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Jake Arrieta Lays Into Phillies Teammates And Coaching Staff After Game On Sunday

By
Matt Enuco
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The Phillies were swept by a middling San Francisco Giants team and have only managed one run in the last 29 innings — a Jake Arrieta home run on Sunday. Arrieta sent a resounding message after the game, laying into his teammates for lack or run support, hustle, and general game awareness while taking aim at Phillies manager Gabe Kapler and his blind devotion to analytics and shifting.

Bob Nightengale of USA Today Sports had the story and shared the goods from Arrieta’s rant.

“I worked too hard for this (stuff),” Arrieta said after the Phillies’ 6-1 loss. “Something has to change.’’ … “We need some accountability all of the way around,’’ Arrieta said. “Everybody. From top to bottom. If there is not, I’ll make sure there is.’’

Arrieta has tapped into a youthful wellspring after signing with the Phillies early in Spring Training, dominating opponents with a 2.66 earned run average, but it seems things have reached a tipping point.

Arrieta had this to say about Kapler’s wild defensive shifts:

“We had bad defensive shifts,’’ Arrieta said. “We’re the worst in the league in shifts. ….It’s about as deflating as it gets. So we need to change that.’’

The former Cy-Young winner added “copy the best” when asked how to correct the shifting issue. “I don’t know. It’s not my job,” he went on. “Use your eyes. Make an adjustment. We got to be better than this.’’

Even Phillies’ coveted rookie Scott Kingery was not immune from Arrieta’s venom. Arrieta took issue with Kingery’s nonchalant approach on a grounder and failure to log an out after fielding the ball.

“Kingery should have gone to second base on that play,’’ Arrieta said which Kapler agreed. “We need an out on that. Then they got three hits in a row. Credit McCutchen on putting a good swing on it, but I didn’t expect a ball like that to get out.”

And then there was the run support. Arrieta is responsible for the lone run in the last 29 innings of Phillies baseball, a solo home run on Sunday. In typical bulldog fashion, Arrieta could be heard admonishing his teammates in a way wholly expected a fiery competitor

This isn’t the first time a player has allowed frustration to boil over and lashed out at a clubhouse. The cardinal rule among players, coaches and team brass is that you don’t air grievances in the media. Well, sometimes that’s the only way to get your point across.

I guarantee the clubhouse is listening now.

“We need to have an accountability check,’’ Arrieta said. “This is a key moment in our season. We had a pretty good April (16-12). A pretty good May (15-11). June isn’t starting off so well…I’m so furious.”

The Phillies travel to Wrigley for a three-game set on Tuesday. Matt Gelb of The Athletic transcribed Arrieta’s entire screed.

Matt Nagy Admits His Hardest Job as Head Coach and It’s Hilarious

By
Erik Lambert
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matt nagy

The saying is always the same. It’s hard to become a head coach in the NFL. The only thing harder than that? It’s staying one. Being a successful coach in this league puts an almost inhuman amount of stress on the body and mind. There’s a reason so many men each year are dismissed from the job. The simple reality was they couldn’t handle it. Matt Nagy, ready or not, has stepped into this swirling maelstrom.

Nagy feels he is prepared for the challenge. He’s spent almost a decade as an assistant including two as a coordinator. He learned at the knee of one of the best head coaches of the past two decades in Andy Reid. His time rising up the ladder was spent idly. He did exhaustive research on all the things a head coach must do, noting what worked and what didn’t.

That’s why he came off so well-prepared when he met with the Chicago Bears back in January. He studied, he asked questions, and he listened to the advice he was given. This was something he wanted. Now he has it. Yet no amount of research can truly prepare someone for everything the job brings.

Nagy found out what might be the most difficult part thus far.

Applauding the defense is not something Matt Nagy enjoys

Keep in mind that Nagy was born and bred on the offensive side of the ball. He was a quarterback at Delaware in college and later in the Arena League. When he got to the NFL as an assistant coach he was an offensive quality control guy. Later he became a quarterbacks coach and finally an offensive coordinator. Every waking moment of his work life was geared towards hating defenses and finding any and all ways possible to humiliate them.

