+1 And hey, maybe the Bears do have a Stroud-like season. I just don't want to get my hopes up too high too soon.
+1 I am trying to keep the koolaid on the shelf, but I am very tempted to go to our local Indian casino sports bar and bet $100 on over 8.5. Should I do it?
I'm taking the over on 8.5 for sure.
This team won 7 games last year with a QB who couldn't throw the ball and only one functional WR. The 2024 schedule sets up favorably and we have only a handful of opponents where you can say the Bears should be clear underdogs. Every other game is either Bears favorite or within a few points either way.
CW is a rookie and he will have some bad games too I know that but my main concern is Flus. He still has a lot to prove as a gameday manager who can close out wins. He also stumbled really badly and was caught unprepared early last season. The man is out of excuses in my book.
No more pussy "camp lovie" stuff this August. His starters need REPS and yeah that includes Caleb too. I don't want to see a repeat of that same garbage from last year where Fields threw 2 screen passes all preseason and they said he was "ready".
The expectations this year require Flus getting off to a good start. If they open up 1-3 or something, Flus will have a lot to answer for. He better have his shit together this time.
+1 I am trying to keep the koolaid on the shelf, but I am very tempted to go to our local Indian casino sports bar and bet $100 on over 8.5. Should I do it?
I'm taking the over on 8.5 for sure.
This team won 7 games last year with a QB who couldn't throw the ball and only one functional WR. The 2024 schedule sets up favorably and we have only a handful of opponents where you can say the Bears should be clear underdogs. Every other game is either Bears favorite or within a few points either way.
CW is a rookie and he will have some bad games too I know that but my main concern is Flus. He still has a lot to prove as a gameday manager who can close out wins. He also stumbled really badly and was caught unprepared early last season. The man is out of excuses in my book.
No more pussy "camp lovie" stuff this August. His starters need REPS and yeah that includes Caleb too. I don't want to see a repeat of that same garbage from last year where Fields threw 2 screen passes all preseason and they said he was "ready".
The expectations this year require Flus getting off to a good start. If they open up 1-3 or something, Flus will have a lot to answer for. He better have his shit together this time.
It will help to have a Shane Waldron in place of Getsy. I hope Flus runs the defense and Waldron the offense. Anyway, should I bet the $100 on over 8.5? I am very close to doing it, and I have never bet money on NFL. Major injuries is about all I can imagine hold us under 9.
+1 I am trying to keep the koolaid on the shelf, but I am very tempted to go to our local Indian casino sports bar and bet $100 on over 8.5. Should I do it?
I'm taking the over on 8.5 for sure.
This team won 7 games last year with a QB who couldn't throw the ball and only one functional WR. The 2024 schedule sets up favorably and we have only a handful of opponents where you can say the Bears should be clear underdogs. Every other game is either Bears favorite or within a few points either way.
CW is a rookie and he will have some bad games too I know that but my main concern is Flus. He still has a lot to prove as a gameday manager who can close out wins. He also stumbled really badly and was caught unprepared early last season. The man is out of excuses in my book.
No more pussy "camp lovie" stuff this August. His starters need REPS and yeah that includes Caleb too. I don't want to see a repeat of that same garbage from last year where Fields threw 2 screen passes all preseason and they said he was "ready".
The expectations this year require Flus getting off to a good start. If they open up 1-3 or something, Flus will have a lot to answer for. He better have his shit together this time.
TBF I don't think all the preseason games in the world were going to make JF measurably better. But yes, CW needs to be out there for one half of each preseason game throwing the ball around. I don't care if the rest of the starters have to be out there too.
Regarding preseason games, I agree we need to get the 1's some work. I wouldn't go overboard though. Let them get some work in every game and then call it a day... let the depth players showcase who belongs on the roster, and who should be cut. Don't go overboard with your starters and get them IR'd in the preseason. I want to watch guys like Caleb and Rome play in the "real" games rather than Bagent and Velus Jones & Tyler Scott. And if ever there was a year we need to go into a season with our OL starters healthy - this is that year.
But sure, get the starters meaningful reps each PS game and then pull them after a few series or so. We have 4 PS games this year too... so plenty of opportunities to get work done (I'd let Caleb have a series in the HoF game on Aug 1st but no more). One.
Regarding preseason games, I agree we need to get the 1's some work. I wouldn't go overboard though. Let them get some work in every game and then call it a day... let the depth players showcase who belongs on the roster, and who should be cut. Don't go overboard with your starters and get them IR'd in the preseason. I want to watch guys like Caleb and Rome play in the "real" games rather than Bagent and Velus Jones & Tyler Scott. And if ever there was a year we need to go into a season with our OL starters healthy - this is that year.
