Dennis Allen's comments raise more questions than answer

Summary

Forward Progress - A Chicago Bears Podcast

Episode: "Dennis Allen's comments raise more questions than answers"
Hosts: Dan Bernstein & Matt DiCali
Date: May 11, 2026
Podcast Description: In this episode, Dan and Matt tackle recent comments made by Bears defensive coordinator Dennis Allen, scrutinize the coaching staff’s approach to fundamentals, and question whether offseason messaging is genuine or obfuscating deeper concerns. The show also covers new signings, rookie contracts, and closes with a lively quarterback trivia segment.

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Episode Overview

This episode centers on Dennis Allen’s recent statements about the Bears’ defensive shortcomings and the staff's intent to "coach better" to address the pass rush struggles. Hosts Dan and Matt break down what these comments really mean, debating whether Allen's rationale holds water or is simply evasive "coach speak." The show then shifts to news on player signings, rookie contracts, and closes with an engaging NFL quarterback trivia challenge.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Dennis Allen’s Comments: Excuses or Honest Self-Reflection?

(02:51 – 16:17)

• Context: Dennis Allen tells media that last year’s focus on defensive scheme installation meant coaches neglected fundamentals, which allegedly led to the pass rush issues.
• Quote (Dan Bernstein, 03:14):

  "How are they going to get better? How is the pass rush going to get [better]? 'Coaching. We're going to coach them better, we're going to coach them harder.' And we thought, well, that's weird."

• Hosts question why such basic fundamentals would be ignored for an entire season and push back on Allen’s suggestion that this oversight was only just noticed.
• Quote (Matt DiCali, 06:12):

  "How are your assistants not watching game film and saying, 'here’s why this guy’s not doing this correctly?' Then why is it not being addressed and corrected?"

• Discussion highlights the responsibilities of position coaches, specifically Jeremy Garrett (Defensive Line), and whether Allen inadvertently threw his staff under the bus.
• Quote (Dan Bernstein, 07:08):

  "By Dennis Allen saying that they didn’t teach the fundamentals, then what was...Jeremy Garrett doing as the coordinator?"

• Hosts note the contradiction in previously praising certain defensive players like Montez Sweat, then blaming lack of coaching for their statistical dips.
• Quote (Matt DiCali, 08:16):

  "He's not there to be this great run stopper. He's there to get pressure on the quarterback and to get sacks. That’s why he’s getting paid nearly $30 million."

• Both hosts cast doubt on the idea that a full NFL season would pass without this being addressed, calling Allen’s explanation “fishy” and possibly a shield to protect players or buy time for the coaching staff.
• Quote (Dan Bernstein, 10:41):

  "I don't have confidence that what was said... It sounds more like excuse making."

• Matt points out the risk for coaches if defensive underperformance continues, since self-admitted failures remove places to hide if improvements don’t follow.
• Quote (Matt DiCali, 10:59):

  "[If] you have another underwhelming defensive performance...your coaches can't return."

Timestamps:

• [02:51] – Introduction to Dennis Allen’s comments
• [04:00] – Dan reads Allen’s statement
• [05:26] – Host reactions: “Coach speak” vs. real issue
• [07:00] – Defensive Line Coach Jeremy Garrett discussion
• [10:00] – Reliability and timing of Allen’s claims

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2. Open Questions After Allen’s Comments

(15:23 – 16:17)

• Hosts vow to keep track of these accountability claims and expect the scrutiny to intensify if defensive struggles persist into the next season.
• Quote (Dan Bernstein, 15:27):

  "This is something that is going to come up again... We’re going to keep an eye on how this is handled."

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3. Scotty Miller Signing & Bears Wide Receiver Depth

(17:20 – 19:31)

• Bears sign veteran WR Scotty Miller for depth; hosts are underwhelmed.
• Quote (Dan Bernstein, 17:45):

  "Okay, he's a toy football player. That's what he is. I don't know what he does for you other than be a body in the room."

• Discuss possible special teams role, but see him as marginal at best, especially with established return men already on the roster.

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4. Rookie Watch: Impact Players & Draft Surprises

(19:31 – 25:29)

• Citing Field Yates, hosts discuss which non–first round picks might make an immediate impact.
• Standouts:
  • Sam Roush (TE): Expected to fill a significant role as the third tight end.
  • Malik Muhammad (CB): Versatility highlighted, cross-training for both outside and nickel roles; could challenge for a starting job soon.
  • Xavion Thomas (WR): Flashy highlight reel, praised for speed and playmaking, possibly a gadget guy akin to Jameson Williams (Lions).
• Quote (Dan Bernstein, 21:44, on Roush):

  "'We'll figure out what Sam's strengths are and how he complements those other tight ends...'"

• Emphasis throughout on versatility and speed as key draft traits.

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5. Jeremiah Love’s Rookie Contract Strategy

(25:40 – 28:45)

• Jeremiah Love (Arizona Cardinals RB) signs a record rookie deal ($53.9M fully guaranteed), openly states he’ll live off NIL and endorsement income, saving his contract for future generations.
• Quote (Matt DiCali, 26:48):

  "He intends to save his entire rookie contract for future children and grandchildren...while focusing on family, including buying his parents a house."

• Discussion on prudent spending habits and the shift in athlete financial literacy.

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6. NFL Quarterback Touchdown Trivia

(28:52 – 40:51)

• Matt quizzes Dan on the last time each NFL franchise had a QB throw for 30+ touchdowns in a season.
• Highlight (Chicago Bears, 39:00):

  Dan: "I'm going to say never."
  Matt: "They never have. It's never."

