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Bears for Breakfast: 2026 Season Preview · 2nd City Gridiron

0:03
[SPEAKER_00]: What's up everybody?
0:04
[SPEAKER_00]: Welcome to Bears for Breakfast.
0:06
[SPEAKER_00]: The very first debut edition, thank you guys for joining us here on this beautiful Saturday morning college football as upon us.
0:15
[SPEAKER_00]: The NFL is right around the corner and we are excited to be able to.
0:20
[SPEAKER_00]: Break down everything under the sun over the course of this year, so we're very excited to be bringing you this new show on Second City Grid Iron.
0:28
[SPEAKER_00]: I'm Jacob and Fonte and alongside me as Jacob White.
0:32
[SPEAKER_00]: We've got two Jacob's here, so this is going to be it's going to be interesting.
0:36
[SPEAKER_00]: I guess only one of us can stand and we're going to have a fight to the death, but at the final episode of the season, so we'll see how that goes out, but Jacob, first and foremost, mad.
0:49
[SPEAKER_00]: Thanks for being here.
0:50
[SPEAKER_00]: Thanks for agreeing to do this show and I want to turn it over to you to introduce yourself to the people out there, you know, whoever's gonna be watching live and, you know, everybody who's, you know, watching on the different podcast channels, who is Jacob White, introduce yourself.
1:10
[SPEAKER_01]: say hello there you go yeah first off thanks for having me Jacob yeah for those that know me you know me for those that don't know me you will know me and so yeah you know my background in Fontaine I we've been friends for you know about a couple years now both moved to city we're both in Chicago based on Chicago but then I think we've both been here about a year so you know we've hung out a couple times and kind of figured with that some
1:36
[SPEAKER_01]: We've had those everything under the sun conversations, you know, over some frosty beverages and a lot of fun and we figured why not, why not take it to the YouTube streets.
1:47
[SPEAKER_01]: So yeah, a little bit about me and my background for those of you that are unfamiliar with me.
1:52
[SPEAKER_01]: I've been a bear's fan essentially all of my life.
1:55
[SPEAKER_01]: I have gone to
1:57
[SPEAKER_01]: At least one game, you know, every year since I think I was 9 or 10 years old, it's a family affair.
2:03
[SPEAKER_01]: I got into the fan, I've also played fantasy, you know, I'd say.
2:07
[SPEAKER_01]: For instance, I was 9 or 10 years old, got really into it in the last, you know, 6 or 7 years.
2:16
[SPEAKER_01]: And, you know, I ended up writing, doing some content for, for Gridiron experts, for Fantasy Pros, I was an expert ranker for Fantasy Pros for a couple of years.
2:28
[SPEAKER_01]: And then, but yeah, do a lot of drafting, do some analysis on Twitter.
2:33
[SPEAKER_01]: But, you know, in Fonte over years, he's more of the ball-nour.
2:37
[SPEAKER_01]: I'm more of the spreadsheet guy, the Fantasy guy, so I think we'll play well off of each other from that sense.
2:45
[SPEAKER_00]: Yeah, I mean, I'm excited to dig into it too.
2:48
[SPEAKER_00]: And I'm excited to learn a lot more about fantasy.
2:51
[SPEAKER_00]: I mean, I, you know, it's always a fun part of the season playing fantasy football, but there's so much more that goes into it, you know, and...
3:01
[SPEAKER_00]: you're going to lead us through it and we're going to have a lot to talk about and the first thing I wanted to bring up is obviously the bears recently made their cut downs as in recently I mean last weekend cut down to the 53 man roster right so going from 90 to 53 you know bringing it guys for the practice squad and
3:22
[SPEAKER_00]: a lot has been, you know, discussed, but, you know, we're going to do a quick little, you know, wrap up about some of the biggest take away from the 53 man roster.
3:31
[SPEAKER_00]: So I'll I'll start with you, Jacob first and foremost, I
3:37
[SPEAKER_00]: What are your some of your take like just looking at this fifth at this roster the 53 men that the bears have currently like what are some of your just you know at like high level thoughts about this group as a whole like any positions that stand out is particularly good or bad one where the other.
3:55
[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, I think from a high level, it does feel a little bit imbalanced to me.
4:00
[SPEAKER_01]: I think this isn't a surprise, but certainly the offense is much stronger than the defense.
4:06
[SPEAKER_01]: I would say both in terms of the starters, but also the depth.
4:10
[SPEAKER_01]: I think there was a quote from, maybe it was Paul's talking about, you know, he thinks they have the best interior offensive line in the league, not just starters, but I think,
4:19
[SPEAKER_01]: You know, if guys go down, I like Luke Newman to come in and give you some snaps.
4:23
[SPEAKER_01]: I like Jordan McFadden to give you some snaps.
4:26
[SPEAKER_01]: I know you're very high on Logan Jones, both in college, throughout the draft process.
4:30
[SPEAKER_01]: And of course, we know, especially in the run game, how good guys like, like John Jackson are.
4:37
[SPEAKER_01]: So I think certainly the offense is in balance.
4:40
[SPEAKER_01]: I think the align specifically the interior strong.
4:42
[SPEAKER_01]: And also, I think we're talking about about this before.
4:46
[SPEAKER_01]: I think thinking of the strongest quarterback room in the NFL, not necessarily the best quarterback, but from quarterback one to quarterback two, all the down to the third string, that being obviously Caleb Williams, Tyson Vaget, and then Kase Keenem.
5:00
[SPEAKER_01]: I think you can make an argument that that is the strongest quarterback room in the NFL.
5:03
[SPEAKER_01]: It's helped a lot.
5:05
[SPEAKER_00]: Yeah, I mean Keenem looked really good in the preseason and it's the kind of thing where it's like,
5:12
[SPEAKER_00]: I don't know what that one meme is, but there's a grown man playing in middle school football or something like that and he's running away and there's there's no way his ass is 12 years old or something like that and it's like
5:29
[SPEAKER_00]: That's what I think of when I see Kase Keenan playing in the preseason, like he's been at it for so long, just mentally he is so far ahead of all these other guys he's going against, but that's part of why you bring him in, right, is the, you know, the veteran experience, how many games he started at the NFL level of the course of his career, how many different offenses he's been in, how much terminology he knows, how much he understands about the mental aspect of playing the quarterback position and
5:55
[SPEAKER_00]: Like, especially with Caleb being, you know, is still early in his NFL career.
6:01
[SPEAKER_00]: It's nice to have a true veteran who's essentially another coach on the squad.
6:10
[SPEAKER_00]: But I did want to ask too, but it talk about the defensive line.
6:14
[SPEAKER_00]: I know you talked about how there's been an imbalance between the offense and the defense.
6:18
[SPEAKER_00]: And I certainly agree with that.
6:20
[SPEAKER_00]: I have my concerns about the defensive line.
6:22
[SPEAKER_00]: I'm curious.
6:25
[SPEAKER_00]: Do you think that there's any opportunity for this group to become more than it was last year?
6:30
[SPEAKER_00]: Because it's a very similar group from a unit from last year that really underperformed.
6:37
[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, I think that's a good question.
6:40
[SPEAKER_01]: Usually, when you look at guys breaking out, it's going to be, or playing above there, what we think their skill level is, it's going to be usually younger guys.
6:48
[SPEAKER_01]: We know what some of these older guys are.
6:50
[SPEAKER_01]: We know what sweat is.
6:52
[SPEAKER_01]: We know what at this point is clear what greedy Jared is.
6:56
[SPEAKER_01]: We really shouldn't rely on these guys to suddenly take that next step, and know what's the best address in the league.
7:00
[SPEAKER_01]: Great Jared's the best and tiered, and that's live in the league.
7:03
[SPEAKER_01]: That's probably not going to happen.
7:04
[SPEAKER_01]: What could happen is Jordan Vandenberg, becomes the kind of player that Twitter thinks he is.
7:12
[SPEAKER_01]: It's one thing to dominate the second and third stringers.
7:15
[SPEAKER_01]: Like he has in the preseason, and then it's another thing to do it against the ones in the regular season.
7:21
[SPEAKER_01]: Certainly production of any kind against any talent is only a good thing, but you're going to need him to truly come in and play above what a six round pick would usually provide.
7:33
[SPEAKER_01]: And then similarly with Austin Booker who I know is I think he's back at practice.
7:38
[SPEAKER_00]: Yeah.
7:39
[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah.
7:40
[SPEAKER_01]: We like him.
7:41
[SPEAKER_01]: He was always drafted as like a toolsie raw guide that you you hope now with Dennis Allen in the building for two years can get him to that projection.
7:49
[SPEAKER_01]: So I think they're going to have to really rely on those guys.
7:52
[SPEAKER_01]: And then of course if Dale is as motivated as they say he is, uh,
7:57
[SPEAKER_01]: Maybe he'll finally earn that, I think I have it as, you know, 29th his contract, A.V.
