We knew Brian Johnson would be OC, I’m fine with that but I’m not a fan of Sean Desai, hes just another Gannon

Expand on that last part a bit

From what I’ve seen (admittedly not first hand but discussions from Philly talking heads and a***ytics) his blitz percentage and schemes as the DC of Chi and assistant for Sea are very similar to Gannon.

The hope is that he’s quicker to make adjustments in game but looking at it on paper im seeing a lot of the same

This defense won’t be as strong next year either

CGJ
Hargrave
Bradberry
Edwards
Cox
Graham
Kyzor
Suh
Joseph
Epps

All free agents. We will 100% bring CGJ back even if it’s a franchise tag, beyond that I see everyone walking for more than we can/are willing to offer for some except maybe Graham on a team friendly deal and maybeeee Epps and Suh/Joseph

I wonder if kelce breaks the news about his future on that

The blitz percentage ain't much of a factor for me, I just want someone who can:

1) Mix up the coverages more and
2) Provide more confusion up front

Gannon's problem is that he was too static in his approach, playing Cover-2 and Cover-4, typically from a 5-down front alignment for the pass rush but took more players out of coverage. In reality, the 2-deep shells work because the numbers suggest it, goes back to Gannon himself as a playcaller not knowing when to throw a curveball and being beat by elite QB play. In actuality, blitzing some of the league's best QBs is suicide anyway, Jalen included, so I'm not pressed about that at all really. From what I've seen from a few Bears games when Desai was DC, he will utilize more of a 4-down front and is willing to both press and use man coverage on high leverage 3rd down situations. This is an account that's incredibly reputable and gives a few game examples you can look back on

Out of this list, CGJ will definitely be back, Bradberry is almost certainly gone. Suh and Joseph are mercenary types now, they won't be in demand and if they're still free later into the summer or season then that's what it is. Cox honestly should leave, but I do want to retain Hargrave although it'll be tough. Edwards would be nice as well, otherwise we'd have to replace both LBs spots instead of just one (Nakobe starting next year). Epps, I like him as a player but I'm a believer in Blankenship. Retain CJ and have him and Reed be the starters, draft for depth there.

Also, from what I've seen in the Bengals game referenced in that tweet Desai at least knows how to simulate pressure (muddy the look pre-snap, bring the rush from the backside post-snap) and that's more of what I want to see really. You're still rushing with 4 but have it set up that the 4th guy comes free, whether it be a LB or a DB, rather than a DC who's blitzing zero all the time (one extreme, a Vance Joseph type) or one that just runs a static defense too (Gannon)

I’ll have to watch those CHI Desai games when I have time, I want to be optimistic about it but from what I’ve heard about him and my distaste for essentially every DC post Jim Johnson it’s hard

I think we’ll lose both linebackers and Dean would take TJs spot leaving us to fill Kyzors. Edwards was undrafted coming in the league and he’ll be in demand this off-season I can’t fault him for wanting to take as much money as he can get when this may be his only chance to cash in on a big deal

I’m not a fan of Epps either but I don’t see him being too in demand and we can use the depth

Our DC's have been mostly ass yeah. We had an OL coach at DC, a doofus in Bill Davis when Chip was here, Jim Schwartz came in off reputation but was stubborn, and then Gannon was just too much a p****. I'm optimistic about Desai because the numbers from Gannon suggest this defense works, and Desai did similar work with less talent in Chicago so I'm going in with an open mind. And yeah if Epps wants to come back for cheap sure, he's about an average starter nothing special but he'll have a missed tackle that'll piss you off.

Just realized I forgot to speak on Graham too, I guess because in my head I'm kinda already expecting him back for cheap as well to retire as a Bird. Don't know if that's just wishful thinking or whatever

Hurts limited jersey came in

So much better than the game garbage

Trot

already got Brian Johnsons replacement lined up

I want Will Anderson on this team so f***in bad

We'd still have the Saints 2nd rounder next year so we'd only really be losing the 2025 pick

In

Denard gone , damn

Praying we don't bring in Patrica

Slay already not a fan of patricia
Dont do it howie

Firing Denard feels like it won’t sit right w the team tbh

We didn’t fire him, he asked to leave. Also these guys are professionals.

Fair, the only headlines I’ve seen about it were that Nick fired Dennard, but probably more like fired because he asked to be type of thing. But also it’s hard to say that “they’re professional” and that it wouldn’t affect the locker room in the same sentence that people are saying they don’t want Patricia partly because Slay doesn’t f*** w him. Granted Patricia is ass, but if Nick had outright fired Dennard, it would have definitely affected the way a portion of the locker room views Nick.

Tank Bigsby might be a name to look at if we get back into the 4th-6th.

Howie do something!

We keeping javon then?