August 5, 2025 • 47 mins
Defensive lineman Dominique Robinson sits down with Jeff Joniak and Tom Thayer for an inside look at his training camp progress, offseason growth and push to take his next big step this season.
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Welcome in to Bears Weekly powered by IGS Energy, a
Chicago Bears Network production. Bears Weekly is brought to you
by Advocate Healthcare, Athletico Physical Therapy, CD Jllaghy, Connie's Pizza,
IGS Energy, and Meta Liked. Here are your hosts, Jeff
Chiliac Kka, the Mayor of Bearsville and its Sidekicked, Tom
(00:23):
the Surfmaster Thing.
Speaker 2 (00:25):
It's a Monday edition after a terrific family fest practice
at Soldier Field of Bears Weekly. If you are not
one of the twenty three thousand plus to come out
to Soldier Field, we'll brief you on the outcome of
the workout and there is a lot to pull from
this tenth practice for the Bears. This is Bears Weekly
at ESPN one thousand and the Chicago Bears Radio Network
with Super Bowl winning Bears guard Tom Thayre. I'm Jeff
Joniak coming up with the program. We visit with Bears
(00:47):
defensive end Dominique Robinson and we'll hear from right tackle
Darnell Wright, defensive end Diovid Engbo and special teams coordinator
Richard Htower, Dan Berrilli, Jordan Treadup, Katie Fox. Our producers
along with Jake Santos Tonight in Studio and the executive
producer of the Bears Radio network is Eric Ostrowski, Tom
Good Evening Hopeball as well. Bears had a walk through
(01:08):
today after getting a lot of team eleven on eleven
reps on Sunday, so no media eyes on it today.
They'll practice Tuesday, get Wednesday, often back Thursday Friday. The
Dolphins come in Sunday noon kickoff for the preseason opener
at Soldier Field. What was your biggest takeaway? I love
the fact that they had so many team reps eleven
(01:30):
on eleven It felt like a preseason game in many respects.
Speaker 3 (01:34):
Well, Jeff, to give you an exact count, they had
ninety five plays.
Speaker 4 (01:37):
Wow, that's amazing.
Speaker 3 (01:38):
That's maybe thirty more than you would get in an
actual NFL game. And when you go back and you
look at every single one of those plays, I gotta
imagine it probably took the coaching staff a few hours
to get through that tape watching session. When you have
to can take so many different things into consideration, the
different amount of person changes you're making in there, the
(02:02):
different formation changes that you're making, you know, from play
in and play out and then you start coaching the
specific details of improvement and the mistakes that you have
to get corrected. Oh my gosh, I mean you're talking
about earning a year's coach of salary within that one
film session from a practice like that. And I knew
(02:22):
it was a lot of reps because my lower back
and my legs were getting sore as I was standing
there watching every one of these plays, and so you know,
it's kind of weird. A lot of times I watch
a practice and I try to focus on a little
bit of everything. This practice, I was watching one specific
guy on each play, and I think you kind of
(02:42):
get a little bit of understanding of where I would
coach them, what needs to be changes, the improvements they're making.
So for me, I enjoyed every minute of the practice
watching it, and you learned a lot about the bearers.
Speaker 2 (02:54):
Right, no matter what the outcome was each snap offense
or defense winning the snap, whatever the case may be.
As head coach Ben Johnson indicated, yeah, it was sloppy.
We can't have that. We're not gonna win a lot
of games if we're sloppy. There is so much that
you can take out. To me, it was the biggest positive.
You got them into a preseason mode. For all the
(03:15):
players that are first timers, never been in an NFL stadium,
the whole process of spending the night before in the hotel,
coming up, regular pregame warm up, and then you're actually
with the ninety five snaps. You know, you're feeling like
you got a lot accomplished. But it's the little things
that make a big difference. So every teaching technique will
be broken down for these players to get better at,
(03:36):
and I believe it'll help them throughout the rest of
the preseason. There were bright spots, there were low spots.
It's exactly what you would expect in any game that
you play. So I don't feel any negativity at all
about this at all because we are trying to see
how much we can learn, and we got to do
it in a fineite amount of time. Because the clock
is ticking, and it's ticking very quickly. It's gonna The
(04:00):
intensity alone was great, and it's going to ratchet up
when the Dolphins come into practice, when the Bills come
into practice. Forget about the games. Is the practice is
that I'm most intrigued, but and it's going to be
exact same way this week, and when the Dolphins come
to down, well.
Speaker 3 (04:15):
You know, if you could have just taken the Sunday
practice and if you could have somehow put a camera
into the mind of Ben Johnson. So now Ben Johnson
didn't stand on the sideline. He stood behind the offense
and then he called the play through the communication device
into the helmet of all the quarterbacks. And so Ben
Johnson calls the play, he's looking at the play clock,
(04:36):
he knows exactly what he called, he's looking at the
defense that's being offered, and then he knows every assignment
on offense, and so he's got a almost a preconceived
thinking of the play.
Speaker 4 (04:46):
That he just called.
Speaker 3 (04:48):
So he's so far ahead of all of us that
are just watching the snap of the ball and how
the play unfolds. That, man, if you could be in
the mind of Ben Johnson, it would be incredible because
you're almost knowing and expecting what should happen on these
specific plays. And when they do look you know, a
little disorganized, you know, because sloppy for me, for a
(05:13):
team that's having a new offense installed is kind of
a different phraseology. I have patience because I think you
need the patience and this is going to be something
that's going to take up into the first regular season
game and beyond to kind of alleviate some of that
sloppiness and started getting it more perfected.
Speaker 4 (05:34):
As an offense.
Speaker 2 (05:35):
Right, sloppiness does not linger. That'll be fixed. What you
can't fix is if there was no effort involved. There
was effort you had to because these guys know it's
going to be physical. These have been the most physical
practices we've seen around here in a long time. That's
consistent every day, and there was a lot of tackling
(05:58):
going on yesterday. I mean, it was, it was it
was very enjoyable to watch, uh and I gotta give
props to the defense man. Dennis Allen's got those guys buzzing.
They're they're they're they're feeling confident, which you should expect.
There are nine returning starters to that team, and there
is competition. There's battles for that defensive line rotation. There's
battles to see who's going to be able to make
(06:18):
this team up front. There's battles at the third linebacker spot.
There's an ongoing competition for who's going to be the
middle linebacker. You know, is it going to be t J.
Speaker 3 (06:26):
Edwards?
Speaker 2 (06:27):
Is going to be Tremaine Edmonds? Are they going to play?
Both positions are out the course of the year.
Speaker 5 (06:30):
Uh.
Speaker 2 (06:31):
And the secondary there there's a bunch of veterans that
are in the mix here, guys that are twenty five,
twenty six years old that are really making a big,
big case for making this football team. There's gonna be
hard decisions to be made in a secondary that seemingly
returns the five starters, the five guys we know. But
there's competition brewing and it's it's very interesting to watch
(06:53):
it is how they interact with each other, how Dennis
Allen has got that looking as eye.
Speaker 6 (06:57):
Man.
Speaker 2 (06:58):
I saw him before practice. I love watching you, coach.
He just nodded his head. He didn't say much.
Speaker 3 (07:03):
Dennis Allen is not out there to make any friends
with the offensive players. And it's very similar to Buddy Ryan.
And you felt that competitiveness between the head coach and
the defensive coordinator back then and you can feel it
as much as now. And he's very unforgiving.
Speaker 4 (07:18):
Man.
Speaker 3 (07:18):
He's running a defensive style of play that has versatility, maneuverability, confusion,
in it. And so as you're a group of guys
that's trying to learn the offense, now you're playing against
the defense that's playing a very fast, confusing brand of football.
It makes it even more difficult. I remember going to
training camp practicees in nineteen eighty five.
Speaker 4 (07:39):
We couldn't even run a play.
Speaker 3 (07:41):
We couldn't get a pass off because of the pressure
that was being put on us by blitzes coming from everywhere.
Speaker 2 (07:47):
I to ask you about that. Did you have it
when that was going on? Did was there a confidence
battle with yourself?
Speaker 4 (07:55):
Oh?
Speaker 3 (07:55):
And for the offense, it was kind of building a
lack of But then through that lack of confidence, you
build confidence because you knew you were playing against the
best defense in all of the NFL. And when you
had period emphasis. So in the morning we always concentrated.
Speaker 4 (08:12):
On the run game.
Speaker 3 (08:13):
In the afternoon, we concentrated in the pass game in
the morning practices. At a lot of times, Hampton didn't
practice in the afternoon, and in the pass pressure he practiced.
So now you're dealing with some of the greatest defensive
pass rushers in the history of the game, and it's
a pass emphasis afternoon.
Speaker 2 (08:32):
Practice, and he's fresh.
Speaker 4 (08:34):
So yeah, he's fresh, and then they knew what was coming.
Speaker 3 (08:37):
And I'm telling you there were the certain periods that
we couldn't get a ball off in. I'm not saying
that's what I'm seeing now, but when you're installing this
new offense, there's just a little bit of patience that's needed.
Speaker 2 (08:50):
You guys really get it. You offensive linement have it
hard man. You don't get you don't. You got to
play every snap of the game, the defensive line, of
rotating waves of players coming in fresh. It's the fourth quarter.
You get some young guy coming there off the edge.
He's played like twenty snaps. You've played seventy.
Speaker 4 (09:08):
I mean, it wouldn't happen any other week.
Speaker 2 (09:11):
Is no picnic, Tom, No picnic for you, That's for sure.
That's Tom there. I'm Jeff Joniac coming up. We visit
with Dominique Robinson.
Speaker 6 (09:17):
Next.
Speaker 2 (09:17):
Out of ESPN one thousand of the Bears Radio Network.
Speaker 1 (09:20):
You were tuned into Bears Weekly with Jeff Joniac on
the Bears Radio Network. Is Bears Weekly with the Voice
of the Bears for twenty four years with Jeff Jony
Chef Jony on the Bears Radio Network.
Speaker 2 (09:39):
Welcome that to Bears Weekly Everybody, Jeff Joniac and Tom Thayer.
Our special guest this week on Tonight Show. It's Dominique Robinson,
our old friend. How you doing, buddy? See how I say,
old friend, You're a vet now, buddy, you are vet material.
Speaker 6 (09:51):
Feel good?
Speaker 2 (09:52):
It's going It's gone fast right yeah. But but at
the same time, I'm sure you're feeling like, can I
get on the field, start being amaze your contributor. That's
probably been really hard right over the course of your time.
Tell me about that. How you how you getting through it?
Speaker 7 (10:05):
It's it's it's been a it's been a blessing tough times,
but you know, relying on my faith and knowing that
it's you know, the story that guy has for me,
and at some point it's going to turn over to
be something good for me and it'll be something I
can tell later on down the road.
Speaker 6 (10:22):
So I'm feeling pretty good about it right now.
Speaker 2 (10:25):
Now we get new eyes on you, yes, So do
they see a different Dominique Robinson.
Speaker 6 (10:29):
I personally believe they do.
Speaker 7 (10:31):
So I just got to keep showing them who I
am and letting them see, you know, how good I
can be.
Speaker 3 (10:39):
Six five two seventy five, Is that right, Yes, sir, okay,
So schematically, when you have a chance to invest a
little bit of time now with your position, coach and
the defensive scheme, is this a good fit for Dominique Robinson?
Speaker 7 (10:52):
I think so If it's it shows my versatility where
I can go on and do the four eye stuff
and also play the head. So the more, you know,
it's the name of the game where you can do,
the better.
Speaker 3 (11:01):
So, as we sit here talking to the Dominique Robinson
who's become a veteran in the NFL pretty darn good mentally, physically, fundamentally,
how have you changed to still be here with the
Chicago Bears.
Speaker 6 (11:17):
Yeah?
Speaker 7 (11:17):
So mentally it's funny because me and my wife talked
about this not too long ago. Mentally, I feel like
I've been through it all, you know, through trade stuff
in terms of you know, my test coming in that
my second year possibly you know, rumors of you know,
just not playing. So I'm thinking I could get cut
at any point, you know what I mean. So I
(11:38):
haven't been cut yet. I haven't been released yet, So
I haven't That's the last thing that I have not
been through, you know what I mean so.