• Only the Bears have never had a 30-TD or 4,000-yard passer.
• Features playful banter and appreciation for football history, especially Dan’s recall on Brian Sipe (Cleveland, 1980) and Sonny Jurgensen (Washington, 1967).

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7. NFL Schedule Note & Quick Hits

(41:07 – 41:53)

• Cowboys at Giants announced as the first Sunday Night Football game; hosts call it a TV “cash cow.”
• David Njoku signs with the Chargers; hosts see it as a solid “prove-it” deal with interesting upside for the Harbaugh-led offense.
• Quick Shout to Nancy Armour’s column about Mike Vrabel and its importance.

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Notable Quotes & Moments

• Dan Bernstein (03:14):

  "How are they going to get better? How is the pass rush going to get [better]? 'Coaching. We're going to coach them better, we're going to coach them harder.' And we thought, well, that's weird."

• Matt DiCali (10:59):

  "If you have another underwhelming defensive performance from a pressuring the court, the quarterback standpoint, then that opens the door to look at your staff and say, well, you guys, you know what we had. We had a main focus on what your job was going to be, and you didn't come through once again."

• Dan Bernstein (39:00):

  "I'm going to say never."
  Matt DiCali: "They never have. It's never."
  Dan: "Good Lord. That's as pathetic as the wide receiver numbers."

• Matt DiCali (26:48):

  "He intends to save his entire rookie contract for future children and grandchildren..."

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Segment Timestamps

| Topic | Timestamp | |---------------------------------------------------------------|--------------| | Intro & Show Open | 01:39 | | Dennis Allen’s Comments & Coaching Debate | 02:51–16:17 | | Bears Sign WR Scotty Miller | 17:20–19:31 | | Rookie Draft Picks & Prospects (Roush, Muhammad, Thomas) | 19:31–25:29 | | Jeremiah Love’s Rookie Contract Philosophy | 25:40–28:45 | | NFL QB Trivia: 30+ Passing TDs (all teams) | 28:52–40:51 | | NFL Quick Hits & Closing Thoughts | 41:07–41:54 |

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Conclusion

This episode delivers a critical, sometimes skeptical analysis of Bears’ defensive coaching, challenges broad coaching clichés, and reminds listeners of where accountability should lie when teams underperform. The hosts wrap up with NFL notes and a trivia segment that underlines Chicago’s notorious historical quarterback struggles—balancing sharp football analysis with a touch of fan frustration and nostalgic humor.

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Listen to this episode if you want:

• Candid debate on NFL coaching accountability
• Insightful analysis of Bears off-season moves and draft picks
• Thoughts on shifting financial approaches in the modern player era
• A fun, history-rich NFL quarterback trivia challenge

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Forward Progress is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and all major platforms, courtesy of 312 Sports.

Transcript

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[Dan Bernstein]

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[Dan Bernstein]

I mean, if you're a Bears fan, you're thinking Forward progress. Come on. 10.

[Matt DiCali]

219, 219. Forward progress, a Chicago Bears podcast with Dan Bernstein and Matt Abola. 312 sports.

[Dan Bernstein]

We are always thinking forward progress here on Forward Progress, a Chicago Bears and NFL podcast. And we've been trying to answer this question about when the Ben Johnson has said, by the way, happy birthday, Ben Johnson.

[Matt DiCali]

Oh, no, Nobody is today 40.

[Dan Bernstein]

He's a man. Come after me.

[Matt DiCali]

I'm a man. I hope he continues to get a whole hell of a lot better, though.

[Dan Bernstein]

Well, that's 35, right? 35 years old.

[Matt DiCali]

Not going to be a lot better.

[Dan Bernstein]

But he is the official. He's a man. It used to be 13. You have your bar mitzvah.

[Matt DiCali]

You're a man.

[Dan Bernstein]

But now because of Mike Gundy, come after me. I'm a man. I'm 40. All right. Well, congratulations, Ben. You're 40.

[Matt DiCali]

Well, happy birthday, buddy.

[Dan Bernstein]

Happy birthday, Mike and and Bryson Graham of the Bulls has to wait until he gets to become a man and he could have his Gundi Mitzvah at that point. So Ben Johnson said that the pass rush is going to get better because they're going to coach it better, right?

[Matt DiCali]

Correct.

[Dan Bernstein]

And that was weird, Right?

[Matt DiCali]

Which is why they address the roster only through free agent signings of rotational players and no one on the edge.

[Dan Bernstein]

How are they going to get better? How is the pass rush going to give it coaching? We're going to coach him better, we're going to coach him harder. And we thought, well, that's weird. And I've never heard anything like that before. Well, we get a little more information now about to what that is and what that might mean because Dennis Allen provided some insight and I'm just going to present what he said and you tell me if this helps because frankly, I didn't. I didn't like that. I don't like the idea that, well, you're going to coach better or coach harder. Because the question then is why didn't you figure that out already? Why didn't you do that last year? Why are you late to that? Why are you just starting it now? And it seems like an awfully convenient thing that it just so happened that the one area of the team that wasn't good is the one area of the team that now you're just figuring out you didn't coach well enough or hard enough. Here is the Bears defensive coordinator, thanks to Bears wire here. We love Bears wire. We had a lot of discussions this off season about a lot of different things and one of the things we identified was me. Alan said we focused so much on installing all the scheme last year because it was brand new and we do have a high volume of things we carry in the defense. We focus focused so much on that that we lost sight of some of the fundamentals and techniques that it takes to function to do those things. I don't think we were as fundamentally sound defensively as we need to be. So how do we have to coach it better? Well, let's minimize how much we focused on the scheme. Okay. And let's focus not on what we're going to do, but how we're going to do it. I think that's how we're going to improve. So I ask you, is there validity to anything in there or is that just coach speak buying time?

