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James Shields Looks Like A Bona Fide Trade Candidate After Strong May

By
Matt Enuco
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CHICAGO, IL - JUNE 08: James Shields #25 of the Chicago White Sox walks to the dugout before pitching against the Washington Nationals on June 8, 2016 at U. S. Cellular Field in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by David Banks/Getty Images)

Okay…maybe not. Not many teams will be interested in an aging pitcher with declining stuff and turbulent history of fighting through adversity, but James Shields closed a very strong month of May on Sunday for the White Sox. Despite earning the loss, Shields went seven innings allowing three earned runs and halving his earned run average from April.

Shields endured a typical tumultuous April posting a 6.17 ERA and struggling to escape hairy situations. May was a different story. The wily veteran lowered his ERA to 3.27 in May and 4.62 for the season. Moreover, Shields ate up 33 innings in the month and went into the seventh inning three times. In fact, Shields went into at least the sixth inning in each of his six starts this month.

Part of Shields success has to do with throwing more strikes. While far from posting an elite strike rate, Shields tossed 63 percent of his pitches for strikes in May compared to only 58 percent in April. This contributed to forcing hitters to swing at fringy pitches and making poor contact — a .198 batting average on balls in play compared to .307 in April. Additionally, Shields tripled his strikeout rate in May.

The league isn’t exactly lining up to offer deals for Shields, and he is not the kind of pitcher that will solicit heavy prospect hauls if a team shows interest. But given his contract could be extended with a club option for 2019 with a five-million-dollar discount (if exercised, Shields will earn $16 million — $5 million less than in 2018) there is room to find value.

It’s hard to even speculate on who might be interested in a pitcher like Sheilds, but if he continues to demonstrate success with his 3/4-arm slot he might attract interest by the waiver deadline in August. Even if he won’t join a starting rotation, he could provide a veteran presence and change of pace in a bullpen competing in the postseason.

And if injuries continue around the league at the same pace we’ve seen early in the season, desperation could vault Shields to the top of a short list.

Luis Gonzalez Is Making An Impression In Kannapolis

By
Matt Enuco
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Luis Gonzalez
Third-round pick Luis Gonzalez is daring the White Sox to pay attention to him. (@milb twitter)

Luis Gonzalez was not on many pundits’ radars entering the 2018 season considering the embarrassment of riches the White Sox have in their minor-league system. Yet, Gonzalez is swinging his way into the conversation and boasts the No.-18 spot in a crowded prospect list.

Gonzalez was a third-round pick in 2017 out of the University of New Mexico and signed for below-slot money. Conventional wisdom places big-league talent in the top 10 rounds of the draft and Gonzalez is squarely in that conversation, although his stature and tools don’t inspire excitement. At 6-foot-1 and 185 pounds he doesn’t feature the kind of levers and strength that scouts become smitten with, but he does one thing exceptionally well that the White Sox love — control the strike zone.

Gonzalez walked 124 times in three seasons at New Mexico against only 71 strikeouts. He maintained his patient approach last season in Kannapolis despite appearing fatigued. And in his second tour of K-Town, Gonzalez is smushing baseballs. After Sunday’s game, Gonzales has belted seven home runs and 13 doubles on his way to a .339/.396/.554 slash line.

Besides the home runs, strikeouts have become a problem in 2018. However, this is more an indication of an evolving approach as Gonzalez jumps on premium pitches earlier in the count. Part of hitting is figuring out the balance of aggression and patience at the plate. Gonzalez could and will work a patient approach at the plate, but it also makes a great deal of sense to attack fastballs earlier in the count to take advantage of hurlers trying to slip a piped heater past him.

An aggressive approach is working out for Gonzalez right now but White Sox brass will want to see a return to a patiently calculated approach as he develops into a big-league prospect. In the meantime, keep a watchful eye on Gonzalez as he makes a case for a promotion early in the season.

