After a tumultuous preseason that included a Roquan Smith hold-in, uncertainty about Teven Jenkins’ match with the staff and three exhibition victories beneath new coach Matt Eberflus, the Chicago Bears are eight days away from their Sept. 11 season opener in opposition to the San Francisco 49ers at Soldier Area.
The Tribune’s Brad Biggs this week solutions questions on a possible new stadium in Arlington Heights, offensive coordinator Luke Getsy and extra.
Any concept on what number of seats the brand new stadium would have? — @hegotswag56
That’s a very good query. Maybe the staff will share some particulars at the assembly it's holding Thursday at Hersey Excessive Faculty in Arlington Heights. We’re speaking a few proposed new stadium — the Bears have but to shut on the land that was residence to Arlington Worldwide Racecourse.
I spoke final 12 months with Marc Ganis, the president of Chicago-based sports activities consulting agency Sportscorp, who may be very accustomed to league and stadium points, and this query got here up. As you in all probability know, Soldier Area has the smallest seating capability within the NFL at 61,500. Ganis stated a brand new stadium — whether it is constructed — could be bigger, however the usual seating capability would stay beneath 70,000. The Los Angeles Rams, who've the most recent stadium within the league, introduced 70,445 followers for the season opener in opposition to the Bears in 2021. Sixteen stadiums, together with Soldier Area, have a listed capability beneath 70,000. Fourteen are between 65,000 and 69,596.
“I doubt they'll go that giant (the 81,441 capability of Lambeau Area in Inexperienced Bay),” Ganis informed me. “I might assume the high-60s could be the precise quantity. There’s an odd price issue related to the geometry of the stadium. The most costly seats to assemble are the seats which are the furthest away from the sector as you broaden the constructing. As you improve the capability, you must broaden the scale of your entire constructing. So that you add 5 rows on the prime of the stadium so as to add one other few thousand seats. These are the costliest seats to construct whereas being the seats that generate the bottom income.
“Is it 66,000? 69,000? Have they got a capability to have standing room to get it to 72,000? That's the basic vary.”
Are the Bears leaning towards an open-air stadium, closed dome, retractable roof if/once they transfer to Arlington Heights? — @bret_buganski
The staff hasn’t supplied specifics concerning what they envision for a doable new stadium. If the Bears wish to maximize income for a brand new stadium, which they'd management, they would want a roof on the construction. That will enable them to host occasions year-round. A retractable roof could be considerably costlier. I'm certain we may have solutions to many of those questions within the close to future — together with a slew of latest questions.
What are the highest three positions offensively and defensively that have to be addressed later this season or subsequent? — @tannermartello
It could be tough to deal with positions of want in-season as a result of the Bears could be counting on gamers who're on the road or minimize free by different groups. It’s a bit untimely to evaluate what their wants will likely be with out seeing them play 17 video games, however a number of positions come to thoughts. Normal supervisor Ryan Poles tried to make a splash in free company by signing defensive deal with Larry Ogunjobi, who failed a bodily. I don’t know that they've the signature three-technique deal with who's certified to play the Cowl-2 scheme. May Justin Jones show to be that participant? Positive, it’s doable. Poles is aware of he might want to handle the vast receiver place. Darnell Mooney has the flexibility to emerge as a legit No. 1. I don’t assume he’s there but, but when he’s nonetheless ascending, he may get there. The gathering of others they've on the place appears like No. 4 choices in a very good passing sport. So receiver assist is required. The offensive line appears like a giant TBD. Let’s see how rookie Braxton Jones fares at left deal with and the way Teven Jenkins and Larry Borom carry out.
Of the gamers the Bears added in the previous few days, are there any who stick out as having an opportunity to start out or a minimum of enjoying important snaps in Week 1 in opposition to the 49ers? — @ajlight315
Poles added seven gamers on waiver claims because the preliminary 53-man roster was fashioned Tuesday afternoon. Three of them had been undrafted rookies. The one addition who may have a possibility to contribute instantly is defensive deal with Armon Watts. He primarily took the roster spot of Khyiris Tonga, who began all three preseason video games and was waived to create room for Watts. I don’t know if Watts will begin immediately, and there may be some query about his means to defend the run, however he has the flexibility to get after the quarterback from the within, so I may see him being a part of the rotation immediately.