[Matt DiCali]

That's a good question, Daniel.

[Dan Bernstein]

I think to me it's more of the latter than the former.

[Matt DiCali]

So initially my initial thought here, just as we we didn't rehearse this or practice through is just coach speak because I have some questions that come through now. He says that they were so busy just implementing scheme that they weren't focused on how it was being done. I just, I don't buy that over an 18 week season. I don't, I really don't like, how are you not watching game film and saying this guy is not doing this correctly and then not addressing it?

[Dan Bernstein]

How is that not your defensive line coach's primary job? Right.

[Matt DiCali]

It may not be Dennis Allen's job, it shouldn't be Dennis Allen's job, but how are your assistants? It's not watching game film and saying, here's why this guy's not doing this correctly because his body's not doing this or he's not acting this particular way. Then why is it not being addressed and corrected?

[Dan Bernstein]

Then at that moment he just put this whether he wanted to or not. When I read that quote, I went and looked up their defensive line coach, it's Jeremy Garrett. So whether he wanted us to pull this card or not, by Dennis Allen saying that they didn't teach the fundamentals, then what was one question I have is what was Jeremy Garrett doing as the coordinator? You're installing the scheme and with every practice, you're filming every practice, they sit in that room, they go over everything.

[Matt DiCali]

You're watching everything over and over again.

[Dan Bernstein]

If you're talking about hand placement, if you're talking about pad level, if you're talking about these fundamentals of get off, of anticipating the snap count, of reading your keys, of knowing from a given formation what the likelihoods are and communicating these things, how did you not do this? And here's the other question. Does Montez Sweat really have to know these? It was. Are you including the guy who's one of the five highest paid at his position in the league? And you're telling me that he didn't have the fundamentals coached. Right. And that was part of his problem.

[Matt DiCali]

Right? And we heard Ben Johnson talk about Montez Sweat saying that he had, he had a really good year. Now he said the numbers maybe didn't get reflected within the, you know, pressuring the quarterback, but he was really good against the run. I mean, come on, man, that's not why you're there. First of all, he's not there to be this great run stopper. He's there to get pressure on the quarterback and to get sacks. That's why he's getting paid nearly $30 million.

[Dan Bernstein]

He's there to change games by wrecking games, by separating the ball from the quarterback.

[Matt DiCali]

And how many, how many defensive schemes are there that you went through an 18 week season where you never had time to sit down and say, hey, this isn't what, this is what you're doing incorrectly. This is how you need to correct this. You need to execute this like this.

[Dan Bernstein]

I thought this was all about being detail oriented. I really did. Let me read this again.

[Matt DiCali]

Yeah. Because.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yeah, okay, I want to read it again. This is Dennis Allen apparently being asked about the whole coach harder thing because it sounds like he repeated the question. So how do we have to coach it better? He said, we had a lot of discussions this offseason about a lot of different things and one of the things we identified was me. We focused so much. I guess he's saying I focus so much on installing all the scheme because, because it was brand new and we do have a high volume of things we carry in the defense. We focus so much on that we lost sight of some of the fundamentals and techniques that it takes to function to do those things. I don't think we were as fundamentally sound defensively as we need to be. Okay, can we stop there? When did you realize that and when should you have realized that? Did you realize that after one game? Did you realize that in training camp? Did you realize that in the exhibition season? Did you realize it two thirds of the way through the season? Whose job is it? You've got a defensive quality control person whose one job is to, is to go back through the film. You have cross checkers and people to make sure that you don't miss anything. And your defensive quality control person only now is saying you lost sight of fundamentals and techniques.

[Matt DiCali]

Yeah. And was that not realized until after the season was over in a review? Right.

[Dan Bernstein]

How was that not realized at the time? And when we were tracking the lack of a pass rush throughout the season.

[Matt DiCali]

And I want to know what, what fundamentals, who is it across the board?

[Dan Bernstein]

Right. What, which fundamentals, which techniques? Says I don't think we were as fundamentally sound defensively as we need to be. How do we have to coach it better? Let's minimize how much we're focused on the scheme. Okay. And let's focus not on what we're going to do, but how we're going to do it. I think that's how we're going to improve. I, I didn't like this when I first heard it.

[Matt DiCali]

No, I don't.

[Dan Bernstein]

And I, and I don't, I don't like it now. I, I don't have Confidence that what was said. And now they're trying to explain what was said about. We're just. We're going to coach better, we're going to coach harder. That with everything that's said now, it sounds more like excuse making.

[Matt DiCali]

It sure does. And it also opens the doorway, Dan, for another underwhelming season like this. Defensively, that's on coaching and that. And that exposes your coaching. And then you coach. Your coaches can't return. If you have another underwhelming defensive performance from a pressuring the court, the quarterback standpoint, then that opens the door to look at your staff and say, well, you guys, you know what we had. We had a main focus on what your job was going to be, and you didn't come through once again. So the first year you just didn't realize what you were doing wrong. The second year, you knew what you had to do differently, and you still couldn't accomplish it.

[Dan Bernstein]

I'm just keeping an eye on this because they've. They've built up a lot of capital and they're using some of it here.

[Matt DiCali]

It also takes a little accountability off the players as well, too.

[Dan Bernstein]

Maybe that was part of it.

[Matt DiCali]

Maybe.

[Dan Bernstein]

Maybe this was point. Yeah, maybe this was the year to do that. Saying, look, Dio Montez will. We're gonna. We're gonna run some interference for you on this one. We're gonna block for you on this one. But after this season, you know, it also, whether Da meant to or not, but now you're talking about your. Jeremy Garrett is the defensive line coach. This is all supposed to be under his purview at the NFL level.

