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“It hasn’t been pretty” There’s something to like about the Cardinals and not just because of the Urlacher “crown ‘em” game. Larry Fitzgerald has been an easy player to cheer for over the years Youth Stephen Denmark Jersey , their season on Amazon’s “All or Nothing” was incredible TV, and that dagger into the heart of Green Bay in the playoffs was exquisite. But, as the song goes, Times - they are a changin’. This team is radically different than the one that made a deep run in 2015. To get the scoop on the new-look Cards, I reached out to Seth Cox over at Revenge of the Birds for all things Cardinals in advance of Sunday’s trip to the desert. Windy City Gridiron: 1. I think it’s safe to say that the early returns for the Cardinals have this squad in rebuild mode. Let’s start at the top where Bruce Arians was replaced by Steve Wilks, a former Chicago Bears defensive backs coach. What was the thinking behind the Wilks hire and what can Bears fans expect to see from his coaching philosophy on Sunday?Revenge of the Birds: Sometimes you have to just change it all and that was what the Wilks hire was. Gone was the fun uncle, the guy who was fast talking friends pouring drinks in the parking lot and in comes a more stoic, reserved and disciplined coach.Through two games it looks like a disaster, but the idea was to get away from the “no risk it, no biscuit”, six-gun offense and went to a conservative, no risk based offense. The idea under Wilks is to let your defense win games and make sure your offense doesn’t lose them.That’s fine in theory, but the practical aspect has been awful so far.There’s no consistent pass rush in Wilks and new DC Al Holcomb’s zone based defensive scheme. They’ve basically benched their 2014 and 2017 first round picks in Deone Bucannon and Haason Reddick because they’re struggling from the mental and physical aspect of the defense.On offense, Mike McCoy’s 1998 offensive playbook has been incredibly ineffective, reducing David Johnson to a clone of 2008 Adrian Peterson in his usage.Jeff, it hasn’t been pretty thus far.WCG: It doesn’t sound like it - 2. The Cardinals did that thing where they signed Sam Bradford to a lot of money and drafted a QB high in the first round to groom behind him (no judging, Bears did it last year with Mike Glennon). Bradford has predictably been the check-down artist extraordinaire through two weeks of the season, leading to a paltry 6 points. How long does he last and when will we see Josh Rosen debut?RotB: That’s the million dollar question right now. Bradford has been awful, he has not been accurate and he looks afraid when he drops back.Yet, per Wilks, there was no consideration to insert Rosen against the Rams, despite only getting past the 50-yard line in the games waning moments.We are hoping as a fanbase that if the first half againstthe Bears is similar, we’ll see Rosen soon. But, it’s been quiet on that front from Wilks, so who knows.WCG: 3. The great Larry Fitzgerald has played his entire career with Arizona and is chasing some impressive all-time rankings. He’s 3rd in receptions, 81 behind Tony Gonzalez, and 3rd in yards, a mere 285 behind Terrell Owens. Just how much has he meant to this franchise and if this ends up being his last season, is there any talent that can emerge from his shadow like Christian Kirk?RotB: It’s incredible to have a player that is worth the priceof admission for 15 seasons. Factor in that Fitz has had two good quarterbacks in his entire career for the sum of about six of those 15 seasons and it has been a joy to watch.If this is it Stephen Denmark Jersey Color Rush , and understandably so, it was a once in a lifetime type of career and person. You don’t get a player like Fitz who can be a WR1 for 14 seasons very often. You don’t get a player who produces despite turnover at every position around him at least five times. When you buy a players jersey, if you’re into that sort of thing, you hope to get a contract length out of it. Fitz has been the jersey to have since 2004. For a franchise like the Cardinals, with their history of failure, his play has been something to remember.As for emerging post Fitz. It’s been impossible through two games to gauge. Kirk has five receptions on the season for 32 yards. Chad Williams has six targets and no catches. They have talent, they just haven’t had much of an opportunity to show it.WCG: 4. As an Alumnus of the University of Northern Iowa, I have to ask about my guy, David