July 21, 2025 • 47 mins
The Chicago Bears will start their first training camp under new head coach Ben Johnson this week. Shaw Local's Michal Dwojak and Joe Aguilar preview camp and the major storylines they're looking at over the next six weeks.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:01):
Hello, and welcome to the latest episode of the Bears
Insider Podcast. I am Michael Duo Jack here with Shaw
Locals and the Northwest Herrow's Joe Aguilar. It's been a
little bit here. We obviously had a little summer break,
but we are ready for Bears football. We've got training
camp getting started here in the next couple of days.
(00:25):
Rookies and quarterbacks reported on Saturday, We've got the veterans
reporting tomorrow. On Tuesday, we'll hear from Bears General manager
Ryan Poles and head coach Ben Johnson on Tuesday, and
then things get started on Wednesday. Obviously, we'll do a
couple you know, we'll do a couple easy days to
get just to kind of get started with training camp.
(00:45):
But Joe, you know, it's been a long it's been
a long off season. It's been a lot of a
lot of stuff has happened this offseason. But we're getting
closer and closer to that, to that football season starting,
and that's going to happen this week.
Speaker 2 (00:59):
Yes, it's time, right, I mean, you know it's going
to be here before we know it. Opening David, what
the Hall of Fame game is is first not for
the Bears this year. But everyone's excited about the Bears
and excited to see what this new look team with
Ben Johnson looks like.
Speaker 1 (01:15):
It should be a lot of fun. There's countless storylines there.
There's so many different things to talk about, and we'll
obviously talk about it here. We're just going to preview
what we're looking forward to this upcoming training camp. There's
obviously a lot of storylines, a lot of things that
we're we're looking at some things that I wanted to
talk about before we kind of get started here, some
(01:37):
surprising news and some interesting stuff. All the Bears rookies
have been finally signed. All their second round picks signed
over the weekend officially, and that obviously was a big
deal just because you know, a majority of the second
round picks weren't signed yet heading into a lot of
training camps. That's obviously, you know, I think had to
do a lot with a lot of players maybe taking
(01:59):
a stand and hopefully those second round picks can turn
to guaranteed money. Obviously, Luther Burden the third got that
guaranteed deal for the first couple of years. Ozzie Trapillo
and Shamar Turner both also signed. You know, Joe, obviously,
we it wouldn't be the end of the world if
you didn't have some of the rookies maybe show up
at the first couple of days of practice, but especially
(02:19):
for rookies, you don't you don't want them to miss
any time, especially if you're trying to get used to
a new style and new coaching staff and that sort
of stuff. So it was good for the Bears to
kind of have everyone in tow like everyone should be
there once training camp, then the gets gets started here.
Speaker 2 (02:36):
Yeah, and especially for those top picks, you know, the
three second rounders, because you figure if not of a
margat start that you all probably should have a lot
of playing time and a big impact on the twenty
twenty five team. So you got to get those guys
up and ready to go. You know day one that
every coach in e lague talks about how important every
(02:57):
game is, every practices, and with the reps and the Bears,
you know, look there, we know the past struggles. So
they got to get going here early, and those guys
need to be in camp. They are, and then they
need to see the first rounder too to see where
he's at with his shoulder. Coaston Lovelin and is he
(03:18):
up and ready to go? Because it's it's not you know,
it's not a holdout, but it's the same. You're you're
not playing and you're not on the field. So we'll
we'll find out here in the next few days.
Speaker 1 (03:26):
Yeah, I think that'll be one of the major storylines
we'll be looking at right like, we're gonna see, is
Colston Lovelin, you know, good to go? Is he one
hundred percent? Is Luther Burden one hundred percent? Is Braxton Jones?
What is his availability going to be because that's going
to be obviously a major major position battle left tackle,
So it should be really interesting to watch who's going
(03:47):
to be available when uh, you know, when they're going
to be able to play, you know, talking about injuries
that this kind of caught some people by surprise me too.
Speaker 3 (03:55):
On Saturday, the Bears are released, they're uh, the following.
Speaker 1 (03:59):
Players around the active non football injury you know, the puplist,
you know, wide receiver Johnny Walker is there, uh, running
back Ian Wheeler, and then you had quarterback case Keenum
and obviously corner back Jalen Johnson O.
Speaker 3 (04:16):
Case Keenum is he was cleared yesterday so he should
be good to go for training camp.
Speaker 1 (04:20):
But that Jalen Johnson thing kind of surprised me.
Speaker 3 (04:24):
I don't think I did.
Speaker 1 (04:25):
You know, obviously Jalen was there for part of you know,
the off season program. He was there for some of
the ot as, he was there for some of the
uh you know, the uh the some of the mini camp,
but he obviously wasn't there for all. But he had
some excused absences from the new coaching staff. But that'll
be really interesting to see and we'll hear more from
Ryan Poles and Ben Johnson tomorrow about what that is.
(04:47):
But you really hope that that's nothing, nothing serious, hopefully,
you know.
Speaker 3 (04:51):
I don't.
Speaker 1 (04:52):
I wouldn't imagine it's contract related. Obviously he got his
new contract a couple of years ago. I wouldn't imagine
that that's a good way to start your start things
off with the new coaching staff by not coming to
your first training camp over a contract, don't. I don't
think that's the case. But you're really hoping that things
are looking good for for Jalen Johnson because I mean,
he's he's critically important to that secondary working right Like
(05:15):
he's obviously proved that he's one of the best quarterbacks
in the in the NFL, and you need him to
be out there in order for this defense, especially for
the secondary, to reach its full potential.
Speaker 2 (05:26):
Yeah, I mean he's your best player, right. I mean,
by the end of the season, you hope the quarterback
is your best player, and he might be right now,
but we got to see that first with Caleb Williams.
But Jalen Johnson is your best football player, and he's
at a critical position. Right. If you're talking about the
top positions in football, quarterback, left tackle, rush, edge, then
it's probably corner and you need that guy. And we
(05:47):
know how good he is, and they got to get
him on the field. I don't know, you know, it's
not like he's a rookie and he's got to learn everything.
But they do have a new decordinator. But get him healthy,
get him right physically mentally. If there's anything going on
with I can't believe there would be, But he's obviously
a critical part, not like the defense, the entire football team.
Speaker 1 (06:07):
Yeah, he's going to be really important for what they
want to do. I mean, I can't you know, I
can't understate it enough. Obviously, that's a very talented group.
I would probably say the secondary, you know, is probably
your most deep position on the team, but you still
want your leader to be out there and to be
competing at a high level. So we'll get more information
about that from Ryan Poles and Ben Johnson tomorrow on Tuesday.
(06:29):
See if that's something serious or see if that's, you know,
just something that kind of happened during the offseason. And
he should be fine eventually once we get kind of
rolling here in training camp. But like I said, training
camp officially starts on Wednesday with the Bears first practice.
Veterans are showing up on Tuesday. They're doing this all
at Hall's Hall. Obviously, they're going to be two joint
(06:49):
practices with the Miami Dolphins and the Buffalo Bills throughout
the training camp, which will be really interesting. I think
those will be some of the major moments. We'll see
a lot of good stuff. But Joe, let's talk about
the major storylines we're looking forward to in training camp.
And I think you know number one is very obvious,
right It starts with number one, Caleb Bull. You know,
(07:10):
with the quarterback, the number one quarterback, Kayleb Williams. How
does he look with Ben Johnson, what is that kind
of looking like? You know, in the off season, we
had a lot of moments where it was like, you know,
the the huddle call maybe didn't look the right way, right,
like or Ben Johnson stopped to play because everyone was
still figuring things out. And that's what you expected, right,
(07:31):
It's the off season program with the new head coach,
Like you're just learning the playbook, You're.
Speaker 3 (07:35):
Learning how Ben Johnson wants to do stuff.
Speaker 1 (07:38):
I think all that is fine, But what do you
think as we kind of get started here, what do
you think fans who get a chance to go to
training camp during these games, what should they be looking
for once we kind of get started here From Caleb Williams.
I know obviously it's you know, you want to see
eighty yard passes, you want to see sick plays. But
(07:58):
what do you feel like, is like realistic growth that
Caleb can show over these next six weeks? Kind of
have you feel more encouraged that he's going to be
ready once the season starts.
Speaker 2 (08:08):
Well, I think tempo number one. I'd like to see
them just break a huddle, get lined up right, get
everyone in position, and snap the football. No fallse starts,
no guys out a position, no chaos. You know, you'll
have some of that, right that's why it's training camp.
But you just need to see a little more, I
don't know, a little tightening up of everything. You want
to see an offense that looks confident when they break
(08:30):
the huddle and get everybody in place and let's see again.
You know, the sixty yar pass downfield is the sexy
player and one likes to see that, but just simple execution,
you know, can we walk before we run? And we
don't know right now? You know, everyone's kind of you know,
I think I speak for a lot of people out
of Bears fans. You're you're a little cynical, you're you know,
(08:52):
because we're used to being excited and then disappointed and
normally disappointed by game three, and we just want to
see a little more consistency, a team that looks like
a confident football team. And I know you're not going
to necessarily necessarily see that in the third week of July,
but by the by the time it's time to you know,
for opening nights against the Vikings, we got to see
(09:16):
a team that just looks like it's confident and it
knows what it's doing. Whether you're not gonna execute on
every play, but we just need to see a professional
looking offense because it's been a while.
Speaker 3 (09:28):
Yeah, I would agree with you there.
Speaker 1 (09:29):
I think that's the biggest thing, right, Like you want
everything to looke look as smooth as possible as the
weeks kind of look by. You don't want to see.
You don't want to see the miscommunication with the offensive line.
You don't want to see the miscommunication between the play
caller and the quarterback. Like you want everyone to be
on top, you know, on the same page as much
as possible.
Speaker 3 (09:48):
Like, are there gonna be mistakes? Yes, there's gonna be
so many mistakes.
Speaker 1 (09:51):
There's gonna be a lot of probably overreactions over the
next six weeks.
Speaker 3 (09:54):
You're gonna see a clip.
Speaker 1 (09:55):
I'm sure on on on social media about maybe this
play didn't look too well or whatever.
Speaker 3 (10:00):
And that's fine, that's what training camp is for.
Speaker 1 (10:02):
But I agree, I think the biggest thing is for
the Bears and for Caleb Williams right now is does
he have the play call down? Does he does he
know what the plays are, how what he can shift with?
Is he comfortable and building a rapport with his wide
receivers like those are important things. Like the I think
the big plays and the cool plays like that's all
going to happen throughout the weeks and even through that.
(10:23):
Like I think we've seen over the past few years
at this point that September is basically a month where.
Speaker 3 (10:29):
Teams are figuring everything out.
Speaker 1 (10:31):
Like I don't think you you you know, you can
put yourself in the whole in September, But I do
think a lot of the times, for how long the
NFL season is now, I think September is just a
time where you just kind of figure things out, you're
learning stuff, and then cow October you're you're just get
You're just going and you're trying to figure it. You know,
you're you're really taking it to another level at that point.
So yeah, I think the biggest thing for them at
(10:52):
this point is does Caleb look like he understands the offense?
Has he mastered it? Does he know all the play calls?
Does he know how he's supposed to move in certain situations?
Does he know does it does it just look natural
and smooth? Right, Like, if it looks natural and smooth,
he can miss the pass.
Speaker 3 (11:09):
I think that's fine, but if if I would much
rather have that.
Speaker 1 (11:13):
Then he it doesn't look smooth coming out of the huddle.
Everyone's disjointed, but then he like somehow scrambles and makes
like a fifty yard pass. I don't think that's how
you're gonna win games, and that's how you're gonna see
growth from Caleb. So I think everything just needs to
look smooth at this point, and I think that's going
to take time.
Speaker 3 (11:30):
And I think that's.
Speaker 1 (11:31):
The biggest thing for for Caleb and for Ben Johnson
at this point, because he's doing this whole thing for
the first time too as a head coach and a
play caller at the same time. So I think the
operation just needs to look look better. And I think
if it does look better throughout the weeks, I think that.
