Latest / 2nd City Gridiron / Making Monsters: Bears v Giants
Transcript
- 0:09[SPEAKER_02]: All right, welcome back to another episode of Making Monsters on Taylor Dole, and we are talking Bears Giants with Sean Moore.
- 0:16[SPEAKER_02]: She's the host of Evan and Tiki on WFA in talking Giants football, all New York sports, I guess you cover a little bit of everything.
- 0:23[SPEAKER_02]: Also, recently a part of John Boy Media, so that's pretty cool congrats on that.
- 0:27[SPEAKER_02]: And also, thanks for helping on.
- 0:29[SPEAKER_00]: Thank you Taylor, ready for Gready Freya, a wind weather game in Chicago and pumped up.
- 0:34[SPEAKER_02]: Yeah, we're seeing some possible snow this weekend, so it could be a little bit of a snowy game.
- 0:38[SPEAKER_02]: Those you never know how they go in Chicago.
- 0:40[SPEAKER_02]: So let's start with probably one of the the bigger storylines.
- 0:44[SPEAKER_02]: It's always going to be the quarterback and that's Jackson Dart right now.
- 0:47[SPEAKER_02]: In New York, I love Dart in college, honestly.
- 0:50[SPEAKER_02]: He was one of my favorite quarterbacks going into the draft personally.
- 0:53[SPEAKER_02]: People thought I was crazy, but I just thought it was arm.
- 0:55[SPEAKER_02]: There's a lot of things you can do with that arm talent.
- 0:57[SPEAKER_02]: So, sharing your thoughts just as we're approaching mid-season on Dart, what you've seen from him, even losing probably his biggest weapon you're expecting.
- 1:06[SPEAKER_00]: Yeah, I mean, his two biggest weapons, and his rookie running back camp, Skadaboo, and obviously Malik Neighbors being out for the year, and yet he continues to overcome it.
- 1:14[SPEAKER_00]: If you were to tell me at the beginning of the year, hey, the giants are going to go to Jackson Dart at some point.
- 1:17[SPEAKER_00]: They're going to be two and seven.
- 1:19[SPEAKER_00]: I probably would have agreed with you, but I probably also would have assumed that that meant that the quarterback was struggling, and it was the rest of the team kind of dealing with rookie struggles.
- 1:26[SPEAKER_00]: When in fact, it's been a complete opposite, Jackson Darden has been everything in more that the giants could have hoped for as far as a promising franchise quarterback.
- 1:33[SPEAKER_00]: Obviously, we hope this isn't a one year fluke, and this is something to build on.
- 1:36[SPEAKER_00]: But he is absolutely the strength of this offense right now, and he is the playmaker on the offense.
- 1:43[SPEAKER_00]: And he has been let down if you read his, you know, if you like any of his stats and you want to just read stats, that's fine.
- 1:48[SPEAKER_00]: He is being let down by drops all over the place and just, you know, malpractice in terms of the weapons around him.
- 1:55[SPEAKER_02]: I saw one of the graphics a couple of days ago talking about the top 10 rushing rookies and darts on that list.
- 2:01[SPEAKER_02]: I want to say like third on that list, how much of that is just him the natural planned runs him taking off as a combination of everything.
- 2:10[SPEAKER_00]: it's a combination for sure they obviously the giants do a good job of design runs probably to a fault because Jackson dark can help himself in terms of not sliding but he's great also in going off script you know something breaks down in the pocket he keeps plays alive in a way where the giants just simply haven't had that kind of place certainly didn't under Daniel Jones ironically don't if we're having a good year
- 2:31[SPEAKER_00]: And he is somebody that keeps his eyes down the field.
- 2:33[SPEAKER_00]: I mean, it was part of how he was able to before that major collapse versus Denver have this offense cooking versus one of the best defenses in football at that time his eye stayed down field and he keeps things off script and if he has to take off and run he does so and has had the giants have been very effective on third down with him.
- 2:48[SPEAKER_02]: you mentioned milk neighbors that was unfortunate and I think a lot of people who are big fan of milk neighbors and really wanting to see this year too of him and what that would look like.
- 2:57[SPEAKER_00]: That's why one quarter, one quarter of Jackson dark family neighbors all season.
- 3:02[SPEAKER_02]: The NFL deserved more of that.
- 3:04[SPEAKER_02]: They definitely did and so what has been the replacement when you talk about is there any other comfort that Jackson dark has found in the offense?
- 3:11[SPEAKER_00]: Okay, so obviously the wide receiver one for the Giants really has become Darrye Slate on the outside.
- 3:15[SPEAKER_00]: He has had a big drop in three straight weeks.
- 3:18[SPEAKER_00]: It's been a story of his career.
- 3:19[SPEAKER_00]: He's a veteran that is a captain on the team, but just not reliable hands.
- 3:23[SPEAKER_00]: The Giants execute a ton in the slot with Wandell Robinson.
- 3:26[SPEAKER_00]: He is up there and catches in the league.
- 3:28[SPEAKER_00]: It might be 18th in the league.
- 3:31[SPEAKER_00]: he's the bread and butter and going up against our old friend Nick McLeod is gonna be playing some sloth ear for the Chicago Bears a former giant.
- 3:37[SPEAKER_00]: I do think that that's where you're gonna see a lot of that.
- 3:39[SPEAKER_00]: The giants also are this year have operated since the neighbors injury out of a lot of 12 personnel with double tight ends.
- 3:44[SPEAKER_00]: Theo Johnson's been a bit of a touchdown machine for them, but he also has inexplicable drops.
- 3:49[SPEAKER_00]: The guy who's been more reliable from them has been Daniel Belinger the fourth year tight end, but he missed last week's game.
- 3:54[SPEAKER_00]: He's due to come back off in injury.
- 3:56[SPEAKER_00]: They went away from the double tight end stuff last week.
- 3:58[SPEAKER_00]: The Jackson dart
- 3:59[SPEAKER_00]: It seems to be able to pass the ball to both of those tight ends and really work the middle of the field and that has been a strength without neighbors.
- 4:05[SPEAKER_02]: And then Scataboo, that's the other big one.
