Previewing Bears' Week 6 matchup with Falcons | Bears Weekly Podcast

0:00 Welcome in to Bears Weekly, a Chicago Bears Network production.

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0:14 Here are your hosts, Jeff Joniak, a.k.a.

0:17 The Mayor of Bearsville, and his sidekick, Tom the Surfmaster Thayer.

0:23 A big moment awaits the Bears in the Big A. Atlanta, Georgia, Sunday at noon. Bears-Falcons, a key battle in the NFC. We discuss tonight on Bears Weekly here on ESPN 1000 and the Chicago Bears Radio Network with Super Bowl-winning Bears guard Tom Thayer. I'm Jeff Joniak. Dan Barilli, Jordan Tretup, Katie Fox are our producers. In studio tonight, Kendra Smith.

0:41 The executive producer of the Bears Radio Network is Eric Ostrowski. Coming up in tonight's program, jam-packed to say the least, Caleb Williams. hearing from him for the first time since his injury. A second day listed as a full goal for practice. Yesterday was a walkthrough. Thursday, the real deal.

0:57 No guarantee yet on who will start at quarterback, though. We'll hear from him in just a moment. We're also going to hear from Austin Booker. The edge rusher is our game day live profile. You'll hear it on Fox TV on Sunday morning as well as this show tonight. And we'll hear from Grady Jarrett, Press Taylor, and Dennis Allen, along with David Archer, the former Falcons quarterback, and Falcons analyst. Tom, news of the day, Caleb Williams at the podium.

1:21 Thoughts?

1:22 Yeah, it was good to hear him.

1:23 You know, listen, still I'm not making any claims if I'm the Bears, if I'm Ben Johnson, if I'm Caleb Williams. I'm going to let the information be told to you at noon on Sunday, Central Time, 1 o'clock East Coast Time.

1:36 And so.

1:38 you know, if he didn't go up.

1:40 There and address the media, I would have been as satisfied as I was hearing them because I like hearing Caleb. I he's, he's an interesting guy at the podium and he speaks his mind and he's super confident and.

1:52 He answers the questions.

1:53 But a lot of times in a press conference, like the first one after the injury, well, like he said, 25 days, you're not answering questions that they want answered, but that's your right that you have move.

2:06 It going forward.

2:07 And I know that trusting your body is a big question. So what he had to say, just psychologically, hey, he trusts his people, his people, his guys are the people that are helping him, whether it be off campus or on campus here in the building to get ready to go.

2:22 And if I'm out there, it's full trust. If I'm not. feeling frustrated, I won't be. And that's pretty much, and he may not be allowed.

2:30 I mean, who knows?

2:30 It depends on what the doctors say.

2:32 Well, the thing about it is you have a lot of different people that are working on your body.

2:36 There's points of interest for everything.

2:38 The way you go out and you condition, you rehabilitate, you got your wind and all those types of things. But ultimately the only person I'm going to listen to about your body is Caleb. I know I respect every other person in that building, but the guy that has the most experience on those two feet is Caleb Williams.

2:57 He will give you the most important information you.

2:59 Need to know.

3:00 Here's a portion of his news conference with the media up at Halasol.

3:03 Do not know before you start asking. Do not know if I'm playing yet. Have to go through a bunch of medical protocols.

3:10 Obviously have to get out.

3:11 There and practice, do the stress test.

3:12 Thing that obviously you do when you're trying to come back from injury or serious injury.

3:18 Uh, so that's first.

3:19 Um, second, I would like to give thanks to obviously the team, uh, one, the guys, um, being able to step up, obviously, you know, going down and I haven't, I haven't been in this position ever in my career, but, um, you know, going down mid season and, and, uh, you know, the guy stepping up, um, you know, bowing up and, and going to, you know, two in one in this situation.

3:42 So shout out to, you know, my room and, you know, shout out to the, you know, all the other guys and all the other positions. Second is thanks to the medical staff for, I mean, we've been, we've been working our tail off, obviously trying to get back as fast as possible. That is the, the main goal for myself and, and, and, you know, for, for us in the medical room and then a shout out to my team at home for, for being able to be so supportive of me and, Obviously, it's a tough situation for me, not being able to play and not being able to practice and not being able to be out there with the guys, which is my brothers.

4:25 It's been frustrating. It's been challenging. It's been.

4:31 A situation where I wouldn't say that I wanted it, but it was nice for me to be able to learn from Case, learn from Tice and, you know, being able to, you know, see their, you know, how they go about their week and all of that. Like I said, I haven't been in this position. And so it's been, it's been interesting. It's been a learning curve for me and being able to, like I said, learn how to be in that position and, and, and still support the guys, try and give great energy, all of that. I think, you know, through the past couple of weeks, it's been, I've gotten better each and each week. And I'm not talking about injury, but just being able to handle the injury and, you know, be there and support the guys, uh,

5:10 each week, each week. Um, and then, and then, uh, lastly, um, is, is the other half of my team at home. Um, you know, the, the, the trainer side of, of my team at home that, uh, helped me and, you know, day in and day out, um, long nights, uh, when I get home, being able to, uh, get a bunch more work and treatment and, and things like that at home.

5:30 So, you know, shout out to them.

5:32 And then, uh, uh, um, it's, uh, It's up to myself and the medical staff to be able to get out there and, like I said, try and go through the stress test, try and be out there, practice the lifts, everything, just go through the daily routine, plus a little added, obviously, just trying to make sure that.

5:53 From now to whenever.

5:55 I'm given a go to play that I'm on top of.

