Brad Biggs previews Bears-Panthers matchup, shares his prediction

0:00The Brand Bigs. Bigstime. Bigs. With all in pain. Bigstime. The Bigs report with Brand Bigs. Bigstime. Bigs is named as Brand Bigs. Brand Bigs talks football with you. Welcome back. It's on Peyton, Chicago Sports Radio. 104-3. The score on this beautiful Friday morning. It is definitely week one. We are reacting to Thursday night's game in Australia. Between the 49ers and the Rams. Ruthie Polinsky is in for Jared today. And welcome to our Chicago Sports Network. Audience, Ruthie, one you know well. They recognize you from our Chicago lead. The Big Football Show, which we'll be doing later today. I think I'll change my shirt even though now I'm wearing the colors. Where's your CHSN gear? I have a long day ahead of me. Do have a long day. You have a long day. I have a longer day than you for the first time in a long time. You do because you're doing White Sox pregame and post game. White Sox pre-amp post tonight with Ozzy.

1:00Wow. That is hard work. One something our next guest can relate to. And the segment with Brad Bigs is sponsored by S-wing professional tools. Made in the USA for over 100 years. S-wing.com. And Brad Bigs, it's Bigs time. The football man from the Chicago Tribune. The best source of Bears news anywhere. Join us now on the Plummers 9-1-1 hotline. Plumbing emergency. Call 1-8-3-3. Plumb 9-1-1. Local 130 plumbers. Get the job done right the first time. Morning Brad. Morning gang. What's going on? Doing well. It's Friday morning. Brad, I know you watched last night. And I know you saw the opener between the Seahawks and the Patriots. Seahawks win by scoring 13. The Rams, the best team. In a long time according to the preseason prognostications. They score seven. Should we take anything that's happened in the first two games and look at that? And attach it to what the Bears offense might be able to do or not do on Sunday in Carolina?

2:00No. And I'd remind you what I said yesterday morning that you can get some oddball results in week one. Things can look dramatically different shortly after week one. So I just that that's an important part can talk about it later this morning. You know, from his perspective that the greatest. You know, kind of misconceptions in the NFL are formed after one week of football. The Rams didn't look great. You know, I talked to Tori Taylor, the punter yesterday. I just bet the NFL playing over in Australia. And he said he didn't know which. Playing ahead was better. The 49ers going almost a week early or the Rams showing up not long before kickoff. He said whoever wins, obviously everyone will say that that was the.

3:03The best strategy, but he said I'm just glad. I don't have to play in a game in Australia. You know, make that trip and play a football game. So we will see it's going to be exciting on Sunday. The two best units on the field are probably going to be the Bears offense or the Panthers defense. That would be my estimation here beforehand. So what does that look like? Because Carolina's get some high paid guys at every level of the defense. Do you feel that way still Brad, even with the injuries on the Bears defense? Do you think Panthers are going to have a difficult time moving the football, even with some of the injuries with that being said, what can we make of the Xavier Woods? Pop it up on the injury report. Yeah, he looked pretty chill in the locker room yesterday after practice. I didn't talk to him. We'll have to see there. So if he can't go, you're looking at the. Camelou is there or maybe Elijah Hicks.

4:05I don't know how they would juggle that, but. Bears defense is going to be facing an offense that. Is looking to improve this year is looking to build off some of the things last year. Technic millenit is looks like he's going to be a monster in the league for a while. But that Carolina offense was. Mostly underwhelming last year until they get home playoff game against the Rams. And they what they have 31. I want to say in that game. So we'll see in Carolina, one of the few defenses in the league that had a less impactful pass rush than the Bears a year ago. Now they go out and they spend a boat load on Jalen Phillips, 120 million over four years. I said earlier this week. David that I don't I think Phillips is going to have a hard time playing up to that contract based on what he's done. To this point in his career, but the markets the market and they're hoping that he can kind of.

5:10Be what Brian Burns was for the Panthers previously. So Brad, the Panthers are turning over play calling duties to Brad Idzick. He's a young first time play caller. He was inserted into this role of calling plays because. As reports coming out of Carolina wanted to be more aggressive. Not sure how that translates into what to expect from Bryce Young or how ready he might be for that shift in approach. But is the element of the unknown something that should concern bears fans about the defense against Idzick the way they may. There's really no there's no previous tape. There's tape on Bryce. Yeah, there's no previous tendencies on a guy who's never called plays before. Yeah, there's no tendencies, but. You know, I think you I think what you're doing is you're looking at what they do with Dave can Alice. Because listen, can Alice isn't going to hire an offensive coordinator that isn't. You know down with a lot of what he's doing.

