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Alex Smith Praises Matt Nagy, Then Lays Smackdown on Loggains

By
Erik Lambert
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alex smith

The Chicago Bears believe they found exactly what they were looking for at head coach in Matt Nagy. Though just 39-years old, his wealth of experience both as a former player and assistant coach have provided him the tools to be the leader of men this team needs. Of course, though the primary reason he was hired was much simpler. They want him to be the guiding light for Mitch Trubisky on his ascent, hopefully, towards becoming a franchise quarterback. Alex Smith understands this well.

Expectations were low when he arrived with the Kansas City Chiefs back in 2013. He’d had what amounted to one decent season as a pro at that point with the San Francisco 49ers. After that, he’d been benched in favor of Colin Kaepernick. There was a lot of proving to do. At the same time, he wasn’t the only one feeling that pressure. So was the man assigned to be his quarterbacks coach in Nagy.

Over the next five seasons, the two worked together to elevate their respective career. With Nagy’s help, Smith became a three-time Pro Bowler, helping the Chiefs to four playoff appearances. Nagy earned a promotion to offensive coordinator in 2016 and has since parlayed that into his head coaching job with Chicago. If anybody knows what the Bears are getting from him, it’s Smith.

Alex Smith believes Trubisky-Nagy combination will terrorize NFL

Now there is no question that Smith is biased in this regard. At the same time, he didn’t hesitate to gush about his time with Nagy and who the man is as a coach and person. In his mind, the idea of him and Trubisky pairing together means big trouble for opponents for years to come.

“He and I spent five years together and we were about as close as it gets from a coach-and-player relationship,” said Smith, who remains under contract for one more year to the Chiefs and is the subject of trade speculation. “Lot of hours, countless hours, and to see him grow, not only as a quarterbacks coach and then go to coordinator and now I am pumped for him here as he becomes a head coach.

I think he is going to do awesome. He has the it deal. I don’t know how to say it, but he is so comfortable around the guys, so comfortable in front of the room. Leading guys, he is so real, honest and then very gifted from an X’s and O’s standpoint.

So sad to see him go from a personal perspective, but (I’m) pumped for him and his opportunities with Chicago and Trubisky. I think he is going to do a lot of fun stuff with (Trubisky).”

Smith went into even further detail shortly after

He wasn’t done though. Smith later appeared on Pardon My Take to talk about his recent trade to the Washington Redskins. Soon the conversation about Nagy came up and the 33-year old couldn’t hold back his comments about how poorly former offensive coordinator Dowell Loggains utilized Trubisky this season.

Smith also wasn’t the only former Nagy acquaintance singing his praises though. Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Nick Foles, who is scheduled to start the Super Bowl, remembers his time with him well from 2016. He had nothing but good things to say.

Considering the accomplishments that Smith and Foles have had in the past couple years, it’s safe to say they might know what they’re talking about. This bodes well for the direction the Bears are headed, especially their young quarterback.

The Most Notable Highlights From SoxFest 2018

By
Emmet McClain
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This past weekend I had the pleasure of attending my first SoxFest ever, and it didn’t disappoint. 2018 marked the first sold out SoxFest since the World Series 10 year reunion in 2015. This SoxFest weekend was different than years past, mainly because of the amount of prospects that were in attendance. Zack Burdi, Jake Burger, Gavin Sheets, Zack Collins, Alec Hansen, Dylan Cease, Blake Rutherford, Michael Kopech, and Eloy Jimenez all were in attendance decked out in White Sox gear. Here I will go over specific things I either saw or heard while I was wandering aimlessly throughout the Hilton this past weekend.

 

  1. Zack Burdi Is Ahead Of Schedule With His RehabDuring one of the seminars, I was actually sitting behind Zack Burdi’s mother and a few of his aunts. They were all very nice and were talking with fans before the seminar began. One fan asked how Burdi is coming along with his rehab and his mom said that he is actually “two months ahead of schedule.” Although this is fantastic news, coming back from Tommy John is still a lengthy process, so don’t be surprised if Burdi decides to play it safe and just have a goal of getting 100% healthy for the 2019 season.
2.  Welington Castillo Has Been Actively FaceTiming Manny Machado

During an interview with Chuck Garfein, newly signed catcher Welington Castillo said that he has been FaceTiming his friend Manny Machado as often as once or twice a week. The Castillo signing could end up paying HUGE dividends if it can help lure over one of the biggest prizes in next years free agent pool. Castillo was saying how he can see that in the next couple years the White Sox are going to be really special. His main goal this year, (aside from helping the White Sox on the field), will be to do his best to convince Manny of that as well.

