[SPEAKER_02]: Hey everybody, this is Matthew Soltisiac, and you're listening to not the same old Lions podcast, part of the minute media podcast network.

[SPEAKER_02]: The Detroit Lions are now in a new, gritty era, and we look beyond just an e-capped when it comes to the analysis.

[SPEAKER_02]: I speak with a variety of guests and interview key players, gaining more insight on what makes this team go.

[SPEAKER_02]: Welcome to another episode.

[SPEAKER_02]: We discussed at a trade alliance divisional opponent to preview this season.

[SPEAKER_02]: In this episode, we're going to focus on the Chicago Bears.

[SPEAKER_02]: What can Lions fans expect out of the new look bears who have a new head coach and former offensive coordinator Ben Johnson?

[SPEAKER_02]: We'll speak with a reporter who's covered Chicago training camp to get a first hand account and hear what he is expecting from this squad.

[SPEAKER_02]: Plus, how he sees a division going down in twenty twenty five.

[SPEAKER_02]: That and more.

[SPEAKER_02]: Let's get to a Lions fans.

[SPEAKER_00]: This is Detroit Lions, two thousand twenty three fan of the year, Robert Gonzalez, and you're listening to not the same old Lions podcast.

[SPEAKER_02]: I'm joined today by Mike Burman, a member of the NBC five sports team out of Chicago.

[SPEAKER_02]: Mike covers the bears regularly.

[SPEAKER_02]: It's great to have you on the program again, Mike.

[SPEAKER_01]: Great to be back, Matthew.

[SPEAKER_01]: Thank you for the invitation.

[SPEAKER_01]: I hope you and everyone watching can appreciate.

[SPEAKER_01]: I wore my on a little blue for for this podcast taping.

[SPEAKER_02]: I appreciate that.

[SPEAKER_02]: I do appreciate you throwing some support or some love at least in this direction.

[SPEAKER_02]: Well, what a difference a year makes from where we were last year when we talked about this.

[SPEAKER_02]: Let me quickly get some stuff in here for the listeners to kind of put some context to it.

[SPEAKER_02]: The bear started forward in two last year before that crazy finish in Washington.

[SPEAKER_02]: led to a ten game skid finishing five and twelve.

[SPEAKER_02]: Well, the biggest change for the franchise is head coach.

[SPEAKER_02]: Matt Flee, Eber, Fluse is gone.

[SPEAKER_02]: Enter, former Detroit Lions off at the coordinator, Ben Johnson.

[SPEAKER_02]: So let's start with that because that's going to, you know, that's going to, everything's going to revolve around that.

[SPEAKER_02]: So we haven't seen anything from the regular season yet, Mike, but how is it going and what's training camp, Ben, like, has it been different?

[SPEAKER_01]: Well, first of all, you know, as someone who grew up, a bears fan.

[SPEAKER_01]: And now, you know, is lucky enough to cover them.

[SPEAKER_01]: Obviously, you know, as a fan, I want to see them win, working in the media, it's more fun covering a winning team.

[SPEAKER_01]: So I just want to say two Detroit, thank you for Ben Johnson.

[SPEAKER_01]: And that may be a little premature because, you know, he hasn't coached a game yet.

[SPEAKER_01]: He hasn't coached a game that counts yet.

[SPEAKER_01]: So we're still in that honeymoon period.

[SPEAKER_01]: However, compared to Matt Iberfluous, you know, he feels like like Vince Lombardi, you know.

[SPEAKER_01]: So, you know, I think that any bears fan would tell you there's a lot of optimism with Ben Johnson having taken over.

[SPEAKER_01]: You know, there's the obvious reasons like he was the most coveted [SPEAKER_01]: at coach higher, not just of this cycle, but last cycle too when he chose to stay with Alliance.

[SPEAKER_01]: He's proven he's a, you can even use the word.

[SPEAKER_01]: I mean, it's a small, ish sample size, but you could say he's proven he's a kind of a brilliant offensive mind.

[SPEAKER_01]: And I think that there's a lot of hope for what he can do with a guy like Caleb Williams.

[SPEAKER_01]: So obviously, he has the tools.

[SPEAKER_01]: But you know, but had his ups and downs as a rookie.

[SPEAKER_01]: So I think, you know, what we've seen from Ben Johnson is he is really demanding.

[SPEAKER_01]: And I remember hearing some of that.

[SPEAKER_01]: when he got the job.

[SPEAKER_01]: I actually remember because we have former bear's coach Dave one stead is our Sunday night analyst during the season.

[SPEAKER_01]: I remember him saying, you know, I've heard that he's like really intense.

[SPEAKER_01]: So that has shown up.

[SPEAKER_01]: Players talk about it.

[SPEAKER_01]: We've seen it on the field during training camp.

[SPEAKER_01]: And I think that that's something that players wanted.

[SPEAKER_01]: They even last year when things started, well, there were some cracks in the foundation.

[SPEAKER_01]: You heard some of the guys saying, like, we want to be coach, like, when we do something wrong, we want to be called out.

[SPEAKER_01]: We can take it.

[SPEAKER_01]: We're paid to do this.

[SPEAKER_01]: We're in the NFL.

[SPEAKER_01]: We are here to try and win games.

[SPEAKER_01]: And they didn't feel like they were getting that hard coaching.

[SPEAKER_01]: They are getting it from Ben Johnson.

[SPEAKER_01]: So I think he's demanding.

[SPEAKER_01]: I think he's big on details.

[SPEAKER_01]: We hear the word details or detailed a lot from players and press conferences.