8:05
[SPEAKER_01]: You know, annual value, you know, he's going to need to play close to that if they're about that level for the various defense of Lyon for turn, the any value above, you know, kind of what we're projecting them to be right now.
8:19
[SPEAKER_00]: Yeah, and you could certainly argue, you know, from a bank of a bank for your buck perspective, that, you know, they're not getting what they paid for on the defensive line.
8:29
[SPEAKER_00]: Jared being one of those guys, oh, dang bow being one of them, too, and you know, there's more that goes into it than the analytics, but I did want to point out, you mentioned he's.
8:42
[SPEAKER_00]: 29 in terms of, you know, how much money he's making on an average annual salary, but he ranked 105th in P.F.N.
8:52
[SPEAKER_00]: Edge Impact scoring last year.
8:54
[SPEAKER_00]: He had in eight games just one sack in three quarterback hits and he's getting paid considerable amount of money.
9:01
[SPEAKER_00]: So obviously things didn't
9:13
[SPEAKER_00]: I'm interested to see what Vandenberg can do because the preseason looked really impressive.
9:18
[SPEAKER_00]: I mean, you can tell he's obviously raw as far as figuring out counter moves, having the spatial awareness to know how to free up his hands in the run game, but just how disruptive he is off the snap with his quickness, his power, and
9:34
[SPEAKER_00]: what he like the tenacity like how aggressive he is at the point of attack and the effort that he shows, especially I mean that one play I don't remember what your game it was, but where he was like literally diving like Superman diving, you know, getting to the sidelines and pursuit as a run defender.
9:52
[SPEAKER_00]: As we have a special guest here joining us, he loves to just
9:56
[SPEAKER_00]: stand right in front of me as all that's going on.
9:59
[SPEAKER_00]: So everyone say hi.
10:02
[SPEAKER_00]: I'll leave off to the side.
10:04
[SPEAKER_01]: So it doesn't disrupt.
10:05
[SPEAKER_01]: But for those of you that might listen just to the audio, there was perhaps the largest cat you have ever seen in your entire life.
10:12
[SPEAKER_01]: The entirety of Infante's screen.
10:15
[SPEAKER_01]: Yes, and I believe this name is a note no key.
10:18
[SPEAKER_00]: So I don't Yes, yes, yeah, so and thank you for painting the picture for the the audio only people.
10:26
[SPEAKER_00]: Yeah, so my cat is he's fat
10:31
[SPEAKER_00]: but he's just an overall goober, but yeah, he's walking past the screen.
10:36
[SPEAKER_00]: He just loves to be on camera, I guess.
10:39
[SPEAKER_00]: I know before we went live, we could hear your cat in the background, too.
10:46
[SPEAKER_00]: I was allowed me out.
10:47
[SPEAKER_00]: That was pretty impressive, all things considered.
10:50
[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, he's now locked up, so certainly hoping he doesn't escape, but we love cats.
10:58
[SPEAKER_01]: We're both in Jacob, we both love cats.
11:00
[SPEAKER_01]: So there's the bears, and hopefully this roster that, especially on the defense, is better than what we're projecting right now.
11:10
[SPEAKER_01]: You know, one message I just want to put out to
11:17
[SPEAKER_01]: what that does provide.
11:18
[SPEAKER_01]: I mean, this is usually throughout all of our lives, at least, you know, you and I, it was always the other way around, right?
11:22
[SPEAKER_01]: It was always way embalanced where the defense was way better than the offense.
11:28
[SPEAKER_01]: So this is certainly different.
11:29
[SPEAKER_01]: And I'd say exciting, because that's kind of a one thing throughout a lot of my life.
11:34
[SPEAKER_01]: It wasn't always a lot of fun to watch the bears, right?
11:36
[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah.
11:37
[SPEAKER_01]: Because it was, you know, it was October and you're doing mock drafts already, because you're just like, I'm done with this team, you know, like I'm ready.
11:44
[SPEAKER_01]: I need some hope, and I'm not getting any hope.
11:47
[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, from from from watching them.
11:49
[SPEAKER_01]: So maybe the draft.
11:50
[SPEAKER_01]: So I do think, you know, even if the defense is rough, like it's going to be a lot of fun.
11:55
[SPEAKER_01]: So
11:56
[SPEAKER_01]: You know, maybe from like they just don't have the bodies to like truly, truly compete for superheroes here, maybe, you know, regardless, their offense is going to be a ton of fun.
12:07
[SPEAKER_01]: And I'm just excited to watch that, you know, if they do end up being better on defense, if the young guy is breakout, if Jared returns to form, if Dayo is the guy they thought he was going to be, you know, maybe they can make a run, but for right now, I'm just focused on enjoying what should the offensively.
12:25
[SPEAKER_01]: probably the coolest, most fun, highest scoring season.
12:29
[SPEAKER_01]: Potentially of our lives, probably of our lives.
12:31
[SPEAKER_00]: Yeah.
12:32
[SPEAKER_00]: And I know Kevin Copernal in the YouTube chat says, it's crazy that we're talking about the Bears having a great QB room.
12:41
[SPEAKER_00]: I've been waiting my whole life for being this excited about this team's offense.
12:46
[SPEAKER_00]: And I mean, I'm sure we can obviously agree.
12:49
[SPEAKER_00]: It's I mean, as bear's fans, we sat through some really just abysmal stinkers of offensive units so to be able to
12:57
[SPEAKER_00]: go into this season.
12:58
[SPEAKER_00]: It's like, yeah, you know, the defense has its concerns, but especially on the offensive side of the ball in a league where it's driven by how many points can you score and how can you move the ball especially through the air to have a quarterback who's shown what Caleb Williams has shown is very encouraging and to have an offensive play caller like Ben Johnson at the helm is last year approved to be a difference maker, especially in the second half of the season.
13:27
[SPEAKER_00]: should be exciting real quick before we move to just the general season i did want to ask i 53 man roster looking at some of the guys who got cut i want to ask one guy for each who are you the most surprised that got cut and who are you the most surprised made the team because i've got a few in mind but i'm curious your thoughts on this and i'll then i'll share mine
13:53
[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, I think I might have one of your guys, but who got cut, I really can't believe they cut Terrell Smith, yeah.
14:01
[SPEAKER_01]: I don't think, especially with the injuries with Howard Gordon being out.
14:04
[SPEAKER_01]: I don't think they have, I didn't think they had the kind of bodies in that room that would warrant a guy like him not making the roster.
14:11
[SPEAKER_01]: I think a lot of that does have to do with the Clark Phillips edition, and then subtraction of Greg Gerer, which we actually didn't even get to.
14:19
[SPEAKER_00]: Yeah.
14:20
[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah.
14:20
[SPEAKER_01]: I mean, I think I know, you know, polls or for sure that Johnson's come out and said, I think, you know, the interior defense of line is better than what some people think.
14:30
[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah.
14:31
[SPEAKER_01]: Regardless,
14:32
[SPEAKER_01]: have how it happened, they have a spot for Clark Phillips, or they had to have a spot.
14:36
[SPEAKER_01]: I think that was the spot that would have gone to Ralph's myth.
14:41
[SPEAKER_01]: And I think we've seen both in the preseason and the regular season.
14:44
[SPEAKER_01]: When he's healthy, I think he deserves to be on a team and certainly on a team with the bears that really behind Jill and Johnson right now don't have a ton unless you think Tyreek is.
14:55
[SPEAKER_01]: Tyreek Stevenson is pre-Hill Mary Tyreek Stevenson.
14:59
[SPEAKER_00]: Yeah, I mean, that's, you know, it's a lot to bet on in that regard.
15:02
[SPEAKER_00]: And I think you could definitely tell that texture wasn't a perfect fit in Dennis Allen system and I think this off season you could tell like that defensive tackle room now is
15:18
[SPEAKER_00]: It consists entirely of guys who have been added after Dennis Allen have been hired.
15:23
[SPEAKER_00]: So no carry over for me, but flew so anymore after Dexter got caught or traded rather after Billings left in free agency Zach Pickins getting cut last year.
15:33
[SPEAKER_00]: I kind of forgot that he existed not going to lie before I was just saying that.
15:38
[SPEAKER_00]: But yeah, I mean, and I'll, every single one of them, though, is under six foot four.
15:44
[SPEAKER_00]: James Lynch is the only defensive tackle, you know, he's six foot four.
15:48
[SPEAKER_00]: Everybody else is six vandenberg six three.
15:51
[SPEAKER_00]: Greatie Jared six one six two same with Neville Gallimore, Jayden loving.
15:58
[SPEAKER_00]: So it's very much a, they need lower to the ground, explosive defensive tackles who can stand their ground at the point of attack.
16:06
[SPEAKER_00]: Maybe they don't have as much length.
16:08
[SPEAKER_00]: The ability to lock out offensive tackles, but they really rely on that upfield penetration that the bears really didn't have last year.
16:15
[SPEAKER_00]: And
16:16
[SPEAKER_00]: With Dexter, I mean, him being as tall as he is, the pad level was always an issue.
