52
  [SPEAKER_00]: And even like, I don't say more motivated because truly you don't really know, but he looks outstanding.
• 25:00
  [SPEAKER_00]: He looks like one of the bears best players and we talk about Luther Bird in a lot.
• 25:04
  [SPEAKER_00]: We talk about Koles and Lovelin a lot.
• 25:05
  [SPEAKER_00]: We talk about Cleveland a lot.
• 25:07
  [SPEAKER_00]: The Andre Swift might be having a better camp than all of them, and I mean that generally.
• 25:11
  [SPEAKER_00]: He's looked that good from start to finish.
• 25:14
  [SPEAKER_01]: Yeah.
• 25:14
  [SPEAKER_01]: I think that that's one of the things.
• 25:16
  [SPEAKER_01]: I mean, the run game in general last year Adam was one of the biggest jumps.
• 25:20
  [SPEAKER_01]: We talk about the jumps that Caleb Williams made personally and a lot of the things when it comes to not holding the ball and, you know, not taking those bad sacks and things like that, but the jump that the Andre Swift had from 24 to 20 25.
• 25:31
  [SPEAKER_01]: I think should be noted and if that continues to develop a grow, which it seems like it is.
• 25:35
  [SPEAKER_01]: I think we'll be really fun to watch this run game.
• 25:37
  [SPEAKER_01]: What about Kyle Mnonga?
• 25:38
  [SPEAKER_01]: What's what's the chatter around him?
• 25:40
  [SPEAKER_01]: I feel like I haven't seen his name a ton, but I know there's a lot of fans of Mnonga.
• 25:44
  [SPEAKER_00]: Yeah, he missed some time early on, but you could see the value, you could see the violence, you could hear the belief in Ben Johnson's words when he talks about him.
• 25:52
  [SPEAKER_00]: They like having this 200 monster, and I know this isn't good for fantasy football owners, but it's very good with Chicago Bears.
• 25:58
  [SPEAKER_00]: They have two very good running backs that fit the style that the bears want to run, whether it's
• 26:05
  [SPEAKER_00]: Some of the speed and the you know the outside zone game or when they go man, you know And they want to get some power for football going.
• 26:10
  [SPEAKER_00]: They have Kalman on guy who could be one cut and we'll bring you a whole Ball of violence right at you.
• 26:16
  [SPEAKER_00]: He brings that that identity.
• 26:18
  [SPEAKER_00]: He fits the identity of what Ben Johnson wants So good camp missed some time early, but you know the bears You know Ben Johnson really values this two-headed monster he has in the backfield
• 26:28
  [SPEAKER_01]: Just a couple more for you.
• 26:29
  [SPEAKER_01]: I want to do.
• 26:30
  [SPEAKER_01]: I do want to talk about Caleb Kail Williams.
• 26:32
  [SPEAKER_01]: I mean, he's getting all the love when it comes to getting voted and different top 10s and top 100s and Madden covers and all of that stuff, but we know realistically there were some things that we still wanted to kind of see checked off when it comes to the accuracy.
• 26:45
  [SPEAKER_01]: side of things that something Ben Johnson's been very vocal about even when you would mention like hey well they had you know the most yards lost to drops he's like I don't care I want to see 70% and that's the world that Ben Johnson lives in with Caleb and to me I think that's a big indication too that he believes Caleb can be that quarterback which I think is a positive thing but what have you seen through Caleb when it comes to those things that accuracy because we know he can do all of the kind of crazy magical thing.
• 27:11
  [SPEAKER_00]: if you listen to me before everyone listening now knows that i'm kind of big on the seven seven drills because they favor the offense well in my opinion it's significantly right there's no pass rush so it should look good for the offense and i've covered some really bad seven on seven drills from from pair's quarterbacks to pass leg
• 27:29
  [SPEAKER_00]: from Hermitch to Justin Fields to even Caleb Williams last year.
• 27:33
  [SPEAKER_00]: There was some uneven days where you're just left looking like, oh, I think he's a bit confused.
• 27:37
  [SPEAKER_00]: They're overwhelmed at the moment.
• 27:38
  [SPEAKER_00]: That's not the case this year.
• 27:40
  [SPEAKER_00]: He's going 4 for 4, 5 for 5, you know, 3 for 4 with two explosive plays.
• 27:45
  [SPEAKER_00]: He had a 7 on 7 journal in the red zone the other day where I think he had like three or four touchdown passes.
• 27:49
  [SPEAKER_00]: This is progress.
• 27:50
  [SPEAKER_00]: The ball is getting out quickly, cleanly, it's accurate.
• 27:54
  [SPEAKER_00]: He's rolling the runners balls that Ben Johnson keeps talking about just putting in a place where his receivers could take off instantaneously.
• 28:03
  [SPEAKER_00]: The accuracy is there, but really it's to me it's the decision making.
• 28:07
  [SPEAKER_00]: It's not having the ball in the ground.
• 28:09
  [SPEAKER_00]: That to me is a significant step in the right direction.
• 28:12
  [SPEAKER_00]: And you see some of that when they go 11-11 in the team periods, but I see the progress more than anything in those 7-on-7 drills, where it should favor the offense.
