Latest / 2nd City Gridiron / Bear Bones: To IR and Back Again, 2025 Week 18: Detroit Lions @ Chicago Bears

Transcript

Bear Bones: To IR and Back Again, 2025 Week 18: Detroit Lions @ Chicago Bears · 2nd City Gridiron

1:04
[SPEAKER_01]: Welcome into this episode of Bearbones as always.
1:13
[SPEAKER_01]: I am Mason West and co-host Damien is here for the final week 18 preview before we jump into Playoff Talk, which is pretty cool to have that at our doorstep.
1:23
[SPEAKER_01]: Danny, how you doing?
1:25
[SPEAKER_00]: Good.
1:25
[SPEAKER_00]: It's the first time in the existence of us being co-host
1:32
[SPEAKER_00]: kind of talking.
1:33
[SPEAKER_00]: It's always usually by this point like should they fire someone?
1:36
[SPEAKER_00]: Should they make a trade?
1:39
[SPEAKER_00]: Who's the quarterback going to be?
1:41
[SPEAKER_00]: It's always kind of an interest in draft conversation.
1:44
[SPEAKER_00]: Yeah.
1:46
[SPEAKER_00]: How far is Dan had to draft prep already?
1:49
[SPEAKER_00]: And the answer this year is not very far because I've got other things to do and the bears are fun.
1:55
[SPEAKER_00]: I don't have to look forward to the draft
2:01
[SPEAKER_00]: playing for Indiana University, it's a nice change of pace, and we'll delve into, I'm sure some of the nuance of the record and everything going on, but it's a nice change of pace.
2:16
[SPEAKER_00]: It's welcome.
2:16
[SPEAKER_00]: And this isn't some...
2:20
[SPEAKER_00]: we're happy to be here seven seed.
2:22
[SPEAKER_00]: This is a legitimately good football team right now who's playing for a very high seed and a number of home games potentially throughout the road to the Super Bowl.
2:33
[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, the only
2:34
[SPEAKER_01]: Playoff game that I got to cover up all doing podcasty stuff was back in the Chicago Audible days where they had that fake Nickelodeon bowl against the Saints and they just got absolutely worked.
2:46
[SPEAKER_01]: Right, and that was like the first year.
2:47
[SPEAKER_00]: That was the last Sean Peyton year, right?
2:49
[SPEAKER_01]: Yep.
2:50
[SPEAKER_01]: Jimmy Graham had the walk off touchdown.
2:53
[SPEAKER_01]: Not like walk off wind, but walk off like his career was on.
2:56
[SPEAKER_01]: Because the touch on that didn't mean anything.
2:59
[SPEAKER_01]: That was a, and Mitch Gibriskey won NVP.
3:04
[SPEAKER_00]: from the very scorn shagago fan base let's just vote for him
3:13
[SPEAKER_01]: All right, so we are going to dive in chart review.
3:16
[SPEAKER_01]: Just a couple of notes, some quotes to the discussed around the engines a little bit.
3:20
[SPEAKER_01]: Bears DC Dennis Allen addressing the 42 points and 496 yards that the bulls allowed to the San Francisco for an iris said.
3:28
[SPEAKER_01]: I'll say this, I don't think I coach well enough last week.
3:31
[SPEAKER_01]: I don't think we played well enough last week.
3:33
[SPEAKER_01]: So you learn your lessons.
3:35
[SPEAKER_01]: You make the corrections that you need to make.
3:36
[SPEAKER_01]: Now we move forward and we're getting ready for Detroit.
3:39
[SPEAKER_01]: Well, I think he's on a masterful job this year of making a lot out of a little.
3:44
[SPEAKER_01]: I mean, we know like with all the injuries and we also know with obviously just some of the quality of certain players that the fact that he's been able to just cobble together what this defense has been is impressive.
3:55
[SPEAKER_01]: But at the same time, I do think you can look back and say, he to not just the players, but also not good enough in San Francisco.
4:03
[SPEAKER_00]: He did, but I mean,
4:09
[SPEAKER_00]: your worst fears coming true, defensively.
4:12
[SPEAKER_00]: Yeah, I get they had the one pick six to open the game where TJ Adwords caught the deflection from Johnson and returned it into the end zone.
4:21
[SPEAKER_00]: But I think that that was like the worry of this whole defense all year long.
4:29
[SPEAKER_00]: They can't get off the field.
4:31
[SPEAKER_00]: They're under talented.
4:32
[SPEAKER_00]: There's a lot of resources both draft between guys like Booker and Garbondekster, etc.
4:40
[SPEAKER_00]: Invested into this, with including Cap, for them to be really kind of bad.
4:46
[SPEAKER_00]: And when I say kind of bad, they're really bottom five and a lot of meaningful metrics, but what props them up in things like EPA per play is the fact that they are very volatile defense and that they lead the league and turn over's cause.
4:59
[SPEAKER_00]: The problem is, and I know it sounds really goofy to say, and I know I've said it on the show before, you can practice takeaways, you can do the loveysmith thing or you're punching the ball and you're picking up every ball
5:15
[SPEAKER_00]: planning to have turnovers is not a game plan because you cannot, it's, it's not at your discretion.
5:24
[SPEAKER_01]: And take the the second almost turnover where CJ Garner Johnson got his hand on the football in the end zone right you had a potential flip of seven points because Couple plays later Brock party does his best killable in some pressure and is able to find you check in the end zone you check but yeah, but like Is that technically a foul with CJ Garner Johnson did yes he got his hands in the face and you got caught did it affects the play in any way that really would have changed the outcome of the play now I mean it was a
5:51
[SPEAKER_01]: Not at all.
5:52
[SPEAKER_01]: So like if they hadn't caught it, I think unless you're a 49er fan, most people would be like yeah, like I can see why it wasn't called.
6:00
[SPEAKER_01]: But that's it.
6:01
[SPEAKER_01]: That's the difference between potentially winning and losing a game with this various defense is one play like that.
6:07
[SPEAKER_00]: Right.
6:07
[SPEAKER_00]: Exactly.
6:08
[SPEAKER_00]: And that's why I'm saying it's your worst few years realize just like in a lot of ways that it was the packers game where they weren't given you the ball until Malik fumbled at the end and they couldn't get off the field in that game either.
6:20
[SPEAKER_00]: Like I said, like we were talking pre-show and the packers game, they were, what 33, 36 or some odd real-time minutes in the second quarter where the bearers' offense just didn't have the football.
6:32
[SPEAKER_00]: They're not, they're objectively not a good defense.
6:35
[SPEAKER_00]: They're a very volatile defense that causes a lot of turnovers and had a lot of turnover luck this year, but no one who understands what they're watching is watching this and being like, yes, this is a good defense.
6:47
[SPEAKER_00]: They have
6:50
[SPEAKER_00]: Um, Tremaine Edmunds has had his moments, but he seems to have fallen like a earth The last couple of weeks since coming off of IR, and maybe that is still him not being right from what was it a groin, right?
7:02
[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, so he just does 100%.
7:04
[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, the question is more can he get to that closer to the 100 in the playoffs?
7:09
[SPEAKER_01]: Or is this just kind of a Tremaine that we're going to have in 20 this year's season?
7:14
[SPEAKER_00]: And do you also solve for all the turnovers that were caused by the
7:18
[SPEAKER_00]: by one nishon right all year long.
7:21
[SPEAKER_00]: Kyle Shanahan picked on him all the years all made him look silly so many times Ricky well we need to have a can't Ricky Pierce also damn good football player.
7:30
[SPEAKER_01]: He just can't stand the field is he's from.
7:32
[SPEAKER_00]: Yeah his thing is just he's hurt all the time but anyway moving on.
7:37
[SPEAKER_01]: Uh, another bit of news and not directly with this week, but kind of looking ahead the next week.
7:42
[SPEAKER_01]: I wanted to throw this out there, uh, source of cobwebs, cornerback tree on digs, who was cut during the Packers, uh, their Packers, the only team to put a waiver claim in on him, uh, combination of couple things.
7:53
[SPEAKER_01]: One shows how desperate that they are in terms of secondary.
7:57
[SPEAKER_01]: I mean, they added Nate Hobbes and says someone else had come to the camera if I'm ahead to, I are this week.
8:03
[UNKNOWN]: Um,
8:03
[SPEAKER_01]: To trade my digs, it's had a rough year between injuries and this year and then coming off ACL previously and being the Matt Iberfu's offense, which we all know is insanely conservative of his own heavy that he does not do well in, and also just the fact that the way he plays his boom bust for toast's interception E combo, and he's really had a lot of research and since the ACL tear,
8:23
[SPEAKER_01]: Um, just throwing that out there, not, not, not it's been a lot of time on this, but just kind of initial thought like on your ends, I do is I'm, this isn't huge news to me, but it's also like, I don't necessarily also need the packers getting any help whatsoever.
8:38
[SPEAKER_00]: So it's a little bit of like, I'm kind of annoying.
8:52
[SPEAKER_00]: For whatever reason, the bears have been able to move the ball against every other defense, since seemingly getting out of the by, except for the packers.
9:00
[SPEAKER_00]: I don't know what it is about what halfway is doing, where Ben Johnson is struggling to find a rhythm and Caleb Williams can seemingly get out of the whatever funk is happening, but it's been not a fun endeavor for them to go over against this.
9:15
[SPEAKER_00]: And this is just like, even if it's a mild help, it's still help, like, and it's whatever.
9:22
[SPEAKER_00]: I don't think Travod Diggs is pretty particularly good.
9:24
[SPEAKER_00]: Like, I know I made the joke in one of our group chats of when he was cut.
9:29
[SPEAKER_00]: I knew there was going to be a segment of Bear's fans, specifically on the timeline of because it's a name you know and he had that close to defensive player of the year, year or few years back where he had all those interceptions and whatnot.
9:43
[SPEAKER_00]: Like, guys, you don't need him.
9:44
[SPEAKER_00]: You have, you have Travod Diggs at home.
9:48
[SPEAKER_01]: And I was someone who was like, I'm interested at the right dollar amount if he clears waivers.
9:53
[SPEAKER_01]: I didn't want to pick him up and pay him the $500,000 final game check.
9:58
[SPEAKER_01]: And I was only interested in the idea that you are a, I mean, Jalen Johnson didn't finish last game.
10:05
[SPEAKER_01]: uh, Nishon Wright had the hamstring and illness that tampered him going into the week.
10:10
[SPEAKER_01]: Plus he's had injury stuff.
10:11
[SPEAKER_01]: Tyrex, Steven's has been on and off.
10:12
[SPEAKER_01]: It's literally just more of a, you could be looking at Nick McClath.
10:15
[SPEAKER_01]: It's a botting outside.
10:17
[SPEAKER_01]: Literally.
10:17
[SPEAKER_00]: Yes, it's a botting.
10:18
[SPEAKER_00]: Yeah, it's a botting.
10:19
[SPEAKER_00]: No, I understand where you were coming.
10:20
[SPEAKER_00]: And if he would have cleared, say, and wanted to play for a contender, I'm like a vet men for the rep man or the seasons, fine.
10:28
[SPEAKER_00]: That's a different conversation than claiming him and claiming
10:31
[SPEAKER_00]: a what will be a $500,000 game check for the packers to have them there.
10:36
[SPEAKER_00]: Now is it a big deal on the grand scheme of things?
10:39
[SPEAKER_00]: No, but it matters.
10:42
[SPEAKER_01]: Right.
10:43
[SPEAKER_01]: Like, if you told me in two universes that Luther Bird and Burns him for a touchdown that, you know, helps leave airs when also in another universe that he gets an interception on an important play in the fourth quarter.
10:56
[SPEAKER_01]: Like, I would I could believe both those universes.
10:58
[SPEAKER_00]: I could believe either
11:01
[SPEAKER_01]: All right, moving on.
11:03
[SPEAKER_01]: Jeff McLean, Eagle's reporter said earlier this week and others are reported since then, the Eagles are expected to rest jailed birds in most of the starters and their season finale versus commanders.
