2024-25 NFL Thread

[tower912]

Penalty stats are fun.  Here is one.  Detroit opponents were flagged for 1 defensive pass interference call in 18 games.


IMO, that says more about the Detroit offensive scheme, with the emphasis on short passes.  Very few jump balls thrown by Goff.  Receivers unlikely to win them anyway.

[JWags85]

Joe Philbin tree.

I don't think Johnson could have a much worse set of bosses/leaders his first decade in the NFL.  Philbin, Adam Gase, Matt Patricia...hell, his mentor at UNC was former Bears villian John Shoop.  The fact that he overcame that to be a fantastic OC and highly touted coaching prospect is something, I guess?

Also, FWIW, reports are he's getting $13MM a year.  So even if not that level, if the Bears were willing to spend north of $10MM, maybe Freeman would have been getting a raise if Dish's hunch had proven correct.

[The Sultan]

I was struck by a couple things about Freeman. First, he really had a deer in the headlights look when he was interviewed by the sideline reporter at halftime. Almost like..."WTF just happened?"  And second, there have been some reports that the ND locker room was a little unhinged after the game - veteran reporter Dan Wolken said it was unlike anything he has seen in his 20 plus years.

As I have said before, I like Freeman a lot. But I wonder if he is going to need a little more seasoning before he's ready for the NFL - especially in a place like Chicago. ND is a place with high expectations no doubt, but it has a bit of a "cocoon" feel to it.

[Jockey]

I was struck by a couple things about Freeman. First, he really had a deer in the headlights look when he was interviewed by the sideline reporter at halftime. Almost like..."WTF just happened?"  And second, there have been some reports that the ND locker room was a little unhinged after the game - veteran reporter Dan Wolken said it was unlike anything he has seen in his 20 plus years.

As I have said before, I like Freeman a lot. But I wonder if he is going to need a little more seasoning before he's ready for the NFL - especially in a place like Chicago. ND is a place with high expectations no doubt, but it has a bit of a "cocoon" feel to it.

To be clear, I think Wolken was the only reporter who was 'treated' this way. Others said they no no problems at all.

[The Sultan]

To be clear, I think Wolken was the only reporter who was 'treated' this way. Others said they no no problems at all.

The ND reporter said that it was "highly emotional," but didn't criticize, I am assuming, because he is the ND reporter.

[tower912]

I think Ben Johnson will be a successful NFL head coach.   I am not sure it will be with the Bears.  I am not convinced he is ready for the big chair.  But we won't know until he tries.
If Dan Campbell had instantly quit and I got to choose between Glenn and Johnson to be the next coach of the Lions, I would have chosen Glenn.

Glenn to the Jets means they will get their HC debuts in similarly lousy situations.   

[WhiteTrash]

I think Ben Johnson will be a successful NFL head coach.   I am not sure it will be with the Bears.  I am not convinced he is ready for the big chair.  But we won't know until he tries.
If Dan Campbell had instantly quit and I got to choose between Glenn and Johnson to be the next coach of the Lions, I would have chosen Glenn.

Glenn to the Jets means they will get their HC debuts in similarly lousy situations.   

Really anyone who is convinced that Johnson will succeed or fail is not honest. Like the draft, teams makes the best decision with the information they have at the time. Based upon that criteria, I think the Bears made a good hire. Reports are other NFL people were impressed with the hire. But nobody knows for certain.

Good chance the Bears will simply win the off-season like they did last year. 

[The Sultan]

I think Ben Johnson will be a successful NFL head coach.   I am not sure it will be with the Bears.  I am not convinced he is ready for the big chair.  But we won't know until he tries.
If Dan Campbell had instantly quit and I got to choose between Glenn and Johnson to be the next coach of the Lions, I would have chosen Glenn.

Glenn to the Jets means they will get their HC debuts in similarly lousy situations.   

Johnson's situation is way better than the Jets. They have a young quarterback that as shown promise. And they have some good, young talent to build around.

