We preview the Week 9 matchup between the Bears and Dolphins at Soldier Field

The Bears (3-5) welcome the Miami Dolphins (5-3) to Solider Field on Sunday. The Dolphins are making a playoff push and would be in the playoffs as a 6th seed in the playoffs started today. The Bears are closer to a top ten draft pick than to the playoffs.  Here is a position by position analysis of the Dolphins:

Quarterback: There is probably no player who came into this season with more pressure to perform than Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa. Coming into this season, he had to deal with his former head coach thinking that the organization should have selected Justin Herbert in the 2020 NFL Draft, the Dolphins flirted with Tom Brady to be their next quarterback and his inability to stay healthy.

Tagovailoa has shown his detractors that he can be a top quarterback in the NFL. This season, he leads the league in yards per attempt, leads the league in quarterback rating and is 5-0 in games that he has started and finished this season. The Dolphins are averaging 26 points per game in his five starts this season which is a vast improvement over the 15.2 points they averaged in his first five starts from last season. You can point out all of the additions that the team made last season as why he has been successful, but Tua has done a great job of executing head coach’s Mike McDaniel offense.

Running Back: The Dolphins rank 28th in rushing this season and are 28th in rushing attempts this season. The offense this season for the Dolphins has been built around the explosive wide receivers and not the running game. The leading rusher on the Dolphins is Raheem Mostert who was signed in the offseason from the 49ers to be the backup to Chase Edmonds however he has become the starter after Edmonds struggled in the preseason and in week 1.

On Tuesday, Edmonds was traded to the Broncos and the Dolphins traded for Jeff Wilson Jr from the 49ers who became expendable after 49ers traded for Christian McCaffrey last week.  (Editor’s Note: At the time of this article, it is not clear if Wilson will play vs the Bears)

Mostert and Wilson are familiar with the outside zone run scheme that Mike McDaniel’s offense runs because of both running backs time playing for the 49ers where McDaniel’s worked for five seasons before becoming the Dolphins coach.

The Dolphins have eclipsed over 100 rushing yards in three of the last four games and averaged 4.1 yards per carry vs the Lions on Sunday. The Bears have been horrific against the run this season (ask Tony Pollard of the Cowboys) and would the trade of Roquan Smith this week to the Ravens it could be a long day for the Bears shutting down this running attack of the Dolphins that is starting to heat up.

Offensive Line: In 2021, this unit gave up 40 sacks and surrendered the most pressures in the league. To improve the offensive line and keep their quarterback healthy,  the team signed Connor Williams from the Cowboys to be one of their starting guards and Terron Armstead to be their starting left tackle this offseason.

The starting offensive line from week 1 of this season will be different than the one that will face the Bears on Sunday due to injuries to starting left guard Liam Eichenberg (MCL sprain) and right tackle Austin Jackson (Ankle) who is expected to get off of injured reserve this week but not expected to play vs the Bears.

Despite the shuffling due to the injuries, the offensive line has given up less sacks than they did last season after eight games and ranks in the top ten in lowest pressure rate on the quarterback.

Many people will point out a number of different factors why the Dolphins are succeeding on offense but this offensive line deserves some praise for the great start the Dolphins have had on offense.

Wide Receivers: This season, Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle own the most receiving yards by a wide receiver duo throughout the first 8 games in NFL history.  Hill and Waddle are the only two wide receivers who play for the same team who are in the top 20 in the following categories this season: yards receiving, receptions, receiving yards per game and targets.  Bears Defensive coordinator Alan Williams is not getting a lot sleep knowing that these two wide receivers will be the opponent for his defense that just gave up 242 yards in passing to Dallas in the last game.

The Dolphins obtained Hill after a trade with the Chiefs and signed a new contract making him the highest-paid wide receiver in the league this season. Hill has been electric so far and is having his normal dominant season. Hill is on pace to have 2,042 receiving yards this season which would break the record of 1,964 yards held by Calvin Johnson.

Waddle is also having a breakout season playing alongside Hill. The second-year wide receiver is having a breakout season averaging 17.3 yards per reception and has already had four 100-yard receiving games this season after having only one 100-yard receiving last season.

By far, this is the best wide receivers the Bears have faced this season and the Bears secondary needs to be prepared to deal with great wide receiver duo.

