The Chicago Bears are at a point where they need to start thinking about next season. At 4-9, their playoff hopes are dead. The goal must be to see if they can uncover some potential contributors for next season while also giving the current roster an extra hand. If that means plucking from your division rivals, so be it. The Bears appeared to do some shuffling along the bottom of their roster. With depth at running back still a concern, they signed veteran Royce Freeman. He should add some good size and power to the backfield. However, the more interesting name was Jonathan Ford.
Chicago plucked the big defensive tackle from the Green Bay Packers practice squad. At 6’5, 338 lbs, he doesn’t lack for mass. He has plenty of power as well. The Bears have struggled with their run defense this season. Perhaps they feel Ford can offer them some ability to eat space and double teams, especially with Andrew Billings out for the season.
The Chicago Bears seem to be drifting towards more power.
Interim coach Thomas Brown said he wants a violent team. For that, you need players who are willing to play that style of football. Freeman and Ford check those boxes. Of course, the odds of either getting significant snaps right away are remote. Both have zero knowledge of the team’s systems and need time to get up to speed. That said, defensive coordinator Eric Washington is a defensive line specialist. If anybody can get something out of Ford, it would be him. Even a small contribution from the former 7th round pick would be helpful. If nothing else, this is the first indication that the Chicago Bears are likely prepping for a sustained off-season assault on the trenches, offensively and defensively. Long overdue if you ask us.
I do not think it is clear at all. Only for the would-be leader of the hyenas within a narrow paradigm of short-term thinking and little playing do you dismiss the quality and continuity of training from the Packers for a defectively coached and manned team of the Bears. Perhaps Ford is poor and stuck in his spot given the very good Packer DL and OL, and happy to be poached by a losing team with weak lines and no identity. For myself, I would prefer coming up the ranks in a highly successful environment, bidding my time for the… Read more »
We gave up 3 rushing TDs and lost 38-13 last game. The last 4 teams we face are going to run the ball. People get replaced this time of year.
Who knows if our next HC prefers a 3-4 defense? Heck, we might have 3 HCs next year. Maybe we can switch multiple times during the season.
Someone in our fuzzy chain of command of responsibility and accountability liked Ian Wheeler at one point. IIRC, he tore his ACL in the preseason and is on IR.
I think it’s pretty clear that for a guy who is trying to crack a NFL roster, as opposed to a player who is trying to be a starter, it’s better to be on the roster for a bad team than on the practice squad for a good team. Money is better, you can actually play on Sundays without having to be brought up, and the odds are better that there aren’t a bunch of established players ahead of you at your position.
@David Thanks for your perspective and Ford might indeed welcome this move so late in the season. But myself, I prefer to be on a playoff team and hope to have an opportunity to play in meaningful games if given the chance where I know the defensive system and my teammates. Any extra money and a little playing time can wait until next season. @Hyena Hate 30 His IQ Silly for a simpleton like you. I’d prefer to stay with the Packers in his situation rather than with the losing Bears and simply clogging up the porous middle not knowing… Read more »
@Dr. Sallie Ford is now on the active 53 man roster, which means much higher pay and the chance to play and perhaps prove himself. A couple of good games will earn him a contract on an active roster next year. He wasn’t getting that opportunity in GB. The Bears just opened that door for him. What he does with it is up to him.