Are The Bears A Playoff Team? Reactions To The 53-man Roster Moves

Welcome, ladies and gentlemen, and we are so glad you guys are here. It's the Believe in Bears podcast. We are a blitz. Marshall Harris, Clay Harbor, Gabe Ramirez, and today we're going to talk about all the cuts the Chicago Bears made and find out if, in fact, they made a few mistakes. but now we could start our podcast off the way we always do. I call it. Truth be told, this is an opportunity for all of us to kind of argue with each other. It seems like that's what happens at the beginning of these podcasts. All right, I'm going to go first. Mine is based off the roster that is in place in the present. And I'm going to say, truth be told, DeAndre Swift will repeat as a Pro Bowler, as a member of the Chicago Bears. Yeah, I'm going to say I the the cop out answers. The jury's still out on that. But I'm going to say he is because they're going to lean on the run game. This is what I can tell you. They didn't pay him 24 million over three years not to use a Caleb Williams, a rookie quarterback, a rookie quarterback's best friend in the NFL. That would be a running game. And I think they have to depend on him. And it's not just him out of the backfield. On handoffs. I think he's going to be used in a variety of ways to give a little bit of an insurance tag, to one Caleb Williams, I think, the bears and their offensive coordinator, Sam Waldron, this is what he is here for it. So I think it's a beautiful set up for Caleb Williams. And I think DeAndre Swift is going to be a huge benefactor from. Surprisingly I'm with Marshall I'm with Gabe here I think that you guys are correct. I watched every single game of DeAndre Swift last year because I was working with, Inside the Birds podcast Network. So to watch all the Eagles games, this dude is legit. I've never been more impressed. You know, you never know what to think when you hear a guy. You haven't really watched him. And watching him last year. He was big. He was strong. Obviously we know he's elusive. He can catch the ball, then go into training camp. This year it feels like he got even better. He's a guy. They line up outside. He's a guy that can line up in the slot. They move them around a lot. He creates mismatches. Linebackers just can't guard him one on one and as a running back, you get a ton of matchups with linebackers. And Caleb Williams knows how to pick matchups and it's something that he's really good at. So I agree with Gabe and Marshall. I think that, D'Andre Swift can be and will be a Pro Bowl back this year. Here I was thinking I was making some bold statement like, man, the AJ Swift, you know, he's back at it, you know. So and then you guys agree with me makes it no fun. But I think, I mean, for all the reasons you guys just said, I just think, you know, when you. I've been watching bears football for so long and whenever we've had a good running back, teams have put eight in the box. Right. Just kind of destroy you and like, dare your quarterback to throw the ball. That is not going to be the case for this offense, right? I mean, they have weapons up top. So Deontay Swift is going to have a lot of man man coverage a lot of space to work in. And if he can stay healthy, he certainly is going to be a guy that could repeat as a Pro Bowl. All right Harris, what you got? Truth be told, Venus Jones Jr will not be on the final 53 man roster. Oh. That hurts. that's that's a lie. That's a lie I tell. I told you that in case I try to tell anyone that Wallace and Bayless Jones knew he was going to make this team. He's just too talented. I said Corey Blazing game was not going to make the 50 man roster because he's someone that could go through the waivers and make it. And that's exactly what is going on right now. But I think Bayless Jones guys it's clear as day man. You know like I've been talking to my dad. And I said do you want a fifth round rookie from North Dakota State to be your running back or your, you know, your fourth running back or your fifth sixth wide receiver. Or do you want Bayless Jones Junior, someone that can actually be a weapon for you. And Bayless Jones we know it. He's big strong fast. And you got to give credit to Shane Waldron who made that adjustment early made that adjustment to where they can still be beneficial. It can still be beneficial to the Chicago Bears. And him being on the team now will, in fact, mean that he'll be on the team once the season starts. Why you don't say Marshall? Wow. Why are you. Hey. Why? Hey. Weber's Jones Jr, bro. All right, first things first, Marshall, I'm with you. secondly, Gabe, stop hating on North Dakota State, man. Because I was in that conference. Conference? I played in the football conference. Here's the thing. Gabe Bayless Jones was lucky. Dante Pettis doesn't