Speaker 3 (11:44):
Should have Bears fans encouraged. Yes, what, uh, Joe?
Speaker 1 (11:49):
What from Ben Johnson? I mean, just what do you
kind of feel like you need to look for him
at this point? I know, you know it's hard. He's
a first time head coach. He's he's gone through the
process of running practices and that sort of stuff. But
is there something that you're kind of looking for like
the Ben Johnson effect that everyone has kind of talked
about over over the off season, or you know, what
(12:09):
are you looking for for Ben during this training camp?
Speaker 2 (12:14):
It's a good question. To me. It's just I want
to see a football team that looks like it's uh,
it's an efficient football team, not only on offense because
that's Brett, that's Ben Jonson's bread and butter, but defensively too.
And you know, you know, we don't need him to
be Ditka and chewing the gum and you know, waving
(12:35):
his arms and being crazy and showing the fashioning Chicago.
We don't need to necessarily they see that. We don't
need to necessarily see Matt Everfles. Let him be his
own guy. Let's just see a team that looks like
a professional football team. Uh. And that's what I want
to see because they're gonna be you know, bad plays
on offense, bad plays on defense. There's gonna be injuries.
(12:56):
Hopefully there's no drama, you know, you know that kind
of thing, because that happens certainly in NFL camps, But
none of that. I just want to see a team
that's on board, ready to win, and a team that
show that can show early on that it's coachable. We're
seeing the same mess ups pre snap, you know, penalties
(13:17):
or movement and listen, unorganized. I don't think we're gonna
see that, but I think that's what I want to see.
And then you know, come game time, they have to execute.
And I know what you're saying about. You know, you
know October is when the time you got to get
it rolling. Go on September you're trying to feel get
a feel for what you have on both sides of
the ball. But for the Bears, I do think the
(13:39):
start to the season is critical because this fan base
is so itchy and twitchy and just you know, starving
to see good football on both sides, but especially offensively.
And I just think they can't get out of the
gate here one in three. You know, they can't lay
an egg on Monday Night and lose to a quarterback
(14:01):
we assume, and JJ McCarthy is gonna be making his
National Football League debut, we can't see them. We need
to see a good opening night performance. You don't have
to be three and one after four weeks, but we
need to see a team that like, wow, yeah, this
is different this year. We thought maybe last year was
going to be different, right with the rookie quarterback. We
don't have to rehash all that again. But I just
want to see a good start, and not only a
(14:24):
good start to the season, but a good start to
training camp, because that's where it starts.
Speaker 3 (14:27):
Yeah, I would definitely agree with you.
Speaker 1 (14:29):
I think that's you know, I wanted to look better
than it did in the past, and I think, you know,
with training camp. I one of the biggest problems I
kind of had with Matt Eberflus is it felt like
they I want to say this, and I don't want
to say that they took training camp off. They obviously
worked hard, they obviously did a lot of stuff, but
I feel like a lot of the times you had
(14:51):
guys on one day and then off one day, like
I think maybe we kind of went too far into
I feel like, you know, the NFL has been in
this you know in between right now, where they're trying
to be like, well, I don't want to like overwork
my player and get them injured in training camp and
then they're not ready for the season, and then they're
just not going to be healthy for an entire seventeen
game year. Like I understand that logic, but I think
(15:12):
with Eberflus it kind of went a little bit too
much in the other direction where we're not building callouses,
like we're not kind of getting into football shape at
this point. And I think you got to get into
football shape. Like I think you can have great conditioning.
I think you can have a lot of you know,
you can be in great shape, you can bench press
a lot, you can be fast and that sort of stuff,
but you got to get into football shape, right, like
(15:32):
you need to get hit, Like you need to figure out,
all right, how am I going to feel after I
get hit? Like this, Like what am I gonna do?
How is my body re recovering from all this different stuff?
Like you got to get your body ready to play
a seventeen game NFL season. So I think that's the
biggest thing for me with Ben Jonson is you know,
I think he's gonna bring accountability. We've seen that during
(15:52):
the offseason. I think he's gonna hold players accountable all
that stuff. I want to see them actually practice, and
I want to see them actually like build up for
an NFL season, and I want to see guys be there.
Speaker 3 (16:02):
Obviously if they're injured.
Speaker 1 (16:03):
If there's like a risk of like you know, having
you know, having an injury, maybe become a little bit
worse if you practice, Like obviously you don't want to
test it, you don't want to put a player in,
you know, in any risk toward injuring it any further.
But if a guy is just a little bit sore,
maybe just like getting used to football shape, like you've
got to go out there and kind of build towards.
So I'm really interested in that and what the practices
(16:25):
are going to look like, Like are these going to
be physical battles in the trenches? How much is Ben
Johnson gonna let guys go? What is the response if
you know, in an in the August heat, you know,
tempers flare and you know, if there are punches throw
and if there's some pushing and shoving like all that
is going to be so interesting to me and how
Ben Johnson kind of handles that, because I feel like
that's gonna tell you a lot about the kind of
(16:45):
football team we're going to.
Speaker 3 (16:46):
Have this year.
Speaker 1 (16:47):
So I think that's going to be so important just
to kind of see how Ben Johnson runs his practices,
how you know, how hard are they going to go
and how how tough is he going to be on
in certain instances?
Speaker 2 (17:00):
Yeah, I agree, And I want to see a team
that looks very organized on both sides of the ball
to here, and I think, and we'll see, you know,
he's he's gonna get frustrated. Is he gonna be uh,
you know, calm and understanding or we've already seen some
of that, you know, in earlier this year, earlier summer,
(17:22):
earlier in the summer about you know, getting on guys
about this is not how we break a huddle, and
we need to be sharper, more efficient. And we'll see
what kind of We'll see how it looks. I think
the guys who are around the team every day, the
beat writers in particular, including yourself, are gonna see that.
I think you guys, I'm not out there you know
(17:43):
at hallis Hall watching the practices. You guys will see it.
You've covered the teams in the past of the other
veteran guys in Chicago, you know, the print guys, they'll
know if it looks different.
Speaker 3 (17:57):
Do you think that's important?
Speaker 1 (17:58):
Like do you do you do you think it's important
to kind of turn it up a little bit not
or do you not put a lot of value into
you know that sort of thing.
Speaker 2 (18:05):
Yeah, I think it starts just with a you know,
you're working today. You know it's practice, but you're working today,
And just I think you need to have have to
make it a you have. It has to become a habit,
I should say, you know, how how you prepare every day,
how you walk onto the field, how you play, how
you execute, how you walk off the feel, all that
(18:27):
stuff I think matter because then you get in the
habit of it. It's not just like it's just practice.
Will take it easy and no, it's this is these
are critical days. I mean they'll they'll tell you that
on the high school level, you know for sure, and
and I want to see that from from day one,
and you know, and then you then you eliminate a
lot of stuff at work just becomes routine for you.
(18:50):
This this is how we do things that might be
just a practice. Now. Look, you got to watch the
hitting and you know, injuries are such a huge part
of any NFL training camp. You know, guys get hurt
every day. You just hope it doesn't happen. It could
be contact, it could be a non contact play. We
see a lot of that non contact stuff, so keeping
everybody healthy and just showing like looking like a team
(19:14):
that is coached well because you know, as we haven't
seen that in the past.
Speaker 3 (19:19):
Yeah, for sure.
Speaker 1 (19:20):
Obviously, you know, we're thank you to everyone who's joining
us on YouTube. Always appreciate the guys who are joining us,
especially you know during this vacation season. I know obviously
a lot of people are off, but Rick chimes in,
practice matters as as coaching and as coaching, and I agree.
I think obviously the players are out there, they're playing.
They're the ones who are obviously you know, winning or
(19:41):
losing games. But the coaching matters, and what you do
right now matters too, So I think that'll be really
interesting to watch. And I agree with you, Joe. I
think you know, you don't want injuries to become a factor.
You don't want all that sort of stuff. But you're
there to do a job, like you're there to get
ready for a football season. You're not playing flag football,
you're not you know, obviously you're getting condition, you're getting
(20:01):
ready for for a long season.
Speaker 3 (20:02):
So yeah, I agree with you. I think it matters.
Speaker 1 (20:04):
You're you're you're there to do a job, and you've
got to be there to obviously do it. Sharing in
the comments obviously my storylines that we published today about
what to look forward to, check it out. But one
of them that I think is going to be interesting,
and I think this is probably probably the biggest position
battle that we're heading into training camp at this point
for a roster that seems pretty settled. I think it's
(20:26):
going to be obviously the left tackle spot. We talked
about it all off season.
Speaker 3 (20:30):
That's kind of.
Speaker 1 (20:31):
Seemed to be the major thing that everyone wanted to
talk about this off season. And you know that's obviously
down to Braxton Jones, Ozzie Trapillo, and Kuronamagaji. You know,
Ben Jonson has and Ryan Polls a bot toyed with
the idea, you know, if Darnell right maybe moving.
Speaker 3 (20:47):
To left, that's a possibility. They've left that open.
Speaker 1 (20:50):
I think that's a scenario where if these three guys
don't look good, man, we like have to do something,
and maybe we put Darnell at left and we can
move you know, Ozzie to right or Koran to ride
or whatever. But that feels like more of option number
four as opposed to a top option, so Joe obviously,
like I mentioned earlier, Braxton Jones, we'll see. I think
earlier in the offseason, Ben Johnson mentioned that he should
(21:13):
be ready for training camp. What that looks like, We're
still gonna have to wait and see. Obviously, he had
a late season ankle injury and had surgery toward the
end of last year, and he wasn't around for much
of the or any of the you know, on the
field stuff for the off season. So we'll see what
he's able to do. But this feels like a three
horse race at this point, right Like, I think Braxton
(21:34):
Jones probably gets to head start if he's healthy, because
obviously he's been the start of the last couple of years.
But this really feels like a race to see who
can take that spot and solidify that offensive line, because
I think you have the other four spots.
Speaker 3 (21:48):
You know, they're ready to go at this point.
Speaker 2 (21:52):
You know, Michael, you were going in and out there
for like the last thirty forty five seconds and then
I know you were talking about Braxton Jones. I believe, Yeah,
but I could so here quite here your question there
the audience breaking up.
Speaker 1 (22:05):
Yeah, sorry about that I guess I was wondering, you know, oh,
it seems like we maybe might have left show there
for a second. But yeah, I do think that this
is at this point going to be a three person race,
and I think, you know, Braxton Jones starts off as
the leader.
Speaker 3 (22:21):
I think you know, he.
Speaker 1 (22:26):
You know, Braxton Jones is interesting because I think Ben
Johnson and Ryan Poles both like him a lot, right,
I think that they both really appreciate what he's done,
and I think you've seen him do better throughout the years.
You've seen, you know, his rookie year was really good.
You know, obviously he's a fifth round pick in the
second round. In the second next couple of years, you know,
(22:46):
you saw good things and you kind of saw some
bad things as well. Like last year, there were a
lot of moments where he was getting you know, pushed
off and like guys were overhandling him and that sort
of stuff. So I do think it'll be really interesting
to watch, you know, how he's able to move, because
you know, Pro Football Focus has Braxton Jones as a
highly rated left tackle, like he's one of the better ones,
(23:09):
especially in past protection. But then you know, when you
watch the film, and you kind of look at him
during games you're kind of like, well, it doesn't look
right like it seems like it should be. It should
be going a little bit better at that position. So
I'm really interested to see what's going to happen there. Joe,
good to have you back. I was just talking about
Braxton Jones and what he's kind of meant for the
(23:32):
team the last couple of years as their starter. Do
you think that this is Braxton Jones's job to lose?
Or do you think, hey, like he's maybe a little
bit on thin ice for lack of a better term,
and maybe the other two guys can really push them
if they show any sort of like you know, glimmers
of like hey, they can compete with the first team.
Speaker 2 (23:51):
Yeah, I can hear you now. I was losing you
there for a little bit, like I can hear you now,
and I think I did hear your question. You think
it's Do I think it's Braxton Jones' job to lose
that left tackle? I do? I mean, I think ideally
they want him there. They know what they have Ben Jonson,
and I believe is going on our record saying you
know they like him, you know they've seen what he's
(24:13):
done in the past. Is he an All Pro left tackle?
