SCO96

Our coaches don’t seem to have the abilty to “scheme” our receivers open. Theilan is a cagey veteran at this stage in his career. He just knows how to get open.

I liked that toss sweep the Lions used to pick up the 4th and short. How come we don’t run plays like to utilize the speed of our backs. Everything we run seems to be inside the tackles.

In our Panther fantasy realm, this back against the wall drive, inspired by a fallen teammate, becomes the turning point of the 2025 season, and Bryce brings his A-Game the rest of the season!

Watching our team attempt to move the ball downfield isn’t comical buddy, it’s painful. I’ve seen better passing execution in sandlot games.

Where would this team be without Adam Theilan?

On Goff’s first two completions he had wide open guys throw to. We never seem to have a WR running somewhat open unless it’s Theilan. Our TE’s haven’t posed a threat this season. I can understand the Hurst addition. I’ll never understand the Ian Thomas contract extension. I think a large part of our poor passing game is due to a lack of talent. But, a think a good part of the problem is due to poor play calling and bad route concepts. We just never seem to have guys open downfield.

It's funny how we've been able to nail our drafts in certain positions: LB, DE, DT, CB over the years but strike out at others (TE, WR, etc). That has to be placed on poor scouting, the inability to get the most out of talented players, or the GM over ignoring the scout's opinion and/or thinking he he has a better idea of what the team needs. At times it does seem like Carolina needs to take a hard look at the scouting department and consider making some changes. We are drafting too many mediocre/bad players after the 1st round. You can't win like that in today's NFL.

How many people on this board believe that if Caleb comes out of college early he'll win a Super Bowl with the Chicago Bears?

This topic came up awhile ago on a forum. It could have even been this one. The poster said that there is a difference between and bad team and a bad franchise. For QB's, the Bears are just a bad franchise. It's not a much better destination for WR's. What is going to happen between now and next season to make Chicago a prime destination for a rookie QB? As I said in the last post, the team appears to want to cut bait with Fields less than 3 full seasons in the league. Trubinsky was let go after his 4th season. Both guys were top 10 picks within the last decade. You're right about 2024. Another bad organization could pick him after the completion of his senior year. That would be outside of his control. For now, Caleb has the leverage. There's nothing wrong with him and his management team trying to put him in a situation to enhance his chance for success. With NIL, he is making money right now. It's not like he has to leave after the season in order to feed the family.

Caleb's situation is different. He doesn't have to come out this year. He has an extra year of eligibility left. Why come out early and play for a bad franchise like the Bears. Chicago has a terrible history of developing QB's and competing for championships. People keep saying he's missing out on a 2nd big contract. Question for you guys: How many QB's that flame out in the NFL on their rookie deal with a bad franchise go on to get a "2nd big contract"? Mitch Trubinsky was drafted #3 with the Bears. He had some moments where he looked ok, but like nearly all QB's who play there, he was shown the door w/out much success. They didn't even pick up his 5th year option. He's in Pittsburgh now backing up Kenny Pickett. I don't recall him getting a massive deal on contract #2. If Caleb goes there and the Bears continue the trend they have maintained since the Super Bowl era, they'll be looking to replace him with the next 1st round prospect. Justin Fields isn't even midway thru his 3rd year in the NFL and the team may be willing to move off if him if Caleb decides to come out. If that transpires, do you think Justin is going to be poised to break the bank with his next deal?

Now we can get a 5'9/180lb WR to join our 5'10/185lb QB. He'd definitely have more impact on the field this season than TMJ or Mingo. I just hate to think what Fitz is willing to give up to get him. Fitz has shown he's not the best at gauging talent based on some of the terrible trades he's made for other teams casts offs and the trade ups in the draft. I get queasy thinking about what he might do when he's desperate to hold on to his GM position.

We are said to be looking for a playmaker/difference maker at the WR position to help Bryce. This is scathing indictment of our front office. We've drafted WR's in the 2nd round two out of the last 3 years. Why draft a receiver that high in the draft if you don't view him as a "difference maker on the field"? We could have got production comparable to TMJ and Mingo from guys taken after the 3rd round (or even undrafted FA's) and used those 2nd round picks in 2021 and 2023 to address other holes on the team. Their lack of impact on the offense indicates that they were over-evaluated or they're not being coached well enough to live up to their potential.

I think missing Corbett and Brady C is what is really hurting us. As bad as our QB play was last year, I thought the O-line was more than adequate with their pass blocking and a huge improvement from 2021. Chubba and Donta each averaged over 4.4 yards per carry and rushed for about 1,400 yards between them. I thought going into this season we were going set. What we've seen is that we have no solid players to provide depth on the O-line to step up when/if a starter goes down. We'd be doomed if we lost a starting tackle this year.

