Latest / 2nd City Gridiron / Bears Banter Ep. 227: Adam Jahns joins after the Bears crush the Eagles!

Transcript

Bears Banter Ep. 227: Adam Jahns joins after the Bears crush the Eagles! · 2nd City Gridiron

• 0:33
  [SPEAKER_00]: Right, bare now, bare stand this time, for another edition of the Chicago Bears podcast, Bears Vanderbauer, by Second City Grand Iron Bill, Zimmerman with you, and oh my God, the bears are legit.
• 0:55
  [SPEAKER_00]: Look out NFL the Chicago Bears have eliminated all your excuses and now you want to try the Eagles are collapsing.
• 1:05
  [SPEAKER_00]: Well, maybe the Eagles are collapsing because the Bears just beat the Snot out of them for 60 minutes of football.
• 1:13
  [SPEAKER_00]: We are here and we are going to talk about this
• 1:19
  [SPEAKER_00]: We're going to talk about him for a few minutes here.
• 1:21
  [SPEAKER_00]: We're going to talk about him with Adam Johns of CHGO.
• 1:25
  [SPEAKER_00]: He's going to be by here in just a little bit.
• 1:27
  [SPEAKER_00]: Always a great conversation with John Z.
• 1:30
  [SPEAKER_00]: But man, oh man, we need to talk about this game because oh my goodness.
• 1:38
  [SPEAKER_00]: Like, if you tell me that you were aroused from this game, I'm gonna say that's okay.
• 1:43
  [SPEAKER_00]: Like, it was that good of a football game from Ben Johnson, that good schematically, that good of a game plan, and that good of execution from that offensive line.
• 1:54
  [SPEAKER_00]: And I, you know, if you listen to this podcast, the piece of the month, you know, I'm a trenches guy.
• 1:58
  [SPEAKER_00]: We got a lot of trenches guy on second city, great iron with Jeff and Lester and myself here, that we look at the trenches, we love the trenches.
• 2:07
  [SPEAKER_00]: This was, this was a Monet, this was the Mona Lisa.
• 2:12
  [SPEAKER_00]: What, what Ben Johnson, and I'm not sitting there.
• 2:15
  [SPEAKER_00]: I'm not Brian Baldinger.
• 2:16
  [SPEAKER_00]: I'm not watching all 22s across the league every week.
• 2:19
  [SPEAKER_00]: So I can't sit here and tell you what this looked like weekend and week out versus
• 2:25
  [SPEAKER_00]: You know, when Shani really had that 49ers run game, Haman, a few years ago in San Francisco and some of the stuff that Ben Johnson did in Detroit.
• 2:33
  [SPEAKER_00]: Like, I mean, obviously, I've seen it, but I haven't studied it as much as I've looked at the Chicago Bears trench play as frequently as I do throughout the season the last five, six, seven, eight years.
• 2:44
  [SPEAKER_00]: And this is, this is without question.
• 2:48
  [SPEAKER_00]: The best run scheme and run execution I have ever seen watching coaches film ever.
• 2:56
  [SPEAKER_00]: Now, let's say it's the best because I haven't seen it all, but it is the best I've ever seen.
• 3:00
  [SPEAKER_00]: And I am a nerd.
• 3:01
  [SPEAKER_00]: I look at a lot.
• 3:03
  [SPEAKER_00]: It was incredible.
• 3:07
  [SPEAKER_00]: Not only did they dominate at the point of attack, play in and play out
• 3:17
  [SPEAKER_00]: yards upon yards off the football and pancake blocks.
• 3:22
  [SPEAKER_00]: And just the misdirection, zack bond and re-blank and ship didn't know where the hell the plays were going.
• 3:29
  [SPEAKER_00]: They were just Ben Johnson was toying with them.
• 3:32
  [SPEAKER_00]: He was like if you own a cat and you got the fishing line with the little like dangly feathers on the end and you dangled it and you can't let the cat chase it around.
• 3:42
  [SPEAKER_00]: That's what he was doing to the linebackers in the secondary.
• 3:46
  [SPEAKER_00]: they were just going wherever he wanted him to go following those feathers around like a cat mesmerized by the little pink feathers because he put it wherever he wanted them and he what he does so brilliantly and I talk about this all the time what do coaches need to do what it's the number one thing coaches need to do.
• 4:05
  [SPEAKER_00]: They need to put their players in a position to succeed.
• 4:10
  [SPEAKER_00]: And a lot of times we talk about that, we talk about that with defensive players.
• 4:13
  [SPEAKER_00]: We talk about that with wide receivers and running backs and obviously quarterbacks.
• 4:18
  [SPEAKER_00]: We don't talk about it enough with the offensive line.
• 4:20
  [SPEAKER_00]: You can go back to the Colt's game last year.
• 4:24
  [SPEAKER_00]: These speed option disaster.
• 4:26
  [SPEAKER_00]: We all remember the goal line play dead on arrival.
• 4:29
  [SPEAKER_00]: And what I did, when I talked about that play is not only was it down on arrival, but when you looked at it and said, all right, what are going to be the individual matchups?
• 4:39
  [SPEAKER_00]: What are going to be what each offensive lineman has to do?
• 4:44
  [SPEAKER_00]: What is their assignment for that play?
• 4:46
  [SPEAKER_00]: every one of them was at a disadvantage that they had to take significant reach steps to the left to be able to get out and get their guy that their guy was already going to have a step or a half step on them ahead of time and that they were going to have to like,
• 5:02
  [SPEAKER_00]: every one of them was going to have to make that kind of execution block.
• 5:04
  [SPEAKER_00]: But what Ben Johnson does is whether it's with misdirection, whether it's with motion, he'll move a guy over a step, he'll freeze a guy for a of a millisecond just to give to any jacks and dolmen, whoever it is, the
• 5:19
  [SPEAKER_00]: opportunity to get to the second level and get there more comfortably, where they can seal their guy off properly.
• 5:27
  [SPEAKER_00]: And it was just, it was perfection against the Philadelphia Eagles.
• 5:33
  [SPEAKER_00]: This is it just some, you know, and you want to say whatever you want to say, that's on the offense about the Eagles problems.
• 5:40
  [SPEAKER_00]: That's Jalen Hertz of stuff.
• 5:41
  [SPEAKER_00]: This defense has still been humming.
• 5:44
  [SPEAKER_00]: This is Vic Fangeo, guys.
• 5:47
  [SPEAKER_00]: This is the guy that all we want to say as Barris fans is Matt Nagy did nothing.
• 5:52
  [SPEAKER_00]: Vic Fangeo was the reason the Barris went 12 and 4 and maybe he was.
• 5:57
  [SPEAKER_00]: But Vic Fangeo, I mean, he got embarrassed by Ben Johnson.
• 6:04
  [SPEAKER_00]: Absolutely embarrassed.
• 6:07
  [SPEAKER_00]: He couldn't put his guys in any position to succeed.
• 6:10
  [SPEAKER_00]: The bears did whatever they wanted.
• 6:12
  [SPEAKER_00]: The schematic advantage of Ben Johnson is next level and guys here's the thing.
• 6:18
  [SPEAKER_00]: How good is Ben Johnson going to get?
• 6:22
  [SPEAKER_00]: This is year one.
• 6:23
  [SPEAKER_00]: This is only what is third fourth
• 6:27
  [SPEAKER_00]: He's not Sean McVay and Kyle Shan, and he hasn't been doing this for a decade.
• 6:32
  [SPEAKER_00]: He's been doing this a few years.
• 6:34
  [SPEAKER_00]: He's on his way up.
• 6:36
  [SPEAKER_00]: His trajectory is still going up.
• 6:40
  [SPEAKER_00]: This is like we can read debate all the time about Caleb Williams.
• 6:44
  [SPEAKER_00]: Is he the guy?
• 6:44
  [SPEAKER_00]: Isn't he the guy?
• 6:45
  [SPEAKER_00]: Should that what should they do?
• 6:47
  [SPEAKER_00]: This did do it way we'll do it with all our quarterbacks.
• 6:49
  [SPEAKER_00]: We don't really do it with our coaches because our coaches we either say they're good or they suck.
• 6:54
  [SPEAKER_00]: Ben Johnson not only is good, Ben Johnson is great, and I'm gonna ask you this question.
• 7:00
  [SPEAKER_00]: You guys all mocked me when I said Ben Johnson's already on the Mount Rushmore of Bears Coaches.
• 7:04
  [SPEAKER_00]: He's on, he's not, he's got the fourth spot.
• 7:08
  [SPEAKER_00]: Don't give me, you know, Ralph Jones, whatever from 1932, I don't care if you want a championship, want a championship with George Alice's guys.
• 7:16
  [SPEAKER_00]: Not his guys, this is Ben Johnson.
• 7:18
  [SPEAKER_00]: He has changed this team.
• 7:20
  [SPEAKER_00]: He has changed the trajectory of the Chicago Bears franchise.
• 7:25
  [SPEAKER_00]: This isn't a one-fluke wonder because Ben Johnson is that good.
• 7:29
  [SPEAKER_00]: Guys, the bears have Bill Belichek, but he's not an ass.
• 7:34
  [SPEAKER_00]: They have that kind of advantage.
• 7:37
  [SPEAKER_00]: That's the kind of coach you.
• 7:38
  [SPEAKER_00]: Pride not Bill Bellachek, North Carolina.
• 7:40
  [SPEAKER_00]: No, no, no, no, no, no.
• 7:42
  [SPEAKER_00]: Bill Bellachek 2006, where he had three steps ahead of every other coach in the league.
• 7:49
  [SPEAKER_00]: That's what the Bears have with Ben Johnson.
• 7:52
  [SPEAKER_00]: And that's what I'm saying.
• 7:53
  [SPEAKER_00]: Right now, every offensive, every, every head coach is available.
• 8:00
  [SPEAKER_00]: and the Chicago Bears can trade Ben Johnson to any team in the league for their head coach.
• 8:06
  [SPEAKER_00]: No draft picks, nothing, but not for this year.
• 8:09
  [SPEAKER_00]: Moving forward, so you got to take in all factors.
• 8:12
  [SPEAKER_00]: You want to say, oh, well, I trade for Andy Reed.
• 8:14
  [SPEAKER_00]: Okay, that's fine, Andy Reed's great.
• 8:17
  [SPEAKER_00]: But Andy Reed is what, 67, 68 years old, how much longer is he gonna coach?
• 8:21
  [SPEAKER_00]: Well, I trade him for Sean McVeigh, okay, McVeigh's great.
• 8:25
  [SPEAKER_00]: He's a brilliant offensive mine.
• 8:26
  [SPEAKER_00]: Is Sean McVeigh going to quit and go to television in two or three years, been rumored for years that he wants to take a little bit of a step back.
• 8:34
  [SPEAKER_00]: So who you trading Ben Johnson for?
• 8:36
  [SPEAKER_00]: I think the one name that might come up is Kyle Shanahan.
• 8:40
  [SPEAKER_00]: Kyle Shanahan keeps struggling to win the big one.
• 8:43
  [SPEAKER_00]: I know he's been there.
• 8:44
  [SPEAKER_00]: He hasn't actually got in there with Patrick Mahomes.
• 8:48
  [SPEAKER_00]: He got there with Jimmy Garoppolo.
• 8:50
  [SPEAKER_00]: That's not exactly an easy task to try and beat Patrick Mahomes with Jimmy Garoppolo.
• 8:54
  [SPEAKER_00]: But Kyle Shanahan, part of the 28 to 3 to buckle.
• 8:59
  [SPEAKER_00]: Now he's lost a couple super balls can Kyle Shanahan win the big one Ben Johnson.
• 9:03
  [SPEAKER_00]: We don't know if Ben Johnson win the big one.
• 9:05
  [SPEAKER_00]: Kyle Shanahan doesn't seem to get all those ducks in a row for that big game on Sunday.
• 9:10
  [SPEAKER_00]: So.
• 9:11
  [SPEAKER_00]: Who are you trading Ben Johnson for?
• 9:13
  [SPEAKER_00]: I think the answer might be no one.
• 9:19
  [SPEAKER_00]: I think Ben Johnson, if you had a head coach draft right now, whoever has the number one pick, you want to talk about intelligence, leader of men, age,
• 9:31
  [SPEAKER_00]: you know, potential prospects in terms of getting better and moving forward, I think Ben Jobs is the number one pick.
• 9:39
  [SPEAKER_00]: That's who the bears have as their head coach.
• 9:42
  [SPEAKER_00]: You, you,
• 9:43
  [SPEAKER_00]: cannot ask for a better outcome than what Ben Johnson has done this year for the Chicago Bears franchise and for this team.
• 9:54
  [SPEAKER_00]: It's been remarkable.
• 9:56
  [SPEAKER_00]: Like with Matt Nagy, even when Matt Nagy was humming early on in 2018 with those, what we talk about, he can't marry the run in the past.
• 10:05
  [SPEAKER_00]: He runs the football, he's just like, all right, let's just run it off tackle with Jordan now.
• 10:08
  [SPEAKER_00]: There we go.
• 10:09
  [SPEAKER_00]: You know, we got to run, we got to run so we can, you know, keep teams, you know, off balance or whatever.
• 10:13
  [SPEAKER_00]: We got to run because we have to run.
• 10:15
  [SPEAKER_00]: Not because I want to run.
• 10:17
  [SPEAKER_00]: Like that was the mad naggy, right?
• 10:18
  [SPEAKER_00]: Ben Johnson wants to run.
• 10:20
  [SPEAKER_00]: Ben Johnson wants to dominate the line of scrumption.
• 10:22
  [SPEAKER_00]: Ben Johnson can marry the run in the past.
• 10:27
  [SPEAKER_00]: he can use the exact same looks in the running game and with the same personnel and go, this is a run to the left, run to the left, no, it's a pass to the right, like he's marrying the concepts together.
• 10:41
  [SPEAKER_00]: They are all building towards something.
• 10:44
  [SPEAKER_00]: He is doing a brilliant job.
• 10:46
  [SPEAKER_00]: He's setting things up.
• 10:48
  [SPEAKER_00]: Like is there a reason the bears keep figuring out ways to win
• 10:53
  [SPEAKER_00]: Is it perhaps, yes, the players are making the plays they need to make, but isn't perhaps that Ben Johnson is spending three quarters collecting data about what the defense is doing.
