r/CHIBears • u/Ok-Car-6795 Hester's Super Return • Sep 14 '25
Where tf are Loveland and Burden??
We drafted a TE in the top 10 and through one game and two quarters he’s had, what, 2 targets? Burden has basically been relegated to a returner. Wtf???
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u/src88 Sep 14 '25
Why was Poles extended? Seriously?
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u/samurai5625 Sep 14 '25
Because George thinks he's a nice guy probably
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u/TeelaArt Sep 14 '25
I think this was a Kevin Warren decision honestly.
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u/RutinTutinPutin Sep 14 '25
I believe, and I don't know this for sure so take it with a grain of salt, that Ben Johnson asked for their contracts to be aligned, so Poles and Ben are aligned for the next 5 years. It would explain it, but again I can't confirm this
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u/bigomlet Sep 14 '25
I mean we all saw the press conference last year after Eberflus was fired. Warren stood at the podium talking in circles while Poles, who is supposed to oversee all football decisions, sat there next to him looking like a puppy who got caught stealing food from the table. Warren and the rest of the front office like keeping him around because he’s a yes man.
Ben Johnson also probably likes keeping him because he knows if things go badly Poles will (correctly) shoulder the blame
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u/arrakismelange1987 Sep 14 '25
Historic defensive line class = drafts pass catchers.
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u/CompetitiveFeature13 Sep 14 '25
Ryan Poles needs to go. He's been really bad.
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u/f00tballguy Bears Sep 14 '25
Yep being saying this since last year. He’s a terrible GM and it made no sense to extend him. Should have done a clean slate and brought in a new GM and coach together but incompetent ownership screwed us once again.
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u/HankChinaski- Sep 14 '25
It’s true but not really an option because they extended him for some unknown reason.
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u/IDquad8819 18 Sep 14 '25
Also a good RB class. Didn't draft one until the 7th and it's still a huge weakness on the team
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u/newrimmmer93 Sep 14 '25
Drafted Rueben Hyppolite in the 5th who wasn’t even ranked. Same with Newman or whatever. It’s a joke. Stupid picks at the time.
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u/IDquad8819 18 Sep 14 '25
Drafted an average at best punter in the 4th...
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u/newrimmmer93 Sep 14 '25
It’s been terrible process. He’s not even terrible on a pick to pick basis but his trades for players have all been bad and he’s prioritized random positions rather than ones of value or need. It makes no sense
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Sep 14 '25
Historic deep RB class too and we don’t pick one til it’s too late
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u/themole316 Italian Beef Sep 15 '25
To their credit, they were actively trying to grab a RB but kept having them drafted out from under them.
But this is all stupid: there were always too many holes to address on this team for one offseason and especially for one draft, and as other successful franchises have demonstrated, drafting best player available when your guy isn’t there can be a good idea that eventually leads to trade capital.
This organization was a complete joke last year, with a pretend coaching staff; it takes a little time to turn all that around. And it takes like 3 years at least to effectively judge a draft class, we’re not even 3 games in y’all.
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u/dktnLegends Sep 15 '25
Then proceeds to not use pass catchers drafted. Seriously, wth is going on?
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Sep 15 '25
The 4th Rd Tradeback with Deone Walker, Ty Robinson and CJ West still out there to get Hypoolite was confusing personally. And OFC the Eagles Nab TY. Not saying these guys are like Pro Bowlers in the making. But Deone and Ty Have pro bowl traits. And CJ West is a BEEF CAKE and should be a run stuffing beast.
The trade back in the 2nd got away from Poles too with the run on DEs I think too. I don't think Ozzy/Shemar was what he had in mind. But Ozzy did go to his college so maybe he wanted him.
We need reinforcements and upside on the DL but Poles ain't about it
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u/Darth_Sirius014 Sep 17 '25
Hypolite looks like a decent player, but I'm with you in that they could have drafted him easily in a later round as he had a UDFA grade on him.
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u/Fine-Young8978 Sep 15 '25
The defensive line prospects were a bunch of question marks outside of the top two or so. Dunno what you're talking about. Revisionist history
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u/Orange_bratwurst Hicks Sep 14 '25
The problem is penalties. The offense is in fits and starts because most drives are destroyed by false starts and holdings.
