NEWSLETTER
Just 112 days until the 2023 NFL regular season kicks off with a Chiefs-Lions Thursday night throw-down. Your patience is appreciated.
- Now that we’re past the NFL schedule release, the rest of the offseason is for falling down rabbit holes. And on Wednesday, the rabbit hole I fell down was ESPN’s Bears depth chart. It eventually led me to re-visit Ja’Tyre Carter’s pre-draft profile and offer up the idea of him being a possible developmental project at center.
- Last year, we saw the Bears aggressively push Braxton Jones from Day 3 pick to starting left tackle. So while that isn’t the same path Carter will end up taking, I can see this coaching staff wanting to push Carter into a particular developmental role after essentially red-shirting his rookie season. Don’t get me wrong. The slow and steady route could be beneficial for Carter, whose efforts at the 2022 Senior Bowl at guard and center after playing tackle in college didn’t go unnoticed. Something about a player with tackle skills moving inside is alluring to me.
- And, no, I didn’t forget about Doug Kramer. The former Illini center could also be vying for the same role Carter is angling for this summer. Heck, we could have a battle of Day 3 picks racing for one roster spot depending on how things shake out between now and the start of camp. After seeing the Bears add Michael Schofield and Riley Reiff just before training camp opened its doors, I’m leaving the door open on this front office adding depth to the offensive line room. Someone to push Larry Borom and Alex Leatherwood for a swing lineman spot.
- All this to say: I don’t think the roster we see on May 18 is the same one we’ll see when camp opens in July. That isn’t as bold of a statement as it seems, but it is worth repeating. The NFL roster churn seemingly never ends.
- Even still … I think this regime is going to give their draft picks the opportunity to play their way into bigger roles. Add it to the list of things that could make for an eventful training camp.
- Did Roschon Johnson manifest the Bears drafting him?
- Also: That’s a solid crewneck and I need one for myself.
- Also, also: I’m really liking the makeup of this running backs room. D’Onta Foreman brings veteran leadership and a potential upgrade from David Montgomery. Khalil Herbert has big-play potential nd could be a legit RB1 if he can find a way to stay on the field and thrive on passing downs. Roschon Johnson did a lot of little things well during his college days in Texas. And if that translates to the pros, his rise up the depth chart will begin sooner than you might expect for a rookie.
- I think Justin Fields cracks the top 2 by the time this season ends:
- NFL schedule release pieces are still rolling in. I’ve got some thoughts bouncing around in my head, but I like this angle from DBB’s Jeff Hughes. Considering the importance of divisional games, the NFL starting its regular season with non-conference matchups and using those games as a build-up to rivalry games would be brilliant. Cranking toward Week 1 against the Packers is cool. However, could you imagine the anticipation in Week 4 after both of those teams get into the flow of the season. That first Bears-Packers game is always a doozy. But think about the potential hype machine going into what could be a pivotal Week 4 as a race toward what looks to be a wide-open division begins.
- This looks like a buddy comedy movie poster where the protagonist and his two besties pretend to be NFL players in an attempt to get back a fan letter one of them wrote. I dunno. My script is still a work in progress:
- The funniest thing I read yesterday was Green Bay ranking as America’s top city to live in as soon as Aaron Rodgers left town. That’s probably not a coincidence. (NBCS Chicago)
- Please, please, PLEASE be good:
- This is the type of thing that can happen only in MLB:
- Elsewhere in baseball, the Cubs blew a 6-1 lead and wasted an Ian Happ web gem, two Seiya Suzuki dongs, and another Christopher Morel blast in the process. Bummer.
- Getting the chance to talk some baseball during the football offseason keeps me on my toes:
- Revisiting the Nikola VuÄević trade because I like torturing myself:
- Our friends at BN Blackhawks take a look around the league.