3. The Jake Burger/Nicky Delmonico Bromance Is Real

Jake Burger and Nicky Delmonico lived in Arizona this offseason and were workout buddies at Camelback Ranch. They did hot yoga together, ate meals together, and Burger picked Delmonico’s brain about anything and everything about baseball. The two of them seem to feed off of each other’s work ethic. They even want to start a podcast together according to Burger.

4. The Players Truly Believe They Can Compete In 2018

Everywhere I walked around SoxFest there was this energy throughout both the crowd and the players. At every seminar the White Sox at one point brought up how good they think they can be not just long term, but specifically this season as well. Tim Anderson repeatedly used the phrase “We’re going to give you guys a show next year.” and Nicky Delmonico stated “I think we can surprise the world.” Now obviously they aren’t going to say “we’re going to be meh this year, probably still a year away.” But this felt a little different than just saying we’re going to be good just to say it. The entire team seems to have a chip on their shoulder to prove to everyone that the White Sox have arrived and are here to stay.

5. Yoan Moncada’s English Has Improved

Coming over from Cuba to the states is a big transition, no matter how good of a baseball player you are. In fact, the biggest transition happens off of the field. A different language, culture, diet, and weather all play a big factor in transitioning from Cuba to the United States. At one of the seminars, Moncada only had to use his translator a few times. Otherwise he had a pretty decent idea of what was going on. He seems to have picked up on American profanity as well. When asked who would win in an arm wrestling competition between himself and Michael Kopech, Moncada replied immediately while pointing to Kopech, “This guy, hes f***ing strong.”

6. The Team Loves Hanging Out Together As Friends

A few days before SoxFest began, some of the younger guys on the team went to the Blackhawks game. Delmonico even participated in Shoot The Puck in between periods. Afterwards, they all hopped on a party bus and tore up the downtown bars. Tim Anderson posted an instagram live video of himself, Carson Fulmer, Michael Kopech, Nicky Delmonico, and Lucas Giolito all having a blast. Over the actual weekend, they all had dinner together and once again, hit up the bars after long days of signing autographs and taking pictures with the fans. The chemistry and the culture this team is building together cannot be undervalued. If they love hanging out together this much off the field, then they will go to war for each other on the field.

7. The White Sox Have Recently Offered Nine Figure Contracts

Rick Hahn was asked time and time again if the White Sox are going to spend big next offseason given that the biggest contract in franchise history is Jose Abreu’s 68MM. Hahn was quick to explain that even though Abreu has the biggest contract in franchise history, they have in fact offered much bigger contracts as of late. Some of which reached the nine figure mark. Who those players were, we don’t know. But it seems like Hahn and the rest of the front office aren’t going to be cheap when it comes to next offseason’s free agent pool.

8. Carlos Rodon Started Throwing Monday

When asked about his own rehab stint, Rodon told everyone that he is starting his throwing program on Monday (yesterday). Although there isn’t a date set for a probable return to the rotation, he said he should definitely be back before the All-Star break. So while it is great to hear that he has started throwing, it looks like any slim chance there was of him being ready by Opening Day is officially gone.

9. Jose Abreu Is Extremely Fit

Last season Jose Abreu was noticeably slimmer, and he went on to have one of his best seasons in the MLB. In an interview this past weekend, Abreu said he has lost another ten pounds. He looks as strong as ever, and seemed incredibly eager to get back to work at Spring Training.

10. Michael Kopech Already Talks Like An Established MLB Veteran

Whether it was pictures, autograph sessions, or seminars, Michael Kopech was by far the hottest attraction at SoxFest. Hearing him speak made me completely forget that he is a 21-year-old kid. He admitted last year he was a little frustrated he was in Double-A for so long, but realized now that it was worth the extra time. I can tell fellow White Sox fans confidently that the only thing he cares about is bringing a championship to the South Side. If he plays how he practices, he won’t be in the minors much longer, and when he reaches the MLB, there is no reason to think he won’t be a legit star.

