Every NFL general manager is different. They all have varying philosophies on how to build a winner. They also employ different methods when it comes to scouting. Some prefer crunching the numbers, and others trust the tape. Ryan Poles has said he wants a hybrid approach when it comes to analytics and film study. He thinks both have benefits to offer. However, his approach to player evaluation goes much deeper.
The Bears released a special episode of 1920 Football Drive where Poles and assistant GM Ian Cunningham provided an inside look at their approach to the upcoming 2023 NFL draft. It centered around a 48-hour period where they attended three major college games. If that sounds excessive, it should. The two made liberal use of a private plane to make it happen while driving hundreds of miles on top of it. Some GMs may struggle to see this point when most of the essential details are right there on film.
Poles doesn’t see it that way. He and Cunningham believe there is so much value in personally attending games. They see little things players do before and after plays. They can experience their athleticism and power up close. On top of that, it allows Poles to build relationships with the schools and coaches. This way, he can collect vital information when he needs it before a draft.
Ryan Poles has the look and feel of a grinder.
Is he a genius? Nobody can say. He’s smart. One doesn’t reach the position of GM without considerable intelligence. His willingness to get his hands dirty might separate him from others. Poles is a scout at heart. He spent a decade traveling the country looking at players. He understands the benefits of getting closer to the action. There are so many things the cameras miss. His job isn’t only to find talented players. It is to find players that fit his championship vision. There are differences between the two, and they can be challenging to find.
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Putting in the extra time is something Ryan Poles feels is necessary to make the right decisions. Whether this is the right approach or not is immaterial. The fact is he’s willing to put in however much time is needed to make his football team a success. Having somebody like that in charge is a good thing. With him setting the expectations at the top, it should trickle down through the rest of the organization. Everybody must give their best.
I mean once Ted Phillips is gone then that whole upper management is cleared then we will be finally going in a better direction,
Poles seems determined to build a championship caliber team that will be a force for not just a few years, but for years into the future. For me, he is the type of GM the Bears have needed for a very, very, very long time.
Great stuff Poles is doing! This approach is not only good for identifying good fit players, but it also keeps the area scouts on their toes. There’s nothing like the boss dropping in to check on progress.
Wow. I must be really out of touch. I mean, is Poles is doing anything different than what every GM should be doing?
Holy smokes, if other GM’s are only relying on game tape and stats, isn’t that the same as what every yahoo analyst is doing on ESPN? And you see how badly they misjudged Fields.
No wonder JF1 was picked 11th overall. The GM’s around the league are little more than highly paid analysts.
Man I hope I’m wrong but if not, then this just makes me trust Poles even more.
Decades? He’s 37.