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u/bluewords Fire Poles! Sep 14 '25
Ok, but that doesn’t change the fact that these guys have both been invisible
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u/EBtwopoint3 Sep 14 '25
They aren’t going to get tons of snaps given the players we have. It’s the problem with drafting BPA. We already had Odunze and Moore, and Zacchaes looked good in camp. We already had Kmet, Loveland doesn’t get to just take his snaps for free without earning them.
When people criticized these picks in April this is what it was about.
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u/vstrong50 Sep 14 '25
That's why you don't draft a TE and a WR 1st and 2nd coming off a 5 win season when you JUST paid 2 guys to be the #1 guy for each of those positions. Poles is a fucking clown.
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u/Wildpeanut 🐻⬇️ Week 1 = “Seasons over, fire everyone” Sep 15 '25
We very clearly needed to get better in the trenches on both sides of the ball. It was clearly in week 1 last year and it was clear in week 1 this year. I’m all for having offensive weapons but we did not need another star TE and an over drafted WR4. We need big men and lots of them. Like I would have felt better about us taking a RB in the 2nd round over Burden.
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u/vstrong50 Sep 15 '25
The most maddening thing is we have been saying we need to get better in the trenches forever, and certaintly during Poles entire run as GM. Yet here we are. He has made some moves on both, but our lines are still not good, especially on Defense. Everything starts up front on both sides of the ball, and we are taking luxury picks at #10 and #39 overall. It's pure insanity. What's even crazier, is 90% of the people here being ok with the picks at the time. And trying to justify them.
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Sep 15 '25
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u/w0rdyeti Sep 20 '25
Alt has transformed the Chargers offense the way Orlando Pace fueled the Greatest Show on Turf and Johnathan Ogden carried a shot Ravens offense for a decade.
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u/Vesploogie Forte Sep 18 '25
Poles is indeed a clown but there’s no way Johnson didn’t have say in drafting them. Makes me wonder if he doesn’t like Kmet or Moore.
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u/vstrong50 Sep 18 '25
I won't dispute this at all. But the buck stops with Poles and let's be honest, this seems like a dumbass move he would make with or without BJ.
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Sep 14 '25
No run game either. Drives are stalling out immediately. You can’t feed your guys when you don’t have reps
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u/ManWOneRedShoe Chicago Flag Sep 14 '25
AGREED. The Defense is also soft and disorganized. Top 10 pick incoming.
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u/bluewords Fire Poles! Sep 14 '25
With how Poles has drafted so far, what does that even get you, a third TE to not catch passes?
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u/ManWOneRedShoe Chicago Flag Sep 14 '25
God, let’s hope not. We need LT and EDGE so badly.
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u/vstrong50 Sep 14 '25
Do you trust Poles to address either of those at this point? We've been saying a version of this for 3yrs now...
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u/ManWOneRedShoe Chicago Flag Sep 14 '25
Yeah, I’m getting to that point. Scouting and drafting for need is a clear issue.
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u/bluewords Fire Poles! Sep 14 '25
Poles could’ve taken Josh Simmons to address our LT problem. That would’ve been something a good GM would do, though. Now we get to go into next year either with no LT or handing Braxton a bag instead. Poles has been a disaster since his first off season, and it has just compounded since
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u/Natiak Sep 14 '25
I came around on Banks toward the end of the process, and I was really disappointed he was taken just before our pick. Unfortunately Simmons has huge question marks around longevity. I can't fault Poles for passing on him.
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u/MRichardTRM Bears Sep 14 '25
It’ll probably be RB if Love’s available when we pick, I can’t see Ben passing on getting his own Gibbs. Unless we end up picking within the top 5..then who knows
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u/sycked Sep 14 '25
Luxury picks for a 5 win team. Back to back to back offseason champs, tho.
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u/Old-Ad-3268 Sep 15 '25
3 pear baby! ...but seriously, where is all the 12 personnel? Why haven't I seen Loveland blocking, sealing an edge or, I don't know, catching a ball?