11. Blake Rutherford Looked Significantly Bigger

Fans are understandably higher on Eloy Jimenez and Luis Robert than Blake Rutherford when it comes to outfield prospects. Blake’s first season in the minor leagues didn’t go so well, and people seemed to take notice. He dropped from the 45th overall prospect in baseball to the 99th. Many people knocked his power, as he didn’t even slug .400 last year. However, at SoxFest Rutherford looked bigger, and confirmed that he has added 10-15 pounds of muscle this offseason. Director of Player Development Chris Getz talked about how the ball seemed to be carrying more off of Blake’s bat at hitter’s mini camp a few weeks ago. He can already hit to all areas of the field. If he truly can tap into his power, the future of the White Sox becomes that much brighter.

It was amazing meeting all of the prospects and current players on the White Sox. You could just tell that they are all amped up for the season to start. If the passion and energy the players and prospects expressed at SoxFest translates to the 2018 season, fans will be in for a treat from the bottom of the organization all the way to the top.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Even Another Coaching Candidate Says Bears Hired Right Guy in Matt Nagy

By
Erik Lambert
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matt nagy

Bruce Arians freely admitted he was upset back in 2013 when the Chicago Bears bypassed him as their head coaching candidate in favor of Marc Trestman. That’s why he tried like hell to make them pay for it two years later when his Arizona Cardinals trounced them 48-23 at Soldier Field. Not being picked isn’t any fun, but being dismissed in favor of a candidate you likely deem inferior? That has to burn twice as much. So it’s curious to wonder how the other candidates felt when the Bears went with Matt Nagy.

Of course, he wasn’t as far out of left field as Trestman was, but he was still a bit of a surprise. Nagy didn’t really become a true head coaching candidate until late in the 2017 season. That was when he reportedly took over play-calling duties on offense from Andy Reid. The Kansas City Chiefs offense revived the moment that happened and made a late run to secure the AFC West title.

That along with his credentials as a quarterback specialist and reputation for being able to connect with players seemed to do the job. This despite more experienced candidates like Josh McDaniels and Pat Shurmur also vying for the job. In fact, one other coach who seemed like a favorite believes the Bears made the right call.

John DeFilippo applauds Bears for picking Matt Nagy

One of the hotter names on the coaching market this past month was Philadelphia Eagles quarterbacks coach John DeFilippo. The work he’s done this year has been a gigantic influence on the Eagles reaching the Super Bowl. It looked like that would end up landing him a top job but in the end, he wasn’t chosen, though he seemed to come close in Chicago.

He’s not bitter though. During a conversation with Adam Hoge of WGN, the 39-year old didn’t just accept Chicago choosing Nagy. He, in fact, applauded it.

DeFilippo and Nagy have actually crossed paths before. Back in 2013 and 2014 both were quarterback coaches in the AFC West division. Nagy was in Kansas City and DeFilippo was in Oakland. It seems the two gained a healthy respect for the others’ work. They share a mutual connection with the Eagles franchise as well. Nagy worked there from 2008 to 2012 and now DeFilippo is there as well.

They basically came up through the game the same way. Both are former quarterbacks who never made it to the NFL as players. They cracked the business as coaching interns and worked their way up the ranks as proven QB mentors. If that weren’t enough they’re the exact same age at 39. It’s not surprising that DeFilippo might see a little of himself in Nagy.

If anything it’s a window into the person he is that he offers such warm support for his coaching comrade. At the same time, his vote of support is another sign that the Bears made a good call.

REPORT: Hey Guess What,There’s A Different Team Strongly In The Mix To Sign Yu Darvish

By
Aldo Soto
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In today’s Yu Darvish news, we present to you a new, but kind of not new, team that’s in talks with the free-agent pitcher. It took less than a day for my prediction to happen, as the Milwaukee Brewers are now seen to be strongly in the mix to sign Darvish according to Robert Murray and Jon Heyman of FanRag Sports.

The Brewers had reportedly already offered a contract to Darvish earlier in the offseason and this new piece of information comes after the pitcher supposedly had three different preferred destinations according to three different reporters on Monday.

REPORT(s): Yu Darvish Prefers To Sign With Cubs, No Wait, Dodgers, Well Maybe Rangers

Now, there’s no secret the Brewers are going for it this season, trading four prospects for Christian Yelich and then signing Lorenzo Cain for $80 million, but despite the report from Murray nothing seems imminent on the Darvish front.

The Milwaukee Brewers are in discussions with free agent starting pitcher Yu Darvish and appear to be very much in the mix, sources tell FanRag Sports.

There is no evidence to suggest a deal is close at this time.