11:11
[SPEAKER_01]: The solution comes to surprise based on how Serianic comments when I asked about the benefit of having a five week quote unquote heading into the playoffs.
11:18
[SPEAKER_01]: This is just kind of an interesting thought process because Ben Johnson went the opposite where he's saying, we're playing all of our starters.
11:25
[SPEAKER_01]: We have stuff to play for.
11:26
[SPEAKER_01]: Obviously, there is also a bit of a difference
11:30
[SPEAKER_01]: You could argue, this is a bit of a game's in shape where the Eagles are saying, how much do we really believe at the Lions are going to win for us to win?
11:38
[SPEAKER_01]: And have it matter, but what is your point of view on a team like the Eagles resting versus a team like the Bears playing their stars?
11:47
[SPEAKER_00]: So I think it's too pronged.
11:48
[SPEAKER_00]: There's several schools of thought with this.
11:49
[SPEAKER_00]: I think there is some games in the show going on, where I don't think Seriani believes that there's a roar of the Lions when short of the Bears kind of having a meltdown
12:00
[SPEAKER_00]: And it's also I think there's probably some level of the Eagles having a brazenist to them of just feeling like they can turn it on.
12:12
[SPEAKER_00]: Like playoff time, the herds has got a super roll in VPs, been to another one.
12:16
[SPEAKER_00]: And in each super roll, he's outplayed Pat Mahomes.
12:19
[SPEAKER_00]: And they've got this defense in Jalen Carter's back and Serianis been there before.
12:24
[SPEAKER_00]: And it's like, I feel like it's this like myriad of reasons where they're just like, it's whatever, like just get to the dance.
12:33
[SPEAKER_00]: You don't care who lies about that.
12:34
[SPEAKER_00]: It's almost like, we'll figure it out.
12:36
[SPEAKER_00]: Yeah, like it's almost like the Tim Duncan spurs right where it's just like who cares for the one seed of the foreseed just get to the playoffs because we'll figure it out.
12:47
[SPEAKER_00]: That that's kind of what it reminds me and now it's is it arrogant.
12:50
[SPEAKER_00]: Yeah, it's very arrogant considering.
12:53
[SPEAKER_00]: That they haven't been the same Eagles team this year.
12:56
[SPEAKER_00]: They're playing up very much a rock fight style of football or they're trying to drag you into the deep end of the pool and make you play their game, but.
13:06
[SPEAKER_00]: it works for the time being and who know we've seen Jalen for hurts for whatever reason when the lights get bright us he gets his best.
13:14
[SPEAKER_00]: I don't know what it is, but he just has had that tendency to do that in his career whether it be at Oklahoma or Philadelphia or at, you know, Alabama for a time when he was the freshman of the year before losing his job to to endary.
13:32
[SPEAKER_01]: I mean, I line with what you were just saying there.
13:34
[SPEAKER_01]: No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no,
14:01
[SPEAKER_01]: Manufacturing or having a buy.
14:04
[SPEAKER_01]: So I like to also rest first is rust, right?
14:07
[SPEAKER_00]: Exactly.
14:07
[SPEAKER_00]: Especially this team that they've got no experience.
14:10
[SPEAKER_00]: They've got no playoff experience like that.
14:12
[SPEAKER_00]: That those play into this.
14:16
[SPEAKER_01]: All right, last bit here before we move on to the injuries, Ben Johnson on the lines playing from Pride Against the Bears, Ben Johnson said they're going to fight.
14:24
[SPEAKER_01]: That's what they do.
14:25
[SPEAKER_01]: They encamble to talk about the disappointment of Detroit not making the play off.
14:28
[SPEAKER_01]: Sometimes you get hit rock bottom before you can work your way back up and build to where we are all at.
14:32
[SPEAKER_01]: This is rock bottom.
14:34
[SPEAKER_01]: So we'll dive into some of the injuries in a second here, but when it comes to Detroit, it can be get a very prideful group.
14:40
[SPEAKER_01]: It's still a talent to group even though they are beatin' up.
14:44
[SPEAKER_01]: And there is still potentially a little bit of the whole, this might have already been done beginning of the year and we too, but there is still the hey Ben Johnson left us for a team in the division.
14:52
[SPEAKER_01]: So I think all of this is going to get to a point where and Dan Campbell has said this, if you're healthy enough, you're going to play and there's a little bit of the what have we got to lose factor.
15:01
[SPEAKER_01]: I mean, they did this.
15:02
[SPEAKER_01]: I think was two years ago where they didn't have anything to play for and they could have sat their starters and they didn't and they hung a good number of points and beat.
15:10
[SPEAKER_01]: I think we can't remember who it was in that final week.
15:12
[SPEAKER_01]: But
15:13
[SPEAKER_01]: This is not a team that's just a wound that's like a beaten dog.
15:17
[SPEAKER_01]: It's more of a back to no corner kind of a team.
15:19
[SPEAKER_01]: They're still going to fight you.
15:22
[SPEAKER_00]: Yeah, and I expect nothing less, honestly.
15:25
[SPEAKER_00]: It's who Dan Campbell is.
15:27
[SPEAKER_00]: It's I'm sure there's some level of like, I don't want to say ill will or animosity, but some level of, oh yeah, I guess it is animosity.
15:38
[SPEAKER_00]: More to the little bit of middle finger.
15:40
[SPEAKER_00]: Yeah, but again, I think when we talked before the week to dropping the bears took from the Detroit Lions, that it's dumbed it for the players to be of Detroit to be mad.
15:51
[SPEAKER_00]: He got a promotion.
15:53
[SPEAKER_00]: Like he just got a better job.
15:54
[SPEAKER_00]: That's what it was.
15:57
[SPEAKER_00]: Like he put it off for two years and stayed in state and state and state.
16:02
[SPEAKER_00]: And clearly they miss him.
16:03
[SPEAKER_00]: I think Dan Campbell has done a suitable if not better than okay job as play callers and taking the kid the duties from.
16:11
[SPEAKER_00]: From what's his name John more than more, but I I don't think he's been like obviously's not Ben Johnson.
16:21
[SPEAKER_00]: Ben Johnson's one of the five or six best offensive play callers and football right now.
16:26
[SPEAKER_00]: Like.
16:27
[SPEAKER_00]: there are levels to this and when you go from one of the best of the best to want someone who's merely fine or slightly above that, if you're going to feel that and then you factor in all the injuries, especially in the back end, the yes, they're there are much they're very much like a like a wounded lion in the corner, they're going to fight into the very end, more so than a beat down dog who's just waiting for it to be over with
16:57
[SPEAKER_00]: Yeah.
16:58
[SPEAKER_00]: So do I expect the lines to win?
17:00
[SPEAKER_00]: I don't know where I'm jumping the gun here.
17:02
[SPEAKER_00]: No, not really.
17:02
[SPEAKER_00]: You should handle them in their current state, especially if you want to prove you belong at a certain level in the playoffs and be respected a certain way.
17:10
[SPEAKER_00]: But you know, time will tell.
17:16
[SPEAKER_01]: All right, next up, we have our training room round up where we're just gonna discuss some of the injuries on both sides of this fight here.
17:24
[SPEAKER_01]: So, a little bit of some updates, we'll start with just the healthy people.
17:28
[SPEAKER_01]: Josh Blackwell, Luther Burton, and Olmideza Kias, all full participants today.
17:33
[SPEAKER_01]: Biggest one there being Luther Burton after he had to get carded off of the field with what really ended up being more like just a quad confusion.
17:41
[SPEAKER_01]: He got a knee right to the quad.
17:42
[SPEAKER_01]: Sometimes, honestly, that kind of a Charlie horse inhibits the ability for that quad to activate, and if you can't activate the quad, can't get that full extension, you can walk on it.
17:53
[SPEAKER_01]: So, it is, that's probably one of the reasons why he had to get card off, but he should, he's a full go, and especially with, if we're going to flip real quickly up to the top room, at Doonsay.
18:02
[SPEAKER_01]: Now I'm not a participant today.
18:03
[SPEAKER_01]: He's not going to participate, he's not going to play.
18:05
[SPEAKER_01]: I mean, like if he does, I would be insanely blown away.
18:08
[SPEAKER_01]: He's the second that that popped back up again with the stress fracturing of the food.
18:12
[SPEAKER_01]: He was not going to play in so the playoffs.
18:14
[SPEAKER_01]: So without Rome having to move there is obviously a huge year.
18:19
[SPEAKER_00]: Mm-hmm.
18:19
[SPEAKER_00]: And I would guess if Joe Dryash showing up is a DNP again today, I'd guess he's probably not playing either.
18:29
[SPEAKER_00]: At this point.
18:30
[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, in rare cases, I remember I want to say it was two, three years ago, the Packers had a guy, a camera who was my even Josh Myers, but it doesn't matter.
18:39
[SPEAKER_01]: He had DMPs all week and then was able to play that Sunday and it was, to be honest, I think a little of a shenanigans going on behind the scenes because technically that shouldn't be doable.
18:49
[SPEAKER_01]: If you follow the protocol fully,
18:51
[SPEAKER_01]: So if Joe trying to shake up is able to get play limited on Friday, there's a chance he's back, but like you said, more like the non-he's not.
18:59
[SPEAKER_01]: He's not going to play and then obviously the only one really other to talk on here, Jonah Jackson, illness.
19:05
[SPEAKER_01]: If it's anything like what we've seen for what's going on, and assuming it's the influenza right now, he should be good to go for Sunday.
19:12
[SPEAKER_01]: It's more of a team's like it's more of a 24 or 48 hour kind of thing.
19:17
[SPEAKER_00]: Yeah, and influenza is like you said it's going around and having a kid that just got over it.
19:21
[SPEAKER_00]: She had caught it like December 26 and she was fine like the 28th.
19:27
[SPEAKER_00]: Like it just seems to be two or three day thing.
19:32
[SPEAKER_01]: All right, well, I inside so more looking at this more holistically than necessarily what's listed here because if you're watching this, you can look at everything that's here.
19:40
[SPEAKER_01]: So the lines have been screwed again when it comes to the football gods and injuries.
19:45
[SPEAKER_01]: They're the second most entertaining NFL that sees an in terms of gamers miss with an injured reserve destination with 254 games miss.
19:51
[SPEAKER_01]: They trail only the Arizona Cardinals and that's that.
19:54
[SPEAKER_01]: Before the year the Lions lost key reserve pieces like Levi was reggae and his right straw Josh Pascal, he was able to return when this practice went out to choice and tire starting second year his and I had at some point the season two it's for to start a defense alignment only make meal who is huge for them Mark Stavinport had IR Stimps.
20:13
[SPEAKER_01]: Sample fortified end, plates nine games for having season any back surgery, starting left guard crucial, hogginging the six games to the pro-configula, while starting left tackle, excuse me, Taylor Decker has missed three games and played the majority of the season with a bad shoulder.
20:26
[SPEAKER_01]: Dan Campbell said that Decker plans to play versus the bearers, because honestly for being honest,
20:31
[SPEAKER_01]: might be his last season, he might retire, but Decker wanted to play versus Vikings, but he just didn't he's going to do it.
20:37
[SPEAKER_01]: And then space-soul left the Vikings game with an ankle injury before returning to action, and then we'll wait out Omadrossing Brown went down the later in that game.
20:46
[SPEAKER_01]: It was already dealing with an injury going into week 17, and then Alex has a low knee-a-bike weight-forked cushion.
20:52
[SPEAKER_01]: I already mentioned McNeil, he played just four teams now, so after suffering a abdominal injury, Decker and starting center Grand Guasco, with the last two games,
21:00
[SPEAKER_01]: They're just a myriad of terrible things going on.
21:04
[SPEAKER_01]: I mean, they have their second or third string quarterback of antibiotics playing safety for them.
21:10
[SPEAKER_01]: At this rate, I mean, it looks like I'm gonna rob my give it a go, but the rest of their team is just the walking wounded.