[Matt DiCali]

Yeah, he just.

[Dan Bernstein]

I don't know that I buy the premise.

[Matt DiCali]

He just took that light, that spotlight and put it right on him.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yeah, he did. I don't know that I buy the premise that there's this finite amount of time where you're choosing what you're coaching, and by concentrating on something more, it's going to be better. Like, I'm not even sure I buy the entire premise.

[Matt DiCali]

I don't. It sounds like a lot of coach speak. The whole idea of we lost sight of the fundamentals, that's. That's the nature of what you should be doing right week in and week out. That's what practice is for.

[Dan Bernstein]

It's your job not to.

[Matt DiCali]

That's film study.

[Dan Bernstein]

It's your job to not lose sight. What do you mean you lost sight of the fundamentals? What aspect of your coaching? You're right, Matty. What. What fundamentals? What Techniques and who, yes, who lost sight of which. What did your Von Dexter's pad level come up a certain week? Did Montes Sweat not adjust to a double team by finding a proper counter? Was. When you're talking about fundamentals, you're talking about weight balance, you're talking about the, your angle, you're talking about leverage fundamentals. So if somebody's screwing that up, how often are you telling them that? When are you noticing? During practice, after practice, during games, after games like this. This all merits further questioning.

[Matt DiCali]

Well, and also too Dan, you have to contrast that to the things the head coach said about individual players. Montes Sweat had a great season and he said the guys before they got injured, the guys who did get injured, before they got injured were on a great trajectory, that they were on the upswing. Austin Booker had a great season when he got healthy. So which is it? Like these guys have great seasons and they were headed in the right direction or did we lose all track of fundamentals and that's why they didn't play very well? That's why we didn't pressure the quarterback because we lost sight of the fundamentals and we weren't coaching them enough.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yeah, this stuff doesn't to this point to me pass the smell test and

[Matt DiCali]

it doesn't, it just, it sounds like

[Dan Bernstein]

a lot of coach speak and doesn't withstand further scrutiny.

[Matt DiCali]

Yeah, I agree and I, I don't know if this is just a way of, of talking about because again we've talked about this so many times now Dan, since the draft, before the draft in free agency, person outside of the Bears organization said their main areas of concern are defensive line and edge rusher and they didn't address it except with rotational bodies through free agency in the defensive tackle position and nothing on the edge. Every single person said that, every NFL expert, every guy who wants to express an opinion about the draft and the Bears needs all said the same things. So I don't know if this is just a way of helping the GM out the aftermath of the draft saying hey you know what we need to do better. We lost track of this because that, I mean you're indicting yourself as the coaching staff and I guess they can take some of the focus off the players, but it puts it squarely on you. If there is, if there isn't success now what are you going to do? Turn around and blame the players

[Dan Bernstein]

and

[Matt DiCali]

which then turn blames your general manager and your head coach?

[Dan Bernstein]

I would just say Open folder open item Yes, I just want to establish this as we are. This, this is, this is something that is going to come up again and save everything that is being said about it because we'll, we're going to keep an eye on how this is handled. If it continues to be a problem, and it may be, it's not. And maybe this is Ben Johnson and he's, he's confident enough that it's going to be fixed and it's not going to be an issue. And he'll just say, yeah, we, we knew, we know what we did wrong. We screwed it up. We didn't harp on this enough and we're going to, and it's going to be fine, and you guys aren't going to worry about it. That'd be, that would be fantastic. And I'm sure, and I hope he's right.

[Matt DiCali]

Yeah, no, I, I agree. I agree. But it does sound kind of, it's questionable and fishy.

[Dan Bernstein]

Sketchy. It's sketchy a little bit.

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[Matt DiCali]

Over the weekend, too, we learned of a signing a veteran signing for the wide receiver room. And I know when we talked about it, we discussed it over the weekend at length, that you were just overjoyed. There was just pure excitement and enthusiasm that the Chicago Bears did sign wide receiver Scotty Miller to a deal to add a veteran presence to the wide receiver room.

[Dan Bernstein]

Okay, he's a toy football player. That's what he is. I don't know what he does for you other than be a body in the room. Yeah, he's shorter than I am. He's a hell of a lot faster than I am, but he's. He's a toy football player. He doesn't really do anything. Right.

[Matt DiCali]

Yeah. And I mean we can't really expect a whole, a whole lot of production. I mean, what did I say in our.

[Dan Bernstein]

Would you say 30 targets?

[Matt DiCali]

20 targets tops, maybe, in the way this wide receiver room is shaping up.

[Dan Bernstein]

Well, he had nine catches last year with Pittsburgh. He's been with Tampa, Atlanta and Pittsburgh. He played in 13 games last year. 13 games the year before. He had five catches in 2024. He had nine catches in 2025.

[Matt DiCali]

Yeah, I don't know. It was interesting.

[Dan Bernstein]

I don't know. Listed at 5 9, 1, 7 4. I think he's pushing it at 5, 9. I think, I think he's pushing but. And people love him. And he's from here. He's from Barrington. Yes, Barrington High School. Played at Bowling Green. So I. Great.

[Matt DiCali]

So we'll see what that, what? Yeah, what that, what that all turns out to be.

[Dan Bernstein]

I thought it was like punt return. I thought like, oh, if you're gonna have Xavier and Thomas a kickoff return and this will be your specialist punt return guy.

[Matt DiCali]

But, but that's, that's Raymond. Isn't he the punt guy?

[Dan Bernstein]

I think so, yeah.

