Bear Download — A Chicago Bears podcast

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Breaking down the Bears' struggles in the 10-3 loss to the Packers Sep 06, 2019

Show notes

Rich Campbell and Dan Wiederer break down the Bears' 10-3 loss to the Packers in the NFL season opener, focusing on how Mitch Trubisky and the offense struggled and where the unit can go from here (2:46 mark). They discuss the team's sloppiness to start the third quarter and why Matt Nagy went for it on fourth-and-10 instead of sending out Eddy Pineiro to try a 51-yard field goal (17:50). They read your three-word reviews (23:35), give the Bears defense its due after some young players came up with big plays (29:06) and give out game balls to key performers (38:22). They wrap up by taking an early look at Week 2's opponent: The Vic Fangio-coached Broncos (39:09).

Bears-Packers preview: Matt Nagy and Mitch Trubisky vs. Aaron Rodgers and Matt LaFleur Sep 03, 2019

Show notes

The NFL regular season is here, and Rich Campbell and Dan Wiederer are basking in the glow of Bears-Packers. They dive into the power struggle between new Green Bay coach Matt LaFleur and Aaron Rodgers (4:58), including whether the quarterback really had back tightness in the preseason (11:20). Switching to the Bears’ challenges, the spotlight shines on tight end Trey Burton in That’s Just Stupid (20:35). Specifically, will he ever be healthy? Rich and Dan are skeptical. In Dan’s Three Keys to Thursday’s game, the discussion is on Matt Nagy and Mitch Trubisky trying to make magic (27:50), Eddy Pineiro trying to make kicks (32:50) and the Bears defense trying to account for Packers running back Aaron Jones (36:58). Finally, the guys dole out predictions (39:06) — which we won’t spoil here — before pondering Cody Whitehair’s newfound buying power in Crown ‘Em.

A first-hand account of Andrew Luck's retirement — and projecting the Bears' 53-man roster Aug 28, 2019

Show notes

It's Week 0 for the Bears and final cuts are looming, which means Rich Campbell and Dan Wiederer are getting antsy for the regular season. Dan shares his first-hand account of Andrew Luck's retirement announcement in Indianapolis (5:01) and the guys break that down from multiple angles, including how the news broke. They discuss Cris Collinsworth's and Al Michaels' reflections on the "double doink" call and how a call can become synonymous with a game (30:58). They examine how the Bears are trying to ensure Mitch Trubisky gained confidence from his final drive against the Eagles (37:15) and predict the first 53-man roster, highlighting the questions surrounding the bottom of the roster as the Bears exit the preseason and head toward the season opener against the Packers (52:17).

Eddy Pineiro is the Bears kicker — for now. What comes next? Aug 22, 2019

Show notes

Rich Campbell and Dan Wiederer are reunited in the Halas Hall coat closet, and it feels so good. With Rich back from paternity leave, he and Dan catch up on — what else? — the kicker search now that Eddy Pineiro is the only one on the roster and have conflicting reactions to a Sports Illustrated story that depicts the Bears as lost in their search (4:00). Matt Nagy's recent "no turds" comment compels the guys to relive the disastrous 2014 campaign, which was the last time the Bears entered a season with such high expectations (30:26). They shift gears to explain their comfort with a wait-and-see approach to Mitch Trubisky's season after an undeniably inconsistent showing in summer practices (40:21) and finish by detailing some of the Tribune's Bears100 coverage, which continues to roll out ahead of the season opener (53:34).

Bears training camp: An evaluation of the defense, offense and kickers so far Aug 02, 2019

Show notes

Rich and Dan are still in Bourbonnais to discuss what they've learned watching about the Bears so far from watching practice: The defense is pretty, pretty good (3:01 mark), the offense with Mitch Trubisky is still a work in progress (15:13) and the two kickers are somewhat better than expected (28:48). On the other side of things, an investigation into Matt Nagy's Pennsylvania Dutch accent and the case of “peanuts” (33:44). And then, a dive into the new pass-interference review that will make NFL history (38:29). Lastly, the two crown … themselves, the Tribune and love (48:30).

Reporting for Bears training camp Jul 26, 2019

Show notes

The Bears are back — which means Rich and Dan are podcasting from Bourbonnais. They start, of course, with the kicking competition (4:02 mark) before zeroing in on quarterback Mitch Trubisky and what would constitute a successful season in the second year of his partnership with Matt Nagy (10:48). Next, they discuss Tarik Cohen’s flashy entrance (19:05), breakout candidates (25:30), potential pitfalls (33:12), the transition to defensive coordinator Chuck Pagano (36:08) and what Nagy has to prove in his second year (43:31). Lastly, they toss some random non-football questions at each other to finish the show as the silliness sets in.