21:18
[SPEAKER_00]: It is, and it's one of those things for as much as I can appreciate where Dan Campbell comes from and the reason he has the buy in is because he does run the, the team the way he does sometimes you got to protect these guys from themselves like like for me like if I were, you know, all things being equal like do you just tell I'm on raw like just we'll see an extra like we're not playing for any of the like no I feel like no good can come from it.
21:48
[SPEAKER_00]: like what what's the purpose kind of thing like Taylor Decker, whatever, like I'm sure this is last year from the sounds if it let him go out the way he wants to go out.
21:57
[SPEAKER_00]: But like even like Anzaloni, like he matters to them.
22:00
[SPEAKER_00]: Right, like you really want to risk him making it worse.
22:05
[SPEAKER_00]: Imagine what happened.
22:05
[SPEAKER_01]: He's a very important linebacker for them.
22:07
[SPEAKER_01]: Imagine if he gets another concussion and that's something that bleeds in the next year.
22:13
[SPEAKER_00]: Yeah, that's what I'm saying.
22:15
[SPEAKER_00]: Like I get it, like I'm on rods of tough SLB and he's going to try and play.
22:22
[SPEAKER_00]: And I get the same feeling from Anzoloni.
22:24
[SPEAKER_00]: If he's cleared, he's gonna play.
22:27
[SPEAKER_00]: I think Dekker's probably gonna play, but it's just like at what point is it on the coaching staff and management to step in and be like, I'm not playing for anything.
22:39
[SPEAKER_00]: Like if you're not even playing spoiler really, you're just
22:43
[SPEAKER_01]: You're just kind of playing and we talked when we talked about that before earlier where I mean depends on how you want to look at it, but yeah, if the bears ended up the three seed and said the two seed.
22:53
[SPEAKER_01]: Okay, like I'm not losing any sleep over that just like I didn't lose a ton of sleep over them losing to the 49ers and losing their chance of the one seed would have been nice sure, but the bears are still making the play off for the first time at a long time and they're still a top three seed.
23:08
[SPEAKER_01]: I'm okay.
23:12
[SPEAKER_01]: All right, that is it for this section.
23:15
[SPEAKER_01]: Gonna move on to the second half of the show.
23:21
[SPEAKER_01]: kombucha is a premium performance folks kombucha craps specifically for athletes and active individuals that's revitalizing beverage blends the traditional benefits of kombucha with nutritional enhancements, to support energy, hydration and recovery, made from organic teas and infused with natural electrolytes, kombucha offers a delicious and effective solution to maintain peak performance.
23:39
[SPEAKER_01]: Maybe the bear's drink from kombucha is a good one to be so sick.
23:42
[SPEAKER_01]: Better athletic performance increase nutrient absorption, improve wellness and improve cognitive stamina, use code bear gut check for 15% off your order.
23:53
[SPEAKER_01]: All right, knee jerk reaction, one hot take going into this week.
23:56
[SPEAKER_00]: What do you got Danny?
23:59
[SPEAKER_00]: Um, that I, my knee jerk reaction, I'm not sure it's a hot take, but just beat them.
24:05
[SPEAKER_00]: whether they're playing their players or not, you want to get the seeding, you want the home field advantage.
24:11
[SPEAKER_00]: I want to see you effectively exacture revenge on this lion's team, have Ben Johnson do what he needs to do.
24:17
[SPEAKER_00]: I'm not saying you need to get Caleb his 4,000 yards.
24:20
[SPEAKER_00]: I know that's a big talking point, like Ben Johnson is going to dial up the passing game, so he gets the 271 or 271 yards wherever he needs.
24:27
[SPEAKER_00]: No, but just beat them.
24:30
[SPEAKER_00]: That's my reaction.
24:31
[SPEAKER_00]: Just secure your two seed even if I personally don't believe there's a huge difference between the second and third seed other than the extra home game potentially, which could loom large depending on who you're playing against.
24:43
[SPEAKER_00]: But I at some point you got us, you got to beat more good teams and Detroit for as much as
24:58
[SPEAKER_01]: That's a very good point.
24:59
[SPEAKER_01]: I mean, there's something about momentum.
25:00
[SPEAKER_01]: I mean, you lost a hard one to the 49ers.
25:03
[SPEAKER_01]: So now imagine like let's say you had a let down against this line scheme who is going to be scrappy and you'd lost two to row going into the playoffs.
25:11
[SPEAKER_01]: And that's not going to feel good.
25:14
[SPEAKER_01]: Especially a division rival on top of that.
25:17
[SPEAKER_01]: So go out and beat the team when you're supposed to beat.
25:21
[SPEAKER_01]: And right now Detroit, just with how they're upset up, is the team responsibility.
25:25
[SPEAKER_01]: Right.
25:26
[SPEAKER_01]: My hot take.
25:28
[SPEAKER_01]: So Kail Williams is now eighth in the NFL and passing yards for 3,730, ninth and touchdowns of 25.
25:34
[SPEAKER_01]: Kail gets the bear's record pretty easily you'd think and becomes the first bear's QB to 4K.
25:39
[SPEAKER_01]: If he's 109 yards in the season finale to set the bear's new single season passing record and 270 yards to become the franchise first, 4000-year passers.
25:48
[SPEAKER_01]: So my hot take is that I think he does get to two or seven years passing.
25:51
[SPEAKER_01]: I don't think it's not forced.
25:53
[SPEAKER_01]: Like if, you know, the passing game just isn't there, but the run game is and, you know, the the deandres we have to comment on guy or just knock it off six, ten, four, six, your chunks.
26:05
[SPEAKER_01]: Then yeah, they're going to run the ball and once we win the game, Caleb wants to win game.
26:08
[SPEAKER_01]: That's the most important part.
26:10
[SPEAKER_01]: But I think we've have seen an evolution in Caleb Williams as a
26:14
[SPEAKER_01]: Um, yeah, there's still the weird misses like there's that one to Colston, Loveland where on reviewing the all 22, that was a harder throw than I thought it was because he was not just rolling to the right, but he was having drift backwards more than I thought.
26:27
[SPEAKER_01]: So I see why, you know, it wasn't as easy of a throw, but that's still one that he should hit.
26:32
[SPEAKER_01]: There's a couple of those here and there.
26:33
[SPEAKER_01]: But then the rest of the game, I mean, he just has all these just dimes, right?
26:37
[SPEAKER_01]: Whether it's rolling out was backing up, whether, you know, whether it's in the pocket.
26:41
[SPEAKER_01]: So,
26:42
[SPEAKER_01]: I do think he gets to 270 if I'm being completely honest.
26:47
[SPEAKER_00]: Yeah, I mean, and to your point, like I know Chris Collins worth seemingly made a lot about the one miss initially because he gives it whatever.
26:55
[SPEAKER_00]: And I was going to go in a quarter of the next never make that kind of a thrill.
26:59
[SPEAKER_00]: They always hit it.
26:59
[SPEAKER_00]: Yeah, I think that was him just for what for better for worse for those who are listening.
27:05
[SPEAKER_00]: These guys have talking points.
27:07
[SPEAKER_00]: it was a talking point and objectively true heat to this point in the season up until like probably a week or two after the giant's game i'd say from what i'm going back on memory he did have a lot of sprays like you're talking six to eight a game where he would just outright miss
27:26
[SPEAKER_00]: And I think that was more of the point Collins worth was driving home.
27:29
[SPEAKER_00]: He just didn't do the best way of conveying his point.
27:31
[SPEAKER_00]: That's how I've adhered over there.
27:33
[SPEAKER_00]: The last few weeks, since really, like I said though, it seems the week after the giant's game, the sprays have gone down.
27:40
[SPEAKER_00]: His footwork has cleaned up.
27:41
[SPEAKER_00]: The most important thing that I see when I walk, we go back and watch the games, because I go back.
27:45
[SPEAKER_00]: I watch it.
27:46
[SPEAKER_00]: I watched the first game.
27:47
[SPEAKER_00]: I watched the game copy back, and then I watch all 22, right?
27:51
[SPEAKER_00]: So it finally feels like Caleb isn't swimming.
27:56
[SPEAKER_01]: It felt like he's more effectively instead of behind the play.
27:59
[SPEAKER_00]: It felt like he was always trying to find the answer in real time versus like I know what this looks like now.
28:07
[SPEAKER_00]: This is the read, this is how it should look.
28:10
[SPEAKER_00]: He's finally like with the offensive part of his brain not being intertwined into his brain.
28:19
[SPEAKER_00]: like he it's two different things now.
28:21
[SPEAKER_00]: So yeah, static cognition versus the dynamic cognition.
28:25
[SPEAKER_00]: Right, exactly.
28:26
[SPEAKER_00]: So I think that's a big thing for him.
28:29
[SPEAKER_00]: And it matters.
28:30
[SPEAKER_00]: It matters a lot to be able to basically slow himself down and keep his footwork in his mechanics and everything in check.
28:44
[SPEAKER_00]: And then allow for the
28:46
[SPEAKER_00]: the Jared golfing of him to happen and allow him to keep the superman stuff when he's able to do it.
28:53
[SPEAKER_00]: And so yeah, a miss or two every week is fine.
28:56
[SPEAKER_00]: Three misses is fine.
28:58
[SPEAKER_00]: It's when you start getting to that five six seven eight times where you're like, dude, like you can't keep doing that.
29:06
[SPEAKER_00]: And that was where specifically frustrations for my no other people who watched the tape and all the other people who had this very high opinion of Caleb were getting frustrated because this wasn't something he did with any regularity, but there was a lot of work to be done in unlearning of bad habits from last year under Dahl, not Dahl logins, but under Shane Waldron, Shane Waldron,
29:35
[SPEAKER_00]: like it's just one of those things like there was a lot that he had to correct on top of learning a new offense.
29:44
[SPEAKER_00]: So I think we're finally seeing the manifestation of all that work and and not having to be so learning this offense first and like they're now leveling it up and building off what they know works.
30:02
[SPEAKER_01]: Uh, my, uh, some move on to my to be a perfectly honest, uh, I think certain past treasures kind of need to be done.
30:09
[SPEAKER_01]: And the by that, I mean, dropping of how many snaps that they're getting.
30:14
[SPEAKER_01]: So Caleb Williams right now leads the week in most past year.
30:18
[SPEAKER_01]: You're as lost due to dropped this season, uh, with 370 number two is Matt Sapphire 263 number three is Trevor Lawrence 320 and deck crosscode is four of that 319.
30:27
[SPEAKER_01]: So it's a pretty big gap between the
30:31
[SPEAKER_01]: 11.2% of kills passes have been dropped, which leads lead.
30:35
[SPEAKER_01]: Certain players need a bit of time to mature.
30:37
[SPEAKER_01]: Like Manungai has six drops.
30:39
[SPEAKER_01]: For example, this year, which, you know, I think with some time, as the game also slows down for him, that'll help.
30:46
[SPEAKER_01]: But other such as the Kias with 5, DJ Moore has for, I mean, that's a different story.
30:50
[SPEAKER_01]: At this point, I just don't need to see the Kias on as many routes as he's on.
30:55
[SPEAKER_01]: Especially because really the only thing that he consistently does as well is the option route right in the middle, which even that him and Caleb have not been on the same page for good chunks of the year.
31:03
[SPEAKER_01]: I mean, I think Johnny Walker has done enough that as long as others are healthy, you know, over time with her burden and DJ Moore's that I think is a key as can move down the pecking order.
31:14
[SPEAKER_01]: As for DJ, the scheme touches and shot plays are all I really need to see from him.
31:18
[SPEAKER_01]: Like it's just some of his contested catches are just not
31:23
[SPEAKER_01]: where I'd like them to be at this point.
31:24
[SPEAKER_01]: And by that, I just mean, like, I even fully can test it because what was it?
31:27
[SPEAKER_01]: The beginning of that game, he had that quick out.
31:29
[SPEAKER_01]: And so yeah, the defender was there.
31:31
[SPEAKER_01]: And but that's a catch.
31:33
[SPEAKER_01]: I need DJ to make, and he just isn't.
31:35
[SPEAKER_01]: Again, I'd rather just put burden on that route or give me lovelin there, like why is that that case?