Which of the receivers not named Darnell Mooney has stood out to you? Dante Pettis has seemed strong sufficient for a much bigger position. — @eduerrwaechter
Pettis had a pleasant summer time in coaching camp and preseason and positively has drawn the eye of quarterback Justin Fields. We haven’t seen quite a lot of Byron Pringle as a result of he has been out with a calf harm. The staff has indicated he will likely be again quickly. Equanimeous St. Brown had moments in coaching camp wherein he seemed good. Rookie Velus Jones missed quite a lot of observe time with an undisclosed harm that could be a good wager to be a delicate tissue deal. Exterior of Mooney, this group appears like doable No. 4 choices in a high-level passing offense. Perhaps St. Brown or Pringle will step ahead, and Jones’ ceiling is unknown at this level. I see Pringle, Pettis and St. Brown being the highest choices after Mooney. What order they’re in may rely upon the week and the matchup.
If Luke Getsy does properly and will get a head teaching gig in 2023, do the Bears have a Plan B? — @bbshooks
If Getsy is employed elsewhere as a head coach in 2023 — and the Denver Broncos interviewed him for the job that went to Nathaniel Hackett — it will be an amazing growth for the Bears. That will imply Fields had an enormous season and took a significant step ahead to show he's the franchise quarterback. Face it: If Fields is so-so this season, that gained’t do a ton for Getsy’s inventory as a possible head coach. But when Fields places collectively a very good season with the state of the offensive line and expertise at vast receiver, that might make Getsy a commodity. It could be a blow for the Bears to lose Getsy to a different staff after one season, however he could be leaving with the offense circled and the quarterback enjoying properly. I do know it sounds counterintuitive to say one of the best factor that would occur to the Bears is that if Getsy is employed as a head coach elsewhere, however I really imagine that. So far as a substitute, quarterbacks coach Andrew Janocko may have a giant hand within the growth of Fields and has coached a wide range of offensive positions.
What can we anticipate from vast receiver Ihmir Smith-Marsette, and the way lengthy do you assume it's going to take for him to rise up to hurry on this offense? – @jazz_trpt
We’re not going to know the reply to the primary a part of your query till we work out the second half. He’s a younger participant with a brand new playbook, and it’s tough to say how lengthy it's going to take him to digest all of it to develop into comfy with the playbook. I touched base with a scout about Smith-Marsette, who stated he has good burst and might sink and separate in his routes. The scout stated Smith-Marsette’s palms had been solely OK and that focus and element had been greater questions than means. Typically when a younger participant is launched and goes to a brand new staff, it’s a humbling expertise and finally ends up being a springboard to higher success. Maybe that would be the case with Smith-Marsette.
What participant in addition to Robert Quinn and Roquan Smith must have a profitable season for the Bears protection to have a profitable season? — @rossblumenfeld
Quite a lot of gamers might want to play properly for the protection to enhance from final season. If I needed to single one out, it will be defensive deal with Justin Jones. The three-technique place is crucial to the success of a Cowl-2 scheme, and for the Bears to be actually good up entrance, Jones might want to outperform his two-year, $12 million contract.
What number of occasions has a rookie fifth-rounder began at left deal with for a staff within the final 10 or so years, and the way did they fare? — @birdderby
It’s uncommon to discover a rookie drafted in Spherical 5 or later begin at both deal with place. Based on Professional Soccer Reference, solely 10 such rookies have began eight video games or extra of their first season relationship to 2010. The listing contains three Bears:
- 2021: Larry Borom, Bears, eight begins, primarily RT
- 2020: Michael Onwenu, New England Patriots, 16 RT
- 2019: Dennis Daley, Carolina Panthers, 9 LT
- 2019: Justin Skule, San Francisco 49ers, 8 LT
- 2016: Joe Haeg, Indianapolis Colts, 14 RT
- 2014: Seantrel Henderson, Buffalo Payments, 16 RT
- 2013: Michael Bowie, Seattle Seahawks, 8 RT
- 2013: Jordan Mills, Bears, 16 RT
- 2012: Dennis Kelly, Philadelphia Eagles, 10 RT
- 2010: J’Marcus Webb, Bears, 12 RT
The Eagles’ Jordan Mailata is listed for 10 video games began at left deal with in 2020, however he was drafted in 2018 and didn’t make his debut till 2020. Solely two left tackles are on the listing. Daley was simply traded to the Tennessee Titans, and Skule was a part of the 49ers’ cuts to achieve the 53-man roster restrict.
