The Athletic Football Show: TAFS Goes Camping – Conversations with The Athletic’s Bears, Raiders, and 49ers Beat Writers

Date: August 17, 2025
Host: Robert Mays
Guests: Kevin Fishbane (Bears), Deshaun Reed (Raiders), Matt Barrows (49ers)

EPISODE OVERVIEW

In this episode, Robert Mays sits down with beat writers covering the Chicago Bears, Las Vegas Raiders, and San Francisco 49ers to discuss the state of each team as NFL training camps hit their midway point. From quarterback progressions and evolving offenses to position battles and expectations, the discussions center on what is real, what matters, and what each team’s 2025 shape is starting to look like.

CHICAGO BEARS CAMP NOTEBOOK (w/ Kevin Fishbane)

[02:29 - 30:44]

Main Topics

• Atmosphere at Bears camp and the skeptical optimism of the fanbase & media
• The Caleb Williams transition and development curve
• Offensive installation under new coach Ben Johnson: Process and patience
• Personnel battles, especially along the offensive line and wide receiver group
• Realistic expectations for the team’s competitive window

Key Insights & Discussion Points

Camp Vibes, Quarterback Decisions, Media Experience

• Kevin Fishbane: "We are prone to gallows humor around here. ... It's hard to sit here in this building and go through some of this stuff year after year after year and not be like, shoot, I remember what happened last time." [03:42]
• The Bears' media contingent and fanbase remain wary after cycles of failed QB transitions, but there’s a recognition that Caleb Williams isn’t Justin Fields or Mitch Trubisky.

Caleb Williams’ Preseason Struggles and Growth

• Williams’ accuracy not quite “as sharp as last year,” but remains a work in progress. [04:30]
• Practices have been “up and down—bumpier than you’d hope. ... I feel like I’ve seen him miss more throws than I’m used to, but there’ve been some really good practices." [04:30]
• Notable improvement shown in complex situations (e.g., two-minute and third-down drills show flexibility and detail in Ben Johnson’s offense)

Memorable Play Details

• "There was a third down with a pressure look. Caleb flashes a hand signal to Cole Kmet, little quick out, ball’s out immediately—they get the first down. ... Those are the things you’re going to see." – Robert Mays [06:16]

The Ben Johnson Effect

• New coach Ben Johnson brings different philosophy: highly process-oriented, “cramming” the install to stress-test what works and doesn’t, then planning to pare it down before the season.
• Offense is still in heavy experimentation mode—"They haven’t repeated stuff. It’s all new almost every single day. ... It’s mostly about learning what you’re bad at." – Robert Mays [09:09]

Should Practices Be Confidence Builders?

• Kevin Fishbane: "Do you need to set up a practice for [Caleb] to do that by putting in some of the things that, you know he's good at? Like, is that important to you to see?” [10:16]

• Lack of “slam dunk” days for Williams, but the team seems content to let growth happen on a longer timeline—"[Patience] has to extend into the regular season and a decent amount into the regular season." – Robert Mays [11:55]

Coaching & Roster Construction

• Team “finally picked an offensive coordinator from outside the Peyton Manning/Andy Reid trees—[Ben] Johnson is the first architect from his own successful system to coach Chicago in my lifetime.” – Robert Mays [14:01]

Offensive Personnel Battles

• Left Tackle: Competition between Braxton Jones, Ozzie Chrapelo (rookie), and Theo Benedet is still fluid, but Jones expected to start Week 1 if healthy.
• Receiver Group: New slot presence in Olameide Zaccheaus ("super useful player") [07:48]; rookie Luther Burden expected to play in the slot and eventually take over as main safety valve.
• "Rome Odunze had one of his better practices today..." [07:49] – emergence of top rookie WRs.
• Tight Ends: Cole Kmet and rookie Colson Loveland provide a real two-tight-end threat ("their 12 personnel has a chance to be a strength of this team"). [21:04]
• Running Back: DeAndre Swift named lead back; depth to be decided among rookies and incumbents (Monangai, Roschon Johnson). [23:24]

Defensive Clarity

• Starters settle with Jalen Johnson, Tyrique Stevenson, Kyle Gordon as CBs, Montez Sweat, Tremaine Edmunds, and Jaquan Brisker pegged as key contributors.
• Biggest defensive question: "Who’s the No. 3 defensive end, if they move Sweat or Odangbo inside?" [26:02]