• 11:04
  [SPEAKER_00]: And instead of just saying, well, this is what we're our game plan was we're going to keep doing this and keep doing this and keep doing this.
• 11:09
  [SPEAKER_00]: No, he said, all right.
• 11:11
  [SPEAKER_00]: Vikings are doing this, right?
• 11:13
  [SPEAKER_00]: The Eagles are doing this.
• 11:15
  [SPEAKER_00]: He's getting data points, and he is using those data points to tweak and evolve within game, not for the season within the game.
• 11:27
  [SPEAKER_00]: So the place he's calling in the fourth quarter have the best percentage chances of working well, because he's got his game plan,
• 11:36
  [SPEAKER_00]: He now knows what the defense's game plan is, and he is, he's got the chess match going, and he's winning these chess matches week after week after week.
• 11:47
  [SPEAKER_00]: You can't be happier.
• 11:50
  [SPEAKER_00]: with what Ben Johnson is doing.
• 11:52
  [SPEAKER_00]: And Ben Johnson's doing such a good job, that brings me to Bill Zimmerman's favorite punching bag.
• 11:58
  [SPEAKER_00]: And that is Ryan Pulse.
• 12:01
  [SPEAKER_00]: And I am not about to sit here and tell you, I was wrong, Ryan Pulse is a genius and Ryan Pulse is the greatest GM in league.
• 12:09
  [SPEAKER_00]: I'm not gonna tell you that.
• 12:10
  [SPEAKER_00]: I will probably never tell you that because I think there are enough issues with Ryan Pulse that I'm gonna always question him.
• 12:18
  [SPEAKER_00]: Maybe he could change my mind, but it's going to take a lot of work for him to change my mind.
• 12:22
  [SPEAKER_00]: But we need to be fair to Ryan Pulse.
• 12:27
  [SPEAKER_00]: And when I was criticizing Ryan Pulse for the last few years, and you guys would sit here, your Ryan Pulse defenders would sit here and say,
• 12:37
  [SPEAKER_00]: You can't blame him for trimming Edmunds.
• 12:39
  [SPEAKER_00]: He signed him for Maddie Burfus.
• 12:41
  [SPEAKER_00]: You can't blame him for DeAndre Swift.
• 12:44
  [SPEAKER_00]: He signed him for Shane Waldron.
• 12:46
  [SPEAKER_00]: You can't blame him for this.
• 12:47
  [SPEAKER_00]: You can't blame him for that.
• 12:49
  [SPEAKER_00]: But the successes you've given credit for.
• 12:51
  [SPEAKER_00]: You'd say, oh, Braxton Jones is his guy.
• 12:53
  [SPEAKER_00]: And Tyson Bayjans is guy.
• 12:55
  [SPEAKER_00]: But the other guys that didn't work out well, that was for E. Burflus.
• 12:57
  [SPEAKER_00]: That was for Waldron.
• 12:58
  [SPEAKER_00]: That was for, you know, who at Luke Gatsy, whoever.
• 13:02
  [SPEAKER_00]: And I would sit there and say, no.
• 13:05
  [SPEAKER_00]: He maybe he sat down with Matt E. Refuse and said, yeah, let's give tremendous $72 million in the end.
• 13:11
  [SPEAKER_00]: It's Ryan Pulse's decision.
• 13:13
  [SPEAKER_00]: He's in charge of personnel.
• 13:15
  [SPEAKER_00]: Now, maybe Ben Johnson is in charge of football operations and it's not an official capacity and he's making these decisions.
• 13:22
  [SPEAKER_00]: Until we learn, if that's the case,
• 13:25
  [SPEAKER_00]: Then Ryan polls is in charge of football operations and Ryan polls is making decisions on personnel.
• 13:32
  [SPEAKER_00]: So even if Ben Johnson says, hey, Jonah Jackson's awesome for me into Troy, I want Jonah Jackson in here.
• 13:38
  [SPEAKER_00]: DeAndre Swift, I can work with them.
• 13:40
  [SPEAKER_00]: Let's keep him around.
• 13:42
  [SPEAKER_00]: I love this Kyle Menon guy kid.
• 13:43
  [SPEAKER_00]: I don't know what happened.
• 13:44
  [SPEAKER_00]: I wasn't in the room, but maybe certain guys were Ben Johnson guys.
• 13:48
  [SPEAKER_00]: and CJ Gardner Johnson, all of that's a Dennis Allen guy, like we can sit here in a sign guys to the reason the coaches wanted these certain players on the roster, but in the end until we hear differently and last we hear that this is a cheap structure and Andy Reed is running the chiefs football operations and last we hear that that's the case with Ben Johnson
• 14:14
  [SPEAKER_00]: We have to say that Ryan Polls is the one making the decisions.
• 14:19
  [SPEAKER_00]: And, you know, he has the final say.
• 14:22
  [SPEAKER_00]: And if I'm going to sit here and criticize him for Tremaine Edmunds, you know, at the time and say, I don't want to pay a line back or 72 million dollars.
• 14:29
  [SPEAKER_00]: And if I'm going to criticize him for the failed moves, Nate Davis,
• 14:34
  [SPEAKER_00]: all Chase Claypool, all the failed decisions he made.
• 14:38
  [SPEAKER_00]: Then I also have to be able to sit here and say that Ryan Polls can potentially improve and grow into his role and become better as a general manager and maybe he has done that.
• 14:49
  [SPEAKER_00]: Maybe he has, but regardless, this season, the hiring of Ben Johnson, Joe Tunney, Drew Dalman, and Jonah Jackson,
• 15:03
  [SPEAKER_00]: The secondary with nation rights, C.J.
• 15:06
  [SPEAKER_00]: Gardner Johnson.
• 15:07
  [SPEAKER_00]: They all haven't been perfect.
• 15:08
  [SPEAKER_00]: O'Dangbo didn't work out.
• 15:10
  [SPEAKER_00]: Grady Jared hasn't been great.
• 15:12
  [SPEAKER_00]: They haven't been perfect.
• 15:13
  [SPEAKER_00]: He's not just batten the thousand, but he has put together a hell of an off season with some of the free agent moves with a couple of the trades.
• 15:23
  [SPEAKER_00]: with the draft.
• 15:25
  [SPEAKER_00]: A lot of the guy set not everyone, that's okay, Ruben Hippelite, and then look like that's gonna work out and we can all say we first guess that when it didn't like it.
• 15:33
  [SPEAKER_00]: But Kalmanangai in round seven, excellent.
• 15:37
  [SPEAKER_00]: Luke Newman has been pretty damn good and limited opportunities, right?
• 15:42
  [SPEAKER_00]: We all love what we're seeing from burden and love one.
• 15:44
  [SPEAKER_00]: Now, Schermar Turner, maybe that doesn't work out, maybe he has a big season next year we will see.
• 15:49
  [SPEAKER_00]: But this draft class overall has done a heck of a job.
• 15:53
  [SPEAKER_00]: the free agent and trades done overall, a good job.
• 15:58
  [SPEAKER_00]: And even Grady Jarrett, who may not have done a lot on the field, we keep talking about the players talking about how much he's helped off the field.
• 16:05
  [SPEAKER_00]: Like that, that can't be excluded either.
• 16:07
  [SPEAKER_00]: What we are seeing from this entire franchise and how this team has changed from 20, 24, and 20, 25, we need to give Ben Jobs an A ton of credit.
• 16:19
  [SPEAKER_00]: But we can't sit here and say Ryan Polls gets no credit.
• 16:22
  [SPEAKER_00]: And Ryan Bowles, we've got a few games left.
• 16:25
  [SPEAKER_00]: Not saying it's definitely gonna happen.
• 16:27
  [SPEAKER_00]: Certainly, the Patriots, they had a hell of a turnaround.
• 16:31
  [SPEAKER_00]: Wolf's probably gonna be in consideration there.
• 16:33
  [SPEAKER_00]: You've got other teams you can consider in terms of executive of the year.
• 16:39
  [SPEAKER_00]: But Ryan Bowles,
• 16:42
  [SPEAKER_00]: maybe in line to win executive of the year.
• 16:44
  [SPEAKER_00]: And that doesn't really mean anything, right?
• 16:46
  [SPEAKER_00]: Ryan Pays won it in 2018 and was fired in 2021.
• 16:50
  [SPEAKER_00]: And if we're being honest, should have been fired in 2020.
• 16:54
  [SPEAKER_00]: But he won the award and deservedly so.
• 16:57
  [SPEAKER_00]: Khalil Mack was the nail on the head to win that one.
• 17:01
  [SPEAKER_00]: Ryan Poles.
• 17:03
  [SPEAKER_00]: Tell me who's 100% done a better job than Ryan Polls in terms of the Chicago Bear's transformation from 2024 to 2025.
• 17:13
  [SPEAKER_00]: Because now that this team has beat the Eagles, let's talk about expectations.
• 17:19
  [SPEAKER_00]: Because where have I been for weeks?
• 17:21
  [SPEAKER_00]: As the bears are rackin' up victories.
• 17:23
  [SPEAKER_00]: What have I been saying?
• 17:24
  [SPEAKER_00]: Hey, enjoy the ride, Bear's fans.
• 17:26
  [SPEAKER_00]: Who knows how this ends?
• 17:30
  [SPEAKER_00]: I can't sit here and say that with the Philadelphia Eagles victory now.
• 17:33
  [SPEAKER_00]: Now, of course, enjoy the ride bear's fans.
• 17:36
  [SPEAKER_00]: This is awesome.
• 17:37
  [SPEAKER_00]: I'm not saying don't.
• 17:38
  [SPEAKER_00]: But I can't say I have zero expectations anymore.
• 17:42
  [SPEAKER_00]: If they make the playoffs great, if they go 10 and 7, I miss the playoffs.
• 17:45
  [SPEAKER_00]: Great.
• 17:45
  [SPEAKER_00]: Hey, it was a heck of a year.
• 17:47
  [SPEAKER_00]: Hell no, man.
• 17:49
  [SPEAKER_00]: Because what I saw against the Philadelphia Eagles on the road,
• 17:55
  [SPEAKER_00]: The score was not indicative of what that game was.
• 18:00
  [SPEAKER_00]: That was a thorough ass kicking.
• 18:04
  [SPEAKER_00]: And if that offensive line can do that against other great teams.
• 18:09
  [SPEAKER_00]: If you can do that against the Rams, if you can do that against the Patriots and the Broncos, that's right, I'm talking about AFC teams as well.
• 18:18
  [SPEAKER_00]: If you can do that, you can beat any team in the NFL.
• 18:25
  [SPEAKER_00]: the peak of the offensive line, and they won't be as good in these, in these other games.
• 18:29
  [SPEAKER_00]: They may be great, not that good.
• 18:32
  [SPEAKER_00]: And if that's the case, then yes, the bears can be beaten.
• 18:35
  [SPEAKER_00]: But if the bear's offensive line plays like that, they can beat anybody in the league.
• 18:41
  [SPEAKER_00]: And if that is in the range of outcomes, then how can I sit here and shrug my shoulders and say, I don't have any expectations.
• 18:50
  [SPEAKER_00]: Whatever happens happens, now the bears have done it.
• 18:54
  [SPEAKER_00]: they had the audacity to beat the Philadelphia Eagles and give me expectations for this season.
• 19:01
  [SPEAKER_00]: I'm not just going to settle for 10 and 7 and the 7 seed anymore.
• 19:05
  [SPEAKER_00]: No, no, no, no, no.
• 19:07
  [SPEAKER_00]: I want the bears to win the division.
• 19:10
  [SPEAKER_00]: They split with the packers.
• 19:11
  [SPEAKER_00]: I think they're going to be in good shape to do that.
• 19:13
  [SPEAKER_00]: They sweep the packers.
• 19:14
  [SPEAKER_00]: They will 100% do that.
• 19:17
  [SPEAKER_00]: These games coming up here in the next three weeks are
• 19:24
  [SPEAKER_00]: But this team, I want them to win the division.
• 19:28
  [SPEAKER_00]: If they don't get the one seed, that's okay.
• 19:30
  [SPEAKER_00]: The Rams are a hell of a team.
• 19:31
  [SPEAKER_00]: The C-Ox are a hell of a team.
• 19:33
  [SPEAKER_00]: Maybe the Eagles figure things out and they start winning football games.
• 19:36
  [SPEAKER_00]: But the Bears right now have a good tiebreaker situation with Philadelphia.
• 19:42
  [SPEAKER_00]: They have a good tiebreaker situation with the LA Rams.
• 19:49
  [SPEAKER_00]: They have a couple of games on the Tampa Bay
• 19:53
  [SPEAKER_00]: if they can beat the Green Bay Packers, they are in great shape to win the division and to get the one seed.
• 20:01
  [SPEAKER_00]: Now, if they split with the Packers, that's gonna open up the door for some other teams to potentially sneak in there and grab that one seed.
• 20:09
  [SPEAKER_00]: They sweep the Green Bay Packers.
• 20:11
  [SPEAKER_00]: This is the best team in the NFC.
• 20:13
  [SPEAKER_00]: Tell me I'm wrong.
• 20:15
  [SPEAKER_00]: Tell me I'm wrong.
• 20:16
  [SPEAKER_00]: Look, because at that point, they would have beaten the Eagles.
• 20:19
  [SPEAKER_00]: They would have beaten the Packers twice.
• 20:22
  [SPEAKER_00]: they would have beaten all the good football teams.
• 20:24
  [SPEAKER_00]: That's where we're at.
• 20:25
  [SPEAKER_00]: This team has expectations now because they're showing, they can beat anybody in the league when they play their best game.
• 20:32
  [SPEAKER_00]: Can they go to the Super Bowl?
• 20:34
  [SPEAKER_00]: I don't know.
• 20:35
  [SPEAKER_00]: It would be wild.
• 20:36
  [SPEAKER_00]: Certainly, when they've expected it, there wasn't a bear's fan in the world that thought this team could go to a Super Bowl.
• 20:42
  [SPEAKER_00]: But tell me, the bear's team that showed up against the Eagles.