Tight End: Head Coach Mike McDaniels comes from the Shanahan coaching tree and in the Shanahan offense  the tight end is expected to catch passes and block in the running game (George Kittle of the 49ers would be an example of what the tight end is expected to do in the offense). Last season, Mike Gisecki was the starter however because of his deficiencies as a run blocker he lost his starting job to former Notre Dame tight end Durham Smythe. Smythe has started seven out of eight games for the Dolphins but is still only receiving 45 percent of the snaps this season and has not contributed much in the passing game (6 receptions for 50 yards this season).

Meanwhile, Gisecki is still contributing in the passing game this season (21 catches, 435 receiving yards and 4 touchdowns) and just got his first start this season vs the Lions because of an hamstring injury to Smythe(Smythe is questionable for the game vs the Bears). The Bears have done well against tight ends this season and will need to continue that trend vs the Dolphins.

Defensive Line: The defensive line for the Dolphins has not been good at all in generating pressure on quarterbacks or at tackles for a loss. Currently, the Dolphins rank 29th in pressure percentage, 29th in sacks and 25th in tackles for a loss.

However, some of the numbers are due for a change with the trade for Bradley Chubb on Tuesday from the Broncos. As an outside linebacker and pass rusher this season, Chubb has had 26 pressures, 15 hurries and 5.5 sacks this season (Editor’s Note: As of this posting, it is not clear if Chubb will play on Sunday vs the Bears). 

The defensive line combined has only had 4.5 sacks and 10 tackles for loss through eight games. After playing the Cowboys and Patriots who ranked 1st and 2nd in terms of quarterback pressures this season respectively, this Bears offense line should be able to assert themselves against this defensive line that has not disrupted any of the offenses that they have faced.

Linebackers: Overall, this defense has allowed the 24th most points and 25th in yards per play. The leading tackler in this group is Elandon Roberts. Roberts has 45 combined tackles this season, 1.5 sacks and 4 tackles for loss. Roberts has been a sure tackler as he has only missed 5 tackles this season but struggles as a defender against the pass. Quarterbacks have completed 78% of their passes against him.

Once again, the addition of Bradley Chubb should provide a boost to this group and their ability to cause havoc for opposing offenses. The Bears should be able to move the ball either running or passing versus this linebacker core.

Secondary: The Dolphins are giving up 262.1 yards passing this season and have the fourth worst passing defense in the NFL. In addition, the secondary has only 4 interceptions which is 24th in the league. Coming into the season, cornerback Xavien Howard who has been named to the Pro-Bowl three times in his career was expected to be an anchor of this secondary but he has not played up to that level.

Offenses are completing 65% of their passes against Howard which is the highest completion percentage that he has ever given up in his career. He is given up 15.7 yards per reception which is also a career high.

The secondary has given up over 300 yards passing four times this year including in their win vs the Lions on Sunday. The odd fact is that the games that they have given up more than 300 yards passing the Dolphins are 3-1 in those games. We will see if Justin Fields and his new addition at wide receiver Chase Claypool can exploit this secondary.

Kicking/Special Teams: Jason Sanders is the  starting kicker for the Dolphins and has made 11 out of 14 field goals with a long of 48 yards this season. Punter Thomas Morstead averages 45.5 yards per punt which is 25th in the league. The Dolphins rank 31st in both kick return and punt return yardage and have given up kickoff return for a touchdown to the Ravens in week 2.  The weather on Sunday is expected to be clear but with wind gusts up to 20 mph so the kicking and passing game may be affected.

The Dolphins are one of the worst special teams units that the Bears have faced this season and the ability to take advantage of this could be a determining factor in the game on Sunday.

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HATTIESBURG, Miss. — Ray Guy, the first punter to make the Pro Football Hall of Fame, died Thursday. He was 72.

Southern Mississippi, where Guy starred before becoming the first punter ever taken in the first round of the NFL draft, said he died following a lengthy illness. He had been receiving care in a Hattiesburg-area hospice.

Guy was drafted 23rd overall by Al Davis’ Raiders in 1973 and played his entire 14-year career with the team. He was a three-time All-Pro selection. In 2014, he became the first player to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame exclusively for his punting.

Guy was selected to the NFL’s 75th anniversary team and the 1970’s all-decade team. He was a three-time Super Bowl champion and seven-time Pro Bowl selection.

A native of Thomson, Georgia, Guy is also a member of the College Football Football Hall of Fame and the National High School Sports Hall of Fame.

At Southern Mississippi, Guy also played defensive back, He still shares the school single-season record for most interceptions with eight in 1972.

