NEWSLETTER
In case you’re wondering where my mentals are today, I’m wearing socks with the Millennium Falcon on them (Michael: So a normal day, then?).
• In lieu of their annual state of the team address at the NFL Scouting Combine, Bears GM Ryan Pace and Head Coach Matt Nagy addressed the Chicago media on a Tuesday video conference call. Kevin Fishbain (The Athletic), as well as Dan Wiederer and Colleen Kane (Chicago Tribune) round up the highlights. Dan Bernstein (670 The Score) drills Pace’s ability to use so many words to say so little. We’ll dive into the nitty gritty as the day goes on.
• One of the highlights from Tuesday’s press conference was Pace indicating that neither Khalil Mack or Jaylon Johnson needed offseason surgery to repair their injuries. If you’ll recall, Mack had a handful of ailments that landed him on the injury report throughout the season. Knee (Weeks 1-4), back (Weeks 7 & 12), ankle (Week 8), and shoulder (Weeks 14-16) issues were reasons Mack was listed as questionable ahead of a number of games last season. Thankfully, none of those problems were rough enough to necessitate surgery. Nevertheless, the Bears should continue to be wise in managing his load moving forward.
• In case you forgot, Jaylon Johnson was having a heckuva rookie year:
• Hearing that Johnson didn’t need surgery was also encouraging. Johnson missed the final four games of the season after suffering a shoulder injury in a win against the Texans. And even though there were times he practiced with limitations, he wasn’t good enough to give it a full go. Johnson has underwent surgery to repair shoulder issues before, including before the 2020 NFL Draft. So avoiding another surgery is a good first step as we go through 2021.
• Allen Robinson is good at catching footballs:
https://twitter.com/nflnetwork/status/1366946432037523465
• Shot:
Matt Nagy: "A-Rob knows how much we love him."
— Patrick Finley (@patrickfinley) March 2, 2021
• Chaser:
Allen Robinson's counterpoint: https://t.co/IYRS9iKMTo pic.twitter.com/6B7ZdscLe8
— Matt Clapp (@DaBearNecess) March 2, 2021
• It was interesting to hear Matt Nagy say he interviewed NINE defensive coordinator candidates before hiring Sean Desai. And while Nagy refused to name all of them, I can take my best shot at guessing as many as I can. Sean Desai (1) got the job. Mike Singletary (2) reportedly interviewed for the position. Reports had Chicago requesting to interview George Edwards (3). Jonathan Gannon (4) was rumored to be a target before ultimately joining the Eagles. Aaron Glenn (5) was on their radar, too. But he joined the Lions. James Bettcher (6) landed a coaching opportunity with the Niners, but was reportedly interviewed. Jay Rodgers (7) was expected to interview for the position, but no word ever came out directly connecting him to the gig after early reports.
• Even without knowing the two other candidates, it’s good to have learned the Bears’ process was more thorough than the one that landed them Chuck Pagano in 2019. Nothing against Pagano, but I’m all about through vetting processes in situations like this one.
• As you’d expect, quarterback is the Bears’ weak link heading into the offseason, per BR’s Gary Davenport. Of course, Chicago’s football team isn’t alone in this regard. Davenport also lists Carolina, Denver, New England, New Orleans, New York’s AFC team, and Washington as having that designation. In other words, nearly a quarter of the league’s teams have the most important position on the field as the biggest need. Eek!
• This tweet raised piqued my interest:
Chris Rumph II is going to be a problem on the next level
— Lance Zierlein (@LanceZierlein) March 2, 2021
• The Bears hired Chris Rumph’s father to be their defensive line coach earlier in the offseason. And because there is no such thing as having too much pass-rush help, Rumph intrigues me as a target at some point in the upcoming Draft. Zierlein adds he would be comfortable taking Rumph II with a top-50 pick, but there are questions that could knock him out of that range. I’m not too keen right now on taking a defensive player with one of the Bears’ first two picks. But if the right fit came along, I’d willingly listen to that pitch.
• How would you feel about a Leonard Floyd comp? Asking for myself.
• Jim Harbaugh lived one hell of a QB life:
He refused to carry the vets' equipment as a rookie. He volunteered to cover kicks. He stood up to Dan Hampton. He would come to blows with teammates on the basketball court. My story on Jim Harbaugh the quarterback. https://t.co/zQ3z6nSQ9z
— Dan Pompei (@danpompei) March 2, 2021
• I love surprises:
• Kyle Rudolph says “so long” to the Vikings, who cut him in a cap-savings move:
Thank you Minnesota!! Although my time as a Viking has come to a close, my time as a MINNESOTAN is just getting started! https://t.co/eb2aP3O4vo
— Kyle Rudolph (@KyleRudolph82) March 2, 2021
