Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Cut open that DJ Moore and zone touchdown touchdown pairs.
Speaker 2 (00:06):
I am Jeff Joniack blitzes on.
Speaker 3 (00:08):
Donnie go R.
Speaker 4 (00:11):
What was like playing for Coche goodgo I don't want
to answer any questions like that pressure coming is a
big trouble, Donnie Goos Mottest Sweat.
Speaker 2 (00:25):
Bears, et cetera.
Speaker 1 (00:26):
Brought to you by Miller Light with the voices that
the Bears Jeff Joniac and Tom Thayer. Well, it's about
that time to get the band back together. Summer approaches
and so does the start of Bears training camp in
preparations for the twenty twenty five season with Super Bowl
winning Bears guard Tom Thayer.
Speaker 2 (00:43):
I'm Jeff Joniac. We're brought to you by Miller Light.
Speaker 1 (00:45):
Our preseason opener is against the Miami Dolphins at Soldier
Field Sunday, August tenth at noon. We'll have it for
you live from Soldier Field, where Tom Thayer will be
starting his twenty ninth season at the MIC as the
veteran analyst and me season twenty five and for you
third season, patrolling the sidelines will.
Speaker 2 (01:02):
Be j Mac.
Speaker 1 (01:02):
The fullback Jason mccketh joined us now on episode one.
Forty six Other Bears, etc. Podcast coming off a birthday celebration,
if I'm not mistaken, is this correct?
Speaker 5 (01:13):
Yeah? Getting older man, time goes by fast. Obviously.
Speaker 6 (01:16):
You talked about the years you guys have been covering
the Bears and me going to my third year. It
just seems like I just started, you know, yesterday, But
obviously you guys been doing it at a high level
for a long time.
Speaker 5 (01:26):
So definitely grateful to be a part of it again
this year.
Speaker 1 (01:30):
What's it been like for you now in retrospect, entering
year three, venturing into the media aspect of things. You've
always been a good quote, You've always been around, but
now being in this role strategizing your broadcast career.
Speaker 5 (01:45):
Yeah, it's been.
Speaker 6 (01:46):
It's been pretty cool, you know, having the opportunity obviously
to play for the Bears, and being around both you
guys during my playing career obviously, you know, with you
Jeff doing some media things while I was playing with
the Bears and picking your brain a little bit, knowing
that I wanted to pursue some type of media when
I when I finished playing here in Chicago. So it's
been awesome. It's been been more than what I expected.
(02:08):
It's been fun. I've met some really good friends who
will become family, and you know, we have a good time.
And I think we've been able to put together some
really good broadcasts even though it was even though it's
been hard, there's some hard seasons that we've gone through.
I think we've been able to put together some good
broadcasts for the Bears fans out there listening to us.
Speaker 2 (02:25):
J Max.
Speaker 3 (02:26):
So we're one hundred days out from the start of
the NFL season, You're one hundred days out from starting
your high school season. Do you look at football the
same of what you want to do with your team
and what you want the Bears to do as a team.
Speaker 2 (02:41):
Yeah.
Speaker 6 (02:41):
I think the way that we run our program, you know,
having had the opportunity to play at the highest level,
I try to run it as close to an NFL
program that as that I can, knowing that I'm working
with the high school students. So what I mean by
that is, you know, our temple of practice, you know,
our installation run a pro style offense, and obviously, as coaches,
(03:02):
we've had so I've had to learn, especially that the
volume can't be as intense as an NFL install just
because I don't have as much time with high school
kids as the coaches have with NFL guys. But we try,
we try to run it at that type of you know,
at that type of elite level that they're doing the NFL,
and it's been great. Our kids are responding well to
it and we've had some you know, some good outcomes
(03:25):
from it as well.
Speaker 3 (03:26):
So you know, Bennis said a couple times, and I've
heard the assistant coaches say it as well. As there's
no depth chart right now for the Chicago Bears. Do
you have a depth chart in mind for your guys
or is it something like a first time head coach
in the NFL you got to kind of see where
you're going and then where you're going to be placed
on the depth chart, And so what do you think
(03:47):
about that as a pro saying, Okay, there's no depth chart,
so it's really about what you do.
Speaker 6 (03:53):
Yeah, without a doubt, that's the way it should be.
You know, everything's earned. You know, everything's earning the light,
everything's earned in the game of football. When you start
just handing guy things, you know, guys becoming titled guys
don't work as hard, and you know that's the same
thing at a high school level. And I tell I've
been telling our kids throughout this whole entire off season,
you know, all season of workouts, that everything's being evaluated,
(04:14):
every position is open. You're gonna get what you earned.
So if you're not you know, pushing yourself in the
weight room, if you're not on time to school, if
your grades alright, and we don't know if you're going
to be available to play on Friday night when that
eligibility report comes out, Hey we ain't gonnaccount on you.