Season Outlook & Realism

• Optimism is grounded: Bears need offensive growth but defensive stability can keep them competitive.
• “Bears fans have always wanted a quarterback they can win because of, not just win with...right now you want to give him as much support as possible as he grows into this thing.” – Kevin Fishbane [29:09]
• “None of this matters if the quarterback doesn’t come together with a play caller. ... We’re in wait and see mode until it does.” – Robert Mays [30:26]

LAS VEGAS RAIDERS CAMP NOTEBOOK (w/ Deshaun Reed)

[34:36 - 62:19]

Main Topics

• Organizational reset: Pete Carroll, John Spytek, and a coherent new direction
• Geno Smith as the bridge quarterback and offensive hopes
• Chip Kelly's offense: expected structure, new weapons, OL experiments
• Defense: Huge question marks, especially along the defensive line and secondary
• The “two-year plan” vision for competitiveness

Key Insights & Discussion Points

Cohesive Direction and New Leadership

• Deshaun Reed: "Everything they've done has made sense ... that's progress for them." [35:42]
• Raiders “finally align” at head coach and GM; Pete Carroll's professionalism and vibe praised ("energy drills," coaching staff chemistry, but with “fun, loosey-goosey stuff” from Pete). [38:09]

Geno Smith, Offensive Identity, and WR Battles

• OL still a major concern (“pretty much the same group as last year”—better play needed from young guys like DJ Glaze and Jackson Powers-Johnson’s position shuffle explained [42:39])
• Chip Kelly’s Offense:
  • "Expect a lot of 12 personnel with Brock Bowers and Michael Mayer" [47:00]
  • Ashton Jeanty brings CMC/Alvin Kamara vibes in both run and passing game
  • Fast, unproven outside receivers: Dante Thornton and Trey Tucker "have basically been the starting two since OTAs" [44:26]; Jack Bech (second-round slot) redundant with Jacoby Myers
• Vanilla preseason look—Chip Kelly yet to reveal true wrinkles [47:00]

Defense: Holes and Stopgaps

• Depth- and talent-poor along defensive front; loss of Christian Wilkins described as huge, unexpected [50:27]
• Questionable linebacker corps: "If it was 2019, you'd feel great about their linebackers...Now, how good are they in 2025?" [52:03]
• Jamal Adams transition to linebacker: "He's looked pretty natural ... definitely in the mix to start Week 1." [53:26]
• “Holding onto your hat” at corner and safety—traits over proven talent, Eric Stokes’ health an ongoing question ("It's all traits, right?...It's guys that are 6'3'' ran 4.3 40s at some point in their lives...That's pretty much how they built out their cornerback room." – Deshaun Reed [56:48])

Team Timeline and Outlook

• Raiders are clearly not “all in” for 2025; cap space being rolled over, eyes on competitive window opening in 2026 ("You have to go for it pretty soon when you hire a coach that old." [60:35])
• Emphasis on patience and learning this year—as Reed puts it, “This is a two-year plan.” [59:16]
• Memorable quote: "If they're winning ten games, Chip Kelly and Patrick Graham are going to be very strong head coaching candidates come January. Especially Patrick Graham." – Robert Mays [61:33]
• Floor for offense is much higher; defense will struggle to keep pace. [62:19]

SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS CAMP NOTEBOOK (w/ Matt Barrows)

[64:11 - 87:42]

Main Topics

• Health report: injuries and potential Availability on offense
• Early-season outlook: how injuries force personnel and scheme adjustments
• Offensive line approach and the organization’s “cheap at guard” philosophy
• Defense: youth movement, uncertainty at key positions

Key Insights & Discussion Points

Health, Injuries, and Immediate Personnel Adjustments

• "Their biggest free agency addition was Luke Farrell, a blocking tight end ... 12 personnel is going to be the trend." [66:51]
• WR room extremely thin: Ayuk and DeMarcus Robinson out early; Jauan Jennings and rookie Ricky Pearsall (excellent off-season “separator”) forced into big starting roles. [64:55]
• Matt Barrows: "Jennings is a big part of this offense because there’s not going to be any Brandon Aiyuk to begin the season and probably no DeMarcus Robinson..." [64:55]
• Ayuk expected back around Week 6; pace to "see real Ayuk second half of the season." [71:16]

Scheme and Personnel Nuances

• Pearsall’s chemistry with Purdy developing, with extensive offseason work. Main focus: can he separate vs. NFL physicality? [68:30]
• Christian McCaffrey healthy; team simply taking precautions in camp
• RB depth: multiple injuries create openings for unheralded guys ("fits the 49ers pattern" for underdrafted RBs to rise—reference to Corey Kiner) [74:40]

