The Chicago Bears are within the midst of their first week of organized staff actions, however not everyone seems to be current at Halas Hall for the voluntary periods. Cornerback Jaylon Johnson’s absence Tuesday raised a number of eyebrows, and Brad Biggs’ weekly Bears mailbag begins with a query about that scenario.
Are we headed for an additional Roquan (Smith)-type scenario with Jaylon Johnson? I get the sense Ryan Poles would slightly transfer on from a participant who rustles contract feathers than reward them. I can envision utilizing him as a commerce alternative for a necessity midseason. — @obsidianarcade
I feel you’re in all probability overreacting to the information that Johnson, for the second yr, has not reported for the voluntary portion of the offseason program. Would the Bears choose Johnson was there? Sure. Will lacking OTAs — and consider, Johnson may present up any day — have an effect on his 2023 season? Probably not. Some gamers decide and select after they wish to present up, and that’s their proper. It’s particularly their proper in the event that they don’t have a exercise bonus tied to attendance through the offseason program.
Smith was current for the offseason program a yr in the past, and I don’t assume that is an apples-to-apples comparability. He was going to command a contract at or close to the highest of the pay scale for off-the-ball linebackers, and I don’t assume Johnson shall be in that class for cornerbacks. Johnson would possibly wish to be in that wealthy neighborhood, however I’d be shocked if the Bears worth him at that stage. Johnson turned 24 final month and just about has been the staff’s finest cornerback since arriving. The Bears added competitors within the draft with Tyrique Stevenson within the second spherical and Terell Smith within the fifth to go along with Kyler Gordon, a second-round decide a yr in the past. Good groups at all times have a steady of high quality cornerbacks.
Perhaps Johnson’s absence is tied to his want to obtain a contract extension, however he additionally skipped voluntary parts a yr in the past when he wasn’t eligible for a payday. The Bears certainly would need some stage of low cost in the event that they prolong Johnson with a yr to go on his contract, and Johnson would need market worth that free brokers command. We’ll need to see the place this goes, however judging by Poles’ unprompted feedback about Johnson on draft weekend, I feel he’d wish to hold the participant he inherited round.
“Jaylon, I hope he’s a guy we get to keep here for a while too,” Poles stated after Day 2 of the draft. “So I’m excited about that group, inside and outside, and the depth of it as well.”
With the additions on offense and expectations for a vastly improved passing offense, will this be the season the Bears lastly have a 4,000-yard passer? Is Justin Fields the person to perform that feat? — Dennis S., Countryside
You’re speaking about one of many statistical anomalies that comes with the Bears franchise and the invention of the ahead move. The Bears are the one NFL staff to not have a quarterback move for 4,000 yards in a season. They are additionally the one staff to not have a quarterback with 30 landing passes in a season. Fields averaged 149.5 passing yards per recreation final yr and would wish to common greater than 235 in a full 17 video games to achieve that plateau this season.
It definitely appears doable — and the addition of large receiver DJ Moore stood out at Tuesday’s OTA that was open to media — however Fields must stay wholesome and be much more productive. The Bears have had solely 11 3,000-yard passers of their historical past, the final one Mitch Trubisky in 2019 and the primary Bill Wade in 1962. Erik Kramer got here closest to 4,000 yards in 1995, when he completed with 3,838.
The Bears had firm with the Philadelphia Eagles till Carson Wentz grew to become their first 4,000-yard passer in 2019. A complete of 217 quarterbacks have reached 4,000 yards in a season, the primary being Joe Namath with the New York Jets in 1967.
The addition of a seventeenth regular-season recreation ought to make it simpler to attain, however the small pattern dimension doesn’t present a bump but. Here are the 4,000-yard seasons since 2016:
- 2022: 9 (17-game season)
- 2021: 10 (17-game season)
- 2020: 12
- 2019: 9
- 2018: 12
- 2017: 8
- 2016: 12
And right here’s a listing of each franchise’s first 4,000-yard passer by decade:
Nineteen Sixties: 1
Seventies: 1
- Chargers: Dan Fouts, 1979
Eighties: 8
- Browns: Brian Sipe, 1980
- Packers: Lynn Dickey, 1983
- Chiefs: Bill Kenney, 1983
- Cardinals: Neil Lomax, 1984
- Dolphins: Dan Marino, 1984
- Giants: Phil Simms, 1984
- Commanders: Jay Schroeder, 1986
- Rams: Jim Everett, 1989
Nineteen Nineties: 11
- Titans: Warren Moon, 1990
- Broncos: John Elway, 1993
- 49ers: Steve Young, 1993
- Vikings: Warren Moon, 1994
- Patriots: Drew Bledsoe, 1994
- Falcons: Jeff George, 1995
- Lions: Scott Mitchell, 1995
- Ravens: Vinny Testaverde, 1996
- Jaguars: Mark Brunell, 1996
- Panthers: Steve Beuerlein, 1999
- Colts: Peyton Manning, 1999
2000s: 7
- Bills: Drew Bledsoe, 2002
- Raiders: Rich Gannon, 2002
- Bengals: Carson Palmer, 2006
- Saints: Drew Brees, 2006
- Cowboys: Tony Romo, 2007
- Texans: Matt Schaub, 2009
- Steelers: Ben Roethlisberger, 2009
2010s: 3
- Buccaneers: Josh Freeman, 2012
- Seahawks: Russell Wilson, 2015
- Eagles: Carson Wentz, 2019
It’s value noting Hall of Famer Moon (Titans and Vikings) and Bledsoe (Patriots and Bills) had been the primary 4,000-yard passer for 2 franchises.