Tom Thibodeau’s Coaching Philosophy Was Wrong In Chicago And Now In Minnesota, Just Ask The 2018 Playoffs

By
Joey Gelman
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Tom-THibodeau-Fired

If there is one thing the 2018 NBA Playoffs have proved so far, it’s that Former Bulls Coach Tom Thibodeau had it wrong, and still does, when it comes to suppressing rookie-playing time.

While there were many other reasons why the Bulls and Thibodeau separated 3 years ago, his inability to adapt to a younger and faster NBA, in which rookies thrive, sealed his fate in Chicago, and may do the same in Minnesota.

The 2018 NBA Playoffs have been a rookie All-Star Game, primarily featuring likely Rookie of the Year Donovan Mitchell in Utah and Boston’s Jayson Tatum. Both took the playoffs by storm, with Mitchell averaging 24.4 PPG, to go along with Tatum’s 18.2. Neither the Jazz nor the Celtics would have been in the positions they were in during the playoffs without these two sensational rookies, and the Celtics and Tatum are even more of a surprising story.

Many critics would have predicted that the Celtics would have already been out of the playoffs by now, losing both Kyrie Irving and Gordon Heyward for their 2018 postseason run. But the play of Tatum, to go along with Terry Rozier III bursting on the scene has propelled them to the Eastern Conference Finals.

But if Tom Thibodeau had coached this Celtics team, would they have even gotten past the first round? Without Heyward, Irving, Tatum (just because he’s a rookie) and likely a hesitancy to play both Jaylen Brown and Rozier, the Celtics would have been overmatched and worn down, only relying on players with 4 or more years’ experience in the NBA. And with this Celtics team being one of the younger teams in the league, those players would have been hard to come by. Maybe Thibodeau would have flexed his muscle to sign Mike Dunleavy or Matt Barnes, forwards that are way past their prime, but still, fit Thibodeau’s vision of the NBA of yesteryear.

Veterans always come first for Thibodeau, but that old way of thinking can no longer work if the best player available on a given night is 21 years old.

The first example that comes to mind is current Bull, Kris Dunn. Dunn’s first year in the NBA was in Minnesota under Thibs and it was not a season anyone wanted to remember. Dunn averaged just 3.8 points per game while averaging 17.1 minutes per game, as he rode the bench behind Ricky Rubio. Dunn started just 7 times in 78 games played. The Bulls were still interested in the guard out of Providence they wanted to draft in 2016, and when they acquired him for the 2017-2018 season, his fortunes changed. Under Fred Hoiberg’s offense, Dunn averaged 13.4 points per game and 29.3 minutes per game, despite the fact his season was cut short after biting a chunk out of the United Center floor against the Warriors.

When given the chance to play, Dunn flourished. He didn’t need to sit behind ‘veteran’ Cameron Payne, which John Paxson would have probably wanted in his perfect basketball utopia. He needed to play and have his coach trust him, which happened in 2018. If Thibodeau was still coaching the Bulls, Dunn would have never seen the floor, and questions would continue to remain surrounding why the Bulls would have acquired him.

The two examples that always stand out during Thibodeau’s time with the Bulls was his refusal to play Nikola Mirotic and Doug McDermott in 2015. Say what you will about McDermott’s career so far, maybe he’ll become a ‘poor man’s’ J.J. Reddick someday, but Thibs’ inability to effectively put Mirotic in the 2015 rotation was baffling. While ‘Three-kola’ had his ups and downs with the Bulls, his tremendous effort in the playoffs for the Pelicans, and his ability to play just good enough to not allow the Bulls to have a top 5 pick in the draft this year shows again how Mirotic could’ve impacted the 2015 season.

While the Bulls were not a championship team that year, in hindsight, fans cannot help but wonder about the impact those two could’ve had, as the Bulls needed all the three-point scoring help they could have gotten during Thibodeau’s tenure in Chicago.

The NBA has changed, just like football has, where offensive scoring has taken precedence over defense. Tom Thibodeau has always been a defensive-minded coach first, but that has proven to be a fault in the modern NBA. In Thibodeau’s mind, if the rookies weren’t ready on defense, they were not going to play, no matter their scoring capability they may have had to win an extra game or two in the playoffs.