You're not going to play. So everything's earned, and our
kids have done a good job understanding that. But there's
(04:34):
so many you know, new players that are going to
have an opportunity to earn a spot. So you know,
I'm excited to see how this thing transpires. And I'm
also excited to see, you know, how this bears depth
chart you know, pans out as well.
Speaker 1 (04:46):
For those long time listeners to the podcast or just
dipping in for the first time and you're not familiar
with his high school program, it's Carmel High School on
Mond Line outside of Chicago, and how many years now
this will be what.
Speaker 5 (04:59):
You're man, that's gonna be going into my six years.
Speaker 1 (05:01):
He coach, So okay, now that's that's I like to say,
that's some real money.
Speaker 2 (05:06):
Now, six years, six years. Jmack.
Speaker 1 (05:09):
This podcast brought to you by the official beer partner
of your Chicago Bears Tastes like Miller Time Chicago. Go
to millerlt dot com slash Bears pod to find delivery
options near you. Celebrate responsibly Miller Brewing Company, Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Ninety six cavalies and three point two carbs per twelve ounces.
You're you're balancing obviously a potential great quarterback down the road.
Speaker 2 (05:30):
Trey Taylor.
Speaker 1 (05:32):
He started getting recruited in seventh grade by Maryland. If
I'm not mistaken this correct, and now he's made an
announcement early this month, I think on May first, that
he's planning to attend Nebraska. He's a class of twenty
twenty seven, so he's still a junior. For you, what
does that entail? I saw you on the on the
podium when he made the decision through us a few
(05:54):
curve balls, including putting the U of I hat on
and going to with Nebraska, and then you put a
Nebraska head on. How do you balance all that as
just he's still a young man. He's a junior in
high school and he's got two playing years left before
he's already committed to Nebraska.
Speaker 5 (06:08):
Yeah.
Speaker 6 (06:08):
I think when you have an individual like Dad who's
receiving a lot of attention and a lot of the
accolades that he's already received, his characters, I think the
main thing that stands out to me, and I think
a lot of people don't get an opportunity to be
around him, so they don't see that character. He's a
high character guy. He cares about everybody around him more
(06:28):
than himself. There's been times when coaches have come into
school and there's a particular school that he knows he's
not going to actually go play for, but he's out
there throwing because it gives his receivers and his teammates
an opportunity to be evaluated. So, you know, he's the
epitome of serving leadership what we model our team after,
and he's he does that on a daily basis. I
(06:49):
think that's why he's going to be, you know, so great,
not just in football, but beyond the game of football.
And you know, him him balancing, him getting the attention.
The one thing that doesn't change. It is work ethic.
I mean the kids up at five am doing zoom calls,
breaking down defense.
Speaker 5 (07:04):
He goes to school, he works out with us.
Speaker 6 (07:06):
After he works out at school, he goes and works
out another two times on his own. He'll go lift again.
And then he's out there throwing with his teammates. He's
organizing player led practices. He wants his team to be great,
and you knows, as good as his team is going
to be, it's going to make him be great as well.
And I think those are all the type of qualities
that you want in a quarterback, not just a high
(07:27):
school quarterback, but an NFL quarterback or a franchise quarterback
as well.
Speaker 3 (07:31):
Day Mack, I got a question for you, because it's
hard to ignore in the modern NIL days. So I've
seen a lot of players all across the landscape since
and ils come aboard, that they transfer, they continue to
get recruited, and then how do you make sure that
he's focused on carmel mondoline and not focused on it. Oh,
(07:52):
a team just called me, you know yesterday, or these
guys are still you know, have the recruiting pitch going.
How do you try to clear his head almost to
focus on Carmel onderline.
Speaker 6 (08:05):
Yeah, I think his parents have done a tremendous job
with keeping him level headed and making sure that he
understands like, hey, you know what these offers are, exactly
what they are. They can come and go based upon
what you do on a football field and what's on
your transcript. So I think, yes, you know, the attention
is going to be there because he's an elite level talent,
but he understands that it can come and go, and
(08:27):
that's what we try to do as a staff as well,
keep them levelhead and keep them hard working, and continue
having him understand that he has to be a multiplier
because he's in a position that calls for him to
be a leader, whether or not he wants to take
on that role or whether or not he wants to
take on that role or not, because when you're the quarterback,
you are the leader. You're one of the leaders of
the team, whether you want that responsibility ability or not.
Speaker 5 (08:48):
And he understands that. So I think he's you know,
his family, his circle has.
Speaker 6 (08:52):
Done a really good job of keeping him level headed
and understanding that hey, work, hard work wins, and without
that hard work and without you producing, all of those
things can be taken away from you within an instance.