Here’s the problem. The head coach isn’t in charge of just the offense anymore. They run the entire team. This means he can’t just offer his praise in every practice and game to the offense anymore. He must do the same for the defense. That’s what head coaches are expected to do. According to Dan Pompei of The Athletic, this has been a huge struggle for the 39-year old.

“I can’t just be focused in on the offense like I was as a coordinator,” he said. “Now I have to be able to stand out there at midfield when I watch practice and see the defense too. When someone on defense makes a good play, I need to congratulate him, give him knuckles on an interception that Mitchell throws. As hard as it is for me to do it, I have to do it.”

Give Nagy credit.

Not a lot of coaches would be willing to admit something like that. In fact some don’t even try to embrace that reality. They basically structure their team with them running the offense or defense and the other coordinator almost acting like a second head coach. They have complete autonomy over that side of the ball. Sometimes it can work, but not often.

Nagy knows he must make it clear that he is the leader of all 53 players that will inhabit this roster moving forward. That goes for offense, defense, and special teams. They have to know that he’s the guy they look to for encouragement, discipline, and answers whenever they need it. This will pay off in the long run for Chicago.

Willson Contreras Explains The Genius Behind Javier Baez Stealing Home Against The Mets

By
Aldo Soto
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The Chicago Cubs swept the New York Mets, capping off their 6-1 road trip with a 2-0 win on Sunday. There weren’t any long home runs, or a barrage of hits, but some beautiful base running that got the Cubs their two runs.

The game-winner came from a steal of home by Javier Baez and it gets even better when you dissect the play.

The entire seventh inning was a masterpiece in base running. Baez started the seventh, hitting a single and then went to third base, perfectly reading a base hit to shallow center field by Willson Contreras.

So, with Baez at third and Contreras at first the plan went into action.

Ian Happ was facing Mets pitcher Steven Matz and although the steal of home by Baez took place on the 1-1 pitch, it was all set up on the 1-0 delivery. Contreras faked trying to steal second base, forcing the Mets catcher, Kevin Plawecki, to get up from his crouch. That got the attention of Matz, who then threw over to first base and that’s when Baez took advantage against the left-handed pitcher.

After the 2-0 win, Contreras was on the ABC postgame show and explained how he and Baez set the plan in motion.

Baez discussed the play as well.

Jon Lester speaking for all Cubs fans with this statement.

Gotta love El Mago, always thinking about new tricks to unveil.

Also, how about the great base running by Contreras later in the seventh inning. After a Kyle Schwarber infield single he went to third base and with one out he scored on a pop up to shallow right field. Obviously it helped that the Mets second baseman caught the ball and was on his heels instead of letting the outfielder race in to have all the momentum on a throw to home.

That doesn’t take away the fact that it was a heads up move by Contreras to be aggressive on that play and score.

All that after catching 14 innings Saturday night and taking a foul tip off his toe late in that game too. Contreras is a warrior.

Anyway, the Cubs are now 33-23, and with the White Sox winning two of three this weekend the Cubs are two games back of the Milwaukee Brewers in the division.

The Bears Have No Plans to Wait Until Next Year for the Playoffs

By
Erik Lambert
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mitch trubisky

Eight years. That’s the number running around inside the head of Chicago Bears fans, players, coaches and ownership these days. It’s how long this franchise has gone without making the playoffs. Not only that, it’s been five years since they managed to avoid having a losing record. From 2014 through 2017 it’s been a miserable slog through the mud for Bears football. Such things make it hard to be optimistic about 2018.

At this point, all anybody can say is the team “looks” improved from where it was at the end of last season. The receiving corps saw a gigantic influx of young talent spearheaded by Allen Robinson, Taylor Gabriel and Anthony Miller. The offensive line got a boost from James Daniels while first round pick Roquan Smith is expected to take over command control in the middle of their defense.