31:42
[SPEAKER_01]: So yeah, to be honest, there's a couple of people that I just don't need to be either A as high in the progression or B, I'll see as many snaps.
31:53
[SPEAKER_01]: What is your to be at perfectly honest?
31:56
[SPEAKER_00]: There's no fixing this deepens this year.
31:58
[SPEAKER_00]: Oh, God, no, there isn't.
32:01
[SPEAKER_00]: There's no answers coming.
32:03
[SPEAKER_00]: Like you can hope for the volatility play to keep swinging your favor, which is what they're going to have to do.
32:10
[SPEAKER_00]: It's like a bad NBA team, which has to keep throwing up three pointers because it's a math game, the volatility.
32:17
[SPEAKER_00]: They're going to have to be risk takers.
32:18
[SPEAKER_00]: They have to be the people that
32:24
[SPEAKER_00]: playing for like risk, like there's no other way around it.
32:31
[SPEAKER_00]: You're going to have to play every seven every time.
32:34
[SPEAKER_00]: You, that's field goals aren't doing it, right?
32:37
[SPEAKER_00]: And then that's what, and like the, and the, the Niners game was all that needed to be proven to me, where you got the pick six and it kind of doesn't matter.
32:48
[SPEAKER_00]: like you opened the game with the pick six and you just could not get another stop.
32:52
[SPEAKER_00]: I guess you've got because of them they're first what they're first punt and a month.
32:56
[SPEAKER_00]: And Kyle Shanahan, I wanna give him all the flowers in the world.
32:59
[SPEAKER_00]: He's one of the best in the world at what he does.
33:02
[SPEAKER_00]: But they don't have the ability to just get a stop when they need a stop.
33:07
[SPEAKER_00]: Greatie Jared, ain't greatie Jared anymore.
33:09
[SPEAKER_00]: Dio Dengbo wasn't good when he was healthy.
33:12
[SPEAKER_00]: Montez Svet, God love him and his 7 game stretch where he had like 7 sacs or whatever leading into the last couple of weeks.
33:21
[SPEAKER_00]: He's just not worth the paycheck.
33:24
[SPEAKER_00]: It's clear at that point at this point.
33:27
[SPEAKER_01]: Like, you just don't feel like, so if you all people keep throwing out some of these advanced stats for him and the PFF grades and all that, and they're actually decent, but go back and watch the game and you tell me that you really feel monetized consistently and you just don't.
33:43
[SPEAKER_00]: You do, and I get, and that's, I feel like PFF is a very divisive thing because people love to hate on it and then use it to also then prop up a player.
33:53
[SPEAKER_00]: They like, well, these numbers from PFF say this, even though I just dunked on PFF in their grades, you know, two sentences beforehand.
34:01
[SPEAKER_00]: Like, I think two things can be true.
34:03
[SPEAKER_00]: Montez is a good, not great football player.
34:06
[SPEAKER_00]: He's a very middleing, I'd say, second pass rusher on a good team.
34:13
[SPEAKER_00]: he is elevated well above that.
34:18
[SPEAKER_00]: And doesn't do enough for what he's paid for.
34:22
[SPEAKER_00]: And on top of that, the guy that's supposed to be up.
34:25
[SPEAKER_01]: Oh, they just look at the 49ers game where Brock Bertie just had his way with Montez multiple times.
34:31
[SPEAKER_01]: And it was sometimes it would just be for a scramble.
34:33
[SPEAKER_01]: Like Brock Bertie should not be out running you.
34:36
[SPEAKER_00]: Especially when you're the guy who ran like a what a force five or four six years ago coming out of Mississippi State and you were like the guy that was built in a lab to play defensive end.
34:46
[SPEAKER_00]: Right.
34:46
[SPEAKER_00]: Well, they.
34:48
[SPEAKER_00]: At a certain point, it's okay to say it.
34:49
[SPEAKER_00]: He's been a disappointment of an addition to an extent when you factor in everything about how he was acquired the extension the second round pick, et cetera, et cetera.
34:56
[SPEAKER_00]: I'm not here to rehash all that.
34:58
[SPEAKER_00]: I'm just saying that my need your might to be up over here on us is this defense is bad and there's no reinforcements coming.
35:06
[SPEAKER_00]: like you're going to have to live in this world of volatility.
35:10
[SPEAKER_01]: And even the reinforcements that exist are not ones that will make your defense necessarily better, right?
35:16
[SPEAKER_01]: And nor ones you can trust.
35:17
[SPEAKER_01]: Jail and Johnson still is in a hundred percent.
35:19
[SPEAKER_01]: So I would, you're, I don't think you're counting on him to a cent.
35:22
[SPEAKER_01]: I mean, he forced that pick six, which is fantastic.
35:24
[SPEAKER_01]: But then he was fine, ish the rest of the day.
35:27
[SPEAKER_01]: And then again, he didn't even finish the game.
35:29
[SPEAKER_01]: Tyler Gordon may make an appearance this off season.
35:32
[SPEAKER_01]: I don't know that what he's going to do is he actually going to be available, and if he is available, I mean, he's what have been coming off his second I are, and he's not in game shape.
35:40
[SPEAKER_01]: And so like I just, and then on top of that, secondary is not your problem problem.
35:45
[SPEAKER_01]: It's part of it.
35:46
[SPEAKER_01]: I mean, the Sean Wright was, we talked about getting burdened by recursive all consistently, but at the same time, your biggest issue is you can't stop the run well and that you can't put pressure on the quarterback, and there's no
36:00
[SPEAKER_00]: It's not a fun defense to say at least.
36:08
[SPEAKER_01]: Well, I think that's humorous.
36:10
[SPEAKER_01]: Mine, Daniel Pulton, at Daniel Pulton, tweeted this out earlier.
36:14
[SPEAKER_01]: Since an including week eight, Bangle's game, Chicago Bears Titan, Colston, Lovelin, stats, and ranks amongst Titans.
36:21
[SPEAKER_01]: Fourth in yards with 504, sixth in touchdowns with five, third with yards per reception, fourth in yards per route run, second in PFF offense of grade, fourth in PFF receiving grade,
36:32
[SPEAKER_01]: So in general, I just think it's pretty funny to the people who wrote off love literally who talked about how, you know, Tyler Warren was this, was such a better pick that guys like Aronde Gats, and because he had a week or two that, you know, he did well that, you know, if he would have been a better draft pick, Harold Fannon is pretty awesome.
36:47
[SPEAKER_01]: He probably is going to get, you know, like a rookie all pro now, just because he's been very good on a not good Brown team.
36:53
[SPEAKER_01]: And one of the things that are on there,
36:55
[SPEAKER_01]: All right, per friend of the podcast, Brent and Shigrew, saying at Brent and Shigrew, he tweeted out, the last time the bear's played the lines, Levelin had one target for zero catches, burdened hit two targets for one catch and five yards.
37:06
[SPEAKER_01]: Trepilla was a healthy scratch, but none guy had seven carriers for 28 yards.
37:09
[SPEAKER_01]: It's going to be fun to see the rookies go from non-factures to significant contributors in the second matchup.
37:14
[SPEAKER_01]: So, so far this podcast has been not been like the most positive, but this is a big positive.
37:20
[SPEAKER_01]: The fact that those names I just read off for what Brennan had to eat it will be a big part of this game and something that you can really look forward to.
37:27
[SPEAKER_01]: Like this is not the bearish week too.
37:32
[SPEAKER_00]: Um, kind of in the same vein, my eighth is humorous for as frustrating and erratic as Caleb Williams was early on.
37:41
[SPEAKER_00]: especially when it came to things like middle of the field accuracy to open players coming off and rub routes or, you know, in breakers or what have you and and then has a measurable difficulties withdrawing the ball down field early on where he was one of the five least accurate quarterbacks during the ball more than 15 air yards down field.
38:01
[SPEAKER_00]: Two things have happened.
38:02
[SPEAKER_00]: He has become one of the five most accurate in the last few weeks of targeting downfield clearly learning how to layer and to use his arm strength and being able to understand what what club is for what throw kind of thing and.
38:18
[SPEAKER_00]: never did I think I'd see the day where a bear's quarterback would be in the top five of MVP odds.
38:24
[SPEAKER_00]: But I believe it was Fandel had it at major odds on favorite, followed by Stafford, who was then followed by Trevor Lawrence, who you own a apology to.
38:32
[SPEAKER_01]: Um, oh, I didn't even see the playoff party that.
38:37
[SPEAKER_01]: But I will say I promise if he shows this in the playoffs for at least like one game against a good opponent, I will, I will give him a ball game.
38:46
[SPEAKER_00]: and tied for fourth with Josh Allen is one Caleb Williams as the fourth odds, fourth highest odds to win the MVP this year.
38:55
[SPEAKER_00]: Now is he going to win it?
38:56
[SPEAKER_00]: No, but he's going to garner some votes and that's probably the first time I've heard bears and quarterback with an MVP mentioned since the six weeks of Rex Grossman during the 2006 season or 2005 season leading into the 2006 Super Bowl.
39:09
[SPEAKER_00]: So stick that in your pipe and smoke it, Mr. Man.
39:14
[SPEAKER_01]: No, it is awesome because I can't think of the last time I ever really considered that to be an option.
39:22
[SPEAKER_01]: I mean, I never thought about that with Mitch, even regardless of how, you know, whatever he did, which was always questionable at us for being a fully honest.
39:32
[SPEAKER_01]: And then, I mean, just just to never got there, that some of the talent was obviously very tantalizing and the wild plays more on the ground, more than anything, Robbsy, very cool.
39:44
[SPEAKER_01]: It was more of a highlight reel than it was truly, you know, game changing.
39:47
[SPEAKER_01]: So the fact that even, like you said, he is not going to win it and should into for probably being honest, but the fact that he's even in that conversation with the guys like Drake May who's having a fantastic season against a bad schedule, but still a fantastic season, the Matt Stappard to the world who is a robotic quarterback.
40:04
[SPEAKER_01]: It's pretty cool.
40:07
[SPEAKER_01]: All right, last break, then we get to the back after the show.
40:14
[SPEAKER_01]: We have merch.
40:15
[SPEAKER_01]: We've been plugging this for a little over a month now.
40:17
[SPEAKER_01]: Maybe you'd like month and a half.
40:18
[SPEAKER_01]: And not enough of you have ordered merch.
40:21
[SPEAKER_01]: It's crazy.
40:21
[SPEAKER_01]: The holidays have come and gone and you didn't buy a shirt.
40:24
[SPEAKER_01]: I had a mug of anything for the bear's fan in your life.
40:28
[SPEAKER_01]: You can still go ahead and get something though for yourself.
40:32
[SPEAKER_01]: Or you don't want, I'm sorry, that I failed you as a friend.
40:34
[SPEAKER_01]: If I go into a second city grid iron shop.412.com and going and getting some of our sweet merch.
40:40
[SPEAKER_01]: Pretty cool stuff in there.
40:42
[SPEAKER_01]: and also helps us grow the show.
40:44
[SPEAKER_01]: Speaking of, if you're listening to this, we'd absolutely love if you would subscribe on YouTube, like the YouTube video, share this with the bears fan in your life, it really helps us.
40:54
[SPEAKER_01]: And we're hoping to do some cool things.
40:56
[SPEAKER_01]: Like I'd love to do another live draft show.
40:59
[SPEAKER_01]: I talked to someone who could hook us up at the pre-sweet spot to do it in the city.
41:03
[SPEAKER_01]: And other things like that.
41:05
[SPEAKER_01]: But we need you guys to make that happen.
41:07
[SPEAKER_01]: So please do so.
41:11
[SPEAKER_01]: What you need to know, the 11 and five bears are playing for the two seat and also looking to avenge a 31 point dropping to the eight-nate lines back in September.
41:22
[SPEAKER_01]: The lines have lost three in a row and have been eliminated.