Speaker 1 (09:03):
Yeah, this is an interesting angle to it all because
of what you just brought up, Tommy and Il. He's
already got NIA deals as a high school junior, probably
had him last year, probably entering high school. You know,
they got a great quarterback at Dylan Royola there at
Nebraska now, but you know, I think he's considered a
four star prospect.
Speaker 2 (09:22):
When both of you, Tommy, when you when's the.
Speaker 1 (09:25):
First visit you had from a coach not including your
brother and you walking through the living room with your
shirt up after lifting weights, U and J Max same
with you, And you know, could he develop this year
and next into a five star prospect? And now now
these schools could be sniffing back around.
Speaker 3 (09:41):
You know, for me, my brother piqued my interest in
wanting to be a college football player. And then having
so many college coaches come through our house because they
were recruiting my brother. You know, they didn't they weren't
recruiting me yet, And I think it would be different nowadays.
So you got a guy had a super successful and
my brother, and then all of a sudden you have
(10:02):
a younger brother coming up. It's almost like you're trying
to recruit two for.
Speaker 2 (10:07):
One and all.
Speaker 3 (10:09):
My goal was to try to walk around and and act,
you know, and try to impress the coaches that were
there for my own you know, want and desire.
Speaker 5 (10:20):
To be a football player.
Speaker 3 (10:21):
But it was really my brother inspired me as much
as any coach that came through the house.
Speaker 6 (10:27):
Yeah, I think for me, it was, you know, being
in an area that is a hot bed for high
school football talent. A lot of guys have gone on
to have successful college careers and have gone on to
the NFL and had Hall of Fame careers, you know,
those being INMMI Smith and Derrick Brooks two of the
guys in the Hall of Fame for my area now.
But it was it was seeing guys who in my
(10:49):
area go on to college and getting opportunities to play
college ball, and I wanted to be one of those guys.
So I knew as long as I was continuing to
try to outwork the competition and making sure that I
checked out of every box, that being my grades, my character,
to my work ethic, and then obviously my my game
tape and the way I played on Friday night, So
it was we had plenty of examples of guys that
(11:11):
kind of gave you the blueprint, you know, from Afar,
and you know, we were just guys that wanted to
have that opportunity and we're willing to do whatever whatever
it took to get there.
Speaker 3 (11:20):
You know, one thing, Jamack, between you and I is
you were a fullback, and fullback is a really unique
position in all of football, whether it's from your era
and nowadays, because you guys were asked to do a
lot of things and there's not a lot of guys
out there that are you know, are are growing to
be fullbacks. When you're an offensive lineman, you're talking about
being competitive in five different positions, and there's you know
(11:45):
a little bit different. So just the you know, the
whole idea of full back is And my brother was
a fullback too, and that's kind of why I'm saying that,
because it's such a different position and how you go
about being recruited, what the expations are for you, what
you're going to do to contribute, and all the different
things that goes along with that that position itself.
Speaker 6 (12:08):
Growing up in a military family, my father always taught
us it's you know, nothing's ever about you.
Speaker 5 (12:13):
It's about the team, and you know it's it's you always.
Speaker 6 (12:17):
It's not about You're not going to get all the praise,
and he didn't want to may have had a good
game or did something big on a Friday night. He
always wanted to remain level headed and just to be
you know, wanted just to continue to be hard working.
So I think growing up, you know, playing the full
back position, I looked up to a guy that played
in Notre Dame. Jerome Bettis was my favorite play I
looked up to him. He played fullback, and that's why
(12:39):
I started playing fullback. But I think he gave me
an opportunity to showcase a lot of my abilities. You know,
I was a strong player, so I got to go
in there and block, I got to run the ball,
I got to catch and stuff like that. And I
was never a guy that wanted to be, you know,
out in the limelight. I kind of wanted to be
in the background, and he gave me that opportunity to say, yes,
you were responsible for a lot of big plays, a
(13:00):
lot of big runs, for a lot of big explosive
you know catches downfield. Because you're in past protection, but
it also came an opportunity to be in the background,
and that's what I loved about it. So it was
definitely position for me, and you know, I wouldn't change
it for the world.
Speaker 1 (13:14):
We're brought to you by a PNC official Bank of
the Bears, Jim Mack. Do you feel pressure knowing you
have a blue chip player on your roster and you're
trying to get the most out of it. You'll be
linked to him forever one day when he's in the
Hall of Fame or you know, high school coach Jason McKeith,
former Chicago Bear, Super Bowl two thousand and six.
Speaker 5 (13:32):
The funny age. I don't feel no pressure, man.
Speaker 6 (13:33):
I think with the staff that I have in place,
we got a really good staff, guys who have a
lot of knowledge of the game, and unfortunately hav them
guys with me, those guys being only crups for Sheet
Davis and a lot of other coaches who have been
around high school football for a long time. But I
don't feel pressure, you know, I feel blessed to have
the opportunity to be able to mentor and coach him
and to help him achieve all his goals.