Speaker 3 (24:15):
No?
Speaker 2 (24:16):
Can he get there? I don't know, maybe not? But
is he serviceable? Yeah, you know, as long as he
stays healthy. And you would hate to rush. You know.
It's not like, you know, Ozzie Tripillo. I know, they
they love him, you know, but it wasn't like he
was a top five pick and this guy is a
you know, uh, he was an obvious he was obviously
the best left tackle in the game. Even if that
(24:38):
is that guy, you know, he he was that guy.
It's still hard to come in and play left tackle
in the NFL as a rookie. I mean, that's a
that's a big ask and there probably will be growing pains,
as there are with a lot of these guys, a
lot of you know in the past over the last
you know, twenty thirty forty years and some of them
going on the you know, making the Hall of Fame.
But it's normally tough. So that's that's it would be tough.
(25:01):
You'd hate to see Ozzy Trapillo be the starting left
tackle on opening night if he's not completely ready, and
even if he you think he's close, you know, again,
this offense. It's it's funny because they've revamped this offensive line,
and on paper they've shown a magnificent job. But the
most important out of the five the right the two
(25:22):
guards of two tackles in the center, the most important
one is the left tackle, the blind side of Kayleb Williams.
So that's the position you really have to nail and
least Braxton Jones has experienced playing and been a good
player for the most part.
Speaker 3 (25:39):
Uh.
Speaker 2 (25:39):
And then you can ease Ozsi Trapillo in on. Maybe
it's not gonna be the case, or maybe Braxton Jones
isn't completely healthy the ankle. Uh, And they're gonna have
to throw Ossie in there. But that's concerning to me.
But I don't want to see that. We've talked about
at the past, Michael. I don't want to see Azzy
or Darnell Wright go to left tackle. Now you've got
to figure out right tack leave him there. Uh, you
got three guys, Yeah, who should? I don't know about Karan.
(26:03):
I'm a Gayjyah. I don't know where he's at. If
he's ever gonna be any good. Maybe he'll surprise us
all and have a really good camp but I think
certainly he's in the three hole right now here. You know,
he's throw on the depth chart at left tackle. But
I think if Raxton Jones is good to go physically,
he should be the guy. Uh unless Osi Trapillo just
like you know, blows the doors off everybody and they're like, wow,
(26:26):
this guy, we got to go with him, and Braxton
you're the backup now that that'd be a nice problem
to have.
Speaker 1 (26:32):
Yeah, I would agree with that. Robert kind of hits
on a couple of your points. Thanks for joining us, Robert.
Always good to hear from you. I think it would
depend on how much to practice he can get into.
Obviously that's going to be a thing. And I think
he also brings up an interesting point here, something that
I wanted to ask. You know, Braxton could up his
game with events inside him now, and I am curious.
Speaker 3 (26:52):
I wonder if that's what Ben Jonson and Ryan Polls
will want to see. Right.
Speaker 1 (26:55):
I think, you know, no disrespect to the to the
guys that were obviously playing it with him last year,
but you know that that interior is much improved to
what it was last year, and you're obviously you know
you can only do so much by yourself as alignment, right, Like,
you got to have the guys around you to kind
of support you.
Speaker 3 (27:11):
So I am curious if the Bears are just pretty
much like listen, Like we brought.
Speaker 1 (27:15):
In Joe Toney all pro, we brought on Drew tam
Drew Dolman, the top center available in free agency. We
brought Jonah Jackson, a right guard who's obviously shown a
lot of potential and has.
Speaker 3 (27:25):
History with Ben Johnson.
Speaker 1 (27:27):
You know, we have Darnell right who he took with
the top ten pick a few years ago, who show
who has shown that he can be a solid right tackle.
Maybe you're just like hey, Braxton, like you've got talent
around you, maybe this is gonna helpen and I think
I think that could be.
Speaker 3 (27:41):
I think that can play a major.
Speaker 1 (27:42):
Factor into things too, where you've got the talent around you,
and maybe that makes you look better, Maybe that helps
you a little bit. Maybe you're not having to cover
as much, maybe you're not having to do, you know,
be responsible for as many defensive guys as.
Speaker 3 (27:54):
You would otherwise.
Speaker 1 (27:55):
So I think that will definitely play a big factor
into what we're doing here. Rick Champ chiming in if
Ozzy wins the job and Braxton is our swing tackle,
we will be in great shape. I think I agree
with that, and Ozzy Obby will start, uh, you know,
he has a All Pro guard next to him, but
I think I agree. I think I agree with basically
(28:18):
what we're all kind of saying here, right, I think
we're all saying Braxton Jones will get the first chance,
and I think Ozzi Trapello wins the job if he
like shows out right like he needs to show, like,
he needs to show that he can compete at that level.
Because putting him in for Monday night football against the
Minnesota Vikings, like that's a bit. You know, it's at
home obviously, but that's a big spotlight to have your
(28:39):
first start at left tackle, right Like, that's that that's
a really big moment. So I think I do agree
that for Ozzy It and even Kuran obviously I don't
want him to kind of get lost in the shuffle,
but it does feel like for Braxton Jones to lose
his job, he either needs to obviously not be on
the field, obviously not be healthy enough to start, but
(28:59):
also so I think the other guys just need to
outperform him. In training camp and make it really hard
for Ben Johnson to say, all right, we're not gonna
put this guy out there.
Speaker 2 (29:08):
Yeah. At worst, Braxton Jones is a depth piece. That's
a nice depth piece that started that many games. I
don't have the numbers in front of me at left tackle,
so and you know, look, we've seen it a lot
here in Chicago the last several years. It's you know,
no team in the league. I don't think it goes
through an entire now seventeen game season with playing the
(29:31):
same five guys up front all right season. You need depth.
So if Braxton Jones is good, he's healthy, he's the
old Braxton Jones, which again is a serviceable player and
that's not a bad thing. Solid player that's good to
have on the bench because at some point you're probably
gonna need him. But is it realistic to think Aussie
Trapilo is going to start seventeen games ut left tackle
(29:53):
and be good. That's a big ask. Yeah, you know,
that's a big if that's the case. Wow, they nailed
that pick, and that's a big pick. The name, Well,
you get a starting left tackle who's a good player
in play seventeen games season, you nailed that pick. I
don't know know how optimistic Iam that that's going to
be the case. But let's hope Braxton Jones is good
(30:13):
to go and Ozzie starts the season on the bench,
and if Braxton is bad or he gets hurt again,
you've got a nice piece to put in there.
Speaker 3 (30:21):
Yeah, I would definitely agree.
Speaker 1 (30:23):
And like you mentioned, I think every NFL team says this,
you're starting five, are not going to be your five
all year, and you need seven or eight guys maybe
nine in depth pieces.
Speaker 3 (30:33):
You need guys to kind of come in.
Speaker 1 (30:34):
Instance says guys are gonna get hurt, Guys are gonna
get banged up, And yeah, that depth piece is going
to be important. So even if Ozzie doesn't start, he
will probably be called upon.
Speaker 3 (30:43):
It needs to be.
Speaker 1 (30:43):
Ready obviously, Or whether Braxton doesn't start, he's still going
to be an important part of this Teane Koran is
going to be an important part of this team, right, Like,
I think that's the biggest thing where you know, Ben
Johnson talked about he wants to starting five set as
soon as possible. That's important for the quarterback and that's
important for the offensive line. So they know how to
interact with each other and how to go with each other.
(31:04):
But I do agree with the thought that everyone needs
to kind of be ready, ready to go and kind
of prove that they can compete at the level whether
they win the job or not. Joe, We've got i'd
probably say, like ten minutes left. But you know, throughout
the last month I've been doing, you know, here are
top five players who need to prove the most top
five players maybe under the radar. Top five players we
(31:27):
have are the most important, top ten who are most important.
And I'm curious to know. You know, you can check
all that all that stuff out at at Shaw Local.
We have it all in our Bear's contents, So make
sure you check all that stuff out. But Joe, I'm
gonna put you on the spot, and I'm gonna ask
you who do you feel like has.
Speaker 3 (31:45):
The most approve this training camp?
Speaker 1 (31:47):
Like of all the Bears players, Caleb is obviously up
there like that, I feel like that's obviously the gimme,
like that's the home run. But other than Caleb, who
do you feel like has the most approved under a
new coaching staff with you know, in the next six
weeks here that's a really good question.
Speaker 2 (32:02):
And you're right, Caleb is the obvious one. So you
started that sentence of like Caleb, it's got to be
he's got the most, so uhling be or like take
him out of the equation, who's got the most to prove?
That's a really good question.
Speaker 3 (32:18):
There are a lot of guys for a team that
went five and twelve.
Speaker 1 (32:20):
Right when you go five and twelve and you're expected
to win seven or eight games, there are a lot
of guys who have a lot.
Speaker 2 (32:25):
To Yeah, yeah, the Eagles will be like nobody. Nobody's
got to be approved of the Bears, though, coming off
a five wins season, I'm trying to think offensively, boy,
maybe DeAndre Swift can he be the guy knows? So
much was talked about the running back position, and I
do think the running much as walk about the passing game.
(32:47):
And they've got eight hundred wide receivers. They're all good.
They're all going off the football and if they're not
catching it, they're gonna be blocking and everyone's gonna be happy.
They've got to be able to run the dang football.
And we've talked about DeAndre Swift a lot that you've
written about him a lot. He's not great, He's not
say Kwon Barkley, but he's a good player. You know,
we've had worse running backs in Chicago, you know, so
(33:08):
he's good, but can he can he he be efficient
in this offense? Can can they rely on him to
get seventy five eighty yards a game? I just kind
of making that number off with out of my head here,
But you know, they got to be able to run
the football. So maybe DeAndre Swift and I do want
to see Luther Burden and Colston Loveland be impact players,
(33:30):
especially Loveland. I don't want this like, you know, a
slow start. He was still injured and you know, week
six he's finally getting up to speed. In week sevent
he caught his first pass of this season. We got
to see an impact from this guy at the tenth
overall pick, and you could have gone, We'll see what
kind of year the Penn State kid Warren is it?
Speaker 3 (33:51):
We talked so much about Tyler Warren.
Speaker 2 (33:53):
Tyler Warren, you know what kind of years is he
having where he ended up in Indie? You know, so
I want to see Colston level and make an impact
because that's again, when you're coming off a five win
season and you pick a tight end at ten, you
know you better get that right and not like year
two right, he's got to see I want to see
(34:15):
production on him. And I do think Roma Dunes will
take a step uh in year two. I would think
that he that would coincide with Caleb, especially with Keenan
Allen out here. There's gonna be more catching opportunities, you know,
opportunities to catch football for for Roma Dunze. So I
want to see that. But maybe DeAndre Swift, I could
be I can have my mind change. But then defensively,
(34:36):
and you've written about it, a lot of guys have
talked about it, and you know, Montese Sweat is a
guy who did not have a good, you know, full
first season with the Bears. He wasn't bad, but we
expected more. They need more. We'll see if the additions
on defense helps him. But I need we need to
see Montese wet like a little you know, he's kind
(34:57):
of a you you wouldn't know better because you're around
the team and you're in the locker room. He seems
like a pretty chill dude. You know, he's not like
he's not Lawrence Taylor or the singletary eyes or anything
like that. He doesn't have to be, but I just
want to see a little more ticked off Montese Sweat
making an impact. And again, maybe the additions they made
on defense will help. But I think he's got a
(35:19):
lot to prove this year too. But I mean, all
eyes are gonna be on the offense, right.
Speaker 1 (35:24):
Yeah, definitely, Yeah, it's a defensive league. Obviously everyone loves
the offense. Robert hit on your point. Obviously a little
bit earlier. Running back is the biggest QUI bigger question
for me or question Swift to win Johnson over who's
second up?
Speaker 3 (35:38):
And I'm really interested in that.
Speaker 1 (35:39):
But you know, there's still, like like we said throughout
this podcast, there's a lot of interesting storylines so look
at and that's obviously a major one. Like what you know,
both DeAndre Swift and Ben Johnson have said the right things.