41:25
[SPEAKER_01]: The lines allow 7th most receiving yards to receivers, the allow the fourth most receiving touchdowns and the bears allow the 7th most paths complete most paths completion percentage, fifth most rushing yards, six most rushing yards at home
41:41
[SPEAKER_01]: There's a lot of third most received TV touchdowns as well, but as we talked about the lines are missing some key pieces that might change that.
41:48
[SPEAKER_01]: Kevin Fishbain tweeted this out today, quirky facts.
41:51
[SPEAKER_01]: There's not one of season finale at Solar Gefields since 2007.
41:54
[SPEAKER_01]: Now we've only played four season finalized at home from 2008 to 2024, but they lost them all.
42:00
[SPEAKER_01]: 2013, 2015, 2020, and 2022.
42:04
[SPEAKER_01]: So Caleb is looking to change that narrative.
42:11
[SPEAKER_01]: We talked a little bit about a couple of these, but a deeper dive is always good.
42:15
[SPEAKER_01]: Yesterday, Ben Johnson said that this in Caleb Williams pops you getting to 4,000 yards passing on Sunday.
42:20
[SPEAKER_01]: If it were to happen, that would be great.
42:22
[SPEAKER_01]: He would agree with me.
42:23
[SPEAKER_01]: Our number one objective is to win this ball game.
42:25
[SPEAKER_01]: Is that just coach speak or do you think that there's a chance that Ben Johnson does actively care about this and tries to help Caleb out?
42:33
[SPEAKER_00]: I mean, I'm sure I'm some level.
42:35
[SPEAKER_00]: There's part of him that does care about the 4,000
42:41
[SPEAKER_00]: with the tie done piece earlier on this year and everything like that, like, hey, look what I did with, you know, even though I think in regards to that people are taking weird victory laps on it, even though there was things can change that can be the truth from last year and things can change when people change in the building, kind of thing, but anyway.
43:03
[SPEAKER_00]: I think top of mind is, yes, when the football game.
43:08
[SPEAKER_00]: get secure to see secure your home field, whatever it is, because I'm sure that matters to Ben Johnson, especially in his first go round with this.
43:17
[SPEAKER_00]: But like you said, allowing the fifth most yards, you said a game through the air, right?
43:25
[SPEAKER_00]: That's in large part because Kirby Joseph
43:31
[SPEAKER_00]: everybody's hurt, I'm not saying Mattix for God's sake who's been an outside corner his whole career is being forced into spot duty at safety.
43:38
[SPEAKER_00]: The way to win might be through the air.
43:43
[SPEAKER_00]: Now do I think they're going to actively work against Caleb if it's close?
43:49
[SPEAKER_00]: No, but I don't.
43:50
[SPEAKER_00]: I think it's a priority without being a priority kind of thing.
43:54
[SPEAKER_01]: I would say if it's like the fourth quarter and you're up by like three scores and you would be considering like should we just pack this in and like polar starters or slash should we just run the game the clock out and Caleb has like 15 yards to go like no you're going to try to get in the last 15 right I don't think they're going to sacrifice their game plan at the hand of just getting him this 4,000 yards that's what I'll say yeah
44:19
[SPEAKER_01]: uh, depending on how weak a teen shakes out, bearish love only be in three playoff teams in their 11 or 12 wins.
44:26
[SPEAKER_01]: Uh, the Steelers may be depending on how that goes, if they make the playoff strategy, if they, you know, depending on the Ravens game, the Eagles and the Packers does this matter.
44:40
[SPEAKER_00]: Hmm.
44:40
[SPEAKER_00]: I'm sorry, Blank.
44:42
[SPEAKER_00]: Is that this matter?
44:43
[SPEAKER_00]: Basically, it doesn't matter that the bears have only beaten three potential playoff teams in the Steelers Eagles and Yes, and so yes and no, and I thought about this before the show before I even knew this question was coming.
44:57
[SPEAKER_00]: It matters in that you can you need to beat good teams to show your good team that being said, you can only play who's in front of you.
45:08
[SPEAKER_00]: People forget, like you can cite all this all you want.
45:12
[SPEAKER_00]: I think that bears have beaten more good football teams than they were wanting to give the bears credit for, because coming into this season, they also had what was considered the second hardest strength of schedule coming into the year.
45:24
[SPEAKER_00]: The Lions got hurt and beat down.
45:27
[SPEAKER_00]: The Vikings did not pan out the way people thought they would, even though Kevin O'Connell has, in a way, right at the ship down the stretch here.
45:36
[SPEAKER_01]: Like managers are doing fine until the bears sent them back and yeah, and I said it.
45:41
[SPEAKER_00]: I think I actually said it on this show.
45:42
[SPEAKER_00]: The bears did to them this year.
45:44
[SPEAKER_00]: What the pick managers did to them last year or just like it ended everything.
45:50
[SPEAKER_00]: Like so yes, it matters, but it doesn't because I think there's contextual things to consider in terms of yes, you're not beating a ton of playoff teams this year.
46:05
[SPEAKER_00]: significantly, recently, and consistently with the Lions and the Vikings.
46:12
[SPEAKER_00]: like, or if you beat the lions, that's what we can, I'm sure they say.
46:16
[SPEAKER_00]: And they beat the Vikings once, and they beat the packers once.
46:18
[SPEAKER_00]: Like, there's teams that matter, like, even if the stealers lose, that's till the stealers.
46:24
[SPEAKER_00]: Like, as frustrating as they are, I'm sure to, you know, the standard being the standard winning 9 or 10 games every year, and like being a first round out is very frustrating to a fan base.
46:33
[SPEAKER_00]: That's still a good, well-coached football team.
46:37
[SPEAKER_00]: And nothing comes easy against them.
46:40
[SPEAKER_00]: Like I just I can only give that that's so much credence and then people are gasing up Drake main, you know, the same argument you're using to say the bears don't belong in the playoffs.
46:51
[SPEAKER_00]: Well, the worse the worse winning percentage face this year of any schedule has been the Patriots, but we're going to gas him up and he's going to probably get his MVP in year two.
47:01
[SPEAKER_00]: And it doesn't make sense.
47:03
[SPEAKER_01]: If the PFF account has tweeted this out, the best offense is that scoring touchdowns versus current playoff teams.
47:10
[SPEAKER_01]: First is the Rams with 33.7% highest touchdown drive percentage versus those teams.
47:15
[SPEAKER_01]: Patriots at 33.3% in the bearer's at 30%.
47:19
[SPEAKER_01]: So yeah, I mean, if you're going to say this about the barriers to say about the Patriots, and I get you can only play his in front of you.
47:27
[SPEAKER_01]: I can't tell you what would happen in a game if the bear's played the Seahawks.
47:30
[SPEAKER_01]: I don't think that they'd be fine and have a chance to win that game though, but I can't guarantee that they would win or lose that game.
47:38
[SPEAKER_01]: Take about take almost any team currently in the playoffs.
47:43
[SPEAKER_01]: You could talk, and the bear's beat the Eagles, I don't know if they'd like this though.
47:46
[SPEAKER_01]: Probably did.
47:48
[SPEAKER_01]: Bears beat the Eagles obviously.
47:49
[SPEAKER_01]: I mean, they're walking into the playoffs.
47:51
[SPEAKER_01]: The only played certain teams in the AFC.
47:54
[SPEAKER_01]: You can't help that you're playing the Raiders who also were playing better at the time.
47:58
[SPEAKER_01]: Could the Bears beat the Chargers?
48:00
[SPEAKER_01]: Could the Bears beat the bills?
48:01
[SPEAKER_01]: I don't know for sure.
48:02
[SPEAKER_01]: That didn't happen.
48:03
[SPEAKER_01]: That's a multi-burst that doesn't exist for this year, but I'm not going to poo them for not having them on their schedule.
48:10
[SPEAKER_00]: Right, exactly.
48:11
[SPEAKER_00]: You can only play who's in front of you.
48:13
[SPEAKER_00]: And like I said, the contextualization matters because these same people are the same ones saying how great Kevin O'Connell is and how great Dan Campbell is and how they're overcoming all these things are they good football teams are they not.
48:35
[SPEAKER_00]: They've beaten the teams that should have beaten.
48:37
[SPEAKER_00]: They've probably lost to some teams like the Ravens with Tyler Huntley playing quarterback.
48:41
[SPEAKER_00]: They should have probably won that football game.
48:43
[SPEAKER_00]: But you're not going to win every game you should and you're not going to lose every game you should.
48:49
[SPEAKER_01]: I mean, even take a team like the Saints, I mean, they've been beating up some bad teams, but they be in the last couple weeks, they beat the Titans, they beat the Jets, they beat the Panthers who was knocking on the door of the playoffs, they beat the Buccaneers who's trying to figure out their playoff spot, they, and so it's not, it's not every week and every team is necessarily who their record says they are already there.
49:13
[SPEAKER_00]: Right, and that's like I understand where people are coming from, but I feel like there's a lot of consternation about the bears specifically.
49:20
[SPEAKER_00]: And I think a lot of it has to do with there's a NFL fans don't like bears to be good.
49:27
[SPEAKER_00]: No, and I think the quarterback really does have something.
49:29
[SPEAKER_00]: I genuinely think the quarterback has something to do with it.
49:32
[SPEAKER_00]: He's just not like the the affluence, the
49:37
[SPEAKER_00]: the mannerisms that he's just not like your typical quote unquote alpha male as a football player.
49:44
[SPEAKER_00]: You know, he paints his nails.
49:45
[SPEAKER_00]: He's frankly he's kind of a nerd.
49:47
[SPEAKER_00]: He likes Legos.
49:48
[SPEAKER_00]: He likes he likes Disney.
49:49
[SPEAKER_00]: I want to say if memory serves like not that that makes you a nerd, but in the world of football, it's not like commonplace.
49:57
[SPEAKER_00]: And I think that on some level of fence, a lot of
50:06
[SPEAKER_00]: of the nature of this game, like, and I think that plays some into it.
50:11
[SPEAKER_00]: Like, and yeah, I think sometimes, especially because Chicago such a big city when the bears are good, the casual fan is much louder than they otherwise usually would be.
50:22
[SPEAKER_01]: I will say we as a fandom don't help ourselves, like everyone's allowing us, I did my toe into that where I retweet a book to mark tweet from before of a packer's fan who is loves who are lying to fan, who did something something, but I will say for the most part, I think it's, I do it like, few and far between.
50:39
[SPEAKER_01]: I now will openly admit, there are some real, rowdy bearish fans on Twitter that I kind of am like, they're not with us.
50:47
[SPEAKER_00]: They're very, there's this fan base, like I said, especially the casual people and they, and you start seeing like the fan accounts pop up of the Caleb Williams fan or the Caleb goat, well, you know, or goat, goat, goat, goat live Williams or something like like all these dumb accounts pop up on a nowhere to just start dunking on people and they don't know, you know, quite literally, legitimately anything of them that the fact that they love the bear is just fine.
51:11
[SPEAKER_00]: Casual fandom makes world go round.
51:15
[SPEAKER_01]: And the same society and how easy it is to be, you know, like you said, it's an AI generated picture of Caleb Williams and a bear and whatever and to be able to just say whatever you want with what seems like very little consequences, not great for footballness as a whole.
51:32
[SPEAKER_01]: Right, exactly.
51:34
[SPEAKER_01]: I was going to ask you one more question about Dan Campbell playing starters, but we pretty much really talked about that.
51:38
[SPEAKER_01]: The one last thing I'll throw out on there, if you're for some reason a lion's family state of this, or once a while we get that, is you, if you ever meet, you should actively be rooting to not have your starters play into potential lose this game between the change and draft pick, but also if you look at the potential schedules, a third play schedule for the lions, your playing teams that went 23 and 25 this year.
52:01
[SPEAKER_01]: If a fourth place schedule, you're playing teams that went 9 and 39, so if you're looking for like we just talked about, the various maybe having a bit of a easier schedule because you were playing fourth place teams and you know sometimes just about making the dance and getting some momentum and trying to build for one year to the next, the lion's lion's fan should be looking for that fourth place schedule just to have a year that you can just get to good feeling back and have a year where you can actively re-tool while still winning.