5:57 This leg for the rest of the season.

6:01 I've dealt with something like this before, but it was at the end of the season, so it's a little different situation, but We're working through it.

6:07 We'll see what this week.

6:09 This week is a big week.

6:12 Obviously, I go through all the cutting and planning and things like that throughout the weeks or the past couple weeks, and it's felt good. I mean, y'all have been able to see me out there on Friday moving a little bit, and then obviously before the Packers game, I've been able to get out there.

6:27 And move, so it's felt good.

6:30 But it's different when you've got to go through a whole week of practice and then you've got to prepare for a game and all of that, the stress in the mind, body, and spirit.

6:37 Yeah, I think we'll see how it goes this week. Do you feel you're physically in game shape right now?

6:42 Do you feel physically.

6:43 Like you're good to go?

6:44 Like my wind? Everything, really.

6:47 I mean, the strength of my arm.

6:50 Yeah, I mean, like I said, we'll go through the stress test this week, and at the end of the week we'll make a decision if I'm good to go or not, and that's for the betterment of myself and my health, and then also for the betterment of the team.

7:04 Like, you know, what's involved with the stress test?

7:07 Like, is that like specific data?

7:10 Yeah, data, loading it.

7:12 Like, I mean, practice is, you know, it's loading it in many different positions just because you got a D-line rushing you. So you're putting your body in, you know, positions that you can't really replicate because it's more of a reaction in practice and game. And so, you know, you're putting yourself in those positions in practice. And, you know, that's a stress test of, being able to go through a whole week and see how it goes. And then, you know, you get to the end of the week, you feel good, you know, and medical approves and strength and conditioning approves with my strength. And, you know, the flexibility of it, all of that, and, you know, all the good stuff that they all know. But, you know,

7:50 it's a, you know, team working.

7:52 Together, trying to get it right.

7:53 He was at once very serious and firm, but in control. And that's, you want your starting quarterback, to be in control in all aspects.

8:02 And he certainly presented that at the podium.

8:05 Yeah. I, you know, the thing about it is, is we're going to be able to talk about the body part of it only for so long until he gets back on the field. What I like about what he talked about during his injury time, that he's learned from it and he's learned from the support. And I think that's important because no matter if you're a player, that's not on the field, you're in a backup role.

8:27 You always have to be learning.

8:29 If you're a starter and you're out of game action because you're injured, you still.

8:33 Have to learn.

8:34 And I liked the fact that he went up there and said that he learned from the, what he's learned from a case and Tyson and Ben and the whole quarterback crew. And then he's learned from his support team, which I think is as important as well.

8:49 So, Let's just assume for the sake of assumption that he plays in that building against that defense.

8:55 You're Ben Johnson.

8:56 How do you plan an offense for Caleb Williams in this particular game?

8:59 Full steam ahead.

9:01 Everything that you've been teaching him since the beginning of your time together, I still go down that corridor. And I don't make any restrictions on Caleb's game because the thing about it is, is once the ball is snapped, you're not going to be out there telling him what to do and how to do it. You're going to have to trust Caleb to do what he feels the best for him and how he feels in that exact moment.

9:27 Instincts take over, right, too, for him. Instincts in his style of play.

9:31 Full steam ahead.

9:32 And that's the way it is for any player that's recovering from any injury. And, you know, so, like I said, Ben and Caleb, full steam ahead.

9:42 All right, coming up next, we'll hear from Austin Booker, the Bears' edge rusher, our player profile, coming up here on ESPN 1000 and the Bears' radio network.

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10:00 Joniak and Tom Thayer, this is the home of the Bears. ESPN Chicago.

10:07 This segment of Bears Weekly is brought to you by Athletico Physical Therapy. Visit athletico.com to request an in-clinic or virtual appointment and start feeling better tomorrow. With Tom Thayer, Jeff Joniak had a chance to sit down with Austin Booker, the Bears edge rusher for our player profile.

10:21 Started out talking about a bunch of things, but the chess match, the chess match of a pass.

10:26 Rusher going up against an offensive lineman that wants to stop you.

10:30 I'd say just playing football from a young age, like tackle football since kindergarten. I just, you kind of develop a, a knack and an instinctual brain for the game.

10:43 And the people in your life at that time, too.

10:46 Your dad, as I.

10:47 Understand, was a big influence in you becoming a pass rusher.

10:51 Yeah, 100%.

10:52 I mean, he played D-line himself. I grew up playing running back, actually. And then once I played it in my own grade level, then I started playing D-line.

11:02 Did you grow into a D-lineman?

11:04 I guess.

11:04 I mean, I was always bigger than everybody, so I played up a year So I could run the ball because I was too heavy. But then once I played on my own, I couldn't run the ball anymore, so.

11:13 I turned into it.

11:14 You'd be a nasty running back.

11:16 I love running the ball.

11:18 Yeah, I can't wait until you tap one to yourself on a pick.

11:21 Yeah, me too.

11:21 Scoop and score.

11:22 Yeah, me too.

11:22 I'll go crazy.

11:23 I've had one my whole career, actually.

11:26 Not one time? High school either? Grade school?

11:28 I mean, grade school for sure, but not high school or college, so I'm definitely.

11:32 Yeah, well, it's going to happen.

11:34 For sure.

11:35 You're too violent and aggressive, and I think you surprise people a little bit on the other side of the ball.

11:42 I mean, even on the own team, I feel like I surprise people just, like, having a slimmer build, but also having some grown man strength.

11:51 Yeah, but you built that, right? For sure. Was this offseason the most important offseason of your life?