They both have complimented each other, but there is the
fact that you know, Ben Johnson after a year being
those see at at Detroit, the Blians decided to trade
(36:02):
him away and then they obviously got Gibbs a year
later and David Montgomery. So but you know, with DeAndre Swift,
I think he's I think he's more than what we
saw last year. I think he was kind of put
in a lot of tough situations last year. The offensive
line didn't block as well on the run, and the
play calling wasn't always the best, and part of that
was on him.
Speaker 3 (36:21):
Sometimes he ran into blocks instead of like finding open space.
Speaker 1 (36:24):
And you know, obviously, I know that's easy for me
to say, but you know, sitting here watching like from
above soldier, if you and be like, oh, go to
that open gap over there, how do you not see that?
But you know it, I do think that'll be really
interesting just to kind of see what does that running
back room look like? Because you know, as a seventh
round pick, I think Kyle Mnung guy can make a push.
I think, you know, what is he going to look like?
(36:45):
Like what certain what situations is Roshawn Johnson being placed?
And what is DeAndre Swift doing in certain situations? Like
I'm really interested to see, you know, who can make
it more an impact right away? And I think Kyle
m Nung guy, even though he's a seventh round pick,
can make a real quick impact. There are other guys, obviously,
Shamar Turner on the defensive line, Cols to Loveland, all
(37:08):
that Luther Burden. Obviously, there are a lot of rookies
who make an impact. But I do think that Kyle
mcnung guy. I think that he could potentially make an
impact if if Ben Johnson can find a way for
him to kind of make find a role for him
in this offense where he can pick up big chunk
yards when maybe defenses aren't expecting him to. I think
(37:30):
I think Joe might be having some more Internet problems,
but yeah, I do. I do think that, you know,
with Kyle manung guy, that can be a big thing.
I recognize, yes, Robert, I know obviously, oh man, I
think it's so hard for rookie running backs.
Speaker 3 (37:43):
It is hard.
Speaker 1 (37:43):
Obviously, That's that's the reason why you don't see it
too often. Especially you know, even it's hard for a
first round pick or even the second round pick to
do it. But I I do think that he can
make I have a big impact, and uh, you know,
I think he can make he can make it an
interesting competition. DeAndre Swift, is you're starting back. Roshawn Johnson
has shown the talent obviously be put in big situations
(38:04):
to pick up a few yards here and there. But
I do think Kyle Mnungai will be able to kind
of kind of make an impact.
Speaker 3 (38:11):
And I agree with Joe too.
Speaker 1 (38:12):
Montese Sweat, I think I think Montes Sweat obviously didn't
have the season he wanted to have last year.
Speaker 3 (38:20):
Injuries were part of a factor.
Speaker 1 (38:22):
Obviously, lack of support from the rest of the defensive
line was obviously a support. He got nothing really from
the other defensive rusher spot, and the Bears didn't really
create much pressure from the inside either. And you know
when other teams are able to double or triple team
Montest Sweat, I mean that it's hard for him to
do his job when he's injured too. Right So, but
(38:44):
I agree with Joe and some of the guys in
the chat. I think Montes Sweat is going to play.
It has to have a big rebound season.
Speaker 3 (38:50):
Here.
Speaker 1 (38:51):
The Bears traded the second round pick for him, they
paid him his money. I think you need to see
the Montest Sweat that you saw for whatever it was.
I think it was eight or nine, nine or ten
games the first year they traded for him, as opposed
to what they saw here in the last year. And
I think Joe, you know, good to have you back by,
I do think that you kind of would agree with
that that he needs to make an impact, you know,
(39:12):
especially at the start of the year.
Speaker 2 (39:14):
Yeah, we need to see more on him. And but again,
they got to get him some help. And you know,
I think he probably was hurt last year, right, You
know these guys, I don't don't admit that if it's
a nagging thing, you know, it's not good enough to
put him, you know, on the injured list, but you
know they got to fight through it. But need more
production bottom line on him.
Speaker 3 (39:37):
Yeah, I would definitely agree.
Speaker 1 (39:38):
All Right, five more minutes here are gonna wrap up
here soon, Joe. I want you to choose, and I'll
give you a few minutes because I know I'm springing
this on you, but I want you to choose who's
going to be your you know, training camp darling, Like
who do you who do you think is going to
be someone that maybe you know, this can't be like
obviously Caleb or anything like that, Like someone that maybe
we're not talking a lot about, who can and make
(40:01):
make an impact this this training camp or kind of
kind of wow is this training camp?
Speaker 3 (40:05):
And I think that.
Speaker 1 (40:08):
You know, I I think I'm going to hit stick
with my Kyle mcnung guy, and I don't know, I
think a seventh round pick can I think a seventh
round pick can be a camp training camp darling just
because you know he's in the seventh round pick. And
I know sometimes you can be like, oh, who's this
unsigned you know, undrafted free agent or you know pick
up or whatever something year guy by I I'm I
(40:29):
think I think I'm gonna be looking a lot of
kaylea man nung guy, what he's able to do, and
if he's able to break through, you know, especially in
those joint practices against the Dolphins or or the Bills.
Speaker 3 (40:40):
I think that that could become very easy to fall for.
Speaker 1 (40:43):
Especially for how much people want to kind of go
into the DeAndre Swift Ben Johnson thing. If Kyle mcnung
guy shows like any flashes, I think people are gonna
jump on there really quick because I think they're gonna
be like, Oh, we're gonna have like another Runca running
back in the seventh round and he's gonna be our
starter star, you know whatever. But yeah, yeah, I think
that I think for me that's going to be by
(41:03):
projecting him to be the training camp Darling this year,
just based on what he could potentially do.
Speaker 2 (41:09):
Yeah, that's a great that's a great call. That would
have been my pick too. I won't say Kyle Mnung guy,
but you're right. I mean if he has a couple
of games, people are gonna go crazy, right, a couple
of big games. Yeah, either him or the guy. And
I don't know who it is who's listened as tenth
on the depth chart at wide receiver, because there's always
that guy too who has the big game, you know,
the little receiver out of a D three school who
(41:32):
walked down at the D three school. Everyone's gonna fall
in love with him and thinks he can be the
slot guy. So if it's not Manung guy or the
guy who's listening as tenth on the depth chart at
wide receiver, I think I might go with Ozzie Tripillo.
They have people because this too. As much as we
want to see the quarterback, you know, throw for four
(41:53):
thousand yards and be all that and lead the Bears
in the playoffs, and you know we're due to have
a great quarterback, the other position we really had the well,
there's some decent left tackles in the past we don't
have to go all the way back to Jimbo Covert,
but I think we're gonna, I think fans because he's
not gonna face the full arsenal by any team in
(42:14):
the in the preseason, so I think people are just gonna,
you know, look at because the guy's a monster. He's
the size of the Hancock Building, right, Uh, Ozzie Trapillo.
I mean, he's just a massive human being. Seems like
a very likable, smart kid. So I think people will
see him and maybe they're getting a little, you know,
tired of Braxton Jones and not being great and now
(42:35):
he's hindered, and I think Tapillo can has the potential
to be that guy, uh that people kind of fall
in love. Even though normally it's a skilled position, it's
either running back or a wide receiver. Normal it's not
the tackle or any offensive lineman. But Chapillo is gonna
be hard to miss when he's on the field because
he's he's so huge and he's playing the deep position
(42:55):
on the old line left tackle.
Speaker 3 (42:57):
Yeah, I would definitely agree with that.
Speaker 1 (42:58):
And Joe, if there's gonna be any wide receiver that
this podcast is going to be rooting for for being
the camp darling is Tyler Scott.
Speaker 3 (43:05):
Tyler Tyler Scott.
Speaker 1 (43:08):
Over the past few years, no one has supported Tyler
Scott more than the Bears Insider podcast.
Speaker 3 (43:13):
Uh.
Speaker 1 (43:14):
The people love him, and obviously you just expect something
from him. This is I feel like this is the
last chance. I think that this is he needs to
make an impact here or I don't, you know, could
he be a cut. We're not going to get into
cut or no cut. That obviously is always a sad
time of training camp, and we've got time for that.
I'm not gonna start saying what guys are gonna get
cut here at the beginning of training camp, but I
(43:37):
I yeah, if there's gonna be a wide receiver we
talk about in this podcast as a camp darling, it's
going to be Tyler Scott. Robert chiming in saying Caleb,
obviously that's the big one, and I would agree. If
Caleb starts throwing eighty yard passes to DJ Moore to
roal Maa doomsday, people are gonna lose their minds. People
are going that highlight of and you're gonna see, like,
(43:57):
that's the thing I love about Caleb, and I think
Ben John and you know likes about him too. He's
guaranteed to give you two or three throws. They're just like,
that's not supposed to happen. A person is not supposed
to make that throw. And that is obviously what made
Caleb the number one pick. That's obviously why he's so talented.
But obviously, you know, you're gonna see a video, the
bear share of video of that, and people are gonna
lose their minds.
Speaker 3 (44:17):
And I can't wait for the.
Speaker 1 (44:18):
Reactions of like Super Bowl twenty twenty five all that
sort of stuff whenever that video drops.
Speaker 2 (44:24):
Uh Rick top ten play, I mean, if he throws
like an Ady Yard the DJ Moore on Friday, it's
gonna be like a top ten years, right, because everyone's yeah,
gonna you know, overreact to everything he does, not not
just nationally.
Speaker 3 (44:39):
Yeah, that's the life of a quarterback, especially for the
Charter France.
Speaker 2 (44:42):
Especially when you're the you know, former number one overall pick.
Speaker 3 (44:45):
Yeah, for sure, Rick chiming In sant Rubin Hippolyte. I
like that one.
Speaker 1 (44:49):
I think Ruben is obviously in contention for that third
linebacker spot. That's probably the other you know position battle
that we're probably gonna be looking at the most obviously
with uh, with t J. Edwards and Tremaine Edmond's coming back, there,
who's going to be that uh, that third linebacker?
Speaker 3 (45:04):
And I think Ruben.
Speaker 1 (45:05):
Ruben's got the speed man and they love that speed
and he's got the frame for it. So I'll be
really interested to see how much he kind of plays
a factor and he's if he's able to make plays.
I agree, Rick, I think people are going to fall
in love with him pretty quickly, especially for you know,
his story of many people expecting him not to be
drafted and then being taken obviously in the fourth round
this year.
Speaker 2 (45:26):
No, that's a really good name, Hippolyte, because there is
that opening at the linebacker spot. Now, the guy's fast,
so if he's in that and that shows up a
lot of times when when even the average fan is watching.
So if he flashes a little bit, oh yeah, that
could be the guy like the sleeper, the unsung guy. Yeah,
that's a good name, Hippolyte.
Speaker 3 (45:44):
All right, Well, I think that's all we got today.
Speaker 1 (45:46):
Thanks so much everyone who joined us, whether you're listening
to the podcast, thank you to everyone who joined us
on the YouTube live stream. I'm always great to you
get your guys' comments, get to it's going to be
back kind of here in the swing of things. I know,
obviously there's still some nice weather to enjoy and obviously
some high days are ahead of us here, but it's
always good to get to football and excited to kind of.
Speaker 3 (46:04):
Get back into training camp.
Speaker 1 (46:05):
But we are hoping to kind of continue to do
the podcast whenever news kind of breaks. We're hoping to
do at least once a week, maybe sometimes we'll do
twice a week based on what the news is or like,
if there's a major you know, development, injury, position, battle, whatever,
we'll obviously try to join and obviously talk about it.
But make sure you guys are keeping track of our
Twitter accounts, Facebook, wherever you are on social media, we'll
(46:30):
make sure to post there and let you know where.
Speaker 3 (46:32):
We're going to be doing live stream.
Speaker 1 (46:33):
And if you miss us, you can always obviously always
listen to the podcast as well. But thanks so much
for everyone for joining us. Bear's Veterans Report on Tuesday,
First practices on Wednesday, first game is September eighth. Football
is back and we're excited about it, so thanks so
much for joining us this week and we'll talk to
you folks down the road.
