Notable Bets: Oddsmakers’ approach to NBA tankers, most popular bets and betting staton October 17, 2022 at 11:49 am
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Blackhawks’ Jason Dickinson rediscovers ability to compartmentalize in debut
New Blackhawks forward Jason Dickinson needed to get out of his head.
Thrown into the fire in his Hawks debut Saturday, he did just that — because he hardly knew anything about his new team anyway.
”The best players in the world play the game without thinking, right?” he said. ”Everything’s on instinct. So there’s definitely something to it. I know over my career I’ve overthought too much sometimes, and that definitely is a problem when I start playing poorly. [I’m working on] just going out there and playing, simple as that.”
Dickinson notched three points — for only the third time in his career — and was named the second star of the Hawks’ 5-2 victory against the Sharks.
It was a remarkable debut for the 27-year-old, who had just met the team for the first time Friday — after a weeklong wait for his immigration paperwork to process — and who had received his only instruction from coach Luke Richardson at the morning skate.
”Sometimes things just click,” Richardson said. ”He had a chance to come in here and have a fresh start, and he took advantage of it. . . . Sometimes there’s this instant chemistry, and sometimes there isn’t. Fortunately for us, there is [chemistry] here.”
Dickinson has experienced both scenarios already. In Dallas, his home for his first three full NHL seasons with the Stars, Dickinson fit perfectly.
His defensive results were stellar. From 2018-19 through 2021, he allowed only 2.09 expected goals per 60 even-strength minutes, tied for 10th-best among NHL forwards. He was also a solid penalty-killer and scored enough — 22, 21 and 15 points in the three seasons, respectively — not to be a liability offensively.
But with the Canucks, who signed him to a three-year contract in the summer of 2021, it turned out he never fit well. Dickinson tallied only 11 points in 62 games and allowed 2.78 expected goals per 60 even-strength minutes. An under-the-radar injury further hindered him.
”I want to get back to what I was in Dallas,” he said Saturday. ”I was the Swiss Army knife [there], and that’s what I’ve done most of my career: Just do what I’ve got to do.
”Last year, there were some tough circumstances. I had a broken hand I didn’t know about for a while. Maybe my game wasn’t where I wanted it to be, but there were also a lot of things just going against me.”
That adversity, compounded by the added pressure of playing in his native Canada, took a toll on him mentally.
”I wasn’t able to compartmentalize and shut things out,” Dickinson said. ”[I was] letting too much get to me and putting a ton of pressure on myself. It never goes well when you start thinking too much.”
In his first game with the Hawks, he immediately proved to himself he could compartmentalize successfully again.
His first period was understandably ”ugly,” to use his word. He was on the ice for both Sharks goals, and he said replaying those in his mind would ”eat me alive for a little bit.” He quickly put that behind him, however, and dominated the remaining 40 minutes.
He made savvy plays to set up both of Sam Lafferty’s short-handed goals, including a never-give-up centering pass while lying on the ice behind the goal on the second one. He later ripped a perfectly placed shot on a two-on-one rush for the Hawks’ fifth goal. He finished the game with the Hawks’ third-best expected-goals ratio (66.6%).
It was just one game, but Dickinson seemed refreshed already.
”I’ve forgotten about last year,” he said. ”[I] can’t let it bother me and can’t dwell on it because it’s done and it’s over with. Now it’s just, ‘Move forward. Start playing hockey again.’ ”
Blackhawks’ Jason Dickinson rediscovers ability to compartmentalize in debut Read More »
Blackhawks’ Jason Dickinson rediscovers ability to compartmentalize in debut
New Blackhawks forward Jason Dickinson needed to get out of his head.
Thrown into the fire in his Hawks debut Saturday, he did just that — because he hardly knew anything about his new team anyway.
“The best players in the world play the game without thinking, right?” he said. “Everything’s on instinct. So there’s definitely something to it. I know over my career I’ve overthought too much sometimes, and that definitely is a problem when I start playing poorly. [I’m working on] just going out there and playing. Simple as that.”
Dickinson tallied three points — for just the third time in his career — and was named the second star of the Hawks’ 5-2 win over the Sharks.
It was a remarkable debut for the 27-year-old forward who’d just met the team for the first time Friday, after a weeklong wait for his immigration paperwork to process, and who’d received his first and only instruction from coach Luke Richardson at morning skate.