16:20
[SPEAKER_00]: I mean, he's a tremendous raw athlete.
16:22
[SPEAKER_00]: He's a good pass-rusher, effective at getting at the quarterback.
16:25
[SPEAKER_00]: There's a lot of value for that in the NFL, just not a great scheme fit.
16:29
[SPEAKER_00]: So I'm with you.
16:32
[SPEAKER_00]: I think the touchdowns were else Smith real quick.
16:35
[SPEAKER_00]: I was surprised to see him get cut.
16:38
[SPEAKER_00]: And then eventually he ended up with the commander's practice squad.
16:41
[SPEAKER_00]: It's ultimately, you know, once,
16:43
[SPEAKER_00]: you get, you know, you clear waivers, you can sign wherever you want.
16:47
[SPEAKER_00]: I mean, I guess you just saw better opportunity there, which fair that commander's corner back room is kind of cheeks, but I do think like Smith.
16:56
[SPEAKER_00]: I liked what I saw in that final preseason game man.
16:59
[SPEAKER_00]: I thought that before we got hurt last year, the previous two seasons, he looked good as a backup.
17:04
[SPEAKER_00]: I was really surprised to see him get cut.
17:06
[SPEAKER_00]: So, you know, obviously though, wish him well, I do want to move into our predictions for this year.
17:14
[SPEAKER_00]: I know we've talked about the 53 man rosters a whole little bit about the defensive line.
17:21
[SPEAKER_00]: I guess, what are we thinking here?
17:23
[SPEAKER_00]: Like we're,
17:25
[SPEAKER_00]: I'm sure what like we can both agree that it's not going to be this absurd regression like over the top this team is going to be way worse than a lot of people are anticipating.
17:38
[SPEAKER_00]: I know you know they talk about the turnovers things like that.
17:44
[SPEAKER_00]: fair, but I think when you factor in continued offensive growth from key young players at some of the most important positions in football and another year of settling into tennis Allen C. Fence and having some of the pieces in place to be able to execute his defense.
17:59
[SPEAKER_00]: I still think this team's going to be competitive.
18:01
[SPEAKER_00]: I'm curious, Jacob.
18:03
[SPEAKER_00]: What's your record prediction going into this year?
18:05
[SPEAKER_00]: Because we've still got, as we're recording this, we've still got eight more days until the bears kick things off and week one against the Panthers.
18:13
[SPEAKER_00]: What's your mindset going into this week one match up as far as what the rest of the season's going to look like?
18:18
[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, you know, I was looking at this morning for in terms of like look ahead lines right the books will sports books will publish some lines way ahead of time.
18:28
[SPEAKER_01]: Not including a week 18, which they don't have up right now because there's a lot that goes on and we get 10 in terms of rescue players and so you know of the 16 games they posted.
18:37
[SPEAKER_01]: The bears are favorites in 12 of 16, yeah, four for four sports.
18:43
[SPEAKER_01]: So right now, I have them at 11 and six, certainly a lot of these ones that they're favored on are one and a half points, two points, three points.
18:52
[SPEAKER_01]: So you can't just purely go off of that, but there's not a lot of games that they're huge dogs in.
18:58
[SPEAKER_01]: They're largest underdog positioned would be weak eight at Seattle, they're five point dogs.
19:05
[SPEAKER_01]: I mean, that is less than a touchdown.
19:08
[SPEAKER_01]: It's, it's, it's, it's, it's sermountable.
19:10
[SPEAKER_01]: They, they could, and they could win that game.
19:11
[SPEAKER_01]: You know, it's a likely, you know, certainly, they just doesn't think so.
19:15
[SPEAKER_01]: But I, I think this is around the 11-win team.
19:18
[SPEAKER_01]: I think they're a playoff team.
19:20
[SPEAKER_01]: I think they can win the division.
19:21
[SPEAKER_01]: I think every team in the division is flawed in some ways.
19:25
[SPEAKER_01]: I probably lean the lions, you know, right now.
19:29
[SPEAKER_01]: But it could be a scenario where there's two 11 and 16s and just a heading on.
19:33
[SPEAKER_01]: on type record, traditional records, that's how they get in.
19:35
[SPEAKER_01]: So I'm seeing them as a playoff team around 11 and 6 would be my prediction right now.
19:43
[SPEAKER_00]: Yeah, I think that's it's definitely reasonable kind of like more or less in the same boat.
19:49
[SPEAKER_00]: I had the middle 11 and 6, but I do think that in the wake of Kobe Bryant's injury, I have some concerns about the safety tandem.
19:57
[SPEAKER_00]: Still a theme and I love the draft pick.
19:59
[SPEAKER_00]: I didn't expect he was going to be there at 25.
20:01
[SPEAKER_00]: I'm still surprised to this day that the Vikings passed on him like that's, you know, and there's some.
20:08
[SPEAKER_00]: worried some rumblings about Caleb Banks in training camp, so that makes me feel good about the bears locked out in that regard.
20:16
[SPEAKER_00]: They, you know, got a potential impact player at safety, but still he's a rookie, you know, it's difficult to anticipate, especially at safety where, you know, so much of it is
20:28
[SPEAKER_00]: you know quit it relies on quick processing because you can be fast but if you don't you know if you're split second to late in your diagnosis then you're not going to be in position to make a play on the ball to break up a passer to intercept anything in coverage.
20:41
[SPEAKER_00]: So I think Thineman you know there could be a slight learning curve and then obviously with Kobe Bryant hurt I'm a little bit worried about that.
20:51
[SPEAKER_00]: It anticipated to miss most of the season I think
20:57
[SPEAKER_00]: It's not a sure thing that he's going to miss the whole year, but I mean, he's going to miss most of it at the very least.
21:04
[SPEAKER_00]: So I have them at 10 and 7.
21:07
[SPEAKER_00]: I think that could still be enough to win the NFC North just because I think those teams are going to cannibalize each other at the end of the day.
21:15
[SPEAKER_00]: It's a really tough division, but I don't think that any one team is like far and away better than everybody else.
21:22
[SPEAKER_00]: I think the packers are going to be really good, but Mike Parsons isn't going to be playing for those first few weeks.
21:28
[SPEAKER_00]: I think the lions are going to be better than they were last year.
21:31
[SPEAKER_00]: They've got an incredible amount of raw talent, but that second area is really banged up, and Drew Petsing wasn't amazing as an offensive coordinator in Arizona, and then Minnesota.
21:42
[SPEAKER_00]: They went nine and eight with a Bismal quarterback play last year, but
21:47
[SPEAKER_00]: I don't know.
21:47
[SPEAKER_00]: I mean, we don't necessarily know what Kyla Murray's going to be in a new system.
21:51
[SPEAKER_00]: I wasn't amazing last year necessarily.
21:53
[SPEAKER_00]: So, a lot of questions in that regard.
21:57
[SPEAKER_00]: I guess I know you brought up like, you know, some of the games that are underdogs in.
22:04
[SPEAKER_00]: So, I'm going to, I'll put you on the spot here.
22:06
[SPEAKER_00]: You know, I'll, I'll, I'll put the pressure on you, whatever, but like all,
22:12
[SPEAKER_00]: What's one game that they're currently in underdog in that you think they have the best chance of winning and then conversely one game that they're a favorite in that you think could go the other way.
22:24
[SPEAKER_01]: So up.
22:26
[SPEAKER_01]: I actually think this Seattle game is interesting.
22:30
[SPEAKER_01]: The reason I'd say that is because Seattle is another team I think is likely to regress in a lot of ways.
22:34
[SPEAKER_01]: They're really efficient offensively last year and they did lose their offensive coordinator Clint Kubiak who is now with the Raiders.
22:41
[SPEAKER_01]: I think that matters getting to that a little bit in the fantasy section.
22:45
[SPEAKER_01]: So I think that's a game that could certainly see adults, it's a tough place to play, but they have, they have the, the offense that can challenge that defense and I think that's one.
22:54
[SPEAKER_01]: I don't like them as much like against Buffalo later this season.
22:57
[SPEAKER_01]: I think you can make argument for week five against the Packers, potentially, especially like like a person's isn't backers and a hundred percent.
23:06
[SPEAKER_01]: So I'd probably go either the Packers or Seattle, but I.
23:10
[SPEAKER_01]: I think that's how it will be very, very competitive.
23:15
[SPEAKER_01]: I think they could potentially win that one.
23:17
[SPEAKER_01]: In terms of like a little bit of a trap game,
23:21
[SPEAKER_01]: I would look at New Orleans in week 11.
23:24
[SPEAKER_01]: I think New Orleans is going to surprise people.
23:28
[SPEAKER_01]: I really like Helen Moore.
23:29
[SPEAKER_01]: I think Tyler Shock proved that he is at least serviceable.
23:32
[SPEAKER_01]: They come in with a much improved offs of line.
23:36
[SPEAKER_01]: Probably by then Jordan Tyson will be healthy and back.