Speaker 4 (11:43):
Stress I need a piece of wood.
Speaker 7 (11:45):
Not would, but the stresses of that have mentally made
me just a little tough, you know what I mean,
where it's like, whatever happens, guy has it. I'm putting
my best before it, no matter what. So if it happens,
I can go home and be like, I try my best.
Speaker 6 (12:01):
I did.
Speaker 7 (12:02):
I did my best physically every every offseason, I work
my butt off.
Speaker 4 (12:07):
You can tell, yeah.
Speaker 6 (12:08):
That's something that I take super serious.
Speaker 7 (12:11):
I can't sit back long like I probably only took
a week off since the off season. So I've been working.
I've been getting a stronger, faster, been working with a
new D line coach. I think the improvements are are
there in terms of the physicality and on the mental side.
Speaker 2 (12:31):
Dominie Grabbing, said our guest here on Bears Weekly on
ESPN one thousand of the Bears Radio Network. Time me
go ahead.
Speaker 3 (12:37):
The whole idea of the being being cut that that
can't even end to your mind because you're you're beyond that.
So I walked into that building I started every game
for eight years, and every single day I walked in
there wondering if this was going to be the day
I get cut right, and so I think it's kind
of you that has to be motivating for you as
much as you got to, you know, somehow keep that.
Speaker 4 (12:58):
I keep that out of your head.
Speaker 3 (13:00):
So that would my advice to you would be, don't
let that infiltrate Dominie Robinson.
Speaker 7 (13:05):
Oh, it hasn't at all. Trust me. I'm I'm super confident.
I have no doubt in anything. You know, I don't.
I don't come in here concerned about being cut. I
come out here ready to play, ready to put my
best will for it. And that's the only thing I
care about.
Speaker 2 (13:17):
So I was talking to Tom yesterday about this because
I'm getting ready for my board for the first preseason game,
and so I have last year's numbers and stuff and weights,
and I'm looking, I'm looking at the roster. I'm like, Tom,
these guys are all getting big. I had you had
two fifty something last year, So did they ask you
to get bigger?
Speaker 7 (13:36):
Actually I was two seventy last year. They just never
updated the Okay, okay, yeah, they never upditted the rosters.
Speaker 2 (13:42):
Okay, all right, well said see, I'm I'm trying. Hey,
you know, Tom, they're getting these guys big ands wrong.
So you were okay, but you look fantastic. What other
than the obvious and hitting the weight room and now
there's new new philosophy in the weight room. You got
some serious men in there. Oh yeah. Has that transformed
you in any way even more than a year ago?
And now are you stronger?
Speaker 3 (14:03):
Have they?
Speaker 2 (14:03):
Have they gone to a different style with you?
Speaker 6 (14:06):
Oh?
Speaker 7 (14:06):
Definitely. They've changed a lot of what we do in
the weight room. And I'm not saying that it hasn't
changed me. It's just I work so hard in the
off season that I come in almost ready to go,
so it keeps I feel like they maintained it for me.
They're doing a good job of maintaining what I had
in the off season. In the previous years, I kind
(14:28):
of lost some throughout the season, you know, and as
camp went. But as of right now, I've been good
at really maintaining my weight and my strength. So kudus them.
They really know what they're doing.
Speaker 2 (14:39):
Time back. It just started recently there. There's kind of
in college football, they give a history, they say history
hit the hit the thing with your with your mouse,
and it gives a picture of them when they starts
as freshmen and you could see if we did this
with Dominique Robinson, the high school quarterback, what were you weighing.
Speaker 6 (14:59):
Then to twenty to.
Speaker 2 (15:01):
Twenty and now at two hundred and seventy five piece
of rock mountain right here? Oh my gosh, I mean.
Speaker 3 (15:08):
Two years ago when when he showed up a training
camp and he looks so obviously different. That's all we
talked about all training camp was man that that dude
was invested in the off season. You know another thing,
dom is, you're uniquely enough, You're such a good athlete
that you're always gonna be considered for special teams. So
from the first game of my career until the last
(15:29):
game of my career, I played on kickoff return. Do
you still you know, get the attention of coach High
Tower and say, look, I can contribute. I can play
on different segments of special teams, just because you know,
the more you can do, you know it, the more
it increases your profile.
Speaker 7 (15:46):
Most definitely, I take special teams very serious right now
in terms of depth charts. You know, things will change
as it goes. But I am a part of three
of the four special teams. I'm on all four, but
I'm in with the ones right now with the you know,
so I'm I'm looking forward to being on special teams
and I think I play a huge role, especially in
(16:08):
punt return. I love going out there trying to get
after the punts and trying to block punts and Phil
go block. So that's my that's that's my thing.
Speaker 2 (16:17):
I saw some good moves out there pass rushing though
you mentioned your D line coach Jeremy Garrett, uh came
from the Cleveland Browns, but a lot of college experience
with him. What is he unlocking? I mean I thought
it was sweat for a second because you got the
hands boom, you know which one I'm talking about. You
had a good rep late Yeah, good rep late rushing
off the right saturlly offensive line.
Speaker 7 (16:38):
He's he's teaching us really well man, how to turn
our get our shoulder turn, violent shoulder turn, just playing
more violent and with violence comes wins at some point.
So really trying to hone in two foot push, keep
my eyes on my key and trying to you know,
minimize minimized things as a D line and there's so
(16:59):
much going on to turn to the backfield and stuff
like that, So the more you can minimize and focusing
and hone in on one detail. It'll make this picture
a little bigger.
Speaker 2 (17:07):
All right, I'm gonna use both of you here for this, okay.
So he mentioned the two foot push for those people listening,
and they're wondering what that means. So tell me as
a defensive end, Tom, then you tell me as an
offensive lineman what he's talking about and how you're gonna
work with him.
Speaker 7 (17:20):
But go ahead for me in terms of setting an
edge and things like that, I have more power. They're
teaching us that we have more power. We can are
able to have a two foot push, and we're able
to keep our feet behind us and our hips in
front of us in terms of striking an offensive lineman,
setting an edge, and keeping a firm edge. So it's
been working. It's it's and it's it's different, but it's
(17:43):
it's working.
Speaker 4 (17:44):
Is it now?
Speaker 2 (17:45):
Just muscle memories?
Speaker 6 (17:47):
Not yet, not yet getting there.
Speaker 7 (17:48):
As the season goes on, it it should get that way.
But every day it's a it's you know, you kind
of gotta focus on it.
Speaker 4 (17:54):
All right, Tom.
Speaker 2 (17:55):
They're talking violence on all three phases, so they're gonna
come up knock back. We keep appearing that So as
an offensive lineman, what are you expecting when.
Speaker 4 (18:02):
You I have two different approaches.
Speaker 3 (18:05):
First of all, if I'm one on ones, we're off
to the side, we're doing one on ones, I'm jumping
the count.
Speaker 4 (18:09):
I'm always going to try.
Speaker 3 (18:10):
To be a little bit quicker so I can try
to get my hands in and then start that battle
of his push against you know where my hands are placed.
And then if we're doing teamwork eleven on eleven, I'm
still going to try to concentrate on that snap count
and take advantage of knowing what the initial movement is.
So dom when you're out there practicing and you're going
(18:32):
through these moves that Jeff's talking about, when you go
to the line of scrimmage, do you either do you
even think of the offensive tackle you're playing against or
are you're thinking about what your move is going to be.
Speaker 7 (18:42):
So for me, in the previous years, coin myself to
have a ton of moves, or at least three moves.
So when I was steps on the line, that was
my issue. I was thinking too much. I was thinking
of this move, this move, this move, this guy does this,
so I can do this this this I get to
the block, I stuttered my feet, don't do the move,
I don't do anything, you know what I mean. So
(19:04):
I have minimized my thinking to one move. Just think
of this one move, this move works, I'm gonna do
it no matter what after that and I'll work off
of that. So for me, I'm not I guess I
am a thinker a little bit. So for me, I
have to I have to minimize things if I think
too much.
Speaker 2 (19:23):
Well Tom JOm says this repeatedly, and he's taught me this, Dom.
If you think your beat and it's simple but difficult
to overcome, right. And I'm the same way as a
non athlete, I think too much.
Speaker 3 (19:39):
You know, Dom, This week, when Miami comes in, you're
gonna be seeing guys that you haven't seen in a
stance once.
Speaker 4 (19:45):
So I think that it will help.
Speaker 3 (19:47):
You be that non thinker and just be the explosive
guya out of your stance that you know you can be.
Speaker 4 (19:54):
You're physically built for it.
Speaker 3 (19:55):
You got the length, you got the athleticism, so you're
that's what you're gonna have to do is just unleash
what you've been learning against guys that don't know anything
about you.
Speaker 6 (20:04):
Oh yeah, I'm excited.
Speaker 2 (20:06):
Well, let Lashley, let you go. We appreciate while he's
loved talking to you. One of our favorites. Man, we
root you, root for you hard, root for you hard.
You put a lot into this. Dennis Allen if somebody
asked me about him today, what do you think. I
just love his demeanor. I mean, we could talk about
Ben all day long too. They look like twins, Am
I right? I mean, tell me, tell me take me
(20:26):
behind the scenes of Dennis Allen.
Speaker 7 (20:28):
He's hey, man, he's he's he's a hard guy. He
is a hard guy. I love it personally. He's gonna
coach you hard, and that's that's what we need it,
you know what I mean. We needed guys, everybody to
be on the same plan field, no matter who you are,
everybody's can coach and saying if you mess up, you
mess up, he's gonna get on you.
Speaker 6 (20:47):
If you do good, shot you out a little bit,
you know what I mean.
Speaker 4 (20:51):
But not too much.
Speaker 7 (20:52):
Loved exactly, but that's just who he is. He's not
changing for nobody, and it's perfect.
Speaker 2 (20:57):
All right, Dom'll let you go. Appreciate it. Good luckily
for the rest of the preseason. Thank you so much
for your time. We'll continue with Bears Weekly Jeff and
Tom next on ESPN one thousand of the Bears Radio Network.
Speaker 1 (21:08):
You were tuned into Bears Weekly with Jeff Joniac on
the Bears Radio Network.
Speaker 4 (21:14):
Welcome back to Bears Week on the Bears Radio Network.
Speaker 1 (21:18):
Here's your host, the Voice of the Bears, Jeff Joy.
Speaker 2 (21:23):
This segment of Bears Weekly is brought to you by
Athletical Physical Therapy. Visit Athletico dot com to request it
in clinic or virtual appointment at Start Feeling Better Tomorrow
Jeff Joniac, Tom Thayer. I was good talking to Dominique Robinson.
As we indicate it, man, we root for certain guys,
we root for everybody, but there's certain guys that have
been here a while and still trying to find their way,
(21:45):
find that niche find that role, and he's doing that.
Speaker 4 (21:47):
Right now now.
Speaker 3 (21:48):
One thing I like about Dominique Rominson. You appreciate the
guys that the game is important to them, and sometimes
the biggest reflection of how important the game is to
them is what they do in the off season that
give their body ready for the next year. And so
when he came back to camp last year, you brought
it up, and it was brought up by everybody. What
a difference his body looked like and because of what
(22:10):
they asked him to become. And so he invested, I
mean time, money, energy into the weight room and he
came back looking like a different player. But now you
want to see all that hard work and effort in
the offseason, you know, pan out during the season, and
I think you've seen that out of Dominique Robinson. He's
got unique athletic skills. He has the ability to contribute
(22:34):
on all special teams and he's been able to do that.
But I still think his talent is at a pass
rushing defensive end six five, two seventy five. I think
that he's a guy that's coming in here and he's
a he's a candidate for one of those roles.
Speaker 2 (22:50):
Yeah, when he first got here, he was in the
two fifty range. He was a former quarterback tight end,
didn't play a lot of defense, so sometimes that transition
takes some time. But he is a great athlete, big, strong,
and he mentioned it, you know, the thinking part of
the game has to be overcome, and I think that
happens for a lot of players.
