The Rise Up, See Red podcast

2024 Cardinals opponent preview: Chicago Bears with Alyssa Barbieri

The opponent preview series continues! The ninth show of 14 in 14 days about the Arizona Cardinals' 14 2-24 opponents is about the Chicago Bears, whom the Cardinals play at home in Week 9.

Jess is joined by Bears Wire managing editor Alyssa Barbieri to talk about the Bears' 2023 season, their offseason moves in free agency, trades and the draft and their expectations for 2024.

Duration:: 1h 1m
Broadcast on:: 17 Jul 2024
Audio Format:: mp3

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High Five Casino is a social casino, no purchase necessary boardwork, or head to play responsibly terms in addition supply, see website for details at highthenumberfivecocino.com. This is the Rise Up Sea Red Podcast, all about the Arizona Cardinals and the NFL, featuring insider and outsider perspectives. Enjoy the best hour of Cardinals Talk on the Web. Now here are your hosts, Jess Root and Seth Cox. Hello, Arizona Cardinals fans, and welcome to the latest edition of the Rise Up Sea Red Podcasts, the best hour of Cardinals Talk on the Web. I'm your host, Jess Root from cardswire.com, the USA Today NFL Wiresight. And we are in the middle of our opponent preview series of shows where we do 14 shows with 14 writers, reporters that cover the Cardinals 2024 opponents. And in this edition of the show, I have Alyssa Barbieri, who has frequented the show a few times over the last few years, bearswire managing editor, and also my boss. Alyssa, welcome back to the show. Glad to have you. How have you been? I've been good. It's good to be back. We've done this a few times. And every time I'm looking forward to your message, because it kind of tells me, "Oh, my goodness, this ball season is coming back." So I'm like, "Yay!" Even though it's been nice to enjoy the offseason, but I mean, I've been ready for football. I mean, I'm just ready to get back at it and excited to be back here previewing another Bears Cardinals game. Yes, yes. The Cardinals place the Bears at home in week nine. It's going to be an interesting part of the season for both of the Bears who are a team. They're excited. We're going to take our time to get to what's coming for this season. We want to look back at last year for the very busy offseason that they've had this year and then moving ahead to kind of expectations for the 2024 season. Last year, they beat the Cardinals, and in Chicago, 27 is 16. They got to Kyler-Merry a few times. They finished 7 and 10. They are kind of below average, 18th in the league and scoring 20th in scoring defense, but they had a top 12 unit in terms of yards. And that was while Justin Fields still didn't take turn the next corner and become like a great quarterback. He was very... You tell me, you tell me, how was Justin Fields in the 13 games he played last season? Yeah, I mean, looking back at it, inconsistent is the word that came up a lot. And I think we talked about that at this point last year is like, what are you looking for at Justin Fields's consistency? That was the way that he was going to prove that he could be the long-term answer for them. And unfortunately, that just didn't work out. We were waiting for him to take that step forward in the passing game, which I mean, there's no denying he's just an electric playmaker. Just his ability to just like flip games sometimes is incredible. And what he can do with his legs and what he can do with his arm, it's just more consistency at all levels, especially like those short intermediate passes and kind of taking what the defense is giving him when he kind of wants to just, you know, hit a big home run ball sometimes or he's overthinking his processing was an issue as well. So I mean, at this point, looking back at him last season, obviously, he was hurt missed a month with that broken thumb, so which allowed Tyson Beige to kind of step up there. And hey, they found a solid backup in the process. So I guess that's a good thing. But yeah, looking back at it, he just didn't take the next step forward that the bears needed to see in order for them to pass up on taking Caleb Williams, which I mean, at that point of the season, having that panthers number one overall pick, we knew for a while that the bears are going to have that number one pick. It was just a matter of one. And so Justin was going to have to have been just absolutely incredible for them to pass on the opportunity to draft Caleb Williams. And even though, you know, his teammates, Justin's teammates last season, they really were beating the drum for him to stick around with him because he did make progress. That's the thing. It's just it wasn't enough, especially when he he would have been entering he is entering the last year of his rookie deal. And you would have had to have paid him and it just, you know, moving on from him and then going with Caleb and resetting the rookie contract. And it's just going to help the team in the long run. And you know, Justin was he made progress. And I really hope I think that going to Pittsburgh will be really good for him and getting to work and learn from Russell Wilson and with Mike Tomlin and a functional organization, I think will be really good for him. But unfortunately, he just didn't do enough to, you know, supplant himself to establish himself as the long term answer quarterback for Chicago. Aside from fields then, what were the highs and what were the disappointments from last season? Yeah, I mean, there were a lot of disappointments. I mean, looking back at the season, it truly feels like they were two seasons and one, because it's hard to kind of do an overall because the first half of the season, it just felt like everything was burning to the ground. I was waiting for Matt Ebert was to be fired in the middle of the season, like at week three or four after that Kansas City game. Yeah, it was bad. And if they had lost that Washington game on Thursday at football, I was I was waiting for it. So like that was a big turning point. But the first, the first half of the season is a disappointing part, just like in terms of the defense, especially because this was year two, this is my deeper flu season defensive guy. You know, they hadn't really addressed the pass rusher at that point. And the defense was just, I mean, the secondary was getting burned, but they weren't getting helped by the front seven either. I mean, there are a lot of new guys there and they're really, some of them are learning the defense and they're building that chemistry. So like, things started really slow. I think, again, when you look at low lights, it's getting swept by the Packers again, just like they have not beaten green base in 2018, which is just ridiculous. You have to win those division games, especially against your rivals, things like that. But when you look at like the high moments, I think it really started after they tried to Vermont us what I think it just really flipped everything. And his impact on that defense and what they were able to do, you talked about that the defense is more kind of middle of the road when you look at them in the back half of that year after they acquired sweat, they were a top five unit, just in terms of what they were able to take take over wise, they had the most they were tied for