• 28:21
  [SPEAKER_00]: And it's supposed to look good.
• 28:23
  [SPEAKER_00]: You're seeing that this year as opposed to last or the ball is out the ball is on time.
• 28:28
  [SPEAKER_00]: Passes are being completed, and he's finishing those drills with completion percentages, as well over the 70% of the results you want.
• 28:37
  [SPEAKER_01]: We love to hear it.
• 28:38
  [SPEAKER_01]: So bears browns this week in the first preseason game at noon on Saturday.
• 28:42
  [SPEAKER_01]: What are you looking for in this game?
• 28:45
  [SPEAKER_01]: I know some position battles are still kind of getting hammered out now with injury.
• 28:48
  [SPEAKER_01]: Some of these guys may have a shot to make the roster make practice quads.
• 28:52
  [SPEAKER_01]: So any specific grouping groups or players you're looking for?
• 28:56
  [SPEAKER_00]: I'm looking for a long game from Tyson Bajit in case he didn't.
• 29:00
  [SPEAKER_00]: I don't expect the starters to play much if at all in this one, especially with two joint practices coming up.
• 29:07
  [SPEAKER_00]: I think what I like about Ben Johnson the most is that he's willing to adjust his plan as things get going.
• 29:13
  [SPEAKER_00]: He's not going into this like Matt Nagy did a couple of years ago where he's like, no, nobody's playing in the preseason.
• 29:18
  [SPEAKER_00]: like if he feels like kill Williams needs some reps, he'll get it for him, but I don't think it's going to happen against the browns or they play the browns every year in the pre-season.
• 29:30
  [SPEAKER_00]: I don't think it's going to happen this week.
• 29:31
  [SPEAKER_00]: I expect a lot of backups to play.
• 29:33
  [SPEAKER_00]: I wouldn't play the Andrey Swift.
• 29:34
  [SPEAKER_00]: I wouldn't play the awesome lovelin.
• 29:35
  [SPEAKER_00]: I wouldn't play with the burners not going to play the entire pre-season, but like there's a lot of guys there.
• 29:41
  [SPEAKER_01]: What about the left tackles?
• 29:43
  [SPEAKER_00]: Yeah, I expect them to play, so if there's one thing high in the list that thinks for everybody, it would be playing time for gegequill as a crown on my godji.
• 29:52
  [SPEAKER_00]: Absolutely.
• 29:52
  [SPEAKER_00]: I think that's probably one good thing they've done throughout training camp is they're not going to go out there like oh, where's Joe Tuney?
• 30:00
  [SPEAKER_00]: I don't have Joe Tuney.
• 30:01
  [SPEAKER_00]: These guys have played a lot with the second team offense as well.
• 30:04
  [SPEAKER_00]: So there's some some chemistry there.
• 30:07
  [SPEAKER_00]: I think they can bring to the preseason, but I
• 30:09
  [SPEAKER_00]: Now, it'd probably be the highest thing on my list, because I would expect wills and I'm a guy to get a lot of playing time.
• 30:16
  [SPEAKER_00]: Maybe not, and this preseason game, they should be on the field, they should get some action, but the preseason in general, I think will be big for the left ankle competition.
• 30:23
  [SPEAKER_01]: Would you expect to see Xavier Woods out there?
• 30:27
  [SPEAKER_00]: That's a good question.
• 30:28
  [SPEAKER_00]: That's a good question.
• 30:29
  [SPEAKER_00]: At this point, given how thin they are in the secondary and how important
• 30:37
  [SPEAKER_00]: Robably not like you're Dylan Thineman's not playing.
• 30:40
  [SPEAKER_00]: I don't think Xavier Woods has played.
• 30:41
  [SPEAKER_00]: He's been in like 10 years.
• 30:43
  [SPEAKER_00]: Yeah, he really need to play.
• 30:45
  [SPEAKER_00]: Maybe one Like maybe ask me this question after the joint practice against the Bengals where when Ben's plans may change, but maybe for a series or two maybe four or five snaps, but I don't see the need to Risk further thing is when you have
• 31:03
  [SPEAKER_01]: Yes, what you have, yes, I don't want to appreciate your time.
• 31:08
  [SPEAKER_01]: I know you guys just sat down with Ryan Paul.
• 31:10
  [SPEAKER_01]: So let everyone know how they can listen to that and when next stuff coming up for you guys.
• 31:15
  [SPEAKER_00]: Yeah, we have another big episode coming out on Friday, but the Ryan polls for any camp.
• 31:20
  [SPEAKER_00]: I'm so just released this morning for Hogan John.
• 31:22
  [SPEAKER_00]: So please check that out in our YouTube page or Spotify.
• 31:26
  [SPEAKER_00]: If you listen to the old fashion, wait up to podcast.
• 31:28
  [SPEAKER_00]: It's there as well.
• 31:29
  [SPEAKER_00]: And then yeah, check out some stuff.
• 31:33
  [SPEAKER_01]: Awesome, thanks Adam, hope you have a good one.
• 31:35
  [SPEAKER_00]: Thanks, dealer.