52:29
[SPEAKER_01]: So just throw that out there.
52:31
[SPEAKER_00]: Yeah, especially with the the clivety to drafting well that Brad Holmes seemingly has.
52:38
[SPEAKER_00]: Like they pay good.
52:41
[SPEAKER_00]: I mean, that's actually interesting.
52:42
[SPEAKER_00]: There's been more misses as a way.
52:45
[SPEAKER_01]: Uh, even this year, like I thought this year's draft ended up pretty solid for him, but I could be missing remembering pull up some of these you can't help obviously because, you know, injuries or whatever, but like this year.
53:09
[SPEAKER_01]: And then I don't even remember knowing any of these guys at the end of the rounds, miles between like Ahmed.
53:14
[SPEAKER_01]: Oh, yeah, that guy that defensive end from Boise Ahmed, Hossonon, he hasn't played Dan Jack and Dominic love it.
53:19
[SPEAKER_01]: Terry and Arnold unfortunately, injuries, and his Rick Strat injuries, John Giovanni Manu, injuries, Cio and Baki.
53:26
[SPEAKER_01]: He was that weird two-way guy that just didn't pan out.
53:28
[SPEAKER_01]: Christian Mahogany, starting for you.
53:30
[SPEAKER_01]: Good for you.
53:30
[SPEAKER_01]: Um, and I can tell you just, I know two of the challenges put it together after struggling in the first half.
53:36
[SPEAKER_01]: He's better than he was, for sure.
53:38
[SPEAKER_01]: Um, and then obviously we know about the Jamir give, check Campbell, Sam McCord, a draft, Brian Branch, fantastic, super great.
53:45
[SPEAKER_01]: It's like, so there's like, there aren't a ton of bad ones in here, but like, there's also definitely some like.
53:52
[SPEAKER_01]: I just don't think it says fans have to get some people make it out to be it.
53:55
[SPEAKER_00]: Like, we'll talk about him as a hundred percent swinging and it's more like, oh no, no, no, no, draft or no, no, there's just, there's just no, there's there's levels to this obviously.
54:06
[SPEAKER_00]: I think homes and companies are near the top, but also part of it is the fact they're trading up, like for example, do you know what that was?
54:15
[SPEAKER_00]: That was a thing.
54:16
[SPEAKER_00]: A Tesla could be a good player.
54:17
[SPEAKER_00]: And if you remember, I actually liked a Tesla from the military to get your birds.
54:22
[SPEAKER_00]: to go get them, right?
54:23
[SPEAKER_00]: And that's how he turned it he caused.
54:26
[SPEAKER_00]: He treated up to do that all the time.
54:28
[SPEAKER_00]: I think this whole series of draft is definitely the I'm feeling myself for after and I want to show you what I know and you don't kind of thing.
54:36
[SPEAKER_00]: Like it was very patient in that regard or pace would take these weird guy.
54:43
[SPEAKER_00]: It's like, why are you doing that?
54:46
[SPEAKER_01]: But okay.
54:48
[SPEAKER_01]: I think this goes to show and I'm not trying to make this a true comparison or whatever and we've had our full conversations, but like the same person that will go and say like how why haven't you hit this fourth round pick Ryan pulls and then we're looking at again, like you, I keep using it like seal and Valky and Giovanni Monu and it's like what have they done for you or hand in hooker and broad trick Martin in the third round in that Jamir Gibbs draft and what have they done for you, like it's it's not it's not easy to hit on third through seventh round picks.
55:17
[SPEAKER_00]: It's not, it's just also not, the difference is, homes had a lot of good will built up prior to those drafts, versus the GM in question here for our fair team has not been consistently hitting at the top of his drafts.
55:35
[SPEAKER_00]: And the ones he does hit are hurt now, or they're not going to get extended.
55:39
[SPEAKER_00]: Like, I would tell you right now, the, I think Chaklan risker was objectively a good football player.
55:44
[SPEAKER_00]: He's not going to be back, I don't think.
55:47
[SPEAKER_00]: like, that's just another guy walking out of the building.
55:49
[SPEAKER_00]: And then you extend your other second round.
55:53
[SPEAKER_00]: And then even the guy you extend, I think Kyler Murray, or Kyler Gordon is awesome.
55:59
[SPEAKER_00]: He never plays though.
56:02
[SPEAKER_01]: Like it's like that if I've been to another conversation, which I just kind of put good lines for us, so I don't think I should if I'm being honest.
56:08
[SPEAKER_01]: But you know, unless they had injury issues in college, like if you're drafting someone with a tornado or whoever current hamstring issues in college, yes, you should be, we should have a conversation.
56:19
[SPEAKER_01]: If you draft someone like,
56:20
[SPEAKER_01]: As far as I understand, Terry and Arnold didn't have anything in college like I don't think I'm going to boo, just like I don't think I can put who pulls for drafting Kyler Gordon because I don't recall him having injury stuff in college.
56:34
[SPEAKER_00]: No, it was the extending for a guy who had shown the
56:40
[SPEAKER_01]: And to not trying to rewrite history, when that signing happened, I don't recall there being a lot of pushback on the signing.
56:48
[SPEAKER_01]: I don't, I remember he was like, oh, he's heard all of it.
56:51
[SPEAKER_01]: Because he had a couple of injuries and he was like, oh, this is good.
56:54
[SPEAKER_01]: This is what you should pay a top.
56:55
[SPEAKER_00]: It was, but I just know he missed a lot of time.
57:01
[SPEAKER_00]: And John, even before this year, he always was missing something.
57:04
[SPEAKER_00]: Something was always wrong.
57:05
[SPEAKER_00]: He was like, he was the, it's something guy.
57:08
[SPEAKER_00]: It's always something.
57:09
[SPEAKER_00]: Yeah.
57:10
[SPEAKER_00]: But it's easy play.
57:11
[SPEAKER_01]: Let's think it's easy to rewrite history.
57:13
[SPEAKER_01]: Like there's no, there's no, we're willing to be like, he should have never extended comic Gordon.
57:17
[SPEAKER_01]: And it's like, if I rewind time and find this insert tweet or chat from you, I know not you with a cool go you.
57:23
[SPEAKER_01]: I know you were, okay, I know.
57:24
[SPEAKER_01]: That's right.
57:27
[SPEAKER_00]: Right, it was just more that I hope this doesn't go left.
57:31
[SPEAKER_00]: And unfortunately to this point, it's gone left.
57:34
[SPEAKER_00]: Do you think Brisk here's the guy that would take a home town discount?
57:38
[SPEAKER_00]: I do.
57:39
[SPEAKER_00]: I do too.
57:40
[SPEAKER_01]: That's what that's going to be really positive.
57:41
[SPEAKER_00]: So the position he plays, et cetera, et cetera, like how he plays, and I also think he just matters more to the bears than other teams, like, yeah, could be hold anyway.
57:52
[SPEAKER_00]: We're getting way out of gambling.
57:54
[SPEAKER_01]: We win a whole like Lions draft conversation.
57:57
[SPEAKER_01]: Um, love it.
57:58
[SPEAKER_01]: Every ability at it.
58:00
[SPEAKER_01]: Um, my love is the mode, this is the mode to kind of game.
58:03
[SPEAKER_01]: You're taking a lion's team that shall act you, you know, yes, they are not the lion's terms of temper, but a lion's team that, you know, beat you down in that week too.
58:11
[SPEAKER_01]: And, you know, in terms of vibes going into the playoffs on a win against the team that beat you and a scene with rival Ben's former team, you know, a home game is, is huge.
58:19
[SPEAKER_01]: And,
58:20
[SPEAKER_01]: I think this is the kind of game that if you let the lines hang around that it's all of a sudden a game, but if you go out there and you punch them in the mouth and you you'll put up 14 real quick and I think that this is it going to be easy team where you could be like, you know what they just kind of wipe their hands say this isn't worth it for us, so I'm excited that the potential of that.
58:40
[SPEAKER_00]: I would agree with that.
58:42
[SPEAKER_00]: The love I have is just the bear's passing game coming along against just an absolutely deteriorated and decimated wine secondary.
58:53
[SPEAKER_00]: You should be able to kind of have your way into which you want with them, especially with what the passing game is shot the last couple weeks.
59:01
[SPEAKER_01]: Luther Bird and close the love and should have some some game spam them just spam them.
59:08
[SPEAKER_00]: What's your hate?
59:10
[SPEAKER_00]: Um, honestly, I was looking at it coming into the show today, like I looked at it a little bit last night and into this this evening or this morning and afternoon.
59:18
[SPEAKER_00]: Like, and there's nothing I really hate that much.
59:23
[SPEAKER_00]: Like, it's, it's, it's partially the vibes are really good.
59:27
[SPEAKER_00]: And also the why and the things that you would really hate, like I guess if I were to pick and be the running game and just the inability to get off the field, but I feel like you
59:41
[SPEAKER_00]: get a stop against this offense because it's not Kyle Shanahan on the other side.
59:49
[SPEAKER_00]: It's Dan Campbell who again.
59:50
[SPEAKER_00]: He's been fine, but he's not Kyle Shanahan.
59:55
[SPEAKER_00]: Like that matters to me.
59:57
[SPEAKER_00]: Yeah.
59:57
[SPEAKER_00]: So it was not an really hate except for really the running game is not fun to look at.
1:00:02
[SPEAKER_01]: My hate was because like you said, there's not a lot to necessarily hate.
1:00:09
[SPEAKER_01]: But it's the one you were talking about before, so I'm not going to dive heavy into it, but it's the past rush where you might be playing yes against a backup right tackle if Sue will can't go, but there's a proven like, look at last week.
1:00:20
[SPEAKER_01]: Trent Williams was lost on the first offensive snap for the 49ers and you still were only able to mount one sack, zero hits and nine hurries.
1:00:28
[SPEAKER_01]: pressure is the entire time and awesome bookrat for a 30 stealing Montess sweatshed jock about three different times.
1:00:35
[SPEAKER_01]: If there were so many times or it would just be like and I mean, I'm just like dive at his ankle at least as he's running away from you to scramble like just at least when his lip is foot.
1:00:43
[SPEAKER_00]: What was it?
1:00:44
[SPEAKER_00]: The one where like even Austin Booker had him like dead to rights and then just straight over ran him like just up.
1:00:49
[SPEAKER_00]: So yeah, buy on disciplines and like and I mean I also think that that's there's a level of credit that does belong to Brockford because I feel like he's falling into this area where everyone wants to call him a system quarterback that issue is he's not just playing within the system.
1:01:07
[SPEAKER_00]: He's doing kind of he's got a level of bucket to him or he's he's a lot better and probably a lot closer to the
1:01:15
[SPEAKER_00]: Top 10 inside of, in between five and 10, then he is outside of 10 anymore.
1:01:19
[SPEAKER_00]: And it's just a, it's just a conversation, people probably don't want to have.
1:01:24
[SPEAKER_00]: Because I think he, he looks a certain way, right?
1:01:28
[SPEAKER_00]: He's not the best athlete.
1:01:29
[SPEAKER_00]: He doesn't know the best arm.
1:01:30
[SPEAKER_00]: He's tiny.
1:01:31
[SPEAKER_00]: He's kind of gauky looking or is just like, something about him doesn't look right when he's playing.
1:01:36
[SPEAKER_01]: Oh my God, every time he's celebrated, I wanted a punchman case.
1:01:41
[SPEAKER_01]: And I get, I feel like, lovely man,
1:01:46
[SPEAKER_01]: He's got his Dougie dog.
1:01:48
[SPEAKER_01]: So what was he gonna say?
1:01:49
[SPEAKER_01]: I was regarding the Brock party thing, which I don't know why we're talking about this because but I will.
1:01:56
[SPEAKER_01]: The
1:01:58
[SPEAKER_01]: I think the thing that's, well, I wonder how much of it.
1:01:59
[SPEAKER_01]: So two things, to his credit, yes, you had Matt Jones that went in there and you saw how the system works.