“Sometimes things just click,” Richardson said. “He had a chance to come in here and have a fresh start, and he took advantage of it. … Sometimes there’s this instant chemistry, and sometimes there isn’t. Fortunately for us, there is [chemistry] here.”
Dickinson has experienced both those scenarios already. With the Stars, his home for his first three full NHL seasons, Dickinson fit perfectly.
His defensive results were stellar: From 2018-19 through 2021, he allowed just 2.09 expected goals per 60 even-strength minutes, tied for 10th-best among league forwards. He was also a solid penalty killer and scored enough — 22, 21 and 15 points in the three seasons, respectively — to not be a liability offensively.
But with the Canucks, who gave him a bigger, three-year contract last summer, it turned out he never fit well. He tallied only 11 points in 62 games and allowed 2.78 expected goals against per 60 even-strength minutes, below the team average. An under-the-radar injury further hindered him.
“I want to get back to what I was in Dallas,” he said Saturday. “I was the Swiss Army Knife [there], and that’s what I’ve done most of my career: Just do what I’ve got to do.
“Last year, there were some tough circumstances. I had a broken hand I didn’t know about for a while. Maybe my game wasn’t where I wanted it to be, but there were also a lot of things just going against me.”
That adversity, multiplied by the added pressure of playing in Canada, took a toll on his mental fortitude.
“I wasn’t able to compartmentalize and shut things out,” he added. “[I was] letting too much get to me and putting a ton of pressure on myself. It never goes well when you start thinking too much.”
On Saturday, in his first game in a white-and-red sweater, he immediately proved to himself he could compartmentalize successfully again.
His first period was understandably “ugly,” in his words. He was on the ice for both Sharks goals, and he said replaying those in his mind would “eat me alive for a little bit.” He quickly put that behind him, though, and dominated the remaining 40 minutes.
He made savvy plays to set up both of Sam Lafferty’s shorthanded goals, including a never-give-up centering pass laying on the ice behind the goal on the second one. He later ripped a perfectly placed shot on a two-on-one rush for the Hawks’ fifth goal. He finished the game, as one might expect, with the Hawks’ third-best expected goals ratio (66.6%).
It was just one game, but Dickinson seemed refreshed already.
“I’ve forgotten about last year,” he said. “[I] can’t let it bother me and can’t dwell on it because it’s done and it’s over with. Now it’s just, ‘Move forward. Start playing hockey again.'”
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Bears’ mini-bye review: Justin Fields future is up in the air
The Bears are 2-4 under first-year coach Matt Eberflus after losing 12-7 to the Commanders on Thursday night. With a “mini-bye” prior to playing the Patriots next Monday night, here’s a look at where they stand after six games:
What is Matt Eberflus’ grade through 6 games?
C. Eberflus is a no-frills, Brand-X NFL head coach who will succeed if he gets the quarterback right and fail if he does not. We’ve already seen the impact of the H.I.T.S. principal and its limitations. The same with his openness to giving rookies and inexperience players a chance. So far, Eberflus is comfortable with game management, including an aggressive mindset that looks like it will pay dividends — if he gets the quarterback right.
Is Justin Fields getting better or worse?
He’s not getting appreciably better. But if he’s getting worse, it’s because he was set up to get worse — with a shaky offensive line, a nondescript receiving corps and a first-year offensive coordinator. The best thing you can say about Fields at this point is that he’s still standing — and even that is a little precarious with all the hits he’s taken in the first six games. Still a long way to go.
What is one change the Bears must make offensively?
At this point there really isn’t much they can change that will make a difference. Riley Reiff and Alex Leatherwood are unlikely to automatically provide a major upgrade in their pass protection — they were available for a reason. The Bears’ running game already is third in the NFL in yards per game (170.8) — and Fields is a big part of that. There’s no magic solution to their offensive stagnation. They have made their bed and now must lie in it.
What is the biggest problem facing the Bears overall?
It’s still early, but Ryan Poles’ master plan to not emphasize offense in free agency and the draft (and truth be told, there was only so much he could have done) has the Bears veering toward a worst-case scenario — that Fields is failing because he was set up to fail.
What has been the best surprise?
