Chicago Bears 2024
They won't have the worst team in the league schedule this season.
Their starting QB will be a rookie, which probably isn't great.
O-line is a work in progress.
D-line is a work in progress.
They should improve as the season progresses as the youth gains experience.
May have the best punter in the league.
I'm anxious to see what happens.
Their starting QB will be a rookie, which probably isn't great.
O-line is a work in progress.
D-line is a work in progress.
They should improve as the season progresses as the youth gains experience.
May have the best punter in the league.
I'm anxious to see what happens.
illini55
- The Villages, FL
Ten wins in the regular season, one playoff win, then the sky's the limit the rest of the decade.
FlyNavy
- Los Angeles
I re-read the new kickoff rule (still struggling to understand it), but it looks like kick placement is going to be critical:
- Kicks that hit the ground or are fielded between the end zone and the 20 yard line must either be returned or downed for a touchback (if they roll into the end zone) - touchback would be to the 20 yard line
- Kicks that hit the ground or are received in the end zone, if downed for a touchback, come to the 30 yard line
- Kicks that fail to reach the 20 yard line are flagged for illegal procedure and come out to the 40 yard line (similar to OB kicks)
- Tee is optional
As a result, punters will likely assume kickoffs across the board with maybe a few exceptions for talented placekickers (Justin Tucker?). Simply put, kickers train to kick the ball long and straight, punters train to place the ball at a certain range. And this further validates Poles using a 4th round pick on the top punter in the draft, as now that position matters much more than it used to.
- Kicks that hit the ground or are fielded between the end zone and the 20 yard line must either be returned or downed for a touchback (if they roll into the end zone) - touchback would be to the 20 yard line
- Kicks that hit the ground or are received in the end zone, if downed for a touchback, come to the 30 yard line
- Kicks that fail to reach the 20 yard line are flagged for illegal procedure and come out to the 40 yard line (similar to OB kicks)
- Tee is optional
As a result, punters will likely assume kickoffs across the board with maybe a few exceptions for talented placekickers (Justin Tucker?). Simply put, kickers train to kick the ball long and straight, punters train to place the ball at a certain range. And this further validates Poles using a 4th round pick on the top punter in the draft, as now that position matters much more than it used to.
Is There more info for handling onside kicks?
I know that the kicking team has to declare that they are attempting an onside kick
Illiniaaron
- Geneseo, IL
How could they possibly get an easier schedule than they have now? 14 games are predetermined years in advance. Since they finished last in the NFC North their 3 swing games are against last place teams in other divisions (Panthers, Commanders, & Patriots).
Bob Avellini passed away yesterday from cancer. He was 70 years old.
I have a small Caleb sample size as I only saw him in USC losses when his O-line struggled, but based on that I don't see him overcoming the Bears O-line weaknesses and leading them to ten wins.
He'll have a vastly better defense supporting him at the pro level. And I'm not talking just a case of the difference between the college and pro level. The USC defense was one of the worst scoring defenses in college football last season.
The skill position guys he's working with are infinitesimally better than what we had(comparatively of course). He's not going to be asked to do even 50% of what he had to do at USC. The offensive line is average, but his playmakers are elite.
Mr. Tibbs
- southeast DuPage
Watch a UFL game this spring. They use the same basic kick off rule.
The NFL will go from basically never having kickoff returns to kickoffs mattering again.
Illiniaaron
- Geneseo, IL
Other than watching Payton run, those late 70's Bear offenses were brutal. For kicks I looked up Avellini's stats-he actually led the league in game winning drives with 4 in 1977. Probably a lot of handoffs to Payton.