The Jets have all the front office mess, likely worse IMO, but have serious questions throughout that roster.

[JWags85]

I think Ben Johnson will be a successful NFL head coach.  I am not sure it will be with the Bears.  I am not convinced he is ready for the big chair.  But we won't know until he tries.
If Dan Campbell had instantly quit and I got to choose between Glenn and Johnson to be the next coach of the Lions, I would have chosen Glenn.

Glenn to the Jets means they will get their HC debuts in similarly lousy situations. 

Not to make the same comparison as before, but FWIW, Johnson is the same age as Shanahan when he got the Niners job.  He was an OC longer, but probably got it because of nepotism in Houston and certainly cause of it in Washington.  He had issues in Cleveland and then had the lowest point of his career in SB LI after winning Assistant Coach of the Year (which you'd think Johnson would get this year).  Its interesting parallels.

I don't disagree that he could potentially use more seasoning, but I think the innovative "fresh" approach that he's been lauded for outweighs the rawness in what a moribund Bears organization needs.

But as we've alluded to, its all educated guessing right now

[GB Warrior]

There are reasons for skepticism for Johnson and any first time HC, and there are reasons for skepticism for any coach in the Bears organization. Neither of those factors make this less than a slam dunk for the Bears. Will it work? Who knows! But will be fun to see, and will be fascinated to see what Detroit does next after losing two long poles in its culture tent

[tower912]

My best guess is that Detroit promotes from within.

[Pakuni]

Josh McDaniels is your new/old Patriots OC.

[jesmu84]

My best guess is that Detroit promotes from within.

Sounds like Ben is bringing his OL coach with him

[tower912]

Sounds like Ben is bringing his OL coach with him

That will hurt worse.

[Dish]

Once the Bears/Tomlin news came out, I always thought it was more a message to Freeman/Johnson saying "we will compensate you at a high level", more than actually really trying to get Tomlin.

I know people didn't believe that, or want to believe that, but that was the messaging they were trying to articulate to particular candidates.

[Jockey]

There are reasons for skepticism for Johnson and any first time HC, and there are reasons for skepticism for any coach in the Bears organization. Neither of those factors make this less than a slam dunk for the Bears. Will it work? Who knows! But will be fun to see, and will be fascinated to see what Detroit does next after losing two long poles in its culture tent

It's all about Johnson's ability to be a CEO. There is no question about the football part. Mike Martz says he is the best player caller he has ever seen - better that McVeigh, better than sean Payton.

[tower912]

Comes out hot, taking shots at Green Bay.

[GB Warrior]

It's all about Johnson's ability to be a CEO. There is no question about the football part. Mike Martz says he is the best player caller he has ever seen - better that McVeigh, better than sean Payton.

Dunno, McVeigh was explosive

[Dish]

Comes out hot, taking shots at Green Bay.

It was very less meatball-ish though. I give him credit for the approach he took.

[The Sultan]

Comes out hot, taking shots at Green Bay.

Every new Bears' coach does that. I think the McCaskeys put it in their contract.

Maybe he'll be the first since Ditka to actually do it.

[Pakuni]

It's all about Johnson's ability to be a CEO. There is no question about the football part. Mike Martz says he is the best player caller he has ever seen - better that McVeigh, better than sean Payton.

Tim McVeigh was a terrible playcaller.

[The Sultan]

Tim McVeigh was a terrible playcaller.

Always went for the bomb.

[Pakuni]

Aaron Glenn is the new head coach of the J-E-T-S, Jets, Jets, Jets.

John Spytek (Bucs assistant GM, Catholic Memorial legend and, of course, a Michigan Man) is the Raiders' new GM.

[Pakuni]

Always went for the bomb.

I didn't want to say it, but glad someone did.

[The Sultan]

I didn't want to say it, but glad someone did.

I kinda think 30 years is enough time to allow jokes.