Thibodeau’s sequential coaching style of defense-first, offense-second spelled his end in Chicago, and with unhappy reports out of Minnesota, this philosophy could do him in once again.

The 2018 Timberwolves looked like the 2015 Bulls with Jimmy Butler, Taj Gibson and Derrick Rose giving meaningful minutes to Tom Thibodeau. Fans can probably agree that Thibodeau would be the ONLY coach in the NBA to still give Derrick Rose meaningful minutes in a playoff game.

If Thibs had played young guard Tyus Jones throughout the year, or given a chance to Jason Patton (even if he was playing behind Karl-Anthony Towns/ in the G-League at times), maybe we could’ve had a storyline like we are seeing in Boston or Utah. But instead, Thibodeau stuck to his stubborn ways, overworked his veteran rotation, and is now reportedly at odds with star Karl Anthony Towns, as the T-Wolves are set for another first round exit with the same cast of characters in 2019. Is that what Timberwolves fans deserve after their first playoff berth in 14 years?

History keeps repeating itself for Tom Thibodeau and if he’s not careful, his lucrative deal and relationships with the Timberwolves could quickly run sour. His brute and old-fashioned style has already cost him one opportunity with the Bulls, and it could come back to bite him again in Minnesota.

Danny Farquhar And Family Return To Guaranteed Rate Field On June 1

By
Matt Enuco
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White Sox pitchers hung Danny Farquhar's jersey in the pen to signify his presence after suffering a brain aneurysm in the dugout in April. (Jon Durr/Getty Images North America)

June 1 will be a special day for Danny Farquhar, his family and, the White Sox organization. After suffering a cerebral hemorrhage in the dugout after the sixth inning on April 20, Farquhar underwent brain surgery and spent nearly three weeks at RUSH University Medical Center. He was released on May 7 to the relief of all of Major League Baseball.

Farquhar has not been cleared for baseball activity from his medical team but he will take the mound on June 1 to throw out the first pitch. He will be joined by his wife Lexie and three children, as well as the medical team that delivered him back to health. Dr. Demtrius Lopes, Farquhar’s neurosurgeon, is optimistic Farquhar will pitch in the major leagues again.

“It just makes me smile,” James Sheilds said on Farquhar’s return to the stadium. “He’s just such a great dude. We are so happy everything is going smooth with him.”

Chicago White Sox Charities will also play a hand in Farquhar’s ceremonious return. CWSC will hold a fundraising effort at the June-1 game against Milwaukee and plans to donate all proceeds to the Joe Niekro Foundation, an organization committed to “supporting patients, families, research, treatment and awareness of brain aneurysms.” The White Sox are planning a Sox Split raffle, game auction and scoreboard messaging in an effort to raise money for the foundation.

Farquhar has been recovering at home since being released from RUSH Medical Center and occasionally posts uplifting messages on social media.

Farquhar was a dependable and beloved part of the White Sox bullpen before suffering this scary episode where he collapsed in front of his teammates. White Sox medical staff and EMTs could be seen rushing to his aid and their swift response saved valuable seconds in rushing Farquhar to treatment. He was pitching well for the Sox and closed a strong sixth inning on April 20 when he went down. Farquhar was limiting opposing hitters to a .210 batting average with 21 punch outs and six holds.

Allen Robinson Was Shocked On His First Impression of Trubisky

By
Erik Lambert
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bears offensive arsenal

The Chicago Bears signed wide receiver Allen Robinson for obvious reasons. He’s a 24-year old former Pro Bowler at the position that was worst in the NFL for them last year. He represents a titanic upgrade if that knee proves 100% and exactly what quarterback Mitch Trubisky needs to take that next step. Yet it’s not only the Bears who were scouting Robinson.

