Nick Stokes is back for another Bears mailbag. Answering questions from Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.
Q: What is your predictions for week 2?
A: 24-17 Bears in a stunner. The Packers are not where they usually are. If there ever was a time to steal one from the Packers, this would be the week. David Bakhtiari, Elgton Jenkins, and Jon Runyan are all questionable.
Q: What were your 2 biggest surprises from week 1?
A: My number one biggest surprise was seeing Jenkins and Patrick rotate every two series. Hopefully, they let Jenkins develop and get all the reps at RG moving forward. My second biggest surprise was seeing the rookie out of Miami of Ohio, Dominique Robinson, with 1.5 sacks against Trent Williams the undisputed best LT in the game.
Q: How do you think the receiving core is going to be this year? Mooney is the one, but do you think they cycle through the number two receiver and the slot receiver with the other guys?
A: I think the receiving core is going to be around the middle of the pack this year. I think the pass-catching options are: (1) Mooney, (2) Kmet, (3) Equanimeous, (4) Pringle, and (5)Pettis. I’m hoping that once Velus Jones Jr. gets healthy that he slides into the slot. Equanimeous, Pringle, and Pettis, I believe are all going to be cycled around and whoever does the best gets the edge the following week. Hears to hoping one of those three pops off and can lock in the third WR spot.
Q: Was last weeks win a fluke? What would you say are the three biggest strengths and the three biggest weaknesses of this team?
A: I wouldn’t say a fluke, San Frans roster is a lot better than ours, but the QB and the coaches are not better than ours. Last Sunday was a classic game of, “the better-coached team pulled out the win.” I’m in the group that won’t trust Trey Lance till he proves otherwise. The team’s first biggest strength is Matt Eberflus and his staff. The second biggest strength is the secondary; Eddie Jackson, Jaquan Brisker, Jaylon Johnson, and Kyler Gordon are a very strong group. The third biggest strength would be Justin Fields ability to create dynamic plays with his arms or his legs. He still needs a lot of work but his flashes are what helped us win last Sunday.
The three biggest weaknesses are as follows: The first is the defensive line depth, we got a nice group in Robert Quinn, Al-Quadin Muhammad, Trevis Gipson, and Dominique Robinson, but the interior is scarce not much depth at all. Second, the limited number of playmakers on offense that we have. In the words of my leader, coach Flus,” WE ARE NEVER GOING TO PUT A CEILING ON A PLAYER”. With that, if Mooney gets hurt who becomes the one? Equanimeous? Pringle? Pettis? Jones Jr?” none of those guys are ones. Maybe one day they will develop into one. The third biggest weakness would be the amount of experience our O Line has, I think this unit has a chance to do good things, but they’re basically starting two rookies in Braxton Jones and Tevin Jenkins(Jenkins is a second-year player but barely played last year).
Q: Are the Bears actually ” back ” or did they just get lucky?
A: They were always ” back “. Both teams played in the rain. No excuses Bears were the better-coached team Sunday.
Q: After the Bears smoke the Packers, what WR should they target to give them a real chance at making a run?
A: Unfortunately there are not a lot of options out there right now. A trade doesn’t seem likely, because if they are making a run, you don’t want to trade away good players. I wouldn’t mind them kicking the tires on Will Fuller and/or Odell Beckham Jr. (as long as he’s not going to be a head case). Antonio Brown is enjoying his rap career, he’s not playing again. Willie Snead could be a sleeper to help the WR room. Hopefully, when Velus Jones Jr. gets healthy you see this WR room take a big step forward.
Q: Is Justin Fields fully vegan? Why did he decide to go plant-based?
A: Yes Justin Fields is fully vegan. It started off back in quarantine, Justin and his family tried the challenge of eating plant-based for one full month. After a few weeks Justin’s family gave up, but he did not. Realizing this is the best his body ever felt. Saying “It is changed the way I feel and the way I perform dramatically. I just feel so much lighter and faster. Football as a sport is so hard on your body so I just want to do anything I can to have the longest career possible”. Justin’s favorite meal is a falafel burger, saying ” it doesn’t taste different to me personally” Per Hailey Welch at the beat.
Q: What do the Bears have to do this week to limit Rodgers?
A: GET PRESSURE AND LOCK UP RECEIVERS! Rodgers knows all the defensive schemes out there. If you give him all day to dissect a defense he will, and it will get ugly. Get pressure, make him feel uncomfortable, and make him get the ball out quickly. Our secondary is better than Green Bays WRs, but Rodgers will find the mistakes if you give him time. This is Trevis Gipson’s breakout game, watch!
Q: Prediction for this upcoming Sunday Night game?
A: 24-17 Bears, look for Mooney and Kmet to have bounce-back games. Montgomery is going to score this week, I feel it in my bones. Trevis Gipson is ready for his breakout game. Fields is going to have minimum of 5 ” wow ” plays. Bear Down!