Second-year running back Khalil Herbert has rushed for 403 yards and three touchdowns on 63 carries — his 6.4-yard average led all NFL running backs heading into Sunday’s games. He has the Bears’ two longest rushes this season –64 and 52 yards. David Montgomery (62-246, 4.0, one touchdown) has a long run is 28 yards.
Whathas been the biggest disappointment?
In six games, tight end Cole Kmet had 10 receptions for 116 yards (11.6 avg.) and no touchdowns. On a team with only one wide receiver with more than six catches (Darnell Mooney has 17 for 241 yards), Kmet figured to be a safety valve for Fields, but his production through six games is even less than last season (14-130, 9.3).
What is your revised prediction of the Bears’ final record?
5-12. The Bears are pretty much where they were expected to be –in rebuilding mode, suffering through rookie errors/development, with Fields predictably struggling to make progress with a modest supporting cast. There’s opportunity for improvement with more experience. But at this point it’s tough to see the offense flip a switch and take some giant leap with this roster.
Bears’ mini-bye review: Justin Fields future is up in the air Read More »
Former Bears QB Mitch Trubisky helps lead Steelers to upset win
Mitch Trubisky replaces Kenny Pickett and leads Steelers to upset win
Former Chicago Bears quarterback Mitch Trubisky was benched a few weeks back in favor of rookie Kenny Pickett in Pittsburgh. But it didn’t take long for Trubisky to find his way back into the game and help lead a big upset in the process.
On Sunday, Trubisky came in relief of Pickett who took a big hit and had to leave the game due to an injury against Tampa Bay. That forced Trubisky to get back into the game and the quarterback played well.
Trubisky completed 9 of his 12 attempts for 144 yards and a touchdown, appearing in the second half of the 20-18 win:
Mitch Trubisky off the bench vs the Bucs:
⚫️ 9/12 (75%)
🟡 144 yards
⚫️ 12.0 YPA
🟡 1 TD
⚫️ 0 INTs
🟡 142.4 passer rating pic.twitter.com/gzeZtkv3OA
— PFF PIT Steelers (@PFF_Steelers) October 16, 2022
Will Mitch Trubisky start in Week 7?
Pickett was being evaluated for a concussion which is why he had to leave the game. So he will have to clear protocol before he can play in Week 7.
If Pickett can’t go, the Steelers will turn to Trubisky for the Sunday Night Football matchup at Miami.
Former Bears QB Mitch Trubisky helps lead Steelers to upset win Read More »
Chicago Bears: NFC North is looking wildly different right nowVincent Pariseon October 16, 2022 at 8:41 pm
GREEN BAY, WISCONSIN – OCTOBER 16: Aaron Rodgers #12 of the Green Bay Packers looks to pass in the fourth quarter of a game against the New York Jets at Lambeau Field on October 16, 2022 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Photo by John Fisher/Getty Images)
The Chicago Bears played thier Week Six game on Thursday Night Football against the Washington Commanders. It was a tight low scoring game that ended with a whimper for the Bears as they came up about an inch short of getting the win.
They dropped to 2-4 after the loss. There were a lot of reasons for this final result but the inability to execute on the final play of the game for Justin Fields and the offense was the biggest.
A lot happened in this game for the Bears to feel good about and they must learn from it going forward. If they can do that, they might look better and better as the season goes along.
On Sunday, the Bears naturally didn’t have a game so everyone was able to sit back and observe the rest of the league. Now, it appears as if the NFC North Division is going in a wildly different direction than what people are used to.
The Detroit Lions had a bye week so they will take their 1-4 record into week seven. However, the Minnesota Vikings and Green Bay Packers are the two teams that are going to be fighting for the division this season.
The Chicago Bears are playing in an NFC North division that is changing.
Minnesota came into their game against the Miami Dolphins at 4-1. They ended up beating them by a score of 24-16 to push their record to 5-1. It was a nice game for Kirk Cousins and his team as they continue to win close games which was a problem for them in 2021.
Green Bay is back from London looking to bounce back from a loss with a record of 3-2. Unfortunately for them, they were defeated by the New York Jets and now have a record of 3-3. Aaron Rodgers was hit a lot and the offense wasn’t able to get much going at all.
The Packers’ defense was also mostly ineffective against the Jets when it mattered the most. As a result, they lost the game by a final score of 27-10. They now trail the Vikings in the division by two games. Based on the last couple of years, that is very different from what NFL fans are used to.