6:11I think what we're looking at is a guy who's going to come in. Maybe have some some tweaks to what they want to do. But you basically got a. Same. Same ingredients different chef right where you're. Basically cooking the same meal. Bears have just got to go out fundamentally they got to play well. They've got to be better against the run this season. And we'll see if that defensive line. Can can hold up a little bit help keep the linebackers clean. And they can accomplish that goal right. Brad what's the latest on Roma doons. I know back out there yesterday limited. It seems I felt as though Ben was little was more optimistic about him being labeled as day to day and potentially being able to go out there on Sunday. Yeah, yeah, we always got to be a little bit careful interpreting.

7:13Yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah, and reading between the lines with entry stuff but. Sort of the overall vibe I got was that it was positive for Rome. So provided things go well today and they've got to practice. A little bit later on in Lake Forest. I would think there's a strong chance he plays on Sunday. He's playing in 17 games as a rookie. And last year. He was trying to get it out with that with that foot issue for a bit there. So I think he's. He's a relatively tough customer and we've got a good chance of seeing him play. The segment with Brad Biggs brought you by four seasons heating air conditioning plumbing sewer and electric for all the right reasons. About eight six six four seasons. Our Brad so when the number one defense runs out to the field for the first time on Sunday. What's the front four look like and then how does that change during the first.

8:17Third and seven long you know third down passing situation. Does it change in terms of the edge rusher? I just curious. We talk a lot about who is in the mix and the committee and all the guys with terms of depth. But who's the starting front four and how does that change on passing downs? Yeah well I think you're looking at a great and contagious street is you're starting defensive tackles. Montess wet obviously he's going to be out there. You know 80% of the snaps for the season and then it I think Dio's probably the base. I think Dio's probably the base. He's a defensive in but with booker. Certainly being on the field and passing down situations and. I see some type of you know I see I also see booker playing and bass downs against Carolina. It's not going to be a situation where Austin bookers only on the field. If it's you know second and seven or more or third down in a passing situation.

9:21I think it's going to be a good time to play the run relatively well last year as well. In those passing downs you can see Dio moving inside the defensive tackle with maybe street coming off the field. But you're going to see a rotation and defensive tackles. You're going to see booker worked in there and then. Chroma did they give him a little bit of run. You've got to have probably going to have a fourth end up. So we shall we shall see there. I know a bunch of the guys have been talking in the locker room with locker room back open. Including I know Tori Taylor you mentioned you spoke to what's he saying about. Bo Gardner I loved what H.T. said about him yesterday and just sort of the pressure he's under and what opposing. You know what these opponents are going to maybe throw at a rookie long snapper. Well again, I mean it's going to be pressure straight up Broadway.

10:22You would think right there's only a couple. Few different ways you can rush the punter and and hope to get there and one of them one of them's coming. You know right up Broadway so it will have to. They'll have to handle that. It's a challenge. It's in front of him. H.T. made the point that these jobs don't come open that often Pat Pat Manley had one here for forever 16 years. Jansen the snapper and Carolina. I think he's going in like you're 18. So it's either just isn't a whole lot of turnover. I it's been forever since the Bears have had a snapper that hasn't had any previous NFL. Regular season experience. They believe that Bo can handle it. They're kind of excited to see. How it looks and they're going to have to.

11:24You know whoever H.T. thinks is the absolute best. He's going to be right next to him on the line of scrimmage. And you know we'll see but they felt good about the preseason. They felt good about what he did during the offseason program. He certainly got the size. You talk about holding up and protection. I mean this guy's. About six five is probably two 45. He's certainly be able to fill out that frame a little bit more. But is he goes but he's not one of those guys to take a look at because some of these snappers have gotten. A lot smaller. He's not one of those guys that you look at like they had Jeremy Kane before who was great and coverage. It's been a long time but wasn't a very big guy Gardner. Gardner's got those certainly the length in some room to fill out. Brad I know this has very little to do with maybe Sunday's outcome. There has anybody asked the Mr. Intensity Ben Johnson what it means to be going back to North Carolina.