Speaker 2 (47:10):
You there, Michael
Hello, and welcome to the latest episode of the Bears
Insider Podcast. I am Michael Duo Jack here with Shaw
Locals and the Northwest Herrow's Joe Aguilar. It's been a
little bit here. We obviously had a little summer break,
but we are ready for Bears football. We've got training
camp getting started here in the next couple of days.
(00:25):
Rookies and quarterbacks reported on Saturday, We've got the veterans
reporting tomorrow. On Tuesday, we'll hear from Bears General manager
Ryan Poles and head coach Ben Johnson on Tuesday, and
then things get started on Wednesday. Obviously, we'll do a
couple you know, we'll do a couple easy days to
get just to kind of get started with training camp.
(00:45):
But Joe, you know, it's been a long it's been
a long off season. It's been a lot of a
lot of stuff has happened this offseason. But we're getting
closer and closer to that, to that football season starting,
and that's going to happen this week.
Speaker 2 (00:59):
Yes, it's time, right, I mean, you know it's going
to be here before we know it. Opening David, what
the Hall of Fame game is is first not for
the Bears this year. But everyone's excited about the Bears
and excited to see what this new look team with
Ben Johnson looks like.
Speaker 1 (01:15):
It should be a lot of fun. There's countless storylines there.
There's so many different things to talk about, and we'll
obviously talk about it here. We're just going to preview
what we're looking forward to this upcoming training camp. There's
obviously a lot of storylines, a lot of things that
we're we're looking at some things that I wanted to
talk about before we kind of get started here, some
(01:37):
surprising news and some interesting stuff. All the Bears rookies
have been finally signed. All their second round picks signed
over the weekend officially, and that obviously was a big
deal just because you know, a majority of the second
round picks weren't signed yet heading into a lot of
training camps. That's obviously, you know, I think had to
do a lot with a lot of players maybe taking
(01:59):
a stand and hopefully those second round picks can turn
to guaranteed money. Obviously, Luther Burden the third got that
guaranteed deal for the first couple of years. Ozzie Trapillo
and Shamar Turner both also signed. You know, Joe, obviously,
we it wouldn't be the end of the world if
you didn't have some of the rookies maybe show up
at the first couple of days of practice, but especially
(02:19):
for rookies, you don't you don't want them to miss
any time, especially if you're trying to get used to
a new style and new coaching staff and that sort
of stuff. So it was good for the Bears to
kind of have everyone in tow like everyone should be
there once training camp, then the gets gets started here.
Speaker 2 (02:36):
Yeah, and especially for those top picks, you know, the
three second rounders, because you figure if not of a
margat start that you all probably should have a lot
of playing time and a big impact on the twenty
twenty five team. So you got to get those guys
up and ready to go. You know day one that
every coach in e lague talks about how important every
(02:57):
game is, every practices, and with the reps and the Bears,
you know, look there, we know the past struggles. So
they got to get going here early, and those guys
need to be in camp. They are, and then they
need to see the first rounder too to see where
he's at with his shoulder. Coaston Lovelin and is he
(03:18):
up and ready to go? Because it's it's not you know,
it's not a holdout, but it's the same. You're you're
not playing and you're not on the field. So we'll
we'll find out here in the next few days.
Speaker 1 (03:26):
Yeah, I think that'll be one of the major storylines
we'll be looking at right like, we're gonna see, is
Colston Lovelin, you know, good to go? Is he one
hundred percent? Is Luther Burden one hundred percent? Is Braxton Jones?
What is his availability going to be because that's going
to be obviously a major major position battle left tackle,
So it should be really interesting to watch who's going
(03:47):
to be available when uh, you know, when they're going
to be able to play, you know, talking about injuries
that this kind of caught some people by surprise me too.
Speaker 3 (03:55):
On Saturday, the Bears are released, they're uh, the following.
Speaker 1 (03:59):
Players around the active non football injury you know, the puplist,
you know, wide receiver Johnny Walker is there, uh, running
back Ian Wheeler, and then you had quarterback case Keenum
and obviously corner back Jalen Johnson O.
Speaker 3 (04:16):
Case Keenum is he was cleared yesterday so he should
be good to go for training camp.
Speaker 1 (04:20):
But that Jalen Johnson thing kind of surprised me.
Speaker 3 (04:24):
I don't think I did.
Speaker 1 (04:25):
You know, obviously Jalen was there for part of you know,
the off season program. He was there for some of
the ot as, he was there for some of the
uh you know, the uh the some of the mini camp,
but he obviously wasn't there for all. But he had
some excused absences from the new coaching staff. But that'll
be really interesting to see and we'll hear more from
Ryan Poles and Ben Johnson tomorrow about what that is.
(04:47):
But you really hope that that's nothing, nothing serious, hopefully,
you know.
Speaker 3 (04:51):
I don't.
Speaker 1 (04:52):
I wouldn't imagine it's contract related. Obviously he got his
new contract a couple of years ago. I wouldn't imagine
that that's a good way to start your start things
off with the new coaching staff by not coming to
your first training camp over a contract, don't. I don't
think that's the case. But you're really hoping that things
are looking good for for Jalen Johnson because I mean,
he's he's critically important to that secondary working right Like
(05:15):
he's obviously proved that he's one of the best quarterbacks
in the in the NFL, and you need him to
be out there in order for this defense, especially for
the secondary, to reach its full potential.
Speaker 2 (05:26):
Yeah, I mean he's your best player, right. I mean,
by the end of the season, you hope the quarterback
is your best player, and he might be right now,
but we got to see that first with Caleb Williams.
But Jalen Johnson is your best football player, and he's
at a critical position. Right. If you're talking about the
top positions in football, quarterback, left tackle, rush, edge, then
it's probably corner and you need that guy. And we
(05:47):
know how good he is, and they got to get
him on the field. I don't know, you know, it's
not like he's a rookie and he's got to learn everything.
But they do have a new decordinator. But get him healthy,
get him right physically mentally. If there's anything going on
with I can't believe there would be, But he's obviously
a critical part, not like the defense, the entire football team.
Speaker 1 (06:07):
Yeah, he's going to be really important for what they
want to do. I mean, I can't you know, I
can't understate it enough. Obviously, that's a very talented group.
I would probably say the secondary, you know, is probably
your most deep position on the team, but you still
want your leader to be out there and to be
competing at a high level. So we'll get more information
about that from Ryan Poles and Ben Johnson tomorrow on Tuesday.
(06:29):
See if that's something serious or see if that's, you know,
just something that kind of happened during the offseason. And
he should be fine eventually once we get kind of
rolling here in training camp. But like I said, training
camp officially starts on Wednesday with the Bears first practice.
Veterans are showing up on Tuesday. They're doing this all
at Hall's Hall. Obviously, they're going to be two joint
(06:49):
practices with the Miami Dolphins and the Buffalo Bills throughout
the training camp, which will be really interesting. I think
those will be some of the major moments. We'll see
a lot of good stuff. But Joe, let's talk about
the major storylines we're looking forward to in training camp.
And I think you know number one is very obvious,
right It starts with number one, Caleb Bull. You know,
(07:10):
with the quarterback, the number one quarterback, Kayleb Williams. How
does he look with Ben Johnson, what is that kind
of looking like? You know, in the off season, we
had a lot of moments where it was like, you know,
the the huddle call maybe didn't look the right way, right,
like or Ben Johnson stopped to play because everyone was
still figuring things out. And that's what you expected, right,
(07:31):
It's the off season program with the new head coach,
Like you're just learning the playbook, You're.
Speaker 3 (07:35):
Learning how Ben Johnson wants to do stuff.
Speaker 1 (07:38):
I think all that is fine, But what do you
think as we kind of get started here, what do
you think fans who get a chance to go to
training camp during these games, what should they be looking
for once we kind of get started here From Caleb Williams.
I know obviously it's you know, you want to see
eighty yard passes, you want to see sick plays. But
(07:58):
what do you feel like, is like realistic growth that
Caleb can show over these next six weeks? Kind of
have you feel more encouraged that he's going to be
ready once the season starts.
Speaker 2 (08:08):
Well, I think tempo number one. I'd like to see
them just break a huddle, get lined up right, get
everyone in position, and snap the football. No fallse starts,
no guys out a position, no chaos. You know, you'll
have some of that, right that's why it's training camp.
But you just need to see a little more, I
don't know, a little tightening up of everything. You want
to see an offense that looks confident when they break
(08:30):
the huddle and get everybody in place and let's see again.
You know, the sixty yar pass downfield is the sexy
player and one likes to see that, but just simple execution,
you know, can we walk before we run? And we
don't know right now? You know, everyone's kind of you know,
I think I speak for a lot of people out
of Bears fans. You're you're a little cynical, you're you know,
(08:52):
because we're used to being excited and then disappointed and
normally disappointed by game three, and we just want to
see a little more consistency, a team that looks like
a confident football team. And I know you're not going
to necessarily necessarily see that in the third week of July,
but by the by the time it's time to you know,
for opening nights against the Vikings, we got to see
(09:16):
a team that just looks like it's confident and it
knows what it's doing. Whether you're not gonna execute on
every play, but we just need to see a professional
looking offense because it's been a while.
Speaker 3 (09:28):
Yeah, I would agree with you there.
Speaker 1 (09:29):
I think that's the biggest thing, right, Like you want
everything to looke look as smooth as possible as the
weeks kind of look by. You don't want to see.
You don't want to see the miscommunication with the offensive line.
You don't want to see the miscommunication between the play
caller and the quarterback. Like you want everyone to be
on top, you know, on the same page as much
as possible.
Speaker 3 (09:48):
Like, are there gonna be mistakes? Yes, there's gonna be
so many mistakes.
Speaker 1 (09:51):
There's gonna be a lot of probably overreactions over the
next six weeks.
Speaker 3 (09:54):
You're gonna see a clip.
Speaker 1 (09:55):
I'm sure on on on social media about maybe this
play didn't look too well or whatever.
Speaker 3 (10:00):
And that's fine, that's what training camp is for.
Speaker 1 (10:02):
But I agree, I think the biggest thing is for
the Bears and for Caleb Williams right now is does
he have the play call down? Does he does he
know what the plays are, how what he can shift with?
Is he comfortable and building a rapport with his wide
receivers like those are important things. Like the I think
the big plays and the cool plays like that's all
going to happen throughout the weeks and even through that.
(10:23):
Like I think we've seen over the past few years
at this point that September is basically a month where.
Speaker 3 (10:29):
Teams are figuring everything out.
Speaker 1 (10:31):
Like I don't think you you you know, you can
put yourself in the whole in September, But I do
think a lot of the times, for how long the
NFL season is now, I think September is just a
time where you just kind of figure things out, you're
learning stuff, and then cow October you're you're just get
You're just going and you're trying to figure it. You know,
you're you're really taking it to another level at that point.
So yeah, I think the biggest thing for them at
(10:52):
this point is does Caleb look like he understands the offense?
Has he mastered it? Does he know all the play calls?
Does he know how he's supposed to move in certain situations?
Does he know does it does it just look natural
and smooth? Right, Like, if it looks natural and smooth,
he can miss the pass.
Speaker 3 (11:09):
I think that's fine, but if if I would much
rather have that.
Speaker 1 (11:13):
Then he it doesn't look smooth coming out of the huddle.
Everyone's disjointed, but then he like somehow scrambles and makes
like a fifty yard pass. I don't think that's how
you're gonna win games, and that's how you're gonna see
growth from Caleb. So I think everything just needs to
look smooth at this point, and I think that's going
to take time.
Speaker 3 (11:30):
And I think that's.
Speaker 1 (11:31):
The biggest thing for for Caleb and for Ben Johnson
at this point, because he's doing this whole thing for
the first time too as a head coach and a
play caller at the same time. So I think the
operation just needs to look look better. And I think
if it does look better throughout the weeks, I think that.
Speaker 3 (11:44):
Should have Bears fans encouraged. Yes, what, uh, Joe?