the most with San Francisco, which is just really incredible, especially interception wise, Jalen Johnson having his breakout year, finally getting that pro ball knob that he that he deserves. I mean, the defense, I think when you, that's what I'd like the highlights coming out of the season, not necessarily how it started. And again, it feels like two completely different seasons. It was crazy to kind of watch it and just how it went from panic mode in the first half of the year. And then things really started to turn a corner when they got Montes sweat. And the offense is also making strides. They had the top run game again in the league. Justin Fields is a big part of that. That's going to be a question of heading into this season because you're not going to have a quarterback who's going to be running as much as Justin did. So I mean, but looking at the defense and what they were able to do, I think it really sets up a big year for them that for them to take a step because they had a lot of impact rookies as well. I think that look, look like they can be cornerstones on this team, Darnell, right at right tackle. He had a really solid rookie season. I think that now he has a whole off season to learn and to continue to train. And he's someone I'm going to be looking at as a potential breakout player this year. And then you have, you know, Jerome Dexter, who didn't really start, he was more of a rotational guy behind Justin Jones, who was now in Arizona. So now Jerome Dex is going to have that opportunity to step into his starting role. And listening to Montes sweat talk about him. He's someone who could also potentially have a break at your Tyreke Stevenson really came into his own opposite Jalen Johnson last year, especially in the final seven games of the year. So they have a lot of second year players kind of coming into it as well. I think that they ended the season on a real strong note outside of losing to Green Bay again. I think when you look at the highlights, the defense is the big one because they had the most returning players. I think all the starters except for Eddie Jackson, who was released in Kevin Beyer, stepping into that that role at safety. And then Jerome Dexter stepping in for Justin Jones. But I think the defense was a real highlight last season. I think also DJ Moore just, I mean, it's crazy how, how many, it's great that happened last year. It feels like it happened a couple of years ago that they got him. He stepped into this offense with Justin Fields. And it wasn't a top passing offense. And DJ Moore still won on to have 1300 yards, had a career year, even in one of the worst passing offenses in the NFL. It's just crazy what he was able to do. And now looking ahead, not to jump ahead, but now he's still going to be the top guy in a receiver room that has probably one of the best receiving trios. We'll see. I mean, Rome Adunze needs to prove it first, but it's just really exciting to kind of see what DJ Moore was able to accomplish, co-commit had a career again in a passing offense that was among the worst in the NFL. It's just kind of crazy to think. But I think the foundation, like, you know, you look at the positives, I think the foundation and some of these pieces in place, this roster that Ryan pulls is built in now two plus years. I think that that was one of the big positives to kind of come out of this season. Plus, I mean, you finished seven and ten, you still have the number one for Hope Pick, thanks to Carolina, and that move that pulls made last year. So, I mean, when all is said and done, it was not acceptable. They had a chance to contend for the playoffs at the end of the year. I think that was also a low light. They were in a position to make the playoffs, and they just need to learn how to finish games. And that's going to be a big thing with Matt Eberfloos, because I think if they don't find success in their not playoff contenders this season, at least contending, Eberfloos could be on the hot seat. Year three is this year that where everything should start to click when you listen to the Bears talk about it. Coming up next on the Rise of Sea Red podcast, Mr. Carlos talk on the web, let's move on and focus on the many, many off-season moves the Bears have made that's coming up next to the Rise of Sea Red. Buick Enclave is designed to make together your favorite place to be with an abundance of thoughtful features like the hands free power liftgate and with generous space for up to seven. Your family will agree. 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Goes wherever you go. But when three spins cash prizes three down the rewards over 1200 games. I want to get platoon. Present cell phone. High five, high five, casino. When did high five casino? Get home! High five casino is a social casino. No purchase necessary. We're having to play responsible conditions apply. See website for details. High five casino. We're back on the risers here at Podcast Mr. Our Cardinals talk on the web. The off-season goes. They trade Justin Fields to the Pittsburgh Steelers. Did you expect the Bears to be able to get more? Things lingered and lingered and lingered and it felt like there was almost no market for Fields by the end. Yeah that surprised me. I didn't think that they were going to get as much as some people were projecting that they would get. At one point there was someone at ESPN saying no you get a first round I'm like no that's not happening. Even a second but I mean at this point like a conditional six I mean it was shocking like covering that like in real time too when like you know they're going to take Caleb Williams and they're shopping him but they're not saying that they're shopping him or that they're moving on. It was like a whirlwind this off-season was crazy but I was shocked that there wasn't more of a market especially when you see some of the veterans that you know were signed in for agency or acquired via trade and some of them like really like you think they're better than Justin Fields. I mean I think it had a lot more to do with again you know anytime you're trading draft capital I mean you have to be really sold on this especially if it's going to be a higher pick and he's entering the last year of his rookie deal the money you would have to probably at that point or some you're going to pay him so I could see the reasoning behind it but still like a conditional six surprised me but I wonder if they could have gotten more and this was more Ryan polls like as he talked about how Justin Fields talked about it too with the Pittsburgh media how you know polls was really up front with him communicated well wanted to make sure that they were going to send him to a situation that was going to be best for him and I mean that's very rare to have like a GM just kind of you know involve a player and be kind of be like okay so where do you where do you want to go especially when he probably could have gotten maybe a fifth I don't know like you know what that was but I was shocked that he didn't have more of a market but I mean I think I think Pittsburgh is a good landing situation for him and I'm hoping obviously at bias he has to play 51% of the snaps for that six to become a fourth so I'm just you know fingers crossed not that I'm wishing injury on Russell's and I'm just hoping