- 4:07[SPEAKER_02]: I'll be honest, I have a torn feeling because I wanted so badly to watch Scataboo.
- 4:13[SPEAKER_02]: He's one of my favorite players.
- 4:14[SPEAKER_02]: I think the energy he brings to everything he does is so fun to watch.
- 4:27[SPEAKER_02]: casual because of a scataby on what they could do.
- 4:30[SPEAKER_02]: And so I do think that that's a hit.
- 4:32[SPEAKER_02]: Tyrant Tracy though, I feel like last year had some moments and if you want to get your run game right, the fairs are probably a good team to snap back on track a little bit.
- 4:41[SPEAKER_00]: Yeah, so obviously, scataboo now in the six quarters, they've had the place in his unfortunate injury.
- 4:46[SPEAKER_00]: You could see, and you nailed it with the energy.
- 4:47[SPEAKER_00]: The energy is flat lined a little bit in the offense.
- 4:50[SPEAKER_00]: Tyrell Tracy was a very promising rookie.
- 4:52[SPEAKER_00]: Tyrell Tracy had a dislocated shoulder.
- 4:54[SPEAKER_00]: I guess it was probably five weeks ago or so now.
- 4:57[SPEAKER_00]: He missed two games, missed that Eagles when the Giants had came back in the Denver game.
- 5:02[SPEAKER_00]: Had a huge wide open run.
- 5:03[SPEAKER_00]: But even being at the game last week, first of 49ers, you see every time he comes up the field, he's still dangling his arm, he's showing the play through it right now.
- 5:11[SPEAKER_00]: And he's clearly not 100% may not be until the late by week the giants have.
- 5:15[SPEAKER_00]: As a result, it's old veteran, Devon Motor Singletary, who's kind of emerged now over the last.
- 5:21[SPEAKER_00]: I guess game at a half as being a little resurgent looks a little fluid.
- 5:25[SPEAKER_00]: He was a guy that maybe giant fans thought we're going to get cut in the offseason.
- 5:28[SPEAKER_00]: I would be shocked if you didn't get more carries at a Devon single Terry versus his bears offense than a very banged up Tyrone Tracer who they seemingly want to use more in the screen game is supposed to try to run them between the tackles with that beat up shoulder.
- 5:40[SPEAKER_02]: Yeah, bears defense has struggled against the run all season.
- 5:43[SPEAKER_02]: It's been kind of the defense in general outside of take away.
- 5:46[SPEAKER_02]: It hasn't been very good.
- 5:48[SPEAKER_02]: So if we always said, Ash and Jancy had his game against us.
- 5:51[SPEAKER_02]: I feel like every week, it's whatever the running back is out there.
- 5:54[SPEAKER_02]: But when you talk about the offensive line, that's another.
- 5:56[SPEAKER_02]: I saw John Mike Bushmitz on the, he's on the injury report center.
- 6:00[SPEAKER_02]: Yeah.
- 6:00[SPEAKER_02]: Obviously drafted recently.
- 6:02[SPEAKER_02]: Thoughts on that, do you expect him to play or what is going on with that?
- 6:05[SPEAKER_00]: I would not.
- 6:06[SPEAKER_00]: He was at a practice again on Thursday for the second straight day.
- 6:08[SPEAKER_00]: They did miss him earlier in the season with a concussion and backup setter Austin Schlottman actually filled in admirably.
- 6:14[SPEAKER_00]: This has been the first year Taylor in probably a decade where the first thing giant fans and media are complaining about after the game is the offensive line.
- 6:23[SPEAKER_00]: They have two excellent book and tackles, Andrew Thomas, one of the best left tackles in football.
- 6:27[SPEAKER_00]: Jermena Luminor, who missed last week, will return to the line of this week at Wright Tackle, and the interior, as much as John Michael Schmitz might be, you know, hurt, you know, as far as losing him hurts, he's probably the weakest link of all five offensive linemen anyways.
- 6:39[SPEAKER_00]: He's slotted in Schlottman, they have running.
- 6:41[SPEAKER_00]: The interior is where the bears are going to have to get after Dar.
- 6:43[SPEAKER_00]: I mean, that is certainly the weakest.
- 6:45[SPEAKER_00]: The giant's hold up well.
- 6:46[SPEAKER_00]: They held up well versus those Denver pass rushers, the filthy pass rushers around the edges.
- 6:50[SPEAKER_00]: If Chicago is going to attack Jackson Dar, and attack this run game, it's all going to be done on the interior
- 6:57[SPEAKER_02]: So we'll see if Dr.
- 6:58[SPEAKER_02]: Von Dexter and Grady Jarrett can create something in the middle because it seems like that's might be where it would go to.
- 7:03[SPEAKER_02]: But so let's look at the defensive side a little bit.
- 7:06[SPEAKER_02]: Ben Johnson this weekend, his presser said that this was one of the better defensive fronts that the fairs will face this year.
- 7:12[SPEAKER_02]: I think when you look at names, you look at peace on paper when you see obviously Brian Burns in the season he's having, he's just so natural.
- 7:19[SPEAKER_02]: That's the guy.
- 7:21[SPEAKER_02]: Yeah, that's the guy.
- 7:22[SPEAKER_02]: Um, Tidado, I think that's a name people talk about.
- 7:24[SPEAKER_02]: Dexter Lawrence, that's a name people talk about, but what is because you saw it a little bit.
- 7:27[SPEAKER_00]: So that saw, it's just, it's been the most disappointing part of the giant season.
- 7:32[SPEAKER_00]: So, yes, they have names, especially on that front for and rookie first runner, Addo Carter, who's like leading the league in pressures, but just can't figure out the sack total.
- 7:40[SPEAKER_00]: Brian Burns is just unbelievable.
- 7:42[SPEAKER_00]: I mean, this is some of the best pass rushing I've seen from a New York giant since like the prime of Jason Peer all at this point.
- 7:48[SPEAKER_00]: But to that extent, Dexter Lawrence is good to name as he's been, he's still taking on double teams.
- 7:52[SPEAKER_00]: He has not been the dominant force.
- 7:54[SPEAKER_00]: He's been in recent years.