[SPEAKER_01]: You know, ultimately the thing that we haven't seen yet is what is the offense really going to look like when the games count.

[SPEAKER_01]: And that's the biggest thing that everyone's most interested to see because that's the biggest reason he's here is, you know, he's expected to be a different smaker with a young talented quarterback and an offense that's got some solid pieces.

[SPEAKER_01]: That's really improved the offensive line after it was a disaster last year.

[SPEAKER_01]: It feels like the variables are there for the bears to really take a step forward offensively and as a team, but will it happen?

[SPEAKER_01]: You know, that's, that's the great unknown and obviously why, why they play the games, but I can say, I feel, I feel more excited to see and more intrigued to see what happens with him as a new head coach than I can remember at any other time with a new head coach.

[SPEAKER_02]: All right, I think you're excitement for him arriving is like the opposite of Lions fans excitement of him going there.

[SPEAKER_02]: The thought was, could you anywhere but within the division?

[SPEAKER_02]: So, right.

[SPEAKER_02]: Yeah, we're going to see what happens.

[SPEAKER_02]: And the bears have added some talent, draft pick wise.

[SPEAKER_02]: The bears have had quite a few picks recently, a lot of that thanks to that Carolina trade.

[SPEAKER_02]: Last year, they got Caleb Williams and Roma Dunesay in the first round.

[SPEAKER_02]: This year, they had Titan, Colston, Lovelin.

[SPEAKER_02]: They had wide receiver, Luther, Burton, and the rounds one and two.

[SPEAKER_02]: Plus, they had another offensive line and defensive end and round two.

[SPEAKER_02]: So there's a lot of young talent.

[SPEAKER_02]: There's a lot of guys drafted to help Caleb Williams as well.

[SPEAKER_02]: So let's start right there.

[SPEAKER_02]: What have you seen out of Caleb Williams and Camp House to quarterback looked?

[SPEAKER_01]: I think it's been a mixed bag.

[SPEAKER_01]: We don't get to see as much during OTA practices in many camp.

[SPEAKER_01]: But once things are a little more liberal in terms of what we'll see during training camp, we've seen a lot of tough moments during, you know, eleven on eleven team sessions.

[SPEAKER_01]: And we've also seen some good moments.

[SPEAKER_01]: I think that's to be expected for a couple reasons.

[SPEAKER_01]: Number one, he's still a young guy.

[SPEAKER_01]: He's still finding his way.

[SPEAKER_01]: He's learning an entirely new offense being coached by an entirely new staff.

[SPEAKER_01]: And psychologically, he's probably got some hurdles.

[SPEAKER_01]: He's got to get over after last year.

[SPEAKER_01]: You know, so it was ultimately when you looked at his numbers, they weren't that bad.

[SPEAKER_01]: But, you know, examining what happened to him.

[SPEAKER_01]: in terms of he was sat sixty eight times, which was a lead high.

[SPEAKER_01]: See, he had the devastation of.

[SPEAKER_01]: Leading what would have been at least two that I can remember and maybe more.

[SPEAKER_01]: Game winning fourth quarter drives only to have.

[SPEAKER_01]: Just, you know, craziness.

[SPEAKER_01]: I mean, nothing was more crazy than the Hail Mary, which, you know, was doing part two, Tyrex Stevenson.

[SPEAKER_01]: Just like while the place going on off, haunting the crowd.

[SPEAKER_01]: But again, like to me, that all fell on eber flu's like, why are you not calling time out there to just to make sure because I had a time out to make sure you got everything set.

[SPEAKER_01]: You got all your T's crossed, all your eyes dotted.

[SPEAKER_01]: Even the play before that, that the corners were playing so far off that allowed for an easy, like, twelve or fifteen yard completion that gave them a chance for the Hail Mary.

[SPEAKER_01]: Then there was the Green Bay game.

[SPEAKER_01]: They had a block field goal at the end.

[SPEAKER_01]: That would have won it.

[SPEAKER_01]: You know, Eva Fuz chose [SPEAKER_01]: to kick on, there's either second or third down, but the bears had another down and another time out where they could have run the ball.

[SPEAKER_01]: So I had to pick up a couple extra yards, get closer.

[SPEAKER_01]: Cairo Santos, their kicker is very accurate, very good, but not a huge leg.

[SPEAKER_01]: So going from, you know, forty eight or forty seven yards, maybe to forty five, forty four.

[SPEAKER_01]: Like those two three yards could have made a huge difference.

[SPEAKER_01]: kick block, they lose that game.

[SPEAKER_01]: Obviously, you know, it all came to a head on Thanksgiving day with him just standing there frozen as time ran out, not only good time out.

[SPEAKER_01]: So, you know, bring that back to Caleb.

[SPEAKER_01]: I'm sure there's like, I always talk about, we need to remember that athletes are human beings.

[SPEAKER_01]: They're not robots, though we want them to be.

[SPEAKER_01]: So like, there's got to be some real [SPEAKER_01]: scars for Williams after that rookie season.

[SPEAKER_01]: So I think bringing it back, he's getting, you know, adding the scars to the new coach, the new offense, still a young guy learning his way.

[SPEAKER_01]: And by the way, the other thing is I think the bear's defense will be really solid.

[SPEAKER_01]: So he's going up against, you know, good defense led by a guy in Dennis Allen who knows what he's doing.

[SPEAKER_01]: All that to say, it's been an up and down camp for him, but [SPEAKER_01]: You know, again, tying it into the mental, the psychology, the psychological thing.

