Chicago Bears: Which QB has edge in shortened preseason?Patrick Sheldonon June 12, 2020 at 11:00 am

Chicago Bears (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)

Which Chicago Bears quarterback has the advantage this preseason?

The Chicago Bears will open up training camp — whenever that is — with an open quarterback competition. How thorough a competition it ends up depends almost entirely on the impacts of COVID-19 over the coming months.

However, based on a recent rumor, it appears the team may not be able to get as much of a look at Mitchell Trubisky and Nick Foles this preseason as they might like.

While Matt Nagy has committed to playing starters in the preseason, a departure from his first two seasons, there is a chance the league reduces the number of preseason games down to just two.

With uncertainty looming around how much “in-person” time teams will have with their players this offseason, these two preseason games will be incredibly significant.

It will ultimately be up to Nagy to get creative in how he divides up the snaps of these two games to ensure they have as equal an opportunity as possible, but assuming he does, who has the advantage? We make the case for both.

The case for Trubisky

The primary area in which Trubisky struggles is reading defenses and coverages. Unfortunately for him, reading a playbook and attending Zoom calls won’t help much, if at all, in that regard.

But where Mitch holds the advantage is with the chemistry he’s developed with his wide receivers. The fact that he’s in Chicago and has been able to work with his receivers, including Allen Robinson multiple times per week, is a big advantage over Foles.

Furthermore, defenses in preseason games, by nature are extremely bland and basic. With even less time to prepare leading up to the games, it’s reasonable to think they might be even simpler this year. Without his ability to process being severely tested, Trubisky can shine by exploiting those basic coverages with good chemistry.

The case for Foles

Where Trubisky fails, Foles shines. He is well adept at recognizing coverages before the snap and then processing what he sees post-snap. Foles is a veteran with a plethora of experience in this offense and knows how to go through his progressions.

No matter how short the preseason is, Foles will display this ability to quickly process what he sees and get the ball where it needs to go on a particular play.

Next: Why are the Bears hiding their QBs?

The other thing Foles has going for him is he has prior experience with Nagy. Nagy knows he can read a defense. He knows he can quickly develop chemistry with receivers, having done so mainly as a backup in his career. Therefore, Nagy will likely be looking for mere confirmation Foles is still that guy and that he has picked up the offense’s terminology. That shouldn’t take long to do, and so if Nagy is merely looking to confirm what he already believes, the amount of preseason games won’t matter.

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Chicago Bears: Which QB has edge in shortened preseason?Patrick Sheldonon June 12, 2020 at 11:00 am Read More »

Chicago Bears: Reliving the 1985 Super Bowl winTim Healeyon June 12, 2020 at 12:00 pm

Walter Payton, Chicago Bears. (Photo by Mike Powell/Allsport/Getty Images)

Last Sunday, NBC showed the Chicago Bears’ Super Bowl win against the New England Patriots.

As a lifelong Chicago Bears fan, I’ve always wanted to see them win a title. Thing is, while I was alive in 1985, I am too young to have remembered the game. I was not yet five and a half years old when the ball was kicked off.

So I was intrigued to see that NBC was showing more or less the whole broadcast (it appears the broadcast was trimmed a bit for time) of the game, with an interview of Mike Singletary and Dan Hampton mixed in.

Watching the game now, 34 years and change later (they may be the ’85 Bears, but the championship game was, of course, played in 1986), I learned that some of what we thought about that team and that game wasn’t entirely true, and some was spot on.

For example, we all know Walter Payton didn’t score in the game, but I think history has forgotten a big part of why he didn’t – the Patriots’ defensive game plan. The Pats keyed on him from the start and didn’t let up even as the Bears countered by using Matt Suhey to carry the ball while also utilizing the passing game to move downfield. Payton also fumbled on the opening drive, and that may have changed the Bears’ plans.

Yes, the Bears chose to run William “the Refrigerator” Perry on a short-yardage play with goal to go instead of Payton. That’s a tough decision to defend in hindsight. But over a quarter of the game remained, and with the Bears rolling, it appeared Payton would get another chance.

And he did. But with Jim McMahon out and Steve Fuller in and the game in hand, the offense wasn’t quite as smooth. Still, Payton did drop a pass that could’ve led to a score, if not a big gain, on one drive. And even with the Bears running the ball to chew clock, the Pats still swarmed Payton and backup Calvin Thomas. Other players also had dropped passes on plays that could’ve potentially set up a Payton score.