Above anything else, though it’s not about talent anymore. The problem is this Bears team just doesn’t know how to win. They’ve been losing for so long that they’ve either forgotten or never learned what it takes. That’s why Matt Nagy was hired as head coach. As he told Dan Pompei of The Athletic, it’s about instilling the right mindset.

“You treat people the right way and what they do ultimately is work harder, try harder and are more passionate about what they do,” he said. “It becomes infectious. It’s a good vibe. I think right now we’re feeling that. But I remind the guys, and myself all the time, that we haven’t done anything yet.”

Belief inside Chicago Bears building is they break the streak this year

For those who don’t know, the franchise record for longest playoff drought sits at 13. It stretched from 1964 to 1976. During that span, the Bears had just two winning seasons and endured a stretch of seven-straight losing campaigns at one point. It was considered the darkest period in team history. After four-straight since 2014, it’s starting to feel that way all over again.

However, I was told that the atmosphere inside the locker room away from the cameras is different. Not only is there a new air of optimism, but also growing confidence. The Bears don’t just plan to improve upon their 5-11 record from last year. They have much bigger expectations.

“Everyone, from the coaching staff to all of the players are of the belief the playoff drought will be broken this year.”

That certainly is a major goal. Not an easy one to achieve by any stretch. The Bears play in one of the toughest divisions in the league, for starters. The Minnesota Vikings went to the NFC championship. The Green Bay Packers are getting Aaron Rodgers back. Even the Detroit Lions made the playoffs two years ago. It’s a stacked deck.

Then there are other NFC powers they’ll have to navigate in order to make it, including the Seahawks and Rams among others. Are the Bears so improved that they feel they can beat anybody? It seems that’s the growing belief. They have lots of proving to do, but Bears fans certainly hope this is the case.

New Bears Lineman Has an Ambitious Goal for After Football

By
Erik Lambert
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earl watford

Howie Long, father of Kyle Long said that football is such a short episode of your like. A person needs to have long-term goals for when that time of your life ends. Far too many players don’t take this sound advice to heart and end up floundering when their career ends. Don’t expect new Chicago Bears offensive lineman Earl Watford to be among them.

Even as he prepares to compete in a strong room of blockers, he already has one eye drifting towards his new passion when football concludes. He revealed as much when he retweeted a SportsCenter video highlight of a major bout from UFC.

As it turns out MMA appears to be a huge passion for Watford. Teammate Jordan Morgan proclaimed the kind of mild insanity it takes to step into the ring but Watford didn’t seem the least bit deterred. If anything his commitment to success in fighting seems every bit as amped up as it is in football.

Either way, Watford would not be the first athlete from a different sport to take up the challenge of mixed martial arts.

Earl Watford would join a growing NFL exodus to MMA

Already in the past few years, there have been a number of former NFL players who took up the mission of making a go in ultimate fighting. Greg Hardy, the former Panthers and Cowboys defensive end is among the most prominent. However, it’s ex-Pro Bowl running back Herschel Walker who seems to be having the most success. Keep in mind the man is in his 50s.

It’s not just football players though. Several different sports have opened pipelines. Former All-Star slugger Jose Conseco made a brief go of it back in the 2000s. Current WWE Universal champion Brock Lesnar had a successful run at it as well. Fellow former wrestler CM Punk is preparing for his second fight this month in Chicago.

Several athletes have felt they could make the jump. A large number of them found out that saying they’ll do it and pulling it off are two vastly different things. It’s admirable that Watford wants to give it a go and is willing to put in the work. Given the lukewarm success of his NFL career though? He might find the going pretty tough.

Gauging Trubisky vs. Other Young QBs Who Changed Offenses Early

By
Erik Lambert
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mitch trubisky

The Chicago Bears made the bold decision this offseason to part ways with former head coach John Fox and almost the entire offensive staff. Their goal was simple:  hire a head coach who could (hopefully) build a real offense around Mitch Trubisky. The kind of system that could maximize his natural talents as a passer.