23:38
[SPEAKER_01]: I really like a lot of they.
23:40
[SPEAKER_01]: I like John Johnson.
23:41
[SPEAKER_01]: They bring in traps CTN.
23:42
[SPEAKER_01]: I mean, I think the states team could.
23:46
[SPEAKER_01]: And maybe probably will, they certainly could win the NFC cell.
23:51
[SPEAKER_01]: And I think that's a game right now, six and a half point favorites that I don't feel great about.
23:57
[SPEAKER_00]: Yeah, that's a that's a good shout.
23:59
[SPEAKER_00]: I think and I'm glad you mentioned to that the Saints have a good good chance to win the NFC South because that's a team where When Tyler Schuck took the reins, they were five and four and they only had and then they had one win with Spencer atler and then lost all the rest of those games with ratler so
24:18
[SPEAKER_00]: obviously like once Chuck took over things were different.
24:21
[SPEAKER_00]: Like, and this is, it's still, like on paper, we were all going into last year like, oh, this Saints roster is terrible, you know, and Chuck and Kalen Moore, they were still able to get above 500 play in those final nine games of the year.
24:42
[SPEAKER_00]: That could be, that could be a tough team to watch.
24:45
[SPEAKER_00]: I'd say another one,
24:48
[SPEAKER_00]: maybe not so much for the caliber of the team, but just from a schedule perspective.
24:58
[SPEAKER_00]: I could see the bears week six match up against the falcons being a potential trap game.
25:05
[SPEAKER_00]: And the reason I say that is just looking at
25:08
[SPEAKER_00]: the teams that they're going to be playing around that.
25:10
[SPEAKER_00]: So week five, they're going too lambo field.
25:13
[SPEAKER_00]: Obviously, that's a very, you know, that's a key game.
25:16
[SPEAKER_00]: You want to be able to pick up that win on the road against your biggest rival.
25:20
[SPEAKER_00]: I mean, that's, you know, pretty high stakes.
25:23
[SPEAKER_00]: Week six is Atlanta though, but week seven, it's a short week.
25:26
[SPEAKER_00]: You have the Patriots on Thursday night football.
25:29
[SPEAKER_00]: And then the week after that, you have that Seahawks hitting the 99.
25:32
[SPEAKER_00]: So you have some,
25:36
[SPEAKER_00]: definitely, that's a really tough stretch of those four games.
25:40
[SPEAKER_00]: And I could see the Falcons, I mean, on paper, it's definitely the weakest of the four.
25:46
[SPEAKER_00]: But you can look at that and say,
25:49
[SPEAKER_00]: Maybe that's one that they overlook and I know Ben Johnson doesn't strike me as a head coach who's gonna underprepare for anybody But it happens in the NFL like even to some of the best teams in the league They lose the game.
26:03
[SPEAKER_00]: They're not supposed to and you know, they it's called a trap game for a reason So I think that's one.
26:09
[SPEAKER_00]: I mean, I don't have the line in front of me right now So I don't know what the
26:12
[SPEAKER_01]: that's currently at if you could share but yeah at Atlanta there I mean they're just three point favorites which I was yeah I mean a little surprise it's a road game yeah you know I understand like the whole I kind of look ahead that maybe they're two focused on Green Bay or New England I mean I just think Atlanta could be really bad especially if they run with two I don't believe they've named a starter yet or
26:36
[SPEAKER_01]: You know, even if it is to, I mean, actually, I think tier points by weeks except to as bad as we think he is, they could move over to to Pan X by then and, you know, maybe he actually gives them like a fighter's chance.
26:48
[SPEAKER_01]: So, yeah, I think that's that's not a terrible one.
26:52
[SPEAKER_01]: I just, I think it get, it get really bad Atlanta.
26:55
[SPEAKER_01]: The Browns didn't want to fancy he comes over there.
26:58
[SPEAKER_01]: They lose, I think both of there, they're for from pick edge rushers for this year.
27:03
[SPEAKER_01]: I don't know if pierces.
27:04
[SPEAKER_01]: Here's my Nami totally gone and there's some legal stuff with that.
27:07
[SPEAKER_01]: And then obviously the Jalan Walker injury.
27:10
[SPEAKER_01]: So yeah, I mean, I can see it, but I think this Atlanta team also could go sideways very, very quickly for sure.
27:17
[SPEAKER_00]: Yeah, I mean, indefinitely seeing what to it in the pre-season doesn't really help.
27:21
[SPEAKER_00]: I mean, it was very just very underwhelming.
27:25
[SPEAKER_00]: We're going to take a quick break for an ad read for the people who are listening audio only.
27:30
[SPEAKER_00]: Don't go anywhere.
27:31
[SPEAKER_00]: We're going to be right back with more bears for breakfast right after this.
27:37
[SPEAKER_00]: And we are back.
27:39
[SPEAKER_00]: I'm Jacob and Fonte alongside Jacob White.
27:41
[SPEAKER_00]: We're going to be
27:43
[SPEAKER_00]: continuing the debut episode of Bears for breakfast.
27:46
[SPEAKER_00]: Thank you all for everybody who's tuned in live on YouTube Kevin Copernal and the chat says if the defense can improve to the middle of the NFL This team will be really good.
27:56
[SPEAKER_00]: I have to believe with the second year of Dennis Allen system the defense will be better.
28:00
[SPEAKER_00]: I'd say 12 and 5
28:03
[SPEAKER_00]: and I'd be I'd certainly be very happy with that season in the grand scheme of things.
28:08
[SPEAKER_00]: I mean it's one more win than they had last year.
28:12
[SPEAKER_00]: It's probably enough to win the NFC North.
28:14
[SPEAKER_00]: I mean you never know.
28:15
[SPEAKER_00]: Maybe one of those other teams has a stellar year.
28:17
[SPEAKER_00]: But 12 and 5 is certainly going to be enough to make the playoffs.
28:22
[SPEAKER_00]: All things considered if this ends up like what would your thoughts be on a 12 and 5 season?
28:28
[SPEAKER_01]: I mean, yeah, it's a success.
28:30
[SPEAKER_01]: I think they're right now, maybe I don't think of it for me, but maybe nine and a half is there a win total or something on this sportsbook?
28:36
[SPEAKER_01]: So certainly a success.
28:38
[SPEAKER_01]: And obviously, there doesn't say anything about the playoffs.
28:42
[SPEAKER_01]: To Kevin's point, I do think,
28:44
[SPEAKER_01]: There is like a Dennis Allen effect, and I think he can coach up and skim up the defense to better than maybe what they are in talent.
28:52
[SPEAKER_01]: But, you know, if they're, I make it up, but like let's say we think they have, you know, the 25th of the 26th best roster defensively, you know, I think you could take them to maybe 16, 17, 18.
29:04
[SPEAKER_01]: What I don't think you could do is take them to top 10.
29:07
[SPEAKER_01]: Right.
29:07
[SPEAKER_01]: like there is coaching coaching can elevate.
29:09
[SPEAKER_01]: I don't think with the bodies they currently have they could ever be like a legit, you know, top 10 strong.
29:16
[SPEAKER_01]: You look a really strong defense, but yeah, I mean, could they could they be middle the road?
29:20
[SPEAKER_01]: Certainly it's possible.
29:22
[SPEAKER_01]: So yeah, 12 and 5 would be very, very happy with that results.
29:28
[SPEAKER_00]: Yeah, so last season they finished 23rd in the NFL and PFN defense impact scoring bottom six in the NFL against the run in particular.
29:36
[SPEAKER_00]: So that's going to be key to see how this team does and if they can't even get to that middle of the road, it's certainly possible.
29:46
[SPEAKER_00]: I'm with you in that I think that they don't have the bodies on the roster right now to have a top 10 defense.
29:52
[SPEAKER_00]: They could certainly be better than they were last year, but if they're going to really want to explode and have a tremendous defensive unit, it's going to have to come in the 2027 NFL draft.
30:04
[SPEAKER_00]: And that leads us into a perfectly done segue by me, yours truly into the 2027 NFL draft.
30:14
[SPEAKER_00]: In the second half of each of these shows, we're going to be each to be digging into our respective specialties, mind being the draft and Jacob being fantasy football.
30:25
[SPEAKER_00]: So I'm going to kick things off with a couple of my favorite defensive tackles in the 20 to 27 NFL draft.
30:32
[SPEAKER_00]: It's a very, very good class of the position.
30:35
[SPEAKER_00]: I currently have a, is upward to five guys that I think could make it in the first rounds.
30:41
[SPEAKER_00]: If you think back to 2026, the only two defensive tackles who made it in the first round this year, and that ended up being Caleb Banks, we mentioned earlier and Peter Woods by the chiefs late in the first round as well.
30:56
[SPEAKER_00]: My top five defensive tackles I'm going to do this in order a couple of them already played.
31:02
[SPEAKER_00]: We're recording this Saturday morning before the 11 a.m. Central stretch of games.
31:07
[SPEAKER_00]: So David Stone from Oklahoma is my first guy.