[Matt DiCali]

I think Khalif Raymond's your pun returner.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yeah, he doesn't even really do that.

[Matt DiCali]

Yeah.

[Dan Bernstein]

I don't know.

[Matt DiCali]

Field Yates on espn. Dan, he, he had a list of players that were non first round draft picks that he believes will have immediate impact on their teams.

[Dan Bernstein]

Oh, can I guess one?

[Matt DiCali]

Sure, go ahead.

[Dan Bernstein]

Malik Muhammad.

[Matt DiCali]

It was not Malik Muhammad, but there was a bear. There was a bear that he had, he had, he had selected, but it was not Malik Muhammad. Although I believe Malik Muhammad is going to have a huge impact. He takes a starter's job real soon.

[Dan Bernstein]

I'm starting to think that that's. He's sort of like the, the Roshan Johnson of this draft. The way that they're talking about him even. And it's no coincidence or it is a coincidence the same school, but it just sounds like the way they're talking about him is the. Where the way you talk about somebody who you think is going to be more important than maybe you realized.

[Matt DiCali]

Yeah, yeah, I think, I think he's going to be that guy. But Field Yates had Sam Rausch as a guy that will be immediate impact as a non first round pick, which, I mean, which, which isn't going out too far on a limb because the fact that he replaced Durham Smythe, who was In I believe 25 of the offensive snaps as the third tight end and he was on half the special team snaps, which they expect Roush to be a part of as well, too. But it's, it's interesting because then you, you pair that with the selection of Xavion Thomas. I watched a lot of his highlight film over the weekend, that dude something and I, I could understand watching his highlight film why Ben Johnson was so excited about being able to draft Xavion Thomas. But now you've gone two years in a row drafting a tight end and a wide receiver when you didn't think they were going to draft a tight end and a wide receiver. And to do it the second year, it was even more surprising than the first year. But it all worked out pretty well, I would say, two years ago for that draft class. And I'm hoping that it works the same way here. And Sam Roush being asked of what he's going to be asked to do this year, he certainly can fill in that, that third tight end slot really well. And I'm again, I'm more excited about Xavion Thomas today than I was initially after watching a lot of his, you know, highlight film.

[Dan Bernstein]

Here's a press Taylor said regarding Roush's role. To be determined. That's the fun part of it. We don't have a game for four months, so seeing where it can go with us, that 13 personnel was something we felt like where our game was trending, where our offense was trending. So you see a role in 13 personnel there with the way Durham Smythe played. He was a very experienced player, could do a lot of different things. We'll figure out what Sam's strengths are and how he complements those other tight ends. And then we'll use as many tight ends or as many personnel groupings as we need to attack whatever defense we're seeing that week now. But here's the stuff with Malik Muhammad, because if you heard what they were doing is they were playing him also at nickel, playing him inside because they want everybody to be cross trained. They'd be an outside corner and nickel. They also want to bring in competition for Tyreek Stevenson.

[Matt DiCali]

Yeah, that's why they were excited about being able to land Malik Muhammad because of the versatility, which was one of the key, you know, key attributes they were looking for in their players. Speed and versatility.

[Dan Bernstein]

Allen said. He's a guy we're excited about. He's got a guy that's got a lot of skill set we're looking for. And now we'll just see how quickly he Progresses okay. He's gonna have a chance.

[Matt DiCali]

Yeah, he's gonna have a chance. Xavian Thomas too, a guy that can carry the ball. And they even talked about him being able to carry the ball between the tackles and he had a little bit of experience. I just generally don't want to see that from a guy that I'm expecting a lot from as a wide receiver. But is he a little bit of a smaller version of like a Jameson Williams for the Lions?

[Dan Bernstein]

He's got high praise and he does have the flat out speed.

[Matt DiCali]

He's got the speed for it. Now. Williams has got a couple inches on him, A few inches at least, and weight as well too. But is that kind of like the. The idea maybe what Ben Johnson sees or envisions for what Thomas can do with just that, that crazy ass speed?

[Dan Bernstein]

Yeah, I don't know enough about him yet because there were a lot of times where there's Xavier on Williams on some of those crossing routes. Excuse me, Jameson. Jameson Williams.

[Matt DiCali]

Jameson Williams. Caleb. Caleb Wilson.

[Dan Bernstein]

Caleb Wilson. Caleb Williams.

[Matt DiCali]

Yeah.

[Dan Bernstein]

There were. There were several times where it was that they would use that speed on the crosses to pull guys away to get him isolated in one on ones.

[Matt DiCali]

Yeah.

[Dan Bernstein]

And a lot of that is what the other guys are doing where Colston Loveland runs the seam. You know, I know that there's so many. There's the, you know, what did they call it? This. The. The sale, like post sale. And there's. We have the different route comp. Dagger combo that we always call it. I think it's the dagger cross where that it was. Is the route that you're talking about. And sure. I mean ideally all your wide receivers can run all the routes. Right. And you don't want to just pigeonhole a guy and say he's this guy and he's that guy and he's this guy and that take fast people and then put them in combinations that get them open.

[Matt DiCali]

Right.

[Dan Bernstein]

And I don't think he's trying to just match pieces from Detroit.

[Matt DiCali]

No, no, no, no. I don't. I don't think so. But I think maybe just having that kind of a gadget guy that can do more than just be that speed guy as well too. And hearing what he had to say over the weekend also is Avion Thomas. One thing I know for sure is that if he's not a primary guy on a route, he's still going to use that speed. I mean, I think he's going to be all out 100 in on his routes, which is obviously A positive impact for the entire team, for the offense. We're never going to have to worry about him not running through his routes.