• 20:46
  [SPEAKER_00]: And then you're talking about maybe having home field
• 20:52
  [SPEAKER_00]: You want to have the LA Rams in Chicago.
• 20:56
  [SPEAKER_00]: They couldn't beat Philadelphia because Philadelphia ran the ball down their throats in the playoffs last year.
• 21:01
  [SPEAKER_00]: The Rams hung in there, but they couldn't do it.
• 21:03
  [SPEAKER_00]: Stafford didn't look quite as good, because it was frigid in Philadelphia.
• 21:07
  [SPEAKER_00]: It'll be frigid in Chicago.
• 21:09
  [SPEAKER_00]: And the bears can potentially run the ball down the Rams throats.
• 21:13
  [SPEAKER_00]: They've already proven they can run it down the Eagles throats.
• 21:16
  [SPEAKER_00]: You're telling me, Tampa in the cold isn't going to be a potential issue for them.
• 21:21
  [SPEAKER_00]: Seattle.
• 21:22
  [SPEAKER_00]: That's a great defense.
• 21:23
  [SPEAKER_00]: That would be an interesting matchup.
• 21:25
  [SPEAKER_00]: Sam Donald in the bright lights.
• 21:27
  [SPEAKER_00]: That doesn't look good either.
• 21:30
  [SPEAKER_00]: I'm not saying the bears are going to the Super Bowl, but you know when I am saying the Chicago bears can go to the Super Bowl this year.
• 21:36
  [SPEAKER_00]: I don't know what's going to happen.
• 21:37
  [SPEAKER_00]: Maybe they get swept by the packers.
• 21:39
  [SPEAKER_00]: They lose the 49ers.
• 21:40
  [SPEAKER_00]: Things fall apart a little bit here.
• 21:42
  [SPEAKER_00]: I don't know.
• 21:43
  [SPEAKER_00]: But what I do know is
• 21:45
  [SPEAKER_00]: is that the Chicago Bears are showing the potential to be that good.
• 21:50
  [SPEAKER_00]: And in a year, where suddenly the Eagles might be fading, where the Chiefs might miss the playoffs, where the Ravens might miss the playoffs, where the Buffalo bills, only seem to win games if Josh Allen turns into Superman.
• 22:04
  [SPEAKER_00]: If he's only a lesser superhero, they can't win.
• 22:08
  [SPEAKER_00]: And maybe Bonyx is there or Drake May is there because the Broncos are the Patriots when you tell me the Chicago Bears are nowhere near as good as the Denver Broncos you tell me Caleb Williams can't outdool Bonyx like it's a weird year in the NFL and maybe just maybe the Chicago Bears are weird enough to have a wild level of success I don't know how this is going to go.
• 22:38
  [SPEAKER_00]: But what I do know is it's going to be a hell of a lot better than any of us thought back in August and certainly what any of us thought after the bears lost by 30 points to the joint lines.
• 22:50
  [SPEAKER_00]: And now it's Packers Week and I don't think any bears fan, I can be wrong.
• 22:56
  [SPEAKER_00]: I don't think any bears fan is cocky right now.
• 22:59
  [SPEAKER_00]: I don't think any bears fan is at all green, but we're going to kick their ass.
• 23:03
  [SPEAKER_00]: I don't think anyone's super confident.
• 23:06
  [SPEAKER_00]: But I don't know if bear's fans are dreading this game.
• 23:09
  [SPEAKER_00]: And I think a lot of times bear's fans have put out a lot of bravado on social media, ah, bears, you know, punch the chest a couple times.
• 23:17
  [SPEAKER_00]: But truly, just how often in the back of your mind are going to go, oh no.
• 23:23
  [SPEAKER_00]: it's the packers.
• 23:24
  [SPEAKER_00]: How bad is this going to be?
• 23:26
  [SPEAKER_00]: Like can we just hang in there?
• 23:28
  [SPEAKER_00]: Can it just be can it be within within three points in the fourth quarter?
• 23:32
  [SPEAKER_00]: Just can we not get embarrassed?
• 23:33
  [SPEAKER_00]: Like you know you've thought that I've thought that just the absolute dread of seeing the packers humiliate the Chicago Bears feeling at this here?
• 23:44
  [SPEAKER_00]: I don't know if you're overconfident because the packers are
• 23:48
  [SPEAKER_00]: But it's hope, isn't it?
• 23:50
  [SPEAKER_00]: That's what you're feeling.
• 23:52
  [SPEAKER_00]: It's hope.
• 23:53
  [SPEAKER_00]: It's way to minute.
• 23:55
  [SPEAKER_00]: Bears have the better coach.
• 23:57
  [SPEAKER_00]: Bears have the better defensive corner.
• 23:59
  [SPEAKER_00]: I'm not saying the packers are, don't have a good coaching staff, but bears have a better coaching staff.
• 24:06
  [SPEAKER_00]: Okay, bears have a better offensive line.
• 24:09
  [SPEAKER_00]: Okay, bears have better skill position players on offense.
• 24:13
  [SPEAKER_00]: Okay, packers have more talent on defense.
• 24:16
  [SPEAKER_00]: Yeah.
• 24:17
  [SPEAKER_00]: Dennis Allen's there and there's certainly not slouches with Jalen Johnson and Kyler Gordon Montez sweat some of the other guys, just exactly what can the bears do against the Green Bay Packers on the road in Lambo going to be cold, going to be bear weather.
• 24:36
  [SPEAKER_00]: Because what has been Johnson bringing to this, he's bringing a ground attack, dominating the line of scrimmage, dominated at the point of attack.
• 24:44
  [SPEAKER_00]: beat a team down and beat him in the fourth quarter after you've punished them for three quarters.
• 24:49
  [SPEAKER_00]: That's what Ben Johnson wants to do.
• 24:52
  [SPEAKER_00]: And if Ben Johnson can do that in Lambo Field, the Chicago Bears can win this game on Sunday.
• 25:00
  [SPEAKER_00]: I think it's going to be a coin flip kind of game.
• 25:02
  [SPEAKER_00]: I don't think the bears are going to just dominate this team.
• 25:06
  [SPEAKER_00]: We'll talk about a true prediction on the other side of the Adam Johns interview.
• 25:11
  [SPEAKER_00]: He's going to be coming up here in just a minute.
• 25:13
  [SPEAKER_00]: But I do know the Chicago Bears fans that feeling before at the beginning of Packers Week that has been dread four years dread.
• 25:24
  [SPEAKER_00]: You can be hopeful sometimes, but it's still like
• 25:30
  [SPEAKER_00]: even 2018, the magical first half of Khalil Mack just dominating the Green Bay Packers single-handedly all fell apart in the second half at the hands of Aaron Rogers, dread.
• 25:41
  [SPEAKER_00]: But this, this is different, this is hope.
• 25:46
  [SPEAKER_00]: There's a hopefulness that the Chicago Bears have turned the corner.
• 25:50
  [SPEAKER_00]: and maybe just maybe they are the better team when the two teams get on the field Sunday at Lambo Field.
• 25:59
  [SPEAKER_00]: Adam Johns joins me next.
• 26:01
  [SPEAKER_00]: This is Bill Zimmerman, Bear Spanter.
• 26:03
  [SPEAKER_00]: We'll be right back.
• 26:04
  [SPEAKER_00]: welcome back into the podcast this is always a great guest always a conversation we do it once a year but this time we're doing it with a member of CHGO of course the big move this off maybe the biggest free agent for the Chicago Bears it was CHGO and Adam Johns of course Hogan Johns podcast as well he joins me now Adam bills Zimmerman how you doing good bill how are you my friend
• 26:28
  [SPEAKER_00]: I'm doing very well and look, I this may be we've been doing this for several years, but I don't know if we did it in 2018.
• 26:35
  [SPEAKER_00]: This may be the first time we're doing this under really positive circumstance.
• 26:39
  [SPEAKER_01]: I was about to say, have we talked about a winning team like a first place in the division first place in the entire NFC winning team?
• 26:47
  [SPEAKER_01]: I don't think we haven't done that.
• 26:48
  [SPEAKER_00]: Yeah, I really don't think we have.
• 26:50
  [SPEAKER_00]: So let's start, you know, before we do big picture, and there's a lot of different directions we can go.
• 26:55
  [SPEAKER_00]: Let's start with what we saw on Friday against the Philadelphia Eagles.
• 26:59
  [SPEAKER_00]: I got a chance to rewatch the tape with the all 22 and really, really look at things.
• 27:04
  [SPEAKER_00]: And I, it was a two score win, you know, nine point when on the road against the defending Super Bowl champions is great, but Jonsey, this, this was an ass kicking like this felt like a three touchdown victory.
• 27:16
  [SPEAKER_00]: They, the way this offensive line dominated the Eagles at the line of Scrimmage was something I can't ever remember seeing from a Chicago Bears team.
• 27:24
  [SPEAKER_00]: That's had some good offensive lines over the last 20 years.
• 27:27
  [SPEAKER_01]: I can't recall.
• 27:28
  [SPEAKER_01]: a conversation about the bears offensive line where we're putting them in the conversation as potentially the best in the entire league, top five, top three, like that's the conversation looking at any metrics you want to see or just look at the running stats or just look at the tape just like you did against the Philadelphia Eagles where they're moving.
• 27:48
  [SPEAKER_01]: This very talented eagles defensive line and then some off the ball driving them five to six yards left the right opening gaps, you know, as big as you could hope for against the eagles, you're right built like I can't recall.
• 28:06
  [SPEAKER_01]: ever using like the descriptions like one of the best in the league when describing the bears offensive line, but it is and they're doing it really with like the left tackle kind of like influx for the entire year ago for Rex Jones, the Theo Benedict and how to ask each pillow but with like Joe tuning, Jude Alman, Jonah Jackson, Donald Wright, they are a force to be reckoned with every single week regardless of the matchups.
• 28:31
  [SPEAKER_00]: Yeah, and you talk about Joe Tuney and yeah, left tackles a question, but when you have a guy like that next to that position, it's just going to elevate who's who's ever over there because I mean, and this isn't just the talented Eagles front for which we talk about with Davis and Carter and Smith and all these guys they have up front, but this is a Vic fan geo defense, I mean Vic Vic knows what he's doing.
• 28:51
  [SPEAKER_00]: I mean I was looking forward to to the fan geo Johnson chess match and it was checkmate early with Ben Johnson and Vic fan
• 28:58
  [SPEAKER_01]: It's so much variety in the run game.
• 29:01
  [SPEAKER_01]: I just love it.
• 29:02
  [SPEAKER_01]: It's like inserting Romadunze into the C gap to help blocking or just the motions to create leverage just so many different things that Ben Johnson presented what will Vic Fangio this week and other artifacts and coordinators and previous weeks, all of that I can't really messes with the defense, messes with the responsibilities, messes with their eyes and it creates winning situations.
• 29:25
  [SPEAKER_01]: for the bears' offensive line, for their tight ends, for their receivers, who are involved in this running game, that starts with Ben Johnson.
• 29:33
  [SPEAKER_01]: He loves the run game.
• 29:34
  [SPEAKER_01]: Like how often have we talked about a pair of like usually it's like bears' offensive coordinators and the quarterback in the past again.
• 29:42
  [SPEAKER_01]: Ben Johnson loves the running game, and I think you're seeing the like everything that he wants us to become the fruition every single week now.
• 29:51
  [SPEAKER_00]: And you talk about the motion and the things he does.
• 29:54
  [SPEAKER_00]: And I talked about that cold speed option a lot last year, because that play was dead on arrival, because even with all the disasters that it was, like every offensive lineman was at a disadvantage for the block they had to make there with the way they had to reach.
• 30:07
  [SPEAKER_00]: They had to turn their guys all that.
• 30:09
  [SPEAKER_00]: But with the way Ben uses motion, and he basically, he's putting like defenders as like chess pieces, he's putting him where he wants, where when these offensive linemen need to get out on the second level, they can get their guys, they're in the perfect position to get them, and it's just opening up these huge gaps, it's just that the Ben Johnson strategic.
• 30:28
  [SPEAKER_00]: You know, you know, bonus that the bears have the advantage they have over other teams.
• 30:34
  [SPEAKER_00]: It's remarkable how much he's accomplished this season just in that regard.
• 30:38
  [SPEAKER_00]: I can't even get over it.
• 30:39
  [SPEAKER_01]: It's it's honestly like amazing.
• 30:42
  [SPEAKER_01]: We're 12 games into the Ben Johnson era.
• 30:44
  [SPEAKER_01]: Like, and I've, I can't recall ever seeing this many open receivers.
• 30:49
  [SPEAKER_01]: like even like 2018, which is like one of the best seasons that I've covered, one of the best seasons that you covered, like there were open receivers, but not like this every single week.
• 31:00
  [SPEAKER_01]: Like Nagi struggled to fix the run game.
• 31:03
  [SPEAKER_01]: This run game is part of the chess match.
• 31:06
  [SPEAKER_01]: Like I appreciate that, like usually you don't look at the run game as part of the chess match, but Ben Johnson,
• 31:12
  [SPEAKER_01]: Does just in terms of creating different leverage situations differently, even just helping your left tackles who need it Like in the different ways he does it.
• 31:21
  [SPEAKER_01]: It's just not chipping all the time.
• 31:22
  [SPEAKER_01]: It's you know Though the runs actually called in the design of the entire play like the intelligence of Ben Johnson But the intelligence of the players like it's really starting to stand out to me because this can be pretty complicated if you look at it Like there are so many different types of runs the bears usually against the Eagles like that's a lot like just the for the sheer variety
• 31:42
  [SPEAKER_01]: It's a lot, and for them to be able to handle it and execute it, the way they did, it's just more than sheer physicality, because I think we see that every week now, it's the intelligence that the bear's players have to execute such things that Ben Johnson wants.
• 31:58
  [SPEAKER_00]: Yeah, and it's it's really starting uh, you know, it's obviously all come together here in the run game will see if it starts clicking more in the passing game because, you know, and if we're being honest, Caleb Williams was not fabulous against the Eagles and the full body of work, and I think that some of that passing those passing game concepts need to kind of come together like we saw with the running game with the running game was bad.
• 32:18
  [SPEAKER_00]: the first few weeks and then it was good and now it's reaching like another level and maybe the past game can catch up this year, maybe it won't catch up until 2026.