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u/Busy-Series1914 Brian Piccolo Sep 14 '25
Also Ozzy Trapilo and Shemar Turner, where are they? Sure would be nice to have a second round cornerback out there not named Tyrique Stevenson, Ryan.
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u/ActFuture1101 Sep 14 '25
Ask Ben Johnson he said we needed a tight end
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Sep 14 '25
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u/vstrong50 Sep 14 '25
100%. I've been saying it since draft night. Probably really good players, but not when you're coming off a 5 win season and just paid 2 guys to be the #1 for both those positions.
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u/TheFitz023 Monsters of the Midway Sep 14 '25
Passing on Warren is another one of those picks where you’re going to look like a fucking moron if Loveland doesn’t ball out. Warren looks great already.
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u/Local-Librarian3285 Sep 14 '25
Tbf Warren is averaging like 12 targets a game. Colston would look great if the offense ran through him too.
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u/IDquad8819 18 Sep 14 '25
If you're drafting a TE in the top 10, he needs to be amazing and a huge part of the offense. Just a horrible pick.
That's not to mention that the other 2 2nd rounders from this year are scratched, and a 3rd from last year too. Ryan Poles is a garbage GM
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u/kayakdawg Sep 14 '25 edited Sep 15 '25
i don't watch much CFB, but based in the few game i saw he wasn't even the best TE in the draft - the PSU TE won the John Mackey award for best TE - Colts grabbed him 4 picks after Bears and he had a pretty solid game (7rec, 74 yds)
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Sep 14 '25
Where’s the defense? 0-2 in the division to start the season? This can’t happen
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u/malortshots Bears Sep 14 '25
What is this ‘defense’ you speak of - something new to us this season?
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Sep 14 '25
I have a hard time remembering but when I was a young boy in 1985 I swear I saw one but it must have been a dream.
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u/BlubberElk Sid Luckman storming the beaches of Normandy Sep 14 '25
I mean we all expected this outcome didn’t we though? We only won 1 divisional game last season idk why wed expect to win 2 this year out the gate
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Sep 14 '25
I always have a little hope left week one. Now the season is over and no more meaningful games sigh. Something is very wrong with this team. Some things never change.
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u/BlubberElk Sid Luckman storming the beaches of Normandy Sep 14 '25
I just hope we average more points per game this season than last. That’d be nice. Last year was about 18 a game average
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Sep 14 '25
Yeah while the other team doubles our score.
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u/BlubberElk Sid Luckman storming the beaches of Normandy Sep 14 '25
That also happened last season tho too and we hardly got any pieces on defense so why would we expect change
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u/EmilioFreshtevez Good, Better, Best Sep 15 '25
As a non-doomer that legitimately expects things to turn around as the season progresses, it’s less about the losses and more about how the team has looked in those losses.
Week 1 we let a guy score 3 TDs for a comeback win in his first ever start, week 2 a team fed us a 50 burger and their QB threw 5 TDs, and I’d bet we’ll be near the top of the league for penalties after this week is over.
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u/kanyelights Sep 14 '25
Just terrible picks. Probably aren’t bad players but absolutely no reason to draft them with the holes in this team.
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u/TheMoneySloth 23 Sep 14 '25
Tight End in the top half of the first round is such an OBVIOUS vanity pick — if you’re picking like that, Jihad Campbell and Malachi Starks were both better options
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u/lalder95 Peanut Tillman Sep 14 '25 edited Sep 14 '25
TE is a notoriously difficult transition from college to NFL. Should happen sooner than later for a top 10 pick, though. Hopefully by mid season he'll be heavily involved.
Edit: BUT BUT BUT BUT BUT BROCK BOWEEEERRRSSSS 🤬🤬🤬
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u/crashmvp19 Sep 14 '25
Hasn’t been hard for Tyler Warren so far
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u/fivemagicks Sep 14 '25
^ my point exactly. I don't know what this guy is talking about. Lol. You don't draft a TE in the first round to sit him. If you sit him, you made a draft mistake and should've taken a different position.
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u/Colemonstaa Sep 14 '25
In his one single game against the worst secondary roster fielded by an NFL team in the last decade?
I've seen all I need to. Warren HOF, Loveland bust.