More from Da Windy City

Perhaps if McMahon stays in the game instead of leaving due to injury, the offense gets more red-zone chances, and Walter gets his score.

The other aspect of the game that history seems to forget is that it was close early. After Payton’s fumble, New England had a short field and two passing misfires cost them a chance at the end zone. At least of the passes appeared to be a fairly easy catch. So the Pats settled for a field goal. Even after the Bears mounted a strong drive on their next possession, they, too, had to settle for three instead of six.

The teams swapped punts, and then the Bears’ vaunted defense came to life, forcing a fumble. But they fell short of the end zone again after Perry was brought in to try a pass and got sacked. After the D forced another fumble, Suhey finally found the end zone.

From there, the rout was on.

Still, for one quarter, the Pats’ hung in there with the Bears. The Bears’ defensive prowess was evident from the start, but it took nearly a full quarter for the team to really get going.

Watching the game did reinforce one thing we knew – that D was awesome. I wish the broadcast had as many camera angles as today’s games do, in order to see some of the action away from the ball. Even without that, it was clear the Pats’ line couldn’t stop the pass rush, especially as the game wore on, and as Steve Grogan replaced Tony Eason as New England’s QB. Then there were the forced fumbles and a later pick-six. All told, New England lost four fumbles and was picked off twice.

When it comes to forgotten tidbits, there’s more. For all the talk about the dominant D, the offense was also unstoppable. Payton may have been held in check, but Suhey had several key rushes, and Willie Gault had 43- and 60-yard receptions.

Some of the key plays were made by players whose names never become part of Bears’ lore. We all know about Payton and McMahon and Richard Dent and Gault and Tom Thayer, but quick – who had that pick-six? If you said Reggie Phillips, you’d be correct. And the safety that capped off the scoring? Came on a sack by Henry Waechter. Neither of those two guys has been a fixture of the ’85 Bears media circuit that continues to this day.

The Bears also benefited from some questionable calls. There should’ve been a 10-second runoff at the end of the first half, but since there wasn’t, they got another field goal in before the break. Gault was ruled in bounds on a key catch when replays showed he wasn’t.

If you’re a Bears fan, I hope you watched or at least set your DVR. The trip down memory lane was worth it, and if you’re under the age of 45 or so, surprisingly educational.

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Chicago Bears: Reliving the 1985 Super Bowl winTim Healeyon June 12, 2020 at 12:00 pm Read More »

Chicago Bears: 4 players who could lose their job in 2020Ryan Heckmanon June 12, 2020 at 1:00 pm

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Chicago Bears (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

Going into the 2020 season, most Chicago Bears starters are locked in. But, could a handful of them lose their jobs at some point?

I think we saw a very clear strategy from Chicago Bears general manager this offseason. At a couple of key positions, Pace made it known that he was going to add both veterans as well as rookies, hoping to see a mesh of talent bring structure to a position of weakness.

Take cornerback, for example. The Bears signed CFL standout Tre Roberson and veteran Artie Burns. Meanwhile, they drafted Jaylon Johnson and Kindle Vildor back in April. Pace is serious about not only solidifying the second starting cornerback, but also building depth there.

Another great illustration of this philosophy is at outside linebacker. Pace paid up for outside linebacker Robert Quinn, who should make this front seven even scarier. But, he also traded up to draft Trevis Gipson out of Tulane.

Pace did this very same thing at both tight end and wide receiver, too, with the veterans Jimmy Graham and Ted Ginn Jr. accompanied by rookies Cole Kmet and Darnell Mooney.

It was an intriguing strategy, but at all of those positions, the Bears had a need — so, Pace went with a little bit of the old and new.

Many of these spots could see some changes in terms of starters. There are certainly some players who will start the season atop the depth chart, but will that last?

The easy one might be the handsome fella you see pictured above, but that’s too easy. Of course Mitchell Trubisky will ultimately be replaced by Nick Foles — did I just strike a nerve with some of you?

I digress. Let’s look at a few players who could see themselves drop down the depth chart as the 2020 season rages on.