Guy ended his NFL career in 1986 with a streak of 619 punts without having one blocked. But it took nearly three decades for him to be selected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

He was a finalist for induction seven times starting in 1992 without being voted in and didn’t even make it that far on other occasions.

“That kind of bothered me because they were saying that’s not a position, it doesn’t take an athlete to do that, it’s not important,” Guy said before his Hall of Fame induction in 2014.

“That’s what really got under my skin. It wasn’t so much whether I did or didn’t. I wish somebody had. It was just knowing that they didn’t care.

“That’s what kind of frosted me a little bit.”

Guy in many ways revolutionized the position.

His kicks went so high that one that hit the Superdome scoreboard 90 feet above the field in a Pro Bowl helped put “hang time” into the football vernacular. His ability to pin the opponent deep with either high kicks or well-positioned ones was a key part of the success for the great Raiders teams of the 1970s and 80s.

“It was something that was given to me. I don’t know how,” he said. “I’m really blessed in that category. It’s something I really appreciate and I advanced it and I made it into something great.”

Guy’s statistics look somewhat pedestrian compared to today’s punters. His career average of 42.4 yards per kick ranks 61st all time and his net average of 32.2 yards (excluding his first three seasons when the statistic wasn’t kept by the NFL) isn’t even in the top 100.

Yet, he still is considered by many as the best to ever play the position.

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The Sun-Times’ experts offer their picks for the Bears’ home game Sunday against the 5-3 Dolphins:

RICK MORRISSEY

Dolphins, 30-17

I’ve gotten my hands on a tape of Matt Eberflus’ midweek speech to his team:”People are saying we’ve given up on the season. We traded Robert Quinn and Roquan Smith. But don’t give up hope! Has anyone ever seen the ‘Rocky’ movies? How about ‘Rudy?’ Wait, what? Who said that? I distinctly heard somebody say, ‘No, but I’ve seen ‘Titanic.’ We’re doing pushups until the guilty party fesses up!” Season: 5-3.

RICK TELANDER

Dolphins, 26-21

I no longerknow what this team is. I barely know who’s on it, who’s in town, who’s waving bye-bye. The mystery Bears, led by GM sorcerer Ryan Poles. Season: 4-4.

LAURENCE HOLMES

Dolphins, 30-21

With the way the Bears offense has improved in the last few weeks, it’s possible the Bears win a shootout, but Poles’ demolition of the defense is going to leave an already depleted unit without an anchor. Watch out for Tua Tagovailoa and the boys running tempo and misdirection all day long. Season: 4-4.

PATRICK FINLEY

Dolphins, 31-18

The Bears forced two punts against the Cowboys last week. The Dolphins punted once last week against the Lions. This one could get ugly. Only the Soldier Field Turf Monster can save the Bears. Season: 4-4.

JASON LIESER

Dolphins, 34-30

It’s a scary situationfor the Bears’ defense, which was teetering the last few weeks then further weakened itself by trading Quinn and Smith. The offense, meanwhile, is on its way up, but isn’t ready to win a shootout yet. Season: 4-4.

MARK POTASH

Dolphins, 31-23

Even without Smith, the Bears’ defense won’t be as bad as it was against theCowboys. But that still won’t be enough to stop Tagovailoa, Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle from putting on a show in what looks like optimum November conditions at Soldier Field. Season: 5-3.

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A Former Bears player won an award for October

The Chicago Bears have had several former players find success outside their organization. In September, it was announced that six former Bears players were made the team captain of another NFL football team. One of those players earned the NFC Player of the Month award, revealed Thursday morning.

According to a statement by the NFL, Washington Commanders’ punter Tress Way earned the NFC Player of the Month award for special teams for his performance during October. It’s Way’s first player of the month award. Here’s why the NFL wanted to highlight Way:

Way averaged 46.8 yards per punt, with an NFC-best 45.1 net average on 28 punts during the month of October. He placed a league-high 16 punts inside of the 20-yard line, including a league-best six inside of the 10-yard line.

One of his games in October came against his former team, the Chicago Bears. Way punted six times for 307 yards in the Commanders’ win over the Bears on Thursday Night Football. Two punts landed inside the 20-yard line. The former Bears’ average of 51.2 yards per punt at Soldier Field was higher than his average during October.

Way was with the Bears during the 2013 and 2014 seasons.

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NEW YORK — The Lena Horne Theatre was officially unveiled in New York City on Tuesday, becoming the first Broadway theater named after a Black woman.