[SPEAKER_01]: I think, and we're taping this right after the bear's second of three preseason games in which Williams and the starting offense played in the second game and had a dynamite first drive.

[SPEAKER_01]: Was it a preseason game?

[SPEAKER_01]: Was it against the bills back up?

[SPEAKER_01]: Yes, and yes.

[SPEAKER_01]: But again, psychologically that had to feel good for him.

[SPEAKER_01]: I think he was five of six and they covered ninety two yards.

[SPEAKER_01]: And he, you know, was there was like a twenty nine year completion to call.

[SPEAKER_01]: Come back down the seam and it was a long touchdown to end the drive and how outrageous is this.

[SPEAKER_01]: They did not score a touchdown.

[SPEAKER_01]: on a single opening drive last season.

[SPEAKER_01]: So that may be a race that demon too a little bit.

[SPEAKER_01]: So he's he's put up and down, but at least there's a feeling like as he's now that all the offense has been installed.

[SPEAKER_01]: He's got more time under Johnson and maybe he's had a little felt a little bit of that success that maybe he's in a pretty solid place going into week one.

[SPEAKER_01]: Sorry for the very long answer to that question.

[SPEAKER_02]: No, good.

[SPEAKER_02]: I'm going to ask you one more thing about the Williams though, which we probably don't know the answer to yet, but do you think Ben Johnson's going to use him in a similar dual threat fashion as he was used last year, or do you envision some tweaks or some changes?

[SPEAKER_02]: Do you have any idea what that might be looking like?

[SPEAKER_01]: Well, I think the biggest thing that we've heard and even seen in some training camp practices is [SPEAKER_01]: that, you know, you guys, Lions fans listening know how much Ben Johnson likes to be under center, how much Jared Goff did that, how much success they had off a play action.

[SPEAKER_01]: So that's, I think those are a lot of the differences we're going to see with Caleb Williams this year as under center play action to set up the pass.

[SPEAKER_01]: I don't know how effective play action will be [SPEAKER_01]: That's probably going to be dependent on how good the run game is.

[SPEAKER_01]: Whereas the lions, you know, with Jamir Gibbs and David Montgomery that run game was you really had to respect that.

[SPEAKER_01]: So let's see how the run game is to help out the play action game.

[SPEAKER_01]: I don't think we saw Caleb runs so much design to last year.

[SPEAKER_01]: You know, Justin Field did a lot of that.

[SPEAKER_01]: I think Caleb Moore [SPEAKER_01]: his life was in danger on seemingly every time, you know, he dropped back to pass and he kind of had to.

[SPEAKER_02]: All right.

[SPEAKER_02]: Well, let's talk about those guys who try to keep his life protected and that would be an area that's been a concern for a while in Chicago, the offensive line.

[SPEAKER_02]: Former Detroit lion, Jonah Jackson is now one of the players brought in to help rebuild that.

[SPEAKER_02]: How is that offensive line looking?

[SPEAKER_01]: Well, [SPEAKER_01]: There's two ways to answer that.

[SPEAKER_01]: The most important, you know, most would argue the most important position on the line is your left tackle.

[SPEAKER_01]: The bears aren't set there.

[SPEAKER_01]: Okay, so that's not great.

[SPEAKER_01]: There are other four.

[SPEAKER_01]: They feel really good about and I think there's good reason to believe they succeeded in really showing up [SPEAKER_01]: You know, certainly the interior of the line and they liked our Nell right their right tackle.

[SPEAKER_01]: But to get you, Tony, left guard is pretty awesome.

[SPEAKER_01]: Drew Dalman, they spent big money on its center.

[SPEAKER_01]: He was, uh, many regarded him as, you know, the best center in the free age of market.

[SPEAKER_01]: And Joe and Ajax, and you mentioned a right guard and, and he's worked with Ben Johnson before, so that's good.

[SPEAKER_01]: If they can get solid play at left tackle, I think they're gonna feel really good about things.

[SPEAKER_01]: They're just still working through the process of finding who the left tackle is.

[SPEAKER_01]: They've actually kind of added another guy to the competition, which doesn't seem great, you know, to be two or three weeks out and the group that you thought, hey, it was gonna come from this group.

[SPEAKER_01]: Now you're not sure you had another guy to it.

[SPEAKER_01]: And look, it manned up that whoever they pick, [SPEAKER_01]: does just fine, but that is a question mark going into the season and, you know, a significant one, but those other four spots, the various feel really good about and they definitely addressed those positions.

[SPEAKER_02]: All right.

[SPEAKER_02]: Well, if they're able to give Caleb Williams more time, that's going to give him more time to find some wide receivers.

[SPEAKER_02]: That wide receiver room still led by DJ Moore.

[SPEAKER_02]: There's no key to now on this year.

[SPEAKER_02]: Who is, I think he went back to the Chargers.

[SPEAKER_02]: He was number two in targets and receptions, but you've got Roma Dunesay.

[SPEAKER_02]: You've drafted Luther Burton and you've got Kevin Duvernay.

[SPEAKER_02]: So there's a lot of town on that wide receiver room.

[SPEAKER_02]: What's it looking like and how are those rookies showing so far?

[SPEAKER_01]: And believe it or not, there's a guy you didn't mention who's been probably made the most plays in camp.

[SPEAKER_01]: And when I talked about that touchdown drive, that the bears had to start the the preseason game against the bills.

[SPEAKER_01]: He's the guy who cut the touchdown.

[SPEAKER_01]: Okay.

[SPEAKER_01]: Alameday is the keyous.