Justin beats him out somehow then Pittsburgh who now is but they're starting in their backup quarterback have the least amount of resources tied up at quarterback that like any team ever crazy and while Russ is still getting paid so much my Denver my goodness my goodness it could be worse we could be Denver that's true that's true that's true and they're their their decisions now are bonyx and zach wilson whoo for the coin other moves this off season so they they go and they they get keen and allen okay that's good they get they they acquire in free agency DeAndre swift Gerald Everett Coleman Shelton they bring back Mercedes Lewis for another year like I cannot believe that dude is still playing in the NFL but before so free agency who are the impact losses and who were who are going to be the biggest additions that they made yeah impact losses I mean it's crazy because I'm thinking like Justin Jones is one because he's like one of your starters on defense there weren't a lot of impact you like like guys that were hitting for agency Jalen Johnson was going to be the big one but like darnell Mooney is someone who you know looking in his first season like he really looked at someone who could establish himself as a really solid receiver with Chicago and unfortunately then just kind of went downhill and both you know sides didn't kind of seem seem to be there and they can they kind of let them go and rebuilt the entire receiver room but yeah like I think Justin Jones was solid really came into his own especially when Montes Sled joined the defensive line he's someone who I thought that they were going to bring back but looking at the kind of money that he got from Arizona good for him yeah he doesn't know that was that that's I see that moot when the cardinal signed Jones for for a number of reasons his his jump in production in the pass rush last year this they view him I think they see a little upside in in that fashion that he could be a six to eight sat guy from the interior which he has not yeah previously been in his career yeah he's someone he definitely benefited as the like later on the season when when Sled came and that's something that Japan Dexter was gonna have to you know really he showed that he could do that too from the interior so it'll be interesting to see that but yeah looking at I think Darnell Mooney was probably one of the biggest ones as well losing him but I think also Jalen Johnson was the big one everyone was watching and the fact that they were able to resign him after just a monster year and he's been quietly been one of the most consistent cornerback in the league and someone that you know opposing teams don't like to target which really helps high wreak Stevens in last season kind of you know get his legs wet a little bit so I think that was one of the big moves too they were able to bring him back and kind of looking at their additions is it are we just free agency we talk and trades to the trades too yeah okay yeah so obviously I think Keenan Allen's the biggest edition that they made this off season outside of the draft outside of Caleb Williams we're talking just like veteran additions Keenan Allen was was the biggest for sure and then bringing him in here and this is before Roma Dunes they was on the team I think receiver was a huge need and pairing him with DJ with DJ Moore I was called him DJ Owen that's gonna be their name um pairing him with DJ Moore just for whichever quarterback was gonna be there whether it was Justin Fields or Caleb Williams I think that that's just huge it's something that the Bears have not had a solid receiver duo since this is that was probably this is probably their best since Brandon Marshall and Al Shunjafri like you know a while ago so that back in 2015 it's crazy um but yeah I think Keenan Allen was a huge addition and then you like and then you add Roma Dunes into the mix it's it's crazy because looking at the Keenan Allen edition I was like okay they're gonna sign him to an extension you know you you're bringing him in on the final year of his deal but then kind of them going on adding a Dunes say I think it kind of sets up where they probably don't re-sign him especially when you watch the receiver market being reset the way it is I think you have and his insurance he's gonna be 32 this yeah and it really did seem like he's gonna be 32 he misses games regularly and not to take away from you still puts up a thousand yards right he had 1200 yards and 13 crazy that's crazy I was like wait how many games I was 13 he's like but not 13 yards I'm like that is insane just I mean I think he's gonna be a huge help for obviously Kayla Williams but also Roma Dunes a as well and just kind of being you know that veteran a teacher in the receiver room I think that'll be really big even if he is only a one-year rental I think his impact on this offense and what they have with those three is gonna be huge DeAndre Swift obviously was another big addition for them and you know this is still a running-back committee approach but he's gonna be that lead back you know they had Deonta Forman last year let him kind of move on Khalil Herbert was that starter DeAndre Swift I think brings a little bit more to the table he's more well-rounded he's just a playmaker in all facets and I think that Caleb's gonna really appreciate that having that strong run game I think it's gonna be more important than ever because again you're losing Justin Fields who was most of your run game last year you did that you they had the top run game I think the previous two years but that was just all Justin Fields so you know the pressure is gonna be on DeAndre Swift's and Roshan Johnson and Khalil Herbert will see if they can because that to help Kale about as much as possible you're really gonna need to get that ground game going so I think signing DeAndre Swift was a move in the right direction didn't over pay him too much when he kind of looked at you know I thought knew that they were interested in Saquan Barkley as well but you know that would have gotten a little too expensive for them Gerald Everett I think is an underrated addition he kind of just because there's so many moves that they made this offseason that some guys are kind of getting slipped under the rug a little bit just I mean you now have to never run Titans and Cole commit and Gerald Everett again there's so many weapons and just one ball to go around so it's gonna be some disappointed guys um it's gonna be nice to see the bears that actually open up the passing game a little bit which I'm just using them you know run run run run the ball at this point so I mean it's it's been a crazy offseason I'm just trying I'm going back through my head and like thinking of all the moves the riot trading for Ryan Bates and signing Coleman Shelton because center has been a position that that's plagued them for a while now and to watch see Ryan pulls one out there and got two guys so they're currently competing for the starting job Coleman Shelton does have more experience at center but also like if he wins the job Ryan Bates is going to be a really solid reserve along the interior especially with Nate Davis he's had some issues with injuries and just kind of not being available so having that having that depth is going to be really important for them as well I'm