11:59 I think so. I mean, it's contract years, pretty obvious, but.

12:03 Even, like, growing up, like, grew up working on like a farm doing contracting work and stuff like that.

12:09 So just like.

12:11 Developing strength from a young age, it's just like, just keeps building up.

12:15 So. In Indiana. Yeah. Were you bailing hay and throwing it?

12:19 I mean, yeah.

12:20 Um, I didn't, we didn't own it.

12:22 It was one of my friend's farms that I was working the summers and stuff. Um, but no, I do love horses.

12:27 And all that stuff.

12:28 Yeah. So what did you do on the farm?

12:31 Uh, wake up 6am, feed them, scoop and, uh, I mean, you take them out to the pastures, you take them back, like you said, bale some hay and whatnot.

12:40 That'll make a man out of you, right? I mean, discipline. Do you think you got a lot of that.

12:44 Out of that?

12:45 100%.

12:45 I mean, and I was never handed anything either, so I always had to earn my keeping. That's definitely transferred over into my career.

12:53 There's a country music song by Miranda Lambert.

12:56 It just resonates with me. It's called The House That Built Me. I don't know if you've ever heard this song. I don't know if you like country music at all. Yes or no?

13:02 A little bit.

13:03 Anyway, it's about Going back to the house she grew up in and remembers, you know, everything about that, but it built who she is. Do you feel the same way about Indiana where you grew up, Nuevo, did I say that right?

13:16 Yeah, yeah.

13:17 And just your family and everything. Can you flash back to that time in your life that built Austin Bowman?

13:23 Yeah, 100%.

13:23 I mean, I had a great support staff in my family, but also like the high school that I went to, Center Grove, they had us playing the same offense since kindergarten, so we just I don't know. We got a different upbringing. I'm super serious about football.

13:41 And you're a super serious guy.

13:43 Yeah.

13:45 You're laughing at me now, but you're very serious almost all the time.

13:50 Yeah.

13:51 Why?

13:51 I'll just say I'm unsatisfied in a good way. But yeah, this is business to me. I'm here for a job and to get stuff done.

13:59 And until that's finished fully, I'm going to be super serious about it.

14:03 Do you dream big?

14:04 100%.

14:06 Give me an example.

14:07 In my career, for sure, like, I want to be the best defensive end, like, stop the run, all four downs. But then, I mean, outside is just support my whole family, have a big family.

14:18 So it's just all around, yeah.

14:21 Tell me about your dad. What impact did he leave on you?

14:24 Definitely, like we were talking about earlier, like a work ethic for sure.

14:28 He got me into football early and taught me how things go, and I never got handed anything, so. He also had cancer when I was in college, so seeing some of that puts a chip on your shoulder and makes you want it even more.

14:42 But survived it, correct?

14:43 100%.

14:44 Did he kick it?

14:45 Yeah, he kicked it.

14:46 What's that say about him? Tough son of a gun?

14:49 Yeah, he's a tough son of a gun. Thank the Lord for sure on that one. Can't do that alone.

14:53 What do you want for yourself, man? What do you want for yourself in the big picture? The whole thing.

14:58 I don't have super specific Goals is kind of just, you know, aim for the stars, fall on the moon type of thing.

15:08 I think it's going to be rewarding because clearly you've taken nothing for granted.

15:12 Like you said, you've had to earn everything you got. For sure. And this is the biggest platform to do that.

15:20 Is that self-satisfying that, you know, you're going to get what you earn instead of somebody just handing you the job?

15:28 Yeah, for sure.

15:29 No comparisons, but I mean, people get it easier. And there's nothing against that, but I'm in the position that I'm in, and I'm definitely going to earn it.

15:37 You got no ego on your arm?

15:39 On the arm, yeah.

15:41 It's that important to you?

15:43 For sure, yeah.

15:44 Why?

15:45 Just like what we said earlier, just coming from nothing and having to earn everything you get, it just means so much more. I compare it to I had a car stolen in downtown Chicago, and then they discontinued the car. recontinued it two years later. And so I ordered it like six months ahead of time. And it just meant more to get the car before the first time, the second time around.

16:14 You got baptized this summer?

16:15 I did.

16:16 Or this summer?

16:17 Yeah.

16:18 What motivated you to do that?

16:20 What has that done for you mentally, clearly spiritually, just the whole part of Austin Booker?

16:27 Yeah.

16:27 So, I mean, I trained in Naples in off-season. Um, and was just surrounded by a bunch of, a bunch of godly men. Um, Orlando, my PT, um, a mentor, Tomas, um, a bunch of other guys. Um, and they brought me to church, invited me. Um, I enjoyed it. I felt the, felt the Holy Spirit resonated in me and just felt heavy on my heart to get baptized.

16:53 Um, except Jesus as my Lord and Savior.

16:56 So has it impacted your work life? Yeah, a hundred percent.

16:59 I mean, Like you said, I'm a serious person, so it's easy to get frustrated and whatnot, but I'm definitely at peace more and comfortable with the trajectory that I'm heading at and trusting that.

17:12 Well, it completes the man, right? For sure. 100%.

17:16 People don't realize that this cat is still young. Like, you got to the league young, which was also a big decision. You probably passed out being a first-round pick.

17:26 Yeah, possibly.

17:27 But, I mean, there's... possibilities of injuries, there's possibilities of everything. So I felt like it was right to hit it while it was hot.

17:34 Your star is rising, brother.

17:35 Thank you.

17:36 Tom, I know you always take notes.