[SPEAKER_01]: Okay.

[SPEAKER_01]: Or OZ is easier to say.

[SPEAKER_01]: He was brought in from the commanders.

[SPEAKER_01]: He's kind of their number three.

[SPEAKER_01]: You know, probably a guy who's going to see quite a few balls.

[SPEAKER_01]: And so I think he along with Rome and DJ Moore and Luther Burden.

[SPEAKER_01]: They got some playmakers.

[SPEAKER_01]: And I think Rome and Dune Zay is a candidate to take a massive step forward in year two.

[SPEAKER_01]: There was some moments last year where he looked a little like a rookie and things were moving fast for him.

[SPEAKER_01]: And there were some moments where he made some plays that kind of plays that we saw him make, you know, becoming all American at Washington.

[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, I'd be interested to see his DJ Morgana be a little more consistently targeted in this offense.

[SPEAKER_01]: He's obviously very talented.

[SPEAKER_01]: Their highest paid receiver.

[SPEAKER_01]: But it never seemed to, it totally clicked between key and Caleb Williams in year one last year.

[SPEAKER_01]: So I'm interested to see, does that take a step forward?

[SPEAKER_01]: I am biased being a Missou guy, but I think Luther Burton at thirty nine overall is a freaking steal.

[SPEAKER_01]: And, you know, I think he got kind of docked because [SPEAKER_01]: He didn't put up big numbers last year at Mezu, certainly not compared to the year before when he had put up bigger numbers and he slayed and there's some maybe some character questions, love of football questions, but this guy is a playmaker and he's so hard to bring down.

[SPEAKER_01]: And so I think the bears are in a great spot at receiver.

[SPEAKER_01]: And you know, you, you were probably going to follow up at some point.

[SPEAKER_01]: So I'll just go there.

[SPEAKER_01]: Tie it up.

[SPEAKER_01]: You know, I mean, Ben Johnson likes running, you know, twelve personnel to tie it in sets.

[SPEAKER_01]: And I think the bears [SPEAKER_01]: really like what they have with Colcomet and Colston Lovelin.

[SPEAKER_01]: And Lovelin was out for the entire off season, rehabbing a shoulder injury, he had surgery in January, but he's looked as advertised, like really athletic, fluid, route runner, like great catch radius.

[SPEAKER_01]: It feels like [SPEAKER_01]: You know, he and Comet in Ben Johnson's offense can do some good things.

[SPEAKER_01]: I mean, look, what did Hawkinson and Leporta do in Ben Johnson's offense?

[SPEAKER_01]: You know, they're putting up monster numbers.

[SPEAKER_01]: I mean, Leporta's stud.

[SPEAKER_02]: So, well, like you said, you've already got Cole Comet in the building who, you know, has experience and then you bring in another highly regarded tight end.

[SPEAKER_02]: You guys have not only death, but like you said, you can run a very talented two tight ends at there.

[SPEAKER_01]: Exactly.

[SPEAKER_01]: I think for my biggest offensive question in terms of a person, all group is the running backs.

[SPEAKER_01]: I want to see.

[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, go far.

[SPEAKER_01]: I'm stealing your thunder.

[SPEAKER_01]: It's no, you're not going to do that.

[SPEAKER_01]: It's rude.

[SPEAKER_02]: But that's where I'm going because I think that is the big question mark with DeAndre Swift and Rochon Johnson as a top two backs.

[SPEAKER_02]: I know former Lion Jamal Williams came in for a visit or a workout.

[SPEAKER_02]: He didn't get signed.

[SPEAKER_02]: But that does seem to be the question mark.

[SPEAKER_02]: Swift State Healthy, you know, last year he put up a thank thousand yards last year, which, uh, nine hundred and fifty nine.

[SPEAKER_02]: He was close.

[SPEAKER_01]: Uh, look at the yards per carry.

[SPEAKER_01]: You know, it's, yeah, three point eight.

[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, it's not good.

[SPEAKER_01]: Um, and I think it's fair to acknowledge.

[SPEAKER_01]: That offensive line.

[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, hold the difference.

[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, I'm up for success.

[SPEAKER_01]: And I think, you know, the undery Swift is he's not a guy who's getting a ton of yards after contact, you know, he, he's he's going to be as best when he's behind a good offensive line that's able to open some holes and let him get to the second level and use his athleticism.

[SPEAKER_01]: to make guisness.

[SPEAKER_01]: So, you know, again, it stands to reason that with a better online, with a better coach and a better offense, he's got a chance to be better.

[SPEAKER_01]: I am curious to see what this guy, Ielmanungai, their seventh round pick, can be, yeah.

[SPEAKER_01]: He was at Rutgers, he was [SPEAKER_01]: He was really, really good.

[SPEAKER_01]: But a classic guy who, I mean, like, I don't know, playing a rockers.

[SPEAKER_01]: He's kind of flew under the radar, you know?

[SPEAKER_01]: So I remember him at rockers.

[SPEAKER_01]: I think they, yeah, yeah.

[SPEAKER_01]: I think that I think they really like him.

[SPEAKER_01]: I think he's done some good things in training camp.

[SPEAKER_01]: And he could be a guy who [SPEAKER_01]: As the year goes on, he's getting more carries.

[SPEAKER_01]: As the year goes on, he's taking some of those, maybe secondary carries from Rochon Johnson and Rochon's little more relegated to, you know, third and short role.

[SPEAKER_01]: So we'll see.

[SPEAKER_01]: Question mark at that position, I think potential to be better than we think because you've got a better line, you've got a better offensive game plan, but still to be seen.