going through like all the additions in my head I'm like who am I missing I'm like me to be looking at all of them it's it's been crazy to keep track of but like like mentioned before Jalen Johnson he was already on the team but resigning him was huge you know they got some depth of Kevin Byers you had to forget about Kevin Byers you know an all-pro safety to pair with your quant brisker who I think could be poised for a breakout year especially now if this defense really does rise to the occasion in year three in Matty Brooklucis scheme which I think they have the potential to I think that brisker is someone who could really stand out I think Kevin Byers is going to help him a whole lot replacing Eddie Jackson I think you know they released him earlier this offseason he had a massive cap and I think he was going to get 17.9 million this year and part of the part of the the attrition just it was bad for safety yeah yeah and he hadn't been the saint like he had a really strong start to the year um the uh the previous year before he got hurt and just wasn't able to kind of regain the magic that he had in the first couple of years um in his NFL career so you know it's it was a movie expected but going out there and getting an established veteran to replace him was really good to kind of keep this defense uh consistent so I mean there's so many moves that they made Jonathan Owens getting some good depth of safety because Elijah Hicks was someone that they had and he really when he had to go in there he just it wasn't it so I think just really adding even when you weren't adding starters you're adding depth at key possessions right which I think was really important for them to do I mean Ryan Pools has done like when looking back at what this roster was um after Ryan Pace left it's incredible what he's done with it in such a short amount of time so I mean I've just been really impressed like they didn't have a lot of big splash moves in free agency you know in the trade market you know this offseason but I think when you look at it I think they can be impact moves and then you go to the draft only five picks and one of them they used on a punter but it was four originally it was four originally and then they trained it back open to the draft and so they got they they but obviously they're the two top 10 picks two impact players in Caleb Williams and Roma Dunes they um how good like was it always Caleb Williams was there ever any doubt that they really ever considered Jaden Daniels or or even Drake May or was it always going to be Caleb Williams yeah it was always Caleb Williams I mean I think they knew that I think they knew that going into the combine which is why they were trying to move Justin Fields as soon as possible so you know they could officially kind of you know just say Caleb's our guy without officially saying that but yeah I mean the fact that Caleb Williams took one top 30 visit it was to the Bears the fact that the Bears hosted only one quarterback for a top 30 visit which was Caleb Williams I mean I think it speaks volumes that he's been the guy and I think his talent speaks for itself obviously you know watching the tape and I think the big thing because there was a lot of just rumors and reports out there just like questioning him his character and him as a person and I think they just wanted to do their due diligence because obviously the talent's important for so is the character and I think if we've learned anything it's like I can't believe some of these ridiculous reports and stories that we're circulating when he has just been nothing but like a great guy since he's joined the team and even before that um from multiple reports around the league like you know the Bears I think like them going with him like from the beginning and knowing so early on they were able to get a head start a jump start on teaching him the offense like I think on one of the second visit maybe his official top 30 visit they're already teaching him the offense because they know he's going to be the guy he's going to dinner with his teammates guys like DJ Moore um and Cole commit you know and really getting a head start on that but he he's always been the guy I don't think there's any doubt they wanted to make sure the character thing was there but I think they learned that pretty early on and that's why they were like I said they were trying to move Justin feels as quickly as they could and unfortunately took a little bit longer but Caleb has always been the guy and I think that they got validation there too especially at the combat. Do you have any concerns about not to necessarily play on the field but the quirks of his personality and and fitting into the NFL? I don't I find it hilarious to see like some people like freaking out at freaking out about the nails and all this stuff I love that I think that's cool I'm looking for an F Green Bay you know set like one like I'm ready for that like I love that he's 20 like what 21-22 years old and he's so assured of himself looking back when I was at age I had no idea so just like he is just so I think the way he carries himself he's so assured of himself and just comfortable and knows who he is and knows that he's like he's a great player as well I'm not worried about that at all I love it because like even just the press conferences the like the difference between watching Justin Fields getting up there and talking versus Caleb Williams it's so different he's so entertaining he's so open open and welcoming I mean like obviously after a rough game it's not always going to be like that but it reminds me I'm not that I was around to witness it wasn't alive but when Jim McMahon was quarterback in Chicago like you need a character like I mean I'm like I mean they're different but also like Caleb is giving me those vibes in terms of just he's going to be a character like that he's going to be elite he's going to be where Caleb will be is a better quarterback than Jim yeah I mean hopefully you could say healthy because that was McMahon's problem is like he couldn't say healthy so just we got to make sure that that's going to be right but yeah I mean I have no problems with it whatsoever I think it's a breath of fresh air I love it and I love his confidence because it could it could come off his cockiness but it really doesn't well I don't know I'm excited it's interesting because I think people got like this year that this past year at USC was obviously not the best but look what he did the previous year look what he did as a freshman at Oklahoma and he's exciting and and he absolutely had no help last year with that offensive line their defense was atrocious and so there were there were some highlight throws but yeah it seemed like some people forgot what he'd already done it would have been been different if that was the what he had put on film and he didn't already have those two previous years of you know his freshman year at Oklahoma and then the 2023 of the 2022 year in USC but it should be now I am not as bullish on the Bears personally because he's still a rookie and I don't think he's going to have like rookie success like up top quarterbacks like when you got Andrew Luck and you have CJ Stroud and I don't think Caleb Williams there but I think you know like one of the things when I was looking at