[Dan Bernstein]

No. Because you turn him on and he just goes, yeah, you just, you just press start on that guy. I'm definitely not worried about him finishing plays. No.

[Matt DiCali]

Jeremiah Love, Dan, signed his rookie deal with the Arizona Cardinals.

[Dan Bernstein]

Congratulations.

[Matt DiCali]

Yes. He signed a four year, 53.9 million dollar fully guaranteed contract, making it the most guaranteed money ever given to an NFL running back. Okay, so he stated. Now listen to this, this is really interesting. Stated he plans to save his entire deal, relying on nil money for expenses. So again, here's the recap. 53.9 million fully guaranteed. New league record for running backs surpassing the previous record of 36 million. The deal includes a fifth year team option. You know, obviously common for high first round picks. No spend plan. Love expressed that due to his financial comfort from college nil earnings, he intends to save his entire rookie contract for future children and grandchildren. He plans to live off income from existing marketing partnerships such as with New Balance and Celsius, while focusing on family, including buying his parents a house.

[Dan Bernstein]

Aw, good for.

[Matt DiCali]

He says. Yep. He says with a lot of money comes a lot of trust and a lot of responsibility. And he said that, yeah, he'll be able to live his regular life, which he's been able to very comfortably through nil money and endorsements. Not touching that contract for the rookie deal at all. Good for him using wealth and financial advisors to help him plan for the future.

[Dan Bernstein]

It's not quite what Shohei Ohtani is doing, living off what he's making compared to what he's scheduled to make down the road. But I think there are more people doing what Jeremiah Love is doing than you think.

[Matt DiCali]

I just, I love hearing it. I love hearing this guy who was exactly, yeah, drafted that high, talked about it and it's not going out and buying as many. And you know, maybe he's gonna have some, you know, really expensive stuff which he's earned and entitled to by throwing his body into car accidents week after week after week after week. And it's only going to get worse now in the NFL. But, you know, not living this flashy lifestyle, look at me. But thinking about children he doesn't have, grandchildren he doesn't have. Thinking about his family and thinking about future generations of wealth, it's like, hey, I got this money and I could, you know, he could go out and blow it all and live a great, you know, have a lot of fun. But it's like, I'm going to put all this away, live the comfortable life I've been living off endorsements and nil money and just save all this for the future. It was just. It was cool to hear.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yeah, I think it's a good example. If anything else, I think it's one thing to hear an agent say it or to hear a marketing guy say it here and own. To hear an actual athlete on the day he signs his deal saying that is a really good example. That's what I think. And you just hope that as is. As he makes intelligent decisions that he is. He's a. Ends up being a benevolent, wealthy person and not a malevolent one because there are too few of the former and too many.

[Matt DiCali]

All right, I have a fun game for you because I know you like trivia. Are you ready?

[Dan Bernstein]

But, you know, I don't really like trivia. I'm always.

[Matt DiCali]

No, I love it. I know you're.

[Dan Bernstein]

You're.

[Matt DiCali]

No, you're not. You're not bad at it. All right here. This is great.

[Dan Bernstein]

I get trivia. Gives me anxiety because I feel like I have to be good at it. Like the, like, it's like the Les Grobstein stuff.

[Matt DiCali]

I don't know. I just.

[Dan Bernstein]

I always feel like.

[Matt DiCali]

So it makes you nervous because you feel like you didn't study well enough.

[Dan Bernstein]

If you do well at it, it's. Well, of course you do well at it. You're Mr. Sportsy Sports Guy. And if you do badly and it's like, how could you be bad at it? So, you know.

[Matt DiCali]

Well, still, all that being said, which is true. I know you love it. This was from CBS Sports over the weekend.

[Dan Bernstein]

Okay.

[Matt DiCali]

The last time each NFL team had a quarterback with 30 or more touch passing touchdowns in a season.

[Dan Bernstein]

Oh, okay.

[Matt DiCali]

I'm gonna give you the team. You give me the quarterback. Ready?

[Dan Bernstein]

Well, the. The bears is 95. Right?

[Matt DiCali]

Hang on a second. Hang on a second.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yeah.

[Matt DiCali]

I'm gonna give you the team. Cowboys.

[Dan Bernstein]

The last time the Cowboys had a guy. I'll say Dak.

[Matt DiCali]

Dak Prescott. Last year.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yes.

[Matt DiCali]

Detroit Lions.

[Dan Bernstein]

Detroit Lions. Would be golf.

[Matt DiCali]

And it was last year. LA Rams.

[Dan Bernstein]

Stafford.

[Matt DiCali]

Stafford. Last year. Yeah. The New England Patriots.

[Dan Bernstein]

Okay, it's either May or Brady. I don't know if May did it

[Matt DiCali]

last year, but Drake May did it last year.

[Dan Bernstein]

Okay.

[Matt DiCali]

Baltimore Ravens. Name the corner. Lamar. That was 2024. Yeah. You don't have to worry about the year. I'll tell you the year.

[Dan Bernstein]

Okay.

[Matt DiCali]

Cincinnati Bengals. Burrow Joe Burrow in 2024.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yeah.

[Matt DiCali]

Minnesota Vikings.

[Dan Bernstein]

Minnesota Vikings. Their last quarterback before McCarthy was Sam Darnold.

[Matt DiCali]

Sam Darnold in 2024 did it. Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

[Dan Bernstein]

Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Probably Baker.

[Matt DiCali]

Baker Mayfield. In 2024. Green Bay Packers.

[Dan Bernstein]

Green Bay Packers. Aaron Rodgers.

[Matt DiCali]

Jordan loved it in 2023.

[Dan Bernstein]

He did okay.