Speaker 1 (11:49):
What from Ben Johnson? I mean, just what do you
kind of feel like you need to look for him
at this point? I know, you know it's hard. He's
a first time head coach. He's he's gone through the
process of running practices and that sort of stuff. But
is there something that you're kind of looking for like
the Ben Johnson effect that everyone has kind of talked
about over over the off season, or you know, what
(12:09):
are you looking for for Ben during this training camp?
Speaker 2 (12:14):
It's a good question. To me. It's just I want
to see a football team that looks like it's uh,
it's an efficient football team, not only on offense because
that's Brett, that's Ben Jonson's bread and butter, but defensively too.
And you know, you know, we don't need him to
be Ditka and chewing the gum and you know, waving
(12:35):
his arms and being crazy and showing the fashioning Chicago.
We don't need to necessarily they see that. We don't
need to necessarily see Matt Everfles. Let him be his
own guy. Let's just see a team that looks like
a professional football team. Uh. And that's what I want
to see because they're gonna be you know, bad plays
on offense, bad plays on defense. There's gonna be injuries.
(12:56):
Hopefully there's no drama, you know, you know that kind
of thing, because that happens certainly in NFL camps, But
none of that. I just want to see a team
that's on board, ready to win, and a team that
show that can show early on that it's coachable. We're
seeing the same mess ups pre snap, you know, penalties
(13:17):
or movement and listen, unorganized. I don't think we're gonna
see that, but I think that's what I want to see.
And then you know, come game time, they have to execute.
And I know what you're saying about. You know, you
know October is when the time you got to get
it rolling. Go on September you're trying to feel get
a feel for what you have on both sides of
the ball. But for the Bears, I do think the
(13:39):
start to the season is critical because this fan base
is so itchy and twitchy and just you know, starving
to see good football on both sides, but especially offensively.
And I just think they can't get out of the
gate here one in three. You know, they can't lay
an egg on Monday Night and lose to a quarterback
(14:01):
we assume, and JJ McCarthy is gonna be making his
National Football League debut, we can't see them. We need
to see a good opening night performance. You don't have
to be three and one after four weeks, but we
need to see a team that like, wow, yeah, this
is different this year. We thought maybe last year was
going to be different, right with the rookie quarterback. We
don't have to rehash all that again. But I just
want to see a good start, and not only a
(14:24):
good start to the season, but a good start to
training camp, because that's where it starts.
Speaker 3 (14:27):
Yeah, I would definitely agree with you.
Speaker 1 (14:29):
I think that's you know, I wanted to look better
than it did in the past, and I think, you know,
with training camp. I one of the biggest problems I
kind of had with Matt Eberflus is it felt like
they I want to say this, and I don't want
to say that they took training camp off. They obviously
worked hard, they obviously did a lot of stuff, but
I feel like a lot of the times you had
(14:51):
guys on one day and then off one day, like
I think maybe we kind of went too far into
I feel like, you know, the NFL has been in
this you know in between right now, where they're trying
to be like, well, I don't want to like overwork
my player and get them injured in training camp and
then they're not ready for the season, and then they're
just not going to be healthy for an entire seventeen
game year. Like I understand that logic, but I think
(15:12):
with Eberflus it kind of went a little bit too
much in the other direction where we're not building callouses,
like we're not kind of getting into football shape at
this point. And I think you got to get into
football shape. Like I think you can have great conditioning.
I think you can have a lot of you know,
you can be in great shape, you can bench press
a lot, you can be fast and that sort of stuff,
but you got to get into football shape, right, like
(15:32):
you need to get hit, Like you need to figure out,
all right, how am I going to feel after I
get hit? Like this, Like what am I gonna do?
How is my body re recovering from all this different stuff?
Like you got to get your body ready to play
a seventeen game NFL season. So I think that's the
biggest thing for me with Ben Jonson is you know,
I think he's gonna bring accountability. We've seen that during
(15:52):
the offseason. I think he's gonna hold players accountable all
that stuff. I want to see them actually practice, and
I want to see them actually like build up for
an NFL season, and I want to see guys be there.
Speaker 3 (16:02):
Obviously if they're injured.
Speaker 1 (16:03):
If there's like a risk of like you know, having
you know, having an injury, maybe become a little bit
worse if you practice, Like obviously you don't want to
test it, you don't want to put a player in,
you know, in any risk toward injuring it any further.
But if a guy is just a little bit sore,
maybe just like getting used to football shape, like you've
got to go out there and kind of build towards.
So I'm really interested in that and what the practices
(16:25):
are going to look like, Like are these going to
be physical battles in the trenches? How much is Ben
Johnson gonna let guys go? What is the response if
you know, in an in the August heat, you know,
tempers flare and you know, if there are punches throw
and if there's some pushing and shoving like all that
is going to be so interesting to me and how
Ben Johnson kind of handles that, because I feel like
that's gonna tell you a lot about the kind of
(16:45):
football team we're going to.
Speaker 3 (16:46):
Have this year.
Speaker 1 (16:47):
So I think that's going to be so important just
to kind of see how Ben Johnson runs his practices,
how you know, how hard are they going to go
and how how tough is he going to be on
in certain instances?
Speaker 2 (17:00):
Yeah, I agree, And I want to see a team
that looks very organized on both sides of the ball
to here, and I think, and we'll see, you know,
he's he's gonna get frustrated. Is he gonna be uh,
you know, calm and understanding or we've already seen some
of that, you know, in earlier this year, earlier summer,
(17:22):
earlier in the summer about you know, getting on guys
about this is not how we break a huddle, and
we need to be sharper, more efficient. And we'll see
what kind of We'll see how it looks. I think
the guys who are around the team every day, the
beat writers in particular, including yourself, are gonna see that.
I think you guys, I'm not out there you know
(17:43):
at hallis Hall watching the practices. You guys will see it.
You've covered the teams in the past of the other
veteran guys in Chicago, you know, the print guys, they'll
know if it looks different.
Speaker 3 (17:57):
Do you think that's important?
Speaker 1 (17:58):
Like do you do you do you think it's important
to kind of turn it up a little bit not
or do you not put a lot of value into
you know that sort of thing.
Speaker 2 (18:05):
Yeah, I think it starts just with a you know,
you're working today. You know it's practice, but you're working today,
And just I think you need to have have to
make it a you have. It has to become a habit,
I should say, you know, how how you prepare every day,
how you walk onto the field, how you play, how
you execute, how you walk off the feel, all that
(18:27):
stuff I think matter because then you get in the
habit of it. It's not just like it's just practice.
Will take it easy and no, it's this is these
are critical days. I mean they'll they'll tell you that
on the high school level, you know for sure, and
and I want to see that from from day one,
and you know, and then you then you eliminate a
lot of stuff at work just becomes routine for you.
(18:50):
This this is how we do things that might be
just a practice. Now. Look, you got to watch the
hitting and you know, injuries are such a huge part
of any NFL training camp. You know, guys get hurt
every day. You just hope it doesn't happen. It could
be contact, it could be a non contact play. We
see a lot of that non contact stuff, so keeping
everybody healthy and just showing like looking like a team
(19:14):
that is coached well because you know, as we haven't
seen that in the past.
Speaker 3 (19:19):
Yeah, for sure.
Speaker 1 (19:20):
Obviously, you know, we're thank you to everyone who's joining
us on YouTube. Always appreciate the guys who are joining us,
especially you know during this vacation season. I know obviously
a lot of people are off, but Rick chimes in,
practice matters as as coaching and as coaching, and I agree.
I think obviously the players are out there, they're playing.
They're the ones who are obviously you know, winning or
(19:41):
losing games. But the coaching matters, and what you do
right now matters too, So I think that'll be really
interesting to watch. And I agree with you, Joe. I
think you know, you don't want injuries to become a factor.
You don't want all that sort of stuff. But you're
there to do a job, like you're there to get
ready for a football season. You're not playing flag football,
you're not you know, obviously you're getting condition, you're getting
(20:01):
ready for for a long season.
Speaker 3 (20:02):
So yeah, I agree with you. I think it matters.
Speaker 1 (20:04):
You're you're you're there to do a job, and you've
got to be there to obviously do it. Sharing in
the comments obviously my storylines that we published today about
what to look forward to, check it out. But one
of them that I think is going to be interesting,
and I think this is probably probably the biggest position
battle that we're heading into training camp at this point
for a roster that seems pretty settled. I think it's
(20:26):
going to be obviously the left tackle spot. We talked
about it all off season.
Speaker 3 (20:30):
That's kind of.
Speaker 1 (20:31):
Seemed to be the major thing that everyone wanted to
talk about this off season. And you know that's obviously
down to Braxton Jones, Ozzie Trapillo, and Kuronamagaji. You know,
Ben Jonson has and Ryan Polls a bot toyed with
the idea, you know, if Darnell right maybe moving.
Speaker 3 (20:47):
To left, that's a possibility. They've left that open.
Speaker 1 (20:50):
I think that's a scenario where if these three guys
don't look good, man, we like have to do something,
and maybe we put Darnell at left and we can
move you know, Ozzie to right or Koran to ride
or whatever. But that feels like more of option number
four as opposed to a top option, so Joe obviously,
like I mentioned earlier, Braxton Jones, we'll see. I think
earlier in the offseason, Ben Johnson mentioned that he should
(21:13):
be ready for training camp. What that looks like, We're
still gonna have to wait and see. Obviously, he had
a late season ankle injury and had surgery toward the
end of last year, and he wasn't around for much
of the or any of the you know, on the
field stuff for the off season. So we'll see what
he's able to do. But this feels like a three
horse race at this point, right Like, I think Braxton
(21:34):
Jones probably gets to head start if he's healthy, because
obviously he's been the start of the last couple of years.
But this really feels like a race to see who
can take that spot and solidify that offensive line, because
I think you have the other four spots.
Speaker 3 (21:48):
You know, they're ready to go at this point.
Speaker 2 (21:52):
You know, Michael, you were going in and out there
for like the last thirty forty five seconds and then
I know you were talking about Braxton Jones. I believe, Yeah,
but I could so here quite here your question there
the audience breaking up.
Speaker 1 (22:05):
Yeah, sorry about that I guess I was wondering, you know, oh,
it seems like we maybe might have left show there
for a second. But yeah, I do think that this
is at this point going to be a three person race,
and I think, you know, Braxton Jones starts off as
the leader.
Speaker 3 (22:21):
I think you know, he.
Speaker 1 (22:26):
You know, Braxton Jones is interesting because I think Ben
Johnson and Ryan Poles both like him a lot, right,
I think that they both really appreciate what he's done,
and I think you've seen him do better throughout the years.
You've seen, you know, his rookie year was really good.
You know, obviously he's a fifth round pick in the
second round. In the second next couple of years, you know,
(22:46):
you saw good things and you kind of saw some
bad things as well. Like last year, there were a
lot of moments where he was getting you know, pushed
off and like guys were overhandling him and that sort
of stuff. So I do think it'll be really interesting
to watch, you know, how he's able to move, because
you know, Pro Football Focus has Braxton Jones as a
highly rated left tackle, like he's one of the better ones,
(23:09):
especially in past protection. But then you know, when you
watch the film, and you kind of look at him
during games you're kind of like, well, it doesn't look
right like it seems like it should be. It should
be going a little bit better at that position. So
I'm really interested to see what's going to happen there. Joe,
good to have you back. I was just talking about
Braxton Jones and what he's kind of meant for the
(23:32):
team the last couple of years as their starter. Do
you think that this is Braxton Jones's job to lose?
Or do you think, hey, like he's maybe a little
bit on thin ice for lack of a better term,
and maybe the other two guys can really push them
if they show any sort of like you know, glimmers
of like hey, they can compete with the first team.
Speaker 2 (23:51):
Yeah, I can hear you now. I was losing you
there for a little bit, like I can hear you now,
and I think I did hear your question. You think
it's Do I think it's Braxton Jones' job to lose
that left tackle? I do? I mean, I think ideally
they want him there. They know what they have Ben Jonson,
and I believe is going on our record saying you
know they like him, you know they've seen what he's
(24:13):
done in the past. Is he an All Pro left tackle?