- 7:55[SPEAKER_00]: We don't know what the hell's going on there.
- 7:57[SPEAKER_00]: Cave on Timothy was sound enough against the run, but this is a team that just gets chewed up along the edges.
- 8:01[SPEAKER_00]: And this is where a, you know, a monunga or a swift as back, you know, running against the giant edges.
- 8:07[SPEAKER_00]: I just think it's going to be the bread and butter McAfrey killed them last week, sake one killed in the week before.
- 8:12[SPEAKER_00]: And really this is a giant defense since the third or fourth quarter, the Denver game three weeks ago went downhill the moment they lost number one corner post in a debo, as well as safety Javan Holland, who is set to return this week.
- 8:23[SPEAKER_00]: they've been playing you know a seventh round rookie core black at corner and a failed first round pick in the ontay bags at corner and it's killed them so it's not just about the front four but if you get around the edges which I know manungai can local guy rockers went over here in New York but this is a spot where you know you don't trust the giant secondary and the defensive front hasn't been as advertised and they just get punished on the run every single week.
- 8:44[SPEAKER_02]: What are the feelings of Brian Dable up there in New York as you guys are talking?
- 8:49[SPEAKER_00]: Look, I'm probably in the minority here.
- 8:52[SPEAKER_00]: I like Brian Dable's ahead coach.
- 8:53[SPEAKER_00]: I think that he's done a great job with Jackson Dart.
- 8:55[SPEAKER_00]: I think that he's probably a victim of his own circumstances and over.
- 9:00[SPEAKER_00]: overachieving in 2022 with Daniel Jones and company making the playoffs that you're kind of set back there rebuild plan they had.
- 9:06[SPEAKER_00]: Unfortunately, I think it's toast.
- 9:09[SPEAKER_00]: I think he's getting fired at the end of the year at this point anyway.
- 9:11[SPEAKER_00]: I think that this is a year four where you just simply have about one of enough games the last three years.
- 9:16[SPEAKER_00]: And you just pray from a giant perspective that they don't screw objects and don't the process by firing this guy, but I don't think winter laws.
- 9:23[SPEAKER_00]: Um, you're going to have a maybe, maybe he'll coach a little more in games like this where he doesn't care fourth down stuff like that.
- 9:29[SPEAKER_00]: What does he have throw stuff against the wall?
- 9:31[SPEAKER_00]: That's always scary when you're a team like the bears who has to play a team with nothing to lose and a coach that is nothing to lose.
- 9:36[SPEAKER_00]: But ultimately, you know, I feel bad that it feels like the fate is pretty much done here for Bryan Dable in the coming weeks.
- 9:43[SPEAKER_02]: Yeah, I felt kind of bad too because I feel like you we mentioned losing both the league neighbors and scatability and then you have a rookie quarterback who I think obviously we just had this conversation as played well.
- 9:54[SPEAKER_02]: So I'd be interested to see if at the end of the season he's like look at these things I haven't my pocket.
- 9:59[SPEAKER_02]: I believe he had a five-year contract so one year to go on that.
- 10:02[SPEAKER_00]: Yeah.
- 10:02[SPEAKER_00]: I think ultimately what's going to happen is he's going to look at those things.
- 10:04[SPEAKER_00]: He's probably going to get fired and that's actually going to be a strength in getting his next offensive coordinator job rebuilding the reputation.
- 10:09[SPEAKER_00]: I think Brian Day will be a head coach somewhere else in this league within the next five years.
- 10:12[SPEAKER_00]: He does have a coach of the year under his belt in 2020 and, like most people, it leave the giant so probably be Uber's successful after.
- 10:20[SPEAKER_02]: So I was like the bear's history.
- 10:21[SPEAKER_02]: Let's look at that.
- 10:22[SPEAKER_02]: The bear's your perspective coming from New York on some of the things happening in Chicago.
- 10:27[SPEAKER_02]: Let's start off offensively, Caleb Williams, the offense, what you guys are seeing and talking about that.
- 10:31[SPEAKER_00]: Okay, so obviously we're very invested in the run game because as I mentioned, among us, I went to Rutgers, that's basically our local team here in town.
- 10:38[SPEAKER_00]: And Ben Johnson, I think that the creativity, that many expectant when he took over in Chicago is something that we've had our eyes on, little odd watching, you know, basically the wide receivers, it feels like it's so weak to weak.
- 10:49[SPEAKER_00]: Is it in the dunes a week?
- 10:50[SPEAKER_00]: Is it a DJ more weak?
- 10:51[SPEAKER_00]: Very hard to keep track and like I'm a gambler, too, player prop was and everything.
- 10:55[SPEAKER_00]: Just feels like it's like there's no consistency.
- 10:57[SPEAKER_00]: That's what it is.
- 10:58[SPEAKER_00]: right there it's there's just no consistency to the bears passing game enough in terms of what weapons are being utilized constantly what I what would scare me here is close to loveland kind of coming into his own show that last week versus the bangles I do think that this is a middle of the field for the New York giants with their linebacker play being as beat up as it is
- 11:16[SPEAKER_00]: down obviously.
- 11:17[SPEAKER_00]: I mentioned Paulson and Debo, but trying to figure out what's going on with the safety, Shavon Hollens first game back.
- 11:22[SPEAKER_00]: So the wider Siever play is bad as the giant corners are.
- 11:25[SPEAKER_00]: I'm sure that'll play here there.
- 11:27[SPEAKER_00]: It's absolutely running along the edges and how they attack the middle to deep part of the fields with the tight ends.
- 11:32[SPEAKER_00]: I think it's just a heyday way to happen.
- 11:34[SPEAKER_00]: Where we can bank on it, truthfully.
- 11:37[SPEAKER_00]: We view us having the quarterback advantage here.
- 11:39[SPEAKER_00]: I know Caleb Williams probably takes too much criticism nationally.
- 11:42[SPEAKER_00]: I'm not even sure how you guys feel about them locally, but watching enough tape on him, it just feels like there's something off and missing.
- 11:48[SPEAKER_00]: Man, when he lets it back in rips, some of these throws like some of the pretty throws you have, but the lack of consistency down and down out.
