Chapter 1: What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
Kevin Fishbane. I got fishy business. Okay, Fishbane. Bears beat Ryder for the Athletic. Are you talking about how the Bears had 10 days off between games after their two best passing performances in the first play from scrimmage against an all-blitzing defense was to let a blitzer come free? Kevin Fishbane talking Bears. Hey, Kevin. Kevin Fishbane from the Athletic. I love your name.
It's a great name. Yeah, great name. On Chicago Sports Radio, 670 The Score.
Kevin Fishbane, he is the senior writer at The Athletic. He covers the Bears. He hosts the podcast Breaking In with Kevin Fishbane, a sports media podcast. He is the NSMA Sports Writer of the Year for the state of Illinois yet again. And he is at Kevin Fishbane at kfishbane.com.
on x kevin fishbane we're always happy to have you on we wanted you on a little bit earlier this week because of the big day that was bears locker clean out at hallis hall your colleague at the athletic dan weir described it as somber kevin we're always happy to have you on thanks for joining us and what do you think about the mood that you saw yesterday
Yeah, thank you for having me. It was, you know, I've covered 12 locker cleanouts and they're always low key. They're always a little somber. This one was this like, oh man, we were that close. We don't know. If we'll be back, we don't know how hard it's going to be to get back. We don't know who's going to be here next year to try to get back.
So I think you felt a lot of guys really coming into terms with the finality of what was just an incredible run that nobody predicted. And guys just kind of sitting there being like, wow, it's over. They've got to watch the Rams now continue on in the conference championship. And they have to sit there and think about like, well, what's this thing going to look like?
But I will say, you know, you talk to guys and like they acknowledge what's okay, we've got a lot of guys still under contract. We clearly have the coach. We have the quarterback. This is obviously going in the right direction. The trajectory is where it needs to be. But yeah, I mean, I think guys were understandably pretty bummed that their season came to an end.
I think the biggest thing, because they have so much under control as far as offense is concerned, is looking and seeing what the priorities are when you talk about the offseason and the turnover that is inevitable after the first season of a head coach, whether he's successful or not.
And what would you say is the direction you think the Bears need to focus on and make the priority heading into this offseason?
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Chapter 2: What insights does Kevin Fishbane share about the Bears' locker cleanout?
You just have to figure out how are you going to get to the passer. They did a pretty nice job against Matthew Stafford, but I think Dennis Allen was in his bag, as the kids say. I mean, he was cooking on Sunday night with all those different exotic looks and blitzes and moving guys in and out. And they did a really nice job.
But I think that so much of this offseason is going to be how can they better impact the opposing quarterback and what are ways they can do that. And I think it's going to have to start with that defensive front.
Kevin Fishbane joins us on Twitch, twitch.tv slash Chicago670, the score, and he is on the Circus Sports Illinois hotline. Download the Circus Sports app today. Kevin, that was where we started our show, just talking about at what point did you have confidence in the defense in that game? I talked about the early, it's called the Brisker drive now.
But it also had a Montez Sweat sack for a loss of six yards on the play. I feel like that was such a good indication of the promise that that game showed on Sunday. What did you think about just how D.A. was in his bag? The kids also say cooking. He was also cooking when it came to how he was able to utilize that Bears defensive line.
And they absolutely had to have a good game in order for them to have a shot against the Rams.
I mean, Layla, if you told me the Rams scored 17 points in regulation, I'd say we would be talking about Bear Seahawks this week. It was a really incredible performance, especially considering the Rams walked downfield 14 plays, 85 yards, six first downs to score their first touchdown. You're sitting there thinking, oh, boy. this is going to be a long night.
And then I think it was seven or six or seven punts on the next seven or eight possessions. It was incredible. And I thought, yeah, you mentioned Brisker had maybe the game of his life. Kyler Gordon was everywhere. Montez Sweat, Dominic Robinson with a sack. What they were doing, you know, so I try to, I try my best to chart snaps in game. And I, the defense was nearly impossible to keep track.
Because every time I look up, linebackers coming off, CJ Garner-Johnson coming on. Oh, no, we're going to leave this linebacker out. We're going to go with three down defensive linemen. We're going to go four down defensive linemen, one linebacker, dime defense, and it's only second down. He was doing so many different things. But yeah, once they got almost that first punt, you're like, oh, okay.
I can't believe they got the Rams to punt once. And then they punted again and again. And then it obviously changed the narrative too, which is like, oh, the defense is playing out of its mind and the offense is just not cashing in and capitalizing the opportunities. And when you spin the conversation the next year, that's the next step for this group. It's fourth down, It's goal to go.
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Chapter 3: What are the Bears' offseason priorities according to Kevin Fishbane?
A little confusing at first. You know, when I saw the Titans news when I woke up this morning, I thought my first thought was like, well, where's Matt Nagy going? Are we going to have a co-offensive coordinator in Kansas City situation? Is he going to get promoted to senior advisor to the head coach? I don't know. I mean, I... I wonder, Andy Reid has his people that he trusts.
I am not one to ever doubt Andy Reid, and Eric Biannimi meant a lot to that team, and I wonder if when Andy looked back at things that went wrong, obviously the injury's out of their control, but I wonder if he's like, The connection that Bien-Ami had with Mahomes was an important one, and maybe he just needs somebody like Bien-Ami in that offensive meeting room.
Andy Reid knows him better than most, and yeah, I'm not going to question Andy Reid, but it's great news for Bien-Ami. It's a great opportunity for him. But yeah, I'm very intrigued to see if that happens, how that all unfolds, what that looks like. I mean... The results speak for themselves on the impact of the enemy on this year's running backs.
We never truly know what a position coach can mean, but you just have to look at what DeAndre Swift and Kamenongai did, and it's right there for you. So, yeah, I'm interested to see what Kansas City's plan is and what this means for Matt Nagy as well.
Kevin Fishman, we always appreciate the time. Thank you for joining us every week this season during a successful one where we have Games of Consequence in January. I believe you requested this in one of our first conversations this year, and I'm so happy that you got what you wanted.
Yeah. We got relevant games in the winter. It's always a pleasure coming out with you. And yeah, let's keep this going. I was thinking, I love that we could have consternation about going for two or going for it on fourth down instead of sitting here on January 20th talking about who should be the next play caller. Let's talk mock drafts. It's refreshing.
Yeah.
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Chapter 4: How does the Bears' pass rush need to improve this offseason?
To watch and not point and laugh per se, but observe keenly while other teams need coaches. It's... It's a new feeling for me.
Happy Ben Johnson Day, Kevin. Happy Ben Johnson Day.
There we go. Take care, guys.
Thanks, Kevin. That is Kevin Fishbane. As we mentioned, you can check out his work on The Athletic. You can also check it out at Breaking In with Kevin Fishbane, a sports media podcast. He is at KFishbane on Twitter. Coming up next, it is time for halftime. And I do think that... The concept of reassessing food dye, for example, is a good idea.
Taking a look at the chemicals that are in this world and what they might be doing to us. I get that side of the health aspect of things. But what I don't get is when you just defy engineering openly.
Is that what happens in your story?
Man, this is an activity that you do, and I don't think you're going to be happy to hear this. Oh, okay.
You got me hooked. Let's go.
That's next.
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