Eventually, the man they settled on was Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator Matt Nagy. The man had strong credentials. He enjoyed a productive playing career in college and the Arena Football League before becoming an assistant for the Philadelphia Eagles in 2008. He followed Andy Reid to K.C. where he became quarterbacks coach and helped veteran Alex Smith to become a four-time Pro Bowler.

His system featured variations on both the West Coast offense and the college spread, both of which are known to be quarterback-friendly. Trubisky ran a ton of shotgun-spread in college so it’s a style he knows well. It seemed like a natural pairing from the start. Still, despite all the projections, fans want to know two things.

Will this change work and how long will it take?

Recent history bodes very well for Mitch Trubisky

The best way to find out whether changing offenses so quickly can be beneficial to young quarterbacks is by seeing how it affected others who experienced a similar situation. A young QB, perhaps entering his second or third year who saw the offensive coordinator and/or head coach replaced. There’s been a surprising number of examples in the past few years.

How did the transition go for them? Here are the results.

Jared Goff (2nd year)
  • 2016 under Rob Boras:  112-of-205, 1,089 yards, 5 TDs, 7 INTs
  • 2017 under Sean McVay:  296-of-477, 3,804 yards, 28 TDs, 7 INTs
Marcus Mariota (2nd year)
  • 2015 under Jason Michael:  230-of-370, 2,818 yards, 19 TDs, 10 INTs
  • 2016 under Terry Robiskie:  276-of-451, 3,426 yards, 26 TDs, 9 INTs
Blake Bortles (2nd year)
  • 2014 under Jedd Fisch:  280-of-475, 2,908 yards, 11 TDs, 17 INTs
  • 2015 under Greg Olson:  355-of-606, 4,428 yards, 35 TDs, 18 INTs
Ryan Tannehill (3rd year)
  • 2013 under Mike Sherman:  355-of-588, 3,913 yards, 24 TDs, 17 INTs
  • 2014 under Bill Lazor:  392-of-590, 4,045 yards, 27 TDs, 12 INTs
Cam Newton (3rd year)
  • 2012 under Rob Chudzinski:  280-of-485, 3,869 yards, 19 TDs, 12 INTs
  • 2013 under Mike Shula:  292-of-473, 3,379 yards, 24 TDs, 13 INTs

It’s rather consistent, which can be rare in these situations. Each quarterback saw an increase both in production or efficiency (or both) when moving to the new offense. On average their yards and touchdowns increase while their interceptions decreased or remained almost the same. Adding further credence to it is the fact that every name listed was a top 10 draft pick.

It doesn’t guarantee anything. Nothing is in the NFL. Still, the indicators are there that Trubisky should see a significant spike in productivity if he stays on the field and sees improvement in the scheme as those other quarterbacks did. Should fans expect a Pro Bowl? Of course not. Improvement should be the first order of business. More TDs. Fewer interceptions. Higher completion percentage.

Above all? More wins. If Trubisky improves that stat alone, Bears fans won’t care what the rest look like. Such is the reality of sports.

White Sox Farquhar Remembers Walking To The Bullpen And Then Waking Up Five Days Later

By
Matt Enuco
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Danny Farquhar
Danny Farquar returned to Guaranteed Rate Field on June 1 to throw out the first pitch after suffering a cerebral hemorrhage in the dugout on April 20. (Photo credit: Chicago White Sox Instagram account)

Sports are inherently dangerous, but with few exceptions does any athlete step into a competition wondering they will come out alive. White Sox reliever Danny Farquhar suffered such an episode when he lost consciousness in the dugout after closing the sixth inning of a game on April 20. His triumphant return to Guaranteed Rate Field on June 1 was more than inspiring; it was uplifting.

One of the most jarring facts about that day is that Farquhar has a two-hour sunspot on his memory from the time he went to the bullpen to the time he collapsed in the dugout. Here is part of what he shared on Friday:

Farquhar sought insight from Nate Jones about how he was acting between entering the bullpen, entering the game and passing out. Jones said everything seemed normal.

Sadly, it seems Farquhar is still having memory issues; something everyone hopes will correct itself over time.

