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Making Monsters: Previewing the 2026 Season with Jerry Azumah · 2nd City Gridiron

0:15
[SPEAKER_02]: Our welcome back to another episode of Making Monsters Taylor doll here joined today by Jerry Azuma.
0:20
[SPEAKER_02]: You know him former defensive back for the Chicago Bears and Return Specialist can't leave that part out.
0:24
[SPEAKER_02]: Jerry, thank you for coming on and chatting some bears with us as we get ready.
0:28
[SPEAKER_02]: Yeah, not too far away.
0:30
[SPEAKER_00]: Fantastic.
0:30
[SPEAKER_00]: Thanks for having me.
0:31
[SPEAKER_00]: I really appreciate it.
0:32
[SPEAKER_02]: Of course.
0:32
[SPEAKER_02]: I want to start a little bit.
0:34
[SPEAKER_02]: There's fun little notes.
0:35
[SPEAKER_02]: A couple of years ago, I had Cory Wu not in the off season and we talked about obviously like the fun little note of him being the last person to ever sack Brett Farve for you.
0:45
[SPEAKER_02]: We're just fun thing to talk about Chicago Bear.
0:48
[SPEAKER_02]: But you were the last person to ever score in the old soldier field, which I think is cool too.
0:53
[SPEAKER_02]: It wasn't the bears in it win that game, but it's a little edged in history for you and that moment of being able to get that pic six off of it,
1:01
[SPEAKER_00]: It's actually funny that you said that about two weeks ago, I was saying, but Dinah's golf club for Ace Hardware's celebrity golf tournament, and I was sponsored.
1:11
[SPEAKER_00]: The celebrity headliner was Donovan McNab.
1:14
[SPEAKER_00]: So we were actually golfing a little bit together.
1:17
[SPEAKER_00]: And he actually brought that up.
1:18
[SPEAKER_00]: He was like, I'm still a mad at you that you picked me off in score.
1:21
[SPEAKER_00]: That touchdown would be the last person in score.
1:23
[SPEAKER_00]: It's our stand-up.
1:24
[SPEAKER_00]: Oh, so it's your field.
1:25
[SPEAKER_00]: So we had a nice little laugh about that.
1:26
[SPEAKER_02]: That's fun.
1:27
[SPEAKER_02]: And with the new all the stadium stuff going on right now, you kind of it's it's relevant in that world of where the bears will play next and that's for different time, but I want I want to start a little bit Jerry would just kind of the that position you going from playing running back in college and then switching over to the defensive back position.
1:45
[SPEAKER_02]: We already talk about
1:47
[SPEAKER_02]: difficult it is for players to go from playing DB and college to that next level and you did that position change for it.
1:54
[SPEAKER_02]: So for you, what was the most difficult part about that and just kind of that transforming into the defensive back at the NFL level?
2:01
[SPEAKER_00]: Yeah, um, it was a very interesting time period in my life, um, and why?
2:06
[SPEAKER_00]: By the way, well, being a collegiate running back.
2:08
[SPEAKER_00]: I mean, my whole life, I was a running back and I saw football from the running back point of view.
2:14
[SPEAKER_00]: And then, um, you know, I went to the combine as a running back and did pretty well.
2:18
[SPEAKER_00]: And then there was like, I guess a bus started to go around because of like my size and
2:23
[SPEAKER_00]: would I'll say what to do at the combine.
2:25
[SPEAKER_00]: They were like, you know what, your kind of, your, your, your measures are kind of really close to being a defensive back.
2:31
[SPEAKER_00]: And, um, you know, I didn't really understand it at first, but I, I started to understand a little bit more as time went on, but when the draft hit, you know, the Chicago Bears were looking at me as a potential defensive back and as an athlete and not a running back anymore.
2:44
[SPEAKER_00]: So I, it was a very, um, challenging period in my life at that point.
2:49
[SPEAKER_00]: Yeah.
2:50
[SPEAKER_00]: you know, I think I thought that I did everything that I possibly could to be a really good run-and-back at the next level.
2:57
[SPEAKER_00]: And, you know, the NFL had a different plan, the Chicago Bears had a different plan.
3:01
[SPEAKER_00]: But, you know, some of the hardest transitions were some of the easiest for defensive backs, which is back pedaling.
3:07
[SPEAKER_00]: So, I mean, I've never done that before and run a forward and run a backwards or two totally different things and then cover and why receivers at the highest level possible, post an interest and challenge as well.
3:19
[SPEAKER_00]: So, it was very difficult at first because there isn't like a red shirt freshman year or anything like that.
3:26
[SPEAKER_00]: It's just basically they just throw you in the fire and see if you can
3:30
[SPEAKER_00]: you know, see how you do and you respond to that.
3:32
[SPEAKER_00]: So it was a really interesting period that coaches were really hard on me.
3:38
[SPEAKER_00]: And there was a lot of training that I had to do physically because I just didn't know how to backpuddle.