• 32:27
  [SPEAKER_00]: But what we're seeing with Ben and like you said, you're open receivers and the concepts are coming together and whether it's some of the receivers and Caleb need to get on the same page whatever it might be.
• 32:38
  [SPEAKER_00]: But then you still see the Caleb Williams, the alien throw to Corkhamat, that only maybe he's the only one in the league and make it.
• 32:46
  [SPEAKER_00]: When you see that and you see the run game and you could just see just how close this offense is to maybe truly being an explosive top three or four offense in the league.
• 32:55
  [SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, and that's not a criticism of of Caleb, right?
• 32:58
  [SPEAKER_01]: No, not at all.
• 32:59
  [SPEAKER_01]: We shouldn't be sensitive about this.
• 33:00
  [SPEAKER_01]: Like his numbers need to be better.
• 33:01
  [SPEAKER_01]: Collision percentage used to be better.
• 33:03
  [SPEAKER_01]: Like his footwork needs to be better.
• 33:05
  [SPEAKER_01]: Like that's all fair assessments of his game.
• 33:08
  [SPEAKER_01]: Just look where he ranks amongst his peers.
• 33:10
  [SPEAKER_01]: And Ben Johnson is literally saying it himself.
• 33:14
  [SPEAKER_01]: But to your point, Bill, like you see the signs of it.
• 33:17
  [SPEAKER_01]: It's him going, I think, what five for six in the fourth quarter.
• 33:21
  [SPEAKER_01]: And he's got that cold command touch down to help seal the wind against the Eagles.
• 33:23
  [SPEAKER_01]: Like you see glimpses of it, like I think some of it, like he's missing open targets.
• 33:29
  [SPEAKER_01]: But to me, like for...
• 33:31
  [SPEAKER_01]: like the context is needed.
• 33:32
  [SPEAKER_01]: He is in his first year in this offense, second year in the entire league.
• 33:36
  [SPEAKER_01]: Like to me, I would consider it a positive that he's getting to those open receivers on this progression and throwing that way.
• 33:42
  [SPEAKER_01]: Now the next step is the actual production.
• 33:45
  [SPEAKER_01]: That's fine.
• 33:46
  [SPEAKER_01]: You have to be patient with that.
• 33:48
  [SPEAKER_01]: But to me, it's a positive that he's getting to those reads when they're not as primary.
• 33:54
  [SPEAKER_01]: The Caleb conversation is always interesting, but I think he's coming along just fine.
• 33:59
  [SPEAKER_01]: I think patience needs to be preached, but you do see the glimpses.
• 34:02
  [SPEAKER_01]: You do see why he was drafted first overall.
• 34:07
  [SPEAKER_01]: I don't think you have to like strain your eyes to see it either.
• 34:10
  [SPEAKER_00]: No, yeah, I think it's there and I think we just need to see if it truly can come all together.
• 34:15
  [SPEAKER_00]: I certainly think he's on his way to a second contract here.
• 34:18
  [SPEAKER_00]: The question is, is where is that ceiling?
• 34:20
  [SPEAKER_00]: Just how good is he going to get?
• 34:22
  [SPEAKER_00]: And when you have a guy like Ben Johnson, that's where you can marry two tremendous talents and see just truly how far they can get, because I'm going to say this, and it's probably a little bit of a hot take, but I was really thinking about this this morning and that
• 34:39
  [SPEAKER_00]: No, no, draft picks or anything, just straight up for any other head coach in the league.
• 34:44
  [SPEAKER_00]: But you got to consider all options.
• 34:46
  [SPEAKER_00]: Like Andy Reed, obviously he's much older, you know, Sean McVey, every couple years, he seems to think he might want to retire, might want to get in the television.
• 34:55
  [SPEAKER_00]: Like, how many coaches in the league?
• 34:58
  [SPEAKER_00]: And maybe the answer for you is zero.
• 34:59
  [SPEAKER_00]: How many coaches in the league right now, if the 49ers called you up and said, we want to trade Ben Johnson for Kyle Shanahan straight up right now.
• 35:06
  [SPEAKER_00]: Like, how many coaches would you do?
• 35:09
  [SPEAKER_01]: I can't.
• 35:10
  [SPEAKER_01]: Well, honestly, I don't like I would because I'm so incurred.
• 35:13
  [SPEAKER_01]: It's like, I'm the Chicago Bears.
• 35:15
  [SPEAKER_01]: I'm like, I'm so encouraged by already what I have, like, why is this?
• 35:18
  [SPEAKER_00]: What's his ceiling?
• 35:19
  [SPEAKER_01]: Yes, exactly.
• 35:20
  [SPEAKER_01]: I think the cool thing about this conversation, and this is kind of a cool thing to bring up.
• 35:26
  [SPEAKER_01]: Like, he's been Johnson is showing us
• 35:31
  [SPEAKER_01]: almost immediately that he belongs in the conversation of, well, well, well, of Kyle Shanahan and Sean McVey.
• 35:39
  [SPEAKER_01]: I mean, Sean Peyton has his super ball.
• 35:41
  [SPEAKER_01]: We'll talk sort of Sean McVey, but like, just like an offensive mind that makes things work.
• 35:47
  [SPEAKER_01]: Like, it does a matter of the quarterback.
• 35:49
  [SPEAKER_01]: It doesn't matter if the quarterback's struggling or not.
• 35:51
  [SPEAKER_01]: It doesn't matter how many new pieces.
• 35:53
  [SPEAKER_01]: But because of what he envisions, but because of his coaching acumen, because of the coaches he brings in, like things just work.
• 36:02
  [SPEAKER_01]: Like in Sean McVay's case, like, beyond Matthew's staffer, they know they had some injuries, but like, the quarterback, like, Baker may feel for a little bit.
• 36:11
  [SPEAKER_01]: They win.
• 36:13
  [SPEAKER_01]: Brock Perty, Matt Jones, San Francisco, they win, Bonyx and Denver, they win and you could you know argue all night and day about those quarterbacks shortcomings and I'll make a way going from gear, go off to Matthew Staffer and still winning.
• 36:28
  [SPEAKER_01]: There is like, and of course, any read is in this too, but like the brilliance of the offensive mind.
• 36:34
  [SPEAKER_01]: that Ben Johnson has, like, that's the conversation that he's in, like, those are his colleagues.
• 36:38
  [SPEAKER_01]: Anyway, you know, like, those are his colleagues in this conversation.
• 36:41
  [SPEAKER_01]: I think that's honestly, but like, it's pretty remarkable that we're talking about that in the Chicago Bears, because for for so long, it's been something different.
• 36:53
  [SPEAKER_01]: At one point, we all hope that that was naggy.
• 36:56
  [SPEAKER_01]: We hope that was treasimen in the later stages of his career, but I think the early signs right now are telling us that Ben Johnson is different that the conversation should be different and that the coaches we should be comparing him with are the ones I just said which are some of the best coaches in the league some of the best offensive minds going in the NFL right now
• 37:14
  [SPEAKER_00]: Yeah, and last thing I've been here because there's plenty of other things to get to is, and obviously this has been long put to bed, but you know, in January with that higher, and you know, when bears fans and media were debating, you know, Mike Vrable, they need a leader of men like that was, that was the big, awful, well, we don't know what Ben Johnson can be, can he lead a locker room.
• 37:33
  [SPEAKER_00]: And I mean, that couldn't have been put to bed sooner.
• 37:37
  [SPEAKER_00]: I mean, the amount, and I look, I get a 2018 with ClubDob, and everyone, every one of that locker room seemed to love Matt Nagy.
• 37:43
  [SPEAKER_00]: And obviously things went south.
• 37:44
  [SPEAKER_00]: So I'm not saying whatever's happened in this year is always going to be the case.
• 37:48
  [SPEAKER_00]: But it's certainly the way he rallies that team, the way every one of those eyeballs is locked on him.
• 37:55
  [SPEAKER_00]: during those speeches.
• 37:56
  [SPEAKER_00]: And that's certainly was not the case when you saw it with previous coaches, especially the guy who was here the last few years.
• 38:01
  [SPEAKER_00]: But what's happening with that locker room?
• 38:04
  [SPEAKER_00]: How much they believe in him?
• 38:05
  [SPEAKER_00]: How much they trust him?
• 38:06
  [SPEAKER_00]: How much that entire locker room?
• 38:08
  [SPEAKER_00]: Like with that wind that they had previously, where like, you know, Demarco Jackson is stepping up.
• 38:14
  [SPEAKER_00]: Like there's the all these players are buying in on a level that is just really, it's something different that we haven't seen in Chicago in a long time.
• 38:24
  [SPEAKER_01]: I've become a big believer in this that, you know, like usually the players know first in many aspects and I think I've talked to enough players over my 10-year current Chicago Bears that players know good coaching.
• 38:39
  [SPEAKER_01]: They know coaches who know what they're talking about.
• 38:42
  [SPEAKER_01]: Like there's a difference between explaining it and there's a difference between going like deep in the detail about certain things and I think right now
• 38:48
  [SPEAKER_01]: Chicago Bears know they're being coached extremely hard and extremely well.
• 38:53
  [SPEAKER_01]: It starts with Ben Johnson, but includes Dennis Allen and includes Al Harris, it includes Duckland Doyle, Antoine Randall L, Eric Pianamy.
• 39:00
  [SPEAKER_01]: they know they're being coached hard and they're being coached well and you can't over rate that you really can't I like you look back at 2018 like you can start poking holes in certain success that they had you know within two years met naegy fires mark health rich and Harry Eastan there is scapegoats for the run game that won't work
• 39:21
  [SPEAKER_01]: Ben Johnson's run game is working at me.
• 39:25
  [SPEAKER_01]: It's functioning at an entirely different level right now in year one.
• 39:30
  [SPEAKER_01]: When you hear Ben Johnson say he's upset with the run game and he goes into the by week and he comes out and this is what it does, you know, weeks later, like that's something like that's something to buy into as a player.
• 39:43
  [SPEAKER_01]: I think that's what's happening at house on.
• 39:46
  [SPEAKER_01]: I think it's been happening there since July now that
• 39:51
  [SPEAKER_01]: You know, we have some games to to really analyze.
• 39:54
  [SPEAKER_01]: I think we're all seeing now like everything they've put into this, starting all the way in the off season.
• 40:01
  [SPEAKER_00]: Yeah, and you brought the assistant coaches.
• 40:02
  [SPEAKER_00]: And that's absolutely something we're we're talking about for a second, because look, this is not the first time we've seen a great coaching staff.
• 40:09
  [SPEAKER_00]: In fact, I would say that John Fox's coaching staff that he put together here was outstanding with Vic Fangeo and Adam Gase and a lot of those assistants were outstanding assistants.
• 40:18
  [SPEAKER_00]: And yet the bear's couldn't win more than three, four, five games a season under John Fox.
• 40:22
  [SPEAKER_00]: Yeah, so you need to need the talent there as well.
• 40:25
  [SPEAKER_00]: But the way this these assistants have coach, what we've seen from like the development in the secondary with guys like Nation right without Harris and the you know, the the scheme that Dennis Allen has put together getting pressure from the secondary when he can't get it with the front four, the Kyle Manongai development with Eric B.
• 40:42
  [SPEAKER_00]: Enemy like
• 40:43
  [SPEAKER_00]: what we're seeing from this entire coaching staff beyond Ben Johnson is is incredible and I always love to bring it up like you know and I unfortunately for him personally but the fact that Dennis Owens had a couple swings at the head coach and failed him and Ben Johnson could be the duo here kind of like Annie Reid and Steve's back Noah for years and years.
• 41:03
  [SPEAKER_01]: Well, I mean, that's where things got away from the Nagi Bears.
• 41:06
  [SPEAKER_01]: Once a big fangeo was gone, like some of that coaching expertise left the building.
• 41:11
  [SPEAKER_01]: And as we learn from that experience, like a big fangeo is extremely difficult to replace.
• 41:17
  [SPEAKER_01]: Like you brought up John Fox, like the energy of Ben Johnson just strikes me as so.
• 41:24
  [SPEAKER_01]: overwhelmingly different than what John Fox presented on his third stop in his coaching career.
• 41:30
  [SPEAKER_01]: Like, I bet you he was different early on in Carolina.
• 41:33
  [SPEAKER_01]: I bet you he was early different early on, like his first year in Denver before the his health, you know, got away from him a little bit.
• 41:42
  [SPEAKER_01]: Like, what's going on now with the bears, like the energy, the, I mean, the good better best
• 41:52
  [SPEAKER_01]: call it like a maniacal energy from Ben Johnson that has existed since the day he arrived at the building like all those stories early on about the attention to details.
• 42:02
  [SPEAKER_01]: Him yelling at his players to get off the field because the first team offense wasn't good enough like that energy.
• 42:08
  [SPEAKER_01]: Just feels so extremely different for me like as an observer because that's never really existed here to that level before and in my experience like watching every single training can't practice I'm like okay that is something different that is something real and I want to find out how real it is and you talk to the players and it is very real and.
• 42:31
  [SPEAKER_01]: I know I'm rambling here, but just, you know, I just can't get over the fact that you have this coach who has this offensive expertise, who wanted to be here, but also happens to be a very good leader of men, like that was one of the question marks about Ben Johnson, can he be a leader of a man?
• 42:50
  [SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, go look at his locker room celebrations.
• 42:53
  [SPEAKER_01]: I think he can be.
• 42:56
  [SPEAKER_00]: Yeah, no he's he's absolutely this entire locker room has has embraced him for sure now Now let me talk about the other other side of the coin here in terms of the the faces of the the bears front office and coaching staff and that's Ryan Paul's who I he's been a punching bag on this podcast frequently.
• 43:11
  [SPEAKER_00]: I there's been plenty of things.
• 43:13
  [SPEAKER_00]: I've criticized him for in the past but Like you know and people would say oh well that he did that for Matt eber flu.
• 43:18
  [SPEAKER_00]: You know that's that you can't but I said no look the box stops with the GM.
• 43:22
  [SPEAKER_00]: It was his decision in the end
• 43:24
  [SPEAKER_00]: And now when we look ahead, now people who want to discredit posts, oh, that was the Ben Johnson guy.