31:11
[SPEAKER_00]: Number one overall at defensive tackle top 10 player on my board.
31:17
[SPEAKER_00]: Really brings the explosiveness off the snap that you want in a three technique defensive tackle.
31:22
[SPEAKER_00]: I think he's capable is that his best when he's over the guard.
31:25
[SPEAKER_00]: So three tech he can play as a two tech as well.
31:28
[SPEAKER_00]: I think three tech might be a little bit of a better use of his.
31:32
[SPEAKER_00]: skill set because he really wins with speed and having that explosive first step to threaten the guards outside shoulder.
31:41
[SPEAKER_00]: I think he's really capable in that regard.
31:43
[SPEAKER_00]: Good spatial awareness against the run.
31:45
[SPEAKER_00]: He's got a strong lower half.
31:47
[SPEAKER_00]: He's squatty.
31:49
[SPEAKER_00]: He's not the biggest guy in the world.
31:50
[SPEAKER_00]: But again, like we talked about earlier, I think that plays into Dennis Allen's scheme.
31:57
[SPEAKER_00]: Definitely a three techie.
31:58
[SPEAKER_00]: You're not looking at him to be a true nose tackle.
32:00
[SPEAKER_00]: He's a decent at two gapping, you know, one directly lined up above the guard, but I think he's at his best when he's a shade over really good athlete, deep past rushing arsenal.
32:12
[SPEAKER_00]: I love what he brings to the table.
32:13
[SPEAKER_00]: Number two is a modern out of Miami and
32:17
[SPEAKER_00]: Spoiler alert.
32:17
[SPEAKER_00]: He's not the only Miami defensive tackle.
32:19
[SPEAKER_00]: I haven't my top five at the position.
32:21
[SPEAKER_00]: Moton is twitchy.
32:23
[SPEAKER_00]: Tenacious.
32:24
[SPEAKER_00]: He has a deep bag of tricks as a past rusher, you know, with how many different moves he can string together to sack and shed blocks.
32:30
[SPEAKER_00]: He stands as ground well through contact, just impressive raw power that he brings to the table.
32:36
[SPEAKER_00]: I think similar to Dr.
32:38
[SPEAKER_00]: Von Dexter, I mean, not in that, you know, like the size and the pad level being an issue, like Moton is definitely lower to the ground, better weight distribution than Dexter, but Miss Tackles are an issue with Moton 2.
32:49
[SPEAKER_00]: It is going into 2026.
32:51
[SPEAKER_00]: He has a Miss Tackle rate of 21.1.
32:54
[SPEAKER_00]: But I do think Moton is somebody who could thrive as a three tech.
32:58
[SPEAKER_00]: I like, you know, if you want to have them as a two tech, I like them a little bit better than stone in that regard, I think he's a little bit more powerful, but I, you know, and stones a little bit more explosive, but still Moton's a really good athlete would fit Chicago really well.
33:13
[SPEAKER_00]: Moving to defensive tackle three, Will Leckles from Ole Miss, he let all power four defensive tackles last year with 39 pressures, really good athlete.
33:24
[SPEAKER_00]: Again, another guy who has a deep past rushing arsenal, the finesse that he shows, the speed in his hand movements, the placement in his strikes,
33:34
[SPEAKER_00]: good gap awareness, the ability to understand whether running back, coming up as gap and to know how to free himself up to make a tackle and the run game is really impressive.
33:44
[SPEAKER_00]: Body control, I think, is something that needs to, he needs to work on, he has a tendency to pop a little upright in his pad, sometimes can be, you know, moved around through double teams a little bit too much.
33:55
[SPEAKER_00]: But I think he's a very, very high ceiling.
33:58
[SPEAKER_00]: Maybe a little bit lower floor than guys like Stone or Moton, but a lot to like here.
34:02
[SPEAKER_00]: And the final two of my top five, number four is a Mari Washington where he's a little bit more of, I mean, he has the athleticism of a three technique.
34:10
[SPEAKER_00]: But he has the playing style of a nose tackle or a one technique.
34:15
[SPEAKER_00]: I think he could thrive as a one tech because, you know, he's quick enough and he has impressive athletic testing that I think it's overlooked because he's so physical in the run game and he's got powerful hands, bag of tricks as a past rusher is a little bit thin though.
34:31
[SPEAKER_00]: So, and I'll close things out with Justin Scott from Miami being the last guy in my top five and keep in mind Ryan Polls, the Bears General Manager was in my was he was in
34:45
[SPEAKER_00]: I'm friday watching the Miami stand for game and definitely that those Miami defensive tackles were worth considering just in Scott is a local Chicago prospect Just a freak athlete.
34:57
[SPEAKER_00]: I know I've said I've touted the athleticism of a lot of these guys Scott might have the best
35:03
[SPEAKER_00]: raw athletic talent of the bunch.
35:06
[SPEAKER_00]: He's agile.
35:07
[SPEAKER_00]: He can move or he can chase down quarterbacks in pursuit.
35:09
[SPEAKER_00]: He's agile on stunts.
35:10
[SPEAKER_00]: He's got powerful hands.
35:12
[SPEAKER_00]: He can, you know, he can not guys back at the point of attack.
35:15
[SPEAKER_00]: I think his hand usage, his arsenal as a past rusher definitely a work in progress.
35:22
[SPEAKER_00]: His counter game needs a lot of work, but very high ceiling.
35:25
[SPEAKER_00]: Those are my top five defensive
35:29
[SPEAKER_00]: I'll turn it over to you if you have any questions on that.
35:32
[SPEAKER_00]: I think that obviously defensive tackles a big need for the Bears.
35:36
[SPEAKER_00]: You and I can both agree, but how different do you think this defensive tackled group is going to look talking about the Bears from 2026 to 2027?
35:49
[SPEAKER_01]: I mean, it should be quite different.
35:51
[SPEAKER_01]: You have you brought in street and galamore off the street, both believe on one-year contracts.
35:58
[SPEAKER_01]: So maybe you could return.
36:02
[SPEAKER_01]: In terms of just trying to free up cap, I could see it in getting rid of Grady Jarrett next year.
36:08
[SPEAKER_01]: And then, I mean, so those are right as it stands right now on your top three options.
36:12
[SPEAKER_01]: I think it's quite likely none of them or certainly possible none of them are on the roster next year.
36:18
[SPEAKER_01]: So certainly would be interested in one of these guys playing the blue and orange next year as we're going to need it.
36:26
[SPEAKER_00]: Yeah, I mean, I swear, and like, I mean, the bears are in a good place and we can both agree on that and we went, and whenever any of us, you know, whether it's the two of us or any of us at second city gridiron, if we criticize the team in any way, like leading up to the season, it's not being too mercilum, like, oh, you know, Ryan polls is a
36:49
[SPEAKER_00]: the worst general manager of the NFL, the bearers have a terrible roster like you know we're not it's not a doom and gloom situation because there's nothing it's nothing to be entirely pessimistic about but I think
37:04
[SPEAKER_00]: no general manager is above criticism, and I think that the big criticism with polls, at least had to have this current roster pertains is the defensive line remains a massive weakness, and it has basically pulsed entire time as the general manager there.
37:20
[SPEAKER_00]: So,
37:22
[SPEAKER_00]: The excuses are running out, you know, for him to address the defensive line in 2027, it's a really good defensive tackle class.
37:30
[SPEAKER_00]: I like the edge group as well.
37:32
[SPEAKER_00]: We'll make sure to dig into that into a future episode of Bears for breakfast, but I want to turn it over to you now to let's get into the fantasy side of things.
37:46
[SPEAKER_00]: What's your year looking like this year?
37:47
[SPEAKER_00]: Because I know you're involved in a ton of different leagues.
37:50
[SPEAKER_00]: You've got a lot, you know, your eyes on a lot of different players.
37:56
[SPEAKER_00]: Just fire away.
37:57
[SPEAKER_00]: Whatever you want to bring up, this is your platform to just discuss.
38:03
[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, so really quickly, from a high level, just kind of recapping, drafting is not quite done.
38:09
[SPEAKER_01]: I have, for sure, one more draft this weekend, back home, and then maybe I'll do another high stakes one, I don't know.
38:16
[SPEAKER_01]: But as it stands right now, I have drafted 68 teams, 59 draft Kings, Bestball, 7 on Underdog, Bestball, and then a couple of work, slash friends, slash family, weeks.
38:29
[SPEAKER_01]: Now, you know, that of the 68, you know, as it stands 66 of them are best ball.
38:35
[SPEAKER_01]: So for those of you that are not, you know, familiar with the best ball, you simply draft a team, you know, draft kings, it's 20 rounds underdog 18 rounds.
38:44
[SPEAKER_01]: And then every week, it slots in your high scoring player.
38:47
[SPEAKER_01]: So no, I'm not actually doing waivers, you know, for 60 something odd teams.
38:53
[SPEAKER_00]: Yeah.