3:44
[SPEAKER_00]: So it's been a lot of time, you know, backpuddle.
3:47
[SPEAKER_00]: And then just kind of learning the whole game, learning to see the game from a different perspective, learning how to be a D.B.
3:53
[SPEAKER_00]: Learned how to tackle
3:54
[SPEAKER_00]: you know all the fundamental things that you know DB's had at that level I didn't have so I came in and I had to make sure that
4:01
[SPEAKER_00]: I put the time to effort the work into it, basically boost myself up to that level of competition really quickly and that hopefully be successful at it.
4:11
[SPEAKER_00]: So it was a long period of a very long period, but it was interesting.
4:15
[SPEAKER_02]: So pretty.
4:16
[SPEAKER_00]: Doug White receivers at that time, by the way, too, the rice is in the mosses and yeah, yeah, I made Randy mosses with the Vikings and so we saw him twice a year and then, you know, T.O.
4:26
[SPEAKER_00]: and Marvin Harrison, I mean, the list goes on and on and on and on.
4:30
[SPEAKER_02]: Yeah, it's a, well, good for you, it's really fun to kind of watch those transitions.
4:33
[SPEAKER_02]: And I do think that it must have in a way when it comes to the mental side of the game, Jerry kind of open, because you did have that view from the opposite side when it came to being able to see how teams prepare to run the ball and, you know, some of the things that receivers do in the past catching sides.
4:48
[SPEAKER_02]: So you've got to do that in reverse.
4:50
[SPEAKER_02]: And I'm sure some of the physicalities side might have changed.
4:53
[SPEAKER_02]: But I do think it probably helped you see the field even better than maybe some people.
4:57
[SPEAKER_00]: Yeah, it gave me a different perspective and I was able to kind of tap into that a little bit, but, you know, being a defensive back things are just happening so fast the quarterback is really, really good on that side of the football.
5:18
[SPEAKER_00]: uh... vast buffer was my uh... db coach at that time and he was on the every single day we were doing something but um... he was real instrumental and boosted me up to get me to where i needed to be so uh... kudos to him because if i didn't have a coach like that that that was on me and that showed me and was patient enough to show me especially at this level then i don't know exactly how i would have done so it was it was a lot of like little moving parts that uh... help me to get to where i was at
5:46
[SPEAKER_02]: Well, we see this year first hand this past year, the difference coaching can make and that's a it's a big thing and Ben Johnson completely changed what it's just the feel on the vibe and we'll talk a little bit about him and a minute, but I did want to talk more about the defensive group now this defensive back group when it comes to jail and Johnson, when healthy is one of the better corners in the lead, Kyler Gordon, I think has proven one of the better nickel corners when they can stay on the
6:07
[SPEAKER_02]: field.
6:08
[SPEAKER_02]: No, that's part of it, Jerry.
6:09
[SPEAKER_02]: You've got to stay healthy and you want to sell them out there.
6:11
[SPEAKER_02]: You see the difference, Kyler Gordon can make even it gets the run when he's on the field, especially in a dentist, Alan defense.
6:17
[SPEAKER_02]: So talk about those defensive backs a little bit and how you feel about that group right now.
6:20
[SPEAKER_00]: I really like that group.
6:21
[SPEAKER_00]: I think the group is very athletic.
6:24
[SPEAKER_00]: Obviously, they have some veteran leadership that's there and they have some all star presence that's there as well.
6:30
[SPEAKER_00]: So they know how to had a jail as a team and make a lot of plays last year.
6:35
[SPEAKER_00]: the bears defense took the ball away a lot.
6:39
[SPEAKER_00]: So they created a lot of turnovers and takeaways.
6:42
[SPEAKER_00]: And that's what you want to see as the defensive unit.
6:44
[SPEAKER_00]: You want you want guys to get after the quarterback and then you want guys outside of that to make plays.
6:49
[SPEAKER_00]: And they were able to do that last year.
6:51
[SPEAKER_00]: I think that they're going to build on top of that with the talent that they brought in.
6:54
[SPEAKER_00]: I think Thenelman is going to be a hell of an addition to the secondary along with a superbow winning safety as well
7:04
[SPEAKER_00]: I think that they're going to be a nice one, two punch, but it's all about jelly.
7:07
[SPEAKER_00]: Like it's all brand new, but they have all the talent in the world to go out there and be successful and be dominant.
7:13
[SPEAKER_00]: It's going to be an interesting season because, you know, they have a first place schedule.
7:17
[SPEAKER_00]: So they're not going to sneak up on people and surprise people.
7:20
[SPEAKER_00]: People are going to be ready for them, but defensively, especially in that in that back field, I think Jalen Johnson will hold his own.
7:27
[SPEAKER_00]: I'm really interested to see how Kyla Gordon does.
7:30
[SPEAKER_00]: He hasn't really gotten to a gruel because, unfortunately, he's been a little bit banged up.