• 43:28
  [SPEAKER_00]: And that was the Dennis Allen guy.
• 43:29
  [SPEAKER_00]: And that may be true.
• 43:30
  [SPEAKER_00]: But again, the personnel decisions come to the general manager.
• 43:34
  [SPEAKER_00]: And when we look at Ryan polls his off season, where he has hired Ben Johnson, and he has brought in
• 43:40
  [SPEAKER_00]: like a brand new offensive line, four guys across the offensive line, drafted like Tylenon guy and what we've seen now with loveland and burden, and as everything been perfect, as Brady Jarrett been what they hope, no, but at the same time, enough of these pieces, even CJ Gardner Johnson, mid-season, the save of the secondary, the amount that has worked for the bears this off season into the season to get them to the number one spot in the NFC right now.
• 44:07
  [SPEAKER_01]: you know there's a few games to go so we'll see what happens here but Ryan polls has to be on the short list for for what they're going to consider for executive of the year if Ben Johnson is a candidate for coach of the year but she is then Ryan polls should be candidate for executive of the of the year they're they're paired in this in my opinion whether it's Brian polls
• 44:31
  [SPEAKER_01]: really just presenting to Ben Johnson that, hey, we want you here.
• 44:34
  [SPEAKER_01]: Let's work together and Ben Johnson agreeing to it.
• 44:36
  [SPEAKER_01]: Like you can't overstate it enough.
• 44:39
  [SPEAKER_01]: Like if Ben Johnson wanted to maybe could have forced Ryan Poles out of here, but he didn't.
• 44:44
  [SPEAKER_01]: He wanted to work with Ryan Poles.
• 44:46
  [SPEAKER_01]: And then later, Ryan Poles delivers.
• 44:48
  [SPEAKER_01]: by rebuilding his offensive line like re-signing jude almond is one thing like that's a no-brainer best car or best center on the market fits what Ben Johnson wants to do then then go get them like that makes sense you have the money go get them
• 45:04
  [SPEAKER_01]: But then to trade for Joe Toney no one saw that coming to execute the trade for Jonah Jackson Maybe some people saw that coming, but still very good trade it helps rebuild the offensive line Now as he took pillow, let's see how this plays up, but the early signs that even early signs We got five games left from this season.
• 45:24
  [SPEAKER_01]: I think we know that Kalmanan guys a good football player Course in love one is a good football player.
• 45:28
  [SPEAKER_01]: That Luther Bernick could be an extremely dangerous and explosive Football player when it gets to the ball on his hands
• 45:34
  [SPEAKER_01]: These are Ryan Polls draft picks.
• 45:38
  [SPEAKER_01]: They are.
• 45:39
  [SPEAKER_01]: If Matt and Maggie can win coach of the year in 2019, right, 2018, 2019, however you want to phrase it, and Ryan pace can win executive of the year that year because of what they did together and how they rebuilt that offensive line and bringing in what was a trade burden and just, you know, retooling that offensive line,
• 46:02
  [SPEAKER_01]: deserves the same credit.
• 46:04
  [SPEAKER_01]: I believe for what's happened with the bears underben Johnson and all the changes that they've made.
• 46:09
  [SPEAKER_00]: Yeah, absolutely.
• 46:11
  [SPEAKER_00]: Let me ask you a big picture here.
• 46:12
  [SPEAKER_00]: Then we got to get into Packers week a little bit of course.
• 46:15
  [SPEAKER_00]: But big picture here and this is kind of what my stance has been like I have been saying the last few weeks.
• 46:21
  [SPEAKER_00]: Just enjoy the ride.
• 46:22
  [SPEAKER_00]: Bears are playing with house money.
• 46:24
  [SPEAKER_00]: This is.
• 46:24
  [SPEAKER_00]: exceeding everyone's expectations.
• 46:27
  [SPEAKER_00]: Then they had the audacity, John Z to go out and beat the Eagles on the road.
• 46:31
  [SPEAKER_00]: And suddenly, the expectations really stood where you're like, okay.
• 46:35
  [SPEAKER_00]: Well, now they're the number one seed in the NFC currently.
• 46:39
  [SPEAKER_00]: Obviously, a couple of games with the Packers, 49ers, Lions.
• 46:42
  [SPEAKER_00]: We know they've got tough games on the schedule here.
• 46:44
  [SPEAKER_00]: But suddenly to me, my expectations are not, well, this is just a team if they go 10 and 7.
• 46:50
  [SPEAKER_00]: They get the 7 seed.
• 46:51
  [SPEAKER_00]: Hey, it's all gravy.
• 46:52
  [SPEAKER_00]: It's been a fun season.
• 46:53
  [SPEAKER_00]: But now you're suddenly sitting there and go, they do that to the Eagles.
• 46:57
  [SPEAKER_00]: Any team, if they dominate them in the trenches, like they did, they could beat any team in the league when they play that kind of football.
• 47:03
  [SPEAKER_00]: And they may not be able to beat that perfect again.
• 47:05
  [SPEAKER_00]: But now you're starting to see the things where you can sit here and say, I'm not saying they're winning the Super Bowl.
• 47:10
  [SPEAKER_00]: I'm not saying they're getting to the Super Bowl.
• 47:12
  [SPEAKER_00]: But this is a team that you just can't say, hey, they made the playoffs, you know, tip the cap to Ben Johnson and move on.
• 47:18
  [SPEAKER_00]: There's a point here where there's expectations, John C, that this team can not only make the playoffs, but might be able to win a game or to whether they're there.
• 47:26
  [SPEAKER_01]: Is that team in Philadelphia?
• 47:27
  [SPEAKER_01]: The Chicago Bears look like a team
• 47:35
  [SPEAKER_01]: That typify playoff football that felt like a playoff game And I know there's another level that it reaches but just in terms of some of the emotions at least the way the bears played the way they they wanted to play that game in the conditions like
• 47:52
  [SPEAKER_01]: You can win playoff games that way, teams win playoff games that way.
• 47:55
  [SPEAKER_01]: We see where the elements come into become a factor at this time of year in December.
• 48:01
  [SPEAKER_01]: Like it's going to be a factor again in Green Bay.
• 48:04
  [SPEAKER_01]: It's going to be like 15, 16 degrees, I believe.
• 48:06
  [SPEAKER_01]: But you know what?
• 48:08
  [SPEAKER_01]: Behind that offensive line, they can move the ball.
• 48:11
  [SPEAKER_01]: They can move the ball with power and physicality and a little nasty.
• 48:15
  [SPEAKER_01]: And of course, the brilliance of Ben Johnson's scheming, you know, all those run plays, you know, to click and pop.
• 48:22
  [SPEAKER_01]: But yes, I think my expectations completely shifted and filled off here where I'm thinking, okay, you know, I think they could do this, they could make the playoffs.
• 48:31
  [SPEAKER_01]: But then you see them do that against the Eagles, like, okay, I think they can win a playoff game.
• 48:36
  [SPEAKER_01]: Maybe, too.
• 48:38
  [SPEAKER_01]: If this passing game gets going,
• 48:40
  [SPEAKER_01]: in all seriousness like look out like if this is just you know what two or three percentage points better look at completion percentage look at pass rating or QBR if those go up you know just two or three points you know those are three or four more completions and potentially touchdowns that answer the conversation for the Chicago Bears and I think it's completely possible so yes that game and Philadelphia changed my expectations and I think it changed a lot of expectations for everyone about this Bears theme across the league.
• 49:10
  [SPEAKER_00]: Yeah, absolutely.
• 49:11
  [SPEAKER_00]: It was it was eye opening.
• 49:13
  [SPEAKER_00]: I think for a lot of people who just kept discounting this team on haven't beaten anyone.
• 49:17
  [SPEAKER_00]: Wow, Pittsburgh didn't have Aaron Rogers.
• 49:19
  [SPEAKER_00]: There was always a reason.
• 49:20
  [SPEAKER_00]: They have since they didn't have Jogger.
• 49:22
  [SPEAKER_00]: It's always a reason.
• 49:23
  [SPEAKER_00]: It was a reason.
• 49:24
  [SPEAKER_00]: There's a reason.
• 49:25
  [SPEAKER_00]: I know Philly's locker room is not happy, but there's no when when you go and do that, that you can't you can't come up with it.
• 49:31
  [SPEAKER_00]: I can't.
• 49:32
  [SPEAKER_01]: I get the criticism of the bearers wins, but you could only poke so many holes in it.
• 49:37
  [SPEAKER_01]: Like, it's to me, it's always so simple, Bill.
• 49:41
  [SPEAKER_01]: It's better than the alternative, and we know the alternative extremely well.
• 49:46
  [SPEAKER_01]: That's what you do.
• 49:48
  [SPEAKER_01]: Yes, my dear.
• 49:49
  [SPEAKER_01]: They're beating teams, maybe they should.
• 49:52
  [SPEAKER_01]: Sure, it looks ugly, but like it's the end of fall.
• 49:56
  [SPEAKER_01]: like there's crazy games every single way, you know?
• 50:00
  [SPEAKER_01]: The Carolina Panthers just beat the St. Louis, St. Louis Rams, the Los Angeles Rams, going back in time, you're like, like, I can, I'm talking about, like, did it, the, um, the Vikings just beat the Packers, like, I mean, like, it's, it's the NFL.
• 50:15
  [SPEAKER_01]: And he think it happened.
• 50:16
  [SPEAKER_01]: And the bears are making good things happen.
• 50:18
  [SPEAKER_01]: It's okay to to recognize that and not poke continuous holes into it.
• 50:23
  [SPEAKER_00]: Yeah, don't worry about that St. Louis Rams reference.
• 50:25
  [SPEAKER_00]: I had Greg Braggs on last week, and I call the division the NFC central.
• 50:30
  [SPEAKER_00]: So, But let's get into, let's get into Packers week here.
• 50:35
  [SPEAKER_00]: Obviously, this is, this is a different feeling because I think for a lot of fans.
• 50:40
  [SPEAKER_00]: They're entering this week with a lot of hope instead of a lot of dread, which has been, been, I think, the mindset for a lot of people for a lot of years for a lot of good reasons.
• 50:48
  [SPEAKER_00]: So,
• 50:49
  [SPEAKER_01]: how are you you know looking at this match up here coaching match up players match up on the field here and you know can the bears I think obviously they can go in the Lambo field and win this football you know it's funny it's it's almost kind of similar going on the road against the playoff team playoff caliber team that has a very good defense with a lot of different playmakers at the really it all three levels like different types of past rushers just different talent in the secondary it's a good unit you know the numbers tell you that and
• 51:18
  [SPEAKER_01]: But if the bears could do what they didn't fill it up, I don't see any reason why they can't do it again.
• 51:27
  [SPEAKER_01]: Like truthfully, if we're talking about the bears having a top three offensive line, and the NFL, they should be able to assert their will again in Green Bay.
• 51:38
  [SPEAKER_01]: And if they do,
• 51:40
  [SPEAKER_01]: I don't know what the expectation level is going to be after that, but that'll be something like, my expectation is, this is what we learned about the Chicago Bears.
• 51:49
  [SPEAKER_01]: They're competitive and almost every single game, even if outside that week to game against Detroit, right?
• 51:56
  [SPEAKER_01]: They compete and almost every single game, Caleb Williams will make these flash and splash plays that while you
• 52:04
  [SPEAKER_01]: and they want to run the football, and they will run you over if it starts to click.
• 52:09
  [SPEAKER_01]: And if that happens Green Bay, I think, I think Winner's trickle might be out of hotdogs by them, but it's going to be like, like, to answer your question, yes, I can see a repeat situation where the bears are motivated by the spread, they're motivated by everything and they buy into everything that Ben Johnson is planning and that plan is executed perfectly against the Green Bay Packers and
• 52:34
  [SPEAKER_00]: Do you think these players appreciate and brace and understand the packer's rivalry?
• 52:39
  [SPEAKER_00]: It seems to be ebbs and flows where sometimes the locker rooms really dialed in on it and sometimes locker room feels like they just treat it like another game.
• 52:45
  [SPEAKER_01]: See, that's why I appreciate like Ben Johnson and his intro documentary Mark's taking some bail shots at Matt LaFlor because the best rivalries need some of that juice, some of that energy and all sports.
• 52:57
  [SPEAKER_01]: You need a little anger, you need a little
• 53:01
  [SPEAKER_01]: Let's not be friends in this.
• 53:02
  [SPEAKER_01]: It doesn't have to be that way.
• 53:04
  [SPEAKER_01]: And I think players like Cole Comet and Jalen Johnson understand that because they've been here for a long time.
• 53:09
  [SPEAKER_01]: They've dealt with to probably too many losses against the Packers.
• 53:13
  [SPEAKER_01]: And now it's probably on them to get on board.
• 53:15
  [SPEAKER_01]: But I think Ben Johnson's comments are a great starting point.
• 53:19
  [SPEAKER_01]: And like he's setting the standard already with a little trash doc on day one when he's hired by the bear.
• 53:25
  [SPEAKER_00]: Yeah, no it was it was it was a lot it was a lot of fun and like we hadn't really seen that since like love He smith who just stood up there and says yeah, we're gonna beat the Packers like and now you just yeah Yeah, you haven't seen that a lot a lot of coaches embrace that right out of the gate So with this game and I kind of wanted to do big picture I meant to do this a little earlier with with the secondary here and and I was mentioned that with Ryan polls with like the See day Gardner Johnson back up on even even like nation right who's been a really pleasant surprise and
• 53:51
  [SPEAKER_00]: Now the better sort of thing.
• 53:52
  [SPEAKER_00]: They've almost got too many bodies in the secondary, you know, with with players getting healthy and how how everyone's going to get snaps.
• 53:58
  [SPEAKER_00]: So like how do you think the secondary can do against the Packers and how do you think the secondary, you know,
• 54:10
  [SPEAKER_01]: We'll wait and see on Tyreach Stevenson's injury status because like that's another top decision.
• 54:18
  [SPEAKER_01]: Excuse me, top decision to make it if he's healthy and ready to go.
• 54:22
  [SPEAKER_01]: I think the secondary, especially with the linebackers while being injured,
• 54:27
  [SPEAKER_01]: There are the strength of this team.
