Bears Preseason Game

[NorthHawk]

Here's something that I thought was interesting. It's the snap counts per player for the Bears game. They've been working out Curhan at RG a lot, which accounts for his high number of snaps as he's been starting at RT. Cross and Lucas have been getting plenty of work, and rightfully so. They need it.

https://www.fieldgulls.com/2022/8/19/23 ... hHb38M0GRQ

I think Lucas has to start at RT. There's so much room for growth by playing him and he could be a 10 year starter at RT.
Now with the Lewis injury, the LG spot becomes a need. So will Haynes move to LG with Curhan at RG? Jackson hasn't impressed me much since his arrival, so maybe Curhan can push him for the starting position?

[Agent 86]

Maybe it's just time before that leadership vacuum is filled and right now younger players are settling into becoming leaders or aren't sure how to be one at this level.
The adjustment phase may take some time.

This is bang on North. I can only speak from my experience as an athlete and the locker rooms I was in, but whenever a "leader" was lost the next year was always different, no matter who else tried to step up. It's definitely a transition phase and takes time. Especially when the leaders lost were there for a period of time and were successful at what they did. You were used to looking to them for when things went off the rails or times of adversity. That is going to be a factor this year no matter what, IMO.

The team will also gravitate towards one of Geno or Lock moreso than the other. Right now, I gotta believe the team is leaning more towards Lock. As we all have said, Geno is a known entity, he is what he is and that is a backup caliber QB. At this point, I really want Lock to take over and let him try to be the next "leader" on offense and have him grow into that role and see what you have in him.

[RiverDog]

Maybe it's just time before that leadership vacuum is filled and right now younger players are settling into becoming leaders or aren't sure how to be one at this level.
The adjustment phase may take some time.

This is bang on North. I can only speak from my experience as an athlete and the locker rooms I was in, but whenever a "leader" was lost the next year was always different, no matter who else tried to step up. It's definitely a transition phase and takes time. Especially when the leaders lost were there for a period of time and were successful at what they did. You were used to looking to them for when things went off the rails or times of adversity. That is going to be a factor this year no matter what, IMO.

The team will also gravitate towards one of Geno or Lock moreso than the other. Right now, I gotta believe the team is leaning more towards Lock. As we all have said, Geno is a known entity, he is what he is and that is a backup caliber QB. At this point, I really want Lock to take over and let him try to be the next "leader" on offense and have him grow into that role and see what you have in him.

The other thing about the leadership vacuum is that the new leaders need to be credible. They just don't walk into the locker room, declare themselves as the self-appointed leader, and get the team to respond to them. Neither Geno nor Lock have been successful starters, so there isn't the same degree of respect that was accorded to players like Russell and Bobby, who'd both been there, done that. Adams and Diggs are both Pro Bowlers, so they have a better chance of being accepted as a leader than do either of our two potential starting QB's.

So like North Hawk said, it's going to take time and some winning efforts before new leaders emerge. This lack of veteran leadership could be one of the reasons why we've seen Pete appear a little more stressed than usual.

[Aseahawkfan]

We're gonna miss Bobby's leadership on defense. He knew where to line everyone up and how to read and hit.

Russ is just a born leader. I watched some of his interviews in Denver. Same old Russ taking command and pushing hard like Russ does. Whether he has the talent to do much with time will tell, but it won't be for a lack of effort by Russ. He's always 100 percent committed to the game on and off the field.

[Old but Slow]

For what it's worth, I focused on our new center Blythe, who did not play long in this game as they used backups after the first quarter. He looked very good to me. Active, blocking into the secondary and I saw no mistakes. It seems that we need to give the guy as a possible asset instead of I hear often that it is a weak position. Maybe not.

[RiverDog]

For what it's worth, I focused on our new center Blythe, who did not play long in this game as they used backups after the first quarter. He looked very good to me. Active, blocking into the secondary and I saw no mistakes. It seems that we need to give the guy as a possible asset instead of I hear often that it is a weak position. Maybe not.

I wasn't able to watch the game real closely due to the venue I was at, and I couldn't record it, so I wasn't able to look at the game in too much detail. However, Blythe is familiar with Waldron's system, which is why they brought him in, so it's not too surprising that he's looking fairly decent. I'll try to take a closer look at the OL in our last preseason game vs. the Pukes.

[NorthHawk]

I was staring at it like watching a car wreck in slow motion but I couldn’t take my eyes off all the bad play
to notice the good play at Center- if there was any. He just turned 30 so he may have 3 or 4 good years left
in him provided he has the desire and hasn’t got too banged up by then.

[obiken]

I wasn't able to watch the game real closely due to the venue I was at, and I couldn't record it, so I wasn't able to look at the game in too much detail. However, Blythe is familiar with Waldron's system, which is why they brought him in, so it's not too surprising that he's looking fairly decent. I'll try to take a closer look at the OL in our last preseason game vs. the Pukes.

River Did you see the Jimmy G signs, pushing the position that I pushed out on this site months ago? Okay my bad, a month and a half ago!

[Hawktawk]

River Did you see the Jimmy G signs, pushing the position that I pushed out on this site months ago? Okay my bad, a month and a half ago!

Yeah we all did so where’s Jimmy ? Maybe 20 TDs and 12 picks and an injury prone China doll with half the arm of any of our 3 didn’t impress Pete and John enough to blow up the locker room .
I said Geno played starter quality ball 10 months ago and would never have dreamed he might be suiting up for Seattle in 3 weeks but he might . Drew is going to get a good shot and it’s best for the long term and short term of the franchise if he’s truly turned the corner , truly won the competition . But if he hasn’t and is elevated anyway it will split that locker room . Geno is “ universally loved “ by his teammates as Michelle Tafoya pointed out prior to Pittsburgh last season. Last time I saw the guy he was completing 80% of his passes in a 31-7 laugher , a perfect Pete ball game and hus Twitter feed was blowing up with congratulations and good natured ribbing . Next 3 games we scored 27 total points . There is absolutely no evidence Lock is the favorite in the locker room . I think he still has to earn it.

[Agent 86]

You wanna watch tape on how to get cut in the NFL, watch all the plays that #48 LB Joel Dublanko was involved in last night. Missed assignments and tackles every play, it was cringeworthy. Never heard of this guy before and really not trying to come down too hard on him, obviously won't make the final 53 (will he?), but it was so noticeable the first series I actually started watching just him on defense and oh boy, awful.

Lock gained momentum to start by not even putting the pads on.

Only preseason, but seems like there is alot to clean up.

OK I am in here in case Joel Dublanko reads these message boards. I roasted this guy pretty good above after the Bears game. He rebounded against the Cowboys with 12 tackles (3 solo, 9 assisted), 1 QB hit, 1 pass defended, and a half sack.

Way to shove it in my face Joel! And I apologize for my remarks above, just a bad night at the office in that Bears game. Nice bounceback effort, maybe even enough to make the 53 man roster. I now hope you do.