- 11:56[SPEAKER_00]: I mean, it's something that hopefully the giants can kind of pry on here.
- 11:59[SPEAKER_02]: Yeah, I feel like fair spams might get upset with you about that one, but it's okay.
- 12:03[SPEAKER_02]: We got our quarterbacks.
- 12:04[SPEAKER_00]: That's fine.
- 12:05[SPEAKER_00]: That's fine.
- 12:06[SPEAKER_00]: Hopefully.
- 12:07[SPEAKER_00]: Hopefully came up Williams and Jackson, don't.
- 12:09[SPEAKER_00]: And I think here's a point to play with games next week.
- 12:10[SPEAKER_00]: Yeah, we hope.
- 12:11[SPEAKER_00]: We've been beating down enough.
- 12:12[SPEAKER_02]: Yeah, so let's make it happen.
- 12:13[SPEAKER_02]: And then defensively, obviously, I mentioned earlier.
- 12:16[SPEAKER_02]: A lot of we talk about injuries, not no Jalen Johnson, no Kyler Gordon.
- 12:19[SPEAKER_02]: Those are your two best corners out of been missing.
- 12:21[SPEAKER_02]: So you're kind of deep in that whole so much so where they had to go sign gardener Johnson.
- 12:26[SPEAKER_02]: to kind of fill in in that nickel corner roll because things were so bad.
- 12:29[SPEAKER_02]: Safety's are great.
- 12:30[SPEAKER_02]: Linebackers have played great although TJ Edwards is injured, but you just don't it really hasn't been what the bear's thought the defense was to be coming out.
- 12:37[SPEAKER_02]: They can't stop the, they can't stop the run very well.
- 12:40[SPEAKER_02]: They can't rush the, rush the bass are very well.
- 12:42[SPEAKER_02]: The one thing they can do is get takeaways.
- 12:44[SPEAKER_02]: They leave the league and take ways and they will find ways to make that happen.
- 12:47[SPEAKER_02]: And I think that saved them a little bit.
- 12:48[SPEAKER_02]: But what's the conversation on that side of Dennis Allen defense, some of that?
- 12:52[SPEAKER_00]: Well, so the one good thing that we've trusted in Jackson Dard is outside of a Saints game.
- 12:56[SPEAKER_00]: I guess that was like five weeks ago now where the giants turned the bull over on five consecutive possessions, which is a little overblown a number.
- 13:02[SPEAKER_00]: The last two were interceptions late where Jackson Dard should try to make something happen.
- 13:07[SPEAKER_00]: Jackson Dard has been really, really good at bull security.
- 13:10[SPEAKER_00]: So I think that is probably the X-factor in this whole game where it's a bears defense that I think will be advantageous for Jackson Dart to kind of take advantage of that as we mentioned the two book and tackles the bears pass rush being beat up not as effective.
- 13:22[SPEAKER_00]: I think that there's going to be place to be made there.
- 13:25[SPEAKER_00]: I truthfully think of the giants have any hope in this game.
- 13:28[SPEAKER_00]: It's a simple and lame as a football term in
- 13:30[SPEAKER_00]: the bears turn the bull over a ton of or I'm sorry get the most turnovers out of anybody but this is quarterback that doesn't what strength wins out there if Jackson Thorps not turning the bull over and the bears don't get those takeaways to kind of flip the field and a game like this I do think it's a game that giants can win but to me I think that this is a game again we'll see about the wind in the weather which could change anything where the giant offense I would expect to put up 24 to 27 points at a minimum and let's just see how badly the
- 13:58[SPEAKER_00]: on the run and if this can become a shoot-up.
- 14:00[SPEAKER_00]: I think neutral field, regular weather, you're looking at a game I bet the over on in this spot.
- 14:04[SPEAKER_00]: It feels like 31-27 written all over because of the way the defenses of look.
- 14:08[SPEAKER_02]: Yeah, I agree with that one and I think it is a little bit of the battle of the battle of the strengths on each side or to your point with the takeaways and then with Jackson Dart not doing that so yeah, we will see how this goes Sean I I feel like Ferris fans are still always on edge because you're like is this real or not real they have one of the most explosive offenses right now and that has not been the case in many years and so that is some things that they'll take advantage of.
- 14:32[SPEAKER_02]: even with the inconsistencies of Caleb Williams.
- 14:34[SPEAKER_02]: They've found ways to get this big chunk place when they've needed it, especially in the fourth quarter.
- 14:38[SPEAKER_02]: We'll see how it goes, but absolutely.
- 14:41[SPEAKER_02]: I appreciate you hopping on with me and I hope you have a good rest of your weekend.
- 14:44[SPEAKER_00]: Yeah, hopefully we can do this again in coming seasons when, you know, both teams are relevant.
- 14:48[SPEAKER_00]: That would be really fun.
- 14:49[SPEAKER_02]: Let's do it.
- 14:49[SPEAKER_02]: Let's have some fun.
- 14:50[SPEAKER_02]: All right.
- 14:51[SPEAKER_02]: Thanks, Sean.
- 14:51[SPEAKER_02]: all right continuing on another making monsters coming off another win a very my heart was going a very insane during that win and I'm sure Sylvie years was too uh Sylvie of Waddle and Sylvie on ESPN Chicago.
- 15:04[SPEAKER_02]: Thanks for hopping on with me.
- 15:05[SPEAKER_01]: You got it anytime.
- 15:07[SPEAKER_02]: I'm glad you didn't have to head to the swing in the back yard after.
- 15:12[SPEAKER_01]: And you know, so we were in Cincinnati for the game.
- 15:15[SPEAKER_01]: And you know, we had a fight.
- 15:19[SPEAKER_01]: And it was, I could not stay for the whole game.
- 15:23[SPEAKER_01]: So I watched the first three quarters in the booth.
- 15:26[SPEAKER_01]: um... and it was like the whole weekend was incredible bears fans as you know travel so well you know they've shown up in jackson veil and you know taken over that town it's always in Cincinnati and so i got to the airport and i watched the fourth quarter of my phone
- 15:44[SPEAKER_01]: And up 14, I was like, after the Edmunds' interception, should I go through security right now, because I just walked in and grabbed the sea.