17:38 He is very serious about being a great football player, and I really enjoyed that. digging in deep, trying to find out what motivates this man.

17:46 Absolutely love the interview because the times that I've got to talk to Austin Booker, it's been basically about football, practice, preparation, off-season, weight gain, strength gain, all those types of things. I learned a lot about Austin Booker, whether it's the upbringing on the farm in Indiana. what he was, did this off season, how serious of a person he is and how he wants to be the best and not only good, he wants to be the best. And when I think of what Colston Loveland and Austin Booker, we got two farmers on this football team that we could go out there and maybe purchase a piece of land.

18:23 There you go. Guys to come to be business partners.

18:26 And they put us to work bailing a Tommy. I would, I would die within about an hour.

18:31 No. Well, that's what makes the, you know, the background of both of these guys.

18:34 And that's why they're determined to be who they are, whether it's, you know, their upbringing and influences or the way they went about life. And I really hope people appreciate this interview after they hear it because Austin.

18:49 Um, I learned a lot about him and I have a lot of respect for him.

18:52 Comment, Up next, Grady Jarrett and Press Taylor. This is ESPN 1000 of the Bears Radio Network.

18:58 Bears Weekly is back, and so are Tom Thayer and Jeff Joniak on ESPN Chicago.

19:06 This segment of Bears Weekly is brought to you by Chevy Drive Chicago, Chicagoland and Northwest Indiana Chevy dealers. Where the going gets tough, the tough get going. Chevy Silverado, the official truck partner of the Chicago Bears. Check out a Chevy Silverado at your Chicagoland and Northwest Indiana dealers.

19:20 Chevy dealer back with Tom Thayer, Jeff Joniak, getting ready for bears and Falcons and a trip down to Atlanta.

19:26 Tommy for Grady Jarrett.

19:28 Uh, he grew up there 25 minutes from Mercedes Benz stadium, played his whole life there until he became a bear. And so without dial a dang, but more than likely without Montez sweat because of the suspension, possibly without TJ Edwards and maybe others. I will Dennis Allen and the bears go at this. Here's Grady's thought.

19:49 I'm sure, uh, will have a wonderful plan for us this week. I haven't been able to see it as Wednesday as the start of our install. But I'm fully confident in whatever he calls for us in this plan going forward. And I'm sure he'll have everybody in the right position where they need to be so it can be effective.

20:04 What do you think you've shown on tape or what have you seen from yourself on tape that maybe you weren't able to do last year because you weren't 100%?

20:10 I mean, I think the tape speaks for itself. I think what I'm doing is trying to just, like I said, be my best. When I'm at my best, I'm one of the best in this business at what I do. And I'm going to continue to get better. But I'm trying to be my best to be the best for this team, you know, and whether it's from a leadership standpoint, playing standpoint, there's always room for improvement. And that's what I'm focused on is just getting better each and every week, each and every week. And am I where I want to be? No, because there's so much more out there for me to go get. And that's what I'm chasing every week. And through my style of play, the way I play and effort, energy, tenacity, I want that to

20:50 spread through my team. And the results as far as the numbers that we track and this and that, that'll take care of itself in the end.

20:57 And I do know how important it is.

20:58 But what's more important is me showing up each and every week, doing what I'm asked to do at an extremely high level and playing with great effort and encouraging these guys around me to be their best. And I can't do that if I'm not doing my part. So my job right now is to do my part at the highest level I can. And when I do that, I'm one of the best in the business to do it.

21:15 And I'm excited to go out there and do it.

21:17 Will you allow yourself a moment Sunday just to be a human for 15 minutes or so when you get back in that building?

21:24 Uh, I mean, yeah, but I mean, my time in Atlanta is well served, you know, um, 10 years, life success and struggles. But I mean, I'm from, I mean, well, I gave it as due time respect. I think all my focus is here right now doing what I need to do and, um, and getting this team back on the right track. And, uh, but I definitely think it's special.

21:43 So anytime I go back and play in a stadium like that and, around those fans that I've been around for so long. I definitely got to acknowledge how special that is to me. And it means a lot. But I don't think there's much need for me to take a big reflection day and hit my knee and think about this and that. I mean, I'm grateful to God to have me where I am right now, taking me through everything I can, been through there to make me who I am, to be the best me for this team here now. And I acknowledge that. But the main focus is getting this team on the right track, back in the winning column. and going out there and competing our tails off.

22:15 What do you expect the response to be from the defense this week just after last week?

22:18 I expect the response to be extremely well, and we need to take our performance last week personally because that's not our best version of ourselves, and we absolutely need.

22:29 To put a better.

22:31 Product out there and a better effort because we have everything we need to be to be a top unit in this league.

22:36 I believe that truly and wholeheartedly.

22:38 And if we go out there and do what we need to do, we will be. But if we don't and we hope for things to happen and not make them happen, it's going to be a hard day.

22:46 So we've got to go make it happen. We've got to play with edge. We've got to play with effort and a relentless technique, you know what I'm saying, a relentless.

22:53 Desire to have.

22:56 Just success, you know. And we've got to compete just undoubtedly.

23:00 Like the compete's got to jump off the tape, you know what I'm saying, at every level, you know. And that started with me going out to do what I need to do as a captain of the defense and setting the tone.

23:09 I feel great he's playing at a high level again, Tommy. I don't think he felt 100% at any point a year ago with the knee coming off an ACL and then having it aggravated over the course of last season. Came on strong at the end of the year and into the playoffs. But I see a different player, and I think it's coming out in his leadership, too, and how he's speaking. He's just feeling better about himself and taking the bull by the horns.