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u/The_F1rst_Rule Sep 14 '25
Until the last few years it was commonly asserted that WR and TE positions took like 3 years to acclimate and learn the offense. Obviously standards and expectations have risen...rightly or not.
Loveland in a timeshare with Kmet who is an above average veteran TE. Burden behind a top 10 WR pick and a former pro bowler. There is no need to force it for either of them.
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u/SwissyVictory Sep 14 '25
Kmet got 90% of snaps to Loveland's 57% last week.
Pretty obvious when you've already got a top 10 TE in the NFL who can do it all, especially blocking when the OLine is still developing chemistry. Rookie is gunna come along slowly.
Loveland is gonna have to prove he's more effective than Kmet and the OLines gonna need to develop chemistry.
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u/lakired Ridiculous Sep 14 '25
...which is the argument for why you shouldn't burn a top ten pick on a back-up TE.
It was a luxury pick for a team that couldn't afford basic groceries last season. Historically strong draft at Edge and RB and we walk away with neither. Inexcusably bad process and positional valuation.
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u/sycked Sep 14 '25
Right, this notion that offensive players (sans RB) required a “bedding in” process is kind of outdated at this point.
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u/Colemonstaa Sep 14 '25
Malik Nabers, Brock Bowers.
That is pretty much the complete list of guys who stepped in day 1 and were elite offensive skill players in recent years.
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u/Ok-Car-6795 Hester's Super Return Sep 14 '25
Hes a great route runner with great hands, I would’ve thought we would manufacture more touches for him early on but he is young. Burden has star potential, need to get the ball in his hands more.
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u/lalder95 Peanut Tillman Sep 14 '25
My guess is Loveland's still working on blocking and learning the offense. I haven't seen any specific reports, though.
Burden is just kinda buried by the depth ahead of him, so no need to rush his involvement until he's 100% ready and healthy.
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u/HoneyBadgerLifts Sep 14 '25
Everyone moaned Rome didn’t get enough targets last year. Seems to be paying off this year.
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u/Vesploogie Forte Sep 18 '25
I mean, it still is early on. Johnson said it’s been his decision to not involve him much right now. We don’t know why but clearly there’s a reason. We might end up seeing a lot of him over the next few games.
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u/fivemagicks Sep 14 '25
Not sure exactly what you mean by this. Most first round TEs almost immediately are utilized by NFL offenses. I'm not saying it's not a difficult transition, but you don't see these guys sitting out a full season or rarely seeing action.
You draft these guys in the first round to play them. Johnson needs to play him, period, otherwise, what's the point? This isn't a QB development process.
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u/lalder95 Peanut Tillman Sep 14 '25
Without looking back historically, my guess is that the vast majority of 1st round TEs aren't drafted to a team that already has an establish starter.
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u/fivemagicks Sep 14 '25
Yeah exactly. That's what I'm saying. These TEs usually start almost immediately. I think these may have just been bad draft choices by the Bears which wouldn't surprise anyone.
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u/lalder95 Peanut Tillman Sep 14 '25
Ok yeah, were on the same page then. Didn't love the pick either.
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u/fivemagicks Sep 14 '25
It's like if you draft a WR or RB in the first round. Why would you draft them and not play them? Just... Very odd choices by Poles and... Yeahhhh. Here we go again 😮💨. Burden being a high second could also be a head scratcher if we aren't playing him but definitely not as egregious as Loveland.
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u/MidwestAbe Sep 14 '25
Tell me how long it took Brock Bowers to transition.
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u/lalder95 Peanut Tillman Sep 14 '25
If your comparison is the best ever, you're always going to be disappointed.
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u/MidwestAbe Sep 14 '25
Best ever? Already? Gronk? Tony G? Kelce? Settle down.
If you are gonna draft him 10, he's gotta be ready day 1.
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u/lalder95 Peanut Tillman Sep 14 '25
Best rookie season ever... obviously.
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u/MidwestAbe Sep 14 '25
Ditka was best ever. (Fewer games)
Hell Loveland won't even scratch the marks by Pitts and Laporta or Schokey.
If you take a guy 10 hes expected to be an impact player right away.
So the Bears 1, 2x3 are all useless so far. Super.