7:34
[SPEAKER_00]: But now everybody's going to be healthy.
7:36
[SPEAKER_00]: So if he stays healthy, I think that he's going to be instrumental in this team as well, especially on that third down.
7:41
[SPEAKER_00]: Like third down is going to be very key.
7:43
[SPEAKER_00]: Covering that slot.
7:44
[SPEAKER_00]: Why receive is going to be very important.
7:45
[SPEAKER_00]: So if they can nail that down with the safety stuff we have, I think they are going to be posed for a really strong secondary.
7:52
[SPEAKER_02]: What do you think about the other side?
7:53
[SPEAKER_02]: There's been a lot of questions when it comes to tirey Stevenson.
7:56
[SPEAKER_02]: You've seen some really good moments out of him and you've seen some struggles out of him.
8:00
[SPEAKER_02]: You just kind of want to see that next step and
8:02
[SPEAKER_02]: contract year when it comes up.
8:04
[SPEAKER_02]: You see a guy like to roll Smith who's had flashes.
8:06
[SPEAKER_02]: He just also has had some injury issues.
8:08
[SPEAKER_02]: So the other side is interesting when it comes to who plays across from jail and I mean, yeah, I mean, I really like Tyre.
8:14
[SPEAKER_00]: He's he's been able to get out there on the football field.
8:16
[SPEAKER_00]: Yes, he's had some ups and downs.
8:18
[SPEAKER_00]: So he needs to work on that consistency, but he is an explosive player.
8:22
[SPEAKER_00]: He has a guy that can go out there and make a lot of plays and I think that.
8:25
[SPEAKER_00]: This defense of coaching staff really believes in his skill and his talent as well.
8:29
[SPEAKER_00]: So it'll be interesting to see how we jails into the system because they're going to be playing a lot of man to man.
8:35
[SPEAKER_00]: There no longer going to be like in these in these zone type of situation.
8:38
[SPEAKER_00]: So it's going to be a lot of lockdown man to man coverage.
8:42
[SPEAKER_00]: And it's just going to go down to who who is going to dominate their guy and front of them.
8:46
[SPEAKER_00]: So I think that he has the ability to do that.
8:49
[SPEAKER_00]: He was a high draft pick and we've seen him when he's healthy that he can bring a lot of.
8:54
[SPEAKER_00]: a lot of great things to that to that position.
8:56
[SPEAKER_00]: So he's just going to have to stay consistent.
8:59
[SPEAKER_00]: I think that's the big word for him as consistency and I feel like he's going to take a step forward in the right direction this year.
9:06
[SPEAKER_02]: Do you ever see because I know it is a defensive back that balance of being physical but also watching your hands and not getting those penalties has to be kind of difficult at times and that's one of the things with Tyreek when he came out of college the conversation was he gets a little handy and he had a good amount of penalties in college and you find it's all that early on in the career you haven't seen him it hurt him too much but do you think maybe that plays into not seeing him play as physical as you feel like maybe he can sometimes.
9:33
[SPEAKER_00]: No, I think with Dennis Allen in this defense that they're going to be playing, I think I expect them to be extremely physical, especially at the line of scrimmage.
9:43
[SPEAKER_00]: I mean, there's going to be a lot of man to man and not a lot of zone, and if the zone that they're going to be playing is going to be like a lot of a lot of zone pressure.
9:51
[SPEAKER_00]: So it's going to lock up basically to man to man.
9:53
[SPEAKER_00]: So I expect these guys to get extremely physical.
9:57
[SPEAKER_00]: at the point of attack and get their hands on him.
10:00
[SPEAKER_00]: And I think that that's where Ty Reak is at his best.
10:03
[SPEAKER_00]: Man to man is something where you just go up there and you just have to try to just dominate your guy.
10:07
[SPEAKER_00]: But the beauty of it is that you can you can play physical and I think that Allen and this defense he wants to be fast obviously, but he wants to be physical in the secondary.
10:17
[SPEAKER_00]: He wants to get these guys.
10:18
[SPEAKER_00]: jammed up he doesn't want these free releases because those things turn into track meets and these quarterbacks are just really good where they can just hit anybody.
10:26
[SPEAKER_00]: So they have to just whip that timing and then help that defensive line up up front as well because the defensive line, you know historically hasn't really been that great for the Chicago Bears and we've been expected enough to come on but
10:38
[SPEAKER_00]: I think that with a good secondary, it can kind of boost the defensive line presence.
10:42
[SPEAKER_00]: So if the secondary can lock up and to wreak, it can lock up with the libraries and get physical with them, it gives the defensive line a little extra chance to get to that quarterback.
10:53
[SPEAKER_00]: And I really like their chances this year because they're really athletic and they're really talented.
10:58
[SPEAKER_02]: Yeah, they got some speed.
10:59
[SPEAKER_02]: They added some speed, including Thena Manu mentioned him.
11:01
[SPEAKER_02]: He played everywhere in college.