12:29Close to where he grew up in Asheville. How he feels about this homecoming Sunday being the head coach of the Bears back in his home state in front of friends and relatives that he maybe he grew up with. I know you're tight with Chase Rice the country saw singer. Has he addressed that at all? No I would I would guess that's something that probably comes up today. That's a Friday question for sure. Yeah I would I would guess that comes up a little bit later on the day because yeah you would expect. Certainly some people who have supported his career throughout and now are considerable bears fans will be. In attendance in Carolina. It's fixed to be a hot day Sunday Dave. It'll be a warm one and I believe the way the sidelines are. Set up there they're both going to be in the sun when that game starts but a little bit later on in the day. Panther side might be covered by a little bit of shade not the bear side though.

13:33Can we ask for your prediction Brad what are your thoughts? Yeah I mean it's just so. It's tough early in the year. When you don't know. Exactly what you get to get you know been even said it like. They they don't know what their identities get it be it's going to take. Four weeks or so for them to. Can I wrap the arms around that so it's certainly going to take a little bit of time for us to determine. What we believe the identity of these teams are. I think the bears. Well position to go get a win. I have questions about the defense and I'll expect to probably have them. Over the course of the entire season. But with their offense of line their ability to run the football they're healthy in the backfield that's important. I've got bears 30 to 28.

14:33Hi scoring Brad. Hi scoring we're pretty close bixie believe it or not I had 31 27 we got a both scoring 30. That's surprising to me that would be a hot start like that would that would be the kind of start where you get the Monday for that bears offense. And you're not saying. What the hell just happened right Rams fans are saying this morning well Rams fans are still asleep right now but in Patriots fans were saying. After that absolute clunker Wednesday night. Miles Garrett never really woke up. He still was kind of in slumbering. He wasn't nowhere to be found last night. Yeah well I think that big phase. I'd have to feel the less thing can hit with some injury Sean McPhase going to get a figured out. Yeah with the Rams Brad before that you go just curious this is maybe a slightly away from the bears but it affects him as well. Ruthie now we're talking before the show. And big picture you look at the NFL and we saw George Kittle play last night and he's coming back and recovered quickly from.

15:37What used to be an injury that would keep him out a lot longer than he missed. Achilles right Achilles yes Patrick my homes is starting Monday night coming back he was he towards ACL in December. The bears you mentioned a dang bow last I think it was late November no. November yeah he was injured as a and the as each a pillow story is remarkable medical science has made these these returns harder than ever to project and predict each guy is different but. Isn't that remarkable that we're dealing with these guys coming back as fast as they are. Yeah I mean it it is and you know it's funny you say that because Dan Rosar yesterday said that. You know in their earliest conversations with Andre Tucker after the trapello injury that. You know might not be back in any point this year.

16:37And some guys don't come back from this and so for trapello to be where he is I certainly a credit to him and the staff but. Yeah I guess medical science is improving a little bit but man you got to start watching the injuries we've seen a bunch of them. Through these first couple games Darnelled and AJ Brown be into the big ones and the bears will hope that they're. Fortunate on Sunday and maybe Kyla Gordon can come up with some medical science that has him in the mix from. So issue deal. But for sooner rather than later lasting Brad so we saw the this off season running backs around the league be rewarded and I think the value of the position has. And so I think the way that he made a comeback a little bit Deandre Swift in that context he had a career high a thousand 87 yards rushing last year. The way that he has approaches off season everything you see and hear about Deandre Swift suggests that.

17:37He may top that this may be a twelve hundred is it too much to expect could this be a twelve hundred yard season for Deandre Swift and will he be the focal point of this bears offense. Twelve hundred yeah I think I think he could approach that. I think he could. You know sixteen fifty seventeen hundred in terms of yards from scrimmage maybe. He looks fantastic and you just want to he's not a huge guy so I think you want to make sure that you don't give him too many touches and that's why they've got a really good setup right now a nice mix with menongai and ham. I think your time share is something approach in sixty percent for Swift with with menongai you know more around forty percent and you lean on both those guys to help lead that offense but Swift Swift was very good last year and you won't fight a person in the building that isn't

18:41really about what he's done all off season and then through the summer great stuff Brad have a safe trip to North Carolina look for to talk to him on the morning. Have a great weekend Brad football man from the Chicago Tribune and another guy that predicted them to score at least thirty points now are you going to make fun of me. No I think you're both out of your mind.