Speaker 3 (23:09):
Well, yeah, he talked about it how he doesn't go
to the line of scrimmage getting a stance with having
a bunch of things running through his mind. He goes
in there with one singular thought of how to defeat
an offensive lineman and then be the most explosive athlete
that you can possibly be. And I think that will
really pay dividends for him because he does have explosiveness
(23:29):
and he does have the traits in order to incorporate into.
Speaker 4 (23:34):
A pass rusher.
Speaker 2 (23:35):
All right, So Diodengbo also on the minds of us
right now because of free agent transition from the Indianapolis Colts.
He was opposite the Bears in that practice a few
years ago in Indiana. We were enjoying. It was a
very very chippy practice. You might remember that, Tommy, that
was fiery. That was a fiery practice. So he remembers that,
(23:58):
and now he's going to bring it over to the
Bears against Miami this week. I'm interested to watch those
battles and it happens that's where it all starts up front,
or if a corner and a wide receiver get tangled
up and then you start having issue issues.
Speaker 3 (24:11):
I listen every single joint practice I've ever been a
part of you know, Coach Dicky used to say, don't
ever go down to their level, make them come up
to our level. So right now, Jeff, beware, you're gonna
get evidence of this because we've seen the practice that
Ben has been putting these guys through. There is hitting,
there's live tackling, there is some huge collisions out there.
(24:35):
Now is Miami going to come in here? Are they
going to live up to what the Bears have been
going through? And so I think every one of these
guys on the Bears that are out there competing can
benefit from the practices they've been working through.
Speaker 2 (24:48):
So earlier today, I after the walkthrough, diald Engbo, one
of the Bears at the podium as he gets ready
for what is going to be an interesting competition up front,
the rotation this defensive coordinator Dennis Allen what he's looking for.
Dengbo's got the size, the length, and the athleticism. After
a good stop with the Indianapolis Colts in his first
(25:09):
few years, here's Dio Edingbo.
Speaker 8 (25:10):
I think every difference is different, you know, learning a
new scheme, having new responsibilities, new techniques, new alignments, it's
definitely different. And trying to figure out where your game
fits in with that.
Speaker 5 (25:21):
Anywhere where you feel like it is real it is
a good fit for you.
Speaker 8 (25:24):
Yeah, I mean all over the place, you know, just
playing tighter to the tackles and being able to set
the edge from that point and uh, you know a
lot of the stunts and movements and and lend DaShan.
Speaker 9 (25:36):
So is there something about this system that you feel
is going to accentuate your game better than where you've been.
Speaker 8 (25:42):
Yeah, Like I said, a lot of the movements and uh,
you know, simulated pressures, pressures bringing five to six. Uh,
you know, being able to affect the quarterback in that
way and have the D line moving around. It's definitely
gonna help. For Dennis Allen, it's fun. You know, he's intense.
He's an intense guy, and I enjoy that. I enjoy
playing having him as a coordinator and playing in his defense.
Speaker 6 (26:04):
The amount of hitting you guys have done is just
normal to you?
Speaker 5 (26:07):
Does it seem high?
Speaker 7 (26:08):
Low?
Speaker 8 (26:09):
I say, we definitely probably go live more than a
lot of teams. I mean that's kind of understanding. We
got too intense. Uh, well, an intense decordinator and an
intense head coach, So, uh, that's kind of expected and
you know it's somewhere all okay.
Speaker 5 (26:23):
With what do you like most about this defense in general?
Speaker 8 (26:25):
What you said just the aggressiveness of it, being able to,
like I said, affect the run and pass in different ways,
different looks.
Speaker 9 (26:33):
Uh.
Speaker 8 (26:34):
It definitely makes it tougher on the offense. And I
think that's showing.
Speaker 5 (26:37):
You described Ben Johnson as intense to what's what's it
been like playing for him so far?
Speaker 8 (26:44):
He's very demanded. You could tell he's a perfectionist. He
wants it done a certain way, and if it's not
done that way, he's gonna call you out about it.
So uh, that's something you definitely want from someone leading
your team. That's you know, not afraid to call people
out and you know see how they respond.
Speaker 5 (27:00):
Been doing that with the defense too, when he comes
into your meeting.
Speaker 8 (27:02):
Yeah, he'll do that with the defense, offense, special teams.
It really doesn't matter. So he'll do it in the
team meeting or however needs.
Speaker 6 (27:08):
To be on.
Speaker 2 (27:09):
What are you learning about Dio Dngbo when you watch
him practice?
Speaker 3 (27:12):
So when I look at guys with length, I always
want to see is there length going to be an
asset or a detriment. Sometimes they bend arms and they
allow the offensive lineman to get hands to them, and
then that length is not an asset anymore.
Speaker 4 (27:25):
One thing about.
Speaker 3 (27:26):
Dio, He's got a fast twitch gear to him, so
he not only can use his length, but he has
a good initial explosion off the line of scrimmage where
he can put the offensive lineman in kind of a
retreat position. And then if Dio is able to create
separation with his length, He's got that fast twitched gear
to be able to create es capability. And one thing
(27:48):
that I noticed this when I looked at his highlight
tape in the off season when they brought him in
as a free agent, I kind of look at some
of his pass rushes that he won with such immediacy
that I will I want to see how that would
that trait would carry over to not only playing against
offensive tackles, but playing on the inside against guards. And
so that's one of the things that I've really been
(28:10):
able to appreciate about Dio is being able to use
length with fast twitch, because not all lengthy guys have
that fast twitch gear, and Dio has been able to
put that on display.
Speaker 2 (28:23):
You know, they have these guys they put together their
toolbox of moves, and you trying to figure out what
move they're gonna make, and vice versa. How they think
they can beat you get on your edges or go
down the middle of your chest, or whatever the case
may be. I know you don't like the word thinking,
but you are setting guys up, aren't you, And you're
you then, in turn, are anticipating what their moves might be.
(28:44):
You you explain some things to me at practice the
other day about spin moves, because they're prevalent everywhere in
the league. Guys are trying spin moves. That guy with
Bear's gonna face Week two, Aiden Hutchinson is deadly with
it when he sets up wide nine way outside the
tackle makes puts a tackle on a really difficult pause
position on an island. How you walk through that? How
you think? How does an offensive lineman, say, just take
(29:06):
Dio for example, what he's trying to set you up
with over the course of a game. If you're playing
outside or if he's going to cut across his face
and go inside, you might have to help out your
tackle and pick him up at the guard position.
Speaker 4 (29:18):
What's the process you can't be over aggressive.
Speaker 3 (29:21):
The worst thing you can do to any defensive player,
whether it's a linebacker or alignment, is getting too much over.
Speaker 4 (29:27):
The top of your toes.
Speaker 3 (29:28):
And if you're over aggressive and then you get your
head down for an instant of time, you're gonna fall forward.
You're going to fall on your face. And the thing
about it is, if you could stop from being over
aggressive and staying out over under your feet, under your base,
you're going to be able to be in control of
your body and your strength. And that's the one thing
that if an offense or defensive lineman sees that you're
(29:53):
susceptible to getting your head out over your feet, then
you see that spin move. And we saw it from
the Dianapolis Colts guys for years in how successful Dwight
Freeney and Robert Mathis were with that move.
Speaker 2 (30:07):
We're not gonna really know until the game start. But
are you seeing progress in the front where you always
hear we're gonna rush four as one? Now they're gonna
add more to it than that. The pressure package is
lining up heavy on one side and really put the
offensive line in hopes of conflict. But are you seeing
progress with four rushing as one.
Speaker 3 (30:27):
Yes, And you know I was paying attention to that
in practice the other day because Dennis Allen always says
he wants this defensive lineman to fight that individual offensive
lineman who's trying.
Speaker 4 (30:36):
To block him.
Speaker 3 (30:37):
And I think when you have the variety of talents,
when you have a Grady Jarrett going against a guard
that no, he doesn't have any help from the center
or the tackle, or you got the power and the
length and the disengageable ability of Dexter Senior. It's their
traits are allowing these guys to be more competitive immediately,
(31:00):
because there's so many different traits that Dennis Allen is
able to line up, and so I really think that
it's going to help each and every one of these guys. Okay,
now let me think of let me something I'm thinking
about in Miami practice. So now, ever, since you've been
going through OTAs, through mandatory mini camp and training camp,
you're listening to the cadence of the Chicago Bears.
Speaker 4 (31:23):
And that followed too, that rhythm of the Chicago Bears.
Speaker 3 (31:26):
Now you're going to go to practice, whether it's one
on ones or TeamWorks, you're going to hear a whole
different tempo of a cadence. So now we're going to
have to see the discipline out of the defensive rushers
the defensive lineman to make sure they don't become susceptible
to that we call it herky jerky or just that
little jump at the line of scrimmage. If they can
stay disciplined and understand what their getoff tempo is, you're
(31:49):
going to see the Bears defensive line perform like they
have in practice.
Speaker 2 (31:52):
Coming up next, Darnell Wright joins us with Tan Thair,
Jeff Joniaka and Bears Weekly at ESBN one thousand and
the Bears Radio Network.
Speaker 1 (32:00):
Listening to Bears Weekly on the Bears Radio Network, Well,
welcome back to Bears Weekly on the Bears Radio Network.
Here's your host, the voice of the Bears, Jeff Joy.
Speaker 2 (32:14):
This segment of Bears Weekly is brought to you by
IGS Energy with Tom Thayer. I'm Jeff jonahyak all right,
Darnell right, the veteran right tackle. Big year for him
here in year three at the podium. Lots of sloppiness,
as was indicated by Ben Johnson following Sunday's practice and
that pre snap operation that's so important to him. That
was the topic that started the conversation with the former
(32:37):
Tennessee right tack.
Speaker 9 (32:38):
Probably the most thing is just communication. Join everyone doing
a better job at that. Probably that's what we need
to do as a whole, just communicating in an outlis huddle.
Speaker 2 (32:48):
There was a time when you guys are going towards
the south end zone.
Speaker 10 (32:50):
Caleb looked pretty frustrated after he got flagged for what
you guys got flagged for?
Speaker 3 (32:54):
One, Like, when you guys all get back together, what's
his message to the offense to get a cleaned up.
Speaker 9 (33:00):
I don't remember exactly which one that is, but uh, yeah,
the biggest thing is just everybody just communicating, being on
the same page.
Speaker 5 (33:06):
So we can roll. Have you noticed a difference in
Calyb's demeanor in the.
Speaker 4 (33:10):
Huddle and here too.
Speaker 9 (33:11):
Yeah, he's definitely he's a little bit more confident, just
seems a little bit more poised. Obviously second year player.
Still some things, I mean, as you're learning the stuff
to go through, but he definitely seems a little bit
more confident, poised. What's the communications in life with Killa
and kind of getting to know him on the flag here? Yeah,
we've been I mean me and him, we've been, uh,
(33:33):
we've been rolling this whole time, and I think we've
been developing some chemistry.
Speaker 5 (33:37):
You know, some things like.
Speaker 9 (33:40):
As you play O line, you kind of like somebody
might growut a certain way.
Speaker 5 (33:44):
You kind of understand what he's what he's saying, So trying.
Speaker 9 (33:47):
To get into that, you know, just get that chemistry down.
Speaker 5 (33:50):
So it's been good.
Speaker 9 (33:51):
How much different hasn't been facing a defense in the
prot is that as much as Dennis Allen doesn't.
Speaker 5 (33:56):
How do you think that's going to help you guys
for the regular season.
Speaker 9 (33:59):
Yeah, it'll I think it'll help us just so be
in tune with all of our assignments for one uh
and just have everybody be on their piece and keys.
Speaker 5 (34:09):
Uh, that's the biggest thing probably, I know, in the
tallest training camp you had to go through. I think
it's you know, training camps, training camp. You know they're all.
Speaker 9 (34:18):
Tough, but there's definitely some things that Ben Johnson, you know,
saying his offense is uh, that you kind of got
to learn.
Speaker 5 (34:26):
But I mean training camp is training camp.
Speaker 3 (34:28):
I know, what are you learning about or what do
you with Caleb and some of those blitz periods that
we've seen in practice.