1:02:05
[SPEAKER_01]: You got wins with Matt Jones.
1:02:06
[SPEAKER_01]: However, you saw how much better the system works when you have rock pretty.
1:02:11
[SPEAKER_01]: Like it is substantially better.
1:02:13
[SPEAKER_01]: I do wonder if you took rock pretty.
1:02:16
[SPEAKER_01]: and you put it on not that the worst team of league but like team like the like of just middle straight middle of the road team that didn't have Kyle Shane a hand what that would look like.
1:02:26
[SPEAKER_01]: And to your point about him being closer to the top end versus the bottom end of that top 10, I wonder how much of that is due to also where we are at quarterback right now.
1:02:35
[SPEAKER_01]: then we aren't in that he that'll obviously plays into it.
1:02:38
[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, just because like you have your Kai juice like their Lamars and your homens and your alons and even they if their problems right now.
1:02:46
[SPEAKER_01]: And then there's this like a more-fist new breed of quarterback where it's like, where does your Daniels fall into this, where is Drake?
1:02:52
[SPEAKER_01]: May going now is he's ascending, you know, some of your bottom-ish guys, because that you know, what what is your talent hurts thought?
1:02:59
[SPEAKER_01]: I mean, he's had a pretty minute here.
1:03:00
[SPEAKER_00]: Yeah.
1:03:01
[SPEAKER_01]: And then the, the, the ascension of the reclaimed guys where it is Lawrence fall now where it is where you put Caleb in all of this where you just server go like there's there's so much of this weirdness kind of after your top threeish top four that I don't it's hard for me to disagree with you that he's where what you just said where he's at but at the same time it's almost like well who else are you putting instead of him.
1:03:25
[SPEAKER_00]: Right, it's not, it's not an easy conversation because the quarterback position, like, is just not like outside of really your top four or five, and the guy I would put it five and it was only five because he's never fucking playing.
1:03:43
[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, like that's a perfect example.
1:03:45
[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah.
1:03:46
[SPEAKER_00]: Like your, I think your fort, your top, your, your, at least how I'd rank the five is
1:03:55
[SPEAKER_00]: And then staffers probably in there.
1:03:59
[SPEAKER_01]: It's funny.
1:04:01
[SPEAKER_01]: If you ask me who'd you rather have between Burrow and Perti to win one game, I pick Burrow.
1:04:06
[SPEAKER_01]: If you ask me over the season who I'd rather have, I think I'd pick Perti because I know he'll play for full season, essentially.
1:04:13
[SPEAKER_01]: Hopefully at least 12 games.
1:04:15
[SPEAKER_00]: And I can't dress that with Burrow.
1:04:16
[SPEAKER_00]: Like I just can't.
1:04:17
[SPEAKER_00]: Burrow's literally only played more than half the games twice in his career.
1:04:22
[SPEAKER_00]: We need to stop pretending like he's like some guy that just has had bad luck.
1:04:26
[SPEAKER_00]: No, he just gets hurt.
1:04:27
[SPEAKER_00]: He's hurt all the time.
1:04:31
[SPEAKER_01]: Last part of this section, rehabilitate it.
1:04:33
[SPEAKER_01]: What do you have?
1:04:36
[SPEAKER_00]: Can I rehabilitate the entire defensive line somehow?
1:04:39
[SPEAKER_00]: Is that allowed?
1:04:41
[SPEAKER_01]: Uh, if you want to go and change the rule and you can somehow sign someone or try to make a trade at this point.
1:04:47
[SPEAKER_01]: Uh, you go.
1:04:48
[SPEAKER_00]: I'll only read your guide.
1:04:49
[SPEAKER_00]: I'll take match.
1:04:50
[SPEAKER_00]: I'll take match.
1:04:51
[SPEAKER_00]: Crosby and his bum lower half right now.
1:04:54
[SPEAKER_01]: A first, a second, DJ more for Max.
1:04:55
[SPEAKER_00]: Probably do it.
1:04:57
[SPEAKER_01]: Done without thinking about it.
1:05:01
[SPEAKER_01]: So you say, so I think one thing I'd be interested in seeing in terms of, because in the rehabilitation section, right, we'd like to see something change.
1:05:07
[SPEAKER_01]: Like how would you change it?
1:05:09
[SPEAKER_01]: I guess I would say in terms of pressures, because I don't think you see this a lot and correct me if I'm wrong.
1:05:14
[SPEAKER_01]: You get to watch a little more tape than I do.
1:05:16
[SPEAKER_01]: I don't know that I see a lot of creative stunting when it comes to the bear's past rush.
1:05:23
[SPEAKER_01]: It's more your lane is your lane and there's some simulated pressures and then some, you know, you're bringing it for, but you're dropping one of the linemen you're bringing a corner, not necessarily like a delayed stunts like that has plagued the bear's on the other side of it.
1:05:41
[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, I think you're, you're right in what you're seeing, but I think it's a lot of reason because Dennis Allen doesn't trust the bodies he has to do it straight out, like, yeah, I mean, I don't know that I trust Andrew Billings, just, I mean, as much as quick as he is, I don't know if I want him to do in crazy stunts.
1:05:57
[SPEAKER_01]: And then I mean, I mean, do you really want him to go in and drive going out on a stunt?
1:06:02
[SPEAKER_00]: Well, in part of it is when you're doing sim pressures and a lot of stunting, you also need to trust your back end.
1:06:07
[SPEAKER_00]: And right now you're so beat up on the back end,
1:06:11
[SPEAKER_00]: You're Nishon right again.
1:06:13
[SPEAKER_00]: God love him.
1:06:14
[SPEAKER_00]: He made himself a lot of money this year.
1:06:15
[SPEAKER_00]: He's still barbecued chicken Why he he just saw it happen.
1:06:20
[SPEAKER_01]: I just played it's burning in my mind.
1:06:22
[SPEAKER_01]: There's one play where He's on one on one on pure saw.
1:06:25
[SPEAKER_01]: It's man demand pure saw basically just runs a straight line at him and then just cuts like all Also, it's all it was just cut right back to quarterback and Nishon just wasn't near him like it's just
1:06:40
[SPEAKER_01]: Um, we're, we're to go like, and to give him some credit, yes, he was coming up and hamstring the illness, but like, it was just not great, but so my rehabilitate going back to that week to match up, the lion's had 11 explosive plays in week two, specifically that five to 10 yard depth middle of the field was particularly bad, where golf went five, uh, for six for 180 yards and a pass for a rating of 118.8.
1:07:05
[SPEAKER_01]: For if to rehabilitate that, limit explosive in your anti-for-catch, it's helpful if you don't have sandal port out there, you're going to have a hampered Amonra, obviously he's one of the biggest ones that would be in that five to ten yard range as well, but you need to shut down that middle of the field where golf can just get the ball out very quickly and let your anti-for-catch be the main thing.
1:07:27
[SPEAKER_00]: I agree with that, I do.
1:07:30
[SPEAKER_01]: All right, last couple categories here, X-factor for the Lions.
1:07:33
[SPEAKER_01]: For me, it's just controlled the wall.
1:07:34
[SPEAKER_01]: Don't let the bears offends get unfield and get into a rhythm.
1:07:37
[SPEAKER_01]: Last week, the bears were spotted seven points, but went three and out of the first two drives before finally turning it on.
1:07:44
[SPEAKER_01]: If Lions could create a similar game script where it just takes a little bit for Caleb and offense to get going, you have a bigger chance.
1:07:50
[SPEAKER_01]: And if you could just control time of possession and just give them less bites of the apple, then Lions have a solid shot to win that.
1:07:57
[SPEAKER_00]: Yeah, agreed.
1:07:58
[SPEAKER_00]: I was going to say their X-factor is ball control.
1:08:01
[SPEAKER_00]: Like you got the run on Max to do it.
1:08:03
[SPEAKER_00]: It sounds like so cliche to say it, but the best way to not let off as score points is don't let them on the field.
1:08:16
[SPEAKER_00]: Like, Matt, Matt LaFlair proved that.
1:08:20
[SPEAKER_00]: You don't have them to score.
1:08:22
[SPEAKER_01]: The athletic football show talked about this a couple of weeks ago about how like on average is about 12 possessions in any given game or that's what you're expecting to have.
1:08:30
[SPEAKER_01]: And if you can somehow make it 11, just even if you took one possession off the table because the first half you controlled the ball longer so the team couldn't double dip or where the case might be, that could be the difference between what it was.
1:08:44
[SPEAKER_00]: So I think that's their ex-factor.
1:08:47
[SPEAKER_00]: Now it's always easier said than done but I think you have
1:08:54
[SPEAKER_00]: less than ideal bears front seven if I'm choosing to be very nice and how I germ this because I really just want to go rough shot over how awful this defense is it is and by no fault of Dennis Allen like he did the right thing earlier with those comments and falling on the sword but at a certain point he just got to be looking at what you got being like I I can't make this I can't make not good football players good.
1:09:20
[SPEAKER_01]: Again, thank you about that one pretty scramble where he found how you check in the corner.
1:09:25
[SPEAKER_01]: Tremaine Edmonds, why are you coming off a use check?
1:09:28
[SPEAKER_01]: Like why?
1:09:30
[SPEAKER_00]: Well, you're expecting a low IQ player to develop IQ.
1:09:36
[SPEAKER_00]: What's your, I expect from the bears?
1:09:39
[SPEAKER_00]: Tremaine Edmonds is a tremendous show.
1:09:42
[SPEAKER_01]: Oh, god, I, that shipself forever ago.
1:09:48
[SPEAKER_01]: But here's that would never come on this show.
1:09:50
[SPEAKER_01]: Would be deandry Swift because of me.
1:09:52
[SPEAKER_01]: Would be Tramaine Edmonds and Cole Comet because of you.
1:09:55
[SPEAKER_01]: I'm trying to think there's one more for me that I've just like torched.
1:09:58
[SPEAKER_01]: Oh, probably honestly at this point, DJ Moore, DJ Moore would not like me at this point.
1:10:02
[SPEAKER_00]: I think because of both of us, Montez, what would probably kill us?
1:10:06
[SPEAKER_01]: I wasn't so I'd defend her for a long time.
1:10:08
[SPEAKER_01]: And I really thought this year being healthy, even so I flipped it.
1:10:12
[SPEAKER_00]: And it just didn't happen.
1:10:17
[SPEAKER_00]: You know what, I haven't done it all year.
1:10:18
[SPEAKER_00]: I don't think, hey, look, just go ball out.
1:10:22
[SPEAKER_00]: Be the better, be the best football player on the field.
1:10:26
[SPEAKER_00]: And show why you're one of the three or four most physically talented quarterbacks on the NFL.
1:10:31
[SPEAKER_00]: Just go beat that guy.
1:10:34
[SPEAKER_01]: I'm going to go the boring answer, and I said the ground in pound mix with the play action, which I guess could feed in the field playing, but the fact that the boundary shift right now ranks sixth in rushing arts before contact, which is, you know, this is more of an offensive line stat to an extent, but in common on guy ranks 12, so that actually does speak to, you know, how quickly at this point, the boundaries getting north and south, which is impressive considering when on guy is a north and south.
1:10:54
[SPEAKER_01]: runner, but you know, even, and that's with even a slow start to the year that there's 6 and 12.
1:10:59
[SPEAKER_01]: Last week, we saw the fruits of the rushing laborers, bears were able to use play action to get the linebacker and see if he's eyes that run place, setting up some deep shots.
1:11:06
[SPEAKER_01]: So that could lead to what you were talking about with Caleb just being doing Caleb things.
1:11:11
[SPEAKER_01]: Lastly, lines run defense has been pretty awful with 5.5 yards per rush in the past five weeks, part a lot of that's due to their injuries.
1:11:17
[SPEAKER_01]: All right, last
1:11:23
[SPEAKER_01]: Barricut check, we use our gut feelings for filais, but I could put you in a course to give our game predictions against the line.
1:11:28
[SPEAKER_01]: Lions, app bears, bearish, favorite by three.