Speaker 5 (13:55):
And it's fun you know, he's a fun individual.
Speaker 6 (13:58):
His father's on our staff as well, one of the
hardest working guys on our staff. And it's good just
to have a collection of coaches right that that everything
is not just about them. It's all about the team,
and you have everybody on one accord pulling in the
same direction where you're going to get the most out
of it.
Speaker 5 (14:15):
And you know, I trust our process.
Speaker 6 (14:16):
Our process has worked, and you know, we have a
lot of good kids that are high character kids that
just happen to be good at football. So you know,
I'm excited and blessed be in a situation I am
as say, coach, there go.
Speaker 2 (14:27):
Ahead, time you're chopping at the bit.
Speaker 3 (14:29):
Well, no, I'm not chopping at the bit. I was
going to make a joke because we always talk about
if Joey a Catholic played Carmel Mondoline. You know, it
would be a fun story to talk about as that
game approaches. But I'm not so sure I want to
see this talented quarterback either in jolly at are up
at Mondo line?
Speaker 6 (14:48):
We well, you guys, We owe you guys one because
my first year, you guys came up and it was
during that spring COVID season, y'allhooked us pretty good. We
scored a lot of points, but obviously not enough to
beat you know, a powerhouse like you guys. So it's
it's it's so many great Catholic teams in the state
with high level coaches that have great traditions, and it's
(15:11):
just a great opportunity to be able to go out
there and compete every Friday night. It's like a playoff game.
And you know, it's just like I said, it's a
great situation to be in to be able to lead
young men and you know in the game of football,
you said, every Friday night against some of the great
teams in the state.
Speaker 3 (15:25):
You know, Jmax too, the whole family aspect of it,
because there's a lot of guys that you played with
the Bears that are on your coaching staff and the
father of the quarterback that's on your staff, and the
effort they give. And my nephew is on the coaching
staff at Jolia Catholic. My brother coaches the freshman program.
So it is a family affair when you're talking about
football and encouragement and sometimes you got to say something
(15:49):
critical to a player to get the best out of them,
and I think when you have that family, you know,
that kind of that family friendship around a coaching staff,
you have an opportunity to coach these guys hard.
Speaker 5 (16:05):
Yeah, most definitely.
Speaker 6 (16:05):
I think the biggest success that we've had as a
coaching staff and as a Caramel community is you know,
our students, but also our players know that we care
about them as people first and not just players. And
you know, being able to be around our players each
and every day, you got to know how you can
coach each individual because, as you know Tom, everybody's going
(16:27):
to respond to coaching differently. Some guys you can yell
at them, you get in their face and they'll respond.
Some guys you have to take more of a constructive
criticism type of approach. Really can't get in their face.
You got to kind of give them encouragement, but you
also got to discipline them without getting in their face
and they'll respond that way. So I think that our
coaching staff has done a really good job of getting
(16:48):
to know our guys people first, and our guys know
that we'll do anything we can for them, and vice versa,
they'll do whatever they can for us as coaches and
as a program.
Speaker 1 (16:57):
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(17:17):
And I mean twenty twenty five, I'll just say this
one last thing on this high school thing, Tom, I
think J. Mack would have fit perfectly in your Juliet
Catholic backfield, would you say that?
Speaker 2 (17:26):
To be fair?
Speaker 1 (17:27):
And he'd probably double as a linebacker because I wouldn't
want to be hit by Mack.
Speaker 5 (17:32):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (17:32):
You know, a fullback very unique breed. It's like offensive lineman.
Once you're born, you know exactly what position they're played
for the rest of your life. When J Mack, whenever
you're a full back, you know exactly what you're built
and bred for. And I think when you look at
fullbacks across the board over a period of time, and
that's interesting because of weeks ago when We had a
conversation with Roland Harper. Here's a guy that got drafted
(17:54):
in the same draft as Walter Payton, and then he
morphed into that full back, had a super successful NFL
career and maybe doesn't look like the prototypical full back
when you think of some of the fullbacks of that era,
but he flourished at it and he had a great
career and did great things for Walter Payton as well.
Speaker 1 (18:14):
I'm not thinking the Bears are going to have a
fullback on the roster in twenty twenty five, but somebody
could slip into that backfield in a role for this
head coach Ben Johnson.
Speaker 2 (18:25):
Let's slip into the Bears now.
Speaker 1 (18:27):
And I'm just gonna ask you both because you've had
plenty of time to think about. Tom just got back
from from Hawaii, so welcome back. You'll be back up
at Hallis Hall this week. What has peaked your curiosities, respectively.
We'll start with j Mack about what's transpired to this point.