[SPEAKER_02]: Yep, and that doesn't surprise me that you say that that's the answer that that is the biggest question mark on the offense because I think most people looking at the bears.

[SPEAKER_02]: I mean, they still want to see the offensive line do what it's expected with all those pieces brought in.

[SPEAKER_02]: But the running back game is the one that people are wondering and you brought up a lot of variables last year to see what it's going to look like this year.

[SPEAKER_02]: What we'll find out here in about a week and a half.

[SPEAKER_02]: Let's jump over the other side of the ball then defense.

[SPEAKER_02]: You know, some weird numbers on defense.

[SPEAKER_02]: They gave a lot of yards last year, but they weren't the worst in giving up in points.

[SPEAKER_02]: And there's a lot of talent on that side of the ball.

[SPEAKER_02]: And you already alluded to that that, you know, Caleb and company have been practicing against them.

[SPEAKER_02]: So let's start with the defensive line.

[SPEAKER_02]: You know, you got Montess wet and a whole host of other talented guys there.

[SPEAKER_02]: How's that defensive line looking to?

[SPEAKER_02]: Does it look as good as last year?

[SPEAKER_01]: I think it looks better because [SPEAKER_01]: They brought in Grady Jarrett on the interior, who has, you know, he's been a really good player for a decade in Atlanta.

[SPEAKER_01]: Great leader, great player in the middle, and they also brought in [SPEAKER_01]: Dio Odingbo from the Colts to work at the end of opposite Montez sweat.

[SPEAKER_01]: They really had no, almost no one else who could, who, you know, worried an offensive coordinator or an offensive line that they were going to get to the quarterback last year.

[SPEAKER_01]: And so it was like double and triple teams on sweat.

[SPEAKER_01]: And his, so sweat snobbers last year and injury did play a role, but, you know, they were really low.

[SPEAKER_01]: When you think about how [SPEAKER_01]: talented and disruptive he can be so hopefully there's a there's some help on on the other side of sweat with a dang bow who they invested a good amount of money in um you know is someone like Austin Booker who was a draft pick two years ago who for example had uh [SPEAKER_01]: Reex in the preseason opener and a strip sack and so he, you know, he's flashed a little bit as does he help depth wise, but.

[SPEAKER_01]: You know, I think Swat's gonna have a better year because he's got Odangbo opposite him.

[SPEAKER_01]: I think everyone's helped by Brady Jared added on the interior.

[SPEAKER_01]: And I really like Andrew Billings.

[SPEAKER_01]: There knows tackle just a huge mountain of a man who got hurt mid-season last year.

[SPEAKER_01]: Great run stuff for he's healthy and back ready to go to start this season.

[SPEAKER_02]: All right.

[SPEAKER_02]: Well, that would add another dimension to the team if that does happen.

[SPEAKER_02]: You know, those linebackers seem to be everywhere last year.

[SPEAKER_02]: You know, Tremaine Edmunds, I think is probably the name most Lions fans are familiar with.

[SPEAKER_02]: You guys drafted Rubin Hippelite out of Maryland.

[SPEAKER_02]: You know, how's that linebacking group looking to compliment that front for?

[SPEAKER_01]: Well, they really, you know, [SPEAKER_01]: They really feel comfortable with Tremaine Edmonds and TJ Edwards is the other starting live-backer.

[SPEAKER_01]: He was their leading tactler.

[SPEAKER_01]: And, you know, I mean, I think those two are, they're not like, it's not like they replaced Rokuan Smith with [SPEAKER_01]: that the same level, right, difference maker, but both of those guys are really strong line backers and adding hip-alight.

[SPEAKER_01]: You know, I think he's got some potential.

[SPEAKER_01]: He flashed when you put on the Maryland tape.

[SPEAKER_01]: He popped and, you know, they really liked him.

[SPEAKER_01]: They were happy to get him and he's definitely gonna be a part of that rotation at the linebacker spot.

[SPEAKER_02]: All right.

[SPEAKER_02]: Well, then let's finish up with a defense moving all the back to the secondary.

[SPEAKER_02]: You know, Jalen Johnson got that big contract last off season.

[SPEAKER_02]: I know he's been beat up a little hurt, but I think he's last I saw he's expected to be back for the season opener.

[SPEAKER_02]: How is he in the secondary looking right now?

[SPEAKER_01]: Well, I think if he's healthy, it's a potentially elite secondary.

[SPEAKER_01]: They have contended the whole way that he'll be ready for week one.

[SPEAKER_01]: So we'll see that a leg injury working out just ahead of the start of training camp and that's kept him sideline for everything to this point.

[SPEAKER_01]: But you know, he's an all pro guy.

[SPEAKER_01]: On the other side, Ty Rickston, who we talked about earlier for his.

[SPEAKER_01]: brain fart in in our nation's capital, but he's he can make some plays, however, he's in a competition with another guy for the nation right for the other corner job.

[SPEAKER_01]: Safety's Kevin Byrd and Jacqueline Brisker.

[SPEAKER_01]: Briskers, a ball hawk and a playmaker, buyer just a long time solid veteran.

[SPEAKER_01]: Briskers are missed three quarters of the season last year with concussion issues.

[SPEAKER_01]: So that's obviously a big question mark.

[SPEAKER_01]: You know, what happens if there's any sort of concussion symptom, again, for him, does that sideline him for the year again?

[SPEAKER_01]: And in Kyler Gordon, as your slot corner is [SPEAKER_01]: You know, emerging is one of the best at that position in the NFL.