- 15:53[SPEAKER_01]: And I'm like, you know what, these are the bears, I need to see this through.
- 15:57[SPEAKER_01]: And so I'm glad I did.
- 15:59[SPEAKER_01]: And then, sure enough, when I was a little behind when Lovelin scored the touchdown, a lot of people were cheering him, like, oh no, did the bear stick blow it?
- 16:08[SPEAKER_01]: But it was all bears fans that the United Ticket counter who were cheering.
- 16:14[SPEAKER_01]: So it was pretty cool.
- 16:15[SPEAKER_02]: Yeah, it was definitely the positive ending which we haven't gotten a lot of those.
- 16:19[SPEAKER_02]: It's usually the reverse.
- 16:20[SPEAKER_02]: The bears are on the tail end of that type of game.
- 16:23[SPEAKER_02]: And so I'm glad it feels like it's starting to flip because we have a few of those now with blocked field goals and this type of game.
- 16:29[SPEAKER_02]: And it's
- 16:30[SPEAKER_02]: a credit to Caleb and some of the things that he does late in fourth quarters and being able to drive the bears down, but also I think Fed Johnson and just kind of him sticking with the things that are working.
- 16:40[SPEAKER_02]: But let's start off with a little bit of Kyle Menonga because I think that he was, I mean the player of the game, we saw so so many good things and when Swift was out, I think a lot of people have been very critical of Swift and we're talking about more Menonga but he's stepped up and filled some shoes in a very big way and so what are your thoughts on
- 16:59[SPEAKER_02]: and that that dynamic was swift moving forward what that looks like.
- 17:03[SPEAKER_01]: It's going to be interesting Taylor because the one thing that I knew about monung guy when they drafted him and I liked was that he was a guy who was used to carrying the load and he carried the load in a really good conference obviously that runs the football in line with our gear to stop the run in the big time.
- 17:21[SPEAKER_01]: So he was able to do that and he sort of the back where when he gets
- 17:27[SPEAKER_01]: more of a rhythm like a lot of these guys who get a lot of carries get he's better and he just positive yards positive yards positive yards so i want it like is he is good and in five to ten carries is he is when he gets twenty but anyway he's slice it right now you know like you said four weeks ago a lot of bear's fans were focusing on okay the running back the running back should
- 17:55[SPEAKER_01]: Room, and you see that when the line is committed, when Darnell Wright is playing aggressively like he is, the interior of the line, is so much better now with Joe tuning and stability at center, that it's, I've always said it Taylor, it's the run game, not necessarily the running back, but what I love about Manangayas,
- 18:17[SPEAKER_01]: always going, never taking a loss, you know, never gives up.
- 18:22[SPEAKER_01]: And he's, he's everything that bears fans love and are running back.
- 18:27[SPEAKER_02]: Yeah, there was several runs this last week where you were just impressed in general.
- 18:31[SPEAKER_02]: The seas were falling off his helmet at one point during the game when I was like, this is hilarious.
- 18:36[SPEAKER_02]: But when you talk about that offensive line, that has to be one of the more exciting things to watch right now.
- 18:40[SPEAKER_02]: And we will see, there's a bigger test.
- 18:42[SPEAKER_02]: I think with Brian Burns this weekend and also a dexter Lawrence and Tibito and some of these guys up front and we'll get to that in a little bit.
- 18:48[SPEAKER_02]: But the offensive line.
- 18:49[SPEAKER_02]: I mean, how much is this just a testament to?
- 18:52[SPEAKER_02]: It took a while, but I feel like Ryan Poles did hit on some pieces and even losing your left tackle who was questionable and Theo Benadette pushing people out into the benches pretty much.
- 19:02[SPEAKER_02]: But thoughts on that overall do you think this is realistically fixed or are they kind of getting away with it a little bit?
- 19:09[SPEAKER_01]: You want the good news or the bad news?
- 19:11[SPEAKER_02]: Let's go.
- 19:11[SPEAKER_02]: Good first.
- 19:12[SPEAKER_01]: Well, the good news is we know that he fixed the interior.
- 19:16[SPEAKER_01]: The three that he that he that he acquired.
- 19:19[SPEAKER_01]: He had to they neglected that far too long.
- 19:22[SPEAKER_01]: And, you know, I mentioned it already.
- 19:25[SPEAKER_01]: What Joe Tunee does, I don't know if it's appreciated.
- 19:28[SPEAKER_01]: I don't know if it's really like, if the light light is consistently shined on just how great of a player he is, we can in week out.
- 19:38[SPEAKER_01]: He's outstanding.
- 19:39[SPEAKER_01]: And the other bit of the good news is, I mentioned Darnell Wright.
- 19:42[SPEAKER_01]: You know, they drafted him 10th, they traded down on a nine.
- 19:47[SPEAKER_01]: It was very controversial with the Jalen Carter situation.
- 19:50[SPEAKER_01]: If Darnell Wright plays like he's played the last few weeks, and Thayer Tom Thayer said it as a fellow offensive lineman, he's not seen Darnell Wright play with this aggressive nature like he has.
- 20:04[SPEAKER_01]: So it like not only we know that they're not right as talented we know that he's pretty good can he be great and I think if he goes with a motor like he did last week that he can be great and then then all of a sudden it makes everything a little bit easier I still believe we'll see like the open it's an undrafted free agent
- 20:24[SPEAKER_01]: Maybe he'll mature into it.
- 20:27[SPEAKER_01]: I still think they neglected the left tackle position.
- 20:30[SPEAKER_01]: They went in with it with with with three guys on their mind to compete It was Amagaji.
- 20:36[SPEAKER_01]: It was Trapello and then it was Braxton Jones who was the incumbent.
- 20:41[SPEAKER_01]: I didn't like any of those options I didn't like drafting a right tackle to play a left tackle So I really believe that next year it's going to be a position of need
- 20:52[SPEAKER_02]: Yeah, I hate to admit it, but I already was looking at the draft left after draft positions looking ahead.
- 20:57[SPEAKER_02]: And I was like, we have a winning record.
- 20:59[SPEAKER_02]: I don't know why I'm looking ahead, but that's where my mindset is too silvi.