It is incomprehensible for most of us to lose track of time for almost 2 hours and then wake up four days later. The gap in time is something Farquhar will spend a lifetime trying to piece back together. But there was something else added to the story on Friday.

On Good Morning America Friday Farquhar shared that doctors believed his recovery was a miracle.

The miracle is that Farquhar is as functional as he is. Aneurysms can be debilitating in many ways, but given that he has started training — albeit merely throwing without elevating his heart rate — is something beyond comprehension.

I was a guest on a sports radio show on Friday morning and one of the questions lobbed my way dealt with the White Sox woes as a team and putting things in perspective with Farquhar’s return. It is all too easy to get lost in the repetitive malaise of grinding our lives out, and don’t think it is any different in professional sports. They lose sight of the privilege placed in front of them often. Farquhar’s return undoubtedly stirred up a range of emotions from happiness to see their teammate recovering well, fear that life is fragile, and the understanding that their gifts — physical and otherwise — can be snatched away at any moment.

One of the more touching moments at Friday’s ceremony was when the entire White Sox squad met Farquhar at the mound. His medical team at RUSH Medical Center was at the mound as well and his family, the people whose lives almost permanently upended, enjoyed the moment on the mound as well.

Farquhar’s story is far from a final period and we’re all hoping for a safe recovery. The White Sox organized a slew of events at Friday’s game (a win, if you can believe it) to raise money for the Joe Neikro foundation, a non-profit that provides assistance for those who have suffered from similar episodes as Farquhar.

Below is the last statement Farquhar made at his presser.

My Movie from Matt Enuco on Vimeo.

Why Michael Porter Jr. Fits With The Chicago Bulls

By
Brad Squires
-

It all started with a tweet. A tweet many Chicago Bulls fans do not agree with.

Above is a reply to a tweet asked by a fan to Darnell Mayberry. The fan asked if MPJ is on the Bulls wish list at 7 – and that was Mayberry’s response.

Why Michael Porter Jr Fits The Bulls Culture

The culture here in Chicago is to win, win, win and win. Porter Jr. in high school was all about winning. In his senior season, he would put up 36.2 points and 13.6 rebounds as he helped Nathan Hale High School earn a perfect 29–0 record. That year Nathan Hale won the Washington Class 3A State Championship. The numbers Porter put up are obviously insane, showing just how dominant he can be.

How He Fits With The Bulls Young Core

Though the Bulls already have Kris Dunn, Zach Lavine, and Lauri Markkanen, there needs to be a clear leader. That’s where Porter comes into the fold. MPJ has shown in high school and even some flashes in college that he is an unselfish player who looks to get his teammates involved. Porters high school assist average was 5APG. As the number one option on Nathan Hale and obviously the most polished player on this team he still found his teammates and got them involved. Also, Zach Lavine and Kris Dunn’s biggest strength is getting to the rim so kicking it out to another sniper like Porter would look great. Below are some shooting stats from MPJ’s senior season.

#NAMEGPPPGFGMFGAFG%FTMFTAFT%3PM3PA3P%PTSHIGH
Michael Porter Jr.2637.05197.5263032.9382333.69796152

 

Now, Porter will not shoot 69% from downtown in the NBA, but the potential is there to shoot the three at a high percentage.

How Porter Fits Hoiball

Coach Fred Hoibergs offense has been named “Hoiball” by many. It’s essentially a fast-paced read and react offense. Which means the more weapons you have, the better off you are. Having 1-4 being able to bring the ball up and penetrate opens up so many doors to what Fred’s offense can look like.

“I think the ball movement when you don’t have that one go-to guy is essential.”

  • A direct quote from Fred Hoiberg when talking to the Chicago Sun-Times in 2017. This just adds another dynamic player can that help Fred Hoiberg’s offense flourish.

Now the options are endless at the 7th pick. The Bulls can land an impact player if MPJ is gone. If he is at the 7 spot, the Bulls would regret passing on him. Porter Jr. seems like the perfect fit for Hoiball and the “leader” the Bulls could use. Only time can tell, and on June 21st, let’s hope the perfect fit is available at 7.