and we'll talk about in a minute is like the projected wind totals that came out I saw the Bears is a as a team that you could hit the under on because not because of their lack of talent but just the inconsistent rookie quarterbacks now he does have an incredibly talented supporting cast and and I you know I know that's funny to look at now when they you wanted Justin Fields to be good good good and then they gave him the talent he had and they bring in Caleb Williams and now they at Keenan Allen they you've got DeAndre Swift at running back you've got Dee Dee Morey got Caleb you got Keenan Allen you've got Colcomette you had Gerald Everett and then you go in draft Roma Dunesay who in maybe in any other draft would be a top receiver but with Marvin Harrison Jr. in Malik Neighbors ends up being the number three and he drops all the way to the ninth overall pick could the draft in the first 10 picks would it could it have gone any better or was that sort of the perfect way for things to play off for the top 10 yeah no that was the perfect way especially looking at I'm trying to remember it was either the Bears behind the scenes show or the one on Roku where you know it was showing that you know inside the Bears draft room and they were after they got a Dunesay and like they they they were keyed in on him obviously they knew they were going Caleb but they were keyed in on a Dunesay like from after that and listening to I think I think it was a assistant GM Ian Cunningham he was like we got our top two guys and so it really sounds that they had a Dunesay ranked really high on their graph award so it could not have worked out better that they landed both of those guys it was weird to the fact that you know they were training beforehand with Keenan Allen and DJing War like I'm just like did they know something that we didn't know they were on the same flight together it was kind of figured or hope that way and the way that played out it was it was understandable because you know you knew the first three picks were gonna be quarterbacks you knew that barring something weird that Harrison was gonna go next um I there was the thought and I think the Chargers being with Jim Harbaugh that sort of locked in a tackle even though you know when they when they cut when they cut Mike Williams and they trained Keenan Allen you're like they need receivers and so a lot of people had I had them pegged to get the league neighbors because they had no receivers left but that's Harbaugh that's Jim Harbaugh trying to build that offensive line it makes sense and and I think I think ultimately I had a Dunesay falling to the Bears kind of an ideal situation how how good how much do you think he can produce as a rookie in a room that includes DJ Moore and Keenan Allen yeah that's the question I mean like I had mentioned before like and it's just the three of them and then you have Cole commit or I'll never judge I switched I mean you're gonna have other received not that Tyler Scott's gonna be more involved but there's so many weapons and only one ball to go around so it's gonna be really interesting I know that the three of them uh DJ Keenan and Roam they there's like this inside joke that it's a race to a thousand yards between the three of them so we'll see who gets there first but I do think that you know just I mean it's a pick your poison for opposing defenses with the three of them they can all do something just so so well like they they bring something to the table and I think you're gonna have to choose I think that you know DJ Moore and Keenan Allen are gonna get a lot of the attention so I think that could open up Roam to really have you know a sneaky season I don't know if he's gonna get two thousand yards how many catches he's gonna have but I mean he's Caleb's buddy at this point too so he's someone who I think you know maybe he does develop into his favorite target down the road I still think that DJ Moore's gonna lead that receiving room I think he breaks a thousand yards for sure it's just like you said I mean it's gonna be interesting to see just how much he's utilized because there's so many mouths to feed on that offense which is crazy so I am expecting obviously the passing offense to be much better season than it has been in years past but I mean I think Roam also like one of the things that was interesting during mini camp is you know special teams coordinator Richard Hightower he was talking about keen I'm sorry Roma Dunes they potentially being a part returner which is something he didn't really do a lot at Washington I mean he was brought in on you know a couple times and he had some impressive pun returns including my Bertrand last year but he's someone who is definitely in contention for that role too so I'm like they're gonna pro they're gonna try to utilize him as much as possible I think but it'll it'll be interesting can two of those two of those receivers get two thousand yards I mean we yeah we've seen that Keenan Allen couldn't get two thousand yards of 13 games I mean I hope he plays more but we shall see it's gonna be interesting but yeah I just can't believe like how quickly this receiving group just this is the best receiving group they've had ever probably in a hundred plus years like that's insane this is where receivers go to die as moose in the ham and one said like so it's crazy that they have just this receiving trio it's it feels different that's weird and then you have three more picks in the draft uh Kieran I hope I don't destroy this I'm a godgy out tackle out of gale nailed it uh Tory Taylor punter out of Iowa and then honestly Austin Booker defense of the edge to defender out of Kansas was a guy I thought would go much higher do any of that I do Tory Taylor I I'm guessing is going to be the guy so obviously he's gonna punt does on a godgy fit fit in this year and and how would this Austin Booker fit in as a rookie yeah I think omg he's more he's gonna be just kind of like in that reserve learning role this season I mean they had their set attack for right now Braxton Jones and Darnell Wright and he's still recovering from his injury that he suffered last year so he's gonna be more just kind of like he's a learning year for him and as a key reserve I think Austin Booker is gonna that's gonna be interesting because looking at edge rusher outside of Montez sweat you don't have a whole lot I mean Demarcus Walker is probably gonna be your other start on the outside but I think that Booker has I mean they could go out and re-sign Janne he can go away like they did at this point last year because he's healthy he knows the defense he was really thriving there once sweat was brought in before he suffered his broken ankle near the end of the year so I still think they're gonna bring in another edge rusher but if they don't I think that Austin Booker can see a fair amount of time and like you said I was shocked that he he fell that far I thought he was gonna go higher and I think you know that pick was that was their original fifth round pick from Buffalo that they traded for Ryan Bates so they traded back for they traded back into the draft to get him which I think speaks volumes about what they didn't think he was gonna be there either so I mean I think that he this season it's it'll be interesting depending on what else they do