go to air. I think Donte Palace gets that final spot. December Webster. He's not here. I think both of those guys outplayed Bayless Jones this year. So you got to be healthy. You got to be healthy. I got to be healthy. Got to be healthy. But I mean two players I agree. But if you do have those two players Dante Pettis out played him in the preseason. He outplayed him in training camp. That position if he doesn't get injured was Dante Pederson's position. Couldn't argue that. Two touchdowns just making plays in preseason, making plays during training camp. So to me, he kind of got a little bit lucky. And that leads me to my truth be told, truth be told, this is a playoff roster. Looking at the final 53. Let's go. This is a playoff roster okay. They say they did some things on the defensive line bringing in a couple guys I mean not big time players but veterans that you can put in the stop gaps defensive end. And as three techniques. So those are my two biggest worries right. If the offensive line stays healthy now Lord Larry forum starting on here I don't think I'm ready for Kieran. somebody help me out with this last name. I mean I mean, but. Other guys say, yeah, is ready to play. The guy didn't have much training camp, didn't have any preseason. So you got to stay healthy in the old line. But it's brings you back to flashbacks, PTSD. When we we were thinking N'keal Harry was going to be a big time receiver. We were thinking Byron Pringle was about to have a big year. We were just the roster is so much better now. It is unbelievable in this scheme. Looks like. Marshall play offs. Okay. Yeah yeah yeah I don't I don't know if I would agree with this a week ago before they made the two quick trades to help shore that defensive line. But I got to tell you I believe in the bears defense before they made those trades. Now I'm just more, you know, sunk into the ground with it. Like I think that they have something cooking here. And as long as Caleb Williams develops at a gradual rate, a successful rate, as long as they can get through the first half of the season with a 500 record, it's all right there in front of them, knowing that there's division opponents aren't until the back half of the season, and you're going to be at your best, you would hope, unless, you know, injuries notwithstanding, I do believe this team can make the playoffs. A lot of teams make the playoffs in the NFL. This isn't your your big brother's, NFL. This isn't your dad's NFL. A lot of teams make the playoffs. 14 of the 32 teams. We're approaching NBA and NHL levels of percentage of teams in the league and make the NFL. Why can't the bears be one of those teams? Knowing what we know about their defense and knowing that their offense should be much improved and much more consistent, even with some rookies in some key positions. When you're looking at ten wins for the Chicago Bears and what that looks like in the NFC, you're looking at teams that made it last year. We talked about them last week right. The Buccaneers the Rams its bears can certainly be that team of 2024 if if all things hold true right. The defense is playing at a high operating at a high level. If Caleb Williams is progressing week in and week out and remaining healthy, right. He's still a small guy. So we got to hope that he stays healthy. You know, throughout the season because obviously a lot of that is depending on that. But this bears he certainly can be a can be a playoff team. I'm not just doing the I mean I'm sure I'm my fandom is pouring out and all. Of our scoring. Up. Well, yours is to Marshall because you said they're gonna make the playoffs, so don't worry. Don't worry about that. but the fact remains that, they are going to try to make it in the present with what they have in place. And that then allows us to talk about the offensive side of the ball. Those that the I just want to point out, mine is basically just purely logic. Yours is based on fandom. And then you're trying to mix in some backs along the way. You could call it, you could call it whatever you want, but the common denominator is that the bears are going to the playoffs. So I just I agree, I think we agree on that. Yeah. All right. Offensive side of the ball guys Caleb Williams and Tyson Basin. No Mark. no. No ribbon no Reed. They get cut only caring for running backs, which obviously Bayless Jones can slide into as being a fifth. It may be. like. Allegedly. Yeah. Coach Gerald Everett Mercedes Lewis on the tight end. So they keep ten offensive linemen and six receivers D.J. Moore Keenan Allen Roman does a Titus copy of this Jones and DeAndre Carter. All right offensive side of the ball surprises. And it's so funny because you think about a team and the talent that they have. But then once you see the roster and you're like oh that's