The receiver admitted that during his rehab in Jacksonville he was expecting to become a free agent. That meant he should scout potential teams he could sign with when the time came. As the season progressed he took notice of what was happening in Chicago. Though the passing game struggled, he saw certain traits that he liked about Trubisky. So when the Bears came calling it wasn’t that difficult of a sell for him.

One would think he knew what to expect upon arrival from Trubisky. Yet it appears the receiver is finding out that the film isn’t doing the quarterback justice.

Allen Robinson beyond impressed with Trubisky’s talent and potential

Robinson is currently rehabbing his knee and all expectations are he’ll be ready for training camp. In the meantime, he’s worked on the sideline and ensconced himself in the new offense while watching Trubisky operate. Appearing on the McNeil & Perkins Show on 670 The Score, he offered his impressions thus far.

“Each and every day, he does something different to really make you say ‘Wow’. He has an incredible delivery as far as how the ball comes out. He has a tremendous arm, and that’s something I picked up early.

He can make any throw on the field, and he’s an athletic dude. You don’t really get that combination at the quarterback that much. Sometimes it’s one or the other. For him to have both and being very knowledgeable under center, I think the sky’s the limit for him. And he’s a guy who comes in and puts the work in every day.”

Accuracy is the buzzword around Trubisky. It’s no doubt a big one with Robinson. During his entire run with the Jacksonville Jaguars, quarterback accuracy was a constant issue. Blake Bortles is a big and strong guy under center, but ball placement wasn’t a strength of his game. Something Robinson had to deal with for years. It grew deeply frustrating.

Despite a lower completion percentage, there were plenty of examples last season of how precise Trubisky could be with the football. All he needs is a better offensive system and the weapons to bring out his best. Robinson is anxious to be part of it. If nothing else he can rest assured the ball will be put in the vicinity where he can get it.

In the end, that’s all most wide receivers ask for.

NFL Chose It’s Breakout QB of 2018 and Trubisky Should Be Pissed

By
Erik Lambert
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mitch trubisky

Every year there is an expectation of second-year players make that awaited career jump after a tough learning experience as rookies. NFL.com analyst Lance Zierlein made his five choices for the upcoming 2018 season. There were some obvious ones including Eagles defensive end Derek Barnett and Browns tight end David Njoku. There was a surprise like Raiders corner Gareon Conley. Yet no list is complete without a quarterback. Was Mitch Trubisky on it?

Of course not. That’s okay. It shouldn’t be a surprise that Deshaun Watson would be the choice right? He threw 19 touchdowns to eight interceptions last season before tearing his ACL. There’s every reason to think this year will be a big one for the Houston Texans starter. Except he wasn’t the choice either.

No Zierlein went even more unconventional and puzzling by settling on Kansas City Chiefs former first round pick Patrick Mahomes.

Mitch Trubisky slighted in favor of Mahomes for bad reasons

Look, before this goes any further it must be stated clearly that I am a big Mahomes fan. He was my favorite QB prospect in 2017. That’s the truth. So people will know I’m being objective when I say the selection of him over Trubisky is wrong on a number of levels. Still, Zierlein tried to make his case.

“It’s usually not wise to expect big things from a first-year starter at quarterback, but I’m still going to plant my flag with Mahomes because of Andy Reid’s track record in helping QBs succeed.

Mahomes, the 10th pick of the 2017 draft, threw for 284 yards and an interception in his one and only career start — the final regular-season game of last season — but people inside the Chiefs’ building say Mahomes’ growth during the season allowed the team to feel comfortable enough to trade away Alex Smith this offseason.

Mahomes has a solid offensive line, a quality running game and plus targets to throw to in Tyreek Hill, Travis Kelce and free-agent addition Sammy Watkins. He might have to endure some growing pains, but I think Mahomes will surprise anyone doubting him in 2018.”

First of all, it was stated right from the beginning.

Mahomes has one start under his belt. That virtually assures he’s going to struggle early on. Trubisky already has 12 starts in the NFL and showed significant progress towards the end of the season. The Andy Reid argument would normally be ironclad but Trubisky even has a counter there.