Speaker 3 (24:15):
No?
Speaker 2 (24:16):
Can he get there? I don't know, maybe not? But
is he serviceable? Yeah, you know, as long as he
stays healthy. And you would hate to rush. You know.
It's not like, you know, Ozzie Tripillo. I know, they
they love him, you know, but it wasn't like he
was a top five pick and this guy is a
you know, uh, he was an obvious he was obviously
the best left tackle in the game. Even if that
(24:38):
is that guy, you know, he he was that guy.
It's still hard to come in and play left tackle
in the NFL as a rookie. I mean, that's a
that's a big ask and there probably will be growing pains,
as there are with a lot of these guys, a
lot of you know in the past over the last
you know, twenty thirty forty years and some of them
going on the you know, making the Hall of Fame.
But it's normally tough. So that's that's it would be tough.
(25:01):
You'd hate to see Ozzy Trapillo be the starting left
tackle on opening night if he's not completely ready, and
even if he you think he's close, you know, again,
this offense. It's it's funny because they've revamped this offensive line,
and on paper they've shown a magnificent job. But the
most important out of the five the right the two
(25:22):
guards of two tackles in the center, the most important
one is the left tackle, the blind side of Kayleb Williams.
So that's the position you really have to nail and
least Braxton Jones has experienced playing and been a good
player for the most part.
Speaker 3 (25:39):
Uh.
Speaker 2 (25:39):
And then you can ease Ozsi Trapillo in on. Maybe
it's not gonna be the case, or maybe Braxton Jones
isn't completely healthy the ankle. Uh, And they're gonna have
to throw Ossie in there. But that's concerning to me.
But I don't want to see that. We've talked about
at the past, Michael. I don't want to see Azzy
or Darnell Wright go to left tackle. Now you've got
to figure out right tack leave him there. Uh, you
got three guys, Yeah, who should? I don't know about Karan.
(26:03):
I'm a Gayjyah. I don't know where he's at. If
he's ever gonna be any good. Maybe he'll surprise us
all and have a really good camp but I think
certainly he's in the three hole right now here. You know,
he's throw on the depth chart at left tackle. But
I think if Raxton Jones is good to go physically,
he should be the guy. Uh unless Osi Trapillo just
like you know, blows the doors off everybody and they're like, wow,
(26:26):
this guy, we got to go with him, and Braxton
you're the backup now that that'd be a nice problem
to have.
Speaker 1 (26:32):
Yeah, I would agree with that. Robert kind of hits
on a couple of your points. Thanks for joining us, Robert.
Always good to hear from you. I think it would
depend on how much to practice he can get into.
Obviously that's going to be a thing. And I think
he also brings up an interesting point here, something that
I wanted to ask. You know, Braxton could up his
game with events inside him now, and I am curious.
Speaker 3 (26:52):
I wonder if that's what Ben Jonson and Ryan Polls
will want to see. Right.
Speaker 1 (26:55):
I think, you know, no disrespect to the to the
guys that were obviously playing it with him last year,
but you know that that interior is much improved to
what it was last year, and you're obviously you know
you can only do so much by yourself as alignment, right, Like,
you got to have the guys around you to kind
of support you.
Speaker 3 (27:11):
So I am curious if the Bears are just pretty
much like listen, Like we brought.
Speaker 1 (27:15):
In Joe Toney all pro, we brought on Drew tam
Drew Dolman, the top center available in free agency. We
brought Jonah Jackson, a right guard who's obviously shown a
lot of potential and has.
Speaker 3 (27:25):
History with Ben Johnson.
Speaker 1 (27:27):
You know, we have Darnell right who he took with
the top ten pick a few years ago, who show
who has shown that he can be a solid right tackle.
Maybe you're just like hey, Braxton, like you've got talent
around you, maybe this is gonna helpen and I think
I think that could be.
Speaker 3 (27:41):
I think that can play a major.
Speaker 1 (27:42):
Factor into things too, where you've got the talent around you,
and maybe that makes you look better, Maybe that helps
you a little bit. Maybe you're not having to cover
as much, maybe you're not having to do, you know,
be responsible for as many defensive guys as.
Speaker 3 (27:54):
You would otherwise.
Speaker 1 (27:55):
So I think that will definitely play a big factor
into what we're doing here. Rick Champ chiming in if
Ozzy wins the job and Braxton is our swing tackle,
we will be in great shape. I think I agree
with that, and Ozzy Obby will start, uh, you know,
he has a All Pro guard next to him, but
I think I agree. I think I agree with basically
(28:18):
what we're all kind of saying here, right, I think
we're all saying Braxton Jones will get the first chance,
and I think Ozzi Trapello wins the job if he
like shows out right like he needs to show, like,
he needs to show that he can compete at that level.
Because putting him in for Monday night football against the
Minnesota Vikings, like that's a bit. You know, it's at
home obviously, but that's a big spotlight to have your
(28:39):
first start at left tackle, right Like, that's that that's
a really big moment. So I think I do agree
that for Ozzy It and even Kuran obviously I don't
want him to kind of get lost in the shuffle,
but it does feel like for Braxton Jones to lose
his job, he either needs to obviously not be on
the field, obviously not be healthy enough to start, but
(28:59):
also so I think the other guys just need to
outperform him. In training camp and make it really hard
for Ben Johnson to say, all right, we're not gonna
put this guy out there.
Speaker 2 (29:08):
Yeah. At worst, Braxton Jones is a depth piece. That's
a nice depth piece that started that many games. I
don't have the numbers in front of me at left tackle,
so and you know, look, we've seen it a lot
here in Chicago the last several years. It's you know,
no team in the league. I don't think it goes
through an entire now seventeen game season with playing the
(29:31):
same five guys up front all right season. You need depth.
So if Braxton Jones is good, he's healthy, he's the
old Braxton Jones, which again is a serviceable player and
that's not a bad thing. Solid player that's good to
have on the bench because at some point you're probably
gonna need him. But is it realistic to think Aussie
Trapilo is going to start seventeen games ut left tackle
(29:53):
and be good. That's a big ask. Yeah, you know,
that's a big if that's the case. Wow, they nailed
that pick, and that's a big pick. The name, Well,
you get a starting left tackle who's a good player
in play seventeen games season, you nailed that pick. I
don't know know how optimistic Iam that that's going to
be the case. But let's hope Braxton Jones is good
(30:13):
to go and Ozzie starts the season on the bench,
and if Braxton is bad or he gets hurt again,
you've got a nice piece to put in there.
Speaker 3 (30:21):
Yeah, I would definitely agree.
Speaker 1 (30:23):
And like you mentioned, I think every NFL team says this,
you're starting five, are not going to be your five
all year, and you need seven or eight guys maybe
nine in depth pieces.
Speaker 3 (30:33):
You need guys to kind of come in.
Speaker 1 (30:34):
Instance says guys are gonna get hurt, Guys are gonna
get banged up, And yeah, that depth piece is going
to be important. So even if Ozzie doesn't start, he
will probably be called upon.
Speaker 3 (30:43):
It needs to be.
Speaker 1 (30:43):
Ready obviously, Or whether Braxton doesn't start, he's still going
to be an important part of this Teane Koran is
going to be an important part of this team, right, Like,
I think that's the biggest thing where you know, Ben
Johnson talked about he wants to starting five set as
soon as possible. That's important for the quarterback and that's
important for the offensive line. So they know how to
interact with each other and how to go with each other.
(31:04):
But I do agree with the thought that everyone needs
to kind of be ready, ready to go and kind
of prove that they can compete at the level whether
they win the job or not. Joe, We've got i'd
probably say, like ten minutes left. But you know, throughout
the last month I've been doing, you know, here are
top five players who need to prove the most top
five players maybe under the radar. Top five players we
(31:27):
have are the most important, top ten who are most important.
And I'm curious to know. You know, you can check
all that all that stuff out at at Shaw Local.
We have it all in our Bear's contents, So make
sure you check all that stuff out. But Joe, I'm
gonna put you on the spot, and I'm gonna ask
you who do you feel like has.
Speaker 3 (31:45):
The most approve this training camp?
Speaker 1 (31:47):
Like of all the Bears players, Caleb is obviously up
there like that, I feel like that's obviously the gimme,
like that's the home run. But other than Caleb, who
do you feel like has the most approved under a
new coaching staff with you know, in the next six
weeks here that's a really good question.
Speaker 2 (32:02):
And you're right, Caleb is the obvious one. So you
started that sentence of like Caleb, it's got to be
he's got the most, so uhling be or like take
him out of the equation, who's got the most to prove?
That's a really good question.
Speaker 3 (32:18):
There are a lot of guys for a team that
went five and twelve.
Speaker 1 (32:20):
Right when you go five and twelve and you're expected
to win seven or eight games, there are a lot
of guys who have a lot.
Speaker 2 (32:25):
To Yeah, yeah, the Eagles will be like nobody. Nobody's
got to be approved of the Bears, though, coming off
a five wins season, I'm trying to think offensively, boy,
maybe DeAndre Swift can he be the guy knows? So
much was talked about the running back position, and I
do think the running much as walk about the passing game.
(32:47):
And they've got eight hundred wide receivers. They're all good.
They're all going off the football and if they're not
catching it, they're gonna be blocking and everyone's gonna be happy.
They've got to be able to run the dang football.
And we've talked about DeAndre Swift a lot that you've
written about him a lot. He's not great, He's not
say Kwon Barkley, but he's a good player. You know,
we've had worse running backs in Chicago, you know, so
(33:08):
he's good, but can he can he he be efficient
in this offense? Can can they rely on him to
get seventy five eighty yards a game? I just kind
of making that number off with out of my head here,
But you know, they got to be able to run
the football. So maybe DeAndre Swift and I do want
to see Luther Burden and Colston Loveland be impact players,
(33:30):
especially Loveland. I don't want this like, you know, a
slow start. He was still injured and you know, week
six he's finally getting up to speed. In week sevent
he caught his first pass of this season. We got
to see an impact from this guy at the tenth
overall pick, and you could have gone, We'll see what
kind of year the Penn State kid Warren is it?
Speaker 3 (33:51):
We talked so much about Tyler Warren.
Speaker 2 (33:53):
Tyler Warren, you know what kind of years is he
having where he ended up in Indie? You know, so
I want to see Colston level and make an impact
because that's again, when you're coming off a five win
season and you pick a tight end at ten, you
know you better get that right and not like year
two right, he's got to see I want to see
(34:15):
production on him. And I do think Roma Dunes will
take a step uh in year two. I would think
that he that would coincide with Caleb, especially with Keenan
Allen out here. There's gonna be more catching opportunities, you know,
opportunities to catch football for for Roma Dunze. So I
want to see that. But maybe DeAndre Swift, I could
be I can have my mind change. But then defensively,
(34:36):
and you've written about it, a lot of guys have
talked about it, and you know, Montese Sweat is a
guy who did not have a good, you know, full
first season with the Bears. He wasn't bad, but we
expected more. They need more. We'll see if the additions
on defense helps him. But I need we need to
see Montese wet like a little you know, he's kind
(34:57):
of a you you wouldn't know better because you're around
the team and you're in the locker room. He seems
like a pretty chill dude. You know, he's not like
he's not Lawrence Taylor or the singletary eyes or anything
like that. He doesn't have to be, but I just
want to see a little more ticked off Montese Sweat
making an impact. And again, maybe the additions they made
on defense will help. But I think he's got a
(35:19):
lot to prove this year too. But I mean, all
eyes are gonna be on the offense, right.
Speaker 1 (35:24):
Yeah, definitely, Yeah, it's a defensive league. Obviously everyone loves
the offense. Robert hit on your point. Obviously a little
bit earlier. Running back is the biggest QUI bigger question
for me or question Swift to win Johnson over who's
second up?
Speaker 3 (35:38):
And I'm really interested in that.
Speaker 1 (35:39):
But you know, there's still, like like we said throughout
this podcast, there's a lot of interesting storylines so look
at and that's obviously a major one. Like what you know,
both DeAndre Swift and Ben Johnson have said the right things.