Speaker 4 (34:33):
What are you learning? What are you learning about him
that maybe didn't already know?
Speaker 9 (34:37):
Uh, probably the main thing he's he can he can
make a play. He can make plays.
Speaker 5 (34:44):
I mean we kind of already knew that as well,
but I see that.
Speaker 9 (34:48):
Yeah, the biggest thing is how much he can make
a play when he does what he does.
Speaker 3 (34:53):
You know, I know, what's what's the challenge that has
presents particularly when he's lined up word wide?
Speaker 9 (35:00):
Say, the biggest thing is just because type of player
he is, his length and obviously he's a good player,
but his link is really something that's kind of hard
to navigate a little bit. Was there anything that you
learned about yourself with Mount Dan being your coach? I
think the biggest biggest thing I learned is, you know,
(35:20):
I don't have to reinvent the wheel every you know,
every every year, just learning and build upon some things
that I know and then learn things from him.
Speaker 5 (35:31):
He's a great coach.
Speaker 2 (35:32):
So a lot there talked about Caleb's poise, confidence different
than a year ago, the communication, the developing chemistry, how
sweat and that wide nine length is hard to navigate.
But Dan Rochar and that's where I wanted to start,
because what great advice. You know, you don't have to
reinvent the wheel every year. Once that wheels rolling and
keep adding to it, you have to refresh every year
(35:55):
and get everything back in your mojo. Is that great
advice from Dan Rochar to Darnell?
Speaker 6 (35:59):
Right.
Speaker 3 (36:00):
But I will say this about this interview by Darnell,
it's the best I've ever heard him sound at the podium.
He sounded like that alpha advance that we want to
see him make because if he turns into that offensive
tackle that we know that he has the ability to be,
he could change the entire complexion of this offensive line.
And Darnell Wright, he's got to make those steps and
(36:23):
you have to increase the expectations on him. Ben Johnson
has to go to the drawing board and saying, Okay,
our point of attack in a power sense is going
to be behind Darnell Wright and Jonah Jackson or whomever's
playing right guard. But he has to be a power
alpha on our offensive line.
Speaker 4 (36:43):
It can't be trickling.
Speaker 3 (36:44):
Over to the left, but it's got to be equally processed.
But if we're going to have a point of emphesis,
on our offensive line. Darnell's got to be an important
part of that power point.
Speaker 2 (36:58):
And then a couple of years ago, the running game
thrive going to the right side behind Darnell.
Speaker 3 (37:03):
You are right, but you know that's the thing about
this offense fits Darnell really well. Because Darnell Wright has
the athleticism to pull to his left, he can lead
sweeps out to his right. They can run efficiently, run screens,
and Darnell can be the lead blocker on a screen
to the exterior right, or he can get in that
big double team stance and create that power with a
(37:25):
tight end or an offensive guard. And that's why when
you have a guy that has that ability of Darnell,
danro Shar wants to go out there and grow this
guy every single day with confidence and coaching.
Speaker 2 (37:39):
Well, you know, you just touched on it a minute
ago about what training camp was like for you facing
that maniacal defense that will helped you get win a
Super Bowl. What advice do you give a player like
Darnell when you're facing a Montes swat who's very gifted,
obviously an outstanding pass rusher and trying to with that
(38:00):
every day in Abbecya you know, you just can't. You
got to go back and learn from that, and hopefully
they can work together on that as well. You know,
maybe some tips back and forth. I think Montes has
done that over the years too.
Speaker 3 (38:11):
So the same advice I'd give to every offensive lineman,
whether you're a rookie like Ozzie Trapillo.
Speaker 4 (38:16):
Or an experienced guy like Darnell Wright.
Speaker 3 (38:19):
Know where your help is and know how to limit
your vulnerability. Okay, So if I know that I have
a really good defensive end and he's playing an outside shoulder,
I'm not going to get over aggressive and jump out
to the outside if I know that I got help
from the right guard next to me, So I'm not
going to open up that pass rush lane. I'm going
(38:41):
to limit his my vulnerability. I'm going to limit his options.
And so if you know where your help is every
single time, help may be in the split that you
take from the guard, help may be from a tight end,
a help may be from a running back behind you.
And so every one of these guys like Ozzy learning
the left tackle position here in the NFL, limit your
(39:04):
vulnerability by knowing where your help is coming from. And
so I think Darnell right when you start are putting
in and installing this new offense. He's got to know
the most minute details of every single player there to
help himself. It's back in the day, like Dick Stanfield
used to say, I should be able to put you
up on the blackboard and you should be able to
(39:27):
draw every single guy's blocking assignment. That way you know
exactly what everybody is doing and where your help could
possibly come from.
Speaker 2 (39:35):
So did you have to go on that blackboard?
Speaker 4 (39:37):
Every one of us did so for every snap. No,
how this time?
Speaker 2 (39:41):
Yeah, give me an example. How'd they test you.
Speaker 4 (39:44):
In the class.
Speaker 3 (39:45):
So, say you're playing against defense at the time that
they're going to run a thirty four defense and we're
going to put in a new play forty nine EO,
and so EO means end an off guard forty nine
is the back that's gonna get it. And what Hoy's
going to go to Now you have to go up there,
(40:06):
and he's gonna say, go up there and draw every
single guy's blocking assignment and the ball carrier where they're going.
So you have to go up there and man, de man,
you got to draw every single person's assignment and It
can't just be straight lines. You have to talk about
their approach, their aiming point, the anticipation of the angle
that the linebacker is going to be influenced by. And
(40:30):
you know, they just know that if every single guy
knows every single guy's blocking assignment, it can help just
the learning curve because if I go to the line
of scrimmage and I need a little bit of advice
or help, you can ask one of the guys next
to you.
Speaker 4 (40:43):
They can help you instantly.
Speaker 2 (40:45):
Coming up, Richard hitz Ower, Bears Special Teams coordinator, his
take on where the special Teams unit is at N
head coach Ben Jonson. It's all coming up next on
ESPN one thousand of the Bears Radio Network.
Speaker 1 (40:56):
You were tuned into Bears Weekly with Jeff Joniak on
the Bears Radio Network. Is Bears Weekly with the Voice
of the Bears for twenty four years with Chef Shote
At Chef on the Bears Radio Network.
Speaker 2 (41:13):
This segment of Bears Weekly is brought to you by
Athletico Physical Therapy. Visit Athletico dot com the a question
in clinic or virtual appointment at Start Feeling Better Tomorrow.
Jeff and Tom with you on ESPN one thousand. Richard
Hidetower always very fun at the podium. From the practice
yesterday at Soldier Field, Cairo Santos, looked very good, Tom
very comfortable being in there. It was breezy, but not
(41:35):
enough win to make it too complicated, High Tower saying
he wished it was a little more. But he hit
all five of his kicks during one drill that the
two kickers and he hit, including from fifty three where
he's been really unbelievable, very very successful from beyond fifty.
I want all want to focus on Tory Tayor. We
haven't talked about him this entire preseason, off season nothing.
(41:55):
It's like we knew what we have when he came
here with some terrific skills and he had a very
very solid rookie season. High Tower on where he could
be headed here in twenty twenty five.
Speaker 10 (42:08):
Yeah, I mean he measure development from this year to
last year, so where he was every rep that he
took last year around this time.
Speaker 5 (42:16):
You look at what it was.
Speaker 10 (42:17):
Last year compared to his charts, to all the stuff
that we do on film and analytically, when you look
at it and see where his numbers are and they
have grown tremendously, So that's how we measure it. And
then you know how he is as a person and
how much more mature he is now, and how he's
working now is definitely showing in his punning. He's in
(42:38):
the ball really well right now. Me here's some of
those at the back of the end zone. The other
day returner couldn't even get to it.
Speaker 2 (42:42):
So we got to look at this guy as a weapon,
you know.
Speaker 3 (42:45):
So my appreciation for Tory Taylor kind of gained some
ground after the Family Fest practice. So he was out
there early and he was going through a series of
punts before he gets the rest of the team involved.
And so he's putting on display a variation of ballflight,
landing spots, hanging time that most punters don't have the
(43:10):
capabilities of doing, and he does it with regularity and success.
And so I was sitting out there thinking, oh my god,
this guy may be one of the most talented punting
legs that I've seen since Ron Stark was punting in
college when I was at Notre Dame and he was
punting for Florida State exactly. You know, he was their
(43:33):
conference to cathlete. So this Guy was a super talented athlete,
and you get the same look out of Tory. But
his variations of punts, landing spots, ballflight is kind of
so impressive to watch that I have a new appreciation
for punters.
Speaker 2 (43:51):
And I'll tell you n Jensen. Proper field position, whether
it be pinning, Guy's deep defense gets him off the
field in three. That's going to impact the creative mind
of Ben Johnson with his play calling. I think that
marriage is significant, man. That's why Ben's Ben's. He gives
them a lot of time on special teams. As we
(44:12):
hear here from Richard hight.
Speaker 10 (44:13):
Tower, Yeah, I mean you always because he was on
the opposing team, you always kind of knew who he
was and things like that. But I had never worked
with him, but I knew from afar when I watched
some of his press conferences or some of that stuff,
I was like, God's pretty sharp. But then when you
work with him and you can see the attention to
detail and how he meticulously looks at everything no matter
(44:37):
what it is, dives deep into things all right, and
has an eye. Real head coaches have an eye for
things when they happen all right, and they're able to
anticipate stuff. I'm just I'm just telling you like I've been.
I'm just telling you and I ain't sit up here
and talk about it forever, but we gotta you guys,
just watch.
Speaker 5 (44:58):
We got a good head coach.
Speaker 10 (44:59):
I've been around a lot of all right, damn good
special Yeah, he's like I told you all before, He's
heavily involved with special teams. Always in meetings and practice
whatever we need, and then after practice, always asking us
did you get what you need or did you get
what you need in that period? Do you need more time?
Do you need like?
Speaker 5 (45:18):
How can I help?
Speaker 4 (45:19):
And for me?
Speaker 10 (45:21):
Like for us that's I mean, that's worth a million bucks, right,
just the interaction in the involvement that he has. So
he goes above and beyond to try to help not
only our area, all areas. He does the same thing
with DA, he does the same thing with other people
throughout the building.
Speaker 2 (45:38):
If you surprise, Tom, that's the best way I guess.
He went on and on about Ben, and he's been
around some great head coaches. So hey, listen, I want
to listen to the man.
Speaker 4 (45:47):
Listen.
Speaker 3 (45:47):
I appreciate coach high Towers. Compliments of Ben Johnson because
I've been a lot of around some great head coaches.
Myself and George Allen and Mike Dicka and Don.
Speaker 4 (45:58):
Schuler are all Hall of Fame. And I told you
this the other day.
Speaker 3 (46:02):
George Allen always said it's defense, special teams and offense.
Speaker 4 (46:06):
That's the role of importance.
Speaker 3 (46:08):
And when you think about what the special teams nowadays
they do for a football team, I still think it's offense.
But you know, some of these great head coaches, they
believe and they know the role in the importance of
the special team. So I really appreciate coach high Tower
and his opportunity to learn and grow and have his
(46:30):
opportunity to grow himself as a coach because of Ben Johnson.
And I think that this team is going to benefit
throughout the season because of what Ben Johnson affords the
special teams to do on a day to day basis.
Speaker 2 (46:45):
I think it's important to underscore the fact that Ben
comes off the field asks both Alan Hitower if they've
they got enough in Thanks everybody for listening. The executive
producer of the Bears Radio Network, Gerrick Ostrowski. Thanks to
Jake Santos in the ESPN studios and our Bears producers
Dan Brially, Jordan tread Up and Katie Fox for Tom
Thayer and DOMINIQE. Graminson. I'm Jeff Joniak. This has been
(47:05):
Bears Weekly on the new radio home of the Chicago
Bears ESPN Chicago. Have a good night, everybody. Black and
Abdalla are next.