The Brewers do need to sign a top-of-the-rotation pitcher to become more serious contenders in the National League Central division, but all this talk smells a little fishy.

Ever since the AP reported the Cubs were in talks with Darvish last week, we’ve seen small details reported on the two sides being set on the money, but not on the length of the contract. It is very possible that we’re just seeing Darvish’s camp leak out these tiny bits of information to at least attempt to drive up the price for the pitcher.

Cubs In Active Talks With Yu Darvish According To AP Source

I mean, seriously in less than one day we’ve gone from Darvish wants to sign with the Cubs, Dodgers, Rangers and now the Brewers are all of a sudden “very much in the mix?”

Again, I don’t mind Darvish taking his time and these reports are fun to kick around, but it sure does appear that this Brewers report is more talk than substantial. Of course, that’s coming from a Cubs fan.

NOT SO FAST! The Mirotic To Pelicans Trade Isn’t Official

By
Patrick Mooney
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nikola mirotic continues distance bulls teammates

Well, that was fast (and disappointing). Just minutes after NBC Sports Chicago Bulls beat writer Vincent Goodwill, who’s usually very reliable, reported Mirotic had been traded to New Orleans, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported that while an initial agreement was in place the deal has temporarily fallen through.

‘Woj’ is the undisputed king of NBA breaking news, so for now Nikola Mirotic is still a Bull. He had more to add on what needs to be done in order for the trade to become official.

However, it’s not as simple as Mirotic waiving his no-trade clause, something I think he is likely to do whether or not the Bulls pick up next year’s option.

So, with New Orleans needing to account for Mirotic’s potential bonuses, they need to shed an additional $1.7 million in salary in order to take on his contract. The simple solution would be for the Bulls to take on an additional expiring contract from the Pelicans to complete the deal.

So, while the ‘Woj bomb’ initially inspired panic and disappointment, it sounds like the Bulls will indeed be sending Mirotic to New Orleans at the end of the day for a first-round pick, Omer Asik and another player.

Brian Urlacher Shows Anthony Adams No Mercy in Treadmill Workout

By
Erik Lambert
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brian urlacher

If there were ever two personalities that Chicago Bears fans wish were still around, it would be Brian Urlacher and Anthony Adams. Not only were they both good players on the field, they’ve proven to be almost equally entertaining off it. So it stands to reason that they might produce a golden segment or two if and when they ever got together.

That opportunity finally came. Urlacher is, of course, a Bears legend and now back in the spotlight as a semifinalist for the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Adams decided to catch up with his old teammate. The conversation eventually got around to how skinny Urlacher has become and how he’s managed to do so when most football players tend to gain weight after they retire.

Urlacher decided to show him.

It involved an intense regimen on the treadmill, mixing brisk jogs and flat-out sprints. Adams then made his biggest mistake. He agreed to try it out himself. Understand that Adams, though still highly nimble for his age, hasn’t lost much of his mass from his playing days. He’s a big boy. So going through an intense cardio session that one of the greatest linebackers in history found tough?

One can imagine what happened next.

The pure joy Urlacher shows throughout at Adams’ suffering is what makes it so magnificent. This is the perfect encapsulation of what locker room behavior was often like. Mad respect to Adams for not calling it quits despite understanding his mistake about halfway through the workout. Either way, it might be proof that these two should consider getting together again. This routine was straight gold.

Darren Sproles Scolded Bears For Badly Misusing Tarik Cohen

By
Erik Lambert
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tarik cohen

It’s often hard to find highlights during a 5-11 season but the Chicago Bears got a rare exception. This was due in large part to the arrival of Tarik Cohen. Absolutely nobody knew who he was when his name was called in the fourth round of the draft. They just learned that he came from North Carolina A&T, was a running back and stood a very short 5’6″.

Immediately experts stated that he would draw inevitable comparison to four-time Pro Bowler Darren Sproles. Not just because they’re the same height but also exhibit similar traits from the quickness to speed, agility and remarkable playmaking skill. There were plenty of skeptics. Sproles was such a rare oddity who’d never been seen before. It was hard to accept that Chicago may have found somebody who could be just as good.

Always one to embrace a challenge, Cohen set about making them believers. He became the Swiss army knife of the Bears offense, doing little bits of everything. Every week it seemed like he’d deliver a memorable highlight. This week it’s as a running back. Next week it’s as a receiver. Then for good measure, he’ll throw in a big punt return. He did it all.