Do you assume the brand new third quarterback rule impacts who the Bears hold as QB3? — @gucasliogito
It shall be actually fascinating to see how groups method roster administration. The new rule the league permitted, which the Detroit Lions proposed, will enable groups to decorate a 3rd quarterback who received’t rely in opposition to the game-day roster. However, it’s vital to notice this QB can’t come from the apply squad, so groups should carry three QBs on their 53-man roster to designate the emergency man. Many organizations have gone to carrying solely two QBs on the 53-man roster as a way to maximize flexibility at different positions, in order that shall be fascinating to trace.
The rule was proposed after San Francisco 49ers quarterbacks Brock Purdy and Josh Johnson had been knocked out of the NFC championship recreation, forcing the staff to make use of working again Christian McCaffrey as a wildcat quarterback.
The emergency third quarterback can be utilized provided that the primary two quarterbacks are sidelined by accidents. It shall be fascinating to see what number of groups revert to what was commonplace — three QBs on the 53-man roster — to make the most of this rule. As far because it affecting the Bears, rookie Tyson Bagent is an extended shot to make the staff coming from Division III Shepherd. But you by no means know.
How do you see the beginning line of defense going into Week 1? Left to proper, DeMarcus Walker, Andrew Billings, Justin Jones and Trevis Gipson? Think any second-teamers like Rasheem Green or the 2 rookie defensive tackles can win a job in camp? — @themaxconnor1
That appears to be like proper to me, however there may be a lot work to do on the sector — with full pads — in coaching camp that rather a lot can change. If I needed to wager, I might wager Ryan Poles provides a defensive finish in some unspecified time in the future. Does that imply the newcomer can be a starter within the base protection? Perhaps. It’s additionally doable a newcomer can be a delegated move rusher, basically a starter within the nickel package deal.
Rookies Gervon Dexter and Zacch Pickens can have a possibility to push for a beginning job, however which may not occur instantly. The key for them is enjoying time. As lengthy as they’re a part of the common rotation, their snap counts shall be based mostly on efficiency. The higher they play, the extra motion they are going to get.
I’ve checked out each Tribune article relating to the Bears stadium transfer and I’ve by no means discovered a solution to this query: If they get the location, funding and OK to construct, what’s the seating capability anticipated to be? When the town supplied to construct the indoor stadium away from the lake, the capability quoted was round 83,000. — Kevin, Chicago
If the Bears have shared a ballpark determine for seating capability of their proposed domed stadium in Arlington Heights, I’ve not seen it. I’ve written about this subject a number of occasions after talking with Marc Ganis, president of Chicago-based sports activities consulting agency Sportscorp, who’s an professional on these issues. His projection is one thing positively bigger than Soldier Field, which has the smallest capability within the NFL at 61,500. But he doesn’t envision one thing as massive as some have hoped.
“I doubt they will go that large,” Ganis stated of the 81,441 capability at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, the second-largest within the league. “High 60s can be the fitting quantity. There’s an odd price issue related to the geometry of the stadium. The most costly seats to assemble are the seats furthest away from the sector as you increase the constructing. As you improve the capability, it’s a must to increase the dimensions of your 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 most costly 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.”
Here’s the seating capability for NFL stadiums constructed because the Cardinals moved into State Farm Stadium in 2006:
- Rams and Chargers, SoFi Stadium (2020): 70,000
- Raiders, Allegiant Stadium (2020): 65,000-*
- Falcons, Mercedes-Benz Stadium (2017): 71,000-*
- Vikings, U.S. Bank Stadium (2016): 66,655-*
- 49ers, Levi’s Stadium (2014): 68,500
- Giants and Jets, MetLife Stadium (2010): 82,500
- Cowboys, AT&T Stadium (2009): 80,000-**
- Colts, Lucas Oil Stadium (2008): 67,000
- Cardinals, State Farm Stadium (2006): 63,400-*
* dome, ** retractable roof
Currently, 16 stadiums — together with Soldier Field — have a listed capability beneath 70,000. Fourteen are between 65,000 and 69,596. It’s noteworthy that the Buffalo Bills, who’re constructing a brand new venue to switch Highmark Stadium, can have a smaller constructing. Highmark Stadium’s capability is 71,608. The new open-air stadium reportedly can have a capability within the neighborhood of 62,000.
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Source: www.bostonherald.com