It might not be the year for the Chicago Bears but with Green Bay falling off, continuing the rebuild might be the right move so that they are ready to take over the NFC North for a long time. Watching this division for the rest of the season is certainly going to be exciting.
Former Bears QB Jay Cutler had special gift for Tennessee after beating Alabama
Former Bears QB Jay Cutler gifted cigars to Tennessee after beating Alabama
Saturday was one of the best days in college football in recent memory, headlined by Tennessee ending a long losing streak and beating Alabama for the first time in 15 years.
Following the game, an epic celebration ensued including taking the goal posts out of the stadium and dumping them into the Tennessee River. And a former Chicago Bears quarterback had a role in that celebration after the game.
Per Ross Dellenger of Sports Illustrated, Jay Cutler supplied the Vols with the victory cigars following the win and had a good reason why:
One of the people who supplied the Tennessee football team with cigars was none other than Jay Cutler, the former Vanderbilt QB.
Why did he do it?
“He wanted us to beat Bama,” says a Vols administrator.
The former Vanderbilt quarterback had some respect for the fellow in-state program and really wanted them to enjoy the celebration.
Cutler took the Smokin’ Jay nickname to a whole new level.
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High school football: Four Downs, news and notes from Week 8
Simeon’s undefeated run has been keyed by some major stars and big-time college prospects: Malik Elzy, Andre Crews, Christopher Burgess Jr. and Mikeshun Beeler.
The Wolverines have large, athletic and talented lines and game-breakers at several key offensive positions. Dante Culbreath’s squad also has a weapon that very few Public League teams have had over the past few decades: a quality kicker.
Senior Amusat Pelumi arrived in Chicago from Nigeria in 2018. He was a soccer player at that point. Last year he learned how to kick a football and he made Simeon’s varsity team during tryouts this season.
“My dad and I came here because we felt like we had to change some stuff,” Pelumi said. “And one of those changes was switching from soccer to football. I wanted to do something unique.”
Simeon has mostly played blowout games this season, so Pelumi hasn’t had a high-pressure kick. But his long extra points turned several heads in the win against Morgan Park on Saturday at Gately Stadium.
Pelumi is 3 for 3 on field goals this season. He made two from 30 yards and one from 28. He’s only missed one extra point. Culbreath says Pelumi is consistent from about 40 yards in practice.
“We’ve been working diligently with him and our special teams because he’s going to be important in the playoffs,” Culbreath said. “His teammates love him. He speaks so differently and teaches them things about Nigeria so it’s been good to have him on the team.”
Player of the Year update
It’s probably a stretch to say it has been an exciting Player of the Year race this season, but two of the top candidates had big games in Week 8.
Prairie Ridge quarterback Tyler Vasey rushed for more than 300 yards and five touchdowns in a 48-41 win against Crystal Lake South.
Prospect junior Brad Vierneisel was one of the few quarterbacks in the area that was able to succeed in Friday’s rain. He was 13 for 14 for 165 yards and three touchdowns against Wheeling.
Underrated rivalry
The Oswego vs. Oswego East football game is one of the area’s hidden gems. It’s relatively young at just 18 years, but the game is usually a sellout and there is a traveling trophy. The game means something.
This seasons was especially important. Oswego East came back to win 35-21 to knock Oswego (3-5) out of playoff contention. The Panthers haven’t missed the playoffs since 2010.
Oswego East running back Tre Jones ran for more than 250 yards and scored four touchdowns to lead the Wolves (5-3) to the win.
The big one
Mount Carmel at Loyola has been circled on the calendar all season long. Both teams have taken care of business and are undefeated heading into the showdown in Wilmette on Saturday. The Caravan has been No. 1 all season and Loyola has spent most of the year at No. 2. The U will televise the game live.
Here’s one factor to keep in mind: Michael Baker has developed into a secret weapon for the Ramblers. He kicked a 56-yard field goal against St. Patrick in Week 8. That’s tied for the fifth-longest in state history.
