Can Ryan Poles zero in on the Justin Fields' Travis Kelce?

[Toast88]

Really good Hoge and Jahns listen yesterday. They had Chiefs beat reporter Nate Taylor on to talk about Ryan Poles (and Eric Bienemy and Mike Kafka), and he was really informative.

Something he said that was really interesting was that Ryan Poles saw Travis Kelce in particular as instrumental to what they were trying to build in Kansas City for whoever their future franchise quarterback was going to be (who ended up being Patrick Mahomes).

Poles, he said, was key in the Chiefs' decision to draft Kelce in 2013, and he believes Poles' first order of business will be to find Justin Fields' Travis Kelce, a rock who can be tied at the hip to Fields, be a safety valve, and make him better.


Also, just as a funny aside, Nate Taylor said his view is that Poles chose this job over others that he probably could've taken because, "It's easy. Literally just give Justin Fields some weapons." Oversimplifying, for sure, and he played it for laughs a little bit---but it does put things in perspective. Just let the new GM do his thing and focus on the most important asset the Bears currently have.


I've linked to the story that has the podcast embedded in it, but you don't have to be an Athletic subscriber to listen---You can just pull it up on your Podcast app.

New Bears GM Ryan Poles: What we know, what’s next and what it means for Justin Fields

The Bears have a new general manager, so why should fans be excited about Ryan Poles? What concerns should they have? We dig in.

theathletic.com

 

[Visionman]

I guess that puts to rest the “Chicago isn’t a prime destination” theory…

 

[IBleedBearsBlood]

I guess that puts to rest the “Chicago isn’t a prime destination” theory…

Chicago is easy, just like my mom was in the 80’s……

 

[Penny Traitor]

If we are going to do KC comparisons, I would rather see them find Fields his own Tyreek Hill.

Put that canon arm to some use and completely change the way defenses play the Bears.

 

[Visionman]

If we are going to do KC comparisons, I would rather see them find Fields his own Tyreek Hill.

Put that canon arm to some use and completely change the way defenses play the Bears.

I think Kelce is far more important to that KC offense. And really, we have the speed at WR already. Not Hill speed, but it’s still enough with Mooney. Just need that TE to be able to take advantage of all that space underneath…

 

[marioworld]

If we are going to do KC comparisons, I would rather see them find Fields his own Tyreek Hill.

Put that canon arm to some use and completely change the way defenses play the Bears.

Tarik Cohan almost hit 22 mph, it's a little short of hill... get it, he's shorter.

To be honest, we kind of have that guy. Just like we have TEs that maybe could be like Kelce, it's sad that our past coach didn't utilize the talent on the team well enough or possibly support them with coaching to find out.

 

[Gustavus Adolphus]

Perhaps you've never heard of a gentleman named Cold Cement.

 

[Toast88]

If we are going to do KC comparisons, I would rather see them find Fields his own Tyreek Hill.

Put that canon arm to some use and completely change the way defenses play the Bears.

That'd be awesome. I think the point is, whether it's a WR or TE or whoever, find the player who's going to be the solid rock your young quarterback can lean on.

Then find another.

Then find another.

 

[Aquineas]

On a tangent, on that game-winning OT Chiefs drive, Kelce was mic'd up and changed two of the plays:
Travis Kelce Wasn't Supposed to run a seam right on that big completion in OT

 

[Nail Polish]

The last good TE we had, Martz traded to the Panthers where he excelled.

 

[Leomaz]

If we are going to do KC comparisons, I would rather see them find Fields his own Tyreek Hill.

Put that canon arm to some use and completely change the way defenses play the Bears.

And his name isn’t Tarik Cohen

 

[Nelly]

Two words: Jesper Horsted.

 

[Mighty Joe Young]

I am looking forward to this GM. We will see how long it lasts, but it looks like he understands that a quarterback needs BOTH weapons AND an offensive line - despite some idiot posters here trying to make the argument one or the other...

 

[Wild_x_Card]

Tarik Cohan almost hit 22 mph, it's a little short of hill... get it, he's shorter.

To be honest, we kind of have that guy. Just like we have TEs that maybe could be like Kelce, it's sad that our past coach didn't utilize the talent on the team well enough or possibly support them with coaching to find out.

There's nobody on the roster like Kelce. He can line up anywhere within the formation including the X. Because he posseses very rare movement ability for his size and is a master of route running. He's a different breed.

 

[Visionman]

Two words: Jesper Horsted.

I practically started the Jesper fan club. But come on now…Kelce runs circles around him…

 

[Nelly]

I practically started the Jesper fan club. But come on now…Kelce runs circles around him…

You're not showing the proper respect for Mr. Horsted.

 

[Aquineas]

And his name isn’t Tarik Cohen

Yeah, probably not.

 

[Nelly]

Yeah, probably not.

When is Tarik Cohen due back from injury? 2023?

 

[Dejo]

Trey Burton redemption tour! Come on down

 

[Aquineas]

There's nobody on the roster like Kelce. He can line up anywhere within the formation including the X. Because he posseses very rare movement ability for his size and is a master of route running. He's a different breed.

Michael Irvin. Troy Aikman. Emmit Smith. Three Hall of Famers on the same team. None of them won a Super Bowl after Jay Novacek retired. A running game and a TE are a QBs best friend. TEs keep drives going. You know when it's 3rd and 7 because none of the fancy OC's plays worked on that series? You need someone to get you 7 dirty yards. And hopefully you're not relying too heavily on a running QB to pick those up (like Buffalo seems to do with Josh Allen).