38:54
[SPEAKER_01]: You know, I'd probably given the state of my personal life, you know, probably wouldn't have the time to do waiver.
39:00
[SPEAKER_01]: But yeah, that's not interesting.
39:01
[SPEAKER_01]: So yeah, Dress a lot of teams dressed a lot of players.
39:04
[SPEAKER_01]: So kind of wanted to get into some of the guys.
39:07
[SPEAKER_01]: I have the most of and the least of.
39:10
[SPEAKER_01]: And we'll go position by position.
39:12
[SPEAKER_01]: So a quarter back.
39:14
[SPEAKER_01]: I've taken a ton of Jane Daniels, 22% he's on 22% of my draft king's basketball teams.
39:21
[SPEAKER_01]: certainly miss and bear sands will take issue with that given kind of the
39:25
[SPEAKER_01]: You know, back Caleb's rookie year, there's a lot of like, oh, they made the wrong decision, not going Daniels.
39:31
[SPEAKER_01]: You know, I don't think, I think for right now, it seems like maybe they did go with the right decision going Caleb.
39:37
[SPEAKER_01]: But I do think there's a really strong chance Jane Daniels returned to the form that we saw him back in his rookie year.
39:45
[SPEAKER_01]: The commanders don't set up as being like a particularly good team.
39:48
[SPEAKER_01]: So I think, you know, they're going to be playing from behind a lot.
39:50
[SPEAKER_01]: I could see a lot of shootouts.
39:52
[SPEAKER_01]: They're going to run their offense through him and I think getting rid of Cliff King's Barry is important.
39:58
[SPEAKER_01]: I don't think he was maybe the best offensive coordinator.
40:02
[SPEAKER_01]: So I'm curious to see what their offense could look like without him.
40:05
[SPEAKER_01]: And I'm very interested in what kind of Jane Daniels could do this season fully healthy.
40:10
[SPEAKER_00]: Yeah, I mean, I think.
40:13
[SPEAKER_00]: Like, what everyone anticipated would happen with Cliff King's Barry ended up happening because it happened with the Cardinals.
40:21
[SPEAKER_00]: It happened at Texas Tech where it gets off to a really hot start.
40:26
[SPEAKER_00]: Things look really, really good.
40:28
[SPEAKER_00]: And then eventually people figure him out and defenses are able to adjust.
40:34
[SPEAKER_00]: They have an extra year to
40:36
[SPEAKER_00]: Solve that it solve those issues and then he doesn't have an answered for it and then naturally now the commander's have a new OC so Daniel's though I think a lot of people tend to sleep on him because they look at last year where he missed a lot of games due to injury and even when he did play he didn't necessarily live up to expectations
41:00
[SPEAKER_00]: What about running backs?
41:01
[SPEAKER_00]: I guess I know that everybody in fantasy so many different people have different approaches, whether it's the zero running back or going running back early.
41:11
[SPEAKER_00]: I for one.
41:14
[SPEAKER_00]: I've been going running back pretty early, I did a draft the other day where I ended up with both Christian McAfrey and Derek Henry when my first two picks in a ten-man, which I feel good about, but I mean with McAfrey it's like, every other year he explodes and his ACL gets turned into barbecue chicken so you never really, you know.
41:39
[SPEAKER_00]: big risk there, but what about running backs?
41:41
[SPEAKER_00]: Who are you putting the flag down on that position this year?
41:48
[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, so I'm with you, my preference would be to go hitting running back early for sure one in the first three rounds, but ideally two, if I can, I do think it's important that every draft, it's fine to come in with strategy, especially if it's like if it's the only league you do, if it's maybe the most expensive league, the league that means the most to you,
42:09
[SPEAKER_01]: It is so important to stay flexible and understand that sometimes a guy you thought was going to be there won't.
42:15
[SPEAKER_01]: You got to pivot or perhaps a guy you didn't think was going to be there false to you.
42:19
[SPEAKER_01]: So it's really important to kind of have an idea.
42:23
[SPEAKER_01]: but also be willing to be flexible, and also realizing what picks you make early on, how does that impact further down the board?
42:30
[SPEAKER_01]: If I take warning back early, is it because I like the receivers later?
42:34
[SPEAKER_01]: For me, that's the case.
42:35
[SPEAKER_01]: I like a lot of the receivers, rounds three, four, five, six, seven, whereas maybe I don't like the runny bats as much there.
42:42
[SPEAKER_01]: So I've been going running back a lot, specifically early on, I've taken a good bit of Kenneth Walker,
42:49
[SPEAKER_01]: Right now, he's on 17% of my draft Kings basketball teams, which is pretty high.
42:56
[SPEAKER_01]: Usually, your first couple rounds, you don't want to get too much above what you'd call like the average exposure, which is if you're just picking every player evenly would be about 8%.
43:05
[SPEAKER_01]: So, you know, I have about double of him at then maybe the average person, but I think it's fine, especially on leagues like, you know, ESPN, I mean, please, please, if you're still drafting, if you've got draft coming out on ESPN,
43:16
[SPEAKER_01]: He's like ranked something crazy, like I think 28th last I checked, you know, I had him at like 12th or 13th in my rank.
43:22
[SPEAKER_00]: Yeah.
43:23
[SPEAKER_01]: I'm taking him above guys like, you know, say Juan Barclay, Chase Brown, Derek Henry, Hampton.
43:30
[SPEAKER_01]: I really like him.
43:31
[SPEAKER_01]: I think, you know, maybe getting some of the ball no or stuff, but I believe, you know, the chiefs get a lot of these two high looks.
43:37
[SPEAKER_01]: uh... he's not going to face a ton of stack boxes they haven't had a good running back in a while uh... it isn't any read off it's like i think it just sets up for for kenth walker you got absolutely nuts this season
43:48
[SPEAKER_00]: I like that shout and the chief you think about the chief's offense over the years and obviously last year things didn't necessarily live up to par part of that was mom's getting hurt but part of that was just the run game was not existed I mean it's Isaiah Pacheco and Kareem Hunt I mean the ghost of Kareem Hunt in the year of our Lord 2025 last year you got a trial for the chief's running back last year I did yeah yeah yeah I just missed the cut
44:18
[SPEAKER_00]: five, five, four, maybe 40-yard dash was, it was fast enough compared to what they had in the running back room.
44:25
[SPEAKER_01]: But if they had a jet's pizza at the end of the line, you would run a little bit faster now.
44:29
[SPEAKER_00]: Absolutely.
44:30
[SPEAKER_00]: Absolutely.
44:31
[SPEAKER_00]: So that's a good shout.
44:33
[SPEAKER_00]: If jet's pizza is out there, I know that some Chicago, some Chicagoans are going to be, uh,
44:39
[SPEAKER_00]: up and arms over this jet's pizza is my favorite like national wide chain when I lived in St. Louis for a little bit.
44:47
[SPEAKER_00]: I would get a lot of jets and I got really fat and it was every once in a while I still treat myself to jets so jets if you're out there please sponsor me.
44:59
[SPEAKER_00]: But anyway, I
45:02
[SPEAKER_00]: So, Jack's Pizza aside, who are some, I guess, we'll go to past catchers specifically and then I want to hear a little bit of the fades that you have as well before we wrap things up for the show.
45:14
[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, so from the past catchers standpoint, I have taken quite a bit of jail and water around the rounds three and a four.
45:22
[SPEAKER_01]: I just think the upside there is massive with the Bronco's offense, not really having any other past catchers behind him.
45:30
[SPEAKER_01]: I like Pat Ryan.
45:31
[SPEAKER_01]: I've actually taken a good bit of him further down the board.
45:34
[SPEAKER_01]: I think Sutton is kind of kind of what he is.
45:37
[SPEAKER_01]: They don't really, I think Evan Ingram is maybe still their titan one.
45:40
[SPEAKER_01]: I mean,
45:44
[SPEAKER_01]: I mix is probably only going to get better.
45:46
[SPEAKER_01]: They have, I believe, probably the NFL's best offensive line.
45:50
[SPEAKER_01]: I just think it sets up really cleanly in an offense coach by Sean Hate, right?
45:56
[SPEAKER_01]: Like I think it just sets up for him to have a big season.
45:59
[SPEAKER_01]: And certainly,
46:00
[SPEAKER_01]: You know, when you're thinking about fantasy, you have to think both in terms of like what's the meeting outcome, what's what's the ceiling, what's the floor.
46:06
[SPEAKER_01]: I think he has a high ceiling.
46:07
[SPEAKER_01]: I think his meeting outcome is very strong as the watershed for one for a good team to get off ends.
46:12
[SPEAKER_01]: And then I just don't see like him bottoming out in terms of like besides injury.
46:17
[SPEAKER_01]: I just don't see how it goes like super poorly for Jayden Wattled.
46:20
[SPEAKER_01]: Who was viewed as, you know, and shouldn't still be viewed as a premiere in a fall town, you know, in a lot of ways.
46:25
[SPEAKER_00]: Yeah.