Speaker 1 (47:12):
Thank you for listening to the Chicago Bears Network presentation
The Bears Weekly hosted by the Mara Bears, Bill, Jeff,
judyaf and Surfmaster Tom Thayer podcasts, who are available on
the Chicago Bears Offishalab brought to you by Verizon and
Apple Podcasts. Bears Weekly has been brought to you by
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Welcome in to Bears Weekly powered by IGS Energy, a
Chicago Bears Network production. Bears Weekly is brought to you
by Advocate Healthcare, Athletico Physical Therapy, CD Jllaghy, Connie's Pizza,
IGS Energy, and Meta Liked. Here are your hosts, Jeff
Chiliac Kka, the Mayor of Bearsville and its Sidekicked, Tom
(00:23):
the Surfmaster Thing.
Speaker 2 (00:25):
It's a Monday edition after a terrific family fest practice
at Soldier Field of Bears Weekly. If you are not
one of the twenty three thousand plus to come out
to Soldier Field, we'll brief you on the outcome of
the workout and there is a lot to pull from
this tenth practice for the Bears. This is Bears Weekly
at ESPN one thousand and the Chicago Bears Radio Network
with Super Bowl winning Bears guard Tom Thayre. I'm Jeff
Joniak coming up with the program. We visit with Bears
(00:47):
defensive end Dominique Robinson and we'll hear from right tackle
Darnell Wright, defensive end Diovid Engbo and special teams coordinator
Richard Htower, Dan Berrilli, Jordan Treadup, Katie Fox. Our producers
along with Jake Santos Tonight in Studio and the executive
producer of the Bears Radio network is Eric Ostrowski, Tom
Good Evening Hopeball as well. Bears had a walk through
(01:08):
today after getting a lot of team eleven on eleven
reps on Sunday, so no media eyes on it today.
They'll practice Tuesday, get Wednesday, often back Thursday Friday. The
Dolphins come in Sunday noon kickoff for the preseason opener
at Soldier Field. What was your biggest takeaway? I love
the fact that they had so many team reps eleven
(01:30):
on eleven It felt like a preseason game in many respects.
Speaker 3 (01:34):
Well, Jeff, to give you an exact count, they had
ninety five plays.
Speaker 4 (01:37):
Wow, that's amazing.
Speaker 3 (01:38):
That's maybe thirty more than you would get in an
actual NFL game. And when you go back and you
look at every single one of those plays, I gotta
imagine it probably took the coaching staff a few hours
to get through that tape watching session. When you have
to can take so many different things into consideration, the
different amount of person changes you're making in there, the
(02:02):
different formation changes that you're making, you know, from play
in and play out and then you start coaching the
specific details of improvement and the mistakes that you have
to get corrected. Oh my gosh, I mean you're talking
about earning a year's coach of salary within that one
film session from a practice like that. And I knew
(02:22):
it was a lot of reps because my lower back
and my legs were getting sore as I was standing
there watching every one of these plays, and so you know,
it's kind of weird. A lot of times I watch
a practice and I try to focus on a little
bit of everything. This practice, I was watching one specific
guy on each play, and I think you kind of
(02:42):
get a little bit of understanding of where I would
coach them, what needs to be changes, the improvements they're making.
So for me, I enjoyed every minute of the practice
watching it, and you learned a lot about the bearers.
Speaker 2 (02:54):
Right, no matter what the outcome was each snap offense
or defense winning the snap, whatever the case may be.
As head coach Ben Johnson indicated, yeah, it was sloppy.
We can't have that. We're not gonna win a lot
of games if we're sloppy. There is so much that
you can take out. To me, it was the biggest positive.
You got them into a preseason mode. For all the
(03:15):
players that are first timers, never been in an NFL stadium,
the whole process of spending the night before in the hotel,
coming up, regular pregame warm up, and then you're actually
with the ninety five snaps. You know, you're feeling like
you got a lot accomplished. But it's the little things
that make a big difference. So every teaching technique will
be broken down for these players to get better at,
(03:36):
and I believe it'll help them throughout the rest of
the preseason. There were bright spots, there were low spots.
It's exactly what you would expect in any game that
you play. So I don't feel any negativity at all
about this at all because we are trying to see
how much we can learn, and we got to do
it in a fineite amount of time. Because the clock
is ticking, and it's ticking very quickly. It's gonna The
(04:00):
intensity alone was great, and it's going to ratchet up
when the Dolphins come into practice, when the Bills come
into practice. Forget about the games. Is the practice is
that I'm most intrigued, but and it's going to be
exact same way this week, and when the Dolphins come
to down, well.
Speaker 3 (04:15):
You know, if you could have just taken the Sunday
practice and if you could have somehow put a camera
into the mind of Ben Johnson. So now Ben Johnson
didn't stand on the sideline. He stood behind the offense
and then he called the play through the communication device
into the helmet of all the quarterbacks. And so Ben
Johnson calls the play, he's looking at the play clock,
(04:36):
he knows exactly what he called, he's looking at the
defense that's being offered, and then he knows every assignment
on offense, and so he's got a almost a preconceived
thinking of the play.
Speaker 4 (04:46):
That he just called.
Speaker 3 (04:48):
So he's so far ahead of all of us that
are just watching the snap of the ball and how
the play unfolds. That, man, if you could be in
the mind of Ben Johnson, it would be incredible because
you're almost knowing and expecting what should happen on these
specific plays. And when they do look you know, a
little disorganized, you know, because sloppy for me, for a
(05:13):
team that's having a new offense installed is kind of
a different phraseology. I have patience because I think you
need the patience and this is going to be something
that's going to take up into the first regular season
game and beyond to kind of alleviate some of that
sloppiness and started getting it more perfected.
Speaker 4 (05:34):
As an offense.
Speaker 2 (05:35):
Right, sloppiness does not linger. That'll be fixed. What you
can't fix is if there was no effort involved. There
was effort you had to because these guys know it's
going to be physical. These have been the most physical
practices we've seen around here in a long time. That's
consistent every day, and there was a lot of tackling
(05:58):
going on yesterday. I mean, it was, it was it
was very enjoyable to watch, uh and I gotta give
props to the defense man. Dennis Allen's got those guys buzzing.
They're they're they're they're feeling confident, which you should expect.
There are nine returning starters to that team, and there
is competition. There's battles for that defensive line rotation. There's
battles to see who's going to be able to make
(06:18):
this team up front. There's battles at the third linebacker spot.
There's an ongoing competition for who's going to be the
middle linebacker. You know, is it going to be t J.
Speaker 3 (06:26):
Edwards?
Speaker 2 (06:27):
Is going to be Tremaine Edmonds? Are they going to play?
Both positions are out the course of the year.
Speaker 5 (06:30):
Uh.
Speaker 2 (06:31):
And the secondary there there's a bunch of veterans that
are in the mix here, guys that are twenty five,
twenty six years old that are really making a big,
big case for making this football team. There's gonna be
hard decisions to be made in a secondary that seemingly
returns the five starters, the five guys we know. But
there's competition brewing and it's it's very interesting to watch
(06:53):
it is how they interact with each other, how Dennis
Allen has got that looking as eye.
Speaker 6 (06:57):
Man.
Speaker 2 (06:58):
I saw him before practice. I love watching you, coach.
He just nodded his head. He didn't say much.
Speaker 3 (07:03):
Dennis Allen is not out there to make any friends
with the offensive players. And it's very similar to Buddy Ryan.
And you felt that competitiveness between the head coach and
the defensive coordinator back then and you can feel it
as much as now. And he's very unforgiving.
Speaker 4 (07:18):
Man.
Speaker 3 (07:18):
He's running a defensive style of play that has versatility, maneuverability, confusion,
in it. And so as you're a group of guys
that's trying to learn the offense, now you're playing against
the defense that's playing a very fast, confusing brand of football.
It makes it even more difficult. I remember going to
training camp practicees in nineteen eighty five.
Speaker 4 (07:39):
We couldn't even run a play.
Speaker 3 (07:41):
We couldn't get a pass off because of the pressure
that was being put on us by blitzes coming from everywhere.
Speaker 2 (07:47):
I to ask you about that. Did you have it
when that was going on? Did was there a confidence
battle with yourself?
Speaker 4 (07:55):
Oh?
Speaker 3 (07:55):
And for the offense, it was kind of building a
lack of But then through that lack of confidence, you
build confidence because you knew you were playing against the
best defense in all of the NFL. And when you
had period emphasis. So in the morning we always concentrated.
Speaker 4 (08:12):
On the run game.
Speaker 3 (08:13):
In the afternoon, we concentrated in the pass game in
the morning practices. At a lot of times, Hampton didn't
practice in the afternoon, and in the pass pressure he practiced.
So now you're dealing with some of the greatest defensive
pass rushers in the history of the game, and it's
a pass emphasis afternoon.
Speaker 2 (08:32):
Practice, and he's fresh.
Speaker 4 (08:34):
So yeah, he's fresh, and then they knew what was coming.
Speaker 3 (08:37):
And I'm telling you there were the certain periods that
we couldn't get a ball off in. I'm not saying
that's what I'm seeing now, but when you're installing this
new offense, there's just a little bit of patience that's needed.
Speaker 2 (08:50):
You guys really get it. You offensive linement have it
hard man. You don't get you don't. You got to
play every snap of the game, the defensive line, of
rotating waves of players coming in fresh. It's the fourth quarter.
You get some young guy coming there off the edge.
He's played like twenty snaps. You've played seventy.
Speaker 4 (09:08):
I mean, it wouldn't happen any other week.
Speaker 2 (09:11):
Is no picnic, Tom, No picnic for you, That's for sure.
That's Tom there. I'm Jeff Joniac coming up. We visit
with Dominique Robinson.
Speaker 6 (09:17):
Next.
Speaker 2 (09:17):
Out of ESPN one thousand of the Bears Radio Network.
Speaker 1 (09:20):
You were tuned into Bears Weekly with Jeff Joniac on
the Bears Radio Network. Is Bears Weekly with the Voice
of the Bears for twenty four years with Jeff Jony
Chef Jony on the Bears Radio Network.
Speaker 2 (09:39):
Welcome that to Bears Weekly Everybody, Jeff Joniac and Tom Thayer.
Our special guest this week on Tonight Show. It's Dominique Robinson,
our old friend. How you doing, buddy? See how I say,
old friend, You're a vet now, buddy, you are vet material.
Speaker 6 (09:51):
Feel good?
Speaker 2 (09:52):
It's going It's gone fast right yeah. But but at
the same time, I'm sure you're feeling like, can I
get on the field, start being amaze your contributor. That's
probably been really hard right over the course of your time.
Tell me about that. How you how you getting through it?
Speaker 7 (10:05):
It's it's it's been a it's been a blessing tough times,
but you know, relying on my faith and knowing that
it's you know, the story that guy has for me,
and at some point it's going to turn over to
be something good for me and it'll be something I
can tell later on down the road.
Speaker 6 (10:22):
So I'm feeling pretty good about it right now.
Speaker 2 (10:25):
Now we get new eyes on you, yes, So do
they see a different Dominique Robinson.
Speaker 6 (10:29):
I personally believe they do.
Speaker 7 (10:31):
So I just got to keep showing them who I
am and letting them see, you know, how good I
can be.
Speaker 3 (10:39):
Six five two seventy five, Is that right, Yes, sir, okay,
So schematically, when you have a chance to invest a
little bit of time now with your position, coach and
the defensive scheme, is this a good fit for Dominique Robinson?
Speaker 7 (10:52):
I think so If it's it shows my versatility where
I can go on and do the four eye stuff
and also play the head. So the more, you know,
it's the name of the game where you can do,
the better.
Speaker 3 (11:01):
So, as we sit here talking to the Dominique Robinson
who's become a veteran in the NFL pretty darn good mentally, physically, fundamentally,
how have you changed to still be here with the
Chicago Bears.
Speaker 6 (11:17):
Yeah?
Speaker 7 (11:17):
So mentally it's funny because me and my wife talked
about this not too long ago. Mentally, I feel like
I've been through it all, you know, through trade stuff
in terms of you know, my test coming in that
my second year possibly you know, rumors of you know,
just not playing. So I'm thinking I could get cut
at any point, you know what I mean. So I
(11:38):
haven't been cut yet. I haven't been released yet, So
I haven't That's the last thing that I have not
been through, you know what I mean so.