They both have complimented each other, but there is the
fact that you know, Ben Johnson after a year being
those see at at Detroit, the Blians decided to trade
(36:02):
him away and then they obviously got Gibbs a year
later and David Montgomery. So but you know, with DeAndre Swift,
I think he's I think he's more than what we
saw last year. I think he was kind of put
in a lot of tough situations last year. The offensive
line didn't block as well on the run, and the
play calling wasn't always the best, and part of that
was on him.
Speaker 3 (36:21):
Sometimes he ran into blocks instead of like finding open space.
Speaker 1 (36:24):
And you know, obviously, I know that's easy for me
to say, but you know, sitting here watching like from
above soldier, if you and be like, oh, go to
that open gap over there, how do you not see that?
But you know it, I do think that'll be really
interesting just to kind of see what does that running
back room look like? Because you know, as a seventh
round pick, I think Kyle Mnung guy can make a push.
I think, you know, what is he going to look like?
(36:45):
Like what certain what situations is Roshawn Johnson being placed?
And what is DeAndre Swift doing in certain situations? Like
I'm really interested to see, you know, who can make
it more an impact right away? And I think Kyle
m Nung guy, even though he's a seventh round pick,
can make a real quick impact. There are other guys, obviously,
Shamar Turner on the defensive line, Cols to Loveland, all
(37:08):
that Luther Burden. Obviously, there are a lot of rookies
who make an impact. But I do think that Kyle
mcnung guy. I think that he could potentially make an
impact if if Ben Johnson can find a way for
him to kind of make find a role for him
in this offense where he can pick up big chunk
yards when maybe defenses aren't expecting him to. I think
(37:30):
I think Joe might be having some more Internet problems,
but yeah, I do. I do think that, you know,
with Kyle manung guy, that can be a big thing.
I recognize, yes, Robert, I know obviously, oh man, I
think it's so hard for rookie running backs.
Speaker 3 (37:43):
It is hard.
Speaker 1 (37:43):
Obviously, That's that's the reason why you don't see it
too often. Especially you know, even it's hard for a
first round pick or even the second round pick to
do it. But I I do think that he can
make I have a big impact, and uh, you know,
I think he can make he can make it an
interesting competition. DeAndre Swift, is you're starting back. Roshawn Johnson
has shown the talent obviously be put in big situations
(38:04):
to pick up a few yards here and there. But
I do think Kyle Mnungai will be able to kind
of kind of make an impact.
Speaker 3 (38:11):
And I agree with Joe too.
Speaker 1 (38:12):
Montese Sweat, I think I think Montes Sweat obviously didn't
have the season he wanted to have last year.
Speaker 3 (38:20):
Injuries were part of a factor.
Speaker 1 (38:22):
Obviously, lack of support from the rest of the defensive
line was obviously a support. He got nothing really from
the other defensive rusher spot, and the Bears didn't really
create much pressure from the inside either. And you know
when other teams are able to double or triple team
Montest Sweat, I mean that it's hard for him to
do his job when he's injured too. Right So, but
(38:44):
I agree with Joe and some of the guys in
the chat. I think Montes Sweat is going to play.
It has to have a big rebound season.
Speaker 3 (38:50):
Here.
Speaker 1 (38:51):
The Bears traded the second round pick for him, they
paid him his money. I think you need to see
the Montest Sweat that you saw for whatever it was.
I think it was eight or nine, nine or ten
games the first year they traded for him, as opposed
to what they saw here in the last year. And
I think Joe, you know, good to have you back by,
I do think that you kind of would agree with
that that he needs to make an impact, you know,
(39:12):
especially at the start of the year.
Speaker 2 (39:14):
Yeah, we need to see more on him. And but again,
they got to get him some help. And you know,
I think he probably was hurt last year, right, You
know these guys, I don't don't admit that if it's
a nagging thing, you know, it's not good enough to
put him, you know, on the injured list, but you
know they got to fight through it. But need more
production bottom line on him.
Speaker 3 (39:37):
Yeah, I would definitely agree.
Speaker 1 (39:38):
All Right, five more minutes here are gonna wrap up
here soon, Joe. I want you to choose, and I'll
give you a few minutes because I know I'm springing
this on you, but I want you to choose who's
going to be your you know, training camp darling, Like
who do you who do you think is going to
be someone that maybe you know, this can't be like
obviously Caleb or anything like that, Like someone that maybe
we're not talking a lot about, who can and make
(40:01):
make an impact this this training camp or kind of
kind of wow is this training camp?
Speaker 3 (40:05):
And I think that.
Speaker 1 (40:08):
You know, I I think I'm going to hit stick
with my Kyle mcnung guy, and I don't know, I
think a seventh round pick can I think a seventh
round pick can be a camp training camp darling just
because you know he's in the seventh round pick. And
I know sometimes you can be like, oh, who's this
unsigned you know, undrafted free agent or you know pick
up or whatever something year guy by I I'm I
(40:29):
think I think I'm gonna be looking a lot of
kaylea man nung guy, what he's able to do, and
if he's able to break through, you know, especially in
those joint practices against the Dolphins or or the Bills.
Speaker 3 (40:40):
I think that that could become very easy to fall for.
Speaker 1 (40:43):
Especially for how much people want to kind of go
into the DeAndre Swift Ben Johnson thing. If Kyle mcnung
guy shows like any flashes, I think people are gonna
jump on there really quick because I think they're gonna
be like, Oh, we're gonna have like another Runca running
back in the seventh round and he's gonna be our
starter star, you know whatever. But yeah, yeah, I think
that I think for me that's going to be by
(41:03):
projecting him to be the training camp Darling this year,
just based on what he could potentially do.
Speaker 2 (41:09):
Yeah, that's a great that's a great call. That would
have been my pick too. I won't say Kyle Mnung guy,
but you're right. I mean if he has a couple
of games, people are gonna go crazy, right, a couple
of big games. Yeah, either him or the guy. And
I don't know who it is who's listened as tenth
on the depth chart at wide receiver, because there's always
that guy too who has the big game, you know,
the little receiver out of a D three school who
(41:32):
walked down at the D three school. Everyone's gonna fall
in love with him and thinks he can be the
slot guy. So if it's not Manung guy or the
guy who's listening as tenth on the depth chart at
wide receiver, I think I might go with Ozzie Tripillo.
They have people because this too. As much as we
want to see the quarterback, you know, throw for four
(41:53):
thousand yards and be all that and lead the Bears
in the playoffs, and you know we're due to have
a great quarterback, the other position we really had the well,
there's some decent left tackles in the past we don't
have to go all the way back to Jimbo Covert,
but I think we're gonna, I think fans because he's
not gonna face the full arsenal by any team in
(42:14):
the in the preseason, so I think people are just gonna,
you know, look at because the guy's a monster. He's
the size of the Hancock Building, right, Uh, Ozzie Trapillo.
I mean, he's just a massive human being. Seems like
a very likable, smart kid. So I think people will
see him and maybe they're getting a little, you know,
tired of Braxton Jones and not being great and now
(42:35):
he's hindered, and I think Tapillo can has the potential
to be that guy, uh that people kind of fall
in love. Even though normally it's a skilled position, it's
either running back or a wide receiver. Normal it's not
the tackle or any offensive lineman. But Chapillo is gonna
be hard to miss when he's on the field because
he's he's so huge and he's playing the deep position
(42:55):
on the old line left tackle.
Speaker 3 (42:57):
Yeah, I would definitely agree with that.
Speaker 1 (42:58):
And Joe, if there's gonna be any wide receiver that
this podcast is going to be rooting for for being
the camp darling is Tyler Scott.
Speaker 3 (43:05):
Tyler Tyler Scott.
Speaker 1 (43:08):
Over the past few years, no one has supported Tyler
Scott more than the Bears Insider podcast.
Speaker 3 (43:13):
Uh.
Speaker 1 (43:14):
The people love him, and obviously you just expect something
from him. This is I feel like this is the
last chance. I think that this is he needs to
make an impact here or I don't, you know, could
he be a cut. We're not going to get into
cut or no cut. That obviously is always a sad
time of training camp, and we've got time for that.
I'm not gonna start saying what guys are gonna get
cut here at the beginning of training camp, but I
(43:37):
I yeah, if there's gonna be a wide receiver we
talk about in this podcast as a camp darling, it's
going to be Tyler Scott. Robert chiming in saying Caleb,
obviously that's the big one, and I would agree. If
Caleb starts throwing eighty yard passes to DJ Moore to
roal Maa doomsday, people are gonna lose their minds. People
are going that highlight of and you're gonna see, like,
(43:57):
that's the thing I love about Caleb, and I think
Ben John and you know likes about him too. He's
guaranteed to give you two or three throws. They're just like,
that's not supposed to happen. A person is not supposed
to make that throw. And that is obviously what made
Caleb the number one pick. That's obviously why he's so talented.
But obviously, you know, you're gonna see a video, the
bear share of video of that, and people are gonna
lose their minds.
Speaker 3 (44:17):
And I can't wait for the.
Speaker 1 (44:18):
Reactions of like Super Bowl twenty twenty five all that
sort of stuff whenever that video drops.
Speaker 2 (44:24):
Uh Rick top ten play, I mean, if he throws
like an Ady Yard the DJ Moore on Friday, it's
gonna be like a top ten years, right, because everyone's yeah,
gonna you know, overreact to everything he does, not not
just nationally.
Speaker 3 (44:39):
Yeah, that's the life of a quarterback, especially for the
Charter France.
Speaker 2 (44:42):
Especially when you're the you know, former number one overall pick.
Speaker 3 (44:45):
Yeah, for sure, Rick chiming In sant Rubin Hippolyte. I
like that one.
Speaker 1 (44:49):
I think Ruben is obviously in contention for that third
linebacker spot. That's probably the other you know position battle
that we're probably gonna be looking at the most obviously
with uh, with t J. Edwards and Tremaine Edmond's coming back, there,
who's going to be that uh, that third linebacker?
Speaker 3 (45:04):
And I think Ruben.
Speaker 1 (45:05):
Ruben's got the speed man and they love that speed
and he's got the frame for it. So I'll be
really interested to see how much he kind of plays
a factor and he's if he's able to make plays.
I agree, Rick, I think people are going to fall
in love with him pretty quickly, especially for you know,
his story of many people expecting him not to be
drafted and then being taken obviously in the fourth round
this year.
Speaker 2 (45:26):
No, that's a really good name, Hippolyte, because there is
that opening at the linebacker spot. Now, the guy's fast,
so if he's in that and that shows up a
lot of times when when even the average fan is watching.
So if he flashes a little bit, oh yeah, that
could be the guy like the sleeper, the unsung guy. Yeah,
that's a good name, Hippolyte.
Speaker 3 (45:44):
All right, Well, I think that's all we got today.
Speaker 1 (45:46):
Thanks so much everyone who joined us, whether you're listening
to the podcast, thank you to everyone who joined us
on the YouTube live stream. I'm always great to you
get your guys' comments, get to it's going to be
back kind of here in the swing of things. I know,
obviously there's still some nice weather to enjoy and obviously
some high days are ahead of us here, but it's
always good to get to football and excited to kind of.
Speaker 3 (46:04):
Get back into training camp.
Speaker 1 (46:05):
But we are hoping to kind of continue to do
the podcast whenever news kind of breaks. We're hoping to
do at least once a week, maybe sometimes we'll do
twice a week based on what the news is or like,
if there's a major you know, development, injury, position, battle, whatever,
we'll obviously try to join and obviously talk about it.
But make sure you guys are keeping track of our
Twitter accounts, Facebook, wherever you are on social media, we'll
(46:30):
make sure to post there and let you know where.
Speaker 3 (46:32):
We're going to be doing live stream.
Speaker 1 (46:33):
And if you miss us, you can always obviously always
listen to the podcast as well. But thanks so much
for everyone for joining us. Bear's Veterans Report on Tuesday,
First practices on Wednesday, first game is September eighth. Football
is back and we're excited about it, so thanks so
much for joining us this week and we'll talk to
you folks down the road.
Speaker 2 (47:10):
You there, Michael
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