- 21:02[SPEAKER_02]: Let's talk about Caleb Williams.
- 21:03[SPEAKER_02]: That's going to be continued to be a conversation last year.
- 21:07[SPEAKER_02]: It was Caleb or Jade.
- 21:08[SPEAKER_02]: And this year it feels like Caleb or Drake may.
- 21:10[SPEAKER_02]: But I think at some point we just have to focus on what Caleb Williams is doing, the things.
- 21:14[SPEAKER_02]: He's progressing in.
- 21:16[SPEAKER_02]: The things that still need to get a little bit better and there are some of those things.
- 21:21[SPEAKER_02]: not holding the ball and not taking sacks and kind of going through some of the progressions that's getting better.
- 21:26[SPEAKER_02]: But what are your overall thoughts of Caleb through the beginning?
- 21:28[SPEAKER_02]: The almost first half of the season.
- 21:30[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, I like what you said in the beginning there, too.
- 21:33[SPEAKER_01]: It's where I am on Caleb.
- 21:35[SPEAKER_01]: I really like, okay, it's cool to see Drake Mayor.
- 21:39[SPEAKER_01]: It's cool, Jaden Daniels.
- 21:41[SPEAKER_01]: It's fun conversation.
- 21:43[SPEAKER_01]: Like we were even doing it yesterday with Big Cat
- 21:50[SPEAKER_01]: My whole thing is if Caleb Williams is the franchise quarterback if Caleb Williams is great in his own right I really don't care if like he's second to Drake may or second to Jayden Daniels if he's truly a great player
- 22:06[SPEAKER_01]: And we're we're seeing the progression like we saw a couple of a stepper two back maybe these last couple of games before sincey and then he went forward and I felt like before those two games he'd taken a step forward.
- 22:20[SPEAKER_01]: So I just think that it could go this but as long as it's here at the end of the season when it starts here and you know the bear's offense right now have great rankings.
- 22:31[SPEAKER_01]: They run the ball on the top three you know I think their offense is
- 22:35[SPEAKER_01]: forth over all or something like that.
- 22:37[SPEAKER_01]: And then I think they're six than passing or something like to those degrees.
- 22:41[SPEAKER_01]: They're in the top 10 in offense.
- 22:43[SPEAKER_01]: And we're at the beginning stages.
- 22:47[SPEAKER_01]: We're going through the growing pain still of Caleb with another coordinator and head coach.
- 22:53[SPEAKER_01]: Ben Johnson trying to teach the entire offense.
- 22:56[SPEAKER_01]: What his offense is.
- 22:58[SPEAKER_01]: And yet they're still doing some really, really,
- 23:03[SPEAKER_01]: So I can't wait to see where this goes and I'm truly excited.
- 23:08[SPEAKER_02]: Me too, in the weapons, what do you think about the weapons?
- 23:10[SPEAKER_02]: A lot of fantasy owners, not happy that Rome didn't have a catch.
- 23:14[SPEAKER_02]: I think if you win a game as a bear's fan, you're not really focusing on that.
- 23:18[SPEAKER_02]: Yes, I love Roma Dunesay.
- 23:19[SPEAKER_02]: I'm probably the leader of his fan club and have been even pre-draft and being drafted.
- 23:23[SPEAKER_02]: But when you're looking forward, you have a lot of weapons.
- 23:25[SPEAKER_02]: And we said this last year, and it didn't pan out that way, Sylvie, when you're like, oh, you have Keenan Allen, and DJ Moore and Cole Comet, what are you going to do with all these weapons?
- 23:33[SPEAKER_02]: It really does feel like that at this point, any given week someone else can kind of take off.
- 23:38[SPEAKER_01]: I want to see like how it does settle in.
- 23:40[SPEAKER_01]: I think it's a it's a great question because now burdens coming back and like burden just has the skill set that is similar to to DJ but he's got even more explosion.
- 23:53[SPEAKER_01]: So like I've always wondered how the DJ burden dynamic is going to be can you truly maximize loveland in burden when you already have room DJ.
- 24:04[SPEAKER_01]: Um, and like, tell last year, extend, um, Cole, Cole, but, but then, and like, that's what I like the most to Taylor's, like, what you bring out the point about Zacchaeus, is I feel like we know his role.
- 24:18[SPEAKER_01]: Zacchaeus is the perfect, like, third option.
- 24:21[SPEAKER_01]: He's the security blanket.
- 24:24[SPEAKER_01]: Caleb's got a lot of trust in him.
- 24:26[SPEAKER_01]: He's going to pick up the big first down catches.
- 24:29[SPEAKER_01]: He reminds me kind of like a neural Bennett going back many years and then even like sort of like a bottle where you know he's going to have some big catches along the way.
- 24:39[SPEAKER_01]: It's the other guys who I want to see where they.
- 24:43[SPEAKER_01]: Ultimately going the packing order, but I do believe in the room to have a catch.
- 24:48[SPEAKER_01]: That room is the clear cut number one And I love that the bear's highlightity was miced up there.
- 24:53[SPEAKER_01]: We're gonna highlight them anyway But that they showed the whole blocking
- 24:58[SPEAKER_01]: that Rome never, never hung his head, Rome never lost the vibes, Rome kept blocking and was truly happy for everyone and truly happy that they won.
- 25:09[SPEAKER_01]: So I really have no issue that Rome out of the blue had zero catches.
- 25:14[SPEAKER_01]: I don't think it's an indicator on where he's going.
- 25:17[SPEAKER_02]: Yeah, I agree with you.
- 25:18[SPEAKER_02]: The probably one of the biggest issues on the bear is Sylvie still is the pass rush.
- 25:23[SPEAKER_02]: The one move they make, you know, that trade deadline was Joe Tachtron, which I don't think anybody knew much about previous to that.
- 25:31[SPEAKER_02]: But you get Austin Booker back.
- 25:32[SPEAKER_02]: You saw a little bit of that last week.
- 25:34[SPEAKER_02]: Montes, what the last few games has started to get back to some of the things he does well.