that's your depth. That's that's the team that you have that's right in front of you. Thoughts on this Chicago Bears offense fellas. Listen, I'm going to start with the offensive line because that is my concern when I look at this team overall, I'm as concerned, if not more concerned about the offensive line as I am about the defensive line. I want you to really think about what I just said. the dude has been beating the drum. Get go get some help getting after the quarterback for the last two seasons. Right. Combine. But this offensive line as play mentioned with no Larry Baum to start the season and just not knowing necessarily how good that unit is going to work cohesively. And I think that's my biggest thing. Also, when I really looked at the 52 man roster play, you tell me I was in a tight end. This is as good a tight end group as I've seen around the league in terms of the balance of guys in their prime, veteran and then guys who can get it done without Gerald Everett, also. Added to them. I got to say, I when you bring up the concerns on, is it because you have little concern when you say that you have the same amount of concern on offense, on defense, because the defensive line is going to be good, right. And the offensive line we talk about continuity. The only true piece that's going to be different is the center. Right. Everyone else was there last year on this team plan playing offensive line for the bears. What's the what's the most important, position on the line? If you have a bad one, you're not doing anything. Yeah, that left tackle. Now, I'm gonna I'm gonna say. I'm going to say center. Just because you can have a great left tackle and a great right tackle. But if your center is not, is subpar, that your whole interior is going to collapse like that. Yeah. Hornets, I think I think the left tackles the most important, position. You're correct in the side of your quarterback, man. No, I got the mindset that if you don't have a good center, if your center is a. Centers important, but the tackles are the two most important, then I would go center after that. And it's, it's a tough position to play depending on the type of calls you're playing. But let's be real, this offense is going to run through Caleb Williams. You know the buck stops there right. He's got to have a good season. He's got to be able to move the ball consistently. Obviously we want to start off a strong running game. I'm curious to see in game type situations how many carries Swift gets opposed to Herbert Johnson. Now remember last week game said truth be told, Travis Homer is going to be the first running back cut. Travis homer is on 53 man roster. Just to throw that out there. I only use I want to use the argument. I want to use your argument. If Dante Pettis is healthy, then Travis Homer wouldn't. Be oh, Homer would have been the guy. It's just a matter of days. Homer. And obviously we've said it how many times with the weapons DJ Moore, Keenan Allen we love what we saw from Tyler Scott. The last preseason game coming in with seven catches for come at Gerald Everett. Great tight end room. It's been at the time who's been interesting because as you watch through training camp and the games, it's not A12 situation. It's not a number one. And number two, it's a per play per formation rotation. Gerald Everett is getting time with the ones commit is not the one and Jared Albers not the two. They're splitting time. So if you're a fantasy football player out there be careful of that because it's going to be a big split in these in these pass plays. And you're going to see a little bit more of Everett's and I think you're ready for. But the offensive line is a huge, huge issue here. If the guys stay healthy, I think they can be successful. But what is Nate Davis and Jenkins showed us? They can't stay healthy. And then even Braxton Jones had some injury problems start. All right play through him. He's had some injury problems. And early in the season when you're seeing tackles out you got guys like Matt Pryor here. And obviously trying to back up your tackle. If coming down she's playing against a big time pass rusher in a game. So you're you're all game plan. It's out with I'm sorry. You're going to have to move Mercedes Lewis tackle who I think you could do it. But he's going to have to sit there as a as a second tackle. And you're gonna have to change some things up until you are ready. For Larry Baum, a guy that's shown that he can get the job done consistently. Swing tackle is a very important position in this game. And then obviously, Bates and Shelton, let's see how they do. Nate Davis he's starting against his former team this year the Tennessee Titans. So you should have a little bit added incentive to play against them. But to me interesting to see I think