[Matt DiCali]

He did okay. San Francisco 49ers.

[Dan Bernstein]

Brock Purdy.

[Matt DiCali]

Brock Purdy. In 2023. Buffalo Bills.

[Dan Bernstein]

Josh Allen.

[Matt DiCali]

Josh Allen. In 22. Patrick Mahomes of the Kansas City Chiefs. Lasted it in 2022. Yeah, he didn't have to give you that one.

[Dan Bernstein]

No.

[Matt DiCali]

All right, this is the Seattle Seahawks quarterback is.

[Dan Bernstein]

Did Darnold do it last year?

[Matt DiCali]

He did not.

[Dan Bernstein]

Okay, so it was Geno Smith.

[Matt DiCali]

Geno Smith. In 2022, the LA Chargers. Who's the quarterback?

[Dan Bernstein]

That is the big tall guy with Justin.

[Matt DiCali]

Justin Herbert. Herbert corrected it in 2021.

[Dan Bernstein]

All right, I get it.

[Matt DiCali]

You get what?

[Dan Bernstein]

Okay, I was going to say, this has got to build to something. Yeah.

[Matt DiCali]

Just. I'm just. All I need you to do is tell me the quarterback.

[Dan Bernstein]

All right.

[Matt DiCali]

The Houston Texans.

[Dan Bernstein]

C.J. stroud.

[Matt DiCali]

It was not C.J. stroud. It was DeSean Watson, and he did it in 2020.

[Dan Bernstein]

All right.

[Matt DiCali]

Pittsburgh Steelers.

[Dan Bernstein]

Ooh, Pittsburgh Steelers. Last quarter with 30 touchdowns. I'm gonna say Roethlisberger.

[Matt DiCali]

That's absolutely correct. Nice job. Ben Roethlisberger. In 2020. The Tennessee Titans team once led by the honorable Mike Vrabel.

[Dan Bernstein]

Ryan Tannehill.

[Matt DiCali]

Correct. In 2020. Nicely done. How about the Atlanta Falcons?

[Dan Bernstein]

Matt Ryan.

[Matt DiCali]

Correct. 2018. Matt Ryan. The Indianapolis Colts last quarterback to throw 30 or more touchdowns.

[Dan Bernstein]

Is that Andrew Luck?

[Matt DiCali]

Andrew Luck in 2018. Look at you, Mr. Trivia. This is impressive. New Orleans Saints.

[Dan Bernstein]

Ooh, that's now. Okay. I mean, I know who I think this might be. It wasn't because Jamis did it. I know he had the 30. 30 season, but that was with Tampa. Let's go, Breeze.

[Matt DiCali]

Drew Brees in 2018.

[Dan Bernstein]

Good.

[Matt DiCali]

Good job. How about the Philadelphia Eagles?

[Dan Bernstein]

The Philadelphia Eagles last. Oh, it's gonna be somebody crazy. Was it. Was it Hertz?

[Matt DiCali]

No, it was Carson Wentz.

[Dan Bernstein]

Okay.

[Matt DiCali]

In 2017.

[Dan Bernstein]

Okay.

[Matt DiCali]

Arizona Cardinals.

[Dan Bernstein]

Arizona Cardinals. 30. Kurt Warner.

[Matt DiCali]

No, it was Carson Palmer in 2015.

[Dan Bernstein]

Okay.

[Matt DiCali]

Carolina Panthers.

[Dan Bernstein]

Jake DeLome.

[Matt DiCali]

Cam Newton. In 2015. Jacksonville Jaguars. You get this one right, you get a special prize.

[Dan Bernstein]

Mark Brunel.

[Matt DiCali]

No, it was not. It was a good guess, though. It was Blake Bortles. David.

[Dan Bernstein]

David Garard.

[Matt DiCali]

Blake portals. In 2015.

[Dan Bernstein]

Okay. This is all right. This is tougher than I thought.

[Matt DiCali]

Yep. Raiders. Last Time the Raiders had a quarterback throw for 30 or more touchdowns.

[Dan Bernstein]

Rich Gannon?

[Matt DiCali]

No. Good guess, though. Derek Carr in 2015. Okay, how about the New York Giants?

[Dan Bernstein]

The New York Giants. 30 touchdowns were thrown by Eli.

[Matt DiCali]

Eli Manning. Nicely done. 2015, the New York Jets.

[Dan Bernstein]

This is gonna hurt my head. A 30 touchdown season by a Jets quarterback. Yep.

[Matt DiCali]

And I know it's a guy you like, too.

[Dan Bernstein]

A guy I liked?

[Matt DiCali]

Well, you like him now. I don't know what you thought of him as a quarterback.

[Dan Bernstein]

Oh, he's not a quarterback anymore. Oh, I know who it is. Yep. Is it Fitz Magic?

[Matt DiCali]

It is Fitz Magic. Yes. 2015. Yes. The last time.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yeah.

[Matt DiCali]

Denver Broncos. Yeah, say it.

[Dan Bernstein]

Manning.

[Matt DiCali]

Peyton Manning. 2014. Yep. All right, now, these last four, are you ready?

[Dan Bernstein]

Sure.

[Matt DiCali]

Okay, we've gone through 28 teams now.

[Dan Bernstein]

All right, so you got four teams.

[Matt DiCali]

Miami Dolphins.

[Dan Bernstein]

30. Touchdown passing for the Dolphins. It's not Marino, is it?

[Matt DiCali]

It's dan Marino in 1994.

[Dan Bernstein]

Okay. Wow.

[Matt DiCali]

All right. Cleveland Browns. The last time they had a quarterback throw 30 or more touchdowns in a season,

[Dan Bernstein]

Brian Sipe.