• 54:29
  [SPEAKER_01]: I thought it could be that way from the start and I think you're you're like it's still remain that Despite the injuries to Caler Gordon and Jayle and John's because the Sean Wright has played so well because Kevin Buyer is playing in all pro level because to Juan Brisker not go on what has been healthy every single week and I still think it could be a strength going into this backers game and obviously you know Jordan level makes a big plays
• 54:53
  [SPEAKER_01]: They don't look pretty, but the ball somehow always gets there, the Christian Watson, there's certain things that the backers do that are threatening, but like I'll put it this way.
• 55:05
  [SPEAKER_01]: The bears have been a takeaway machine and excellent on third downs despite missing their best defensive player for really the entire season.
• 55:15
  [SPEAKER_01]: And now, Jalen Johnson will be back for his second game since his surgery.
• 55:20
  [SPEAKER_01]: He was on a snap count, obviously in Philadelphia.
• 55:23
  [SPEAKER_01]: I'm not sure what that snap count will be against the packers, but it may not even exist.
• 55:28
  [SPEAKER_01]: The same thing applies to a collar Gordon, who I think is in the conversation for being one of the best bears to find two players on this rockstar.
• 55:37
  [SPEAKER_01]: I don't think that's even like, I don't even have to make a strong argument.
• 55:40
  [SPEAKER_01]: I think that's pretty obvious.
• 55:44
  [SPEAKER_01]: What Dennis Allen does?
• 55:46
  [SPEAKER_01]: I don't know.
• 55:46
  [SPEAKER_01]: Maybe a lot of dime looks to confuse Jordan love but it's a good problem to have because the secondary right now is absolutely loaded
• 55:54
  [SPEAKER_00]: yeah and like a guy like nation right i keep seeing you know bears fans saying we got a sign this guy we got a sign this guy and i get it he's he's had especially the last few games he's not just getting the takeaways but he's been much better in terms of his coverage and he's really been sticky but at the same time you know how are you going to pay all these guys like you know you've got you already locked down johnson you've locked down Gordon Tyreke Stevenson's uh you know potentially up for extension it's almost like you know
• 56:23
  [SPEAKER_01]: Yeah.
• 56:24
  [SPEAKER_01]: Well, hammer tie reached the even symbol that's a conversation for another day.
• 56:28
  [SPEAKER_01]: Like I got a story coming up on right and just like his relationship with with Al Harris is something it's something special.
• 56:37
  [SPEAKER_01]: It's more than just player coach.
• 56:39
  [SPEAKER_01]: So if Al Harris leaves and becomes a defensive coordinator somewhere, maybe that's the exit for right and the the convict formula works out in the bear's
• 56:48
  [SPEAKER_01]: Maybe that's a story or a conversation for another day, like at this point, I'm going to go off with Al Harris to tell me in the last week.
• 56:56
  [SPEAKER_01]: He thinks right is one of the bears best 11 defensive players, so he's going to be on the field.
• 57:02
  [SPEAKER_01]: And I get that it's not perfect in coverage for him.
• 57:05
  [SPEAKER_01]: It's never going to be for a member of the second area, but his ball production.
• 57:11
  [SPEAKER_01]: just can't be replaced.
• 57:12
  [SPEAKER_01]: It's the interceptions, it's the fumble recoveries.
• 57:15
  [SPEAKER_01]: He's just having one of those magical seasons where the ball just comes to him and he's making the plays and I think Elheris, I think Dennis Elner recognize what's happening.
• 57:27
  [SPEAKER_01]: I don't think he's going to leave the field at least this year anytime soon.
• 57:30
  [SPEAKER_00]: Yeah, it's a great problem to have John Z.
• 57:32
  [SPEAKER_00]: All right.
• 57:32
  [SPEAKER_00]: Well, there he is.
• 57:33
  [SPEAKER_00]: Adam John's, of course, of CHGO and the Hogan John's podcast.
• 57:37
  [SPEAKER_00]: You can catch all his great content over there.
• 57:40
  [SPEAKER_00]: John Z.
• 57:40
  [SPEAKER_00]: Thanks for the conversation.
• 57:41
  [SPEAKER_00]: We'll do it again in a year.
• 57:43
  [SPEAKER_00]: And hopefully we'll be talking about an even better bear steam in 2020's next.
• 57:48
  [SPEAKER_01]: There would be something.
• 57:48
  [SPEAKER_01]: Bill any time.
• 57:50
  [SPEAKER_00]: All right.
• 57:51
  [SPEAKER_00]: There he is.
• 57:53
  [SPEAKER_00]: Adam John's.
• 57:56
  [SPEAKER_00]: That was a good interview.
• 57:57
  [SPEAKER_00]: That, look, what is John?
• 57:59
  [SPEAKER_00]: He's exuding confidence and positivity.
• 58:03
  [SPEAKER_00]: Like, you don't get there from the Chicago media that much and I know Hogan John somehow get labeled as the optimists, but they haven't been nearly as much a last few years and they're feeling it.
• 58:14
  [SPEAKER_00]: We're all feeling it.
• 58:15
  [SPEAKER_00]: So,
• 58:16
  [SPEAKER_00]: the Chicago Bears.
• 58:18
  [SPEAKER_00]: This is fun, guys.
• 58:19
  [SPEAKER_00]: This is fun.
• 58:21
  [SPEAKER_00]: And speaking of fun, you know what would be fun wearing second city gridiron merchandise out and about in the city of Chicago.
• 58:28
  [SPEAKER_00]: Make sure you check it out.
• 58:30
  [SPEAKER_00]: Sales, glory going on holiday, sales, merch from all your favorite shows.
• 58:36
  [SPEAKER_00]: I tweeted out the link recently.
• 58:37
  [SPEAKER_00]: You can get it.
• 58:38
  [SPEAKER_00]: It's everywhere.
• 58:39
  [SPEAKER_00]: Second city gridiron merchandise.
• 58:41
  [SPEAKER_00]: You can Google it.
• 58:42
  [SPEAKER_00]: However, you want to get to it.
• 58:44
  [SPEAKER_00]: but the second city gridiron merch is there for all your favorite shows.
• 58:48
  [SPEAKER_00]: We're talking about wrapping up with Jacob and Fancy.
• 58:51
  [SPEAKER_00]: We're talking about fair and bounce with Lester and JB.
• 58:54
  [SPEAKER_00]: We're talking about Mac and Reed.
• 58:56
  [SPEAKER_00]: We're talking about fairs over beers.
• 58:58
  [SPEAKER_00]: We're talking about that little show they call, fairs, banter.
• 59:02
  [SPEAKER_00]: We're talking about fair bones.
• 59:04
  [SPEAKER_00]: We're talking about monsters, making monsters with Taylor as well.
• 59:09
  [SPEAKER_00]: All the shows are on there.
• 59:10
  [SPEAKER_00]: All of them are represented.
• 59:14
  [SPEAKER_00]: get hoodies, hats, whatever you're looking for, make sure you check it out.
• 59:21
  [SPEAKER_00]: But let's get to the mail bag.
• 59:24
  [SPEAKER_00]: We got some questions here.
• 59:25
  [SPEAKER_00]: Let's jump right in.
• 59:27
  [SPEAKER_00]: We'll start with shams, not that shams, who says, where are the odds the bears sweep the packers?
• 59:34
  [SPEAKER_00]: All right.
• 59:34
  [SPEAKER_00]: Well, we'll get to a prediction here in just a few minutes.
• 59:37
  [SPEAKER_00]: But before we do,
• 59:39
  [SPEAKER_00]: odds the bad.
• 59:40
  [SPEAKER_00]: I mean, look, odds are the bears probably split with the packers.
• 59:43
  [SPEAKER_00]: I think that's fair.
• 59:44
  [SPEAKER_00]: It's especially difficult.
• 59:46
  [SPEAKER_00]: It'd be one thing if the bears beat the packers and like October and other play them in December.
• 59:51
  [SPEAKER_00]: It's one thing to play a team a couple months apart.
• 59:53
  [SPEAKER_00]: It's especially hard to beat a team twice when you play them.
• 59:58
  [SPEAKER_00]: twice in the span of two weeks.
• 1:00:00
  [SPEAKER_00]: And I understand the bronzer sandwich in the middle, but when you're talking about playing them Sunday to that following Saturday, it is a two week stretch and they're playing the Packers twice in that range.
• 1:00:11
  [SPEAKER_00]: That's not easy.
• 1:00:12
  [SPEAKER_00]: It is not easy to beat a team twice in that range.
• 1:00:15
  [SPEAKER_00]: I think it's possible the bears can do it.
• 1:00:17
  [SPEAKER_00]: Look, I think it's possible the packers can do it.
• 1:00:19
  [SPEAKER_00]: I don't think that'll happen.
• 1:00:21
  [SPEAKER_00]: But if you said like, what are the odds?
• 1:00:24
  [SPEAKER_00]: Like if I did a pie chart here, 100%, what are the odds the bears split with the packers?
• 1:00:32
  [SPEAKER_00]: I would say 50, 50, right?
• 1:00:35
  [SPEAKER_00]: Like I'd say it's a good chance, 50%.
• 1:00:37
  [SPEAKER_00]: I'll put it right at,
• 1:00:39
  [SPEAKER_00]: You know, 50%.
• 1:00:40
  [SPEAKER_00]: Maybe even 60%.
• 1:00:41
  [SPEAKER_00]: I'll call it 60% bears split with the Packers.
• 1:00:46
  [SPEAKER_00]: I'm going to say it's
• 1:00:49
  [SPEAKER_00]: 21% likely the packers sweep the bears 19% likely the bears sweep the packers.
• 1:00:56
  [SPEAKER_00]: How's that?
• 1:00:56
  [SPEAKER_00]: That's probably just that that 2% there is just damage from years and years of seeing the bears lose to the packers, but I don't think it's overwhelmingly one way or the other.
• 1:01:07
  [SPEAKER_00]: So 60% chance they split, but we'll give them a 19% chance that they can sweep the packers.
• 1:01:13
  [SPEAKER_00]: We've got John H.
• 1:01:19
  [SPEAKER_00]: It's not quite clicking, but it's not quite clicking for the passing offense, not just for Caleb Williams.
• 1:01:25
  [SPEAKER_00]: And I've seen a couple people talking about how they felt the last few weeks.
• 1:01:29
  [SPEAKER_00]: And this passing game is so close to popping off, and it's just not quite there yet.
• 1:01:35
  [SPEAKER_00]: Like it's basically, the players run the right routes, crisp routes, get open, Caleb misses them.
• 1:01:41
  [SPEAKER_00]: players, you know, Caleb doesn't miss him, players drop balls or they run the wrong route and it looks like Caleb misses him, but he doesn't actually miss him, like the, you know, should this player sit on his route should the player keep running Caleb thinks he's going to keep running he sits on his route looks like a bad pass like that keeps happening it looks like that it is just about to click like it clicked for this running game over these last few weeks and how it's continued to improve and of course we see the brilliant brilliant game against the Eagles.
• 1:02:11
  [SPEAKER_00]: like, is it getting that close for the passing offense?
• 1:02:13
  [SPEAKER_00]: I can't tell you that.
• 1:02:15
  [SPEAKER_00]: I'm not concerned about Caleb.
• 1:02:18
  [SPEAKER_00]: I think 2026 is going to be a huge year for Caleb Williams.
• 1:02:22
  [SPEAKER_00]: And I'll tell you this, John.
• 1:02:23
  [SPEAKER_00]: If we're on like October 15th, 2026, we're like six games into this thing.
• 1:02:29
  [SPEAKER_00]: Caleb Williams has like,
• 1:02:31
  [SPEAKER_00]: five touchdowns and two interceptions and his passing completion percentage is still around 60%.
• 1:02:39
  [SPEAKER_00]: And, you know, we're still not quite seeing everything coming together.
• 1:02:42
  [SPEAKER_00]: That's when I'm going to start having concern.
• 1:02:45
  [SPEAKER_00]: But with how Ben Johnson coaches this team.
• 1:02:48
  [SPEAKER_00]: with how good this running game is, how much I trust these talented skill position players, I think it's gonna come together.
• 1:02:55
  [SPEAKER_00]: And it may not come together this year.
• 1:02:56
  [SPEAKER_00]: It may look like this the rest of the season.
• 1:02:59
  [SPEAKER_00]: I'm hoping it doesn't.
• 1:03:00
  [SPEAKER_00]: I hope it comes together here real soon, but it may not.
• 1:03:04
  [SPEAKER_00]: But regardless of that, I do think it's close.
• 1:03:07
  [SPEAKER_00]: I'm not concerned about it.
• 1:03:09
  [SPEAKER_00]: I said, I don't think it said it's not quite clicking for Caleb, I think it's not quite clicking for the passing offense, but again, if you're not an old 22 guy, what I would do is I would seek out some of the tape analysts on social media, and I don't know exactly what they've all done, but whether that be some of the former quarterbacks.
• 1:03:30
  [SPEAKER_00]: you know like QB school, whether that be like a Brett Coleman, Brian Boldinger, you know, Doug Ferrar, any of these all 22 types that that put stuff out and push stuff out on social media.
• 1:03:43
  [SPEAKER_00]: Go check them out, see if they've done some study work on what Ben Johnson did with the bear's
• 1:03:50
  [SPEAKER_00]: You know, plan against the Eagles and the execution because what you're going to see is you're going to see how complex this running game is, but complex in a good way, where once you understand all the concepts, know who your who your assignments are, how to position defensive players, how those chess pieces all work, once you see it, you it comes together and it comes together beautifully and that's what we saw so.
• 1:04:17
  [SPEAKER_00]: with the passing offense, it's just kind of like once they all kind of understand, because they've all got to work together.
• 1:04:23
  [SPEAKER_00]: All 11 guys have to do the right assignments here, or it doesn't quite work.
• 1:04:27
  [SPEAKER_00]: And the run game, that's what we're finally seeing.
• 1:04:29
  [SPEAKER_00]: Everyone's figuring out exactly what their assignments are.
• 1:04:32
  [SPEAKER_00]: It looks beautiful.
• 1:04:33
  [SPEAKER_00]: We'll see if they can do that in the passing game here in the next few weeks.