Johnson. The Cardinals recently inked him to a nice extension, keeping the do-everything back in the desert for the next few seasons. How has he looked coming back from the wrist injury and what are your expectations for him moving forward?RotB: He looks healthy and misused. I wrote this on Monday, which basicallytells the story ofthe bastardization of Johnson’s talents through two games. Hopefully, Mike McCoy figures out what he has in Johnson, and soon, but through two games, it has been an abomination.WCG: 5. Let’s quickly move to the defense before we run out of time. The Cardinals let Tyrann Mathieu walk this off-season to the Texans and let Calais Campbell leave to the Jaguars last year, leaving Patrick Peterson as the remaining household name. Why did they do that and who are the guys on this squad Bears fans need to be aware of this Sunday?RotB: Chandler Jones and Peterson are the names everyone knows. Budda Baker looks like an emerging star replacing Mathieu. From there, they’ve got a couple solid veterans in Antoine Bethea and Corey Peters and third year defensive lineman Robert Nkemdiche has finally begun to show signs of life.Yet, it has been ugly through two games. As I mentioned earlier, Bucannon has been reduced toa part time player and Reddickhas been effectively benched. Jamar Taylor and Tre Boston, the two offseason secondary acquisitions have been really, really bad through two games. There hasn’t been much good, but Peterson has been lights out through two weeks.Bonus: For Bears fans traveling into the Phoenix area for the game, what type of cuisine should they seek out for a true Arizona experience?AZ has a great food scene. Mexican food is definitely a must. If you’re in the Scottsdale area and just looking for night out, there’s a ton of places in Old Town. Diego Pops is a great place for fun and drinks. If you’re looking for a little more pricey, but a fantastic dining experience, Steak 44 is the best.If you’re in on Saturday and want somewhere to enjoy the college gameday, Zipps Sports Grill and Teakwoods Tavern are two of the best sports bars in the valley.Good luck and good health this weekend.Thanks to Seth and Revenge of the Birds! You can follow me @gridironborn on the Twitter machine.Projecting the Bears’ final 2018 53-man roster If Matt Nagy believed his first NFL head coaching job was difficult up until now, he’s about to experience his first roster cutdown. A cutdown this Saturday where Nagy and his coaching staff have to decide on their team depth amidst a myriad of competitions, and essentially end the professional dreams of some of the players the Bears have gotten to know over the past six weeks. One preseason game left against the Bills means one final opportunity for some of those guys to make a firm declaration on who’s in and who’s out for Chicago in the 2018 season. Some players are quite literally fighting for their jobs in the last exhibition. Announcements beforehand of who is featuring and who isn’t Womens Stephen Denmark Jersey , will also give us an idea of where the Bears view certain players. Even so with what happens against Buffalo, the Bears do admittedly have a deeper roster in more places than recent years, which can be a comforting thought. Then one notes that Chicago still possesses issues in crucial core areas, and many a collars are tugged nervously. Most of those areas acting as potential Achilles heels (hello, pass rush!), and some of them not being uncommon (a lack of even solid offensive tackles across the NFL is an epidemic). Without further ado, here’s my final 53-man roster projection for the 2018 Bears. Note: this doesn’t account for potential additions after rosters are finalized, as I’d have to be Nostradamus to accurately project those. Quarterback (2)Mitchell Trubisky, Chase DanielThe face of the franchise moving along. Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY SportsAs if there were any doubt. Any success the Bears enjoy in the near future rides on Trubisky’s right arm. Much of his continued development will come thanks to the mentorship of an experienced Daniel that can step in and manage the game if need be. These two present the most important player relationship Chicago has. With apologies to Tyler Bray, the Bears don’t need anyone else at quarterback. Bray hasn’t done enough to separate himself as being worth the rare third quarterback designation. Bray was always signed to be that extra mentor for Trubisky during training camp. Perhaps if the Bears deem his mentorship to be valuable enough, they’ll find a way to keep Bray around in that capacity. It won’t be on the active roster. Running back (4)Jordan Howard, Tarik Cohen, Benny Cunningham, Ryan NallTo a degree, the Bears offense still runs through Howard.Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY SportsHoward, Cohen, and Cunningham were locked in when Cunningham signed a one-year deal in April. You have your offensive bell cow in Howard, your versatile runner and pass catcher in Cohen, and the reliable veteran in Cunningham. This was never in question even as Cunningham worked his way back from injury through most of the preseason. What was up in the air was that fourth tailback. Taquan Mizzell has received every shot to impress the Bears this preseason and he’s done exactly nothing of note with it. The man affectionately called “Smoke” should be coined “Cloud”, as in three yards and a cloud of dust.Meanwhile, Nall has averaged 5.1 yards a carry and typically run behind worse Bears offensive lines when he’s played. He’s a depth running back, and he’s definitely more capable than Mizzell. I know there’s been discussions surrounding the Bears keeping a true fullback in Michael Burton, but when your tight ends can do that job: why keep the less versatile and limited player? It doesn’t make sense. Wide receiver (6)Allen Robinson, Anthony Miller, Taylor Gabriel, Kevin White, Josh Bellamy, Javon WimsA nice little strut for White onto the Bears’ final roster. Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY SportsAs with the running backs, the roles for Chicago’s wide receivers are ingrained. Despite easing his way in from an ACL injury Stephen Denmark Chicago Bears Jerseys , Allen Robinson is going to be the Bears’ No. 1 target. Anthony Miller will act as the No. 2, and Taylor Gabriel is the gadget No. 3. Meanwhile, Josh Bellamy is the designated special teams ace of this group, and White is the entrenched former first round pick trying to salvage his career. Where it gets interesting is the bottom half. Up until the game against the Chiefs last Saturday, I don’t think we could’ve made a firm declaration that Javon Wims was a lock for the final roster. After torching Kansas City for over 100 yards and making several deep, clutch catches, the seventh rounder is a youthful mainstay. Overall, this is a Bears’ receiving group that’s dramatically improved from last year’s albatross. In fact, it’s arguably Chicago’s deepest and highest caliber position overall. Quite the turnaround in one year’s time. Tight ends (4)Trey Burton, Adam Shaheen, Dion Sims, Daniel BrownBurton is prepared for his first No. 1 role. Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY SportsAdam Shaheen’s ankle and foot injury throws a wrench in what looked like the Bears’ most promising skill group through most of late July and August. Even so, Burton should have a huge year as the de facto No. 1, Sims will thrive more in an able No. 3 role, and Daniel Brown is an excellent backup at the “U”. Once Shaheen returns in the early goings, then the fun really begins for this athletic and sizable tight end cohort. Offensive line (8)Cody Whitehair, Charles Leno Jr., Kyle Long, James Daniels, Bobby Massie, Eric Kush, Bradley Sowell, Rashaad CowardWhat do you know? Daniels isn’t inactive, after all. Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY SportsInside, the Bears are remarkably gifted and deep. Not many NFL teams can match an interior trio like Whitehair, Daniels, and Long. Throw in one of football’s best guard slash center swingmen in Kush, and you have the recipe for a formidable middle wall. It gets dicey at tackle, which is why the Bears keep multiple. If anything should happen to Leno or Massie Chicago Bears Jerseys Stitched , Chicago is in a precarious spot. That’s why the Bears won’t be able to afford being too picky with who they keep as depth. Sowell suffered an ankle sprain against Kansas City, and is still the Bears’ top swing tackle. Coward is a defensive line convert progressing quickly, and is likely a year away from being a major contributor. Both are unfortunately the best the Bears can do for now. Defensive line (6)Akiem Hicks, Eddie Goldman, Roy Robertson-Harris, Jonathan Bullard, Bilal Nichols, John JenkinsHicks reels in another year as a Bears centerpiece.Brad Rempel-USA TODAY SportsAnother one of the Bears’ better positions, they have tangible depth that can actually play now. Robertson-Harris looks poised for a breakout in his first year as a starter. Bullard is a solid rotational piece. The rookie Nichols may play a part in occasional special situations. And Jenkins is an experienced veteran that’s been around the block.Add those four to one of the NFL’s best duos up front in Hicks and Goldman, and you have a recipe for disaster for opposing offenses. Hicks doesn’t have to worry about being overworked in 2018.Outside linebacker (5)Leonard Floyd, Sam Acho, Aaron Lynch, Isaiah Irving, Kylie FittsFloyd will be counted on a lot to get to the quarterback this year. Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY SportsBy far the Bears’ thinnest and weakest position group, everyone outside of Floyd and Acho hold on more in that Chicago doesn’t have many options to choose from. That includes Lynch, who hasn’t featured at all this preseason and might be the Bears’ second best pass rusher anyway. And it includes Irving and Fitts: two young guys with limited ceilings but are better than nothing.Long story short: the Bears better hope and pray Floyd - who is already working with a broken hand - doesn’t miss any significant time in 2018. Inside linebacker (5)Roquan Smith, Danny Trevathan, Nick Kwiatkoski, Joel Iyiegbuniwe, John TimuHow you smile when you know it’s your defense.Quinn Harris-USA TODAY SportsSmith, Trevathan, and Kwiatkoski comprise a group the Bears are very proud of and comfortable with. Should anything happen to Trevathan injury-wise, or if Smith isn’t fully prepared to play at the start of the regular season, Kwiatkoski is an excellent backup in an emergency situation. I’m don’t think any other NFL franchise can match the depth and talent Chicago possesses at inside linebacker. Towards the bottom, Iyiegbuniwe projects as more of a contributor and starter in 2019, but should be solid enough to star on special teams early. While Timu has been one of the Bears’ valued players on the third phase for awhile. That’s enough to stick around. Cornerbacks (6)Kyle Fuller, Prince Amukamara, Bryce Callahan, Cre’Von LeBlanc Stephen Denmark Jersey 2019 , Sherrick McManis, Michael JosephA No. 1 corner looking to continue newfound consistency. Aaron Doster-USA TODAY SportsIn terms of starters, Fuller, Amukamara, and Callahan are a very able-bodied trio at cornerback. No one will confuse them for elite play, but they do their jobs and more as necessary. The Bears would do well to stay healthy on the boundary, though, as there isn’t much of any reliability or experience behind Fuller and Amukamara. If Callahan misses time in 2018, LeBlanc can step in without missing a beat. If the boundary duo misses games, Michael Joseph is a shaky prospect at best. Having a noticeably good preseason is different from being attacked by NFL receivers when the action counts. Safety (4)Eddie Jackson, Adrian Amos, Deon Bush, DeAndre Houston-CarsonThere should be a greater amount of takeaways for Jackson in his second year. Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY SportsWhile Houston-Carson suffered a broken arm against the Broncos a couple weeks of ago, he isn’t going on injured reserve. That more than anything is an indication the Bears’ top backup free safety and one of their best special teams players makes the active 53-man roster to start the 2018 season. The Bears will have slim pickings of who to put behind Jackson, Amos, and their top backup in Bush in the meantime. That’s nothing to get worked up about when there aren’t capable replacements on the roster otherwise. Specialists (3)Cody Parkey, Pat O’Donnell, Patrick ScalesA big money kicker with high expectations. Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY SportsFinally, we reach the vaunted and highly anticipated pure specialists. Parkey is the NFL’s ninth-highest paid kicker, and is expected to give the Bears a measure of stability there they haven’t enjoyed in the past two seasons. Anything less than average kicking, and watch out for the news cycle. I know there’s also been talk of Ryan Winslow potentially supplanting O’Donnell at punter, but I don’t see it. Winslow would have to have punted like Ray Guy in August with coffin corners galore if he was going to take over for Chicago. O’Donnell doesn’t have a firm future with the Bears on a one-year deal, but he pushes on a little longer. Robert is an editor, writer, and producer for Windy City Gridiron, The Rock River Times, The Athletic Chicago, and other fine publications. You can follow him on Twitter @RobertZeglinski and reach him by email at robertpoduski@gmail.com.