In a span of nearly two months, left-hander Justin Steele has developed a knack for being adaptable and dominant.

Since heeding the advice from former Cubs great Jon Lester, Steele has pounded the inside part of the strike zone to right-handers with greater success with only two primary pitches.

At the same time, Steele has been able to exploit the weaknesses of opposing offenses – whether it’s inducing soft contact or accumulating strikeouts.

Steele displayed his dominance Sunday by striking out seven of the first 10 batters he faced and finished with six innings of two-hit ball.

Although the bullpen surrendered five runs in the final three innings of a 5-2 loss to the Brewers that snapped a five-game winning streak, the Cubs can feel more encouraged by the continued development of Steele and his eagerness to improve.

“From where he’s come from early in the season, it just feels like you’re getting that performance every time he steps foot on the mound, all the way around,” manager David Ross said.

Steele has posted a 1.47 ERA in his last nine starts since June 29. That occurred after one of his roughest starts, when he was tagged for six runs in a loss at Pittsburgh.

That improvement started three weeks after Lester mentioned to Ross that Steele would benefit from throwing his fastball and slider inside more frequently to right-handers to jam them and/or open up the outer portion of the strike zone.

Ross relayed Lester’s tips to Steele, and Steele made sure to thank Lester during a pregame visit Sunday.

“I told him I appreciated him reaching out to Ross earlier in season,” Steele said of Lester, who visited Wrigley Field for the first time since retiring after the 2021 season. “He didn’t have to do that, so it was greatly appreciated.”

In Steele’s last six starts, he’s posted an 0.86 ERA – lowest in the majors during that stretch. He’s had three starts of at least nine strikeouts during that span.

Steele generated 15 swings and misses among his 89 pitches – including 10 on his four-seam fastball.

Steele threw only seven sinkers and has experimented in the past with a curve and changeup that he hopes to develop in the future. But Ross seems content with the current repertoire, for now.

“I don’t want to complicate it, either,” Ross said. “The guy we got right now is pretty darn good. If this is it, I’ll take this spot right here. If he develops more pitches, fine. I don’t think you have to develop five pitches to be dominant.”

Steele, 27, a fourth-round pick of the Cubs in 2014, had much of his early development stunted by injuries. But he has earned to improve his physique and stamina through trial and error.

He praised the Cubs’ training staff for throwing a team-high 113 2/3 innings without any signs of fatigue, and he added extra weight on his 6-foot-2, 205-pound frame entering spring training to prepare for the rigors of a full major league season.

“It’s about knowing your body,” said Steele, adding that his family is “active and skinny” and doesn’t maintain weight.

“I don’t want to be somewhere when I lose weight I risk injury. Everyone is different.”

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The Fire played on a field meant for soccer. Their performance showed they’re not meant for the playoffs.

During Sunday’s 2-0 loss to New York City FC in front of an announced crowd of 11,720, the Fire struggled to do much against an NYCFC team that lost Wednesday at home and entered on a four-game winless streak. Sunday’s result, which was moved to SeatGeek Stadium in Bridgeview because of expected playing conditions at Soldier Field, was reminiscent of many the Fire have turned in at the venue, when the team would come up short in crucial situations.

With the loss, the Fire have dropped two straight, and it became clear early that Sunday would be another Bridgeview disappointment for the club.

NYCFC took a 1-0 lead in the 16th minute when the Fire gave Gabriel Pereira time and space outside the 18-yard box, and he beat Gabriel Slonina with a shot into the top right corner.

The Fire also got a significant scare later in the 24th when Kacper Przybylko attempted a header in front of the NYCFC goal and also made contact with defender Malte Amundsen. Przybylko stayed down for several minutes and was bloodied, but returned in the 31st with a bandage around his head.

Przybylko was replaced by Jhon Duran in the 50th minute, but by then the Fire had conceded again. Normally reliable captain Rafael Czichos gave the ball away in front of the Fire net, and Santiago Rodriguez slotted it past Slonina for a 46th-minute goal and 2-0 NYCFC lead.

With Gaston Gimenez (right thigh) out, the Fire’s thin depth was going to be tested if the Fire suffered more injuries after sporting director Georg Heitz made no additions before the transfer window closed. That came back to bite the Fire when Carlos Teran – playing for the first time since hurting his hamstring July 30 – appeared to injure himself and was removed in the 68th minute.

Because coach Ezra Hendrickson had already subbed out center back option Mauricio Pineda, the Fire switched to a 3-5-2 after Teran departed. Pineda started in midfield next to Federico Navarro.