Offensive Line Philosophy

• Niners believe "playmakers are more important than linemen," draft accordingly (e.g., avoid spending high-round or expensive resources on guards). [77:03]
• "That philosophy ... playing it cheap at right guard ... I guess that depends on the listener." [77:03]

Defensive Youth Movement

• Defensive line and safety: heavy use of rookie/young players expected due to both offseason losses and injuries. [81:11]
• "Three quarters of this defensive line is going to be new." [81:24]
• Unsettled safety group—Jason Pinnock and Marquis Siegel (5th round rookie) likely to start early while waiting for Malik Mustapha's return (week 6 expected). [83:10]
• Upton Stout, rookie nickel, praised: "He's been consistently good...exactly what you would want in a nickel cornerback." [86:23]
• Barrows notes "they're going to take their lumps early...but will be better for it in the back half of the season." [83:37]

Outlook

• Excitement is justified for the offense, but "more coin flips have to come up heads than you probably want for them to realize that path." [80:20]
• Defense’s transition and uncertainty are the true stories—lots of young, new players, change at coordinator, and the expectation to weather rocky stretches early.

NOTABLE QUOTES & MEMORABLE MOMENTS

On Bears’ QB Patience:

• “Patience with Caleb Williams has to extend into the regular season and a decent amount into the regular season.” – Robert Mays [11:55]
• “Best case scenario for the Bears is Braxton Jones starts every game at left tackle, does a fine job, signs a four year, $120 million deal somewhere else, you get the comp pick …” – Kevin Fishbane [18:23]

On Raiders Direction:

• "Everything they've done has made sense, which I know sounds like a low bar, but ... that's progress for them." – Deshaun Reed [35:42]
• “Expect a lot of 12 personnel with Brock Bowers and Michael Mayer ... they'll run the shit out of the football.” – Deshaun Reed [47:00]

On Niners’ OL Approach:

• "They communicate that they feel as if playmakers are more important than linemen ... they think the gap between the offensive lineman they can get in round one and the offensive lineman they can get in day three is not as wide and that they can coach that guy up." – Matt Barrows [77:03]
• "Three quarters of this defensive line is going to be new ... that was the focus of the draft." – Matt Barrows [81:24]

TIMESTAMPS: IMPORTANT SEGMENTS

• 02:29 – Bears conversation starts (media/fan mood, Caleb Williams evaluation)
• 06:16 – Ben Johnson’s offense: easy completions, QB-friendly details
• 10:16 – Discussion of building confidence for Caleb in camp
• 15:45 – Offensive line and left tackle battle
• 19:34 – Wide receiver depth and roles
• 26:02 – Defensive end depth/key defensive players
• 34:36 – Raiders conversation starts (organizational reset, Pete Carroll introduction)
• 42:39 – Raiders OL configuration and rookie placement explained
• 47:00 – Chip Kelly’s new offense: personnel & run game vision, TE usage
• 50:27 – Raiders' defensive tackle (Christian Wilkins situation)
• 53:26 – Jamal Adams’ role at linebacker
• 59:16 – Raiders’ two-year plan and cap strategy
• 64:11 – 49ers conversation starts (health, WR issues, Ayuk timeline)
• 68:30 – Ricky Pearsall’s camp and impact
• 71:16 – Ayuk recovery projection
• 74:40 – 49ers’ RB camp injuries, undrafted prospects rising
• 77:03 – Offensive line resource philosophy
• 81:11 – Defensive overhaul and rookie contributors
• 86:23 – Rookie nickel Upton Stout’s emergence

EPISODE SYNTHESIS

This “Camping” edition of The Athletic Football Show sees Robert Mays deftly guide beat writers through the storylines taking shape for the Bears, Raiders, and 49ers. For Chicago, the Ben Johnson/Caleb Williams experiment dominates, and while there are reasons for optimism, all admit it’s a time for patience and caution—despite deep scars from past failures. Las Vegas, under Pete Carroll and John Spytek, finally feels pointed in a coherent direction, but their present is all about taking lumps and praying Patrick Graham’s defensive wizardry can paper over a depleted roster. In San Francisco, injury luck again takes the spotlight—forcing Kyle Shanahan’s offense to get creative while a youth movement surges forward on defense.
The larger lesson: All three teams are betting big on process, patience, and development, each uniquely aware of what could possibly go wrong—and of how quickly things can flip between “fragile but exciting” and “a step too far.”

Summary prepared by The Athletic Football Show Podcast Summarizer