The Bears just got done hiring Matt Nagy, a protege of Reid from Kansas City. He’s learned all the tricks to developing a QB from the man himself. It’s not like Reid held some hidden teaching points just for himself to use. In truth, the only argument with any validity here is the supporting cast but even that isn’t as strong as people think.

As of now, the Chiefs have three Pro Bowlers on their offense. That is Tyreek Hill, Travis Kelce and Kareem Hunt. After their offseason of work, the Bears now have three with Jordan Howard, Kyle Long, and Allen Robinson. Tarik Cohen was also a Pro Bowl alternate.

The point of all this being that the arguments for Mahomes are weak. Certainly not enough to validate him over Trubisky.

Five Candidates To Be the Chicago Bears Training Camp “Darling”

By
Erik Lambert
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chicago bears training camp

Every year there’s one. It’s like clockwork. That one player whom fans just seem to latch onto as their favorite underdog story. A great way to describe them is the Chicago Bears training camp “darling.” Look back over the past three years and they’re easy enough to remember.

In 2015 it was undrafted cornerback Al Louis-Jean with that tantalizing 6’2″, athletic frame out of Boston College. A year later it was seventh round pick Daniel Braverman, the plucky undersized wide receiver from Western Michigan. Last season? That was Wyoming undrafted free agent Tanner Gentry.

The unfortunate reality is most underdog stories don’t work out. Yet fans continue to embrace them out of the hope one day it might. So that begs the question. Who will assume that mantle for the 2018 training camp? Here are five names that fit the profile.

The Next Chicago Bears Training Camp Darling?

Ryan Nall (RB, Rookie UDFA)

Chicago has always loved its running backs, especially when they come from humble beginnings. It would seem the Bears are set at the position with Jordan Howard, Tarik Cohen, and Bennie Cunningham but this is what makes Ryan Nall such a fun story. He was underrated during his time at Oregon State. He’s a big, burly back with surprising speed for his size. Seeing him play could bring back fond memories of Rick Casares and Matt Suhey.

Dejon Allen (OT, Rookie UDFA)

Believe it or not, the Bears have had good luck with undrafted offensive linemen in the past. Jay Hilgenberg was a seven-time Pro Bowl center out of Iowa. James “Big Cat” Williams became a Pro Bowl tackle for them out of Cheyney. It’s happened before. So that’s why a talent like Dejon Allen can be exciting to watch. He’s got enough size, the athletic traits, and a finisher temperament. Throw in Harry Hiestand as his teacher and this is a perfect recipe for a surprise gem.

Isaiah Irving (EDGE, 2nd Year)

A ton of focus this year will be on the edge rush position. Frankly, the Bears are thin there, no doubt hoping someone can step up from the current crop they have. Isaiah Irving already has a bit of a cult following after a strong preseason last year. He didn’t get to play much last regular season but with Pernell McPhee, Willie Young and Lamarr Houston all gone that’s fixing to change. Irving has good bend and burst for the job, though his size remains a concern. This training camp will show if he’s learned ways around the problem.

Kevin Toliver (CB, Rookie UDFA)

Of all the rookie free agents the Bears added this year, the one who probably should’ve been drafted was Kevin Toliver. The LSU corner has natural talent for sure. He was a five-star recruit out of high school. He’s got size, can play physical, is a good athlete and carries himself with that swagger NFL corners usually need. He also added to his “darling” case by choosing to dawn the beloved #33, formerly worn by Bears great Charles Tillman. Imagine how excited fans would be to see another #33 making plays.

Nick Orr (S, Rookie UDFA)

Everything about this kid says underdog. He’s an undrafted player and stands just 5’10”, which is undersized for an NFL safety. Throw in the fact he comes from TCU, which isn’t exactly a factory for great defensive backs and it really looks like he’s playing against a stacked deck. Yet his stats show a potential playmaker with seven interceptions in his final two years. If he can produce like that in training camp, the Bears coaches won’t have any choice but to take notice. Besides, undersized safeties have done well in Chicago before. Ask Mike Brown.