this offseason but I think he has the potential to get a good amount of reps as a rookie which I mean in learning from Montez sweat I think is just gonna be just instrumental for him I mean it's really interesting too like I love but I'm curious to get your thoughts on the Corey Taylor pick what were your thoughts when the very drafted a punter in the fourth round I don't know I don't know about pick I don't know about draft and punter because punter like I don't know but and I also thought that that's personal preference because I happen to know the kid um that there is a um the I don't know Tory but the kid out of Texas Tech Austin McNamara uh I you know Tory Taylor Austin McNamara were pretty close in terms of rankings but you know I know Austin I thought he I wanted him to get drafted he ended up signing as a as a rookie reagent with the Bengals uh but you know if you need a punter and you love a guy I mean hopefully he's a difference maker right because you don't draft like drafting kickers usually ends up being bad luck um but yeah I mean d3 picks most d3 picks are throwaway picks right and this wasn't a particularly deep class no like later on in the draft which I think really made the decision easier too for them but again like he was summoned too that they like they locked in on and they immediately released Trent and Gil because like he just wasn't getting it done but like from just like I'm obviously like from practices so far and Minnie can't like this kid is booting that thing like he is just he's been a highlight and I'd love how like Caleb Williams like Collins like dude you're not gonna have to fund us but you're not gonna have to fund us but it's so nice we're about holding for kicks that's all you're gonna have to do but but one of those chances when you do need to fund I mean just like boom that like let's go so I mean he's just he's he's been like the highlight so far like training camp it's gonna be so much fun I think but yeah I mean it's it's shopping but I was happy I like that I like how they went about their draft there wasn't I mean they got their top as soon as I got Caleb and Rome I think it was an 8 plus i mean it didn't really matter what they did after no and if honestly those two work out it doesn't matter what happens with the rest of them honest that you it's nice to get contributions from day two and three day three but if you nail two top ten picks you're you're in good you're in a good spot you know one of the rest of the year yeah oh really really coming up next to the rest of your podcast Mr. Carla's talking about whether it's we want to talk about what the hopes and dreams and expectations are for the Chicago Bears in 2024 that's coming in next to the rest of she read. 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Avenir comes loaded with advanced technology including a rear camera mirror HD surround vision and wireless charging staying connected and safe on the road is possible now in short line Buick experience Buick encore GX Avenir at 1301 South Havana Street you do the drive-in we'll do the rest we all have somewhere we're trying to get to as the largest energy producer in Colorado Chevron is helping meet rising demand and we're working to do it responsibly our next-gen tankless facilities reduce the greenhouse gas emissions of our operations by more than 90 compared to our older designs working to provide Colorado with energy that's affordable reliable and ever cleaner so everyone can get to where they want to be you've arrived that's energy in progress visit chevron.com/tankless the following is a high five moment from high five casino.com welcome to Burger Yiffy would you like a high apple pie today yes yes I won woohoo so that's a yes on the apple pie I just went big time playing high five casino on my phone real cash prizes free daily rewards over 1200 games so yes or no on the apple pie whoa I won again I'll take that as a yes drive around have you had your high five moment today only at high five casino.com high five casino is a social casino no purchase necessary we're permitted to play responsibly condition supplies see website for details high five casino we're back on the residence here at podcast mr. of cardinals talk on the web 2024 bears playing in a very tough division that has the Detroit Lions who are super bowl contenders supposedly this year you've got the green bay packers who played really well and their people are talking about Jordan love is a potential you know MVP sleeper and then you've got the bears are coming off a seven wind team adding the talent that they did there's the hope they can be a playoff team what are your expectations what do you think is in store for this team so with this I always try to be reasonable but like we're also at the point where it's the off season and like nothing's happened yet so you're like more leaning on the optimistic side but still trying to be reasonable so like my and this is I actually said this last year too but it's just like heading into the seasons I expect them to contend for the playoffs and be in the race except for maybe last year maybe they get one of those final spots we'll see but it's it's going to depend on Caleb obviously in his development and I don't expect him to have a C.J. Stroud rookie season but I don't think it's unfair to assume that he could have a really solid rookie year especially the way that they set this up because this is the first time where the bears have a solid foundation in place for a young quarterback like before with Mitchell Trubisky and Justin Fields it just like it there wasn't a solid foundation there and I think that Ryan Paul's really went out of his way to get that in place before even getting the quarterback and then continuing to add as well like with getting Roman Dunes A so I mean it's going to depend on him it's the defense I mean if the defense is a top 10 unit like they should be this year after the improvement that they made and you know some of some additions key additions that they made as well I think that'll keep them in it but like you said this is a tough division with the Lions I can't believe you just said Super Bowl contenders I have family that are Lions fans and they are insufferable so it's rough for me give them give them their because they've been they've been suffering for so long so why I mean it's true that's true but come on the like the Lions like there's at least history with the bears yeah I mean before let me it's before your time but wait before I remember when the bears were good but I remember it of six like there we go I mean oh there's I mean of course there's Rex Grossman Rex Grossman I don't care I'm throwing it deep oh man so will it be a disappointment will it be viewed as a disappointment after going 7 and 10 with the roster last year if you're not not if you don't win 9 10 games and not I don't know if they say if they don't make the playoffs a bit of disappointment but if they're not at least right there in the mix late in the season is that sort of expectations for this year even with a rookie quarterback yes because you made the move you know obviously believing Caleb is an upgrade over Justin Fields and I know he's a rookie but again with the pieces in place I think it'll be it might be a bit of a slow start but I think that he'll