• 1:04:37
  [SPEAKER_00]: If it gets a little better, and John's mentioned it, if the passing game can click, man, this offense
• 1:04:47
  [SPEAKER_00]: and it'll be a beautiful, beautiful thing.
• 1:04:50
  [SPEAKER_00]: I forgot to mention this, speaking of getting turnovers.
• 1:04:53
  [SPEAKER_00]: The Tush Push did the Bears break the Tush Push.
• 1:04:56
  [SPEAKER_00]: Think about that.
• 1:04:57
  [SPEAKER_00]: If the Bears broke the Tush Push, do you know how cool that is?
• 1:05:01
  [SPEAKER_00]: The unstoppable play that is the Philadelphia Eagles Tush Push, the Bears say, hey, you can't get in front of it.
• 1:05:08
  [SPEAKER_00]: What if you get to the side of it?
• 1:05:10
  [SPEAKER_00]: where they can't protect jail and hurts.
• 1:05:12
  [SPEAKER_00]: And if they start trying to protect jail and hurts from the side, that's less people in the middle.
• 1:05:16
  [SPEAKER_00]: And doing that push.
• 1:05:18
  [SPEAKER_00]: So perhaps just perhaps the bears broke the push.
• 1:05:21
  [SPEAKER_00]: We'll have to see, but that was awesome.
• 1:05:24
  [SPEAKER_00]: All right, susnik, are you a fan of Eggnog?
• 1:05:28
  [SPEAKER_00]: And what of your initial thoughts, been on Azita Pillow?
• 1:05:31
  [SPEAKER_00]: Aziz looked good.
• 1:05:32
  [SPEAKER_00]: Aziz was a part of a machine there with the Eagles.
• 1:05:35
  [SPEAKER_00]: And again, like I said last week, susnik,
• 1:05:39
  [SPEAKER_00]: not sexy on the tape.
• 1:05:42
  [SPEAKER_00]: It's big body gets in front, kind of does what he has to do, but overall the results have been effective.
• 1:05:50
  [SPEAKER_00]: I think 100% because Trapillos got the traits, and I do think, that's funny, I say this, you lose a little in the run game from Theo Bennett, and it's certainly, what's the case against the Eagles?
• 1:06:02
  [SPEAKER_00]: You definitely have an improvement in the past game.
• 1:06:03
  [SPEAKER_00]: So I would continue to stick with Trapillos,
• 1:06:07
  [SPEAKER_00]: and see where is that?
• 1:06:08
  [SPEAKER_00]: Because you need to solve left tackle if you can, at least you need to have an understanding if the left tackle for 2026 is on the roster.
• 1:06:16
  [SPEAKER_00]: I know we need to focus on this season and the playoffs, but you can't ever not think about next season.
• 1:06:22
  [SPEAKER_00]: You've got to always constantly Ryan Polls and his staff need to constantly be thinking about next season.
• 1:06:28
  [SPEAKER_00]: who fits in the what and who can they afford, who can they not afford and how that's all going to come together.
• 1:06:34
  [SPEAKER_00]: So they need to kind of see, do we have a left tackle?
• 1:06:38
  [SPEAKER_00]: Are we moving Donald right to the left side and keep in triple on the right side?
• 1:06:42
  [SPEAKER_00]: Can we can triple be the left tackle moving forward?
• 1:06:45
  [SPEAKER_00]: Can the Obedded it be the left tackle?
• 1:06:47
  [SPEAKER_00]: Like the bears have to make that decision now so they understand how to approach the offseason.
• 1:06:53
  [SPEAKER_00]: If they just ran, bedded it the whole time, and you know, and do like, I don't know, Vazzie Trepello can do it.
• 1:06:58
  [SPEAKER_00]: We never gave him another shot that they're giving them a shot so far.
• 1:07:02
  [SPEAKER_00]: Pretty good, susnik, um, not lights out, not home run, but good enough right now.
• 1:07:09
  [SPEAKER_00]: And we'll see if he can prove over the next month of the season.
• 1:07:12
  [SPEAKER_00]: I would like him to keep the starting job.
• 1:07:14
  [SPEAKER_00]: And as for Agnock, I do like Agnock probably not as much as I did 10, 20 years ago.
• 1:07:19
  [SPEAKER_00]: But I do like it.
• 1:07:20
  [SPEAKER_00]: It's definitely a nice holiday treat.
• 1:07:22
  [SPEAKER_00]: I'm certainly not going to have egg noggin April.
• 1:07:24
  [SPEAKER_00]: You know, you have maybe like two glasses a year.
• 1:07:28
  [SPEAKER_00]: That's probably enough, maybe three.
• 1:07:30
  [SPEAKER_00]: Do like a little nutmeg on there.
• 1:07:32
  [SPEAKER_00]: I'm certain I can drink a wither without alcohol.
• 1:07:35
  [SPEAKER_00]: I'm not alcohol, like, agnog has to have rumour.
• 1:07:38
  [SPEAKER_00]: It's not good.
• 1:07:39
  [SPEAKER_00]: I'm not one of those types.
• 1:07:41
  [SPEAKER_00]: I drink a lot of bloody marries around the holidays.
• 1:07:44
  [SPEAKER_00]: I like a lot of seasonal beers.
• 1:07:46
  [SPEAKER_00]: I'll work in plenty of alcohol.
• 1:07:48
  [SPEAKER_00]: I don't need my agnog to have alcohol.
• 1:07:50
  [SPEAKER_00]: If your hand and me won't run it, I'm certainly not going to complain.
• 1:07:53
  [SPEAKER_00]: But...
• 1:07:55
  [SPEAKER_00]: overall for the, you know, for what Eggnog is, it's a nice holiday treat, but I am not a, you know, would never be a year round Eggnog guy.
• 1:08:06
  [SPEAKER_00]: I don't certainly like it that much.
• 1:08:07
  [SPEAKER_00]: I know some people with some of these things are like, oh, I wish this was available year round.
• 1:08:10
  [SPEAKER_00]: Not with that guy.
• 1:08:11
  [SPEAKER_00]: Yeah, it's too rich.
• 1:08:13
  [SPEAKER_00]: It's too thick to have it as, you know, frequently throughout the year.
• 1:08:18
  [SPEAKER_00]: Barronum 81, who is on your Mount Rushmore of Chicago Bears, including coaches and front office people, is Jim thinks on there.
• 1:08:27
  [SPEAKER_00]: Well, Jim thinks is certainly one of the most underrated pieces of Chicago Bears history, because he is, you know, I think most bears fans know this, but if they don't, he is certainly the architect for the most part of the 85 bears.
• 1:08:40
  [SPEAKER_00]: Even though he wasn't there, the 83 draft goal look up.
• 1:08:43
  [SPEAKER_00]: One of the great drafts in NFL history in terms of a single season.
• 1:08:46
  [SPEAKER_00]: Richard Dent was on there.
• 1:08:48
  [SPEAKER_00]: Jim Boat Covert was on there, Willie Gold was on.
• 1:08:51
  [SPEAKER_00]: I mean, just starter after starters.
• 1:08:53
  [SPEAKER_00]: Like a couple of Hall of Famers dead was a late pick a eighth ninth round.
• 1:08:58
  [SPEAKER_00]: I think it was an absolutely incredible draft from Thanks in 1983 and that was it many left
• 1:09:07
  [SPEAKER_00]: But in terms of Mount Rushmore for Chicago Bears, all right, let's start with the most obvious one in that is George Hallows.
• 1:09:17
  [SPEAKER_00]: You cannot have one without George Hallows, all right?
• 1:09:24
  [SPEAKER_00]: So that's one.
• 1:09:25
  [SPEAKER_00]: No argument.
• 1:09:26
  [SPEAKER_00]: Number two is Walter Payton.
• 1:09:28
  [SPEAKER_00]: Walter Payton is arguably one of the top five players in NFL history.
• 1:09:32
  [SPEAKER_00]: He was one of the great stars.
• 1:09:34
  [SPEAKER_00]: He meant a ton of the city of Chicago.
• 1:09:37
  [SPEAKER_00]: And while you still, if you come across Walter Payton highlights on Twitter, I dare you to scroll past and not watch.
• 1:09:43
  [SPEAKER_00]: Like you have to watch, incredible motion with the wall and he could do it all.
• 1:09:48
  [SPEAKER_00]: Catch, block.
• 1:09:50
  [SPEAKER_00]: Obviously a great runner.
• 1:09:51
  [SPEAKER_00]: He was the complete package, Walter Payton.
• 1:09:53
  [SPEAKER_00]: That's the second one.
• 1:09:55
  [SPEAKER_00]: Those two are undevatable.
• 1:09:58
  [SPEAKER_00]: I think if someone gives you a Mount Rushmore and one of those two is an on it, then you just tell them they don't know anything about the Chicago Bears.
• 1:10:05
  [SPEAKER_00]: Now the next two guys, I think it gets a little trickier.
• 1:10:08
  [SPEAKER_00]: I put a guy on here that I think a lot of bears fans wouldn't, because I don't think they like him or at least they've grown tired of him, but that's Mike Dicca.
• 1:10:18
  [SPEAKER_00]: Mike Dickah for multiple reasons.
• 1:10:20
  [SPEAKER_00]: Mike Dickah is one of the top tight ends, 10 tight ends in NFL history.
• 1:10:24
  [SPEAKER_00]: He revolutionized the tight end position.
• 1:10:27
  [SPEAKER_00]: Before Mike Dickah, the tight end position was basically a blocking position.
• 1:10:31
  [SPEAKER_00]: Like nobody, occasional catch here there.
• 1:10:34
  [SPEAKER_00]: Mike Dickah was the first guy where you're like, you can actually have,
• 1:10:38
  [SPEAKER_00]: big dude in the passing game that was ferocious and can bowl people over be a matchup problem.
• 1:10:44
  [SPEAKER_00]: That was Mike Dicker.
• 1:10:45
  [SPEAKER_00]: He revolutionized the tight end position, open the door for John Mackie, couple other of the past catchers in the 70s, Ozzy Newsom in the Kellen Winslow and Kellen Winslow is the guy who
• 1:10:58
  [SPEAKER_00]: revolutionized the Titan into what we see today with the Bronx and the Kelsey's and the Shannon Sharps and all the other great great Titans in history there.
• 1:11:10
  [SPEAKER_00]: So, Dick is on there, not just for the play, but for the coach as well.
• 1:11:14
  [SPEAKER_00]: The Bears have won Super Bowl Championship and Mike Dick was a part of it.
• 1:11:18
  [SPEAKER_00]: So, for me, Dick gets it because he is a part of the last two championships.
• 1:11:24
  [SPEAKER_00]: He was a player and a coach.
• 1:11:26
  [SPEAKER_00]: all-time great player and coach of the greatest single season team in NFL history as far as I'm concerned.
• 1:11:34
  [SPEAKER_00]: So, my ticket is your third day on the Mount Rushmore and the fourth gets really interesting.
• 1:11:41
  [SPEAKER_00]: And I think that's really debatable here.
• 1:11:45
  [SPEAKER_00]: if you look at what Red Grange did and Bronco Negerski did for the Chicago Bears in the 20s and the 30s.
• 1:11:53
  [SPEAKER_00]: I don't think that can be ignored.
• 1:11:55
  [SPEAKER_00]: Gail shares is an all-time great.
• 1:11:58
  [SPEAKER_00]: Dick Buttgiss is an all-time great.
• 1:12:00
  [SPEAKER_00]: Jim thinks, I think that's an interesting, I wouldn't put Jim thinks on there, but Jim thinks is a very interesting idea of bared him.
• 1:12:07
  [SPEAKER_00]: So I don't, I don't discount that one at all.
• 1:12:12
  [SPEAKER_00]: For me, though, I think it has to be Dickbuckus.
• 1:12:15
  [SPEAKER_00]: Dickbuckus was a defensive superstar.
• 1:12:18
  [SPEAKER_00]: When there weren't a lot of defensive superstars in the league, he was just a cusp before Mean Joe Green, you know, who was a star in the 70s for the Pittsburgh Steelers.
• 1:12:28
  [SPEAKER_00]: You know, there's like Chuck Benarek.
• 1:12:31
  [SPEAKER_00]: He kind of played both ways.
• 1:12:32
  [SPEAKER_00]: You know, there wasn't a lot of great defensive
• 1:12:36
  [SPEAKER_00]: stars.
• 1:12:37
  [SPEAKER_00]: Not great players.
• 1:12:38
  [SPEAKER_00]: I'm not saying that weren't great defensive players before Dick Puckas.
• 1:12:41
  [SPEAKER_00]: I'm talking about stars.
• 1:12:43
  [SPEAKER_00]: You had a little bit with the with the Rams, with the fearsome for some, with Merlin Olson and Deacon Jones.
• 1:12:48
  [SPEAKER_00]: He had some.
• 1:12:49
  [SPEAKER_00]: I'm not saying they didn't exist.
• 1:12:51
  [SPEAKER_00]: But Dick Puckas.
• 1:12:53
  [SPEAKER_00]: not just who he was as a player and he's one of the great linebackers in NFL history.
• 1:12:59
  [SPEAKER_00]: I think he is the best linebacker in NFL history.
• 1:13:02
  [SPEAKER_00]: I think Ray Lewis fans will tell you I'm wrong, but I think Buck is better than Ray Lewis because I think Buck is, yeah I'll get
• 1:13:09
  [SPEAKER_00]: Everything evolves, things change, but Buccus was a great pass.
• 1:13:14
  [SPEAKER_00]: I mean, Ray Lewis go sideline, the sideline, like nobody.
• 1:13:17
  [SPEAKER_00]: But I think Dick Buccus, Interceptions, Pass coverage was excellent there.
• 1:13:22
  [SPEAKER_00]: For Russia, this is all can be.
• 1:13:24
  [SPEAKER_00]: Dick Buccus couldn't play football in 2025 and get arrested.
• 1:13:27
  [SPEAKER_00]: just an absolutely ferocious linebacker with the way he attack players and attack the football and a star with the commercials, the movies, TV shows, everything he did that just elevated his name and elevated the Chicago Bears name, Dick Buckus is my fourth guy.
• 1:13:46
  [SPEAKER_00]: So Buckus,
• 1:13:52
  [SPEAKER_00]: last one here.