Options For The Chicago Bulls At Pick 22

By
Brad Squires
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Bulls fans

As we all know last week a report came out stating that the Chicago Bulls had made a promise to Chandler Hutchison. The promise was that the organization was going to take him at number 22, the pick the Bulls acquired from the Pelicans in the Nikola Mirotic trade. Well, if Chandler Hutchison is gone at pick 22, the Bulls are going to have to come up with a plan B. Let’s take a look at some realistic options.

Troy Brown (Oregon, SF)Image result for troy brown oregon

The freshman out of Oregon can be a real possibility for the Bulls. If Chicago decides to pick a big man at 7, they surely will be looking for a wing to round out their lineup. Brown has the potential to be a do it all type of player. Here are the stats for the only year he suited up for the Ducks.

SEASONTEAMMINFGM-FGAFG%3PM-3PA3P%FTM-FTAFT%REBASTBLKSTLPFTOPTS
2017-18ORE31.24.1-9.2.4440.9-3.1.2912.2-3.0.7436.23.20.21.62.22.511.3

 

At 6’7 weighing in at 210 pounds, Troy can fill the need the Bulls need at the SF position. A very competitive defender, Brown can guard either guard position as well in some cases at both forward positions. With a 6’11 wingspan, he’s long and lengthy to cause trouble on the defensive end.

The project with Brown would be his offensive game. He would need to work on finishing at the rim with more explosiveness and try to improve on his jumper. At 29% shooting from downtown in college, there is definitely room for improvement.

Mitchell Robinson (Western Kentucky, C)

Image result for mitchell robinson

The Western Kentucky commit, who never actually played for Western Kentucky is a huge question mark for many fans. Assuming the Bulls choose a small forward at 7 in this years draft, they will possibly be looking for a big man at 22.

Mitchell Robinson announced he would forgo college and prepare for the 2018 draft on his own. Robinson measured 7’1 in shoes with a 7’4 wingspan at 233-pounds and a 9’2 standing reach. He has above-average defensive skills and also has nice rotation on his jump shot. Though he is a bit of a mystery the potential of pairing him next to Lauri Markkanen is intriguing.

2017McDonalds All-American113:0079.77800.00001.00031023014
2017Jordan Classic117:00771.00000.00012.50030003015

These are the only stats on Mitchell as he did not attend college. At 20 years old, he could be a pick worth making.

Jontay Porter (Missouri, Pf/C)Image result for jontay porter

Now, most Bulls fans will probably like this one. Jontay, the younger brother of Michael will be getting drafted somewhere around the Bulls second pick in the first round. Jontay is a big man that can stretch the floor and get his in the paint.

At 6’11 weighing in at 240 pounds, Jontay has a big body and can really fit into Fred Hoibergs offense. Another plus about Jontay is that is numbers at Mizzou on rebounding were phenomenal.

SEASONTEAMMINFGM-FGAFG%3PM-3PA3P%FTM-FTAFT%REBASTBLKSTLPFTOPTS
2017-18MIZ24.53.2-7.2.4371.2-3.3.3642.4-3.2.7506.82.21.70.82.91.99.9

 

Plus, for a lot of NBA fans, it would be an amazing story to see two brothers get drafted in the first round possibly to the same team.

Keita Bates-Diop (Ohio St., SF)

Image result for keita bates diop

22-year-old Bates-Diop is everything you could want in a small forward. The Illinois native made a major jump in his senior season for Ohio State, showing why he is a first-round talent. If the Bulls are looking for a 3 and D guy at 22 look no further. The stats for Bates-Diop speak for themselves.

