Let’s tie a bow on Hard Knocks!
This version of the series following the Bears training camp wrapped up last night, and while I’ll certainly miss the weekly appointment television that gave us a look into Bears camp, I’ll much prefer the weekly appointment television that is the Chicago Bears playing actual, meaningful football!
Let’s get to episode five.
Hard Knocks Ep. 5 Highlights
- Right off the bat, while Ryan Poles, Matt Eberflus, and co. certainly knew they were on camera, I loved how we got a fairly candid look at them discussing final cuts.
- I’m not sure if I’m in the minority here, but I had no idea about the individual chandeliers at Halas Hall that represented each team, that’s a cool touch.
- The staff meeting where we actually got to see Ryan Poles and the coaches debate roster battles was very cool. Again, I know they know they’re on camera, but the QB debate between Brett Rypien’s ceiling and Austin Reed’s ceiling/development was a great look into their decision-making process, and it’s a debate I thought of before they made that eventual choice.
- Just like that, the Ian Wheeler scene has me feeling just terrible for him yet again. However, the torn ACL might actually have been a blessing in disguise. He probably would have been cut and maybe bounced around practice squads, now he gets to rehab and learn from the sidelines all in the same place. It still sucks, but maybe it gives him a better chance at making the team next year.
- The Caleb Montage of his throws one after another was really well done and really well edited.
- It was kind of disappointing that Theo Benedet was really the only offensive lineman we got to know at all. Darnell Wright was a Top 10 pick last year, Braxton Jones was a late-round steal, Teven Jenkins is a monster and a character, Nate Davis sat out often, Coleman Shelton and Matt Pryor were fighting for starting jobs. Benedet was hilarious, but like, just completely glossing over that position group feels like a miss, especially with the storylines surrounding it all of camp.
- That sign Ryan Poles had in his office “Sometimes the Right Way is the Hardest Way” feels like a pretty decent motto for how Poles has run the Bears. He really hasn’t taken many shortcuts along the way. He hasn’t overspent in free agency to try and throw money at a problem to make a quick, short-term fix. While he’s made some wrong moves, for the most part, he’s chosen the harder path of trying to build something more sustainable from the ground up than trying to put bandaids on all the problems he inherited with the roster.
- These cut scenes are never easy to watch. Even when people handle it well, you know their hearts just get ripped out when they hear the news.
- Very cool that we got a look into Velus Jones trade talks. It’s the second time this series we got a look into Ryan Poles’ trade discussions after the Matthew Judon negotiations earlier in camp. I thought this series did a great job of giving us a glimpse into Ryan Poles and his decision-making process throughout camp whether it be trade talks, DJ Moore’s contract, cuts, etc.
- Austin Reed and Brett Rypien both seem like class acts. They both handled their cut decisions very classy, and I’m glad Reed stuck around on the practice squad.
- Man, Ryan Poles having to leave the room before cutting Adrian Colbert was tough. I’m sure it hits differently for a GM who has actually been on the other side of that discussion and been cut before. Adrian Colbert seems like a total class act, hopefully, he sticks on somewhere. He’s got a great perspective on life and seemingly a great head on his shoulders.
- It feels so different having a player like Colbert call the Bears the best organization he’s been with. He’s a guy who’s been around several different NFL franchises, and I’m just kind of used to the Bears not being seen that way. This franchise has come a long way since Ryan Poles took over.
- DJ Moore chose to wear a White Sox hat?!?!
- New York Giants GM Joe Schoen’s comment to Poles about not having to look for a quarterback made me smile. Please let this be the one.
- Matt Eberflus is a bee guy with his own beekeeper? Did not see that one coming.
- That closing montage was great. “Chicago has reason to believe.” I’m so damn ready for Sunday, let’s go be great. Bear Down.