46:27
[SPEAKER_00]: It's going to be intriguing to see how the size and physicality of Sutton and the speed of water play off each other.
46:33
[SPEAKER_00]: I mean, I don't know about you.
46:35
[SPEAKER_00]: I think I have the Broncos winning the AFC this year.
46:38
[SPEAKER_00]: I think that's a, that was a team last year.
46:40
[SPEAKER_00]: They were a bonus injury away for beating the Patriots and winning the AFC last year.
46:47
[SPEAKER_00]: And you bring in Jalen water now is another dynamic addition to your offense.
46:51
[SPEAKER_00]: That's going to be a really fun group with Sean Payton
46:57
[SPEAKER_00]: What are it?
46:57
[SPEAKER_00]: So let's talk about fades real quick.
46:59
[SPEAKER_00]: So I understand there are two running backs.
47:02
[SPEAKER_00]: I mean, in all the leaves that you're in, that you don't have in any of them.
47:07
[SPEAKER_00]: And I'll let you discuss who those two guys are because they're both starting NFL running backs.
47:13
[SPEAKER_00]: So it's, you know, a little bit interesting to see that, you know, they're, they don't have any appearances in here.
47:18
[SPEAKER_00]: Nice voice crackity at Bible.
47:19
[SPEAKER_01]: Well done.
47:20
[SPEAKER_01]: That was good.
47:22
[SPEAKER_01]: Uh, yes, so for sure.
47:25
[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah.
47:26
[SPEAKER_01]: I'll be honest, like it's probably a little bit of a mistake to have zero of any players, especially like starting running backs.
47:33
[SPEAKER_01]: Like maybe it's a spot I look back.
47:34
[SPEAKER_01]: I'm like, I wish I had a little bit more of, but especially in these like draft King's underdog, these best ball, they're, they're, they're a lot of returnments, right?
47:43
[SPEAKER_01]: So you're not, you're not just trying to beat the 11 other people in your lead.
47:46
[SPEAKER_01]: You're trying to beat.
47:47
[SPEAKER_01]: you know, the winners of every other league and the winners of your pot.
47:50
[SPEAKER_01]: And I mean, some of these contests have hundreds of thousands of teams, right?
47:54
[SPEAKER_01]: So I am really looking in terms of ceiling, and I don't really see the ceiling on David Montgomery and Tony Pollard.
48:03
[SPEAKER_01]: I mean, Montgomery, I obviously love music bear.
48:06
[SPEAKER_01]: I like to, on the lions.
48:08
[SPEAKER_01]: I think Woody Marx will push for snaps and opportunities.
48:11
[SPEAKER_01]: I think the way that they're going to want to play football are the Texans.
48:16
[SPEAKER_01]: They're going to want it to be low score.
48:17
[SPEAKER_01]: They're going to want it to be a defensive battle.
48:19
[SPEAKER_01]: Like, they want to win games in 19 to 17.
48:22
[SPEAKER_01]: They don't want to be in shootouts because they don't have the offense to keep up with that.
48:26
[SPEAKER_01]: So, I mean, if you want to draft Montgomery, I think he's better in kind of the redraft home-week styles where I have a guy that is going to get me 60 yards, maybe a touchdown, maybe a couple of catches, but I just don't really see the ceiling on him, and I'm much prefer getting a guy like maybe James and Williams or Tara McLaren or Luther Bird if he's still there in that range.
48:48
[SPEAKER_01]: And that's not something to think about, is you're not just saying, what do I think about this player?
48:52
[SPEAKER_01]: It's what do I think about this player in comparison to the guys that go around him?
48:56
[SPEAKER_01]: And I just don't think there's enough of the ceiling on Montgomery.
48:59
[SPEAKER_01]: Same goes with Pollard.
49:00
[SPEAKER_01]: Titans have perhaps the NFL's worst offensive line, and they're certainly live through the NFL's worst team.
49:07
[SPEAKER_01]: So unlike past catchers, which you can get really good past catchers on bad teams, it's not the same with running back.
49:13
[SPEAKER_01]: So I want to target running back on good teams.
49:15
[SPEAKER_01]: And which, yeah, again, the Texans could be a good team, but they're not going to be high scoring.
49:19
[SPEAKER_01]: So these are two guys that aren't supreme talents.
49:22
[SPEAKER_01]: They're not on great offences.
49:24
[SPEAKER_01]: And I just don't see the ceiling case in a format like Bestball where I really need ceiling.
49:32
[SPEAKER_00]: I mean, it's reasonable.
49:33
[SPEAKER_01]: You have to veteran running back.
49:35
[SPEAKER_00]: So it's like, you know what they are at this point, uh, then they're decent.
49:38
[SPEAKER_00]: They'll put up decent numbers for you, but you, uh, exactly like you said, there's not much ceiling when Tony Pollard has been what he is where, you know, he's gotten he's had over a thousand rushing yards each the last four years, but he, he's barely eclipse a thousand rushing yards in each of those years.
49:57
[SPEAKER_00]: Like he hasn't had more than,
50:00
[SPEAKER_00]: 1100 rushing yards like barely reaching a thousand, and that's fine, but the touchdown total isn't going to be incredibly high.
50:08
[SPEAKER_00]: You're still fighting, you know, from a PPR reception perspective, fighting with Tajay Spears in that regard.
50:15
[SPEAKER_00]: And then Montgomery, you know, he's good, he's very fun to watch, but is what he is.
50:22
[SPEAKER_00]: One more fade, I'll turn it to you for one more fade, and then we have a,
50:28
[SPEAKER_00]: We've a question from Twitter that I wanted to bring in before we wrap up the show, but who's another player in fantasy that you're maybe a little bit lower on than the consensus.
50:41
[SPEAKER_01]: Again, it's going to be a tough look on this podcast, but I really have not drafted hardly any Caleb Williams.
50:49
[SPEAKER_00]: Oh, I know.
50:51
[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, right now it stands at 3%.
50:53
[SPEAKER_01]: And again, this is where another fantasy lesson.
50:56
[SPEAKER_01]: I was told it was a very young age.
50:58
[SPEAKER_01]: There are no fans in fantasy football.
51:01
[SPEAKER_01]: You know, if you want to try and be competitive, you have to set aside your team biases.
51:05
[SPEAKER_01]: It's not easy, you know, but
51:07
[SPEAKER_01]: The issue with Caleb is that right now on draft Kings he is going before guys like Jaden Daniels and Jalen Hertz who to me have a significantly higher rushing ceiling than Caleb.
51:20
[SPEAKER_01]: Not that Caleb isn't a good rusher but that's not what Ben Johnson wants to highlight in this offense.
51:24
[SPEAKER_01]: He wants Williams to rush and get creative when needed but she's not going to
51:29
[SPEAKER_01]: have all the design runs will kill up that guys that like hurts and Daniels will.
51:33
[SPEAKER_01]: So in fantasy where rushing is worth more than passing, killed, we think he will, he has not thrown for 4,000 yards yet.
51:42
[SPEAKER_01]: I like him, but it's hard for me to pick him over guys with with
51:47
[SPEAKER_01]: Maybe not as high of a passing ceiling, but to me like pretty easily higher rushing ceilings, and that's just where a lot of the points are.
51:55
[SPEAKER_01]: Joe and Hertz, with the touch push and stuff, he can rush for 15 touchdowns, right?
51:59
[SPEAKER_01]: Killed Killed can't do that.
52:01
[SPEAKER_01]: Joe and Daniels, Jane Daniels can approach 1,000 rushing yards with a 8 to 10 touchdowns.
52:07
[SPEAKER_01]: killed can't do that.
52:08
[SPEAKER_01]: So I don't think he's a bad pick, but again, in the context of who's going around him, it's really hard for me to take a guy that just isn't going to run that much.
52:16
[SPEAKER_01]: Now, he might shove it down my face if Ben Johnson does get his desire, you know, high scoring offensive all time, but there's certainly a lot of projection in that and it's just tough for me to see it right now.
52:28
[SPEAKER_00]: Yeah, I mean, he mentioned putting aside your biases.
52:31
[SPEAKER_00]: I remember the first time I ever played fantasy football is 2010, I drafted Jay Cutler in the second round when he was on the Bears and he was like a, he was like, QB 15 and I took him in the second round because I'm like, oh, he's the Bears quarterback.
52:49
[SPEAKER_00]: I want to have them on my roster.
52:52
[SPEAKER_00]: miraculously I finished 500 and I didn't just absolutely tank that season, but I mean, it's real, you know, like it's nice to from a from a fandom perspective to have the the coinciding interests of, oh, I have, you know,
53:11
[SPEAKER_00]: Kyle Manungai on my team and you know, he just scored a touchdown for my favorite for the bears and for my fantasy team like I'm riding high right now, but sometimes you got to make the tough decisions and you know.
53:25
[SPEAKER_00]: straight away from certain players on your team, and certain value.
53:29
[SPEAKER_00]: So I can't fall at you necessarily, they're one bit.