[SPEAKER_01]: So I feel like I feel like they have playmakers back there.

[SPEAKER_01]: And I feel like if they're getting the appropriate pressure at the line of scrimmage, that secondary is going to be really, really effective.

[SPEAKER_01]: So I think, you know, they have that defense under Dennis Allen, who really has brought an attitude.

[SPEAKER_01]: Um, they have some lofty goals.

[SPEAKER_01]: They think they can be kind of like top five.

[SPEAKER_01]: So, you know, let's see them go out and prove it.

[SPEAKER_01]: I think it's a talented defense.

[SPEAKER_01]: Can it be that good?

[SPEAKER_01]: I don't know.

[SPEAKER_01]: Um, but, you know, we'll find out.

[SPEAKER_01]: I think it will be, it will be a good defense to what level I don't know.

[SPEAKER_01]: But I, I, you know, it's funny.

[SPEAKER_01]: We've now gone through all the position groups and it's like, [SPEAKER_01]: I think there is a lot to be intrigued by what this bears team.

[SPEAKER_01]: I think the biggest question mark of course is Caleb Williams.

[SPEAKER_01]: Because there's no more important position in sports than that quarterback.

[SPEAKER_01]: Right.

[SPEAKER_01]: So how much better and consistent is he going to be?

[SPEAKER_01]: And then the other thing is, I think they have a tough schedule.

[SPEAKER_01]: I think they could be markedly better than they were last year and still only win eight or nine games.

[SPEAKER_02]: You know, the NFC North and the NFC East have very tough schedules all play in each other.

[SPEAKER_02]: And so everybody in those divisions, because I hear Alliance fans saying how tough the Lions schedules.

[SPEAKER_02]: And, you know, our road schedules tougher than our home schedule, but everybody in those division has a tough schedule.

[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, yeah.

[SPEAKER_01]: And the bears, they finished last, so they play a last place schedule.

[SPEAKER_01]: And they happened to be, you know, they're matched up with the forty-nineers who were a last place team last year.

[SPEAKER_01]: But like, they were only last place because they were decimated by injuries.

[SPEAKER_01]: You know, when they're healthy, that's a super bowl championship contender.

[SPEAKER_01]: So they gotta go there.

[SPEAKER_01]: They gotta go to Baltimore.

[SPEAKER_01]: They gotta go to DC for a Monday night football game.

[SPEAKER_01]: We saw Detroit fans know all too well what kind of potential Jane Daniels and that team has.

[SPEAKER_01]: And as you mentioned, you know, you're playing [SPEAKER_01]: your plan your division opponents twice and all of them, you could argue all of them are have playoff potential.

[SPEAKER_01]: So I think we need to use a little, this is what I've been trying to preach is we got to use a little nuance as we go through this fairer season.

[SPEAKER_01]: Again, Caleb could be quite a bit better.

[SPEAKER_01]: The team as a whole could play quite a bit better and they could still [SPEAKER_01]: Just miss the playoffs or barely seek into the playoffs and be one and done in the playoffs.

[SPEAKER_01]: And I think you'd still have to be like, look, this was a big step forward.

[SPEAKER_01]: It worked under Ben Johnson.

[SPEAKER_01]: Caleb was clearly, you know, in a place where he was comfortable and consistent and better and we're gonna come back next year, you know, really feeling like we got a chance to make some hate.

[SPEAKER_02]: So from what I'm hearing you say about the team is there's a lot of talent on this team and more talent has been brought in and it seems to me that a lot of people are betting the full calculus really changes the head coach and that can be everything.

[SPEAKER_01]: I mean, I think so, I really think so because everything kind of trails in his wake, you know, how's Caleb going to play?

[SPEAKER_01]: How's the offense going to be?

[SPEAKER_01]: What is, you know, what's the philosophy of his coaching staff and how that pertains to, you know, aggressiveness on fourth down, which we know he's going to be aggressive.

[SPEAKER_01]: You know, bringing in a guy like Dennis Allen, what's the impact he has on what looks like it could be a good defense.

[SPEAKER_01]: And I think that some, you know, let's not discount the fact you kind of, you know, poke fun at it earlier, but like, did you make a division opponent worse just simply by hiring their guy, you know, like that's [SPEAKER_01]: That's possible.

[SPEAKER_01]: I mean, the Lions offense, I'm, you know, to some degree is gonna run itself because they know what they're doing.

[SPEAKER_01]: They've got a veteran quarterback who's, you know, played in a super bowl.

[SPEAKER_01]: They've got a lot of talented pieces, but I don't know.

[SPEAKER_01]: Like the Lions, there have to be question marks given that they lost their offensive and defensive coordinators.

[SPEAKER_02]: So, and I do tell you, the bears is probably the last place Lions fans want to Ben Johnson to go.

[SPEAKER_02]: So, that wasn't in jazz.

[SPEAKER_02]: I think that was quite serious.

[SPEAKER_02]: Like, leave the division.

[SPEAKER_02]: So, I think I've heard you say running back might be the area of most concern, but you can confirm or adjust that answer.

[SPEAKER_02]: And what area might be the biggest strength for this bears team?

[SPEAKER_01]: All right.

[SPEAKER_01]: I'm going to say, I want to see left tackle, because it's got to be [SPEAKER_01]: Okay, good.

[SPEAKER_01]: It's got to be good, you know, for concern.

[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah.

[SPEAKER_01]: Like it's got to be like Braxton Jones has been their left tackle, but he had a serious ankle injury that ended his season early last year, and he's even talked about to this point, probably not being like a hundred percent.