High school football: Four Downs, news and notes from Week 8 Read More »
Jonathan Toews is off to a hot start for the Chicago BlackhawksVincent Pariseon October 16, 2022 at 6:25 pm
SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA – OCTOBER 15: Jonathan Toews #19 of the Chicago Blackhawks celebrates after scoring a goal against the San Jose Sharks in the second period of an NHL Hockey game at SAP Center on October 15, 2022 in San Jose, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
The Chicago Blackhawks are not a very good hockey team in the year 2022. They are at the very beginning of a rebuild which the team expects to take a long time. It is going to be a very long year for this team as they work on building for the future.
Things didn’t get off to a hot start for Chicago in 2022-23 as they opened with two elite teams in the Colorado Avalanche and Vegas Golden Knights. As expected, they were beaten in both and only scored two goals in those six periods of play.
However, on Saturday night, they finally earned their first win of the season. They paid a visit to the San Jose Sharks who are also one of the weaker teams in the NHL. It was a great game for Chicago as Luke Richardson collected his first career win as an NHL head coach.
After going down 2-0, it was Jonathan Toews who started the rally by scoring a big goal. That was his second goal of the season (he has yet to collect any assists yet). In a contract year for Toews that might lead to him ending up on another team, he is off to a fast start.
The Chicago Blackhawks need Jonathan Toews to be the best version of himself.
Going into the year, a lot of people wondered how Toews would play this season. He hasn’t been the best version of himself in a couple of years which makes people assume that he is hard to trade if the Blackhawks wanted to. Well, this big start might be attractive for other teams.
Toews has clearly bought into Richardson’s systems and what they are trying to do. He isn’t the same player that he was in 2014 but he can still be very valuable to a team. For now, his most important role with the Blackhawks is being a leader both on and off the ice.
He is going to see a lot of this young organization up and down from Rockford this year and it is up to him to show them the way. He has been one of the best captains in the league for his entire career and now isn’t the time to stop.
If he does put up good offensive numbers, there could be another run at the Stanley Cup coming his way with a different team. The Hawks would be wise to consider making big moves like that to help improve their chances at a brighter future.
As long as he is with the Blackhawks, however, it is nice to see him playing well because it sets a tone. There was worry that he wasn’t all in on this team and the decisions that they were making but his play suggests otherwise. The rest of his 2022-23 season will certainly be interesting.
Analyzing the Bears through 6 games
One-third of the way through the 18-week season — the Bears play 17 games and have one bye –Sun-Times reporter Patrick Finley issues a report card:
What is Matt Eberflus’ grade through 6 games?
C. As expected– and demanded by his H.I.T.S. system — Eberflus coaches a team that plays hard on every snap.They’ve yet to fracture despite a disparity in performance between the defense, which is competent, and the offense, which is not. But the Bears’ main goal this season is to develop Fields into a franchise quarterback –and they’re stuck in the mud on that front.
Is Justin Fields getting better or worse?
The numbers say he’s getting worse. Fields is averaging fewer yards per game and has a lower passer rating this year than last season. His sack rate and interception rate are higher this year than last. The Bears, though, are treating this season as a 17-game test, and quarterback growth is rarely incremental. If Fields can figure it out — and if his coaches can find the best way to use him — those numbers can flip quickly.
What is one change the Bears must make offensively?
The Bears need to find a way to better protect Fields schematically. That means more screens and quick throws, play-action passes that get him moving and cut the field in half and — yes — handing the ball off on some obvious passing downs. The only thing worse for the franchise than Fields struggling is him sitting on the sideline, injured. They must find a way to get him to Week 17 intact.
What is the biggest problem facing the Bears overall?
The same problem facing them in March and August –and one that they’ll still have to deal with in November, December and January: they lack the offensive playmakers to properly evaluate Fields. Velus Jones’ fumbles aren’t making their decision to pass on drafting a receiver in Round 2 look any smarter.
What has been the best surprise?
This season is about finding players who can star on the next good Bears team. Running back Khalil Herbert has proven he can start in 2023 and beyond.
Whathas been the biggest disappointment?
Defensive end Robert Quinn has one sack after setting a franchise record with 18.5 last year. Quinn is one of the few valuable pieces the Bears could trade by the Nov. 1 deadline. They need him to show signs of life first.
What is your revised prediction of the Bears’ final record?
Still 6-11. If we’ve learned anything about the NFL this season, it’s that, short of a half-dozen teams, anyone can be mediocre in a given week.
Analyzing the Bears through 6 games Read More »