11:03
[SPEAKER_02]: And I think that's another thing that fits so well in this Dennis Island defense.
11:06
[SPEAKER_02]: He played free, strong.
11:07
[SPEAKER_02]: He's played it.
11:07
[SPEAKER_02]: You can put him in the box.
11:08
[SPEAKER_02]: All of those sort of things.
11:09
[SPEAKER_02]: Do you see Dennis Island moving him a lot in this defense?
11:14
[SPEAKER_00]: Not not at first.
11:16
[SPEAKER_00]: I think that it's important to get him into a rhythm and get and basically figure out what what what his what he can and can't do.
11:24
[SPEAKER_00]: Let's put him in different positions to to be successful and then we can kind of expand on that, but.
11:29
[SPEAKER_00]: He possibly could be the best athlete on the football field at any given time.
11:33
[SPEAKER_00]: I mean, he's big, he's strong, he's fast.
11:36
[SPEAKER_00]: And then on top of that, he plays the mental game.
11:38
[SPEAKER_00]: So he anticipates a lot of plays and a lot of throws.
11:42
[SPEAKER_00]: And he just helps out, he helps with alignment with getting the right positioning for the defense.
11:50
[SPEAKER_00]: So I think that at first, they will try to slow it down for him and make things as simple as possible because the NFL is very difficult.
11:57
[SPEAKER_00]: People that come in, they have a lot of difficulty and we know that these guys can play, but sometimes they start off a little rough.
12:04
[SPEAKER_00]: I think we shouldn't throw too much Adam, we should just put him in little situations to be successful and go out there and make plays and then slowly, but surely over time, start to expand his role.
12:15
[SPEAKER_00]: But I think that it will start to expand later on in the season.
12:18
[SPEAKER_02]: Yeah.
12:18
[SPEAKER_02]: Yeah.
12:18
[SPEAKER_02]: And I agree with you.
12:19
[SPEAKER_02]: It's like you're getting thrown a lot when you first come in.
12:21
[SPEAKER_02]: I feel bad for the rookies at time because college football seasons now going into late January for some people.
12:26
[SPEAKER_02]: And then it's the combine.
12:27
[SPEAKER_02]: Then it's that you're getting drafted.
12:29
[SPEAKER_02]: And then it's mini camp.
12:30
[SPEAKER_02]: And then you're playing football.
12:32
[SPEAKER_02]: It's a lot.
12:34
[SPEAKER_02]: Let's move up to the front of the defense a little bit before we talk about the offense for a second.
12:38
[SPEAKER_02]: You know, Tremaine Edmunds, he went out he's gone from the soft season, but you have to mark of Jackson who showed out at the moment's last year when he had to come in.
12:46
[SPEAKER_02]: There was a lot of lineback, there were moments where I was like, I don't even know who's going to be able to play linebacker because there was so many injuries at periods of time.
12:52
[SPEAKER_02]: That worked.
12:53
[SPEAKER_02]: Jackson, they go and signed up on Devon Bush, obviously, and TPA efforts still here.
12:57
[SPEAKER_02]: So that dynamic of those three linebackers, how do you feel and feeling about that position?
13:01
[SPEAKER_00]: I'm feeling really good about this linebacker core.
13:03
[SPEAKER_00]: I mean, speed, speed, speed.
13:06
[SPEAKER_00]: I mean, you have Devin Bush there and he is a type of person that's extremely aggressive at the point of attack.
13:11
[SPEAKER_00]: But his speed can make up for a lot of different things.
13:14
[SPEAKER_00]: And right now, if you look at how this defense is constructed, they're constructed to be aggressive at the point of attack and then be people with speed.
13:22
[SPEAKER_00]: And with Devon Bush being there as well, he has that element of speed and I really, really appreciate the fact that they brought him in because I think that, you know, from the line of screen is to like 20 20 yards down field, he will have that on lock just based on speed alone and he's also a veteran of the game, he knows how to get guys lined up, he knows where everything should be happened, his anticipation is really good.
13:47
[SPEAKER_00]: I really like what they're doing with the linebacking core.
13:50
[SPEAKER_00]: They're really aggressive.
13:52
[SPEAKER_00]: And they're going to be matching up too, like with tight ends and running backs and things like that.
13:56
[SPEAKER_00]: So I really like what they're doing with the matchups.
13:59
[SPEAKER_00]: And defensive like the defensive line as well.
14:01
[SPEAKER_00]: I think that there's going to be nice little run lanes because the offense have to respect these linebackers just based on their speed alone.
14:08
[SPEAKER_00]: So it's going to free up a lot of defensive line in as well.
14:11
[SPEAKER_00]: So it's going to come down to matchups.
14:13
[SPEAKER_00]: I think overall matchups.
14:16
[SPEAKER_00]: The Chicago Bears beaten those matchups.
14:19
[SPEAKER_02]: Yeah.