[SPEAKER_01]: They drafted.

[SPEAKER_01]: As he trippled out of Austin College on the second round.

[SPEAKER_01]: He was getting a good look there.

[SPEAKER_01]: Did not seize control.

[SPEAKER_01]: You know, now they've got this guy feel bened at who they have introduced into the mix.

[SPEAKER_01]: And he's a guy who's got, you know, really no experienced and was an undrafted guy last year.

[SPEAKER_01]: He's impressing them, but again, question mark and left tackle such an important position protecting your quarterback's blind inside.

[SPEAKER_01]: That's question mark running back is a question mark.

[SPEAKER_01]: And let's say I would say I want to see what happens at defense event, you know, and Odango.

[SPEAKER_01]: and whoever is in that group over there, give them enough that teams have to respect that, spring up, sweat a little more to do what he can do.

[SPEAKER_01]: And I think if that happens, that, again, I think the bears, the secondary can be good enough where, you know, if you talk about pass rush and pass defense working in tandem, if the pass rush is there, it can allow the secondary to make place.

[SPEAKER_02]: All right, so you think in the second there, he might be the strength.

[SPEAKER_02]: So I think it's going to be, I think it could be.

[SPEAKER_01]: I think it could be.

[SPEAKER_02]: I don't know if I don't know if I'm feeding you answers here.

[SPEAKER_01]: No, I do think I really do.

[SPEAKER_01]: I mean, again, like you're receiving room is so dependent on quarterback.

[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah.

[SPEAKER_01]: You know, but I think that I do, I think Roman doomsday has a chance to have a big time here.

[SPEAKER_01]: You know, I think he and Caleb even going back to the pre-draft process at a relationship they worked out together.

[SPEAKER_01]: You know, there were even some moments last year where they just kind of felt that unspoken connection.

[SPEAKER_01]: Now they're in year two, now they're in a better system.

[SPEAKER_01]: undoubtedly Ben Johnson's going to scheme up some more, you know, open routes for the guys in that wide receiver room.

[SPEAKER_01]: You know, I was like, a lot of days of Kia's has had a great camp.

[SPEAKER_01]: And I'm, as I said, a very high on Luther burden.

[SPEAKER_01]: So, yes, I would, I would throw alongside the secondary.

[SPEAKER_01]: I throw the wide receivers.

[SPEAKER_02]: All right, now I know you cover the bears and that's your focus, but do you have any idea what the perception is over there towards the lion's issue?

[SPEAKER_02]: You've already alluded to the fact that losing the coordinators has to have an impact and you guys haven't one of those coordinators also influenced his things, but just a sense in Chicago like what the perception is of the lion's going into this season.

[SPEAKER_01]: But I think twofold, like number one, I think the respect level has gone up exponentially for what the Lions have done over the last couple of years.

[SPEAKER_01]: At the same time, I think there was some, I told you, it's the Lions when they lose the home playoff game to the commanders.

[SPEAKER_01]: But I know that when you think about, [SPEAKER_01]: the way that Bear's fans feel about the Lions skill guys.

[SPEAKER_01]: They're running backs, they're receivers, they're tight ends.

[SPEAKER_01]: There's a whole lot of respect for what they can do.

[SPEAKER_01]: We know Jared Goff has been undervalued and underestimated his entire [SPEAKER_01]: Crow career and he just continues to be a guy who, you know, executes and for the lions leads, you know, the lead best offense.

[SPEAKER_01]: So I do think there's a lot of respect.

[SPEAKER_01]: I think there's a belief that the lions are the team to beat in the division.

[SPEAKER_01]: But bringing it back to what we were saying before, I think big question marks.

[SPEAKER_01]: What do the absences of Aaron Glenn and Ben Johnson [SPEAKER_01]: do to that team, you know, what's the impact?

[SPEAKER_01]: And if the impact is nothing or close to nothing, you know, Dan Campbell should probably be the coach of the year and the lead, because that would be pretty impressive.

[SPEAKER_02]: Yeah, some of us have been feeling he should be, should have been coach of the last two years, but, you know, things fall in weird ways in the NFL and we understand how that happens.

[SPEAKER_01]: Who was last year?

[SPEAKER_02]: You know, it's a great question.

[SPEAKER_01]: I can't remember.

[SPEAKER_02]: I guess that's how important that award is, is how often do we remember it?

[SPEAKER_02]: And I tell you, Dan Campbell doesn't care about that reward or that award.

[SPEAKER_02]: He wants to know something different.

[SPEAKER_02]: He wants wins last year.

[SPEAKER_02]: Well, let's look at prediction time here, because through weeks six last year, this division was scary, good.

[SPEAKER_02]: And three of the four teams did make the playoffs, but Chicago was foreign to at that point.

[SPEAKER_02]: And, you know, they brought in some talent.

[SPEAKER_02]: They've got the head coach in change.

[SPEAKER_02]: Minnesota, of course, has the quarterback change, but still returns.

[SPEAKER_02]: a very talented roster and the packers return a lot of the same with some additions and the lions we just kind of alluded to some of the things that have gone on there.

[SPEAKER_02]: Any do you make predictions?

[SPEAKER_02]: Any thoughts on how what order it might finish in this year?

[SPEAKER_01]: Well, I remember talking to you last year and we kind of knew the lions were definitely the best team, which they were.

[SPEAKER_02]: We didn't see Minnesota coming, but you're right.

[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, I'm not sure I feel exactly the same.