What was previously called the Brooks Atkinson Theatre (and the Mansfield Theatre before that) now displays the name of late actress and activist Lena Horne on a glittering marquee.

Horne, who was also a renowned dancer and singer, is a veteran of five Broadway shows, according to Broadway Direct. Her performance in “Jamaica” earned Horne a Tony Award nomination for best actress in a musical in 1958. And in 1981, she received a Special Tony Award for “Lena Horne: The Lady and Her Music.”

The trailblazing performer also won multiple Grammys, among other awards, and had a lengthy career in film and television — with credits including “Cabin in the Sky” (1943) “Stormy Weather” (1943) and “The Wiz” (1978). Horne was also a longtime civil rights activist.

Horne died in 2010 at 92-years-old.

The Nederlander Organization, which owns and operates the Lena Horne Theatre, worked with Black Theatre United to rename it after the icon. According to Broadway Direct, Nederlander was one of three major theatre owners that committed to having at least one of their theaters named after a Black artist, as part of Black Theatre United’s New Deal for Broadway released in August 2021.

Nederlander announced in June that the Brooks Atkinson Theatre, named after The New York Times critic Brooks Atkinson in 1960, would be renamed to honor Horne. That was made official at Tuesday’s ceremony.

According to The Grio, New York Governor Kathy Hochul, New York City Mayor Eric Adams, actresses Tamara Tunie, Audra McDonald and Karen Boykin-Towns of the NAACP were among those who participated in the public event, which also featured special singing performances.

“Today we made history in NYC when we unveiled the Lena Horne Theatre, the first Broadway theater named after a Black woman,” Adams wrote on Twitter Tuesday. “Lena personified elegance and grace while also fighting racism and injustice. Her legacy and NYC story live on.”

“This is a celebration of the contributions of Black women to theater history,” Horne’s granddaughter, actor and producer Jenny Lumet, told CBS Mornings.

Hit musical “Six” is currently playing at the Lena Horne Theatre. The theater, which sits on 47th Street in New York City, was built in 1926 and originally called the Mansfield Theatre.

Read more at usatoday.com

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Katy Eidle gets the point — for now, anyway.

The Hersey senior is committed to Michigan, where she’s projected to be a shooting guard.

But for her final season with the Huskies, she’ll be running the point one more time.

“For high school, that’s the role I take, trying to enhance that position,” she said.

Veteran Hersey coach Mary Fendley appreciates having a four-star prospect — she’s No. 77 in the espnW/HoopGurlz rankings — in that spot.

“Katy is such a skilled player,” Fendley said. “We’re lucky enough to have some really good athletes on our team. Katy being the point guard allows her to direct the show.”

Indeed: Eidle is one of three Huskies seniors who are committed to compete in Division I — in three different sports, no less. Meghan Mrowicki, who will be back at some point after completing her rehab from a torn ACL, is a Notre Dame soccer recruit and Kelsey Neary is committed to Connecticut for lacrosse.

So Eidle will have some capable options as she runs the offense for Hersey after averaging 19.9 points, 5.3 rebounds, 4.1 assists and 2.9 steals a game as a junior.

Being able to focus just on her high school finale is a relief after wrapping up a recruiting process that had some twists along the way.

Michigan, which reached the Elite Eight and finished 25-7 last season, was in the mix for Eidle for a few years. “My relationship with the head coach [Kim Barnes Arico] was really strong,” Eidle said.

The Wolverines did have a staff change over the offseason when Carrie Moore left to become head coach at Harvard and was replaced by Erin Batth. “There’s no issue with that,” Eidle said. “I got along with [the staff] really well, the connection was there.”

After the pandemic eased and recruiting shifted back from Zoom calls to visits and in-person contacts, Eidle was able to get on campus and liked what she saw.

“I wanted to commit before the season, I did not know I would do it that early,” she said. “I visited, and it clicked. I knew that’s where I wanted to be. It took a lot of stress out.”

Eidle has been playing basketball almost as long as she can remember and joined the Wolverines AAU program as a third-grader. She dabbled in other sports up until seventh grade but has been all basketball ever since.

She appreciates being part of a special senior class in Illinois. Six players at IHSA schools are ranked in the national top 100, and three of them could cross paths in the Big Ten: Eidle; No. 8- Emily Fisher of Libertyville, who is headed to Maryland; and No. 83 Lenee Beaumont of Benet, who is committed to Indiana.

“We all know each other and we all get along well,” Eidle said. “We love each other’s success. … It’s going to be cool playing against each other [in college].”

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