SEASONTEAMMINFGM-FGAFG%3PM-3PA3P%FTM-FTAFT%REBASTBLKSTLPFTOPTS
2017-18OSU33.17.3-15.1.4801.9-5.4.3593.3-4.1.7948.71.61.60.91.71.819.8
2016-17OSU23.34.1-8.2.5000.3-1.7.2001.1-1.6.7145.21.31.30.21.41.69.7
2015-16OSU31.54.3-9.4.4531.1-3.4.3242.1-2.7.7876.41.11.20.71.81.411.8
2014-15OSU9.91.3-2.8.4730.5-1.2.4620.6-0.8.6792.10.50.60.30.70.43.8

 

Bates-Diop can hit a jump shot from anywhere on the floor and excels scoring on the move. He’s also a great rebounder at 6’7. With development this would be a very good pick up for the Bulls and with some development will be ready to contribute right away.

In the past Garpax have usually hit on the late picks. Let’s see if they can repeat that again in this very deep 2018 draft.

These Were the 5 Best Games Brian Urlacher Ever Played

By
Erik Lambert
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brian urlacher

Brian Urlacher turned 40-years old yesterday and has a date set with the Hall of Fame in just a couple months. It seems like to perfect time to reflect on what was one of the greatest careers a middle linebacker has ever had. People love to talk about the individual moments or the great seasons he had, but what about the great games?

Including the playoffs, Urlacher played 189 games in his career. Given the physical demands of being an NFL linebacker, that’s an insane number. So it can be difficult to pinpoint which stand out as his best performances.

So here is a quick top five list of ones that stood out the most. All factors were considered from the importance of the games to the production and impact Urlacher had on the field.

#5:  vs. Minnesota Vikings (2005)

Urlacher was at his zenith in 2005. He won Defensive Player of the Year as the heart of what was the #1 defense that season. Amazingly there weren’t a ton of stat-tastic games that year, but one most definitely stood out from a package of excellence. That was his performance against Minnesota in Week 6. Not only was it productive, it also showcased his ability to put the team on his back.

By that point, the Bears were in trouble. They’d lost three of their first four games of the season. It looked like they were destined for another down year. Urlacher wasn’t having any of that. Leading a smothering defensive effort, he collected nine tackles and also sacked Vikings quarterback Daunte Culpepper twice.

Chicago won 28-3, the first of what would be eight-straight victories that propelled the Bears into the playoffs.

#4:  @ Tennessee Titans (2012)

People look upon the 2012 season as a disappointment for Urlacher. It was the biggest sign that something had left him after the catastrophic knee injury he’d suffered the year before. His explosiveness and speed weren’t quite there anymore. So much just dismiss the season as having no games worthy of his greatness.

This is, of course, false. These same people always forget that the physical ability wasn’t the only thing that made Urlacher a star. His keen intelligence and awareness were also elite and this game showcased that to perfection. In one of the biggest beatdowns of that era, the Bears hammered the Titans 51-20 behind a turnover-frenzied defensive gem.

Urlacher was in on the action in every way. He made seven tackles, forced a fumble and scored an unforgettable pick-six touchdown.

#3:  vs. Green Bay Packers (2007)

It’s the opinion of this writer that Urlacher was screwed out of a ninth Pro Bowl in 2007. If one were to look at the stats, it’s insane he didn’t get the nod. Why was this the case? Most likely it’s because the Bears failed to make the playoffs but then again the San Francisco 49ers didn’t and their inside linebacker Patrick Willis got in. So what’s up with that?

Be that as it may, the 2007 campaign had an array of great performances by Urlacher. The best and easily biggest favorite had to be the windy and frigid December rematch with the Green Bay Packers. The Packers were already in the playoffs so they didn’t exactly enter the game with the greatest enthusiasm. The Bears made them pay for it.

Urlacher had just five tackles but he deflected three passes and intercepted Brett Favre for an 85-yard pick-six that put the game away 35-7.

#2:  @ Atlanta Falcons (2001)

This was the game where Urlacher seemed to transform from promising youngster into a dominant force. Chicago went into Atlanta against a Falcons team that was 2-1 and put up 58 points over the past two weeks. It was a strong test for the Bears’ young defense and their new leader. The challenge was met, and harshly.