[SPEAKER_01]: And maybe most of it's just clouded by the uncertainty, you know, around the coaching departures.

[SPEAKER_01]: But I really think JJ McCarthy is going to be good.

[SPEAKER_01]: I think he's underappreciated.

[SPEAKER_01]: I think he was, he wasn't asked to do too much at Michigan because [SPEAKER_01]: They felt like they could win with defense and running the ball and lo and behold, they want a national championship.

[SPEAKER_01]: And he made some big plays along the way.

[SPEAKER_01]: But, you know, he didn't put up body numbers.

[SPEAKER_01]: So I think people and he's coming off in injury.

[SPEAKER_01]: So I think there's [SPEAKER_01]: a question mark there, but I think that he's a gamer.

[SPEAKER_01]: I think he's a winner in a gamer, and I think he's capable of more than people give him credit for.

[SPEAKER_01]: And I also think he's got some incredible weapons around him.

[SPEAKER_01]: So I think that the Vikings are, again, going to be really, really good.

[SPEAKER_01]: Are they good enough to unseat the lions?

[SPEAKER_01]: I don't know.

[SPEAKER_01]: I'm not sure that the packers are.

[SPEAKER_01]: good enough to win the division, but there's certainly a very capable team in terms of getting to the playoffs, right?

[SPEAKER_02]: And we did find out that the Bears can beat the Packers now.

[SPEAKER_01]: For the first time since, twenty eighteen.

[SPEAKER_01]: Oh my goodness.

[SPEAKER_01]: Wow.

[SPEAKER_01]: That's a streak.

[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah.

[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah.

[SPEAKER_01]: But you're right.

[SPEAKER_02]: The Packers, I do not expect them to be a bad team.

[SPEAKER_01]: And that's a thing like, I don't, I don't think there's a bad team in the division.

[SPEAKER_01]: You know, what's of the bears were the worst team last year winning five?

[SPEAKER_02]: Winning five after winning four of the first six.

[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah.

[SPEAKER_01]: I mean, it was a, it was a, [SPEAKER_01]: just a confluence of wrap and disaster that led to everything that happened to them.

[SPEAKER_01]: But they really, like I illustrated the beginning with Caleb, they really were a couple of plays away from being more like a seven or even eight-win team, which is way more respectable than five.

[SPEAKER_01]: Sure, I kind of feel like this is a division where [SPEAKER_01]: So, you know, your last place team might be a seven and ten team.

[SPEAKER_01]: So, parody and the division, I think that I think that will be a thing.

[SPEAKER_01]: Ultimately, I guess I would pick, I would pick the lines to win the division based on the fact that you're bringing back a veteran and Jared Goff compared to a rookie in JJ McCarthy.

[SPEAKER_01]: He's never proven it in the NFL.

[SPEAKER_01]: Goff has.

[SPEAKER_01]: You know, when you're putting those two up against each other, give me the guy who's been there.

[SPEAKER_02]: Okay.

[SPEAKER_02]: Mike, are there any final thoughts you have?

[SPEAKER_02]: Something Lions fans should know about the bears?

[SPEAKER_02]: I mean, you already dropped the thing on OZ about being a wide receiver to look out for or anything about the NFC North that maybe we should know about before we get out here.

[SPEAKER_01]: I don't have much more.

[SPEAKER_01]: I honestly, I wish I could just listen to you do a podcast talking lions.

[SPEAKER_01]: I want to study up more on them.

[SPEAKER_02]: Well, we will be dropping our season preview here soon.

[SPEAKER_02]: So, and by the time this is out, it might already be out.

[SPEAKER_02]: So, just go look up and out the Sample Lions podcast and you can do that.

[SPEAKER_01]: I will download and I will listen and week two at Ford Field.

[SPEAKER_01]: I listen returning immediately.

[SPEAKER_01]: that will be fun.

[SPEAKER_01]: And if the bears can beat the Vikings on Monday and I football at home week one, they're going to go in there with even more hype.

[SPEAKER_01]: And that no matter what the storyline going into that game is going to be juicy with Ben Johnson coming back.

[SPEAKER_01]: So I'm already looking forward to week two and we haven't even gotten to week one.

[SPEAKER_02]: Awesome.

[SPEAKER_02]: Well, Mike, thank you so much for all the insights and all the information you gave us about the bears and training camp and all of that.

[SPEAKER_01]: Matthew, a pleasure to join you.

[SPEAKER_01]: Really appreciate being asked to come on the pod again.

[SPEAKER_01]: And let's hope.

[SPEAKER_01]: Let's hope we get to at least, you know, good competitive bears, Lions games this year that we'll be able to talk about at some point down the line.

[SPEAKER_02]: Sounds good.

[SPEAKER_02]: Thank you, Mike and I.

Once again, that's Mike Burman, a member of NBC five sports team out of Chicago.

[SPEAKER_02]: You can catch him on the air waves there.

[SPEAKER_02]: Once again, great insights from Mike.

[SPEAKER_02]: Last year, the lions were undefeated in the division.

[SPEAKER_02]: So obviously, that means they swept the bear as well.

[SPEAKER_02]: What will this year look like?

[SPEAKER_02]: Folks, we'd love to hear your thoughts and comments.

[SPEAKER_02]: We'll be more of the same starting in week two for the lions, or will the Chicago squad be improved enough that things fall differently for them this season?

[SPEAKER_02]: Let us know.

[SPEAKER_02]: Thanks for tuning in folks.

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[SPEAKER_02]: Until next time, stay greedy my friends.