Chisoxfn

I think of it as you still have Harbaugh and McCarthy. Maybe Tomlin opens up too. And Stefanski is an upgrade to McDaniels, imo. So I think those are all pretty safe / solid hires, especially if you are an org that has been in utter disrepair)...get someone who can establish a culture prescense and build you up. The DC candidates are solid - Pack DC, Flores, and Chargers DC. OC - seems like maybe a bit less there this year as guys just don't have a ton of experience...but I think Nagy is a solid rebound candidate.

Is this related to Mcdaniel? Cause in my mind I have no idea how that didn't happen on Monday. Similarly I think the same way of the Bengals situation.

You have to assess that vs last minute getting a guy because a team or two were over committed.

Interesting the Kingsubry move. I guess this is probably 2 fold - clear disconnect - but maybe they also want to get ahead of replacing Kliff if he gets a gig too. With Jayden there - its still an attractive job for an OC trying to make a name for an eventual HC job. But amazing what a year makes for Washington. Reminder that the goal is sustainable success and I want to see us have another strong season next year, including strong draft etc, to show that we really are different...but at this point, I really think Ben is different in terms of the standard he sets and the relentless pursuit of excellence. And I think he breeds that throughout his coaching ranks and throughout the player ranks.

Not saying he isn't good - but I feel like so many are implying he's going to get a DC job...I think the defense is struggling big time...it has mediocre ends (Booker I like and is an ascending player..looks like a roational pass rusher at a minimum). But the interior of the D is very weak - Poles has failed miserably here (Jarrett, Dexter, Pickens, Shemar (injury), and the Colts guy have all been major investments whether draft picks or free agent spend - yet the production and interior penetration is weak. Running defense is bad, gap control is bad, etc. Dexter has flashed from time to time - but he looks more like a rotational piece than anything else. But when your interior is weak and your ends are mediocre - the combo is even worse...combine that with a poor secondary sans Byard (I have been really bummed out on Brisker as he just doesn't look like the player he was before his concussion issues). Not saying he's bad - but he's not flashing a lot - just a solid safety. The DBs are horrendous - whether Gordon/Jaylon/Smith healthy would have changed that is a moot point. Our LB play has been sub-par too. Edmunds was good to above average pre-injury...since than it hasn't been the same. Hopefully its more of he just isn't 100% (but trending in the right direction)...but that is just a soft D. Good thing is - some of those areas could improve with health / offseason...others could be filled / improved with solid draft picks (you can find good LB's in 2nd/3rd/4th rounds).

Its worrisome - also I kind of laugh at all of the get rid of DA so we keep Al Harris. Yes, our DBs had a good number of picks - but Stevenson isn't even hitting the field anymore (unless its his hip), Brisker has been healthy but not making any impact plays, JJ (injuries) but he has been his worse...yeah we got something out of Wright but I don't see it the same way others do. I'm not knocking Harris either - but I don't think he has done anything amazing either.

A 3rd this year and a 3rd next year.

I don't know how big of a loss or not Cunningham will be, but I believe they'd get a 3rd round comp pick this year and than another next year which is great. Hopefully Poles can replace him with another good talent and finally overcome those 3rd round challenges.

To be clear though - to win, the offense is going to have to play at a high level, imo. We know they can do it - but also know it has struggled a bit against the Packers.

I agree and I sure hope we win. No reason Bears can't do it. But more highlighting there is only so much a coach can do scheme wise given the severe limitations in talent on the defense. Hopefully some of it is more shorter lived and a healthy off-season cures some of the holes cause there are a lot of them. Offensively - there are issues too - slow starts, footwork from QB, next level play, etc. Oline has still given up more pressure than I'd like (Caleb has done a nice job avoiding it)...but they all have work to do too...but you can also, at least as of now, squint and see a lot of explosive talent on that side of the ball...guys who can trend and emerge as blue chip players.

You can't really be anything other than that with the talent (or lack of talent) on the field. Offensively they still have flaws - but they also have a lot of talent and a good scheme. Caleb is still young and has lots of room to continue to improve, but that is what has me excited about next season...but lets not let next season be for a while longer!!!

One thing is clear - Bears are very slow in the secondary. JJ is clearly hobbled (hopefully it is not permanent and an off-season gets him right) and Stevenson has quickness but whether it is his hip or something else, there is something there. Biggs reporting made me think maybe they have been trying to limit Stevenson a bit for health reasons - maybe to try and get him right for the post-season. But Wright, CJGJ, McCloud are all very poor cover corners and 2 of the 3 are very slow (can't speak to McCloud). Wright has made up for it with big plays but when he isn't forcing turnovers he's pretty regularly getting burned. When you combine that with a troubled pass rush - you have a D that is going to have real problems. I hadn't realized how slow JJ was until you saw him just getting cooked on a crossing route by Williams - was just one play but he just looked slow (Williams is clearly elite quick too).

I wouldn’t have started the players but this is just pathetic. Wake up

Or if he is cooking and looking that good you deal him at the deadline for prospects. Downside of those deals is if they aren’t good then you are stuck. Such one sided deal to a player. Boras sucks just like JR sucks.

So you’re telling me there’s a chance!!!

I love the idea and thought here.

100 percent. The oline improvements are significant and notable. The coaching is noticeable too - but Burden, Loveland, Monagai and Trapilo are also nothing to sneeze at. All of them have been meaningful contributors - two of which (Burden and Loveland) have been top 5 at their respective positions when on the field after adjusting for first few games. Defensively they have had injuries to some key players. JJ is still getting up to speed from a serious injury and Kyler is a very good nickel when healthy - and yes - they missed Edward’s and Edmunds and had some injuries on the line - but this defense is just not very good. It’s real knock I have for Poles is the fact he has made heavy investments in dline - very few have panned out. Hopefully Shamar Turner ends up being a piece and Booker at worse looks like a rotational end. Dexter has flashed at times, but clearly not good enough to be a difference maker.

Really sucks with Luther. I think at this point I’m resting my starters but in Ben I trust.

I’ll also say - Purdy played incredible in that game too.

It was a horrible no call on that screen. There was another one earlier in the game too.

Really hope Luther is not seriously injured. Terrified that was his ACL.

Booker looks like a piece - not saying he is a stud - but he’s a solid end. But yeah the free agent defensive line signings were huge disappointments. But overall I’m super excited - hope they get one or two or even more in playoffs.

This offense played awesome - defense is very weak but this team is for real. Luther and Loveland are studs and they will be even better when Rome comes back. Caleb played great today - still left a few plays out there. Sucks to lose but this was a great game.

Better now than in the playoffs

Wohoo