Speaker 4 (11:43):
Stress I need a piece of wood.
Speaker 7 (11:45):
Not would, but the stresses of that have mentally made
me just a little tough, you know what I mean,
where it's like, whatever happens, guy has it. I'm putting
my best before it, no matter what. So if it happens,
I can go home and be like, I try my best.
Speaker 6 (12:01):
I did.
Speaker 7 (12:02):
I did my best physically every every offseason, I work
my butt off.
Speaker 4 (12:07):
You can tell, yeah.
Speaker 6 (12:08):
That's something that I take super serious.
Speaker 7 (12:11):
I can't sit back long like I probably only took
a week off since the off season. So I've been working.
I've been getting a stronger, faster, been working with a
new D line coach. I think the improvements are are
there in terms of the physicality and on the mental side.
Speaker 2 (12:31):
Dominie Grabbing, said our guest here on Bears Weekly on
ESPN one thousand of the Bears Radio Network. Time me
go ahead.
Speaker 3 (12:37):
The whole idea of the being being cut that that
can't even end to your mind because you're you're beyond that.
So I walked into that building I started every game
for eight years, and every single day I walked in
there wondering if this was going to be the day
I get cut right, and so I think it's kind
of you that has to be motivating for you as
much as you got to, you know, somehow keep that.
Speaker 4 (12:58):
I keep that out of your head.
Speaker 3 (13:00):
So that would my advice to you would be, don't
let that infiltrate Dominie Robinson.
Speaker 7 (13:05):
Oh, it hasn't at all. Trust me. I'm I'm super confident.
I have no doubt in anything. You know, I don't.
I don't come in here concerned about being cut. I
come out here ready to play, ready to put my
best will for it. And that's the only thing I
care about.
Speaker 2 (13:17):
So I was talking to Tom yesterday about this because
I'm getting ready for my board for the first preseason game,
and so I have last year's numbers and stuff and weights,
and I'm looking, I'm looking at the roster. I'm like, Tom,
these guys are all getting big. I had you had
two fifty something last year, So did they ask you
to get bigger?
Speaker 7 (13:36):
Actually I was two seventy last year. They just never
updated the Okay, okay, yeah, they never upditted the rosters.
Speaker 2 (13:42):
Okay, all right, well said see, I'm I'm trying. Hey,
you know, Tom, they're getting these guys big ands wrong.
So you were okay, but you look fantastic. What other
than the obvious and hitting the weight room and now
there's new new philosophy in the weight room. You got
some serious men in there. Oh yeah. Has that transformed
you in any way even more than a year ago?
And now are you stronger?
Speaker 3 (14:03):
Have they?
Speaker 2 (14:03):
Have they gone to a different style with you?
Speaker 6 (14:06):
Oh?
Speaker 7 (14:06):
Definitely. They've changed a lot of what we do in
the weight room. And I'm not saying that it hasn't
changed me. It's just I work so hard in the
off season that I come in almost ready to go,
so it keeps I feel like they maintained it for me.
They're doing a good job of maintaining what I had
in the off season. In the previous years, I kind
(14:28):
of lost some throughout the season, you know, and as
camp went. But as of right now, I've been good
at really maintaining my weight and my strength. So kudus them.
They really know what they're doing.
Speaker 2 (14:39):
Time back. It just started recently there. There's kind of
in college football, they give a history, they say history
hit the hit the thing with your with your mouse,
and it gives a picture of them when they starts
as freshmen and you could see if we did this
with Dominique Robinson, the high school quarterback, what were you weighing.
Speaker 6 (14:59):
Then to twenty to.
Speaker 2 (15:01):
Twenty and now at two hundred and seventy five piece
of rock mountain right here? Oh my gosh, I mean.
Speaker 3 (15:08):
Two years ago when when he showed up a training
camp and he looks so obviously different. That's all we
talked about all training camp was man that that dude
was invested in the off season. You know another thing,
dom is, you're uniquely enough, You're such a good athlete
that you're always gonna be considered for special teams. So
from the first game of my career until the last
(15:29):
game of my career, I played on kickoff return. Do
you still you know, get the attention of coach High
Tower and say, look, I can contribute. I can play
on different segments of special teams, just because you know,
the more you can do, you know it, the more
it increases your profile.
Speaker 7 (15:46):
Most definitely, I take special teams very serious right now
in terms of depth charts. You know, things will change
as it goes. But I am a part of three
of the four special teams. I'm on all four, but
I'm in with the ones right now with the you know,
so I'm I'm looking forward to being on special teams
and I think I play a huge role, especially in
(16:08):
punt return. I love going out there trying to get
after the punts and trying to block punts and Phil
go block. So that's my that's that's my thing.
Speaker 2 (16:17):
I saw some good moves out there pass rushing though
you mentioned your D line coach Jeremy Garrett, uh came
from the Cleveland Browns, but a lot of college experience
with him. What is he unlocking? I mean I thought
it was sweat for a second because you got the
hands boom, you know which one I'm talking about. You
had a good rep late Yeah, good rep late rushing
off the right saturlly offensive line.
Speaker 7 (16:38):
He's he's teaching us really well man, how to turn
our get our shoulder turn, violent shoulder turn, just playing
more violent and with violence comes wins at some point.
So really trying to hone in two foot push, keep
my eyes on my key and trying to you know,
minimize minimized things as a D line and there's so
(16:59):
much going on to turn to the backfield and stuff
like that, So the more you can minimize and focusing
and hone in on one detail. It'll make this picture
a little bigger.
Speaker 2 (17:07):
All right, I'm gonna use both of you here for this, okay.
So he mentioned the two foot push for those people listening,
and they're wondering what that means. So tell me as
a defensive end, Tom, then you tell me as an
offensive lineman what he's talking about and how you're gonna
work with him.
Speaker 7 (17:20):
But go ahead for me in terms of setting an
edge and things like that, I have more power. They're
teaching us that we have more power. We can are
able to have a two foot push, and we're able
to keep our feet behind us and our hips in
front of us in terms of striking an offensive lineman,
setting an edge, and keeping a firm edge. So it's
been working. It's it's and it's it's different, but it's
(17:43):
it's working.
Speaker 4 (17:44):
Is it now?
Speaker 2 (17:45):
Just muscle memories?
Speaker 6 (17:47):
Not yet, not yet getting there.
Speaker 7 (17:48):
As the season goes on, it it should get that way.
But every day it's a it's you know, you kind
of gotta focus on it.
Speaker 4 (17:54):
All right, Tom.
Speaker 2 (17:55):
They're talking violence on all three phases, so they're gonna
come up knock back. We keep appearing that So as
an offensive lineman, what are you expecting when.
Speaker 4 (18:02):
You I have two different approaches.
Speaker 3 (18:05):
First of all, if I'm one on ones, we're off
to the side, we're doing one on ones, I'm jumping
the count.
Speaker 4 (18:09):
I'm always going to try.
Speaker 3 (18:10):
To be a little bit quicker so I can try
to get my hands in and then start that battle
of his push against you know where my hands are placed.
And then if we're doing teamwork eleven on eleven, I'm
still going to try to concentrate on that snap count
and take advantage of knowing what the initial movement is.
So dom when you're out there practicing and you're going
(18:32):
through these moves that Jeff's talking about, when you go
to the line of scrimmage, do you either do you
even think of the offensive tackle you're playing against or
are you're thinking about what your move is going to be.
Speaker 7 (18:42):
So for me, in the previous years, coin myself to
have a ton of moves, or at least three moves.
So when I was steps on the line, that was
my issue. I was thinking too much. I was thinking
of this move, this move, this move, this guy does this,
so I can do this this this I get to
the block, I stuttered my feet, don't do the move,
I don't do anything, you know what I mean. So
(19:04):
I have minimized my thinking to one move. Just think
of this one move, this move works, I'm gonna do
it no matter what after that and I'll work off
of that. So for me, I'm not I guess I
am a thinker a little bit. So for me, I
have to I have to minimize things if I think
too much.
Speaker 2 (19:23):
Well Tom JOm says this repeatedly, and he's taught me this, Dom.
If you think your beat and it's simple but difficult
to overcome, right. And I'm the same way as a
non athlete, I think too much.
Speaker 3 (19:39):
You know, Dom, This week, when Miami comes in, you're
gonna be seeing guys that you haven't seen in a
stance once.
Speaker 4 (19:45):
So I think that it will help.
Speaker 3 (19:47):
You be that non thinker and just be the explosive
guya out of your stance that you know you can be.
Speaker 4 (19:54):
You're physically built for it.
Speaker 3 (19:55):
You got the length, you got the athleticism, so you're
that's what you're gonna have to do is just unleash
what you've been learning against guys that don't know anything
about you.
Speaker 6 (20:04):
Oh yeah, I'm excited.
Speaker 2 (20:06):
Well, let Lashley, let you go. We appreciate while he's
loved talking to you. One of our favorites. Man, we
root you, root for you hard, root for you hard.
You put a lot into this. Dennis Allen if somebody
asked me about him today, what do you think. I
just love his demeanor. I mean, we could talk about
Ben all day long too. They look like twins, Am
I right? I mean, tell me, tell me take me
(20:26):
behind the scenes of Dennis Allen.
Speaker 7 (20:28):
He's hey, man, he's he's he's a hard guy. He
is a hard guy. I love it personally. He's gonna
coach you hard, and that's that's what we need it,
you know what I mean. We needed guys, everybody to
be on the same plan field, no matter who you are,
everybody's can coach and saying if you mess up, you
mess up, he's gonna get on you.
Speaker 6 (20:47):
If you do good, shot you out a little bit,
you know what I mean.
Speaker 4 (20:51):
But not too much.
Speaker 7 (20:52):
Loved exactly, but that's just who he is. He's not
changing for nobody, and it's perfect.
Speaker 2 (20:57):
All right, Dom'll let you go. Appreciate it. Good luckily
for the rest of the preseason. Thank you so much
for your time. We'll continue with Bears Weekly Jeff and
Tom next on ESPN one thousand of the Bears Radio Network.
Speaker 1 (21:08):
You were tuned into Bears Weekly with Jeff Joniac on
the Bears Radio Network.
Speaker 4 (21:14):
Welcome back to Bears Week on the Bears Radio Network.
Speaker 1 (21:18):
Here's your host, the Voice of the Bears, Jeff Joy.
Speaker 2 (21:23):
This segment of Bears Weekly is brought to you by
Athletical Physical Therapy. Visit Athletico dot com to request it
in clinic or virtual appointment at Start Feeling Better Tomorrow
Jeff Joniac, Tom Thayer. I was good talking to Dominique Robinson.
As we indicate it, man, we root for certain guys,
we root for everybody, but there's certain guys that have
been here a while and still trying to find their way,
(21:45):
find that niche find that role, and he's doing that.
Speaker 4 (21:47):
Right now now.
Speaker 3 (21:48):
One thing I like about Dominique Rominson. You appreciate the
guys that the game is important to them, and sometimes
the biggest reflection of how important the game is to
them is what they do in the off season that
give their body ready for the next year. And so
when he came back to camp last year, you brought
it up, and it was brought up by everybody. What
a difference his body looked like and because of what
(22:10):
they asked him to become. And so he invested, I
mean time, money, energy into the weight room and he
came back looking like a different player. But now you
want to see all that hard work and effort in
the offseason, you know, pan out during the season, and
I think you've seen that out of Dominique Robinson. He's
got unique athletic skills. He has the ability to contribute
(22:34):
on all special teams and he's been able to do that.
But I still think his talent is at a pass
rushing defensive end six five, two seventy five. I think
that he's a guy that's coming in here and he's
a he's a candidate for one of those roles.
Speaker 2 (22:50):
Yeah, when he first got here, he was in the
two fifty range. He was a former quarterback tight end,
didn't play a lot of defense, so sometimes that transition
takes some time. But he is a great athlete, big, strong,
and he mentioned it, you know, the thinking part of
the game has to be overcome, and I think that
happens for a lot of players.