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The Chicago Bears had one of the worst offensive lines in the NFL, but the evidence now says the Bears have a far better unit than a few months ago.

There’s little doubt that fans and analysts of the Chicago Bears have little patience in the Bears fixing their offensive line problems.

However, the Bears are moving in the correct direction with the players they have added to the roster, and it shouldn’t be a surprise that there are subtle signs that the Bears will be a lot better off this year than they were last year, on the offensive line.

New GM Ryan Poles came from the Kansas City Chiefs and his assistant GM Ian Cunningham came from the Philadelphia Eagles and they wasted no time in bringing in young talent along the offensive line by making trades and adding more picks.  Both the Eagles and the Chiefs have two of the top offensive lines in the NFL heading into the 2022 season.  

Why is the Bears’ offensive line already better than it was the day after the NFL Draft? Cunningham and Poles added quality depth in the draft.  Three players are/were already performing above expectations in training camp.  Fifth-round draft pick Braxton Jones has the starting left tackle position locked up and is likely going to turn into the long-term starter.  To find your starting left tackle in the fifth round is a rare gem. Most left tackles are found within the first round of the NFL Draft but Poles may have found one of the top steals of the 2022 NFL Draft.

Seventh-round draft pick Ja’Tyre Carter has been primarily running with the second team at right guard and earning the praise of radio analyst and former Bears right guard Tom Thayer. Carter is in a position to make the 53-man roster as a seventh-round pick. Doug Kramer before his unfortunate injury was running with the second team at center in place of Sam Mustipher who was getting the primary reps at right guard.

Three players on the offensive line who already came in and made waves in their first year on the roster.  That’s an important overall development in the health of the Bears’ offensive line.  While it may not seem like much, it’s clear that if the Bears have three guys who could be key cogs in the offensive line over the next few years.

The evidence is there that what the Chiefs and the Eagles put together building up their offensive lines happened under the guidance of the two men who are now in charge of the Bears.  The evidence is also strong that there has been an immediate impact by Poles and Cunningham on the 2022 Chicago Bears’ offensive line.

Consider the health and depth of the overall offensive line, compared to a year ago.  Jones solidifies the left tackle spot, Riley Reiff and Larry Borom are fighting for the starting right tackle/primary backup to both offensive tackle spots.  Both Reiff and Borom have played both left tackle and right tackle with Reiff the veteran who has secured the spot but has also forced Borom to elevate his game in their training camp competition.  Reiff has primarily played left tackle, but a switch to right tackle may resurrect his career to the point that it elevates the Bears’ offensive line.

Teven Jenkins can play both guard and tackle and is competing with Michael Schofield for the guard/back offensive tackle spot on the roster.  Schofield is a starter-level player who could be relegated to a solid backup spot with Jenkins’ emergence.

So, the Bears have young talent in Jenkins, Borom, Jones, Carter, and Kramer that could theoretically all have the potential to start together in the not-too-distant future.  While three of the four may not have to start because of the veterans added to the mix, or if they do start are pushed by veterans who have started who have forced them to get better.

The Chicago Bears offensive line is better than it was a year ago and is also in good hands for the future.  Primarily because the two men piecing it together have a track record of success that has already led to a major difference in one off-season.

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This should be a straightforward question for any defensive coordinator: How many of your dozen or so cornerbacks do you trust?

“I’m still not sure yet,” the Bears’ Alan Williams said Sunday. “I’m really not. I think I know where you’re going: You may say, ‘Well, is that Jaylon Johnson? Has he earned it?’ None of our guys have played an entire ballgame.

“Right now, we’re still looking. We’ll see who can get there and earn the trust… I always say it’s a bank account. Can you fill up that bank account with trust in how you play and be consistent? And then we’ll go from there.”

OK then, with the season less than three weeks away, whose bank account is biggest?

“I’m not sure who makes that much money,” Williams quipped. “I know what you’re asking. I’ll stay away from that right now. None of them have a big enough bank account that they get to do what they want to right now. None of them right now.”

Let’s fill in some blanks on the ledger.

While Williams makes a valid point that players must earn credibility with him during real games, Johnson has banked plenty of it over the last two seasons. He’s one of the few surefire things about this team amid the rebuild.

And rookie Kyler Gordon, the team’s top draft pick at No. 39 overall and No. 6 at his position, has shown enough between his college track record and his impressive training camp at nickel that he qualifies for a loan.

But after those two? That’s probably the real reason it’s tough for Williams to answer.

This team saw how it went last season with Johnson and a bunch of question marks.