14:19
[SPEAKER_02]: Do you like a Devon Bush as a cover linebacker?
14:22
[SPEAKER_02]: That's something when you talk about some of the things for main did and being able to pick up all off and get this.
14:27
[SPEAKER_00]: That's something that has to happen.
14:28
[SPEAKER_00]: I think that in this Dennis Allen defense, he's looking for those guys to make those type of plays, but he's also looking for guys to be cover guys, as well, you have to be able to cover.
14:38
[SPEAKER_00]: But the good thing is that speed, just feels everything, speed, just kills matchups.
14:44
[SPEAKER_00]: So I think that Devon Bush will do a good job.
14:47
[SPEAKER_02]: If you stay healthy with covering guys, and I do like those matchups that we have, how do you feel about awesome book or we talk about that past rush needing to improve and we've talked about it for a few years you saw him missed the first eight weeks came in gets four and a half sex to a couple taken away of penalties on Jordan love.
15:04
[SPEAKER_02]: and a couple of those games, but you see a little flashes of booker, you know what Montess what can be, but how do you feel about that password?
15:10
[SPEAKER_00]: Well, Montess what is, you know, he is, he's up there in terms of like his ability and the things that he can do, but he needs some help, you know, and he has to get help from the other side.
15:20
[SPEAKER_00]: I think Austin Booker is an incredible prospect.
15:23
[SPEAKER_00]: I've liked him since day one and he's taken steps forward.
15:26
[SPEAKER_00]: If he can stay healthy,
15:28
[SPEAKER_00]: I'm I'm really looking for him to take in the next step for and I think that this coaches staff is looking for that as well.
15:34
[SPEAKER_00]: We know what he brings to the table and he could be a guy that can be very aggressive at the point of attack.
15:41
[SPEAKER_00]: Stop the run and play the past extremely well, but.
15:44
[SPEAKER_00]: He has to get off that edge if he can come off that edge and get and be a present where people have to kind of like look at him now I think Montess wet can actually be Montess wet of the old and get to the quarterback as well So, but it's gonna it's gonna a lot of it has to rely on on on on the other end And in the guys inside which you're on it guys inside yes, so those eight gaps are gonna be very strong to
16:11
[SPEAKER_00]: They have to be very strong at the point of attack because the A gaps, I mean, it's the closest way to get to a to a quarterback in the A gap.
16:18
[SPEAKER_00]: So if everything can work the way that I think that they can work, then they're going to be set up for a lot of success.
16:24
[SPEAKER_02]: Let's flip this over to the other side of big conversation this offseason and a player getting a lot of love, Caleb Williams, you see a landing everywhere you just saw them on the top 10 of the, you know, the scout's executive coaches voted him and there was some debate on that, but one of the arguments that I've seen a lot of people make is it's really, really hard to defensive game plan against Caleb Williams because of everything he can do.
16:45
[SPEAKER_02]: You talk about his army, talk about
16:47
[SPEAKER_02]: just the things that he checked off Jerry from year one to year two when it came to his hold in the ball too long he was taking sacks he wasn't doing some of those things you saw all of those improve now this next level you're expecting that accuracy in some of those things to also trend into the right direction but fuck a little bit about Caleb and what you see especially from that defense at former defensive back you of what you can do on the field
17:08
[SPEAKER_00]: Caleb is very difficult to contain, you know, he used, he has really good footwork.
17:13
[SPEAKER_00]: And I think that that's something that they don't give him enough credit to throw the ball, the way that he throws the ball, you have to have really good footwork.
17:21
[SPEAKER_00]: I think sometimes he anticipates things too much and he gets a little antsy in the pocket and things start to sell on them.
17:27
[SPEAKER_00]: So that's where the accuracy issues come into playing.
17:32
[SPEAKER_00]: But I think that if he kind of just settles down and gets into a rhythm,
17:38
[SPEAKER_00]: I think that Ben Johnson has a great game plan for him to like get him to some rhythm throws early and then start to let him lose and then let him start to take more chances because he is the type of quarterback that can do that.
17:50
[SPEAKER_00]: He can lead you from 14 points down or he can keep you in front.
17:55
[SPEAKER_00]: He has all the intangibles to be.
17:57
[SPEAKER_00]: you know an elite quarterback, but right now it's the little little things and I think that the little things could be like his little indecisions to make throws to when they need to be made.
18:09
[SPEAKER_00]: So he has to work on those little things, but overall I think that the Chicago Bears hit a home run when they grabbed him number one.
18:15
[SPEAKER_02]: Yeah, it was I was at the game, the Bears Packers game in December and it was just one of those moments where you're like, this kid's incredibly it's just the the throw the jade they talk a lot about the DJ more one obviously rightfully so that won the game, but the throw the jade and the corner of the end zone right I mean the moment you need it you're getting pressured and those are the moments where it almost feels like he thrives when he's getting a little pressured because he's like, oh, bring it on like I'll beat you in this moment.