Next: Player No. 1

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Chicago Bears: 4 players who could lose their job in 2020Ryan Heckmanon June 12, 2020 at 1:00 pm Read More »

Chicago Blackhawks: Dominik Kubalik needs to continue dominanceVincent Pariseon June 12, 2020 at 2:00 pm

EDMONTON, AB - FEBRUARY 11: Dominik Kubalik #8 of the Chicago Blackhawks skates against the Edmonton Oilers at Rogers Place on February 11, 2020, in Edmonton, Canada. (Photo by Codie McLachlan/Getty Images) — EDMONTON, AB – FEBRUARY 11: Dominik Kubalik #8 of the Chicago Blackhawks skates against the Edmonton Oilers at Rogers Place on February 11, 2020, in Edmonton, Canada. (Photo by Codie McLachlan/Getty Images)

The Chicago Blackhawks need Dominik Kubalik to have a chance in the playoffs.

It was a bit uncertain how Chicago Blackhawks forward Dominik Kubalik would do in his rookie season. It was fair to assume that he would have a pretty good year, especially in the goal-scoring department, based on his resume but he probably exceeded expectations. Exactly three months ago yesterday, the Hawks played their last game of the season before COVID-19 put an end to the regular season and Kubalik scored his 30th goal in the win.

Kubalik was rock solid in 2019-20 and deserves a lot of credit for the Hawks even making it to the 24 team playoffs. His 30 goals made him only the fourth Blackhawks rookie to reach the 30 goal plateau. Only Steve Larmer, Darryl Sutter, and Artemi Panarin had done it before him.

He should be getting some Calder Trophy (rookie of the year) consideration for his efforts. He won’t win it because it is a two-horse race between Cale Makar of the Colorado Avalanche and Quinn Hughes of the Vancouver Canucks but seeing him get some top-three consideration would be lovely. There is a good chance that he receives some top-three votes and will almost certainly finish in the top-five.

The Blackhawks need Kubalik to hit the ground running again when the playoffs start in order to have a chance. You know exactly how the stars are going to perform but a lot of these guys like Kubalik have never experienced the playoffs. If he is able to score goals at the pace that he was before the season ended it would go a long way in Chicago’s chances.

Kubalik and the Hawks are going to match up against the Edmonton Oilers. They are a high flying team so that could help him in his offensive game. He is going to get his chances to score, especially since his regular-season success has earned him a spot on a top-six line.

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Chicago Blackhawks: Dominik Kubalik needs to continue dominanceVincent Pariseon June 12, 2020 at 2:00 pm Read More »

Chicago Cubs 2020 MLB Draft: Day 2 achieved team’s goalRyan Sikeson June 12, 2020 at 3:00 pm

After taking the top high school shortstop on day one, the Chicago Cubs focused on urgent needs on day two

On day one of an abbreviated MLB Draft, the Chicago Cubs added to their middle infield depth, taking shortstop Ed Howard from nearby Mount Caramel High School with the 16th overall pick. Howard is such a cool story because he’s local, and he also played for the Jackie Robinson West Little League team.

As noted, Howard now joins Nico Hoerner, Chase Strumpf, Aramis Ademan, and soon-to-be international free agent signing, Christian Hernandez as one of the most talented middle infield groups in all of baseball.

Shifting the focus to day two, we discussed that the Cubs needed to address the pitching and outfield situations, and they wasted no time. With their second-round pick, the north siders selected Burl Carraway, a reliever from Dallas Baptist University. The Cubs went heavy on relievers early on in the draft last year, but they really lack quality bullpen guys right now, especially lefties.

Carraway made 28 appearances last year and struck out 72 batters in 41.2 innings while also collecting six saves. Before the season was canceled, he made eight appearances, striking out 17 in just 9.1 innings of work. Watch for the 21-year-old to move quickly through the minors, potentially being added to the taxi squad of rosters, if and when there is a season.

The Chicago Cubs tabbed Michigan’s Jordan Nwogu as their outfielder of future with the third-round pick.

With just two outfielders in their top-25 prospects, the Cubs addressed a big need on Thursday, taking Michigan’s Jordan Nwogu. The Ann Arbor kid stayed home to attend one of the most respected baseball programs in the country. As a true freshman, Nwogu posted a .349/.442/.571 slash line with eight doubles, one triple, six home runs, and 29 RBI while also swiping 11 bases.

His plate discipline needed some fine-tuning, but he addressed that in a breakout sophomore campaign. In 2019, Nwogu posted a .992 OPS with 14 doubles, four triples, 12 home runs, and 46 RBI with 16 stolen bases and a 44-to-51 walk-to-strikeout ratio. He was on a similar path this year through 15 games before the shutdown.