[Matt DiCali]

Oh, my God. How did you get that correct? Brian Sipe, 1980.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yeah, that was. That was the. Yeah, the cardiac kids.

[Matt DiCali]

Wow.

[Dan Bernstein]

All right.

[Matt DiCali]

I'm impressed. Okay. All right, we're down to our final two. The Washington football team, last time they had a quarterback throw 30 or more touchdowns.

[Dan Bernstein]

The last time, Washington.

[Matt DiCali]

Okay.

[Dan Bernstein]

This is going to be some crazy number. Joe Theisman. Nope.

[Matt DiCali]

Before Joe Theisman.

[Dan Bernstein]

Sonny Jurgensen.

[Matt DiCali]

Sonny Jurgensen in 1967. Absolutely correct.

[Dan Bernstein]

I was gonna say Billy Kilmer, but okay. Sonny Jurgensen, who was brought up by. When we had Christine Brennan on. She talked about her conversation with.

[Matt DiCali]

Oh, that's right. She sure did.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yep.

[Matt DiCali]

She sure did. Oh, which, by the way, reminds me of. I'm glad you mentioned her. Nancy Armour wrote a really good piece on Mike Vrabel. Yeah, yeah, it was. It was towards the end of April, beginning of May. I can't remember exactly what is. But if you haven't taken a look at that, go ahead and do that. USA Today. Nancy Armor, if you want to understand why it's important that this is talked about and discussed about. Mike Vrabel, you want to read that. She can certainly voice it and write it a lot better and express it a lot better than I have over the last couple weeks. But why? It's important to understand this. All right, the final team, then. Dan.

[Dan Bernstein]

The Chicago Bears.

[Matt DiCali]

Chicago Bears.

[Dan Bernstein]

Because it's not Kramer. It's not Kramer. Even though he had the best passing season. If I Remember correctly, because what did

[Matt DiCali]

you say initially about.

[Dan Bernstein]

I said it's not Kramer. Kramer had the most yards in that season, but he. He only had 29. I think he.

[Matt DiCali]

That was. You're saying 1995.

[Dan Bernstein]

I think in 95, the best. The best quarterbacking season the Bears have had was 95. But I'm pretty sure Kramer only had 29 touchdowns.

[Matt DiCali]

That 3,838 yards and 29 touchdowns. So when was the last time the Bears had a quarterback throw 30 or more touchdowns in a season?

[Dan Bernstein]

I'm going to say never.

[Matt DiCali]

They never have. It's never.

[Dan Bernstein]

Good Lord. Good Lord. That's. That's as pathetic as the wide receiver numbers.

[Matt DiCali]

Is that awful?

[Dan Bernstein]

That is awful.

[Matt DiCali]

So Eric Kramer fell one short with 29 and 3,800 yards. Yeah. The Bears, the only NFL franchise to never have a quarterback throw 4,000 yards or throw 30 or more touchdowns.

[Dan Bernstein]

So I think I did pretty well on that.

[Matt DiCali]

You did really good. When. Okay, I'm. I'm gonna take everything away and I'm. The fact you got Brian Sipe for the Cleveland Browns, A plus. Okay. Thank you very, very well done. I thought there's no way you would get Brian Sipe.

[Dan Bernstein]

He was the quarterback of my youth. That was. He was. He was just there. Right there.

[Matt DiCali]

Do you remember from, like what the Miami Dolphins offense was to us as when we were. So what. I was in my early teens. You were in your late teens. I mean, what that offense looked like, what that was all about. And, and the fact that they haven't had a 30 touchdown passer since 1994.

[Dan Bernstein]

But here's the thing, though. They. When you say Miami Dolphins offense, I'm. I'm old enough to still remember the last vestiges of the Brian or Bob Griesy era.

[Matt DiCali]

Okay. When.

[Dan Bernstein]

And Bob Griesi was. Was a winner but not a prolific passer.

[Matt DiCali]

Yeah, that was just. Yeah. Like my, My memory start with Marino for the Dolphins.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yeah. See, I remember they were a run team. That was. That was, you know, Larry Zonka and Jim Kick and their, their defense. And so it was. They changed completely when Marino arrived there.

[Matt DiCali]

Yeah. That was very, very impressive. Very well done, though.

[Dan Bernstein]

Thank you. Every once in a while, this, this, this still works.

[Matt DiCali]

You know, I'm not sure. Did I. We mentioned a couple NFL notes here real fast. Dallas and the Giants are the first Sunday Night Football game of the season that's been announced.

[Dan Bernstein]

Cash cow, that game.

[Matt DiCali]

Yeah, that's.

[Dan Bernstein]

That's what that game is. Is an automatic big number. And you say why?

[Matt DiCali]

It just is.

[Dan Bernstein]

It just is. That's a big number game.

[Matt DiCali]

Yeah. Dallas at the Giants. And then one other note here with another free agent off the board David Najoku, the tight end signs a one year deal with Jim Harbaugh and the Chargers.

[Dan Bernstein]

Good signing on especially somebody that physically gifted on a maybe a prove it deal. We'll see. I think you know now that they get their they're starting running back back after an injury riddled campaign that eventually that offense is going to do what we think despite the fact that Mark Tressman is there as a special offensive mind.

[Matt DiCali]

I always forget that.

[Dan Bernstein]

I know but he's there. He's working well. That's going to do it. For today's edition of Forward Progress a Chicago Bears and NFL podcast here on 312Sports

[Matt DiCali]

for progress is stopped. 102192019 forward progress a Chicago Bears podcast with Dan Bernstein and MattDiCaliCola on 31 2Sports.