But sure, get the starters meaningful reps each PS game and then pull them after a few series or so. We have 4 PS games this year too... so plenty of opportunities to get work done (I'd let Caleb have a series in the HoF game on Aug 1st but no more). One.
Save the players. Do Tresty one better. Go out there and play your first down. Then punt on the second. Our punter is used to lots of reps. We don't want him to get rusty. If Williams is generational he shouldn't need more than one down anyway.
This team won 7 games last year with a QB who couldn't throw the ball and only one functional WR. The 2024 schedule sets up favorably and we have only a handful of opponents where you can say the Bears should be clear underdogs. Every other game is either Bears favorite or within a few points either way.
CW is a rookie and he will have some bad games too I know that but my main concern is Flus. He still has a lot to prove as a gameday manager who can close out wins. He also stumbled really badly and was caught unprepared early last season. The man is out of excuses in my book.
No more pussy "camp lovie" stuff this August. His starters need REPS and yeah that includes Caleb too. I don't want to see a repeat of that same garbage from last year where Fields threw 2 screen passes all preseason and they said he was "ready".
The expectations this year require Flus getting off to a good start. If they open up 1-3 or something, Flus will have a lot to answer for. He better have his shit together this time.
It will help to have a Shane Waldron in place of Getsy. I hope Flus runs the defense and Waldron the offense. Anyway, should I bet the $100 on over 8.5? I am very close to doing it, and I have never bet money on NFL. Major injuries is about all I can imagine hold us under 9.
IMHO the odds of the Bears winning at least 9 games is over 50%. That's essentially what the bet is.
Regarding preseason games, I agree we need to get the 1's some work. I wouldn't go overboard though. Let them get some work in every game and then call it a day... let the depth players showcase who belongs on the roster, and who should be cut. Don't go overboard with your starters and get them IR'd in the preseason. I want to watch guys like Caleb and Rome play in the "real" games rather than Bagent and Velus Jones & Tyler Scott. And if ever there was a year we need to go into a season with our OL starters healthy - this is that year.
But sure, get the starters meaningful reps each PS game and then pull them after a few series or so. We have 4 PS games this year too... so plenty of opportunities to get work done (I'd let Caleb have a series in the HoF game on Aug 1st but no more). One.
Caleb needs to play because he needs to start getting used to NFL speed and the possibility of being hit. He won't have either in practice.
Mahomes, Burrow, Cousins, etc -- those guys don't need to play in preseason. They're established, proven QBs.
Williams needs reps and you can't let injury fear get in the way of that.
Lets be honest, this is an easy schedule, cant ask for much more than this. No division games early, and our div is supposed to be tough. So easy entry for CW and WRs. Then you have a trip to London and a break after it. Good. By game 11 you should be working on all cylinders, just hope we get 1 more quality DE asap.
Regarding preseason games, I agree we need to get the 1's some work. I wouldn't go overboard though. Let them get some work in every game and then call it a day... let the depth players showcase who belongs on the roster, and who should be cut. Don't go overboard with your starters and get them IR'd in the preseason. I want to watch guys like Caleb and Rome play in the "real" games rather than Bagent and Velus Jones & Tyler Scott. And if ever there was a year we need to go into a season with our OL starters healthy - this is that year.
But sure, get the starters meaningful reps each PS game and then pull them after a few series or so. We have 4 PS games this year too... so plenty of opportunities to get work done (I'd let Caleb have a series in the HoF game on Aug 1st but no more). One.
Caleb needs to play because he needs to start getting used to NFL speed and the possibility of being hit. He won't have either in practice.
Mahomes, Burrow, Cousins, etc -- those guys don't need to play in preseason. They're established, proven QBs.
Williams needs reps and you can't let injury fear get in the way of that.
I just believe there can be a balance here. Neither extreme seems necessary. By all means get him plenty of reps in these 4 PS games. But that doesn't mean he needs to play a lot in all 4 games. Start with a series or two at first, then work with the coaching staff to learn from what went right and what didn't... then focus on more the next PS game. I don't think it would be best to just toss him in the deep end of the pool playing full PS games. And the injury thing doesn't mean anything to fans - until our new toy is IR's in a preseason game and misses his rookie season in games that actually matter. It's not an injury fear, but just being smart about our QB1.
Lets be honest, this is an easy schedule, cant ask for much more than this. No division games early, and our div is supposed to be tough. So easy entry for CW and WRs. Then you have a trip to London and a break after it. Good. By game 11 you should be working on all cylinders, just hope we get 1 more quality DE asap.
With this schedule, Bears should be in contention to win the division all season.