NEWSLETTER
This is the last week of Bears OTAs before full-squad mandatory minicamp kicks off on June 14. Let’s catch up on what is happening with Chicago’s football team.
Obsessive Justin Fields Development Watch
I’m here for all the Fields love you can throw on my plate:
Cody Whitehair says Fields leadership "has taken a step."
— Mark Carman (@thecarm) June 8, 2022
Bears coach Matt Eberflus says it’s unmistakable that QB Justin Fields’ footwork and timing are significantly upgraded from what Eberflus saw on film from last season. It’s a big part of why he’s optimistic about Fields making a jump this season.
— Jason Lieser (@JasonLieser) June 8, 2022
Eberflus compares Justin Fields to Dak Prescott and the progressions Dak made early in his career.
"You can see the jump we're going to make here with Justin."
— Josh Schrock (@Schrock_And_Awe) June 8, 2022
Bears veteran Justin Jones said of new teammate Justin Fields: "He has a command and leadership on the field, a legit field general. … I'm really excited about the season he's about to have."
— Chris Emma (@CEmma670) June 8, 2022
Justin Fields taking well to his mechanical adjustments is welcome news. As is the chatter suggesting an increased leadership role. And while it is neat that we’re hearing it from the head coach, I find it interesting that defensive tackle Justin Jones chimed in with similar sentiments.
Jones spent the first four years of his career with the Los Angeles Chargers. Which means he has spent the last two seasons watching Justin Herbert’s growth with a front-row seat. In other words, Jones should have an idea of what the second-year leap looks like for a young QB. So even though Fields doesn’t have the weapons Herbert had out west, I still share Jones’ excitement regarding the year to come for Fields.
Movement Along the Offensive Line
The five words in the headline above are probably triggering to Bears fans who are far too familiar with game situations in which movement along the offensive line leads to a penalty that pushes the offense back five yards and increases the likelihood of the possession ending with another disappointing punt. But on the other hand, those five words could bring hope to the future. That’s because the Bears were shuffling the offensive line once again.
As Alex Shapiro (NBC Sports Chicago) reports, the Bears had a bevy of position swaps in the trenches:
⇒ Braxton Jones was getting first-team reps at left tackle. That’s a notable leap for a rookie Day 3 pick.
⇒ Larry Borom, who has been spending time as LT1, slid over to the right tackle slot opposite of Jones
⇒ Teven Jenkins was taking second-team snaps at right tackle. This represents a slide down the depth chart for Jenkins.
To be clear, I don’t want to put too much stock into evaluating offensive linemen before the pads come on. Even still … these are notable movements.
Giving Jones, a fifth-round pick, first-team reps at left tackle is equal parts trial-by-fire and projection from the staff for what they might think the Southern Utah product could be when he fully develops. Shifting Borom to first-team right tackle reps could hint at something similar. Might the Bears see Borom as a potential swing tackle? That would make the 2020 fifth-rounder extra valuable in the grand scheme of things.
On the flip side, I’m curious what this means for Jenkins. This is the second time Jenkins has been knocked down a peg on the organizational ladder. Firstly, with the move from left tackle to the right side. And now with the slide onto the second team. There is so much time for this to shake out, so I don’t want to put the cart ahead of the horse in June. But let’s not lose sight of these changes (even if they’re only temporary).
Practice is Hard
Some interesting perspective from returning vets Cody Whitehair and Cole Kmet:
Cody Whitehair said of the Bears' work this offseason program: "It's intense, don't get me wrong. But this team is young and we kind of need that intense practice. … You got to expect an intense practice. The guys have really worked hard."
— Chris Emma (@CEmma670) June 8, 2022
Cole Kmet said "guys are learning" how to practice without pads on and not having full contact.
Said a lack of veterans this year makes it's a little harder to go 100 percent without crossing the line— Patrick Finley (@patrickfinley) June 8, 2022
Perhaps this learning curve is what caused the Bears to fall into being in violation of the NFL’s non-contact rules during OTAs. So long as no one was seriously hurt, maybe this can be a teachable lesson for coaches, staffers, and players alike.
Extra Points
• Is it just me or are we always seeing tweets like the one below about the Bears defense being ahead of the offense this time of year?
Bears just wrapped Wednesday's OTA practice. Felt like the defense came away on top today. Couple pass break ups (Jaylon Johnson, near INT by CJ Avery) and a pick by DeAndre Houston-Carson of note. Did not spot rookie Kyler Gordon at practice. Still no Robert Quinn.
— Courtney Cronin (@CourtneyRCronin) June 8, 2022
OK, so it’s not all defense all the time:
So sounds like the offense had a big day on Monday while the defense had the better day today for #Bears OTA's.
— Zack Pearson (@Zack_Pearson) June 8, 2022
• Jeremiah Attaochu was brought in to play a pass-rushing outside linebacker role last offseason. A year later, Attaochu finds himself re-visiting a position he hasn’t been in for quite some time:
Bears DE Jeremiah Attaochu said he hasn’t played in a 4-3 defense since his senior year of college, but enjoys his new role in Matt Eberflus’ scheme: "I definitely think this can enhance and spotlight my abilities."
— Kevin Fishbain (@kfishbain) June 8, 2022
• The Bears could save $3.1 million in cap space by cutting Attaochu. But maybe they’ll use him in a reserve role. Or perhaps the team could move him later in the summer if another team needs pass-rushing help. For now, Attaochu represents worthwhile depth at a position where you can’t have too many players.
• On the other side of the ball, that offensive line is getting lean:
In in the name of a quicker, lighter offesnive line, Cody Whitehair says he lost 10 lbs. Teven Jenkins is down too.
— Mark Grote (@markgrotesports) June 8, 2022
ICYMI: Teven Jenkins made some radical physical changes this offseason.
• Jaylon Johnson is back working with the 1’s on defense, per The Athletic’s Kevin Fishbain. Johnson’s time with the second-unit (albeit, a short-lived stint) was an eye-opener. Although, it is also worth pointing out that rookie cornerback Kyler Gordon wasn’t at Wednesday’s practice. As a reminder, these OTAs are voluntary. With that in mind, I won’t read too much into his absence.
• ICYMI:
The NFL Didn’t Even Fine Matt Eberflus or Anyone From the Bears For Their Misdeeds at OTAshttps://t.co/mKCXH0vjt7 pic.twitter.com/czDa5dyTtM
— Bleacher Nation Bears (@BN_Bears) June 8, 2022
• The big winner of Tuesday’s OTAs getting banged was Cole Kmet, who Brad Biggs (Tribune) reports got a round of golf in due to the schedule change. I’m not a golfer, but yesterday sure was a nice day to swing a club.
Cole Kmet calling in the OTAs “violation” so he can get a round of golf in… https://t.co/t1Y0YHX3kf pic.twitter.com/2NJvL4wbjq
— Funky Cold Luda (@lcm1986) June 8, 2022
• Some more fallout from PracticeGate:
"We've learned how to practice Bears against Bears and still practice full speed." Said the team has improved on that "severely" in doing so without collisions and contact.
— Brad Biggs (@BradBiggs) June 8, 2022