18:40
[SPEAKER_02]: Yeah, and fun to kind of watch that.
18:42
[SPEAKER_00]: He has big play potential and they have to keep that going on.
18:45
[SPEAKER_00]: I mean, offensively, they're adding more and more weapons as you know.
18:50
[SPEAKER_00]: We have really good tight hands, really good by receivers.
18:52
[SPEAKER_00]: Even though we lost DJ, I think that Roma doing say is going to take off.
18:55
[SPEAKER_00]: They really like Luther burden as well.
18:58
[SPEAKER_00]: We picked up another tight end.
18:59
[SPEAKER_00]: I think that we're going to run like two tight insets.
19:01
[SPEAKER_00]: And it looks like the league is kind of trending in that direction with playing more and more tight in.
19:07
[SPEAKER_00]: So they're going to mix things up.
19:12
[SPEAKER_00]: I think he's going to take a tremendous step forward, and he's going to be a big part of this offense, especially in the red zone.
19:17
[SPEAKER_00]: He's a big strong, fast, talented kid, and I think that he's going to get matched up with linebackers and really stretch the middle of the football field.
19:25
[SPEAKER_00]: As we saw last year, later on in the season.
19:28
[SPEAKER_00]: But Caleb has a lot of different weapons, and I really like that, and I'm sure that Ben Johnson loves that as well.
19:34
[SPEAKER_00]: So it's going to be very interesting to see how they kind of like put things together and make things gel.
19:39
[SPEAKER_00]: And keep this office explosive because that's what they really are.
19:43
[SPEAKER_00]: It's explosive.
19:44
[SPEAKER_00]: They can score at any time.
19:45
[SPEAKER_00]: And they've added more and more speed to this to this whole thing as well.
19:49
[SPEAKER_00]: Speed speed speed.
19:50
[SPEAKER_00]: This is what this team is all about.
19:52
[SPEAKER_00]: So it's going to look a lot like how the Lions look like two years ago with all the speed that they have.
19:56
[SPEAKER_00]: But now that Chicago Bears are going to look like that as well.
19:59
[SPEAKER_02]: Yeah, they had Klee Freyman and Xavier and Thomas both fast guys.
20:02
[SPEAKER_02]: It's just like, that's one thing they're like, let's just go get a bunch of speedsters.
20:07
[SPEAKER_02]: And obviously, ball players, these guys.
20:09
[SPEAKER_02]: And when Klee Freyman was with Ben Johnson, that first year at Detroit when Ben was calling plays, he had one of his better seasons as a receiver.
20:17
[SPEAKER_02]: You obviously will use them in the special teams.
20:19
[SPEAKER_02]: How do you feel about that?
20:20
[SPEAKER_02]: By the way, the dynamic kickoff and how that has changed.
20:23
[SPEAKER_02]: for some of these guys in the way that we're trying them off.
20:25
[SPEAKER_00]: Yeah, I mean, it's interesting.
20:26
[SPEAKER_00]: Everybody had to make the adjustment.
20:28
[SPEAKER_00]: I mean, I played in the old era of like the wedge.
20:32
[SPEAKER_00]: Yeah, that was a whole monster era right there.
20:35
[SPEAKER_00]: But everything is changed.
20:37
[SPEAKER_00]: I don't mind it.
20:38
[SPEAKER_00]: I think that last year with this design of the kickoff return, I think that there was several like returns that we saw.
20:44
[SPEAKER_00]: So I think that there's starting to figure some things out.
20:47
[SPEAKER_00]: So I don't mind it, but special teams is something that's extremely important.
20:52
[SPEAKER_00]: It's one of those things that we just kind of forget about.
20:54
[SPEAKER_00]: It's kind of like those hidden yards and things like that.
20:56
[SPEAKER_00]: But at the same time, it changes really the whole dynamic of football games.
21:00
[SPEAKER_00]: Like you can really flip things instantly.
21:02
[SPEAKER_00]: I mean, Tory Taylor, he got him in the fourth round and he has a big leg as well.
21:07
[SPEAKER_00]: So like,
21:08
[SPEAKER_00]: We want to take advantage of those opportunities on special teams.
21:11
[SPEAKER_00]: This is just three phases to the game, offense defense special teams and special teams for some odd reason gets neglected and it doesn't get the love and appreciation that it should.
21:20
[SPEAKER_00]: But with the Chicago Bears, everything is set up for them to be extremely dynamic on third downs and for special teams.
21:26
[SPEAKER_00]: So if they take advantage of that, they're going to take advantage of a lot of opportunities to win a lot of games.
21:32
[SPEAKER_02]: Final couple before I let you go, Jerry, the running backs.
21:35
[SPEAKER_02]: What DeAndre Swift was able to last year.
21:38
[SPEAKER_02]: And the offensive line was fantastic too.
21:40
[SPEAKER_02]: When you talk about Joe Tune being one of the best lineman in the league, you lose a couple.