23:32 Well, I think because of the way he's playing this year, he's got that explosiveness back.

23:37 He's got the power. He's got the leverage.

23:39 He's got the ability to turn and burn all those things that we saw to Grady Jarrett throughout 10 years of his career.

23:46 And he knew that he was capable of that.

23:49 I think it's hard to be the vocal leader that he wants to be when you're not having that type of performance that he knew he could have last year. But now it's about being your best and how he can be good for the team. That's what I like out of a leader because it's, there is no selfish praise or pats on the back to himself. It's only about how he can be good, how he can be better.

24:12 The best is yet to come and how he can be good for his team.

24:15 All right, let's flip it over to the offensive coordinator, Press Taylor, at the podium today.

24:18 The topic, obviously, is Caleb.

24:21 Williams, what they're looking for to make sure they feel good about letting him play.

24:25 Really just seeing how he looks, how he responds. You know, that's the biggest thing. Put him through a practice, see how his body responds, how he feels the next day, how he feels in his typical movement patterns.

24:35 You kind of just.

24:36 Get a feel for the athlete and what he feels like from his responses and then obviously go off the advice of the medical staff in terms of how he's responding to things.

24:44 What are the checkpoints when a player like him is coming off a hamstring injury? Number one, he hasn't dealt with them all that often. Number two, it's not like you're going to ask him to run in a straight line. But just knowing what his skill is when he gets out of the pocket, just knowing where the health of the hamstring has to be for him to be effective.

25:00 Yeah, honestly, with all of our guys, we just go off what they tell us he's able to do. So if they say he's a full return to practice, then– we're going to let him practice and we're going to see where it goes and how he pushes it. And we'll all kind of have our own observations of what it looks like and how, how does it look like compared to what we saw before he was injured? And then a lot of it's going off the player and the medical staff's advice beyond that as well. So I don't know if there's necessarily, we have certain checkpoints. I need to see him do this, that, the other, it's more, let's go play and let's, let's get the feedback of the people around them and the athlete himself to see

25:34 where he is at and how he feels and what he's capable of doing.

25:37 Jason handled things coming out of, Sunday.

25:40 Tyson's the same guy every single day. That's what you really appreciate about him. He comes to work. He takes his work very seriously. He's engaged in all the meetings. He's great in conversation. He's great in the walkthroughs. Everything that we've seen up to this point is the same Tyson that we've known from the day we got.

25:56 The thing I like about press is he can go into that quarterback room and he can coach everybody at the same rate, the same pace in the same learning curve. And whether you're talking to case Tyson or Caleb, that every one of those guys, they're absorbed in their work. And I think press Taylor's, uh, has an appreciation for that, but they also have an appreciation for the, where they'd be there, the way they're being coached. And, um, I do think that Caleb moving forward, the best is still yet to come out of him and his career, but it's about making sure that Preston and Caleb are on the same page in terms of being healthy.

26:36 All right, coming up next, we've got David Archer, the former Falcon quarterback and radio analyst for the Falcons.

26:42 This is ESPN 1000 and the Bears Radio Network.

26:47 Welcome back to Bears Weekly, a Chicago Bears production on the flagship home of the Bears, ESPN Chicago.

26:59 This segment of Bears Weekly is brought to you by Athletico Physical Therapy. Visit athletico.com to request an in-clinic or virtual appointment and start feeling better tomorrow. With Super Bowl-winning Bears guard Tom Thayer, I'm Jeff Joniak. Joining us to talk about the Atlanta Falcons, our good friend David Archer, my fellow Iowa State classmate in the mid-' 80s when he was tearing it up in the Big 8.

27:20 That's right.

27:21 There was a conference called the Big 8. And David Archer was throwing the football around. But before we get started, Big Dave, I really didn't go this deep into your background, but I find it interesting.

27:33 Quick.

27:34 Born in Fayetteville, North Carolina, high school in Soda Springs, Idaho. Then to Snow Junior College, two years at Iowa State. Undrafted NFL ninth-round pick of the 84 USFL draft, Tommy, by the Denver Gold. Didn't sign, joined the Falcons by year two starting. Led a 5-1-1 after seven games, started second year.

27:55 Then injured.

27:57 And he was a running quarterback. He was piling up the yardage. Then Washington, San Diego, the Eagles. Sacramento surge of the World League of American Football led him to the World Bowl championship. Transferred to the CFL with the Sacramento Gold Miners. Threw for over 6,000 yards. Then the San Antonio Texans, Ottawa, Saskatchewan, but retired. Came back as a TV analyst in the 97 CFL. Played for Edmonton then out of retirement against Calgary in the championship against Jeff Garcia. and now since 2004 in the Falcons booth.

28:28 My goodness.

28:29 I only say that to underscore the fact that some guys love.

28:32 The game, but you clearly loved this game.

28:37 Yeah, it's the question, Jeff, and great to be on with you and Tom.

28:40 I love talking to you guys.

28:43 It's part of the questions now that have to be asked. It's crazy, and I did. I love playing, wanted to play. One of the reasons I left left the Eagles. I was in a backup position with the Eagles behind Randall cutting him at the time. And, and I was asked by a guy that I'd played for in the world league.