Speaker 6 (18:43):
I think the main thing is, you know, I'll be
there tomorrow watching OT's I'm just excited to see, you know,
the changes in terms of how they practice in the
temple they practice at and the level of accountability that
the coaches hold these individuals to at practice. And you
know one thing that I that I you know, I've
been listening to the press conferences, and man for man,
(19:03):
all those press conferences, the main thing that I hear
each and every one of them talk about is the
attention to detail, right.
Speaker 5 (19:09):
And you know, I heard Joe Tooney speaking.
Speaker 6 (19:12):
One thing that stood out to me that he said
is he said, you know, everybody's you know, pulling in
the same direction. Everybody's on the same page. And he said,
it's what I'm used to, right. And we know Joe
Toney has been around, you know, the great New England
Patriots team, He's been around the Kansas City Chiefs team,
teams that have had high levels of success when he
was there, and he says, it's what I'm used to.
(19:32):
So it piques my curiosity to see, hey, you know what,
I guess things are trending in the right direction. When
you have a guy that's been around elite level organizations.
He's starting to see that transpire up there at the
Hollas off So I'm just excited to see how Ben
Thompson is putting this team together with the coaches and
how the players are actually responding to it in a
practice environment.
Speaker 3 (19:52):
You know, for me, I like everything Dennis Allen has
said about what his philosophical approaches to an attacking style defense,
and I I want to see him to be able
to use all three levels of the defense. But the
thing that I'm excited to see is I don't think
the offense is ever gonna get stale. It's not going
to be repeating the same plays week in and week out.
There's gonna be something up Ben Johnson's sleeve that whether
(20:15):
he gonna throw a pass to an offensive tackle, you're
gonna have six offensive linemen at the line of scrimmage.
You're gonna have a stumblebum play that you know teams.
Speaker 2 (20:24):
Aren't aware of.
Speaker 3 (20:25):
You're going to see the creativity and the athleticism of
a guy like Caleb Williams kind of morph from the
drawing board of Ben Johnson into the offensive backfield. So
I think there's gonna be a player two week in
and week out, either they're going to practice and maybe
use down the road, or just that is gonna, you know,
(20:46):
be an exciting opportunity for Ben being a head coach
to make a call like that, that's just not gonna
be a stale offense. There's always going to be something
new and exciting to look forward to.
Speaker 5 (20:56):
You know.
Speaker 1 (20:56):
It peaks my curiosity, as is the two tight ends because.
Speaker 2 (21:00):
Both are talented.
Speaker 1 (21:02):
So I don't know that he's had too talented tight
ends like that in the same offense. So his creativity
is it's going to be crazy not to mention those
three wide receivers in the back. So I think there's
plenty of weapons to be as manipulative of a defense
as you can possibly get and have answers to all
the questions. Would that be fair?
Speaker 5 (21:22):
Yeah, without a doubt.
Speaker 6 (21:22):
I think when you have a creative mind like Ben Johnson, right,
I think you had to get like Thomas talking about
the trick plays, and I was told every great coordinator
and every great coach you want to run at least
one trick play. Perhaps, so that means we could get
possibly two trick plays here in Chicago per game, which
would be exciting. But I think when you have a
guy that understands how to build an offense but also
(21:45):
how to layer your offensive play so you know, see
a base one, you will see some base run game
or some base formations, right, But you'll see each one
of those plays informations layered.
Speaker 5 (21:56):
Right.
Speaker 6 (21:56):
So if you're running power, you see you'll see power,
You'll see a verse out of power. You see a
screen out of power, and it looks like the same formation, right,
but it's a different play. And what that brings about
is the illusion of complexity. Right. It looks complex to
the defense, but it's simple for the offense to be
able to run it and be able to execute at
a high level. So I'm just excited to see you
(22:18):
know how you know, coach Johnson builds this offense with
the weapons that he has, and like you mentioned, Jeff
with the new tight end that he has, you know,
bringing in coach and Lovelin affirm with co comet. I
mean there's this inless amount of possibilities in terms of
what he can bring about in being creative in this offense.
Speaker 1 (22:35):
Tom, when you were scouting the Lions these years with
Ben Johnson as the offensive coordinator and you break down
a ton of tape, what about it was intriguing to
you that would be challenging for a defense a day
in and day out. I mean the Bears did pretty
well overall against the Lions, made him work for every win.
Speaker 2 (22:55):
But what did you what did you feel?
Speaker 3 (22:56):
You know, they they had a tight end come aboard
a couple years ago and he was immediately successful. But
more of the success of Aman Ross Saint Brown. He's
the type of guy when Ben Johnson the first time
he was at the podium, and we bring it up
all the time, talking about not yards after catch, but
run after catch. And I think when you look at
this group of receivers from the backfield to the tight
(23:18):
end to the wide receiver position, if they can get
that connection of timing with Caleb and the receivers, and
you talk about play action passing, if they can put
it into the hands of these receivers on the move
and they have the advantage against the defensive back or
linebacker whomever's covering them, you're talking about some significantly explosive plays.
