Best of the Bears: Defensive line still needs reinforcement
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What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
Thanks, everybody. The Bears.
Brand Biggs. Biggs time. Biggs.
What are the key points from Ryan Poles' press conference?
With Mully and Hall. Biggs time. The Biggs Report with Brand Biggs. Biggs time. Biggs it. His name is Brand Biggs. Brand Biggs talks football with you.
Molly Edhaw, Chicago Sports Radio 104.3 The Score. Brad Biggs is the football man of the Chicago Tribune. A longtime contributor to the station and a valued friend. And he joins us on the Plumbers 911 hotline. Plumbing emergency. Call 1-833-PLUM-911. Local 130 Plumbers. Get the job done right. The first time. Want to welcome everyone on CHSN. Appreciate your viewership. And let's get to our guy, Big Zay! Morning, Brad. Morning, boys. What's going on? Well, it's an interesting thing because I think we're wondering, do you believe what Ryan Poles said? In other words, do you think the Bears have gotten better, or is it more of a work in progress and they could get better? They've certainly gotten a little speedier on defense.
Are they better, though? Well, they've added some parts, but when you look at the number of free agents they had, how many teams can say they're unequivocally better today than they were at the final day of last season? Like, they've started the process, and I think the draft's going to be a big part of their improvement. I think you're going to expect natural growth from players that are going into year two in a system, whether it be on the offensive or defensive side of the ball. So I think they're on their way. They didn't have huge losses in free agency. Like, you know, they didn't have a core building block player walk out the door. So, yeah, I think they're on their way. They've certainly gotten a little bit faster.
You know, you saw too many instances of guys running away from them late in the season. And... They're a little bit faster on defense. You've got to see how it all comes together, though. You do, but I think the part that is a little bit puts you in wait-and-see mode the most for me is that the secondary plan, the plan to create takeaways for a defense that lived off of them last year. You had 23 interceptions. 19 of those came from players that you just said goodbye to. 33 takeaways, 23 of those came from the same group. Brad, I do wonder when you say goodbye and you let – You let Bayard go, I understand getting younger with Kobe Bryant. Brisker go, I understand the risk involved, but that was a cheap contract.
That's Sean Wright, same deal. What do you think the plan is in the secondary, and do you think there's an element of risk involved? Well, yeah. I mean, there's always some risk involved. I thought the plan all along was you get a veteran safety, and that's either Bayard or that's someone else, and it turns out to be someone else, Kobe Bryant, and you draft one. Like, it doesn't make good sense to pay a couple of safeties. Some people have said, geez, at $5.5 million for Jaquan Brisker, why didn't they bring him back? Well, because he only got $5.5 million from the Steelers. Like, you get what you pay for. The market wasn't great for any of those players. Nashawn Wright, I think I told you guys from the combine, the feeling was his –
Market might be around $6 million a year. People have talked about these extravagant paydays for a cornerback. I'm certainly interested in what the plan is there. They will need some more competition. They do have Tyreek Stevenson. That's something to keep an eye on. The pass rush is something to keep an eye on. But A lot of people up in arms over the defensive end situation. I think these are folks who too often probably confuse activity for achievement. You go out and you shop in that mid-tier range of free agency, especially linemen. I don't know that you're going to get a whole lot in return. You love Jalen Phillips? Great. Then get him at $30 million a year. Otherwise, they need to put together a plan to improve a couple of these positions, and I'm thinking specifically on defense, edge rusher, safety, corner maybe figures into the mix.
We can't forget defensive tackle. They've got to have that draft for their defense like they had for their offense a year ago.
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Chapters
8 chapters
1
What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
0:01–0:38
2
What are the key points from Ryan Poles' press conference?
0:38–7:51
3
How can the Bears improve their pass rush?
7:51–18:24
4
What are the implications of losing key defensive players?
18:24–23:50
5
Should the Bears pursue Maxx Crosby in a trade?
23:50–30:20
6
What challenges does the Bears' defensive line face?
30:20–36:56
7
How does the draft impact the Bears' defensive strategy?
36:56–40:46
8
What are the financial implications of roster changes?
40:46–52:47
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