28:59 It was taking the job as with that CFL team, you know, do you want to come play for us? And play was the, was the operative word. I wanted to play. I wanted to go play the game and everybody can stand on the sideline and all that kind of stuff. But I wanted to, wanted to play, wanted to stay in the game. And so that's why I did it. And I had a great time. I owe everything to my home, to, to relationships that I have to the game, you know, and, and, and all the lessons I've learned, Tom, Tom, I'm sure has shared many, many stories with you of lessons we learn when we play the game and how to, how to interact with people, how to interact with teammates, how important it is to surround yourself with good people. Oh, kind of stuff. And

29:40 so just a lot of lessons and stuff. So I'm thankful, blessed to have been doing it. And now I get a chance to talk about it and nobody comes off the edge like Richard Dent or one of those guys and hits me in the back. The one thing I appreciate you leaving out on that, Jeff, was The fact that I had to line up against the 85 Bears on a late November day in Chicago, I think I completed two passes in the game against them. We threw for like minus 35 yards or something like that in the game. I think our longest play from scrimmage was 12 yards maybe. And, uh, Walter, Walter rung up, rung up about 110 on us. And Tom was coming off the ball, mashing people and.

30:22 Stuff like that. So I appreciate you for leaving that out. So thank you.

30:26 Yeah, because we've talked about it before, so I don't want to bury him again.

30:30 Too many bad memories.

30:31 So when you think of your roots, do you think you played two years at Iowa State?

30:36 Now given the NIL, given.

30:38 The transfer portal and everything, was Iowa State the program for you to stay two years?

30:43 Or would you have come out of junior.

30:45 College, had success at Iowa State, and then maybe thought about transferring?

30:49 Or were you content with the program you were in?

30:52 Tom, it seems like there was a value that I'm sure you had, I had, when we came out, there was a loyalty value attached to, and I'm not saying the guys aren't loyal now. It's not fair to say that because, I mean, man, if you.

31:07 Get thrown a million dollars or whatever it is as a quarterback, the temptation is obviously there.

31:12 I'd like to think that I would have stayed at Iowa State and maybe they would have been able to find a little bit of cash for me to stay there if NIL was part of the mix at the time. But I had a tough time thinking that I would have walked out on my teammates or something like that my senior year after they'd helped groom me to have that opportunity.

31:33 When you look at the Falcons right now and you think in terms, okay, you're a quarterback, they're a quarterback position. was Tua the right man to come in with Stefanski to hold down the fort until Penix got ready? Two left-handed quarterbacks, two guys that can be dynamic and explosive offenses. And is the quarterback position in the right place right now?

31:58 All great questions, Tom. I think the first one in the Tua situation, we don't know. You know, he never really played. You know, he played a little bit in the preseason. He took snaps during OTAs and training camp. as did, you know, Michael took snaps in there. He just wasn't doing 11 on 11, so it wasn't like he wasn't participating. Brought Cooper Rush in in the 11th hour because Trevor Simeon had gotten a calf injury and they needed somebody healthy enough to take some of the camp reps. So Cooper Rush comes in, a guy that played in the league, and they get this young kid from Minnesota State, Jack Strand, who's got some promise, but he's green as the day is long and played Division II football, so still trying to develop him. Um, so

32:39 getting back to the two, I don't think we know, you know, and to, uh, got forced into action late in the game last weekend against, uh, against Baltimore, um, through a couple of completions and then forced one down the field, almost as if, you know, he looked rusty or, you know, he wasn't sure about what he was doing.

32:58 And so that doesn't lead you to believe.

32:59 That, you know, that was, that was the answer at quarterback, potentially if Michael can't play, I think Mike's got all the ability to, to play at this level, Tom.

33:08 I think he's got all the throws.

33:10 He missed a couple that are aching at him on Sunday night against Baltimore, a couple of short throws that would have sealed the game, and Atlanta would have won the game by double digits had he made a couple little dinky throws that he has to work on.

33:26 He's got to get better.

33:27 He's only started 15 games in the National Football League, so your second half of the question, is he the answer here?

33:33 I don't think we know yet, and I think that's.

33:35 What this season's about, is to try to figure out if Michael Penix is the franchise guy you drafted eighth overall.

33:42 A few years ago.

33:43 Former Atlanta Falcon quarterback and now radio analyst for the Falcons, David Archer, our guest here on Bears Weekly on ESPN Chicago. How would you describe how Kevin Stefanski's system and with Tommy Reese calling the plays has impacted Bajon Robinson in a way that's maybe different than what he's been used and how he's running the ball and how he's learning the scheme uh than he has in the first couple years of his career.

34:07 Well i think the one thing that we had hoped to incorporate jeff and tom can break this down for you guys when i'm done is is the gap scheme stuff that we didn't run we ran a lot of wide zone inside zone stuff so stretch game those kind of things uh fits bajan outstandingly he also was a guy that was really good in the gap scheme stuff pin and pull type stuff when he was at texas to have it run much of that stuff Until this year, we started to try to incorporate a little bit and really haven't run as much of it as I thought we would. Now, the development of Bajon Robinson is as much about Bajon Robinson as it is any system he plays in. I think he's the best football player in the NFL right now. And he's a complete back. And

34:53 I've been asked many times, Jeff, who's the best back in the National Football League all time?

35:00 And it's an easy question.

35:02 It's an easy answer for me, but people kind of look at me kind of cross-eyed.

35:08 Walter Payton, to me, was.

35:10 The best running back in NFL history because he could do everything. If you're the best running back in the national football, you have to be able to do it all. No disrespect to Barry Sanders, who's an incredible start, stop, all that kind of stuff.

35:25 Didn't really catch the ball in the backfield.

35:27 You look at some of the, whether it's Eric Dickerson.

35:31 Or whoever you want to talk to about.

35:33 Jim Brown.