(23:42):
And so that's what I'm mixed. I want to see
is the explosion that this offense has the capability of being.
Speaker 1 (23:49):
Yeah, j Mack, he said, hey, he loves explosive plays.
So that I mean, Tom, you hit it a nail
and a head. I don't think we've really dwelled on
this too much. The yard after catch, run after catch
could be explosively big. It could be as you said,
the timing, the timing of plays, the reps that they
get timing these plays, whether it be the screen game,
(24:11):
whether it be just quick throws, whether it be swings
out of the backfield, whatever the case may be. It
could be monster Jmax could be monster.
Speaker 5 (24:19):
Yeah, it'll be exciting.
Speaker 6 (24:20):
And you know what we've seen from him during this
time in Detroit that he always finds the weakness and
takes advantage of the defense right, but he also does
a great job of getting its playmakers skimming them up
in space right to create.
Speaker 5 (24:34):
Those explosive plays.
Speaker 6 (24:35):
So when you talk about Ama Ross Saint Brown right,
him being able to move him all over the field
and get the ball to him and use his speed
and his ability to run atter the catch in space.
Speaker 5 (24:44):
I think that.
Speaker 6 (24:45):
That's the creativity and that's where you know, we salivate
over the possibilities of this offense and Ben Johnson at
the Helm because we know that's something that he's going
to bring here in Chicago, and now he.
Speaker 5 (24:56):
Has a lot of the weapons to do it. So
I think it'll be really exciting.
Speaker 6 (25:00):
We're not going to see a stale and old traditional
Bears offense where he just running the ball, you know,
can play drive and any of.
Speaker 5 (25:06):
Those players are runs.
Speaker 6 (25:07):
We're going to see some big explosive plays, especially you know,
with Caleb Williams this second year at the Helm as well,
new system, but now is the second year NFL, so
I think he's going to take another step as well.
Speaker 3 (25:18):
Tom.
Speaker 2 (25:18):
You're big on these things.
Speaker 1 (25:20):
You make these statements before a game, keys the game whatever,
how many yards rushing would suit you this year for
Caleb Williams picking up first downs with his feet, because
the defense is going to be so entangled with all
those weapons, because a running quarterback, as we've seen, there's
a lot of damage. And you're talking about teams that
have five hundred rushing attempts. All four last year went
(25:42):
to the playoffs. Obviously, I don't want Caleb running a bunch, But.
Speaker 3 (25:46):
What would be what would be good for you? Give
me five hundred officient yard.
Speaker 1 (25:50):
I was going to say the same thing, you know,
just because I said no, I was thinking five hundred.
Speaker 3 (25:57):
So, Jeff, he was sacked sixty eight times last year.
If you can give me five hundred efficient rushing yards
and all of a sudden he's rushing away from a
sack that maybe leads to a first down. And I'm
not looking for him to do heroic things running the
ball at the court at the quarterback. I want to
see him throw it. But if he has five hundred
(26:19):
well timed out rushing yards, I think it could benefit
the offense.
Speaker 1 (26:23):
Jmix notting an approval but not saying anything.
Speaker 5 (26:26):
What do you got?
Speaker 2 (26:27):
Would you feel the same way?
Speaker 5 (26:28):
Back? Keyword? Right? Tom said efficient? Right? And he made
a good point. Right.
Speaker 6 (26:34):
We don't want Caleb running quarterback power. I don't want Caleb,
you know, taking the necessary hits and stuff like that.
I want him to be able to run when there's
opportunity to run and extend drives and you know, and
get first downs. But you know, if it's a read,
if they're running red zone by the quarterback and he
actually pulls that ball and he gets around the end,
I want him to be smart and slide, you know,
I want them to get out of bounds. But you know,
(26:54):
he does have that ability we saw last year to
be able to run the football and that's great, big plays,
but is he's got to do it in an efficient
smart way because you know we want to have him
under center for the entire season.
Speaker 2 (27:06):
Yeah, for sure, Hey Bears.
Speaker 1 (27:07):
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gave you ate a late warning, give me five guys
of intrigue during training camp for you. So I'll throw
(27:30):
my names in there as well. But I don't know
who wants to start, But let's give some quick snippets
in the matter of time. But who give me five
guys that intrigue you in training camp. Will start with
with T squared all right?
Speaker 5 (27:41):
Okay?
Speaker 3 (27:42):
So number one Roma dunes A because he's picking up
from where a veteran left off. This is a new offense,
and I think that you what do these coaches They
learn more about him, the more they like him, and
the more what he's capable of. Number two Cole Kmet,
the most underutilized offensive weapon they had on this football
team last year. I would look for him to double
(28:06):
his catches from last year to this year.
Speaker 2 (28:10):
And then Dexter Senior.
