The Chicago Bears traded for Eddy Pineiro last offseason. He participated in the biggest and most unique kicking competition ever and ended up the winner. Things started out great, missing just one kick through his first six games. He even added a game-winner in Denver for good measure. Then things went off the rails against the Chargers. He missed two field goals in that game including the potential winner.
Over a five-game stretch from there, he missed six total kicks. It was starting to look like he was taking the Cody Parkey route out of town. Thankfully, he managed to steady himself. Pineiro connected on all 18 of his remaining kicks to finish the season. The Bears were calmed enough to keep him in place as their starter. However, that didn’t stop them from adding more competition in the form of Ramiz Ahmed.
Knowing he’s under a microscope, the kicker has attacked this offseason like never before according to Colleen Kane of the Chicago Tribune. This includes a ferocious workout regimen that helped him add eight pounds of muscle.
“Eddy Pineiro’s first order of business this offseason was to put on some weight.
When the Chicago Bears kicker met with coaches at the end of his rookie year, their request was for him to bulk up and get stronger in the weight room.
Pineiro, who has gone from 179 pounds to 187, has worked out five days a week in a Miami gym since facilities have reopened. He also trains at a park a few times a week with Bears punter/holder Pat O’Donnell as he readies for the sequel to the kicking competition.”
The Bears will need Eddy Pineiro a lot this season
Barring something unexpected, the identity of the Bears going into 2020 is pretty clear. They’re a defensive powerhouse led by Khalil Mack, Akiem Hicks, and Eddie Jackson among others. Offensively? It’s a complete unknown. They were awful in 2019 (ranked 29th overall) but seem to have at least improved some on paper. Smart money says it should be at least close to average. This will likely mean the team could be in a lot of tight ballgames this season.
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Games that could be decided by field goals. Keep in mind six games last season were decided by five points or less. Pineiro was directly responsible for one of those games being a loss. The Bears will need him to be as consistent as possible this year. They won’t be able to survive another stretch of 5-6 games where he’s missing multiple kicks.
The young kicker has to make all this hard work mean something.