After a tumultuous preseason that included a Roquan Smith hold-in, uncertainty about Teven Jenkins’ match with the group and three exhibition victories below 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 Field.
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 superb query. Perhaps the group will share some particulars on the assembly it’s holding Thursday at Hersey High School in Arlington Heights. We’re speaking a few proposed new stadium — the Bears have but to shut on the land that was dwelling to Arlington International Racecourse.
I spoke final yr with Marc Ganis, the president of Chicago-based sports activities consulting agency Sportscorp, who could be very conversant in league and stadium points, and this query got here up. As you most likely know, Soldier Field has the smallest seating capability within the NFL at 61,500. Ganis mentioned a brand new stadium — whether it is constructed — can be bigger, however the usual seating capability would stay below 70,000. The Los Angeles Rams, who’ve the latest stadium within the league, introduced 70,445 followers for the season opener in opposition to the Bears in 2021. Sixteen stadiums, together with Soldier Field, have a listed capability under 70,000. Fourteen are between 65,000 and 69,596.
“I doubt they will go that large (the 81,441 capacity of Lambeau Field in Green Bay),” Ganis instructed me. “I might suppose the high-60s can be the appropriate quantity. There’s an odd value issue related to the geometry of the stadium. The costliest seats to assemble are the seats which are the furthest away from the sphere as you broaden the constructing. As you enhance the capability, it’s a must to broaden the scale of the complete constructing. So you add 5 rows on the prime of the stadium so as to add one other few thousand seats. Those are the costliest seats to construct whereas being the seats that generate the bottom income.
“Is it 66,000? 69,000? Do they have an ability to have standing room to get it to 72,000? That is the general range.”
Are the Bears leaning towards an open-air stadium, closed dome, retractable roof if/once they transfer to Arlington Heights? — @bret_buganski
The group hasn’t provided specifics relating to what they envision for a doable new stadium. If the Bears need to maximize income for a brand new stadium, which they’d management, they would wish a roof on the construction. That would permit them to host occasions year-round. A retractable roof can be considerably dearer. I’m certain we could 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 should be addressed later this season or subsequent? — @tannermartello
It can be tough to handle positions of want in-season as a result of the Bears can be counting on gamers who’re on the road or lower free by different groups. It’s somewhat untimely to evaluate what their wants can be with out seeing them play 17 video games, however just a few positions come to thoughts. General supervisor Ryan Poles tried to make a splash in free company by signing defensive sort out Larry Ogunjobi, who failed a bodily. I don’t know that they’ve the signature three-technique sort out who’s certified to play the Cover-2 scheme. Could Justin Jones show to be that participant? Sure, it’s doable. Poles is aware of he might want to deal with the large receiver place. Darnell Mooney has the flexibility to emerge as a official No. 1. I don’t suppose he’s there but, but when he’s nonetheless ascending, he may get there. The assortment of others they’ve on the place seems to be like No. 4 choices in a extremely good passing recreation. So receiver assist is required. The offensive line seems to be like a giant TBD. Let’s see how rookie Braxton Jones fares at left sort out and the way Teven Jenkins and Larry Borom carry out.
Of the gamers the Bears added in the previous couple of days, are there any who stick out as having an opportunity to begin or a minimum of taking part in vital snaps in Week 1 in opposition to the 49ers? — @ajlight315
Poles added seven gamers on waiver claims because the preliminary 53-man roster was shaped Tuesday afternoon. Three of them had been undrafted rookies. The one addition who could have a chance to contribute instantly is defensive sort out 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 instantly, and there may be some query about his capability 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 instantly.
Which of the receivers not named Darnell Mooney has stood out to you? Dante Pettis has seemed strong sufficient for a much bigger function. — @eduerrwaechter
Pettis had a pleasant summer time in coaching camp and preseason and undoubtedly has drawn the eye of quarterback Justin Fields. We haven’t seen loads of Byron Pringle as a result of he has been out with a calf damage. The group has indicated he can be again quickly. Equanimeous St. Brown had moments in coaching camp through which he seemed good. Rookie Velus Jones missed loads of observe time with an undisclosed damage that may be a good guess to be a delicate tissue deal. Outside of Mooney, this group seems to be like doable No. 4 choices in a high-level passing offense. Maybe 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 nicely 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 could be an amazing growth for the Bears. That would imply Fields had an enormous season and took a serious step ahead to show he’s the franchise quarterback. Face it: If Fields is so-so this season, that received’t do a ton for Getsy’s inventory as a possible head coach. But if Fields places collectively a extremely good season with the state of the offensive line and expertise at large receiver, that might make Getsy a commodity. It can be a blow for the Bears to lose Getsy to a different group after one season, however he can be leaving with the offense circled and the quarterback taking part in nicely. I do know it sounds counterintuitive to say the very best factor that would occur to the Bears is that if Getsy is employed as a head coach elsewhere, however I actually consider that. As far as a alternative, quarterbacks coach Andrew Janocko could have a giant hand within the growth of Fields and has coached quite a lot of offensive positions.