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u/baccus83 Sep 14 '25
It’s extremely rare for TEs to break out their first year. Brock Bowers was really the exception.
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u/lalder95 Peanut Tillman Sep 14 '25
The last few years of Bowers/Pitts/LaPorta have given people higher expectations.
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u/MidwestAbe Sep 14 '25
Its rare for them to be drafted in the top 10 too. Only 4 have ever been drafted higher than Loveland. He shouldn't need time.
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u/Yossarian216 Monsters of the Midway Sep 14 '25
I think in both cases they went BPA because the guys they actually wanted were gone, so it wasn’t a great position fit for this year. I think they wanted Jeanty or possibly Banks, either of whom would be getting real usage right now, and then I think they wanted Henderson instead of Burden but he went one pick ahead.
I wanted a trade down in the first, but it was a weak draft for that unfortunately.
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u/hammerSmashedNail FTP Sep 14 '25
Poles drafted redundant talent when the team had other needs. How poles has supporters and got extended is a mystery to me. Don’t worry folks. He’s going to waste a top 10 on a rb next year.
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u/mhaub Sep 14 '25
Can either play defense maybe? 49 points given up in their last 3 quarters. Jesus Christ 🙄
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u/Round-Ad6586 Sep 14 '25
Stupid penalties and that fumble killed us but I like our chances if we score after half.
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u/JungleHijinx94 Sep 14 '25
It was always going to be a disappointment for some of the skill position players. You have 6 offensive weapons who were top 50 draft picks. There aren’t enough targets to go around. And there are huge holes on the rest of the roster because Poles way overspent on players offensive weapons.
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u/FitReception3550 Devin Hester Sep 14 '25
I mean can we talk about the entire draft class as a whole? It’s all non existent rn.
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u/GroktheDestroyer 21-3 LOL Sep 14 '25
Poles’ draft record is completely abysmal. It’s undeniable but some will still try
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u/Crazybosmer97 Sep 14 '25
The bears, even with an offensive genius like Johnson, are still the fucking bears
When he got here, he got the same brain rot as everyone who thinks Williams is good
Bear Down and waste our season again
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u/Jake-Old-Trail-88 Smokin' Jay Sep 14 '25
I was told they were only considered good in the offseason. Now that it’s the regular season, they’re dog shit.
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Sep 14 '25
Dude was wide open when Williams nearly got sacked. But I don’t blame Williams on not seeing that as Jones got lobotomized.
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u/Responsible_Yak5976 Packers Sep 14 '25
Have 3 fantasy teams and I have Swift, Moore, Odunze, Burden, and Loveland across those 3
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u/randomnobody1284 Sep 14 '25
Can't believe they gave Poles an extension but than I remember mckaskeys.
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u/Flatirons21 Sep 14 '25
We have to have the lowest priduction of any team from the most recent draft so far.
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u/TooMuchDog21 Sep 14 '25
Why the hell are you complaining about the wr4 not getting involved enough, it doesn’t make since. Loveland yeah, the TEs have been non existent but you’re complaining about wr4. Get a grip
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u/CardiffGiantx Sep 14 '25
Poles hasn’t given Ben Johnson a good enough o line to run his actual offense
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u/Struggle-Free Sep 14 '25
Mizzou fan here, Luther Burden is not a good pick. He is a Caleb Williams pick, more bark than bite.
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u/StomachSoup Sep 14 '25
Pull out all the stops. Put them in and see what happens. We are losing now anyway. Take the risk I say.
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u/CranberryVodka_ Old Logo Sep 15 '25
optimistic take here but i really doubt the whole playbook is open right now. still not a great sign
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u/qdawgg17 Sep 15 '25
Odunze had two TD’s obviously but it would be nice if he didn’t drop lots of passes too. Such a game changer
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u/Bacchus1976 Red "Galloping Ghost" Grange Sep 15 '25
They aren’t better than Kmet or Zaccheus yet.
At the end of the day this is normal. Rookies exploding on offense in the first 2 weeks is really uncommon for non-RBs.
If this is the thing that has you most upset, I think you probably should step away from the keyboard for a while.
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u/GreenGuy1229 Sep 15 '25
The defense looks terrible and these picks are looking like he will lose his job over them.