Yet when Sproles was asked about his young doppelganger, he seemed unimpressed.

Sproles believes Bears should’ve gotten more from Tarik Cohen

Mind you it had nothing to do with Cohen himself. Sproles was more disappointed with how the Bears coaches utilized him for most of 2017. During an interview at the Super Bowl opening night, Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune learned that he believes they didn’t do the best job of maximizing what Cohen does best.

“Quick, fast,” Sproles said Monday during Super Bowl LII’s Opening Night at the Xcel Center. “I think they have to put him in space a little bit more though. Like, they’ve really got to move him around, create mismatches for him…

…I think with the new coach (Matt Nagy) though, I think they might use him a little bit different, move him around,” Sproles said. “They should watch New Orleans film. Watch some of that film. They’ve got to put him in spots like they did with Alvin Kamara.”

It seems rather funny he should mention that. Recently a photo surfaced online of Nagy and GM Ryan Pace on a flight. It shows Nagy appearing to watch game film on a tablet while holding the bridge of his nose as if staving off a headache. One can imagine he was likely watching how previous offensive coordinator Dowell Loggains was conducting the offense. Loggains was criticised almost constantly this season for his lack of imagination.

Nagy and Mark Helfrich already have blueprint for how to use Cohen

The good news is Nagy and his right-hand man Mark Helfrich actually specialize in this field. One of the biggest concepts of both the West Coast and spread schemes is taking versatile players like Cohen and finding matchups where they get in space. Nagy did plenty of that down in Kansas City with Tyreek Hill. Helfrich did the same for years at Oregon with the likes of LaMichael James and De’Anthony Thomas.

Nagy lined Hill up everywhere from outside to the slot and even in the backfield. He’d put him in motion on reverses too, both to run one and as a decoy. Defenses had no choice but to respect the moves because Hill was proven so dangerous with the ball in his hands. That is the same threat Cohen poses too. It stands to reason he’ll have his own special package when the 2018 season begins.

REPORT: Nikola Mirotic Traded To Pelicans

By
Aldo Soto
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nikola mirotic continues distance bulls teammates

According to NBC Sports Chicago’s Vincent Goodwill, the Chicago Bulls have traded Nikola Mirotic to the New Orleans Pelicans.

The trade also nets the Bulls Omer Asik, who played with Chicago back in the Tom Thibodeau coaching days.

So, the Bulls ultimately got the first round pick they wanted and also get a little worse this year to improve their draft position. As of now, the Bulls have the sixth worst record in the NBA. Despite a good stretch in December and early January, the team has struggled as of late, losing five of six, including a 1-4 record without Kris Dunn.

So, doesn’t appear as though the Pelicans first round pick will have any restrictions and Asik has one more guaranteed year left on his contract after this season at $11.3 million. In 2019, the Bulls can buy out the center for $3 million.

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

So, no deal yet. but it does look like it will happen?

So, we’ll see.

Interesting Free Agents With Connections to Bears Coaching Staff

By
Erik Lambert
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bears coaching staff

One of the more underrated aspects of this new Chicago Bears coaching staff is the potential effect it could have on their fortunes for 2018 free agency. An unsung value of adding new coaches is that they might be able to lure certain players to the team. Players who enjoyed working with them at a prior location. For John Fox that was the case with Danny Trevathan, Mitch Unrein, and Eddie Royal.

This could mean GM Ryan Pace might have extra advantages with certain names set to hit the open market in March. All of them may not be the blockbuster stars fans are hoping for, but more than few could end up being quality adds to the roster in any number of capacities. Here is each of the primary coaches involved going into this season and who they might be able to call on for help

Matt Nagy

Albert Wilson (WR, 25-years old)

Nagy had a direct hand in the development of Wilson as one of the better slot receivers in the league this past season. He’s not flashy but the young man is coming off his best year with 42 catches for 552 yards and three touchdowns. His knowledge of Nagy’s scheme, particularly the route running concepts would be of huge benefit as the Bears revamp their entire receiving position from top to bottom.

Zach Fulton (OL, 26-years old)

There could be some shuffling along the offensive line for the Bears this off-season. Nagy may wish to add more depth too. Zach Fulton not only brings starting experience with him from Kansas City. He also has played every position on the offensive line, though his primary focus is center and guard. He’s not a star but he’s proven more than adequate whenever called upon to replace a starter.