they got players I don't think they get a ton of depth. And we'll see how that goes to Marshall. Yeah. For me the cohesion like that's when you say they don't have a ton of depth. Lots of different guys been playing a bunch of different positions next to a bunch of different guys. Yeah. I just don't see the cohesion as a unit. Yeah. Marshall let me ask you this before we go to defensive side of the ball. Tyler Scott, we haven't talked enough about him. Why he's making this team. He's there. Do you do you have faith in a guy like him to come down with the ball consistently throughout the season? Before we move on? I think I do, but time will tell. It's you know, I have I have more faith in him doing it than Bayless Jones Jr. That's why he's in the position he's in. So I like Travis Scott is a deep threat. I just think they have so many good guys in the receiver room ahead of him. Like Roman. Doomsday can be that guy proven he can be that guy I just got to. See Vegas doing. That's my thing. You're not going to break his microphone. And he's not doing something. Kick returns I. Have like. A small package for him that's like a small like 4 to 6 plays that he can just kind of give. It. He's muffed kick return. So in preseason he's in training. He is. Mean. If he is put there. If he's put back on. He's not going to get back. If he drops a kick return, that is even his fault. All right. Well maybe maybe maybe on junior. What are those cars called? What are vehicles called with the like the two wheels in the front and the one will in the back. And they don't have a roof, you know, in the summertime, he's a deity project to me. That's that's what he is. And as you said, Clay, how are they going to use them? What are you, 4 to 6 plays where you could just be doing other stuff with other guys who are proven that they can make things happen. But the thing is this. But the the 53, I mean, if we're gonna stay here, right, like if the 53 man on the team, if we're talking about it being somebody, what are they going to do if it's not a Pettis. If it's if it's Travis, Homer, whoever that 53rd May be second place to be the. Jones make a catch. And what in a five. What I'm just saying understand. Like whoever kick return, he can catch. You're right. And if he goes down here, he's a receiver you can put in there. And he's not even. On like the. World on fire. I'm Marshall saying it right. It's it's not nothing that they can do it because they can do it. It's it's what can you depend on pay this to do. And I think that's the biggest. Question. Is not shown that he can do that consistently. And if you continue to put a guy out there that is showing you who he is, and I think he's a big athletic guy, super explosive. He is not to be. How many. Carries? How many carries you think he's going to get? Game one. How many carries? Running, bro? Hopefully. maybe two. I mean. Do you think there's some you need to get some. DeAndre Swift like come on man. They have to say this is going to get some. You all right. We gotta move up. We gotta move now. We gotta talk about the defensive side quickly. Obviously pretty much everyone knew who was going to be there, including the newest additions, Chris Williams and Taylor. Clay Taylor, talk to me about a guy that moves from three 4 to 4 three and then is allowed to just rush the passer, as opposed to being responsible for coverage and for, you know, stopping the run consistently. I think that's good. I think, he's a guy that's shown that he can get sacks and, and watch some of his film. You can see, you know, he's a tough guy. Six four, 270 pounds long arms me. Those guys I hated to block. You know the guys he had ty issues standing up. That's how long this guy's arms are. So he's a guy that's been consistent in this league. Getting at least 6.5 sacks nine and a half sacks, five and a half sacks. And he's a guy that has played in a lot of games. You look at his first three years, 16 game, 16 game, 17 games, so you can rely on him. He's not gonna do anything crazy. But if you continually give him one on one matchups, he will get back to the quarterback. He will be a guy will get there. I can't say that about DeMarcus Walker. DeMarcus Walker is a jack of all trades. You can move them inside. You can play three, play five. You can put them out there at the nine. Austin Booker is a madman. He's super athletic. He can spin I love his spin move but he is raw. He's still trying to figure things out. I like this move. He's a guy you can consistently rely on. If you're just chip and sweat and rolling and sliding off and protection to sweat every play, this guy will eventually hit home and get you a couple sacks throughout the year. It's a big time play, so I love it. Marshall a lot of people thought already Stewart was going to make the team. we