Does Alex Leatherwood venture as a deal with solely, or is there an opportunity — say if Cody Whitehair isn’t again subsequent season — the Bears may have these two maulers at left and proper guard with Leatherwood and Teven Jenkins? — @georgeholdcroft
The Bears actually need to take their time in evaluating Leatherwood after which decide the place their wants are earlier than they choose a place for him. He lined up at proper deal with throughout observe Thursday, and the hope, for the Las Vegas Raiders, was that he might be a proper deal with when he was drafted seventeenth general in 2021. Leatherwood struggled massively at proper deal with, and the Raiders moved him inside so he wouldn’t be as uncovered. Leatherwood is athletic sufficient to play deal with. Nevertheless it didn’t click on for him final season for no matter cause. The staff and Leatherwood have quite a lot of floor to cowl earlier than we venture him as a starter and name him a “mauler.” He didn’t play properly at guard final season both. We nonetheless have rather a lot to see from Jenkins as properly, however he had a strong preseason.
I don’t thoughts the Bears taking an opportunity on Alex Leatherwood, however why didn’t they only wait till after he cleared waivers? It appears as if no different staff positioned a declare on him, and I really feel that’s a bit a lot for a participant who hasn’t proven a lot after one 12 months. Hopefully he’s a steal. — @kidhaywire
The Bears had been the one staff to put a declare on Leatherwood and in getting him additionally they inherited his contract, which incorporates $5.9 million in ensures. Had Leatherwood cleared waivers, any staff that signed him may have gotten him for a lot much less. So why did the Bears place a declare on Leatherwood? They clearly obtained good studies on him and imagine strongly that they may also help flip round his profession. Maybe they had been nervous one other staff or groups would put a declare on him. Buying him wouldn’t have been a certain factor if Leatherwood cleared waivers — he would have been free to signal with any staff. The Bears took their shot and now have an opportunity and a while to convey him alongside. It’s a small funding if Leatherwood develops right into a participant for them, and it certain beats buying and selling for an underperforming first-round choose — such because the Minnesota Vikings did once they picked up vast receiver Jalen Reagor from the Philadelphia Eagles. The Vikings are on the hook for Reagor’s contract and forked over compensation to amass him. The Bears didn’t lose any draft capital in signing Leatherwood.
I do know that precedence for decisions from the waiver wire are given within the order of staff data from the earlier season, however how does the NFL deal with it? Does a participant seem on the waiver wire with the primary staff in line having a sure interval to offer a thumbs up or down, just like the time given between picks within the NFL draft? — Jerry L., Chicago
When participant is positioned on waivers, the opposite 31 groups have till 3 p.m. the subsequent day to say that participant. Within the occasion a number of groups place a declare, the staff highest within the order is awarded the participant. The deadline is similar regardless of the place every potential claiming staff is within the order.
One of the crucial spectacular issues from the preseason was the Bears’ few penalties. In the course of the Matt Nagy years, the Bears appeared to have far too many penalties, typically at very inopportune occasions. Is it wishful considering, or do the Bears to date appear rather more disciplined beneath Matt Eberflus? — Norm G.
The Bears had been actually good in three preseason video games at limiting penalties, and also you definitely would search for that to hold over to the common season. Penalties are going to occur and can pop up at inopportune occasions. Are the Bears extra disciplined? Presumably. They seem like extra organized. You’re not seeing the pre-snap penalties on offense that got here with confusion and struggles getting the play calls in and that kind of factor. I believe that's what most individuals discovered irksome in regards to the offense beneath Nagy. The Bears had means too many pre-snap penalties and burned too many timeouts as a result of the sideline operation wasn’t clean.
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