Speaker 3 (28:12):
He's got to be that guy that takes such an
enormous step forward. And I know they got Grady and Oday,
but I want to see him have the type of
season that's expected out of him in you know, in
what he's able to accomplish in Tyreek Stevenson. I need
(28:33):
to see him have that kind of year that puts
him in that upper echelon of cornerbacks to be a
part of this man coverage system of Dennis Allen. He's
got to be a key ingredient. And then Jonah Jackson
more because he had some injuries last year, but Ben
(28:53):
knows a little bit about him. He's probably moving to
a more comfortable position in playing right guard. And everybody
knows what Tuney is capable of and the rest of
the offensive line. But if Jonah Jackson has a healthy
year next to Darnell, right to me, those five guys there,
their success and their arrow pointed upwards essential.
Speaker 2 (29:15):
All right? J mack TJF Yeah.
Speaker 6 (29:18):
I think you know the one one guy that intrigues
me is saf Fraser. The rookie that they drafted on them.
He's six three hundred and eighty six pounds, and I
think when you're running man coverage, when you have a
cornerback that has the length and the speed that he has,
I think he can make some noise and he can
excel in this type of scheme. And he's a guy that's,
you know, he started off as Southern Illinois. He went
to junior college at Coffeeville and then the University of
(29:39):
Texas San Antonio. A guy that's you know, that's put
in his work and ended up being a fifth round
draft pick because of his work. And you have those
guys that are under the radar and that come into
camp with a chip on his shoulder, A guy like
myself who understands that.
Speaker 2 (29:52):
A guy like Al Harris coaching him, Yeah, a.
Speaker 5 (29:55):
Guy like got har Is. Yeah, I think you're going
to get the best out of them.
Speaker 6 (29:57):
So I'm excited to see if he can car battle
role for himself in that defense because he does have
the measurables that can allow him to do so. And
let's hope his play can back it up. I'm another
guy I'm gonna go to the backfoot, of course, and
kyl M Manong guy, the rook at they drafted out
of Rutgers.
Speaker 5 (30:12):
I think, you know DeAndre Swift will be the lead back.
Speaker 6 (30:15):
But when you look at what Ben Johnson's done, and
Detroit has always had two guys, And who's gonna be
that other guy that that Robin to DeAndre Swifty and
Batman in that back from who's gonna be there's gonna
be Roachhawk. Can Kyam Manong guy challenge Roshan for more
carries and stuff like that? So it's gonna mirrors and
see how that plays out.
Speaker 1 (30:32):
Hey, can I stop you right there because I don't
know if you know this, but Temple owens six against
Rutgers in their history, and Manung guy went for one
sixty five against you in the twenty twenty three.
Speaker 5 (30:45):
Not in the history. No, and maybe in his history,
not when I was not when we were there.
Speaker 2 (30:50):
Well, I just I just looked it up. Rutgers versus
Temple six and zero Rutgers.
Speaker 5 (30:54):
That's not all time.
Speaker 2 (30:56):
That's what it said. That's what it said.
Speaker 5 (30:58):
No, we gotta get we got I'm gonna call right
now to get the fact done. I'll let him get
the fact streak.
Speaker 2 (31:03):
I did a quick search. I did a quick search.
Go ahead, I don't mean to interrupt your flow. Go ahead.
Speaker 6 (31:08):
And then, you know, looking at Karana Magaji, I think
you know, he didn't get any training camp time last
year because of the injury, and then we saw what
he did last year when he was in the starting lineup,
being just thrown out there to the wolves, so to speak.
It'll be good to see how he, you know, embeds
himself in that competition. You know what the ricket that
they brought in from from Boston College and stuff like that.
(31:30):
In Braxton Jones trying to get healthy and come back
from his injury. Let's see what, you know, how Karan
steps up to the competition or to that ballat that
he's going to face through our training camp.
Speaker 5 (31:41):
Another guy who I've had.
Speaker 6 (31:42):
An opportunity to see work out along with a lot
of the other defensive linemen who came to our school
and worked out a couple of weeks ago, is Daniel Hardy,
a guy who made made a case for himself in
training camp last year, earned a spot on the roster,
was a big contributor to special teams.
Speaker 5 (31:56):
But if I'm not mistaken, I heard they may even
try him that lineback a little.
Speaker 2 (32:00):
Yeah, they're looking at him.
Speaker 1 (32:01):
And I'll tell you of any player this year that
I saw so far in the OTAs. I mean, his
body was rocked up a now. It's really he looks
like a turbo charged boulder.
Speaker 2 (32:14):
He looks good.
Speaker 5 (32:17):
Yeah he did.
Speaker 6 (32:17):
And even when they came and worked out, he was
the guy that really stood out to me. And Javon
was there, Austin Booker was there, Dominque Robinson was there,
and I was like wow.