saw Greg Stroman obviously on the back end of that. obviously defensive backs, feel strongly about them. What do you think about, the decisions that were made there? No, I like all the decisions are made. But Stroman, for one, is just the odd man out in a very talented, arguably the most talented room that they have right now. In terms of what when you look at individual position, that's secondary. I'm expecting big things because of the way the linebacking corps kind of came together and coalesced at the end of last season. I think these takeovers are going to be excuse me, turnovers are going to be real turnovers. And the takeaways I look to see them as one of the top ten, if not top five teams at taking the ball away. We saw in the preseason, we talked about it how regardless if a first string, second string guys just trying to make the roster or hoping to get invited back to the practice squad, the intensity on defense never let up. I'm really interested to see who the bears put on the 16 man, practice squad and to see if they can retain some of their own talent and and curious to see who they pick up from around the league. yeah. The guys who have been cut for free agents, guys that they have tape on now. But I really do believe in this defense. that's why I say it's so important because you talk about, like, covered sacks and everything else like that. I'm not looking at it from the the issue of, hey, can the defensive line put a little bit of pressure? I just know if they can get that initial pressure, they can force bad decisions from quarterbacks. And the the back seven are going to be ready to go. You've got a focal point of the this isn't the final roster, right? Right. I've seen it every year I've been in the league. The guys that they make the roster. But then a couple days later, guess what happens. You're bringing in a new set of guys. Two of these guys are gonna be gone. But I wanted to get your guys take on, one of the more surprising, I think keeps was like, Daniel Hardy, Jacob Martin, Martin not playing that much. Hardy. Just a guy who had a really good camp, really good preseason, but a guy that not a lot of people know about. And then, I wanted to say this, that I wasn't a big Elijah Hicks fan last year, and I thought the guy was I mean, he was toast, man. He was Marshall back playing high school football. He was gay back in the day, man. This guy. Yeah, I know Smith. I was definitely high. School football when I like. Elijah Hicks improved a lot. Jonathan Owens this offseason impressed you. Look it's not just he's not just a mom Bios husband. No. He's a guy that can play. He's quick. He can hit. He's got an attitude to him. He's got some swag. He's a guy who's not scared to go up in the box he can cover. I really like the defensive backfield and not just BYoD with I have solid pre-season as well, solid training camp, who I was a little bit concerned with after he came in from Tennessee to Philly. He had a down year, but that Philly defense when they went to Matt Patricia last year was just nobody could have played well. They had Reed could have been in his prime out there and not had a good year. So I'd hold that he inspire. He looked good. But thoughts on those two defensive ends that made it in the near the end of the roster. Yeah, I think Danny Hardy deserved it. And I love moments like that. Right. That's what training camps for. So that that way, you know, you can prove that you belong and that you're better than some of the guys on the team. And then the coaches reward you with that. With that roster spot, did you have an issue with the Marshall? I'm sure you didn't. You know. All the decisions that were made, especially after I found out Dante Patterson's like, hurt, hurt. I was like, okay, I can live with this. Like, that's really my biggest thing was Bayless Jones Junior, as has been documented there many times. But other than that, the other. Thing to do. For the end, which is that. John, we didn't talk about Dern offense, but DeAndre Carter to we're talking about is he just you see the kick returns. The punt returns. Yeah exactly. That's what he's doing Taylor last year okay. All right. Well we didn't get much as special teams. But now leads us to our final five last few minutes with the pod. Wrap it up with some final thoughts. don't forget to, you can add us then. we did have a question, and I didn't get a chance to. I don't want to do it, but it was about what? Grade we give Ryan pause after, at the start of year three as he sits right here. we'll do that on the next pod. But you can always add us. Make sure you follow us on social media. Chicago underscore Gabe Marshall, what are you what's your social media handle? You hear us on air? If you find it, you're, you know, you're you should be out here looking