Justin Faulk Could Be The Key To Bolstering Blackhawks’ D

By
Tony Gianares
-

The rumor mill has been heating up for the Blackhawks over the past few days, as we get closer to the NHL offseason. The latest rumor that has developed is that the Blackhawks have contacted the Carolina Hurricanes about acquiring Justin Faulk. Everyone knows that the defense was the Achilles heel for the team last season, which is why this is such great news for Blackhawks’ fans. As I mentioned in my article about the Blackhawks’ 2018 offseason, the defense must be the number one priority this time around and it seems like the team is actually trying to address the issue.

It looks like there is actually some truth behind the Justin Faulk trade rumors, as multiple sources have reported it as recently as June 1st.

Carolina Hurricanes Are Looking to Make Changes

The Hurricanes were purchased by Tom Dundon earlier in the 2017-18 season. Ever since Dundon assumed his role as Hurricanes’ owner, the franchise has certainly felt major changes looming on the horizon. Dundon appointed Don Waddell as the new General Manager in May. Waddell was recently interviewed and he said,

“i THINK RIGHT NOW, AS I SAID, WE HAVE TO LOOK AT EVERY POSITION ON OUR HOCKEY TEAM.”

Waddell then went on to reply specifically about the future of Jeff Skinner and Justin Faulk with the Hurricanes,

“THE GUYS YOU MENTIONED ARE GUYS CERTAINLY THAT PEOPLE HAVE CALLED ABOUT. I’VE MADE IT (CLEAR) TO EVERY GENERAL MANAGER I’VE TALKED TO WE’RE LOOKING TO MAKE CHANGES…  WE’RE IN DISCUSSIONS WITH NOT ONLY THOSE PLAYERS, BUT MULTIPLE PLAYERS.”

The full interview with Hurricanes’ GM Don Waddell can be found on frshockey.com. This news sets the Blackhawks up beautifully for a potentially discounted deal at a position of need.

Who Is Justin Faulk?

Justin Faulk is a defenseman for the Carolina Hurricanes. He was drafted in 2010 by the Hurricanes as a 2nd Round Pick (37th Overall). Faulk is known for being a great two-way defenseman and he is a proven leader. He was named co-captain in the 2017-18 season.

Faulk has participated in international play as a member of Team USA. He is also a fantastic puck handler with a very accurate and deceptive shot that sneaks by goalies in a hurry. Faulk’s smooth moves and laser-sharp focus can be seen right here.

Consistency is the name of the game for Faulk, as he is a constant threat on offense.

Another thing that Justin Faulk does really well is producing on the power play, either with his spot-on passing or with his pinpoint accuracy on his shot. This is something that the Blackhawks have been lacking the past few seasons. It would be a welcomed addition to the team.

If you have not seen Justin Faulk play, here is a video with a few of his highlights. Watch for him in either number 27 or 28. He wore both as a member of the Carolina Hurricanes.

As you can see from the video, Faulk has a tendency of being in the right spot at the right time. The only knock that I have on him is his +/- rating. If you play on a bad team like Faulk has in Carolina, you are more prone to having a negative +/- rating. However, this stat does not always showcase a player’s true impact on a game. I am confident that his luck will change when he puts on a Blackhawks’ sweater.

                          Scor Scor         Scor   Ice                                  Ice
Season    Age  Tm  Lg  GP    G    A PTS  +/- PIM   TOI  ATOI HIT BLK  TK  GV         Awards
2011-12    19 CAR NHL  66    8   14  22  -16  29  1508 22:51 113  85  32  20       Calder-7
2012-13    20 CAR NHL  38    5   10  15    1  15   912 24:00  63  47  24                 26
2013-14    21 CAR NHL  76    5   27  32   -9  37  1779 23:25  94 102  41                 47
2014-15    22 CAR NHL  82   15   34  49  -19  30  2003 24:26 157 114  70  50 AS-24Norris-22
2015-16    23 CAR NHL  64   16   21  37  -22  27  1539 24:03 109  65  45                 42
2016-17    24 CAR NHL  75   17   20  37  -18  32  1736 23:08 117  84  53                 45
2017-18    25 CAR NHL  76    8   23  31  -26  48  1692 22:16 128  90  63                 66
Career            NHL 477   74  149 223 -109 218 11169 23:25 781 587 328                296

Provided by Hockey-Reference.com: View Original Table

Where Does Justin Faulk Fit In With Blackhawks?