35:34 Jim Brown. Walter Payton did it all. He ran the football with speed and agility. He ran the football with power. He could catch the football out of the backfield. He could throw the football if you needed to. Just go ask Jim McMahon.

35:49 He threw him a couple of passes.

35:51 But the thing that gets lost in it, is there's not a running back that I remember that was short in the neck of a linebacker or safety was coming on a blitz more than Walter Payton would.

36:01 And Tom could probably.

36:02 Show you videotape of him stepping right up next to Tom, nailing some linebacker that's trying to blitz through the line to get to the quarterback.

36:09 He was the complete back.

36:11 That's what Bajon Robinson is. He's got incredible start-stop ability, acceleration.

36:18 He runs with power at the end of the runs.

36:20 He can catch the ball in the backfield like a wide receiver, but the part that he steps up to, he steps up and takes on linebackers on blitzes Unlike anybody I ever saw other than number 34.

36:30 You know, Dave, when you think of Drake London, you think of Bajon Robinson, who's feeding, who is, you know, I look at Drake London was, it got 488 yards receiving up into this point in the season with multiple quarterbacks and you got Bajon Robinson, what he's able to do. Do they go hand in hand or, or, you know, how are they working off of each other?

36:52 Yeah, I think it's a good analogy, Tom, in that I think one facilitates the other. Sometimes they don't really need each other sometimes either. I thought last week that Baltimore did a decent job of kind of him in our run game in. They put a lot of resources in the line of scrimmage. Kyle Hamilton's outstanding because he plays safety, linebacker. He's that extra guy in the box.

37:15 And I thought they had a pretty good idea of how to fit the run game. And so Bajon was limited to about 90 yards rushing in the game.

37:21 I think he had another, I don't know, 15, 20 yards receiving.

37:24 So not the impact that he'd had the couple of previous weeks. Drake's gone off the last two weeks. Drake had over 100 yards receiving. He's a guy that has developed over the years, Over the few years he's been in the league, you know, he was outside receiver. He's now grown to be this guy inside that's a monster.

37:42 He's a 50-50 monster that will go get the football regardless of who's covering him. And he's one of those guys, Tom, if you remember, he's an alpha male during the game. Quiet dude, nice guy off the field. But when the game comes on, he clicks into like this monster.

38:00 Type guy that you.

38:01 Don't recognize just because of he's got such competitive spirit. In fact, they have to throttle him back a little bit because he gets so into the game from an emotional and physical standpoint. But John is much more quiet, goes about his business and breaks people down that way. But so it's fun to be around both guys. And I don't know that one feeds the other. But I know they feed well off of one another.

38:23 That's for sure.

38:24 Our final moments with David Archer, the analyst for the Atlanta Falcons here on ESPN Chicago. Let's talk defense and Jeff Ulbrich because it's like a swarm of bees. They're coming at you from every direction. A lot of guys getting pressures, a lot of guys involved. And how good would this defense be if Jalen Walker, James Pierce, and A.J.

38:41 Terrell were healthy and ready to roll or not suspended in the case of Pierce? Yeah, that's a lot.

38:48 It would be fun to see him out there, Jeff. You know, James Pierce Jr. is back on campus now. The suspension, eight-game suspension. Four, you have to stay away from the facility. Now he can come back in. I think he's allowed to interact with the coaches or something like that. It's not on the field, obviously, or any of that kind of stuff. per the prerequisite of what goes on with the suspension. Jalen Walker, he lost an knee injury in training camp, and A.J.

39:15 's about ready to come back.

39:17 He's a very integral part of the defense, as you just talked about, Jeff. He plays that boundary corner, and Jeff likes to turn him loose because he's a good man cover guy and in all honesty we don't really have anybody that CJ Henderson has played pretty well but CJ's a little bit banged up too right now so we're about three or four deep in the secondary which doesn't bode well for anybody that's going to have to face potentially Caleb Williams and what he can do uh throwing the football both inside and outside the pocket so I think they have a chance to be a pretty dynamic group.

39:50 What they did is they retooled the interior.

39:52 A guy you guys are very familiar with, Javon Dexter, has been phenomenal here. They re-upped him, new contract for the 25-year-old. He's really enjoying being here. What Ulbricht does from an attacking style really fits what he does.

40:06 I thought he was all over the field, 6'6, 325 pounds.

40:09 He was making a tackle on a screen play outside the numbers, about 15 yards up the field last weekend against Baltimore.

40:15 Just as amazing his effort.

40:18 And then Mason Smith, the guy they picked up with a trade, Ruka Roro, who we had drafted out of Clemson, went down to Jacksonville.

40:25 We got Mason Smith. Mason's a bigger body, too.

40:28 So all that being said, they got bigger in the interior, and that was something they needed to do to help defend the run. They were 24th in the league against the run last year. This year they've been better.

40:37 Now they got.

40:38 Gashed this last weekend, so hopefully their pride is heard enough to where they're not interested in Swift, and if McGonaghy plays, he won't beat them up too.

40:47 Thanks for your time, Dave.

40:49 Thank you, David.

40:50 That's David Archer.

40:50 Thank you, Tom, Jeff, thanks.

40:52 David Archer joining us here on ESPN Chicago.

40:56 Jeff Joniak and Tom Thayer chatting about the Bears. It must be Bears Weekly.

41:00 Well, if it's Bears Weekly.

41:02 It must be the home of the Bears, ESPN Chicago.

41:08 Welcome back to Bears Weekly, our final segment, as we get you set for Bears and Atlanta Falcons. Before we get to Tom's thoughts, here's Dennis Allen at the podium on Thursday.