Mark Helfrich

Dion Jordan (EDGE, 27-years old)

The football life of Dion Jordan has been a remarkable roller coaster. He was a rising star coming out of Oregon with his freakish athletic prowess. Then he floundered in Miami, getting in trouble both on and off the field. Most thought his career was over before the Seattle Seahawks decided to give him another chance. He responded with four sacks in five games to end the season. Helfrich was the offensive coordinator at Oregon when Jordan was drafted and the Bears desperately need pass rush help.

Vic Fangio

Eric Reid (S, 26-years old)

Probably among the most frustrated players in the league right now is Eric Reid. It looked like he was destined for stardom during the first two years of his career. Between 2013 and 2014 he had seven interceptions, 19 passes defended, two recovered fumbles and reached a Pro Bowl. In the three seasons since then, he’s failed to match any of those numbers. Considering his best work was done with Fangio, it makes perfect sense he’d want to reunite.

Dontae Johnson (CB, 26-years old)

Another promising young defensive back who saw his progress slowed thanks to the loss of Fangio back in 2015. Dontae Johnson is a rangy corner at 6’2″, able to play the physic, press coverage style that Fangio covets for his system. With the Bears having three key corners set to become free agents, Johnson could be seen as an ideal quick fix if any of them were lost. He would likely be an upgrade over Marcus Cooper.

Aaron Lynch (EDGE, 24-years old)

As stated earlier the Bears need pass rush help. There was genuine excitement around Aaron Lynch when he was drafted back in 2014. Under Fangio’s tutelage, he managed six sacks as a rookie despite limited snaps. A year later as a full-time starter though he only got to 6.5. In the two seasons since as the coaches and schemes continued to change he has just 2.5 total. He needs a fresh start and Fangio already knows what he does well.

Chicago Bears Safety Rated The Best of 2017 NFL Season

By
Erik Lambert
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chicago bears safety

The improvement of the defense under Vic Fangio in 2017 was obvious. Perhaps nowhere was that clearer than the Chicago Bears safety position. After being a turnstile for older veterans and average youngsters, it felt like they finally got some serious talent at the position. Something that hasn’t been seen in over a decade. Several experts have found it hard not to take notice.

In fact, as rankings have begun to emerge it’s clear the love is serious for them. So here’s the fun part. Ask Bears fans who was the highest rated safety they featured in 2017? There’s a strong likelihood most would say it was rookie Eddie Jackson. It’s not hard to see why. The defense didn’t take its dramatic leap forward until he arrived. He finished the year with two interceptions, three recovered fumbles, one forced fumble and two defensive touchdowns.

Amazingly enough, that wasn’t enough to earn the same grade from the Bleacher Report site-wide ranks as his running mate who claimed top honors.

Adrian Amos grades as best Chicago Bears safety by wide margin

Truly there’s been an unusual lovefest going on with Adrian Amos this year. Pro Football Focus had him among their highest graded safeties for most of the year. Now that infatuation has spread to B/R where two of their top experts pegged him as the highest rated free safety of the 2017 season. They provided their reasons why.

“Posey:  The Bears have one of the NFL’s better up-and-coming safety duos, and Adrian Amos has a lot to do with that. “Smash” rightfully earned his nickname. Amos had a phenomenal 2017. He was outstanding against the run and a sure tackler. In coverage, he showed the kind of awareness that can make him a league-wide star. The only complaint one might have was his lack of plays on the ball. That should come in time.

Farrar:  The first thing that stands out about Amos’ tape is his closing ability. He can cover huge swaths of ground in a big hurry, which allows him to make plays other safeties just can’t. His ball skills will improve as his backpedal gets a bit smoother and he’s able to match receivers with speed and pattern awareness downfield, but he’s shown a tremendous amount of potential in three NFL seasons.”

Amos production not telling the same story

What makes it all the more impressive (and confusing) is the names Amos beat out for the honor. Among include several Pro Bowlers like Devin McCourty, Glover Quin, Antoine Bethea and Earl Thomas. It’s more unusual given his stat line. In 13 games he delivered an interception, a forced fumble, recovered two fumbles and scored a touchdown with 67 tackles. While this is an improvement on his past two seasons, is it worthy of topping those other big names?

Either way, it’s clear Amos took a big step forward this past season. He’s still only just 24-years old. The odds seem to favor him getting even better in 2018 as he and Jackson become even more ingrained in the Vic Fangio defense. This is what fans should focus on the most.

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