The Bears allowed the highest passer rating in the NFL and in franchise history at 103.3, the equivalent of making opposing quarterbacks look like Tom Brady, on average. They also gave up the third-most yards and touchdown passes and snared the fourth-fewest interceptions.

That debacle happened despite having the benefit of a pass rush that was fourth in sacks. It was the second-highest passer rating allowed in a season by a team that had at least 45 sacks.

Johnson was the Bears’ only corner who kept quarterbacks below 60% completions.

The secondary was on fire every week.

No matter what defense the Bears run or who’s coaching them, they need reliable cornerbacks. Matt Eberflus can’t scheme around being shaky at that position.

What is Kindle Vildor’s balance after a season in which opponents completed nearly 70% of their passes against him? Or Duke Shelley’s after allowing 74%?

Tavon Young hasn’t been a full-time starter since tearing his ACL in 2017. Thomas Graham, a sixth-round pick last year, played just four games as a rookie. Lamar Jackson — not the one you’re thinking of — spent almost all of last season on the Jets’ practice squad.

If cornerback proves to be a liability for the defense, the ripple effect could hurt quarterback Justin Fields in a season that’s crucial to his development.

One of the best ways the Bears can help Fields is to set him up for success with takeaways. Many of the best quarterbacks had that in their favor during their breakout seasons.

The Bears have been 22nd or worse in takeaways each of the last three seasons. The last time they were good, leading the NFL with 36 in 2018, it was enough to make Mitch Trubisky viable. The season before, the Eagles and Rams were top five in takeaways and propped up Carson Wentz and Jared Goff, respectively.

Fields remains the most important person at Halas Hall, and every potential problem with this roster will affect him in some way. So the Bears better hope their cornerbacks other than Johnson start making deposits.

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When the Bears stiff-armed linebacker Roquan Smith in his quest for a long-term contract after being a second-team All-Pro the last two seasons, teammates surely took notice. But running back David Montgomery was unfazed.

Montgomery could be in a similar situation next season. He’s averaged 1,244 yards from scrimmage and eight touchdowns in his first three seasons — pretty impressive for offenses that ranked 29th, 22nd and 27th in scoring.

Smith’s contract episode did not concern him. It’s worth noting that he has an agent to deal with contract issues. Smith does not.

“I just come here to play football. That has nothing to do with me,” Montgomery said.”I’m sure everyone else is handling it who has to handle it. I’m just worried bout football, and I’m ready to play.”

Montgomery, in fact, said his next contract is the least of his concerns.

“I’ve got bigger fish to fry,” Montgomery said. “I’ve got a game coming up this week [Saturday against the Browns]. I’m worried about that –not worried about a contract, none of that. I’m just trying to play football and have fun with that. Everything else will take care of itself. I’ve got no worries in the world.”

Khalil Herbert returns

Running back Khalil Herbert, who left Saturday’s practice on a cart but with no obvious injury, returned to practice Monday. Defensive end Al-Quadin Muhammad also practiced after missing Saturday’s practice.

Wide receiver Nsimba Webster did not practice Sunday. Also out were safety Jaquan Brisker, center Lucas Patrick, wide receivers Tajae Sharpe, N’Keal Harry and Byron Pringle, cornerbacks Tavon Young, Thomas Graham and Jaylon Jones and linebacker Caleb Johnson.

Big-play defense

After 6-4, 338-pound defensive tackle Khyiris Tonga rumbled 80 yards for a pick-6 in Saturday’s practice, the defensive line created another takeaway Sunday when defensive tackle Angelo Blackson tipped a pass that linebacker Nick Morrow picked just before it hit the ground.

“It gives credibility to the H.I.T.S principle, that there’s a reason why we turn and hustle and run to the football,” said defensive coordinator Alan Williams, referring to Matt Eberflus’ acronym for hustle, intensity, takeaways and playing smart that is the foundation of his philosophy.

“So when guys’ legs are a little bit dead and they go, ‘Coach, give me a little break today. This is why I”m not running because I’m a little tired,’ I go, ‘See this right here? That’s a game-changing play. That goes from maybe a field goal or possibly a touchdown to we intercept the ball, and you look over there and the other group, they’re deflated.’

“That’s a great step into the H.I.T.S. principle –why we run; why we turn the ball over. [It’s a] big deal.”

Salute to the military

The Bears recognized first responders and military groups at practice Sunday — an honor particularly meaningful to Williams, whose father was an Army officer and pilot in Vietnam.

“I know how it is, for those people to serve and give and sacrifice,” Williams said. “We owe a debt of gratitude. So I wanted to say thank you to them, and we appreciate them coming out and supporting us.”

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