Atlanta could do nothing against the Bears defense all game. Chicago steamrolled them 31-3 and knocked their starting quarterback out of the game. They also had no answer for Urlacher who did everything there was to do in four quarters. He made five tackles, a sack, intercepted a pass, forced a fumble and also recovered a fumble for a touchdown.

#1:  @ Arizona Cardinals (2006)

This was the game that made Urlacher a legend. By all rights the Bears should’ve been clobbered in this matchup against the Cardinals on Monday Night Football. The offense turned it over six times and the Bears trailed 23-3 at one point in the second half. Most felt the game was already over. The only one who refused to let that stand was Urlacher.

He was literally everywhere that night. Official NFL records say he made 19 tackles though some proclaim it was actually 25. In addition to that, he also deflected two passes and forced a critical fumble that was returned for a touchdown, cutting the Cardinals lead to 23-17. There’s no way they win without him that night.

It was the signature victory of that season and the night Urlacher cemented his legacy.

Victor Ejdsell A Star In The Making For Blackhawks

By
Tony Gianares
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Blackhawks’ prospect, Victor Ejdsell, has made a name for himself in his short whirlwind of a career. Since being acquired from Nashville back in February as part of the Ryan Hartman trade, Ejdsell has been relentless. He has been performing at an elite level for the Rockford IceHogs this postseason, and also, a big reason why the IceHogs have been as successful as they have been. Ejdsell has been busy etching his name into the record books.

Victor Ejdsell Shines Bright For IceHogs

In 12 postseason games, Victor Ejdsell is single-handedly responsible for 4 of the IceHogs’ wins. Here is a clip of his latest Game-Winning Goal (GWG) from Thursday night against the Texas Stars.


Ejdsell’s stat line currently stands at 12 points (7G, 5A) with a 6 +/- rating and 3 Power Play Goals. Out of his 17 total shots, 7 have been goals. That brings his shooting percentage to an absurd 41.2%. This type of efficiency is unheard of in the sport of hockey. I am sure most people have heard the phrase, “He’s putting up video game numbers right now.” This phrase applies here, but honestly, Ejdsell’s numbers are better than video game numbers.

Can Ejdsell Maintain This Level Of Production?

I know what you are probably thinking right now. There is no way that anyone can sustain this type of production for a long period of time. In most cases, I would have to agree with you. However, the case of Victor Ejdsell is a curious one. He has been putting up these types of numbers for a while now.

Here is a breakdown of Ejdsell’s stats over the course of his career.

As you can see here, he has had a history of putting up points on a consistent basis. Also, another thing to keep in mind is the +/- rating. In hockey, this rating measures a player’s impact on a game and represents the goal differential while the player is on the ice. Ejdsell has posted a generally positive +/- rating throughout his career thus far. This indicates a good 2-way player – good offensively and defensively.

The reason behind the great numbers can be boiled down to a few things. Size, speed, awareness, instincts, and puck control. It is very rare to possess all of these traits, but Victor Ejdsell has been blessed with all of them. You can see all of them in action in my last article, and also, in the video below, as he takes the beautifully placed outlet pass from the IceHogs’ defensive zone all the way to the house.

Things To Watch For

Victor Ejdsell has been the heartbeat of the Rockford IceHogs since being re-assigned there after the Blackhawks’ 2017-18 regular season ended. He is solely responsible for keeping the IceHogs alive in the AHL Western Conference Finals against the Texas Stars, as he helped rally the team from a 0-3 series deficit to win their first game of the series on Thursday with his 4th GWG of the Calder Cup Playoffs.

Maybe they can channel their inner 2013 Chicago Blackhawks and win 4 straight games to move on, but the IceHogs are currently living on a prayer (they’re half-way there). They have made a goalie change and taken back-to-back games to make it a competitive series once again. The next game is on Monday in Rockford. Let’s see if Ejdsell has any more GWGs left in the tank and can will the IceHogs to the Calder Cup Finals.

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