Here are the next 5 Bear opponents:
Saints
@Ravens
Burrow-less Bengals
Giants
@JJ? Vikings
Bears are 3-2, only one game behind the Puke in the NFCN.
It is entirely possible the Bears could go 4-1 in the next five games with a 7-3 record at minimum sniffing a WC.
Yes, the Bears’ Dline did perform much better vs WASH, but they still allowed 4.0 ypc, and it may have been more if it hadn’t been for playing with a lead for most of the game.
Also, Ben Johnson can’t rely on +3 TOs every game going forward. As Olin Kreutz correctly assessed, ‘You’re not forcing 11 TOs in 3 games like on this streak.’ That’s not a sustainable formula for success.
A reliable formula for success? A studly Dline, or at the very least, a mediocre one.
DT Jeffery Simmons could raise all battle ships.
Since Bears played Mon, I had Sunday free to peruse. I flipped to the Raider game specifically to scout Jeffery Simmons.
Holy Moly.
I admit, I didn’t even know where he was on the field since I don’t watch much Titans’ football. But it took me about 3 seconds to spot him. He’s hard to miss. He’s the type of monster you want stepping off the bus first when visiting an opponent. He looked like JJ Watt.
More importantly, he PLAYED like JJ Watt. On the very first series vs Raiders Simmons stuffed Jeanty twice, then sacked Geno despite the double team. He’s strong, fast, mean, and YUGE.
The Titans’ DC seemed to line him up at 3T when he anticipated pass, then moved him to 1T to gobble-up doubles vs run.
Honestly, it doesn’t take long to recognize greatness with the right eye. I mean, how long would you have to watch Sweetness, Butkus or Hester to determine they’re fucking awesome? It only takes one Picasso painting to gasp, “Wow.”
Simmons hovers close to that tier. Much closer than Billings, Dexter, Turner, et al, at least.
The Titans’ season is lost. They just fired their HC Brian Callahan and are basically tanking. They’re really about 3 yrs away [minimum] from making a serious SB push. Simmons is 28. Do they really expect he’ll fit that window?
Trading for Simmons seems realistic for both parties. I would trade a 2nd for him given that Bears still have to take on his contract. Titans could use that 2nd to bolster their oline or weapons for Cameron Ward who should be their #1 priority.
If Titans play hard-ball, demanding a 1st, MAYBE I’d throw in DJ Moore, but I’d have to get like a 4rth back in that scenario. They may want Moore. A tough savvy vet to help their fledging rookie franchise QB while the Bears need to clear cap for Simmons anyways.
This would also mean more Luther Burden.
Braxton Jones may also be in play, albeit I’d be more weary about trading away Oline given attrition. The Chiefs are paying a swing OT $15M/y. That’s how pivotal those OTs might be now; nevertheless, let’s be real. I doubt we’re paying Braxton next year.
Feels like this trade makes too much.
I also don’t trust Ryan Poles to actually DRAFT an elite linemen, so we’re back to Jerry Angelo copium.
Football is an arm’s race. USSR launched Sputnik. U.S. blasted off to the moon. The other Evil Empire snatched Micah Parsons. Time for Bears to counter with Simmons. Imagine him destroying Love, Rodgers, Monty/Gibbs…
Here’s Olin Kreutz breaking down the Bears-v-Commanders:
Cliffnotes:
1. Thinks coaches during bye simplified playbook.
2 . Blocking, specifically combo blockings, looked much crisper resulting in better running.
3. On run-stopping, maybe moving Shemar Turner to DE and Gervon Dexter to 3T helped.
4. TJ Edwards back may have bolstered entire D. He may not be the fleetest of foot, but his mind is agile, and perhaps he aligned everyone correctly, making them play faster and more aggressively, especially Tremaine Edmunds.
Olin, ‘I played against those MIKEs. They’re the worst. Sometimes they call out the play we’re running, and we know we’re going to have to move them off their spot’
MISC…
Finally, new Olympic sports I can get behind, literally!