1:11:31
[SPEAKER_00]: I think the bearers win and cover out, right?
1:11:34
[SPEAKER_00]: They really should, I don't want to say that it should blow their doors off, but they should handle their business and get out of there with a win.
1:11:41
[SPEAKER_01]: I talked about this a little earlier.
1:11:42
[SPEAKER_01]: I think early it might be close just because of the emotional factor and Dan Campbell being the motivator he is, but and if you can just stack a couple of drives and break there, but will you should start to pull away.
1:11:57
[SPEAKER_01]: There's a reason the blind are eight and eight right now.
1:12:01
[SPEAKER_01]: Lee does not all their fault, but there's a reason they're eight.
1:12:04
[SPEAKER_01]: Um, so we both had the bears winning that and winning comfortably.
1:12:07
[SPEAKER_01]: See Hawks at 49ers.
1:12:09
[SPEAKER_01]: See Hawks are favored by 1.5.
1:12:11
[SPEAKER_01]: This game is determining the one season.
1:12:15
[SPEAKER_00]: I really want to watch that game because Mason and I'm pretty sure regular listeners know my feelings about Mike McDonald.
1:12:25
[SPEAKER_00]: And I just play caller he is defensively.
1:12:27
[SPEAKER_00]: This is like two juggernauts going at it.
1:12:31
[SPEAKER_00]: like just kiles and offensive play color McDonald's, defensive play color and just these two.
1:12:37
[SPEAKER_00]: Playing the chess match, right?
1:12:40
[SPEAKER_00]: Yeah.
1:12:40
[SPEAKER_00]: But I think the seahawks will probably get their one seed and win the division in that game just because
1:12:49
[SPEAKER_00]: I think Darnell will do enough and that for all the shit I talk about how bad the Bayer's defense is the 49er's defense is terrible it's either there's a reason Bayer's were able to hang the number of points they're able to hang but that's right there's there's no Fred Warner Robert Solish probably doing the same thing as Dennis Allen like looking at his depth chart like what what what do you want me to do he lost because it's
1:13:17
[SPEAKER_00]: And their second area is a bunch of just like, people, even if they do have a couple of younger players along the defensive line that I really like, and most of them are heard, but and most of the ones that you tend to like are actually heard.
1:13:32
[SPEAKER_00]: Yeah, exactly.
1:13:33
[SPEAKER_00]: So Alfred Collins, big Collins key at a bad ball.
1:13:37
[SPEAKER_00]: I think that's the bearers, but you know, that I don't really remember feeling the presence of tickle me,
1:13:47
[SPEAKER_01]: I'm going to I'm going to say I'm going to see this because both both Donald and Erdie will like give you the ball which is where they both want to give you the ball at certain points I will go with the 49ers
1:14:07
[SPEAKER_01]: In that, I just think right now, they're at shanty hands on a heater in terms of play calling, purities to do it himself.
1:14:12
[SPEAKER_01]: I mean, two, five touchdowns in the last two games are birdie.
1:14:15
[SPEAKER_01]: You're getting kiddo back.
1:14:18
[SPEAKER_01]: I just, there, it's gonna be a close one, but I think that's a four and I just pull off.
1:14:24
[SPEAKER_01]: Packers, guys, four more.
1:14:25
[SPEAKER_01]: And these packers up Vikings are fear by seven and a half.
1:14:28
[SPEAKER_01]: The packers will be starting Clayton Tune to allow Jordan Love, who did pass a concussion protocol to heal up as well as
1:14:37
[SPEAKER_00]: I think that's probably a big number, but Clayton Tune playing NFL football, that is certainly a thing.
1:14:49
[SPEAKER_00]: Vikings win, but Packers backdoor cover on like some nonsense.
1:14:54
[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, I mean, we saw the Vikings beat the lions on was a Christmas day with Brazmer starting and he threw for it was some crazy stupid low pass number whatever that was.
1:15:05
[SPEAKER_01]: It was like the net yards was silly.
1:15:08
[SPEAKER_01]: The Vikings overall just between their defense and Flora is the weapons they do have on offense.
1:15:12
[SPEAKER_01]: I think that they're right now with Clayton Tune being the quarterback to Packers.
1:15:17
[SPEAKER_01]: Going to be is the better team.
1:15:18
[SPEAKER_01]: I'll pick the Vikings to win and cover.
1:15:21
[SPEAKER_01]: Commanders at Eagles, Eagles pay her by four and a half Eagles, sitting their starters.
1:15:32
[SPEAKER_00]: This is going to suck Blast Eagles cover.
1:15:37
[SPEAKER_00]: Why not?
1:15:39
[SPEAKER_01]: I'm going to pick the Commanders to win.
1:15:42
[SPEAKER_01]: And I'm literally basing this only off of the facts that I haven't seen.
1:15:46
[SPEAKER_01]: Well, Mario does not play either.
1:15:48
[SPEAKER_01]: No, but the job, the Josh Johnson Commanders almost beat Dallas on Christmas day.
1:15:53
[SPEAKER_01]: I don't care.
1:15:54
[SPEAKER_01]: It's like a lot of the starters.
1:15:57
[SPEAKER_00]: I get you.
1:15:58
[SPEAKER_01]: Will also be sitting.
1:15:59
[SPEAKER_01]: Like Jim Carter is not is the DNP today because of a hit.
1:16:02
[SPEAKER_01]: And there's a couple of other guys that defense.
1:16:03
[SPEAKER_01]: It will probably not be playing for the Eagles team.
1:16:05
[SPEAKER_01]: I think the Commanders are just happy to be here and are willing to play spoiler.
1:16:12
[SPEAKER_01]: This is clearly Dan Quinn wants the the win for the vibes and next year he wanted just like get me to the folks season for the love of God legitimately I think that might be the biggest difference like when it's just like I need this win to just feel good going in the next year and so I need the vibes and also Josh Johnson not a bad quarterback.
1:16:34
[SPEAKER_01]: There's a reason he's played on 17 teams.
1:16:37
[SPEAKER_01]: He's like, he's serviceable.
1:16:39
[SPEAKER_00]: I remember him coming out of San Jose State or San Diego State University years ago.
1:16:44
[SPEAKER_00]: I was, I think it was a senior in high school when he came out.
1:16:48
[SPEAKER_00]: Oh my God.
1:16:49
[SPEAKER_01]: And you just look at other people that you might even consider to be more talented.
1:16:56
[SPEAKER_01]: Like take the Zach Wilson.
1:16:58
[SPEAKER_01]: There was a reason he's not like next up for like any of team.
1:17:02
[SPEAKER_01]: Well, because, well, where is he now?
1:17:04
[SPEAKER_01]: Was he in the back with like Miami?
1:17:06
[SPEAKER_01]: Miami, yeah.
1:17:07
[SPEAKER_01]: And he's not starting.
1:17:08
[SPEAKER_01]: He's the, even with two a sitting, they're not playing Zach Wilson.
1:17:12
[SPEAKER_01]: Sorry, I was a sophomore in high school when Josh Johnson and I came back after it's not like I was crazy.
1:17:17
[SPEAKER_01]: Josh Johnson, the perfect NFL career where you really don't get in harm's way all that much, but you just played just enough to have a pretty lucrative time.
1:17:28
[SPEAKER_01]: So last two games here, Charger's at Broncos, Procos are fair by 12 and a half.
1:17:32
[SPEAKER_01]: Crazy spread for two teams that are currently in the playoffs.
1:17:36
[SPEAKER_00]: Well, it's correct me if I'm wrong.
1:17:39
[SPEAKER_00]: They're, the Broncos have a lot of the ones you have there, or did I miss that?
1:17:44
[SPEAKER_01]: Like, I don't remember.
1:17:47
[SPEAKER_01]: I'm not gonna lie, like, I'm so focused on NFC that I don't, I know that there's one playoffs that are available for the FC, but I don't know, like, if a seeding is locker not.
1:17:56
[SPEAKER_00]: Okay, so I don't know, what was this bread again?
1:17:58
[SPEAKER_00]: 12.5 Jesus Christ.
1:18:04
[SPEAKER_00]: It's a big number of Broncos.
1:18:07
[SPEAKER_00]: Don't cut her.
1:18:09
[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, Broncos win, don't cover.
1:18:10
[SPEAKER_01]: That's in that same.
1:18:12
[SPEAKER_01]: Also, I think he needs out of conversation.
1:18:14
[SPEAKER_01]: If that spread is that big, I know Herbert has like the broken hand and all the other things, but the fact that the chargers are sitting at 11 and 5, and that's to help big this spread is there's a problem with how we're currently constructing this whole thing.
1:18:26
[SPEAKER_00]: And if you've watched any of the chargers this here, that offensive literally just just didn't do something.
1:18:34
[SPEAKER_00]: Justin, please do anything.
1:18:36
[SPEAKER_00]: Justin, please.
1:18:38
[SPEAKER_00]: Before we get out of here,
1:18:41
[SPEAKER_01]: Oh god, what does that one over under half a sticker coming off of Kyle and one on guys helmet at the end of Every week one of this over everything we do use his entire body is just a a bullet bill from super Mario he's he's a battering ran he does not care
1:19:05
[SPEAKER_01]: What I will say, what did you think I had to ask them?
1:19:08
[SPEAKER_01]: What do you think of, I think it was like the beginning of the second quarter, were Kyle broke out and he just ran directly at the safety.
1:19:16
[SPEAKER_00]: That's how God intended running back to play football.
1:19:20
[SPEAKER_00]: He just, he, and that's the thing too.
1:19:22
[SPEAKER_00]: He didn't even, not even direct that.
1:19:23
[SPEAKER_00]: He curved to the left to get to the same thing.
1:19:27
[SPEAKER_00]: That's not the first time he's done that.
1:19:30
[SPEAKER_00]: He's had times where he can go get two yards extra by just veering out of bounds and said he veers to the safety to get his two yards and just run him into the ground.
1:19:39
[SPEAKER_00]: Like there's no purpose to that.
1:19:42
[SPEAKER_00]: Like it's still the same extra two yards you were gonna get.
1:19:46
[SPEAKER_01]: Why are you taking the hit and in that play in particular he just needed to put any kind of move on any scores like like is there a chance he It's stripped up yes, but like he just chose to go straight through his chest instead Which they scored anyway on that so it's not a big deal, but like my dude I am going to be placing my DH gate or I'm not on guide jersey because I'm obligated to but
1:20:11
[SPEAKER_00]: It's he is the definition of he is not here for a long time out of the size of a little word.
1:20:17
[SPEAKER_01]: He's going to eventually be the camscat of who guy where he's just one injury, but he doesn't need one thing where all of a sudden, and now it's like the ankle, especially because the way he's built, he's only five, eight, two hundred pounds.
1:20:30
[SPEAKER_00]: He's not the biggest man in the world.
1:20:33
[SPEAKER_01]: So I do hope that someone at some point has a conversation with him and says, I love you, but like you, we got to figure out how to make you ask longer than Tuesdays.
1:20:42
[SPEAKER_01]: Can you like not in stuff?
1:20:45
[SPEAKER_01]: All right, that is what we have for this show.
1:20:48
[SPEAKER_01]: Thank you everyone that joined us live and thank you for everyone in the future who is going to be listening to this on the podcast.
1:20:54
[SPEAKER_01]: This is officially the last podcast of the regular season.
1:20:59
[SPEAKER_01]: But we get to see y'all for the wild card matchup next week, which most likely if we're being honest, there's going to be the packers, but there's a chance that it could be Rams, 49ers, and you know, question marks, you ought to do our job on that one.
1:21:12
[SPEAKER_01]: Anything before you got here today?
1:21:15
[SPEAKER_00]: No, it's a happy new year.
1:21:16
[SPEAKER_00]: Help everyone have a happy holidays, be safe, don't do anything dumb, and stick to your new year's resolution.
1:21:20
[SPEAKER_00]: Don't just sit on my bench at my gym and take up space on your phone.
1:21:24
[SPEAKER_00]: Do your thing and keep it moving.
1:21:30
[SPEAKER_02]: No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no