Speaker 3 (23:09):
Well, yeah, he talked about it how he doesn't go
to the line of scrimmage getting a stance with having
a bunch of things running through his mind. He goes
in there with one singular thought of how to defeat
an offensive lineman and then be the most explosive athlete
that you can possibly be. And I think that will
really pay dividends for him because he does have explosiveness
(23:29):
and he does have the traits in order to incorporate into.
Speaker 4 (23:34):
A pass rusher.
Speaker 2 (23:35):
All right, So Diodengbo also on the minds of us
right now because of free agent transition from the Indianapolis Colts.
He was opposite the Bears in that practice a few
years ago in Indiana. We were enjoying. It was a
very very chippy practice. You might remember that, Tommy, that
was fiery. That was a fiery practice. So he remembers that,
(23:58):
and now he's going to bring it over to the
Bears against Miami this week. I'm interested to watch those
battles and it happens that's where it all starts up front,
or if a corner and a wide receiver get tangled
up and then you start having issue issues.
Speaker 3 (24:11):
I listen every single joint practice I've ever been a
part of you know, Coach Dicky used to say, don't
ever go down to their level, make them come up
to our level. So right now, Jeff, beware, you're gonna
get evidence of this because we've seen the practice that
Ben has been putting these guys through. There is hitting,
there's live tackling, there is some huge collisions out there.
(24:35):
Now is Miami going to come in here? Are they
going to live up to what the Bears have been
going through? And so I think every one of these
guys on the Bears that are out there competing can
benefit from the practices they've been working through.
Speaker 2 (24:48):
So earlier today, I after the walkthrough, diald Engbo, one
of the Bears at the podium as he gets ready
for what is going to be an interesting competition up front,
the rotation this defensive coordinator Dennis Allen what he's looking for.
Dengbo's got the size, the length, and the athleticism. After
a good stop with the Indianapolis Colts in his first
(25:09):
few years, here's Dio Edingbo.
Speaker 8 (25:10):
I think every difference is different, you know, learning a
new scheme, having new responsibilities, new techniques, new alignments, it's
definitely different. And trying to figure out where your game
fits in with that.
Speaker 5 (25:21):
Anywhere where you feel like it is real it is
a good fit for you.
Speaker 8 (25:24):
Yeah, I mean all over the place, you know, just
playing tighter to the tackles and being able to set
the edge from that point and uh, you know a
lot of the stunts and movements and and lend DaShan.
Speaker 9 (25:36):
So is there something about this system that you feel
is going to accentuate your game better than where you've been.
Speaker 8 (25:42):
Yeah, Like I said, a lot of the movements and uh,
you know, simulated pressures, pressures bringing five to six. Uh,
you know, being able to affect the quarterback in that
way and have the D line moving around. It's definitely
gonna help. For Dennis Allen, it's fun. You know, he's intense.
He's an intense guy, and I enjoy that. I enjoy
playing having him as a coordinator and playing in his defense.
Speaker 6 (26:04):
The amount of hitting you guys have done is just
normal to you?
Speaker 5 (26:07):
Does it seem high?
Speaker 7 (26:08):
Low?
Speaker 8 (26:09):
I say, we definitely probably go live more than a
lot of teams. I mean that's kind of understanding. We
got too intense. Uh, well, an intense decordinator and an
intense head coach, So, uh, that's kind of expected and
you know it's somewhere all okay.
Speaker 5 (26:23):
With what do you like most about this defense in general?
Speaker 8 (26:25):
What you said just the aggressiveness of it, being able to,
like I said, affect the run and pass in different ways,
different looks.
Speaker 9 (26:33):
Uh.
Speaker 8 (26:34):
It definitely makes it tougher on the offense. And I
think that's showing.
Speaker 5 (26:37):
You described Ben Johnson as intense to what's what's it
been like playing for him so far?
Speaker 8 (26:44):
He's very demanded. You could tell he's a perfectionist. He
wants it done a certain way, and if it's not
done that way, he's gonna call you out about it.
So uh, that's something you definitely want from someone leading
your team. That's you know, not afraid to call people
out and you know see how they respond.
Speaker 5 (27:00):
Been doing that with the defense too, when he comes
into your meeting.
Speaker 8 (27:02):
Yeah, he'll do that with the defense, offense, special teams.
It really doesn't matter. So he'll do it in the
team meeting or however needs.
Speaker 6 (27:08):
To be on.
Speaker 2 (27:09):
What are you learning about Dio Dngbo when you watch
him practice?
Speaker 3 (27:12):
So when I look at guys with length, I always
want to see is there length going to be an
asset or a detriment. Sometimes they bend arms and they
allow the offensive lineman to get hands to them, and
then that length is not an asset anymore.
Speaker 4 (27:25):
One thing about.
Speaker 3 (27:26):
Dio, He's got a fast twitch gear to him, so
he not only can use his length, but he has
a good initial explosion off the line of scrimmage where
he can put the offensive lineman in kind of a
retreat position. And then if Dio is able to create
separation with his length, He's got that fast twitched gear
to be able to create es capability. And one thing
(27:48):
that I noticed this when I looked at his highlight
tape in the off season when they brought him in
as a free agent, I kind of look at some
of his pass rushes that he won with such immediacy
that I will I want to see how that would
that trait would carry over to not only playing against
offensive tackles, but playing on the inside against guards. And
so that's one of the things that I've really been
(28:10):
able to appreciate about Dio is being able to use
length with fast twitch, because not all lengthy guys have
that fast twitch gear, and Dio has been able to
put that on display.
Speaker 2 (28:23):
You know, they have these guys they put together their
toolbox of moves, and you trying to figure out what
move they're gonna make, and vice versa. How they think
they can beat you get on your edges or go
down the middle of your chest, or whatever the case
may be. I know you don't like the word thinking,
but you are setting guys up, aren't you, And you're
you then, in turn, are anticipating what their moves might be.
(28:44):
You you explain some things to me at practice the
other day about spin moves, because they're prevalent everywhere in
the league. Guys are trying spin moves. That guy with
Bear's gonna face Week two, Aiden Hutchinson is deadly with
it when he sets up wide nine way outside the
tackle makes puts a tackle on a really difficult pause
position on an island. How you walk through that? How
you think? How does an offensive lineman, say, just take
(29:06):
Dio for example, what he's trying to set you up
with over the course of a game. If you're playing
outside or if he's going to cut across his face
and go inside, you might have to help out your
tackle and pick him up at the guard position.
Speaker 4 (29:18):
What's the process you can't be over aggressive.
Speaker 3 (29:21):
The worst thing you can do to any defensive player,
whether it's a linebacker or alignment, is getting too much over.
Speaker 4 (29:27):
The top of your toes.
Speaker 3 (29:28):
And if you're over aggressive and then you get your
head down for an instant of time, you're gonna fall forward.
You're going to fall on your face. And the thing
about it is, if you could stop from being over
aggressive and staying out over under your feet, under your base,
you're going to be able to be in control of
your body and your strength. And that's the one thing
that if an offense or defensive lineman sees that you're
(29:53):
susceptible to getting your head out over your feet, then
you see that spin move. And we saw it from
the Dianapolis Colts guys for years in how successful Dwight
Freeney and Robert Mathis were with that move.
Speaker 2 (30:07):
We're not gonna really know until the game start. But
are you seeing progress in the front where you always
hear we're gonna rush four as one? Now they're gonna
add more to it than that. The pressure package is
lining up heavy on one side and really put the
offensive line in hopes of conflict. But are you seeing
progress with four rushing as one.
Speaker 3 (30:27):
Yes, And you know I was paying attention to that
in practice the other day because Dennis Allen always says
he wants this defensive lineman to fight that individual offensive
lineman who's trying.
Speaker 4 (30:36):
To block him.
Speaker 3 (30:37):
And I think when you have the variety of talents,
when you have a Grady Jarrett going against a guard
that no, he doesn't have any help from the center
or the tackle, or you got the power and the
length and the disengageable ability of Dexter Senior. It's their
traits are allowing these guys to be more competitive immediately,
(31:00):
because there's so many different traits that Dennis Allen is
able to line up, and so I really think that
it's going to help each and every one of these guys. Okay,
now let me think of let me something I'm thinking
about in Miami practice. So now, ever, since you've been
going through OTAs, through mandatory mini camp and training camp,
you're listening to the cadence of the Chicago Bears.
Speaker 4 (31:23):
And that followed too, that rhythm of the Chicago Bears.
Speaker 3 (31:26):
Now you're going to go to practice, whether it's one
on ones or TeamWorks, you're going to hear a whole
different tempo of a cadence. So now we're going to
have to see the discipline out of the defensive rushers
the defensive lineman to make sure they don't become susceptible
to that we call it herky jerky or just that
little jump at the line of scrimmage. If they can
stay disciplined and understand what their getoff tempo is, you're
(31:49):
going to see the Bears defensive line perform like they
have in practice.
Speaker 2 (31:52):
Coming up next, Darnell Wright joins us with Tan Thair,
Jeff Joniaka and Bears Weekly at ESBN one thousand and
the Bears Radio Network.
Speaker 1 (32:00):
Listening to Bears Weekly on the Bears Radio Network, Well,
welcome back to Bears Weekly on the Bears Radio Network.
Here's your host, the voice of the Bears, Jeff Joy.
Speaker 2 (32:14):
This segment of Bears Weekly is brought to you by
IGS Energy with Tom Thayer. I'm Jeff jonahyak all right,
Darnell right, the veteran right tackle. Big year for him
here in year three at the podium. Lots of sloppiness,
as was indicated by Ben Johnson following Sunday's practice and
that pre snap operation that's so important to him. That
was the topic that started the conversation with the former
(32:37):
Tennessee right tack.
Speaker 9 (32:38):
Probably the most thing is just communication. Join everyone doing
a better job at that. Probably that's what we need
to do as a whole, just communicating in an outlis huddle.
Speaker 2 (32:48):
There was a time when you guys are going towards
the south end zone.
Speaker 10 (32:50):
Caleb looked pretty frustrated after he got flagged for what
you guys got flagged for?
Speaker 3 (32:54):
One, Like, when you guys all get back together, what's
his message to the offense to get a cleaned up.
Speaker 9 (33:00):
I don't remember exactly which one that is, but uh, yeah,
the biggest thing is just everybody just communicating, being on
the same page.
Speaker 5 (33:06):
So we can roll. Have you noticed a difference in
Calyb's demeanor in the.
Speaker 4 (33:10):
Huddle and here too.
Speaker 9 (33:11):
Yeah, he's definitely he's a little bit more confident, just
seems a little bit more poised. Obviously second year player.
Still some things, I mean, as you're learning the stuff
to go through, but he definitely seems a little bit
more confident, poised. What's the communications in life with Killa
and kind of getting to know him on the flag here? Yeah,
we've been I mean me and him, we've been, uh,
(33:33):
we've been rolling this whole time, and I think we've
been developing some chemistry.
Speaker 5 (33:37):
You know, some things like.
Speaker 9 (33:40):
As you play O line, you kind of like somebody
might growut a certain way.
Speaker 5 (33:44):
You kind of understand what he's what he's saying, So trying.
Speaker 9 (33:47):
To get into that, you know, just get that chemistry down.
Speaker 5 (33:50):
So it's been good.
Speaker 9 (33:51):
How much different hasn't been facing a defense in the
prot is that as much as Dennis Allen doesn't.
Speaker 5 (33:56):
How do you think that's going to help you guys
for the regular season.
Speaker 9 (33:59):
Yeah, it'll I think it'll help us just so be
in tune with all of our assignments for one uh
and just have everybody be on their piece and keys.
Speaker 5 (34:09):
Uh, that's the biggest thing probably, I know, in the
tallest training camp you had to go through. I think
it's you know, training camps, training camp. You know they're all.
Speaker 9 (34:18):
Tough, but there's definitely some things that Ben Johnson, you know,
saying his offense is uh, that you kind of got
to learn.
Speaker 5 (34:26):
But I mean training camp is training camp.
Speaker 3 (34:28):
I know, what are you learning about or what do
you with Caleb and some of those blitz periods that
we've seen in practice.
Speaker 4 (34:33):
What are you learning? What are you learning about him
that maybe didn't already know?