• 1:13:53
  [SPEAKER_00]: Play it out.
• 1:13:54
  [SPEAKER_00]: The bears take the hall.
• 1:13:57
  [SPEAKER_00]: What is their current situation?
• 1:14:01
  [SPEAKER_00]: And club, we were having such a good time.
• 1:14:04
  [SPEAKER_00]: And I know I tweeted out an old poll from December of 2020 for you.
• 1:14:08
  [SPEAKER_00]: Who do you want the bears quarterback to be?
• 1:14:09
  [SPEAKER_00]: Like, I think 70% wanted it to be Justin Fields, 20% Caleb, basically 10% Drake may.
• 1:14:17
  [SPEAKER_00]: Bears take the hall.
• 1:14:18
  [SPEAKER_00]: It's a disaster, guys.
• 1:14:20
  [SPEAKER_00]: I mean, let's talk about the hall for a second.
• 1:14:24
  [SPEAKER_00]: All right, so if they take the hall, they sign just in fields to a long-term contract.
• 1:14:32
  [SPEAKER_00]: Now, fields at that point, I don't think gets the 60 million a year, like he's not in that steps like spot.
• 1:14:39
  [SPEAKER_00]: But, after three years, you can't take the hall
• 1:14:43
  [SPEAKER_00]: As far as I'm concerned, and then tell Justin Fields, we're picking up the fifth year option, we're going to play this out.
• 1:14:49
  [SPEAKER_00]: Like you're taking the hall because you believe in Justin Fields as your quarterback.
• 1:14:54
  [SPEAKER_00]: So you got Justin Fields as your quarterback.
• 1:14:56
  [SPEAKER_00]: now you traded down.
• 1:14:58
  [SPEAKER_00]: Now the one thing it was always so fun.
• 1:15:00
  [SPEAKER_00]: I remember I had a conversation with Courtney Cronan on this when it was early in that off season like late January, maybe of 2024 about the hall and how flawed the hall was because the idea of the hall was that the bears were going to trade back and get all these draft picks and draft Marvin Harris and Jr.
• 1:15:27
  [SPEAKER_00]: third now you're not getting the hall if you trade back with or no you went forth I'm sorry you went forth you're not getting the hall if you trade back with Jane to Washington get one pick you get maybe a first round pick maybe they'd overpay to move up one patriots at three like you can Cardinals aren't trading up to one because they at that point we're still you know open Kyla Murray was going to be the guy so they're not trading with the Cardinals
• 1:15:54
  [SPEAKER_00]: You got to, if you want Marvin Harris and Junior, you had to stay in the top three.
• 1:15:58
  [SPEAKER_00]: Trading from one to three, they're going to get a first round pick and a second round pick, maybe two ones if they really play hardball.
• 1:16:05
  [SPEAKER_00]: But the idea that they were going to get tons and tons of draft picks because everyone was going to give up mountains of picks for Caleb Williams, that may be true, but you needed the trade-back further.
• 1:16:17
  [SPEAKER_00]: Like you needed to contact the New York Giants at six,
• 1:16:23
  [SPEAKER_00]: You don't play that.
• 1:16:24
  [SPEAKER_00]: So let's play this out.
• 1:16:25
  [SPEAKER_00]: Let's play this out that they got the whole.
• 1:16:28
  [SPEAKER_00]: Giants come up and draft Caleb Williams at one.
• 1:16:32
  [SPEAKER_00]: Bears have the sixth pick.
• 1:16:35
  [SPEAKER_00]: Now here's what I'm gonna say about that situation.
• 1:16:38
  [SPEAKER_00]: Joel's off the board, Marvin Harrison Jr's off the board.
• 1:16:42
  [SPEAKER_00]: I know for a fact the Chicago Bears would not have drafted
• 1:16:49
  [SPEAKER_00]: Malik neighbors would not have Ryan polls didn't want to deal with him.
• 1:16:53
  [SPEAKER_00]: He was not on the board.
• 1:16:55
  [SPEAKER_00]: So with that in mind, who do the bears take it six?
• 1:17:02
  [SPEAKER_00]: Panics went eight, you know, that's not going to be it.
• 1:17:05
  [SPEAKER_00]: JC Latham, I think when seven right to the Tennessee.
• 1:17:08
  [SPEAKER_00]: Who are they taking it six?
• 1:17:10
  [SPEAKER_00]: I think they're taking Rome a doont say.
• 1:17:13
  [SPEAKER_00]: All right, fine.
• 1:17:15
  [SPEAKER_00]: So now the bears have just in fields and Roma doons a and a couple more draft picks, right?
• 1:17:22
  [SPEAKER_00]: They've got a one in 2025, they've got a one in 2025.
• 1:17:28
  [SPEAKER_00]: Let's say that's what it is.
• 1:17:29
  [SPEAKER_00]: And maybe some twos in the mix there, whatever it might be.
• 1:17:32
  [SPEAKER_00]: And I'm not gonna try and play out who the other draft picks are.
• 1:17:36
  [SPEAKER_00]: with the New York Giants, because obviously Caleb Williams, that changes things they may have been in a different spot.
• 1:17:42
  [SPEAKER_00]: Who knows what's going on?
• 1:17:44
  [SPEAKER_00]: But I think the bear is still at Romanoon's day, and I think the bears don't have Caleb Williams.
• 1:17:49
  [SPEAKER_00]: They have Justin Fields instead.
• 1:17:50
  [SPEAKER_00]: That's how I think the hall works out.
• 1:17:53
  [SPEAKER_00]: So now, fan club bears have the same receiver.
• 1:17:58
  [SPEAKER_00]: They haven't impacted the trenches at all because they didn't couldn't get Joel and they have Justin Fields.
• 1:18:07
  [SPEAKER_00]: A couple years later, they realized they shouldn't have paid just in fields.
• 1:18:11
  [SPEAKER_00]: Here's the other thing.
• 1:18:12
  [SPEAKER_00]: Ben Johnson is not coming here for just in fields.
• 1:18:19
  [SPEAKER_00]: So let's say they take the hall.
• 1:18:23
  [SPEAKER_00]: Give Justin Fields a shot in 2024.
• 1:18:25
  [SPEAKER_00]: It doesn't look great.
• 1:18:27
  [SPEAKER_00]: Now they've picked, let's, you know, they got a couple, three years, maybe guaranteed.
• 1:18:33
  [SPEAKER_00]: So now it's the second year with Justin Fields.
• 1:18:35
  [SPEAKER_00]: It still looks bad.
• 1:18:36
  [SPEAKER_00]: I'm guessing at this point Tyson Bajan is playing instead of Justin Fields, because I think he'd be the same quarterback.
• 1:18:44
  [SPEAKER_00]: He was, I don't think he got broken by Pittsburgh or the Jats.
• 1:18:47
  [SPEAKER_00]: I think this is just who Justin Fields is.
• 1:18:49
  [SPEAKER_00]: So,
• 1:18:51
  [SPEAKER_00]: Probably the bears at this point have fired, if they haven't fired, all right, no, I wouldn't say that because it feels, I'd say they fire eber flu's and polls after the 2020 four season.
• 1:19:11
  [SPEAKER_00]: They have stuck with this Justin Fields contract for probably two more years.
• 1:19:15
  [SPEAKER_00]: They have some draft picks.
• 1:19:17
  [SPEAKER_00]: Ben Johnson is not coming here.
• 1:19:20
  [SPEAKER_00]: He's not coming to this mess.
• 1:19:22
  [SPEAKER_00]: He came here largely because Caleb Williams was here and he thought he could win.
• 1:19:26
  [SPEAKER_00]: I don't know who the coach is this year, maybe it'd be like an Aaron Glenn type.
• 1:19:31
  [SPEAKER_00]: Maybe that would have happened.
• 1:19:32
  [SPEAKER_00]: I'm not sure, but I wouldn't have been Ben Johnson.
• 1:19:34
  [SPEAKER_00]: They wouldn't have landed the big-time coach.
• 1:19:36
  [SPEAKER_00]: They'd have Justin Fields and it would be a mess.
• 1:19:40
  [SPEAKER_00]: That's honestly how bad I think it would be if the bears took the whole.
• 1:19:43
  [SPEAKER_00]: It would be like everyone's been fired.
• 1:19:45
  [SPEAKER_00]: The bears are still a shit show and there is no hope in sight for this team to get any better.
• 1:19:52
  [SPEAKER_00]: That's where I think we're at.
• 1:19:54
  [SPEAKER_00]: That's where I think we're at.
• 1:19:54
  [SPEAKER_00]: And I think we're getting new people in here in 2025 that just want to tear apart the roster.
• 1:20:00
  [SPEAKER_00]: And then maybe a hope our expanding comes out and the bears are bad enough to get the number one pick.
• 1:20:04
  [SPEAKER_00]: That's where we're at if the bears take the haul.
• 1:20:06
  [SPEAKER_00]: I truly believe it's that big of a swing.
• 1:20:09
  [SPEAKER_00]: All right.
• 1:20:10
  [SPEAKER_00]: Wow, I've been babbling a while.
• 1:20:12
  [SPEAKER_00]: Let's do the Packers game here.
• 1:20:13
  [SPEAKER_00]: The Green Bay Packers.
• 1:20:15
  [SPEAKER_00]: Now I said the bears were going to lose to the Eagles.
• 1:20:17
  [SPEAKER_00]: I said the bears were going to lose to the Vikings.
• 1:20:20
  [SPEAKER_00]: I have not been good with these predictions.
• 1:20:21
  [SPEAKER_00]: I did say they were going to beat the Steelers, but I have not been right here over the last few weeks.
• 1:20:26
  [SPEAKER_00]: But I think, and the Packers are playing good football too.
• 1:20:31
  [SPEAKER_00]: I'm not saying the Packers are not playing good football.
• 1:20:33
  [SPEAKER_00]: They had a swoon there in the middle of the season where you had to wonder what was going on, but they picked it back up there playing good football.
• 1:20:40
  [SPEAKER_00]: It's on the road in Lambo field, everything that points spreads like five six points.
• 1:20:46
  [SPEAKER_00]: Everything is pointing to the Green Bay Packers winning this football game, except for one thing.
• 1:20:51
  [SPEAKER_00]: Bears have all the momentum in the world.
• 1:20:53
  [SPEAKER_00]: This team is going to go into this game thinking they are winning.
• 1:20:57
  [SPEAKER_00]: Not like, oh, we can compete with Green Bay.
• 1:20:58
  [SPEAKER_00]: No, they think they are better.
• 1:21:00
  [SPEAKER_00]: They think they are going to beat the Green Bay Packers.
• 1:21:03
  [SPEAKER_00]: They have a lot of confidence.
• 1:21:05
  [SPEAKER_00]: I think the Chicago Bears are winning at Lambo Field.
• 1:21:11
  [SPEAKER_00]: I think they're gonna do it.
• 1:21:12
  [SPEAKER_00]: I think it's gonna be close.
• 1:21:13
  [SPEAKER_00]: I think with Devontay Wyatt out, I think this run game is gonna look really good again.
• 1:21:18
  [SPEAKER_00]: I don't know how Caleb's gonna look in the cold.
• 1:21:21
  [SPEAKER_00]: I don't know how Jordan love is gonna look against this defense.
• 1:21:24
  [SPEAKER_00]: It's got some secondary, but can't get much of a pass rush.
• 1:21:27
  [SPEAKER_00]: Linebacker's probably still gonna be out.
• 1:21:30
  [SPEAKER_00]: I think though the run game is gonna look really good again.
• 1:21:33
  [SPEAKER_00]: May not look as good as the did against the Eagles.
• 1:21:35
  [SPEAKER_00]: How could it look any better?
• 1:21:36
  [SPEAKER_00]: They ran for 280 yards.
• 1:21:38
  [SPEAKER_00]: But I think the Chicago Bears are in win this football game.
• 1:21:41
  [SPEAKER_00]: I got that funny feeling.
• 1:21:44
  [SPEAKER_00]: And if they don't win this one, I think they'll win in three weeks.
• 1:21:47
  [SPEAKER_00]: But I think the Chicago Bears win this football game.
• 1:21:51
  [SPEAKER_00]: And at that point, when the Bears meet the Packers on that 425 Eastern game on Fox
• 1:22:00
  [SPEAKER_00]: Monday morning, the national media is going to be like, are the bears the best team in the NFL after beating the Steelers, the Eagles and the Packers.
• 1:22:15
  [SPEAKER_00]: free consecutive weeks and two of those games on the road are the bears the best team in the NFL or at least are they the best team in the NFC are they a legitimate Super Bowl contender and you're gonna hear pundits talking about how they are because of the offensive line because the Ben Johnson because of the strategic advantage Ben Johnson gives them because Caleb Williams can make the heroic play when they need him to.
• 1:22:39
  [SPEAKER_00]: You're gonna hear a
• 1:22:44
  [SPEAKER_00]: The questions are being asked.
• 1:22:46
  [SPEAKER_00]: They weren't being asked before.
• 1:22:47
  [SPEAKER_00]: Everyone was shoving them aside.
• 1:22:49
  [SPEAKER_00]: But the other questions are being asked.
• 1:22:50
  [SPEAKER_00]: And next week, after the bears beat the packers, the national media is going to start answering those questions as, yes, this team is legit.
• 1:22:59
  [SPEAKER_00]: Yes, this team can win a Super Bowl.
• 1:23:02
  [SPEAKER_00]: They are that good because Ben Johnson is that good.
• 1:23:08
  [SPEAKER_00]: We cannot undersell or oversell, I should say, how good Ben Johnson is.
• 1:23:15
  [SPEAKER_00]: I think he is going to be in the conversation for best coach in the NFL for years and years.
• 1:23:23
  [SPEAKER_00]: And he could be here for 10, 15, 20 years.
• 1:23:28
  [SPEAKER_00]: He's that.
• 1:23:30
  [SPEAKER_00]: Bears meet the Packers, final score, 24 to 20.
• 1:23:34
  [SPEAKER_00]: Bring it on Chicago.
• 1:23:36
  [SPEAKER_00]: We'll talk to you next week.
• 1:23:37
  [SPEAKER_00]: Bear it on everybody.
• 1:23:39
  [SPEAKER_00]: Got it?