What can we anticipate from large receiver Ihmir Smith-Marsette, and the way lengthy do you suppose 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 turn into comfy with the playbook. I touched base with a scout about Smith-Marsette, who mentioned he has good burst and may sink and separate in his routes. The scout mentioned Smith-Marsette’s arms had been solely OK and that focus and element had been larger questions than capability. Sometimes when a younger participant is launched and goes to a brand new group, it’s a humbling expertise and finally ends up being a springboard to better success. Perhaps 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
Lots of gamers might want to play nicely for the protection to enhance from final season. If I needed to single one out, it could be defensive sort out Justin Jones. The three-technique place is important to the success of a Cover-2 scheme, and for the Bears to be actually good up entrance, Jones might want to outperform his two-year, $12 million contract.
How many instances has a rookie fifth-rounder began at left sort out for a group within the final 10 or so years, and the way did they fare? — @birdderby
It’s uncommon to discover a rookie drafted in Round 5 or later begin at both sort out place. According to Pro Football Reference, solely 10 such rookies have began eight video games or extra of their first season courting to 2010. The checklist consists of 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 Bills, 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 sort out in 2020, however he was drafted in 2018 and didn’t make his debut till 2020. Only two left tackles are on the checklist. Daley was simply traded to the Tennessee Titans, and Skule was a part of the 49ers’ cuts to succeed in the 53-man roster restrict.
Does Alex Leatherwood mission as a sort out 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 decide a place for him. He lined up at proper sort out throughout observe Thursday, and the hope, for the Las Vegas Raiders, was that he might be a proper sort out when he was drafted seventeenth general in 2021. Leatherwood struggled massively at proper sort out, and the Raiders moved him inside so he wouldn’t be as uncovered. Leatherwood is athletic sufficient to play sort out. But it didn’t click on for him final season for no matter cause. The group and Leatherwood have loads of floor to cowl earlier than we mission him as a starter and name him a “mauler.” He didn’t play nicely at guard final season both. We nonetheless have quite a bit to see from Jenkins as nicely, however he had a strong preseason.
I don’t thoughts the Bears taking an opportunity on Alex Leatherwood, however why didn’t they simply wait till after he cleared waivers? It seems to be as if no different group positioned a declare on him, and I really feel that’s somewhat a lot for a participant who hasn’t proven a lot after one yr. Hopefully he’s a steal. — @kidhaywire
The Bears had been the one group to put a declare on Leatherwood and in getting him in addition they inherited his contract, which incorporates $5.9 million in ensures. Had Leatherwood cleared waivers, any group that signed him may have gotten him for a lot much less. So why did the Bears place a declare on Leatherwood? They clearly received good experiences on him and consider strongly that they may also help flip round his profession. Perhaps they had been apprehensive one other group or groups would put a declare on him. Acquiring him wouldn’t have been a certain factor if Leatherwood cleared waivers — he would have been free to signal with any group. The Bears took their shot and now have an opportunity and a while to carry 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 decide — such because the Minnesota Vikings did once they picked up large receiver Jalen Reagor from the Philadelphia Eagles. The Vikings are on the hook for Reagor’s contract and forked over compensation to accumulate him. The Bears didn’t lose any draft capital in signing Leatherwood.
I do know that precedence for selections from the waiver wire are given within the order of group data from the earlier season, however how does the NFL deal with it? Does a participant seem on the waiver wire with the primary group 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 following day to say that participant. In the occasion a number of groups place a declare, the group highest within the order is awarded the participant. The deadline is similar irrespective of the place every potential claiming group is within the order.
One of probably the most spectacular issues from the preseason was the Bears’ few penalties. During the Matt Nagy years, the Bears appeared to have far too many penalties, typically at very inopportune instances. Is it wishful pondering, or do the Bears up to now appear rather more disciplined below Matt Eberflus? — Norm G.
The Bears had been actually good in three preseason video games at limiting penalties, and also you actually would search for that to hold over to the common season. Penalties are going to occur and can pop up at inopportune instances. Are the Bears extra disciplined? Possibly. They look 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 feel that’s what most individuals discovered irksome concerning the offense below Nagy. The Bears had manner too many pre-snap penalties and burned too many timeouts as a result of the sideline operation wasn’t clean.
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Source: www.bostonherald.com