for anything. Because I'm hard to find, but it's in Harris. On air on all platforms. Clay. Clay halves, 82. Baby marshmallows. Why 82? I can't even deal with this. All right, make sure you follow us and make sure you add us if you have any questions that you want us to answer. but when it's time to. Five minutes. I mean, usually we do, you know, our matchups and our predictions. But, Clay, I want you to tell us about, you know, these last couple of weeks. I know it was shorter when you were back in the league. Back in the day, the time between the last preseason game and the start of the season. But this time of year, what are teams going through? What are they? What are they doing? How are they, you know, tightening things up and making things, better, preparing themselves for the season. Yeah. So this is a fluid situation right now. And that's what I told you guys before, is a lot of these guys think, oh wow, I made the final 53 man roster. But after everybody gets released, season on waiver wire, there's some big names out there. Still. There's some guys. I got a couple written down here that I was shocked to see. There were some big name guys. Tim Patrick got released. Sean Clifford and Michael Pratt, backup quarterbacks Lewis Lewis, same kind. I don't know how you say his last name. Kadarius Toney, Noah Brown, receiver. So there's some guys out there. They're going to get some jobs that can play in the NFL, and they're going to take some guys jobs. So we'll have to come back and do this in a couple days and really talk about the actual 53 man roster and see what happens there. But as a player, interesting time of the year. You're losing some of your teammates. You're trying to stay focused on the game ahead of you. Back in the day, you had a game the next week. So for me, I've been released. Final cuts I've got picked up the next day when the Eagles released me. Okay, you're going to the waiver wire on Sunday. The final day was Saturday. Sunday, a waiver wire. Monday, you find out where you're going and you fly there and you're ready for practice on Wednesday after a crash course in a playbook on Tuesday. So it's a wild time for these guys. But it's, it's an opportunity. And that's how these guys got to treat it. It's an opportunity to reinvent yourself. For some reason, it didn't work out the place you were before, but you take the time, you focus, you go out there, you get an opportunity to show that you do belong on a team and just use that as motivation. Yeah. Marshall you but but you know, as far as opportunities go, all in ones I care about the next 17 games. That's the outcome of the book on this. Obviously when the final 53 man roster is announced, as early as later this week or early next week, and we can just look to football. Tennessee Titans on that. Well, Marshall, you talked a lot about you know, your worries with the offensive defensive line, right? I mean that that can't necessarily change in two weeks in terms of when you can bring in people. But what what can the bears be doing in your eyes to try to tighten this thing and make it the the cleanest it could possibly be heading into week one? Sometimes you just have to get the reps and that's practice reps and that's game reps. And for Caleb Williams from iTunes and some of these other guys, it's game reps. They got to play the game. I think bears fans should be very grateful that they're starting against the Titans team. That's been so, so for the better part of a decade now. just take advantage of what's on the schedule to start. It's not like they're starting with who they start. Last year was that the Packers have got to take advantage of the matchups as they come. And you can always meet the people who are on the field with you, so that's the opportunity they need to be focus on right now. I'm not worried about anything else, but seeing Caleb Williams develop, that's the number one. Man is man. We'll love this man. This guy's on man. Can't lose a guy that's still managed. By. You. Gotta win this game running. That's right. All right. Next time you guys will be able to hear us Friday. Correct, gentlemen. Is that right? Thursday or Friday. I think. Raymond, they have a podcast up and running. Ready to go for that Friday commute? Yeah, for the Friday commute. All right. So make sure you follow us. Believe in bears. man, appreciate you guys hanging out with us. We'll get some gas out here eventually. Right, guys? Just not right now. We're now we're we're we're the bears in the preseason. We're we're tightening things up. We're getting our reps in. So that way we can get ready for you guys. All right. again man appreciate you guys for listening. Until next time to Believe in Bears podcast. We are the Blitz, Marshall Harris, Clay Harbor and myself Gabe Ramirez have a good guys.