We’ve been covering the draft specifically, but now I want to pull back and survey the overall landscape. In life we sometimes get so stuck in the minutia, running to and fro the rat race tubes, that we forget to squeeze out and take it all in. Walking the streets of a city differs from viewing the city from a nearby mountain.

On that note, this vid touches on some of the sentiments I share on overall roster construction in the modern NFL. Modern being the key adjective because sometimes as long time NFL fans, our mentality can freeze in a different era [see, music taste]. We all loved Irish [to varying degrees!], but if his WRs weren’t 6’4, if his DCs weren’t blitzing like a methed-out Buddy Ryan, and if the pundits didn’t actually play, then he wanted no part of them. Or as he would put it, “Be gone!” He also wanted to draft a stud HB in nearly every draft searching for our next Sweetness!

Well, hate to break it to us Bear fans, but this ain’t 1985! NFL changes seemingly every 4-5 years. Sometimes it’s subtle [i.e. the avg size of ILBs] other times it’s more pronounced [I doubt we’ll ever see a HB going #1 overall ever again].

I still subscribe to some longstanding NFL truism: building the trenches is #1. My earliest critique on Poles was him building the secondarybefore the lines.

Poles to his credit DID attempt to fix the Oline at least, he was simply[ironically] TERRIBLE at it. Nate Davis [$30M], Lucas Patrick, Coleman Shelton, Tyler Biadasz, Kiran Amegadjie…Oddly enough, considering Braxton Jones was a 5th RDer, he might be Poles’ greatest ‘gem’ while Wright has proven to be a good pick [but is he a better RT than Carter a DT?]; luckily for Poles, and us, the new crew of BJ/Rouschar seem to be superior in Oline evaluation and development.

TBC, I didn’t HATE the prospects per se. CB Kyler Gordon [#39], SS Brisker [#48] were startable; I just felt that Poles should focus on the lines FIRST.

The following draft, Poles selected Wright [over Carter at #10], then DT Gervon Dexter [#53], so he did attempt to build the Dlines, but then he drafted yet another CB Stevenson at #56

“Statistically CBs get INJed the most, aging nearly as fast as HBs, so unless your SB window is near, they’ll likely be irrelevant by the time you create a contending team. Optimally, you build the trenches then get a top CB still in his prime”

This sadly applies to Bears. Both Johnson and Gordon were INJed for much of the year while Brisker’s brain became mush. Stevenson seems durable, but BJ benched him for a journey CB Wright. Will Johnson, Gordon and Stevenson remain on the team by the time it makes a real SB push? Doubtful.

Ergo, BUILD THE TRENCHES.

Afterwards, add the gravy of a premium CB and HB.

Naturally with MOFOS far better than Gervon, Pickens or Unmotivated Dayo. However, perhaps the template of wanting ONE Übermensch is outdated

‘The last two SB winners didn’t have a 10+ sack player…SEA and Philly just sent waves of big men at you…it’s like hockey where teams just throw line A then sub in a whole new line B. Line B won’t be as great as line A, but it gives the starters much needed rest and makes them more effective overall’

This trend seems hard to dispute. We all wanted Garrett, Crosby, Hendrickson to a lesser degree, but look what happened to the Puke. Once Micah Parsons went down, their season was basically over. Packers didn’t send waves – they sent one tsunami; their SB dreams dissipated with their tsunami.

Consequently, Bears should acquire as many [impact] Dlinemen as possible. After fielding a healthy stable, then the finishing touches of Safeties like Nick Emmanwori [35th] or CB Quinyon Mitchell [22nd].

Spine of team – right down the middle – should exhibit intelligence, character and leadership the closer you get to the middle – Daniel Jeramiah

This is actually an old trope which used to be racist – just ask Warren Moon [‘QB, C, MLB and S should be white’].

Thankfully, we have progressed as a society beyond these stereotypes. I’ll put Samurai Mike’s and Mike Brown’s football IQ up against anyone. [Maybe we just need to draft more Mikes!]

This may also help explain the seemingly befuddling move to extend TJ Edwards. Maybe DeMarco Jackson is way more athletic, but can he line everyone up right? Can he be the general with the green dot?

Unc Byard was that for the secondary but Poles signed another S with leadership and communication chops in Coby Bryant.

Losing Dalman at C absolutely hurt, and we can only hope the new guy can at least hold court.

Obviously the player who must exhibit the most intelligence, communication and leadership is the QB and the arrow is pointing up for Caleb in those departments.

Still, down the line, Poles will have to address the MLB and C positions, maybe as soon as this week.

Other NFL axioms exist like about arms, starting experience, ‘don’t draft outliers’ etc but the aforementioned seem more foundational.

It needs to be said though that NFL teambuilding philos can’t become dogmatic. Plenty of tipping points.

For instance, even if one professes “Never draft a HB, LB or S in the 1st RD!” if Jeremiyah Love, Sonny Styles or Caleb Downs somehow miraculously slip to #25, Poles will sprint to podium like the Flash. Heck, I can envision Poles drafting WR Carnell Tate or TE Kenyon Sadiq if they’re somehow still on the board regardless of “need.”

QBs need the three Ps: surround them with the playcaller, playmakers and protection – Jeremiah

This may be the most vital of all, and it seems the Bears FINALLY have the 3Ps in

1.BJ
2.Loveland/Burden/Rome…
3.Top 5 Oline

That can go a long way esp if the run and pass rush D get fixed.

So future looking bright.