really find his way as the season progresses but with your deep this year three like there was a time like where we assume that he reflues was going to be fired at the end of the year and Kevin Warren their president in even Ryan polls is talking about how year three is such an important part this is where things should really start to click so if you can't if you're not winning nine games this season after winning seven last year and making these improvements that you made on the roster absolutely it'll be a disappointment so I do expect them to kind of be well I'm trying to think what my early prediction was was it I don't think was it nine or ten it might have been ten and seven that optimistically maybe I might have been ten and seven because again we're early the early part of the season looking at the projected win toes when better than Jen came out with them they had it at at nine and a half and now all the I I go back and forth well here's the thing I don't know that like I like Kayla Williams as a quarterback but do I like him the way CJ because CJ shroud and and Andrew Luck had special rookie seasons and can we expect that for for Caleb and and I think the one thing that that CJ did really really well he took much always much better took care of the ball and I know that Caleb's style of football could lend itself to more mistakes especially in year one and so I looked at when the when the projected wins now eight and a half wins that's a really those the sports books that are eight and a half that that's an impossible pick for me but at nine and a half I'm like I like the under on that not because I think they're gonna be bad but I think I think that at best they're an eight or nine win team this year I think that at best they're an eight or nine win team and I think obviously you could do better than that that's not a best-case scenario but you do you open the season against the Texans you play the Rams who are playoff team you play now granted they don't have the toughest schedule like from top to bottom but the late part of the schedule yeah the late part the late part of the schedule I think that's where you know over the one two three four five six seven eight the final eight games you've got the Packers twice you've got the Lions you have all the division games in the final eight games in the season and then you play the 49ers as well and you play the Seahawks although the Seahawks is probably the of those final eight games we'll have to wait and see whether it's the Seattle or Minnesota that is the that is the weaker team at that point because you know you don't know what the minute the quarterback situation is good at that point for Minnesota how good J.G. McCarthy it's gonna be and then Seattle they've got a new head coach but that defense could look good so I have them pegged about eight or nine wins and I think they just missed the put I think I see them kind of like as a team like at the Cardinals now for you what's you think they're sealing us and what do you think is a worst-case scenario like barring major major injury Caleb Williams go down like that how how do you think the see what do you think the range of wins for them is um I think worst-case scenario would be the same exact record that you had last year that makes after making the improvements because that's that's the thing is I think then you're talking about mighty Hebrew flus is gone then we have to start this whole process over and that's that's the thing that kind of going back to the the quarterback situations and the development is there's always been this turnover with the quarterback so like the Bears drafted Trubisky uh then they fired John Fox and brought in man Aggie and then they draft just Justin Fields and they fired Aggie and then they bring an Hebrew flus and the thing that you want to avoid is that happening again which is why it would have been like best-case scenario just clean house but I mean they really believe in medieval flus so like worst-case scenario is they go 7 and 10 again they firemaddy firemaddy or flus and then you have to start all over again and it's just a mess I think best case uh looking at their record like you said that that last half who made this schedule because that is just rude like I remember looking at that realize of like it they have all all the negative seed nor hit games like in the final eight that's wild that's nuts and including one on Thanksgiving I'm just like can we not and then to one prime time it's just it's crazy but ceiling I would probably like absolute highest I'm 10 11 yeah I think which is fair because they're I mean that same for Cisco game sandwich right in the middle of these division games like why it's just it's just rude in San Francisco a team yeah absolutely loaded with talent across the board yeah but it does help too I mean at this it looking at it it's like but at the same time better it be at the end of the year of Caleb's rookie year than at the beginning because that would just be a mess yeah so like I mean it'll get him some time to develop chance to yeah stack a few wins early I mean you've got you've got the opener against Houston that's a tough game but the Colts the Rams the oh they open actually against Tennessee and then Houston so they have yeah the that Houston ones on Sunday night I think week two yeah why does that's weird because you know whether I'm looking at the pro football reference they don't have a week once game listed oh did the cancel it was cool I just noticed that yeah you're right if they get a win I don't know they have the preseason four I wonder if it's just because the tables because they have the the extra the extra preseason game but no they don't have week one listed in the on pro football reference that's weird so yeah they could potentially like if they could catch fire early because you could be Tennessee you could beat Indy you could be Carol I hope you think you can beat Carolina you can beat Jackson bill they could start you know they could start like four and two and then yeah but then collapse I mean that's it's going to be hard to keep up and then oh and then after the bye week you got Washington um how do you how do the Bears and Bears fans view the game against the Cardinals what's what's the sort of the vibe with that particular matchup I mean I didn't like I haven't really gotten a vibe about it yet it's at this point though with some of the more optimistic fans are probably like oh yeah that's a game we should win you know what I mean it just like I think Cardinal fans probably looking at us kind of being like oh yeah that's a game we should win I think we have the same thing last year too right I see that I see these two teams as being very similar even this year yeah and so I do which I think is going to be like getting to see Marvin Harrison Jr. and Roman Dunes A obviously on the not at the same time but like on the field and going again like I'm excited for that like I think that's going to be crazy there's there's I think that the Cardinals are like an underrated team this year because like a lot of people are sleeping on them yeah I think that the people are getting a little too hyped on the Bears I mean I do think that they're gonna I think that they're gonna contend for the playoffs they might sneak into that last spot it's gonna