Speaker 9 (34:37):
Uh, probably the main thing he's he can he can
make a play. He can make plays.
Speaker 5 (34:44):
I mean we kind of already knew that as well,
but I see that.
Speaker 9 (34:48):
Yeah, the biggest thing is how much he can make
a play when he does what he does.
Speaker 3 (34:53):
You know, I know, what's what's the challenge that has
presents particularly when he's lined up word wide?
Speaker 9 (35:00):
Say, the biggest thing is just because type of player
he is, his length and obviously he's a good player,
but his link is really something that's kind of hard
to navigate a little bit. Was there anything that you
learned about yourself with Mount Dan being your coach? I
think the biggest biggest thing I learned is, you know,
(35:20):
I don't have to reinvent the wheel every you know,
every every year, just learning and build upon some things
that I know and then learn things from him.
Speaker 5 (35:31):
He's a great coach.
Speaker 2 (35:32):
So a lot there talked about Caleb's poise, confidence different
than a year ago, the communication, the developing chemistry, how
sweat and that wide nine length is hard to navigate.
But Dan Rochar and that's where I wanted to start,
because what great advice. You know, you don't have to
reinvent the wheel every year. Once that wheels rolling and
keep adding to it, you have to refresh every year
(35:55):
and get everything back in your mojo. Is that great
advice from Dan Rochar to Darnell?
Speaker 6 (35:59):
Right.
Speaker 3 (36:00):
But I will say this about this interview by Darnell,
it's the best I've ever heard him sound at the podium.
He sounded like that alpha advance that we want to
see him make because if he turns into that offensive
tackle that we know that he has the ability to be,
he could change the entire complexion of this offensive line.
And Darnell Wright, he's got to make those steps and
(36:23):
you have to increase the expectations on him. Ben Johnson
has to go to the drawing board and saying, Okay,
our point of attack in a power sense is going
to be behind Darnell Wright and Jonah Jackson or whomever's
playing right guard. But he has to be a power
alpha on our offensive line.
Speaker 4 (36:43):
It can't be trickling.
Speaker 3 (36:44):
Over to the left, but it's got to be equally processed.
But if we're going to have a point of emphesis,
on our offensive line. Darnell's got to be an important
part of that power point.
Speaker 2 (36:58):
And then a couple of years ago, the running game
thrive going to the right side behind Darnell.
Speaker 3 (37:03):
You are right, but you know that's the thing about
this offense fits Darnell really well. Because Darnell Wright has
the athleticism to pull to his left, he can lead
sweeps out to his right. They can run efficiently, run screens,
and Darnell can be the lead blocker on a screen
to the exterior right, or he can get in that
big double team stance and create that power with a
(37:25):
tight end or an offensive guard. And that's why when
you have a guy that has that ability of Darnell,
danro Shar wants to go out there and grow this
guy every single day with confidence and coaching.
Speaker 2 (37:39):
Well, you know, you just touched on it a minute
ago about what training camp was like for you facing
that maniacal defense that will helped you get win a
Super Bowl. What advice do you give a player like
Darnell when you're facing a Montes swat who's very gifted,
obviously an outstanding pass rusher and trying to with that
(38:00):
every day in Abbecya you know, you just can't. You
got to go back and learn from that, and hopefully
they can work together on that as well. You know,
maybe some tips back and forth. I think Montes has
done that over the years too.
Speaker 3 (38:11):
So the same advice I'd give to every offensive lineman,
whether you're a rookie like Ozzie Trapillo.
Speaker 4 (38:16):
Or an experienced guy like Darnell Wright.
Speaker 3 (38:19):
Know where your help is and know how to limit
your vulnerability. Okay, So if I know that I have
a really good defensive end and he's playing an outside shoulder,
I'm not going to get over aggressive and jump out
to the outside if I know that I got help
from the right guard next to me, So I'm not
going to open up that pass rush lane. I'm going
(38:41):
to limit his my vulnerability. I'm going to limit his options.
And so if you know where your help is every
single time, help may be in the split that you
take from the guard, help may be from a tight end,
a help may be from a running back behind you.
And so every one of these guys like Ozzy learning
the left tackle position here in the NFL, limit your
(39:04):
vulnerability by knowing where your help is coming from. And
so I think Darnell right when you start are putting
in and installing this new offense. He's got to know
the most minute details of every single player there to
help himself. It's back in the day, like Dick Stanfield
used to say, I should be able to put you
up on the blackboard and you should be able to
(39:27):
draw every single guy's blocking assignment. That way you know
exactly what everybody is doing and where your help could
possibly come from.
Speaker 2 (39:35):
So did you have to go on that blackboard?
Speaker 4 (39:37):
Every one of us did so for every snap. No,
how this time?
Speaker 2 (39:41):
Yeah, give me an example. How'd they test you.
Speaker 4 (39:44):
In the class.
Speaker 3 (39:45):
So, say you're playing against defense at the time that
they're going to run a thirty four defense and we're
going to put in a new play forty nine EO,
and so EO means end an off guard forty nine
is the back that's gonna get it. And what Hoy's
going to go to Now you have to go up there,
(40:06):
and he's gonna say, go up there and draw every
single guy's blocking assignment and the ball carrier where they're going.
So you have to go up there and man, de man,
you got to draw every single person's assignment and It
can't just be straight lines. You have to talk about
their approach, their aiming point, the anticipation of the angle
that the linebacker is going to be influenced by. And
(40:30):
you know, they just know that if every single guy
knows every single guy's blocking assignment, it can help just
the learning curve because if I go to the line
of scrimmage and I need a little bit of advice
or help, you can ask one of the guys next
to you.
Speaker 4 (40:43):
They can help you instantly.
Speaker 2 (40:45):
Coming up, Richard hitz Ower, Bears Special Teams coordinator, his
take on where the special Teams unit is at N
head coach Ben Jonson. It's all coming up next on
ESPN one thousand of the Bears Radio Network.
Speaker 1 (40:56):
You were tuned into Bears Weekly with Jeff Joniak on
the Bears Radio Network. Is Bears Weekly with the Voice
of the Bears for twenty four years with Chef Shote
At Chef on the Bears Radio Network.
Speaker 2 (41:13):
This segment of Bears Weekly is brought to you by
Athletico Physical Therapy. Visit Athletico dot com the a question
in clinic or virtual appointment at Start Feeling Better Tomorrow.
Jeff and Tom with you on ESPN one thousand. Richard
Hidetower always very fun at the podium. From the practice
yesterday at Soldier Field, Cairo Santos, looked very good, Tom
very comfortable being in there. It was breezy, but not
(41:35):
enough win to make it too complicated, High Tower saying
he wished it was a little more. But he hit
all five of his kicks during one drill that the
two kickers and he hit, including from fifty three where
he's been really unbelievable, very very successful from beyond fifty.
I want all want to focus on Tory Tayor. We
haven't talked about him this entire preseason, off season nothing.
(41:55):
It's like we knew what we have when he came
here with some terrific skills and he had a very
very solid rookie season. High Tower on where he could
be headed here in twenty twenty five.
Speaker 10 (42:08):
Yeah, I mean he measure development from this year to
last year, so where he was every rep that he
took last year around this time.
Speaker 5 (42:16):
You look at what it was.
Speaker 10 (42:17):
Last year compared to his charts, to all the stuff
that we do on film and analytically, when you look
at it and see where his numbers are and they
have grown tremendously, So that's how we measure it. And
then you know how he is as a person and
how much more mature he is now, and how he's
working now is definitely showing in his punning. He's in
(42:38):
the ball really well right now. Me here's some of
those at the back of the end zone. The other
day returner couldn't even get to it.
Speaker 2 (42:42):
So we got to look at this guy as a weapon,
you know.
Speaker 3 (42:45):
So my appreciation for Tory Taylor kind of gained some
ground after the Family Fest practice. So he was out
there early and he was going through a series of
punts before he gets the rest of the team involved.
And so he's putting on display a variation of ballflight,
landing spots, hanging time that most punters don't have the
(43:10):
capabilities of doing, and he does it with regularity and success.
And so I was sitting out there thinking, oh my god,
this guy may be one of the most talented punting
legs that I've seen since Ron Stark was punting in
college when I was at Notre Dame and he was
punting for Florida State exactly. You know, he was their
(43:33):
conference to cathlete. So this Guy was a super talented athlete,
and you get the same look out of Tory. But
his variations of punts, landing spots, ballflight is kind of
so impressive to watch that I have a new appreciation
for punters.
Speaker 2 (43:51):
And I'll tell you n Jensen. Proper field position, whether
it be pinning, Guy's deep defense gets him off the
field in three. That's going to impact the creative mind
of Ben Johnson with his play calling. I think that
marriage is significant, man. That's why Ben's Ben's. He gives
them a lot of time on special teams. As we
(44:12):
hear here from Richard hight.
Speaker 10 (44:13):
Tower, Yeah, I mean you always because he was on
the opposing team, you always kind of knew who he
was and things like that. But I had never worked
with him, but I knew from afar when I watched
some of his press conferences or some of that stuff,
I was like, God's pretty sharp. But then when you
work with him and you can see the attention to
detail and how he meticulously looks at everything no matter
(44:37):
what it is, dives deep into things all right, and
has an eye. Real head coaches have an eye for
things when they happen all right, and they're able to
anticipate stuff. I'm just I'm just telling you like I've been.
I'm just telling you and I ain't sit up here
and talk about it forever, but we gotta you guys,
just watch.
Speaker 5 (44:58):
We got a good head coach.
Speaker 10 (44:59):
I've been around a lot of all right, damn good
special Yeah, he's like I told you all before, He's
heavily involved with special teams. Always in meetings and practice
whatever we need, and then after practice, always asking us
did you get what you need or did you get
what you need in that period? Do you need more time?
Do you need like?
Speaker 5 (45:18):
How can I help?
Speaker 4 (45:19):
And for me?
Speaker 10 (45:21):
Like for us that's I mean, that's worth a million bucks, right,
just the interaction in the involvement that he has. So
he goes above and beyond to try to help not
only our area, all areas. He does the same thing
with DA, he does the same thing with other people
throughout the building.
Speaker 2 (45:38):
If you surprise, Tom, that's the best way I guess.
He went on and on about Ben, and he's been
around some great head coaches. So hey, listen, I want
to listen to the man.
Speaker 4 (45:47):
Listen.
Speaker 3 (45:47):
I appreciate coach high Towers. Compliments of Ben Johnson because
I've been a lot of around some great head coaches.
Myself and George Allen and Mike Dicka and Don.
Speaker 4 (45:58):
Schuler are all Hall of Fame. And I told you
this the other day.
Speaker 3 (46:02):
George Allen always said it's defense, special teams and offense.
Speaker 4 (46:06):
That's the role of importance.
Speaker 3 (46:08):
And when you think about what the special teams nowadays
they do for a football team, I still think it's offense.
But you know, some of these great head coaches, they
believe and they know the role in the importance of
the special team. So I really appreciate coach high Tower
and his opportunity to learn and grow and have his
(46:30):
opportunity to grow himself as a coach because of Ben Johnson.
And I think that this team is going to benefit
throughout the season because of what Ben Johnson affords the
special teams to do on a day to day basis.
Speaker 2 (46:45):
I think it's important to underscore the fact that Ben
comes off the field asks both Alan Hitower if they've
they got enough in Thanks everybody for listening. The executive
producer of the Bears Radio Network, Gerrick Ostrowski. Thanks to
Jake Santos in the ESPN studios and our Bears producers
Dan Brially, Jordan tread Up and Katie Fox for Tom
Thayer and DOMINIQE. Graminson. I'm Jeff Joniak. This has been
(47:05):
Bears Weekly on the new radio home of the Chicago
Bears ESPN Chicago. Have a good night, everybody. Black and
Abdalla are next.
Speaker 1 (47:12):
Thank you for listening to the Chicago Bears Network presentation
The Bears Weekly hosted by the Mara Bears, Bill, Jeff,
judyaf and Surfmaster Tom Thayer podcasts, who are available on
the Chicago Bears Offishalab brought to you by Verizon and
Apple Podcasts. Bears Weekly has been brought to you by
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