- 25:39[SPEAKER_02]: But what do you think about that pass rush room with that, is there anything there that you can even
- 25:44[SPEAKER_01]: it's got to be better it's got like hopefully Booker will continue to rise you know that's his first game and he got a sack.
- 25:53[SPEAKER_01]: They just have to have more consistent pressure.
- 25:55[SPEAKER_01]: The dial, they're both signing feel terrible for him but I think it's going to go in there as a neat like for different reasons like Nate Davis didn't want to play.
- 26:05[SPEAKER_01]: You know, Dio's the exact opposite.
- 26:08[SPEAKER_01]: Dio gives Max effort all the time.
- 26:11[SPEAKER_01]: He really hustles, but he just doesn't have the toolbox or the weapons to beat the tackles.
- 26:19[SPEAKER_01]: So, you know, try on, I mean,
- 26:22[SPEAKER_01]: It's a, let's play on the name, try you like it's worth a try because like what do you have to lose?
- 26:30[SPEAKER_01]: He was barely playing in Cleveland.
- 26:32[SPEAKER_01]: You know, he was an end of the first round pick in Tampa.
- 26:35[SPEAKER_01]: They didn't pick up his fifth, his fifth year.
- 26:38[SPEAKER_01]: You know, I guess if he's going he's a four or five sack guide, I feel like they've got a lot of those guys and they just need a difference maker.
- 26:46[SPEAKER_01]: And my intense, my intense sweats got to be that guy, but even if my test
- 26:52[SPEAKER_01]: I still believe they need more in that room.
- 26:54[SPEAKER_02]: Yeah, there's a lot of things defensively right now that obviously can get better.
- 26:57[SPEAKER_02]: It's interesting seeing all the charts now floating around where it's like bears offense and the positive like really good offense, but really bad defense, but one of the things they do well is they're still getting turnovers.
- 27:07[SPEAKER_02]: They're able to force their multiple turnovers each game almost every week.
- 27:11[SPEAKER_02]: I feel like is happening and then the point that turnover differential too because the offense isn't turning the ball over very often.
- 27:17[SPEAKER_02]: Do you think that realistically is you can obtain that for the rest of the season?
- 27:22[SPEAKER_01]: I don't, I think it's great, and I don't think it's lock either, so don't hear what I'm saying as saying, well, you can just live in, I just don't think you can live and die on that.
- 27:37[SPEAKER_01]: You have to stop people, and as you saw last week with Flacco, they gotta get a stop, and if you're not getting that bounce, if you're not forcing a turnover, if you're not forcing that fumble, are you able to stop teams?
- 27:51[SPEAKER_01]: And, you know, it's what you were saying Taylor is their number one in interceptions, their number one in turnovers, their number one in that turnover margin.
- 28:01[SPEAKER_01]: But yet, they're like 28, 29 in all the other defensive metrics.
- 28:06[SPEAKER_01]: So they've got to get better.
- 28:09[SPEAKER_01]: I think when Gordon comes back and hopefully he could stay on the field, he just adds so much there, you know, he's so versatile on what you can bring with him on the
- 28:19[SPEAKER_01]: So, like, maybe when he comes back, you know, you have more depth if you can move one, two more of a corner roll and have them, you know, with CJ Gardner Johnson and Kyler Gordon, but yeah, I don't think it's sustainable.
- 28:35[SPEAKER_01]: They have to get stops.
- 28:37[SPEAKER_02]: Do you think if when Kyler comes back, they would try him outside and let CJ stay at the nickel?
- 28:43[SPEAKER_01]: Sure, whatever option I think you've got to be open-minded too.
- 28:48[SPEAKER_01]: And I think they are, I think they have one of the best what I love too is it's that just Ben Johnson.
- 28:53[SPEAKER_01]: I love the coaching staff.
- 28:55[SPEAKER_01]: I know the metrics don't look great yet on DA, but I think they still don't have.
- 29:00[SPEAKER_01]: Um, all the guys up front, it always starts up front and Al Harris is as good as it gets in the secondary.
- 29:09[SPEAKER_01]: So, you know, hopefully CJ can keep, you know, the head on right and not cost them penalties because we all know those penalties are costing them enough as it is.
- 29:21[SPEAKER_01]: So yeah, I'm open to all of that.
- 29:24[SPEAKER_02]: a couple more when we talk about special teams that to me has been maybe one of the more disappointing areas because I think when that's the one retained coach when you talk about high tower and then you go on and you are missing tackles and everybody you feel like is starting on the 40 and the 50 and then Devon Duberne is just not getting much at all and those returns.
- 29:42[SPEAKER_02]: So is that fixable at all?
- 29:44[SPEAKER_02]: Do you think if there's anything to be done with that or is that just kind of what we're going to be expecting for this
- 29:49[SPEAKER_01]: you know where I think it should be fixable and what do vernage do vernage sure the blocks and stuff like that is the coverage units have to be better they've got like what you said about the 45 and the 50 when you're not stopping teams and then
- 30:26[SPEAKER_01]: My phone was ringing, and so up when the phone rings, it goes out when I, because I got it on the phone.
- 30:33[SPEAKER_01]: You want me to pick it up there?
- 30:35[SPEAKER_01]: Wait, hold on, I don't know if you're volume.
- 30:39[SPEAKER_01]: I'm sorry about this.
- 30:41[SPEAKER_01]: Let's see why I can I not hear you.
- 30:43[SPEAKER_02]: Can you hear me?
- 30:44[SPEAKER_01]: Talk to me.
- 30:45[SPEAKER_02]: Can you hear me now?
- 30:46[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, I can't hear you for whatever reason.
- 30:49[SPEAKER_01]: Should I try and reconnect?
- 30:51[SPEAKER_01]: Here.
- 30:52[SPEAKER_02]: Yeah, maybe, yeah, maybe.
- 30:53[SPEAKER_01]: I'm gonna hang up and reconnect.
- 30:56[SPEAKER_02]: Yep.
- 31:16[SPEAKER_02]: Check, check.
- 31:17[SPEAKER_02]: One, two, three.
- 31:43[SPEAKER_01]: I'm sorry about, I don't know, my wife called and then it like the my picture went out.
- 31:49[SPEAKER_01]: So how do you want me to do it?