53:33
[SPEAKER_00]: I mean, I don't know about you.
53:34
[SPEAKER_01]: I'm trying to win my least, you know?
53:36
[SPEAKER_01]: Like, people are out here, they're trying to have fun.
53:40
[SPEAKER_01]: I like this guy, he's on the bears, whatever it is.
53:44
[SPEAKER_01]: I don't care, you know, take no prisoners.
53:48
[SPEAKER_01]: I have fun if you can, but I want to win.
53:50
[SPEAKER_01]: So that's my strategy.
53:53
[SPEAKER_00]: Exactly.
53:54
[SPEAKER_00]: Like I don't do fantasy for fun.
53:56
[SPEAKER_00]: I don't do it to be happy.
53:57
[SPEAKER_00]: I haven't been happy in like 10 years.
53:59
[SPEAKER_01]: So I mean, we're clearly, you know, yeah, I think that goes the same here for for sure that was part of the pitch was let's just get to really depressed Gen Z people on here to talk about what is hopefully not a depressing football team anymore.
54:14
[SPEAKER_01]: I has the most of our lives.
54:16
[SPEAKER_00]: I hope that the bears can feel the giant hole that is gaping in our hearts with good football and then for a few months we can feel we can feel love
54:32
[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, I mean, I don't know about you.
54:35
[SPEAKER_01]: I'm not planning on touching any pieces, any blades of grass, you know, the next four months, I mean, it's awful, it's awful, well, the time, you know, the summers for getting outside, you know, it's, it's time to grind now.
54:47
[SPEAKER_00]: Absolutely.
54:48
[SPEAKER_00]: Yes, Sunday.
54:49
[SPEAKER_00]: I'm once NFL season comes around.
54:52
[SPEAKER_00]: I'm not leaving my couch.
54:54
[SPEAKER_00]: Once new hits, you know, get whatever I need to in the morning, noon until 10 o'clock.
55:01
[SPEAKER_00]: I'm not leaving that couch.
55:03
[SPEAKER_00]: Even to go to the bathroom.
55:04
[SPEAKER_00]: I'm doing it all on my couch.
55:06
[SPEAKER_01]: No, you're going to go full Peter Griffin.
55:08
[SPEAKER_01]: You have seen the episode where he like literally becomes one with the couch.
55:12
[SPEAKER_01]: Yes.
55:12
[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah.
55:13
[SPEAKER_01]: That is that is.
55:15
[SPEAKER_01]: That is the north star for this football season.
55:17
[SPEAKER_01]: Become absolutely with you at the couch.
55:21
[SPEAKER_00]: Either that or I'm just going to become like that one another family guy seen it's where Quagmire morphs into the toilet that one that one just I don't know what it is but that lives there's an edit of that scene from family guy where like they're drunk and you know hallucinating and Quagmire turns into a toilet and there's paralyzed her by finger
55:51
[SPEAKER_00]: I don't know.
55:52
[SPEAKER_00]: That's all that's in my head now.
55:54
[SPEAKER_00]: We have one more question to address before we sign off Benjamin.
55:59
[SPEAKER_00]: So at Bhead R75, tweeted as, what do you expect the defensive tackle rotation to be like when Schumart Turner eventually returns from the PUP list, potential for him to switch to edge full time?
56:11
[SPEAKER_00]: So I will say that Turner is
56:17
[SPEAKER_00]: like polls has indicated that Turner is going to be a defense event.
56:21
[SPEAKER_00]: Right.
56:21
[SPEAKER_00]: And in this in this particular defense defense event is off the edge.
56:26
[SPEAKER_00]: And
56:28
[SPEAKER_00]: I think there's going to be some interior outside flexibility with Turner and with a couple other guys.
56:35
[SPEAKER_00]: I mean, we saw a dangboat take a couple snaps at defensive tackle in the preseason.
56:40
[SPEAKER_00]: We saw James Lynch split reps between defensive tackle and defensive end.
56:44
[SPEAKER_00]: I think that's a big reason that he made the team is that flexibility.
56:48
[SPEAKER_00]: I expect some of that to be seen with Turner as well, but for the most part, I expect him off the edge.
56:54
[SPEAKER_00]: defensive tackle, mostly, you know, gritty Jared's going to be a starter.
56:59
[SPEAKER_00]: I might end up being, I mean, there's talk of Kentavius Street being a starter, which I, I don't feel great about.
57:08
[SPEAKER_00]: I mean, he's been a backup everywhere, and he's been just an all right backup, but I guess he's starting for us, sweet.
57:17
[SPEAKER_00]: I expect to see more of Andy Berg as the year progresses.
57:21
[SPEAKER_00]: But I guess, you know, the last thing I'll ask you here before we sign off is Jacob, do you think that like, do you think Turner's would be better?
57:33
[SPEAKER_00]: It would be more beneficial for this defensive Turner was it became a better defensive tackle or better defensive end.
57:42
[SPEAKER_01]: Oh, I mean, right now, again, I know Ben Johnson thinks that this interior defensive group is so deep,
57:50
[SPEAKER_01]: with Dexter on the roster.
57:52
[SPEAKER_01]: Dexter is not on the roster anymore.
57:55
[SPEAKER_01]: I think from an impact perspective.
57:59
[SPEAKER_01]: I probably would prefer him at defensive tackle just because, I mean, right now, yeah, your do tackle three is what it's, it's gal more straight.
58:08
[SPEAKER_01]: First year defensive end three would be like Booker or Dio, you know, so I actually do think.
58:15
[SPEAKER_01]: Now, like you said, I think he's probably an edge.
58:17
[SPEAKER_01]: The last we saw him when he was healthy, he was an edge.
58:21
[SPEAKER_01]: If you can provide you that flexibility that's great, you know my concern is like you want there's difference between positionless and without a position right and so put him where he's best you know
58:34
[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, I don't know if he's a kind of talent where you're like, oh, the sky is good.
58:37
[SPEAKER_01]: And he can play multiple spots.
58:38
[SPEAKER_01]: Maybe he is.
58:39
[SPEAKER_01]: We haven't really seen enough of him.
58:41
[SPEAKER_01]: But, you know, if it was up to me, you know, if I was coaching the bears, which would be a horrific idea.
58:46
[SPEAKER_01]: But if I, if I was probably a good defensive tackle for him this year.
58:53
[SPEAKER_00]: That's a reasonable one.
58:54
[SPEAKER_00]: I, I'm kind of in the same boat.
58:56
[SPEAKER_00]: I think defensive tackles the bigger need for the bears this year.
59:00
[SPEAKER_00]: We'll just have to wait and see though.
59:01
[SPEAKER_00]: So next week, we're going to be back at you again, 10 a.m. central life on the second city grid on YouTube channel or you can continue to follow along with us on wherever you get your podcast, Spotify, Apple, what have you.
59:18
[SPEAKER_00]: Thank you guys for tuning in to the debut edition of Bears for breakfast.
59:22
[SPEAKER_00]: This has been a lot of fun and I appreciate the people who tuned in live and if you're listening to this after the fact thank you for sticking with us for the whole show.
59:32
[SPEAKER_00]: Any parting words of wisdom, I'm going to put you on the spot, it doesn't have to be, it doesn't have to be football, it doesn't have to be bears.
59:43
[SPEAKER_00]: I usually just go with a Chinese proverb to close things out, but if you don't have any of those handy, any tips or advice for the people out there in the internet space this week.
59:58
[SPEAKER_00]: Yeah.
59:59
[SPEAKER_01]: You know, I don't know how many people that are actually watching this do have have girlfriends or wives, but if you do a final reminder that the shootbook is on Valentine's Day this year, you know, before we get to into the season and, you know, you're so interested in, you know, what, what are the games going to look like?
1:00:18
[SPEAKER_01]: What is my bank or look like?
1:00:20
[SPEAKER_01]: What's going on in the draft?
1:00:21
[SPEAKER_01]: Remember, for those of you, again, not us, obviously, but not us, yes.
1:00:25
[UNKNOWN]: But,
1:00:25
[SPEAKER_01]: Those of you that that too have a special woman in your life, please be prepared for the Super Bowl being on Valentine's Day.
1:00:32
[SPEAKER_01]: That is my word of advice to you.
1:00:35
[SPEAKER_00]: Well, there you go.
1:00:36
[SPEAKER_00]: There are going to be a lot of fights this year on Valentine's Day and we won't have to worry about them.
1:00:43
[SPEAKER_00]: I'll drink to that.
1:00:44
[SPEAKER_00]: I'll drink to that.
1:00:45
[SPEAKER_00]: Yeah, thank you guys for tuning in for Jacob White.
1:00:49
[SPEAKER_00]: I've been Jacob in Fonte.
1:00:50
[SPEAKER_00]: I'm going to continue to be Jacob in Fonte probably.
1:00:54
[SPEAKER_00]: Thank you guys for tuning in to the first edition of Bears for breakfast.
1:00:58
[SPEAKER_00]: We'll see you guys next week.