I think that shows that something is wrong with our ability to properly evaluate college talent and/or put them in position to succeed in the NFL. We moved up in the 3rd to get Corrall. Howell wasn't taken into the 4th round by Washington. The deals for Darnold, CJ Henderson were bad. We draft players who make no impact on the field. We need better performance from the GM and from the coaching staff. This team is going nowhere with Fitterer and Reich this season. A 6th straight losing season is almost a guarantee this year. I'd be happy now if we just show some improvement on offense for the rest of the season. Fitz and Reich need to change what they're doing fast or the could both be looking for jobs at seasons end.

As I posted earlier, I just want to see him try to make something happen. Did we have a pass that traveled more than 20 yards in the air today? Why can't we start a drive going deep on a playaction pass on first down instead of running up the middle for 1 or 2 yards? I'd like to see Mingo and Marshall Jr running more crossing routes to get them involved and pick up some YAC. If Bryce has limitations in the traditional pocket, let's call some bootleg throws; move the pocket help him see better down the field. Go back to his college tape and install the plays he feels most comfortable with. Build an offense tailored to what he does best.

I think that shows that something is wrong with our ability to properly evaluate college talent and/or put them in position to succeed in the NFL. We moved up in the 3rd to get Corrall. Howell wasn't taken into the 4th round by Washington. The deals for Darnold, CJ Henderson were bad. We draft players who make no impact on the field. We need better performance from the GM. This team is going nowhere with Fitterer in charge.

Today was another letdown, no doubt. Still, Bryce did look better today. He's not exactly working with a stacked deck of offensive talent or brilliant offensive play caller. The crying shows he does care. He's got a ton of pressure being the #1 pick and the hype of being the savior of a mediocre franchise. Hopefully, this will motivate him to get better and stop being so tentative. Bryce has to go out for the rest of the season with the intent of making something happen instead of being afraid of failing. Playoffs ain't happening this year. Just go out and get the experience so we can try again in 2024. If he finished with 20TDs and 2OINTs in 2023 I could live with that. At least it would show he's trying to win the game. What I don't want to see is Bridgewater-esque season with 15 TDs and 6-7 picks. Numbers like that would indicate we're scoring less than 17 points per game.

Good point. If Wilks had the luxury of having a better QB in Arizona, he could very well still be coaching that team.

I bet I haven't watch 10 UNC Tar Heel games from start to finish in my 5 decades on this earth. The Tarheels are not "my college team". That said, Howell is still better than Bryce Young at this point in his career.

Missing out on Stroud and Richardson at this point in time is hard to bear. What really bothers me is what I'm watching at Philly. Sam Howell is legit. He just took Washington into OT with a game tying drive. We could have got him last year instead of Matt Corrall and not had to give up any picks or players in 2023,2024 or 2025. Granted he does have Eric Bienemy calling plays which is huge reason for his success. But, even as a rookie he would have been the best QB on our roster last season.

I think Caleb Williams would strongly consider staying at USC for one more year if Chicago ended up with the #1 and/or #2 pick. Chicago is a purgatory for NFL QBs. I would never want to go there and play QB with the current management. If I knew for sure Harrison was coming out and was confident he would be picked behind me..."I might" consider it. At least I'd know I would have 2 solid WRs to throw too. Then again, Chicago is a purgatory for WRs too. Harrison is a junior so he could opt to stay in school as well.

Good point on the lack of urgency. I wanted a TD on the last drive. It started with plenty of time in the 4th quarter. When that drive started I had no idea we wouldn't get the ball back again. Carolina had time to get a FG, make a stop, and get the ball back for a game winning drive. Instead it took forever and still ended like most Carolina drives...with no points.

If Caleb Williams wants to go to the pros solely for the money he certainly has the right to do so. If he wants to play pro football at the highest level at the QB position & compete for the playoffs and world titles year in an year out for the majority of his career, then he needs to stay at USC one more year if the Bears even think about drafting him at #1. Chicago is a purgatory for NFL Quarterbacks.

No team in NFL history has a worst history of developing quarterbacks than the Chicago Bears. Their top 5 quarterbacks in terms of QBR are Jay Cutler (never a top 10 QB when he played) Sid Luckman (retired in the early 1950s & and still ranks #2 on their all time TD pass list) Billy Wade (played with Ditka on the 1963 title team but is largely forgotten these days) Jim McMahon (decent QB but far from great. Injuries and his clashes with HC Mike Ditka led to an early end to his career in Chicago) Mitch Trubisky (nuff said) Those are the top 5 quarterbacks in Chicago Bear history. Only one of them has played with team since the 1990s started. Why on earth would Caleb Williams want to leave college early to join that organization?