be rough in this division it depends again like on Caleb and we'll see I don't expect him to have a CJ Stroud year I do expect him to have a really good rookie year because that's what he's set up for yeah like in past years that has not been the case and if you can't I know you're a rookie and it's going to be there's growing pains I understand that but you should still find success in the rookie year and be the best rookie quarterback this season I think so I mean it's it's there well and playoff play making the playoffs making the postseason depends so much on division play yeah and so for two reasons the two reasons that you know they have all six division games in the final eight and so one that's tough that's a tough stretch one and two so if they do well that's gonna say really that's gonna say a lot about their season and two like just for the timing of them and the fact that's a tough division game you know I always think that it takes a you have to plan for three and three in the division to make the postseason and basically just hold like you don't want to be you don't want to lose tie breaks to two teams you can either not have any division tie breaks at all because you split or you hold you hold it over one and you sweat by another but that's I it's gonna I get you know it's always it's always boring to say but it's going to come down to how they play in the division games and that's all going to come late in the season and and either either you know Williams has kind of grown into himself or that's also the time of year when things can start falling off coming off the rails a little bit if things aren't so it's going to be it's going to be fun season I think for both Cardinals and the Bears I personally have the Cardinals who just like the Bears in that eight to nine win range that I think that they will the end of the season their division games of the Cardinals end the season with against the Rams and the 49ers in consecutive weeks and like I did my game by game and I had them I had them at eight and seven going into those two games and losing the final two and missing on the playoffs so I see the Cardinals and Bears very similarly in terms of what they've got the difference is is that Kyler is ahead of Williams in terms of quarterback play but the Bears probably have well Bears definitely on offense have the slightly slightly better group of talent the receiver room is great and then they have a little bit better defense than the Cardinals but they have a much better defense than the Cardinals on paper and but they do play on a harder division at least top I don't know they're very similar because they're both yeah you know that that final stretch like you like looking at it the one thing I will say is that last season the Bears were and they played some some tough teams in the final stretch is like that's when they were really hitting their stride at the end like when they were playing you know the the Browns who they should have beaten and they were playing the Lions who they should have swept but they won one and playing Green Bay who's really hitting their stride and then they had the Cardinals and Falcons who you know the Falcons especially just but I mean they were they went four and six they won four their last six games to close out the year and looking at the division schedule I mean that that's a tough stretch at the end but I mean I think it I don't know I feel like they settle in as the season goes on too so and the thing is too that this Shane Walters taking over as offense coordinator so they're learning a new offense as well which is why it's so beneficial to have that easy start just before things really start clicking into place so I'd like okay I'm like I'm convincing myself I'm good with like the strong clothes to the season just so it allows them that time to kind of really get acclimated but I mean yeah I'm like I have them going nine and eight right now again two more wins that's acceptable you have like Kayla Williams has to show progress the defense has to show progress in order to keep Mattie your clues around so it'll be interesting I mean do do just well enough to keep the coach around another year to then just swell it up and just and then then make the playoffs the following year like it feels like the Lions a little bit where and it's crazy because this is the same year when they when they did hard knocks that was like the first year where you really kind of saw something start and then it's like a slow pro like slow props process there or they're building but like or here's what happened I hope that they just miss the playoffs the fiery perflues they bring in a new but she makes the playoffs in the first year so he looks like he's doing great like naggy oh it's gonna say that's not naggy with you right there and then it just all goes down and then it just starts that circle again you know please no oh it's it's rough it's rough having teams like the Cardinals and the Bears and their struggles over the last 20 years 100 years oh my gosh yes and to the oldest franchise yes in the entire NFL we've still you know not us personally because we're nothing around that long but like these franchises that see some rough times over the decades multiple or sure Alissa thank you so much for your time that'll wrap up this edition of the risers here at podcast of us Arab Cardinals talk of them as we continue with the opponent preview series you can find Alissa's work at the Bears Wire and also you could fall on social media where can you find you on there on the Twitter X world of social stuff let me call it X I would never call it that you can find me on Twitter at Alissa Xavier very easy there thanks Alissa for your time that'll wrap up this edition of the show that's Alissa I'm Jess Root we will be back again soon thanks for listening as always cross over to new possibilities with the first ever Buick Invista now a short line Buick refined versatile intuitive tech friendly cargo loving and best of all Invista is fun to drive the flowing exterior of the Invista is easy on the eyes and inside you will experience a quiet ride thanks to quiet tuning with active noise cancellation apple carplay android auto and wireless charging will keep you connected visit short line Buick today and experience all Buick has to offer in its new lineup of vehicles at short line you do the drive-in we'll do the rest we all have somewhere we're trying to get to as the largest energy producer in Colorado chevron is helping meet rising demand and we're working to do it responsibly our next gen tankless facilities reduce the greenhouse gas emissions of our operations by more than 90 compared to our older designs working to provide Colorado with energy that's affordable reliable and ever cleaner so everyone can get to where they want to be you've arrived that's energy in progress visit chevron.com slash tankless high five casino is a social casino with real prizes and big Vegas hits at high five casino dot com the hottest games right from Vegas and all winnings go straight to your bank account hundreds of exclusive games free daily rewards and come back to get free coins every four hours only at high five casino dot com high five casino is a social casino no purchase necessary 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