Has Mitch Trubisky progressed enough to lead the Bears to the Super Bowl? Jun 19, 2019

Show notes

Rich Campbell and Dan Wiederer wrap up the Bears offseason program as the team heads for summer break. They examine what the offense accomplished this spring behind quarterback Mitch Trubisky's progress and how Super Bowl expectations fall into Trubisky's lap (2:50), spotlight the apparent — and unsettling — lack of progress in the kicker search (16:50) and question whether Matt Nagy has created a kicking competition that has negative ramifications for its quirkiness and intensity (26:19). They offer their impressions of the ongoing defensive transition and what to look for from Khalil Mack's crew during training camp and preseason games (33:33). They finish with a "Crown 'Em" curve ball with an eye on various warnings about complacency (42:04).

Recapping Bears100 and a chat with All-Pro safety Eddie Jackson Jun 11, 2019

Show notes

Rich and Dan recap the Bears100 convention with a loaded show, that includes a chat with All-Pro safety Eddie Jackson. But first they share their highlights of the weekend (3:13), from Devin Hester’s pulse-pounding introduction to William Perry rapping his verse of the “Super Bowl Shuffle.” Several panels also stood out, including Mitch Trubisky’s budding bromance with Jim McMahon (11:57), the showcase of Hall of Fame linebackers (16:58) and the emotional defensive line gathering (24:54) in which Akiem Hicks boldly accepted a challenge from his predecessors. In That’s Just Stupid, Rich and Dan pan the bizarre sequencing at the opening ceremony (41:00) and review the 1936 replica uniforms (44:04). Enter Jackson, (46:36), who discusses his Little League career ahead of his charity softball game Saturday in Schaumburg. He shares his own lasting impressions from Bears100, including his introduction to Da Coach and what he took from the panel with Gary Fencik, Doug Plank and Mike Brown. Jackson also shares his insight about the defense’s transition to coordinator Chuck Pagano, how his season-ending ankle injury fuels him in 2019 and how Khalil Mack has supercharged the Bears defense. Finally in Crown ‘Em, Rich and Dan salute the franchise's matriarch (1:07:06).

Tarik Cohen lends his swag to the Bear Download podcast Jun 03, 2019

Show notes

Tarik Cohen, the Bears' All-Pro return specialist, joins the podcast, as Rich and Dan spotlight the offense during full-squad spring practices. They chat with Cohen (2:56 mark) about his Pro Bowl experience, the Bears’ retooled backfield and his work for New Era hats, which occasionally includes him trying to “copy coach (Matt) Nagy’s swag with the visor.” In That’s Just Stupid, Rich and Dan scratch their heads over Trey Burton’s offseason sports hernia surgery and wonder about his return (17:42). They dig into Mitch Trubisky’s progress (27:37) using insight from offensive coordinator Mark Helfrich and quarterbacks coach Dave Ragone. In Crown ‘Em, they assess they state of the elusive Khalil Mack and get an up-close look at his presence during practice (47:50). That discussion includes Dan playing proverbial ominous music about the avalanche of attention headed the Bears’ way in 2019 (49:16).

Which Bears are feeling comfortable at spring practices? Jun 03, 2019

Show notes

Rich and Dan host the world’s only podcast to mention Taquan Mizzell and Donald Trump within eight minutes of each other. In discussing Bears spring practices, they highlight elements they’re monitoring during the offseason. Specifically: QB Mitch Trubisky’s grasp of the offense (3:39), how chess pieces Tarik Cohen, Cordarrelle Patterson and David Montgomery fit into the offense (10:20), the defense’s comfort under new coordinator Chuck Pagano (13:50) and the kicker competition (23:07). Ahem, they also had fun laying odds on whether Robbie Gould will kick for the Bears in 2019. In That’s Just Stupid, Rich and Dan scratch their heads over the Jets’ moves — some of which involve Bears connections — that "scream incompetence" (29:26). They share their first impressions of new secondary coach Deshea Townsend (41:45) and outside linebackers coach Ted Monachino (46:47). Finally, the two kick off the Tribune’s crowning of the 100 best players in franchise history by going behind the scenes of the staff's spirited discussions (54:06).

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