Speaker 5 (32:26):
I was like, Daniel, you know, you look good. You
put in the work.
Speaker 6 (32:29):
So I'm excited by him. I'll be tuned in for that.
And the fifth one is it's more of a not
necessarily a player. It's it's who's going to really step
up and really take that leadership role right on the
defensive side of the ball.
Speaker 5 (32:40):
Who is it going to be.
Speaker 6 (32:41):
It's going to be Montest Sweat, Is Jared Grady? Jared
going to take that responsibility? Is Jalen John's going to
take that responsibility as a vocal leader And the guy
that's going to lead by example on that side of
the ball and on offense, you know.
Speaker 5 (32:53):
Is it Joe Toney? Is it Caleb wims right.
Speaker 6 (32:55):
We know Joe Toney has been around greatness and he
said it's starting to look like that and that's what
he's used to. Well, how is he going to take
that step in terms of leadership? Who's going to be
the leader on the offensive side of the ball. So
that was that was my fish, my fence thing to
watching training game.
Speaker 2 (33:10):
Good stuff, good news.
Speaker 1 (33:11):
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the bells and whistles, like Bluetooth connectivity screens at every
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fly the Chicago Bears and you too, all right here
mine mine are more chalky.
Speaker 5 (33:24):
You know.
Speaker 1 (33:25):
Tom went for the big names. J Mack went for
for guys to see if they're going to take that
next step. I'm looking out of the gate at a
guy that I love as a player, the deployable as
I always say, Jaquan Brisker. With this defensive coordinator Dennis Allen,
how he brings his level up to a return that
(33:46):
makes an impact down the defense. So I'm looking at
Jaquan Brisker because when he's right, he's always around the
football and he's making a lot of noise.
Speaker 2 (33:53):
He's blitz a ble.
Speaker 1 (33:54):
I think he'd fit perfectly into the kind of pressure
system that this is this is going to be and
mont test sweat.
Speaker 2 (34:00):
You touched on him.
Speaker 1 (34:01):
He's the big paid guy on the defense, and I
would like to see Montes what dominate and see him
really make that defensive line nasty force double teams that
make everybody else have to then take advantage of that opportunity.
I'm gonna mention Manong guy because man, he he is
a back that's intriguing Dick. I just like his mindset.
(34:24):
He's not thinking about anything other than what's ahead of him,
not what he's come from. But that's a guy that
can run a little angry and he's gonna be a
weapon in short yardage. I really feel that I'm gonna
throw Roshan in there too, because I have high expectations
for Roshan Johnson. I want to see where he's at
physically and what he can bring to the table. As
(34:45):
as you said, J Mack, the one two punch is
what this head coach likes. And then I'm gonna go
to Drew Dolman at center because you know when I
interviewed him when he first got here, and it's been
said many times, and Tom knows this better than all
of us, is he's got to see the game through
the eyes of the quarterback and the head coach, and
he is going to be extremely invaluable to what he
(35:09):
can take off the plate of Caleb Williams and protections
and all that comes with playing center in the National
Football League and off an injured season where where he
can play a full seventeen game season for the Bears,
and and things will be clicking offensively.
Speaker 2 (35:22):
So those are my five.
Speaker 1 (35:23):
We didn't we didn't We didn't share a lot of names,
which is which is what this is awesome. Got ninety
guys reporting a training camp, so it should be a
lot of fun. We're brought to you by a PNC
official bank of the Bears. Tom, what do you think
of all that? I mean we could even mention guys
that like Schamart Turner, how he fits in with Grady,
(35:44):
Jared and Danngbo, And I mean there's a lot to watch.
Our eyes are gonna be diverted all over that practice
field in training camp.
Speaker 3 (35:52):
Well, next topic, I met you and j Mack to
discuss not now when we have some time to phillosoph
thinking of fourth down calls by Ben Johnson, because a
lot of that was attributed to Dan Campbell when he
wanted to go for it or not. How is he
going to carry that torch with him as a coach. No,
(36:12):
I don't want to discuss it now, but let's all
think about it.
Speaker 1 (36:15):
We shall until we meet again. But Jack, thank you
for joining us. Really appreciate it. Be looking forward to
seeing a heck of a lot more of you as
you balance your high school head coaching responsibilities, doing great
things for these young men, and then joining us on
our broadcast. It's going to be a great sea. I
think it's going to be a fun season. Twenty twenty five.
I like these nice solid number twenty twenty five. Let's go,
(36:38):
let's go, Let's get it going.
Speaker 2 (36:39):
Thanks j.
Speaker 1 (36:40):
Mac, appreciate you, buddy, Thanks for listening. Everybody, please subscribe
now the Chicago Bear's official app, Apple, Spotify.
Speaker 2 (36:46):
YouTube, or wherever you get your podcast.
Speaker 1 (36:48):
Spear down, everybody, as usial first Students,