21:44
[SPEAKER_02]: You know, unfortunately, Ozzie Trepello gets her your dominant retire.
21:47
[SPEAKER_02]: So you're replacing some of that.
21:48
[SPEAKER_02]: We'll see what it looks like.
21:49
[SPEAKER_02]: You go get a veteran and Brad Berry and then draft a center.
21:52
[SPEAKER_02]: And so we'll see.
21:53
[SPEAKER_02]: with that battle looks like they're can't but don't dress with looks so good last year and then Mananga comes in and you have the sky that's just his decals falling off his helmet because he's getting guys so or he's getting hit at him.
22:03
[SPEAKER_02]: So how do you feel about that?
22:05
[SPEAKER_02]: That running back room and help me balance this year.
22:07
[SPEAKER_00]: Yeah Mananga really really like he really surprised me.
22:12
[SPEAKER_00]: I really love his running style.
22:13
[SPEAKER_00]: I didn't think that he was going to be the type of runner where
22:16
[SPEAKER_00]: He's going to be smashed mouth in the aga, but he is that and he showed that he can dominate that as well.
22:21
[SPEAKER_00]: And then Swift can do those things as well, but him out of the backfield and getting the ball to him is kind of like a long, it's like an extension of the hand off.
22:30
[SPEAKER_00]: And he's been really great at that.
22:32
[SPEAKER_00]: He's a great past catcher and in an open space.
22:34
[SPEAKER_00]: He could really make a lot of guys miss.
22:35
[SPEAKER_00]: So I really think that they have a really good thing.
22:38
[SPEAKER_00]: in the secondary in the in the run-and-back room.
22:41
[SPEAKER_00]: And it's going to help.
22:42
[SPEAKER_00]: It's going to help Caleb out as well.
22:44
[SPEAKER_00]: You know, he doesn't have to take on all the responsibilities to go out there and make a lot of plays.
22:48
[SPEAKER_00]: And then also just if you look around the league.
22:51
[SPEAKER_00]: The running back is coming back.
22:53
[SPEAKER_00]: You know, they're running the ball running the ball.
22:56
[SPEAKER_00]: I mean, I guess the Eagles last year.
22:58
[SPEAKER_00]: I think the Chicago Bears rush for over 200 yards and we did that several times.
23:02
[SPEAKER_00]: So.
23:03
[SPEAKER_00]: It's a good thing where you can just hand the ball off and let them rush the ball because that makes it really difficult for opposing defenses to basically take a break and try to stop all that stuff.
23:14
[SPEAKER_00]: So if we can take advantage of the run game, which I think that we can this year, and I think that our offensive line is going to be a little bit even stronger this year, then I think that everything is set up for the Chicago Bears to be a really good football team.
23:26
[SPEAKER_02]: Yeah, I do too, and it's fun.
23:27
[SPEAKER_02]: I think I love that the run game because it was almost like running backs were getting pushed out the door.
23:32
[SPEAKER_02]: They're like, I'm running X don't matter.
23:33
[SPEAKER_02]: I'm not going to drop them behind.
23:34
[SPEAKER_02]: You're not going to pay them.
23:35
[SPEAKER_00]: And then now, however, all of a sudden, people are like, oh, we need a really good dynamic, either one, two punch at running back or or one really good solid running back to take that pressure off of Caleb.
23:47
[SPEAKER_00]: But like I said,
23:49
[SPEAKER_00]: it's this this team is all centered around Caleb so you have to have all these great parts and the run-and-back has to be the run-and-may for the quarterback and I think that we have a really good one-two punch for that.
24:00
[SPEAKER_02]: Yeah, and I think the team just has this vibe to that they get a long and they're having a good time and they're enjoying playing football, which you love to see too because there's been years when you're like there's good players, but it doesn't feel like they're having a good time out there and you want that to happen to and part of that has been in the energy he brings to absolutely a Ben Johnson has really come in and he's really injected.
24:20
[SPEAKER_00]: a different type of feel like the bears organization just feels different it feels like when actually when I played with lovey Smith I mean on defense we just played carefree and we didn't have anything to really worry about in the and the vibe was there and the culture that they set was there as well so like band kind of really revamped the culture.
24:40
[SPEAKER_00]: on the offensive side and defense side.
24:42
[SPEAKER_00]: And just basically inside of the halls of Hall of Hall.
24:45
[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah.
24:45
[SPEAKER_00]: He's really come in and really like said, OK, this is who we are going to be.
24:50
[SPEAKER_00]: And the bears have gone out there and they've actually executed and done it.
24:52
[SPEAKER_00]: So whenever you have everybody on the same page, chances are you're going to be a really good team.
24:57
[SPEAKER_02]: Yeah, I love loving my first fun fact.
25:00
[SPEAKER_02]: My first car I named love me because I love I love that man and then we also go back and the reason you have Caleb Williams is because love he as a loving
25:12
[SPEAKER_02]: All right, Final Ender before I let you go for this season, you're looking ahead.