Here’s what Baseball America had to say about the Michigan product:

Nwogu earned a starting role midway through his freshman season and has been Michigan’s leadoff hitter for the past two years. Nwogu still looks like a football player (6-foot-3, 225 pounds) and he has plus-plus raw power and plus speed. Scouts are not all that excited about his funky swing–he gets good weight transfer and has plenty of bat speed, but it’s a very top-hand heavy swing

Let’s see if the Cubs will tinker with his swing or leave it alone.

I’m sorry, how hard does Luke Little throw?

105 mph. Not bad for a fourth-round pick. Luke Little is a big dude, standing at 6-foot-8, 240 pounds. He’s a draft-eligible sophomore who played his collegiate baseball at San Jacinto Junior College and has a verbal commitment to South Carolina in fall. He had a breakout campaign in 2019, making 17 appearances – including six starts – while striking out 69 batters in 35.1 innings (17.6 K/9). He posted a 2.04 ERA during that span, but he’ll need to fix his command a bit, as he allowed 36 walks as well.

What to look for in Koen Moreno

I guess first and foremost is will Moreno sign? He has already signed his letter of intent with East Carolina, and he’s definitely at the underslot here with a slot bonus pool of just $367,900. At age 18, he reportedly already throws 94 MPH, which should only increase as he continues to fill out his 6-foot-2, 170-pound frame.

Ranked as the 128th best prospect, according to Baseball America, scouts love that he has the natural ability to put spin on the ball. His fastball is his bread and butter pitch right now, but he complements it with an average curveball and changeup.

Next: Cubs overlook the obvious choice, taking Ed Howard

He could be a tough sign away from East Carolina, where many scouts believe he could end up being taken within the top three rounds, especially once the draft expands to 40 rounds again.

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Chicago Cubs 2020 MLB Draft: Day 2 achieved team’s goalRyan Sikeson June 12, 2020 at 3:00 pm Read More »

Chicago Bears fans finally hear from Mitchell TrubiskyPatrick Sheldonon June 12, 2020 at 5:55 pm

Chicago Bears (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)

The Chicago Bears finally let Mitchell Trubisky speak.

The long wait is over as Chicago Bears quarterback Mitchell Trubisky finally spoke to the media for the first time since the end of last season. He was scheduled to talk to the media on June 3rd, but that was rescheduled for a date to be determined. Well, that date has arrived.

A lot has transpired since the last time he spoke. The team acquired veteran Nick Foles through a trade and declined to pick up Trubisky’s fifth-year option. Although the team has publicly said all the right things and claims to still believe in Mitch, actions clearly speak louder than words. And the Bears actions have told a different story.

So all eyes turned to Mitch on Friday afternoon, anxiously waiting to hear how he is handling all that has happened over the last few months.

Well, Mitch came out of the gate firing. He was immediately asked how he felt about the team’s decision to trade for Foles, to which Mitch replied:

“It was kind of interesting to me. That’s the business we’re in. I think I was pissed off in a good way. I’ve been motivated ever since.” He continued, saying “I still feel like this is my team.”

Mitch wasn’t surprised that the team didn’t pick up his fifth-year option. Trubisky acknowledged that he didn’t merit having his option picked up based on the way he has played. This kind of comment is not surprising from Trubisky, who has always been accountable for his play.

One interesting tidbit that will likely run the risk of being overanalyzed were his comments about what went wrong with the offense last year. Trubisky pointed to health and a lack of details on offense.

However, the actual reason the offense faltered might better be found in another quote from Trubisky regarding his ability to read defenses. When asked about Nagy’s challenge to him to be better in this area, Trubisky said he’s been “watching every single snap from the last two seasons . . . and seeing what coverage it actually was versus what I was seeing on the field.”

Next: Which Bears QB has the edge in a shortened preseason?

Listen, it’s pretty alarming that after three years in the NFL, he’s still incapable of recognizing defenses. However, he still apparently has the confidence in his own abilities. He said all the right things, but if he’s incapable of improving this most basic quarterback function, all the confidence in the world won’t help him.

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Chicago Bears fans finally hear from Mitchell TrubiskyPatrick Sheldonon June 12, 2020 at 5:55 pm Read More »