- 31:50[SPEAKER_01]: You want to re-ass back question?
- 31:52[SPEAKER_02]: I can, if you want to just start with it, I can re-ass if you want, but I can edit it too.
- 31:57[SPEAKER_02]: Yeah, sure.
- 31:58[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, so Taylor you know where I think they they definitely can improve as those coverage units like that that's a want that's a a thing that to High tower can scheme up better
- 32:13[SPEAKER_01]: Because when your offense is scoring and you're kicking off now, you can't let a quick counter the defenses and stopping if you're already giving them better field position That's the complementary football that they all talk about in a lot of teams special teams is not looked at that way.
- 32:30[SPEAKER_01]: I think it's going to be really interesting to this weekend
- 32:33[SPEAKER_01]: about Cairo Santos.
- 32:35[SPEAKER_01]: And like it could be rainy, it could be snowy, it's gonna be colder in the high thirties, you being in Jacksonville, you were smart to get out of it at a young age.
- 32:47[SPEAKER_01]: But so I want to see where Cairo goes because they still have
- 32:53[SPEAKER_01]: a decision they may have to make because it's one thing if Cairo isn't making or taking 56 yard field goals as long as we all these have known he's reliable from 48 he's reliable from 45 he's reliable from 41 if that's starting to go by the wayside I think you may have to think long and hard about making a change
- 33:16[SPEAKER_02]: Yeah, especially, obviously down here in Jacksonville, we just saw the kicker make a 68 yard field goal.
- 33:21[SPEAKER_02]: So watching the two, those two games on Sunday, I was like this, it becomes a problem.
- 33:25[SPEAKER_02]: And especially when you talk about the Vikings game, you make a field at that, you make one of those miss field goals or the mixed field goal and that game maybe looks a little different.
- 33:33[SPEAKER_02]: Final one for yourself before I let you go, looking ahead to this weekend against the giants.
- 33:37[SPEAKER_02]: We talked a little bit about that defensive front.
- 33:40[SPEAKER_02]: Ben Johnson mentioned it's one of the more difficult or better defensive fronts that they'll face this season.
- 33:45[SPEAKER_02]: So that's something to kind of consider.
- 33:47[SPEAKER_02]: But no scataboo, no neighbors.
- 33:49[SPEAKER_02]: That obviously alters offensively what they can do.
- 33:51[SPEAKER_02]: What are your thoughts?
- 33:52[SPEAKER_02]: How do the bears win this game?
- 33:54[SPEAKER_01]: Uh, I think I think they win the game by the offense.
- 33:57[SPEAKER_01]: I like last week when I went in, I said, like, I didn't have many expectations for the defense.
- 34:05[SPEAKER_01]: I knew it was going to be one of those games, like little did I think they'd give up a 14 point lead.
- 34:10[SPEAKER_01]: But what I wanted to see the offense do is truly win a shootout.
- 34:15[SPEAKER_01]: You know it's funny like I always say this game the bears have to outscore the team and it sounds so dumb because of course You always in order to win a football game.
- 34:24[SPEAKER_01]: You have to outscore your opponent But like I think most people understand when I say you have to
- 34:31[SPEAKER_01]: truly outscore them.
- 34:33[SPEAKER_01]: Not hold them, you just, and even though those guys are gone, I think Jackson Dark is really good.
- 34:41[SPEAKER_01]: They give up, I want to say the Giants give up like 30 points a game, their rush defense is really bad, at least 30 points a game on the road.
- 34:49[SPEAKER_01]: They haven't won a road game.
- 34:50[SPEAKER_01]: I want to say since last October, they're own five this year on the road.
- 34:55[SPEAKER_01]: Go out there and take it to them.
- 34:58[SPEAKER_01]: Look, if you only win by a touchdown, I don't need style points.
- 35:02[SPEAKER_01]: I don't care if they're not as good as long as they continue to win these games.
- 35:08[SPEAKER_01]: Then we'll see with down the stretch how they do against the division and really important road games coming up too.
- 35:16[SPEAKER_02]: Yeah, and I think this one to your point, you just want it.
- 35:19[SPEAKER_02]: And I don't want to, I would like a game where you don't feel like you're leaving points out there, whether that's a misfiel goal or, oh, no, if only that terrain touched out, you know, picks six counted, like, I'd rather go and be like, you won this game, your offense won this game and not have a bunch of what ifs.
- 35:34[SPEAKER_02]: Those, I feel like, would be trending in the right direction.
- 35:36[SPEAKER_01]: And like, you know what angered me the most and it got muted a little bit because of, they scored on the next play.
- 35:43[SPEAKER_01]: I've been harping on it all week.
- 35:45[SPEAKER_01]: When you're at third in and goal and you're at the one or a little inside the one, like that can never happen.
- 35:54[SPEAKER_01]: A delay a game can never happen.
- 35:57[SPEAKER_01]: I'm not whoever it's on, whether the call came in late, whether Caleb took too long, whether someone was you can't like that is such it's not just a five yard penalty.
- 36:08[SPEAKER_01]: especially when you have those red zone issues.
- 36:11[SPEAKER_01]: You have to make it easy on yourself as possible.
- 36:14[SPEAKER_01]: Thank goodness.
- 36:16[SPEAKER_01]: Lovelin scored on the next play.
- 36:18[SPEAKER_01]: But that would have been a talking point even more so all week.
- 36:22[SPEAKER_01]: So look, like you said, they're not good enough to make those mistakes.
- 36:26[SPEAKER_01]: You got to score.
- 36:27[SPEAKER_01]: Don't shoot yourself in the foot.
- 36:29[SPEAKER_01]: If you get stopped fine, but I think this offense
- 36:35[SPEAKER_02]: All right, Sylvie, well, I really appreciate your time.
- 36:38[SPEAKER_02]: Thanks for joining me, and hopefully we'll talk about another one next week.
- 36:40[SPEAKER_01]: You've got to keep up the great work, Taylor.
- 36:42[SPEAKER_01]: We appreciate it.
- 36:43[SPEAKER_02]: Thanks so much.
- 36:44[SPEAKER_02]: Have a good one.