By default, Justin Faulk will be a Top 4 defenseman for the Blackhawks. I would pencil him in with Duncan Keith on the first pairing, because they both play a very similar game and can hold their own on both ends of the ice. Since Faulk has elite playmaking skills, he would be a staple on the 1st Unit Powerplay line. A Powerplay unit consisting of DeBrincat-Schmaltz-Hinostroza with Faulk-Kane on the blue line would be absolutely devastating as long as Coach Q lets the Powerplay run through Kane at all times.

Faulk has two years remaining on his contract with a cap hit of $4.83 million per year, so this could be a very cost-effective experiment. If it pans out, the Blackhawks will look like geniuses.

Justin Faulk is a player that can immediately come in and have a meaningful impact on the team. Faulk’s leadership and poise will be great for all of the young talent that is being infused into the Blackhawks’ roster. Hearing all of these rumors lately has got me riled up and the anticipation has me on the edge of my seat. Stay tuned Blackhawks’ fans, I think Stan Bowman may have an ace, or two, up his sleeve.

Anthony Miller Was Caught Off Guard By Trubisky at First

By
Erik Lambert
-
anthony miller

New Chicago Bears wide receiver Anthony Miller is no stranger to hard work. He knew he was never going to reach the NFL based solely on his own talent. Sure he’s a good athlete but so is everyone else at the pro level. He’s also just 5’11 and not blazing fast. So if he was going to dominate like he desires, he’d have to outwork everyone else. That is why teammates have said he treats every practice like the Super Bowl.

Priority one for him is finding a way to forge a connection with Mitch Trubisky. Receivers aren’t dumb. They know the only way they’ll ever be anything in the NFL is by making friends with the guy who throws the football. One bad exchange and the QB can easily cut off the pipeline by throwing the ball elsewhere. Miller must strive to make Trubisky trust that every time the ball comes his way, it will be caught.

Yet the river flows both ways. Miller has to know if he can trust Trubisky understands what to do and where and when to get the ball to him. It requires sharp intellect and timing that not a lot of quarterbacks can master. Over the course of their first couple practices together, Miller had a chance to gauge where Trubisky is at. He was rather surprised by what he found.

Anthony Miller amazed how quickly Trubisky is absorbing the offense

Quarterbacks have to be the smartest guys on the field. They have to not just know what their position needs to do, but what every other position on offense needs to do. There’s a reason it’s so hard to play in the NFL and why these guys get paid a ridiculous amount of money. It takes a level of commitment that few other jobs in the world demand.

Miller revealed that it’s clear Trubisky is in with both feet. Despite only being involved with the new offense for a couple months, he seems to already have a certain mastery of its language.

“Mitch, he knows the game already. He’s a guy that studies this offense, and I see that. When he comes in the huddle, we’ll have a play that’s so long and he’ll just spit it out. That tells me that he’s in his playbook and it’s important to him.”

There were instances late last season where Trubisky began to show how quickly he could master an offense. In the second game against Detroit, he correctly adjusted Tarik Cohen who’d lined up wrong. By adjusting it correctly, he was able to create the situation desired and found Kendall Wright on a beautifully executed play for 19 yards, setting up 3rd and 1 after facing 2nd and 20.

The one thing Trubisky never had in those situations was a full complement of receivers who could maximize the effectiveness of those adjustments and checks. Miller is one of the key additions who is expected to change that. His ability in the slot and in the red zone are far above anything the Bears had last year. Throw in Allen Robinson and Taylor Gabriel on the outside? There’s a chance for this passing game to feast.

Especially if Trubisky continues to learn at the rapid pace he has.

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