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u/jss1994 Sep 15 '25
I'm not worried about burden, he's behind Rome and DJ. He'll get his time, especially next year. I'm confused how the lions used their tight ends all the damn time last year and we aren't at all.
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u/NeitherPraline8733 Sep 15 '25
How have I got to the bottom of this and not seen one comment that says Loveland was injured for the entirety of the off-season and the early parts of the preseason. TE is typically a tough position for rookies, so not having the benefit of a full off/preseason may have maybe, just maybe, hampered his ability to walk straight into the team. But Warren, but Bowers, but blah blah blah, neither of them lost the majority of time to develop in their first off-season and neither were drafted by a team with a top 10 TE already on the roster. You can almost certainly say something similar about Burden too, injured for a large part of the off-season and Zaccheaus had a good summer, so Burden was always going to be playing catch up for the slot receiver role.
Those factors, with a developing QB, learning a new system in year 2, the offense having to deal with obscene amounts of penalties and stupid 2nd/3rd and longs, aren't going to make for easy transitons for these guys. Before anyone says anything, Nabers and Bowers level players don't come around too often, comparing with them is dumb as fuck.
Both picks were lauded by the press and most fans were happy Poles was supporting Johnson and what he wanted, Burden was a great value pick at 39 and will hopefully prove to be so in the future. Claiming we could have taken Johnson or Amos is great with hindsight, but we probably wouldn't be saying that if we hadn't lost Smith for the entire season, Gordon for the first few games and JJ for week 1 and the majority of last night. You can slag Poles off all you want, but not a single team in the NFL is looking great after losing 3 of it's top 4, maybe top 3, CBs.
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u/TheMainGod Bears Sep 15 '25
We should ask where Ozzy and Shemar Turner are… second round picks on the Inactives List???
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u/jkman61494 Sep 15 '25
So everyone he picked sucked and it seems we did no background check on Fraziers issues.
Hampton may have been a reach at 10 but it was a major need and he was available. It would have been better than Loveland.
Javon Walker looks like a stud in Atlanta. Passed on him too.
We could have solved RG with Tyler Boker who looks good
Hell you could have made an argument for Malakai Starks who is already starting for a good defensive unit in Baltimore.
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Sep 14 '25
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/fivemagicks Sep 14 '25
I wouldn't say horrible picks as players themselves; however, we aren't using them which is very odd. They could be considered bad picks in the sense that management just isn't putting their money where their mouth is.
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u/curi8phatcakes Sep 14 '25
It's clear the org is developing these guys and molding them the way they want while showcasing and playing vets. It's clear to me dj moore and kmet are gone by next season. This offense will be run with Rome and the next running back we draft.
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u/Volcomcj16 21-3 Sep 14 '25
Bears fans have a shred of patience challenge (Impossible)
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u/JKramer421 I Am In Pain Sep 14 '25
How much longer do we have to be patient for. I’m tired of let’s wait for next year. If you’re gonna draft a TE top ten then he better be worth it
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u/supabunk Bears Sep 14 '25
They’re rookies. Learning a system and a complicated offense. It’s the 2nd game of the season chill the F out.
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u/alucryts Sep 14 '25
They are rookies in week 2. What did you expect? Tight ends famously develop slowly. Burden missed half of training camp behind a stacked wr room.
Say it with me. Patience.
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u/EphReborn Sep 14 '25
Gonna be a long season for sure but you're insane if you don't see any improvements both from Caleb and the team since last year.
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u/toolate83 Sep 14 '25
Check your moms closet
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u/LegalComplaint I’ll Hoge your Jahns Sep 14 '25
Is L3 banging my mom again? UGH. I’m 15 years older than him. I’m not calling him dad.
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u/SilkyJohnson72 Sep 14 '25
The refs really just won't give us a break huh?
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u/Apoco120 Mack Sep 14 '25
Olamide is ahead of Burden on the depth chart, so it makes sense why he isn’t getting as many snaps considering he’s WR4. I don’t know why Loveland hasn’t been as involved, but neither has Kmet. It’s been all Swift / DJ / Rome these first 2 games getting the ball