25:17
[SPEAKER_02]: The Bears won 11 games last year.
25:19
[SPEAKER_02]: They won their first playoff game in a decade, and it feels like things are trending in the positive direction.
25:24
[SPEAKER_02]: But what do you say this year needs to continue, or something you'd like to see to improve, to continue, and hopefully win the North again?
25:31
[SPEAKER_00]: Yeah, it's just consistency that and things that they can't really control is their health.
25:36
[SPEAKER_00]: You know, hopefully they just stay healthy if this team stays healthy.
25:40
[SPEAKER_00]: Um, then I think that they're going to go far even though they have that first place schedule.
25:44
[SPEAKER_00]: It's going to be very difficult and there's going to and they're not going to sneak up on anyone.
25:48
[SPEAKER_00]: Everybody knows that Chicago Bears are for real.
25:50
[SPEAKER_00]: They know about their love.
25:51
[SPEAKER_00]: They know about this defense.
25:52
[SPEAKER_00]: They know about our wide receivers and our run-and-back.
25:54
[SPEAKER_00]: They know that we're going to get, they're going to get their A game from the Chicago Bears.
25:58
[SPEAKER_00]: So they have to be ready.
25:58
[SPEAKER_00]: So we're not going to sneak up on anybody.
26:00
[SPEAKER_00]: But we're playing so many playoff teams.
26:02
[SPEAKER_00]: We're playing both teams.
26:03
[SPEAKER_00]: They're in the Super Bowl last year.
26:05
[SPEAKER_00]: And then also we have the Black and Blue division that's back.
26:08
[SPEAKER_00]: So we have the Vikings, the Lions, you know.
26:11
[SPEAKER_00]: everyone the green bay as well so it's going to be a very tough season i think they're going to get they're going to be extreme highs there's going to be some lows there's going to be some bumps but overall i feel like this team is above average i think they're going to be really successful and i think they're going to get into the playoffs and then once you get into the playoffs anything can happen you can do a lot of damage like we did last year and exceeded a lot of expectations as well so right now
26:36
[SPEAKER_00]: They just have to just be focused on every single game.
26:39
[SPEAKER_00]: They can't worry about their future.
26:41
[SPEAKER_00]: They can't worry about things that they can't control.
26:43
[SPEAKER_00]: Just worry about the things that you can't control, play each game, like it's your last game.
26:47
[SPEAKER_00]: And I think that they'll come out successful.
26:49
[SPEAKER_02]: Yeah, it's funny when you talk about that division and how it gets it's brutal right now when it comes to the competition, which makes it fun.
26:55
[SPEAKER_02]: You have these raw memories and it feels like the bears packers can actually be a rivalry again because we can win some games.
27:01
[SPEAKER_02]: But you talk about coaches.
27:02
[SPEAKER_02]: Dan Campbell, K.O.C.
27:03
[SPEAKER_02]: Lufler and Ben Johnson for the best coaches in the NFL.
27:06
[SPEAKER_02]: You talk about tight end rooms when you have.
27:08
[SPEAKER_02]: a commed in Colston and LaPorta and Tucker Kraft and Hawkins.
27:12
[SPEAKER_02]: That's amazing.
27:14
[SPEAKER_02]: No, it's good though.
27:15
[SPEAKER_02]: But Jerry, I really appreciate it.
27:17
[SPEAKER_00]: It's also good that we have some depth as well.
27:20
[SPEAKER_00]: Yeah.
27:20
[SPEAKER_00]: Because you need that depth, someone's going to go down.
27:22
[SPEAKER_00]: The unfortunate thing about the NFL is that no one is going to survive.
27:26
[SPEAKER_00]: all of it.
27:27
[SPEAKER_00]: You know, we're going to have some people that are going to get hurt, but it's the next man up.
27:31
[SPEAKER_00]: And I really like the depth pieces that we have, especially like in the Titan room, for example, I think we're going to do some damage there.
27:37
[SPEAKER_00]: So we have to make sure that we have those depth pieces.
27:40
[SPEAKER_00]: And once they're ready to go out there and play, we got to make sure that we put, we put them in right opportunities to go out there and be successful.
27:45
[SPEAKER_00]: So I really like the Chicago Bears chances this year.
27:48
[SPEAKER_02]: I'm really hoping we're doing a lot of good, better besting this year.
27:51
[SPEAKER_02]: Yes.
27:52
[SPEAKER_00]: Taking off our shirts, yeah, just in the locker room all of it.
27:55
[SPEAKER_02]: All right, Jerry.
27:56
[SPEAKER_02]: Thank you so much for your time.
27:57
[SPEAKER_02]: I really appreciate it.
27:58
[SPEAKER_02]: And I hope you have a good rest of your summer.
27:59
[SPEAKER_02]: Bear down.
28:00
[SPEAKER_00]: Thank you.