41:17 I know last week you said.

41:19 That playing corner in this defense is like being a window washer, just how tough that can be if you have a hard day. Jalen's had a couple hard days recently. What do you attribute some of, you know?

41:29 Yeah, look, I mean, I think this. I think, you know, every play, there's 11 players out there that can affect the game. Um, and so I think we all try to pinpoint one player in particular, and that's where the challenges occur. And there, there's a lot of things that go into playing defensive football. And like I said, there's 11 guys, uh, that affect the play on every single play call is a factor on that. So, um, look, our guys need to just go out and, and play to the best of their ability, um, and try to do everything, you know, uh, the way that the scheme calls for it to be done and, and, and have a next play mentality. And that's, that's really, that's our thought process. That's our mindset. It's the next play mentality.

42:14 It's the next game mentality. And so that's what we're doing. And we're moving forward to Atlanta. We got tough challenge this week against these guys. You know, they're exceptional at being able to run the football. Both the runners, both Robinson players are, are, are really good runners, different styles, but really good runners. They, they do an excellent job.

42:35 with this stretch zone running scheme. I think they've been a different offense since Michael Penix has taken over. They've really, they've been explosive in what they've been able to do. So really our focus is on, you know, getting ready for Atlanta and the things that we have to do to try to win this game. First game of the year, we didn't play exceptionally well. We came back and played pretty well in three games and then we had another poor game. It's kind of the life of the NFL.

43:01 You know, there's some ups and downs throughout the season and the most important thing for us is to stay the course, continue to work to improve. There's nothing you can do about anything that's happened in the past. You got to, you got to look forward and, and, and go on to the next play, go on to the next game and figure out how we can be better.

43:18 And that's all of us.

43:19 That's coaches, that's players, that's everybody, you know, like we're all involved in this thing.

43:24 You've had three previous experiences going against Bichon.

43:27 What, what left an impression on you planning for him and then seeing it up close?

43:30 Yeah, look, I mean, I think he's, he's in a, he, he's a, he's a bigger player than you think, you know, when you watch it on tape. Um, but his, just his, his speed, uh, and his transition, his ability to, to make cuts and accelerate, um, is, is exceptional. Um, and so, uh, you know, you watch him play and, um, when there's space in the defense, uh, he can really exploit that, you know? And so, uh, it's going to be a, it's going to be a hell of a challenge for us. Um, I certainly think he's, if not the, one of the best backs in our league right now. And when he's going, they're playing at a really high level.

44:12 They certainly don't want to give up the big play.

44:14 That's number one.

44:15 Yeah, but, you know, he talked a lot about it.

44:17 He used the word often about mentality because it's the next play mentality for football players, but it's the next game mentality as well.

44:25 They certainly have their hands full with B. Sean, Brian Robinson, London, Pennix.

44:31 Hooper.

44:32 I mean, they've got, they've got a lot pits.

44:36 The thing about it is if you can go out there and you can get the bears offense to compliment your defense with time of possession and points, then you have a chance to change your mentality a little bit.

44:46 Now, are you, do you have a little.

44:47 Bit more aggressive of mentality or are you going to load up the line of scrimmage to make Bajon beat you? So there's a lot of different ways that between now and Sunday, you're going to be thinking about, uh, this team and how you're supporting cast is going to help you be.

45:04 What you want to be.

45:05 All right, Tommy time for your thoughts.

45:06 What do you got? No, all shucks.

45:08 I don't want anybody to tell me all shucks when they get on the bus or we say it during the broadcast. And that means I don't want any dropped interceptions. I don't want to miss tackles. I want no miss blocks. I want tough catches to be made. And I want you to break a tackle if you have the opportunity.

45:24 So there's no all shucks that's left behind. Number two, what can you do when they know you're coming? And that's for the both lines of scrimmage for the bears. So the bears have to have a better running game to assist their offense and being what they need to be. But the bears defensive line, they also have to go out and play at a level against some of these guys that we're talking about to be able to provide that upfront spark for your football team.

45:49 So, you know, the.

45:50 Bears have a good running game. They know the bears have a good running game, but when you go there, can you do what is.

45:56 Expected of you?

45:57 And I think he can. So that's what I want to see. Number three, don't wait for a savior. And what I mean by that is when I was listening to Kayla's press conference today, I don't want people to think like we kind of got caught into thinking about McMahon.

46:13 If Jim plays, everything's going to be okay.

46:16 Interesting.

46:17 And so I don't want these guys to think, okay, if Caleb plays, the ship is righted. No, it's about everybody playing out their best game and, to go out there and beat a good football team. And if Caleb happens to play, he's a part of it.

46:34 He is not the savior.

46:36 So I just think it's important that everybody has that mentality.

46:40 So that did happen.

46:42 Oh yeah.

46:42 A hundred times. Of course.

46:44 I mean, you know, You go back and again, that Thursday, that Minnesota game, they start Steve Fuller, but then they have to put in Jim McMahon. Jim McMahon comes in and wins the game for us. Jim will get us out of this. And it's happened before. And every time, you know, we kind of got lulled to sleep thinking of Jim was there.

47:03 We can win.

47:04 Interesting stuff, Tommy, always. The executive producer of the Bears Radio Network, Eric Ostrowski. Thanks to Kendra Smith and the ESPN studios and all of our other producers.

47:11 For Tom Thayer, I'm Jeff Joniak.

47:13 This has been Bears Weekly on the radio home of the Chicago Bears, ESPN Chicago.

47:18 Have a good night, everybody.