Monday, April 13, 2026
✶ Untold Chicago Stories ✶ Amazon Music
Home Blog Page 3019

Predators’ Mascot Is Owning The Blackhawks On Social Media

By
Marc-Louis Paprzyca
-

With a first round shellacking by the Predators, the Blackhawks are enjoying a longer offseason than they would have liked. It’s something the organization and the fans would like to forget but Nashville’s mascot, Gnash, is not letting it go.

Yesterday he began with this tweet reminding the Blackhawks they didn’t score a goal at home in the four game sweep.

Gnash didn’t stop there. He continued today using the solar eclipse to throw shade at the Blackhawks. Pun intended.

The Blackhawks and Tommy Hawk official Twitter accounts have not responded. I don’t know what they could say outside of referring to the past but we all know you’re only as good as your last season.

This has happened two days in a row. Let’s see if the Blackhawks or Tommy responds and if it escalates. I hope it does.

Follow @Pappy_Hour on Twitter for more Blackhawks news and musings.

This John Fox Quote Proves He’s Out of Touch on the QB Issue

By
Erik Lambert
-
bears head coach
Credit: Chicago Tribune

A John Fox quote must almost always be taken with a grain of salt. Like most old school coaches including him, Bill Belichick and Andy Reid they prefer to keep their language in a narrow spectrum. Betray nothing to the media because they’re not out for the best interests of the team. That’s fair since he’s the head coach and it’s his job on the line.

Nonetheless there are certain times where Fox mentions something that can make it absolutely infuriating he’s still in charge of the Bears. Never mind the fact he’s 9-23 in his first two seasons with the team. There was always an underlying fear that the 62-year old wasn’t qualified to develop a young quarterback into a star.

There were good reasons to think so. For one Fox has never done it before. Every quarterback drafted under him since 2002 has failed to become an effective starter. For another his personal coaching history is strictly defensive-oriented. His credibility for this job of turning Mitch Trubisky into the franchise quarterback he can be is low.

One John Fox quote reaffirms how lacking in foresight he is

This is not to say that Fox is a bad coach. His track record says differently. At the same time he’s not thought of in the upper tier too often. There have been criticisms over the years from his laid back style, lack of discipline and attention to detail. These are not good traits to have when coaching quarterbacks.

Perhaps nothing signified his glossing over of the details more than this seemingly innocuous quote following the Bears’ preseason win in Arizona. Patrick Finley of the Chicago Sun-Times caught wind of it.

“Glennon, who was not sacked, played behind the starting offensive line.

Trubisky, who was sacked once, pulled down by the facemask another time and hit below the knees on a third excruciating play, was protected by Taylor Boggs, Tom Compton, Cyril Richardson, William Poehls and Bradley Sowell. One of the five might make the team.

Asked if he’d like to pair the No. 2 overall pick with superior blockers, Fox said the matchup is all relative — he was facing worse defenders, too.”

See now that sounds logical enough. The level of competition is even because it’s backups against backups. Only the thing is that’s not true at all.

Backup blocking isn’t the same as backup blitzing

Offensive line play in the NFL isn’t as simple as it sounds. There’s a reason players say the best fronts are ones that play together for a long time. Timing and rhythm are huge parts of proper execution when it comes to things like pull blocks and above all blitz pickups. So throwing five guys who don’t know each other on the field with zero chemistry is bound to create plenty of snafus.

Especially against a defense that likes to blitz. A defense like the Arizona Cardinals, for instance? One of the ugly hits Trubisky endured in that game was courtesy of an exotic blitz call. On the  play they brought six men. This created a number of one-on-one blocks, allowing a defender to slip through and drag him down by his facemask.

The other play, a low hit to his knee countered the other part of Fox’s argument. It wasn’t just poor blocking that Trubisky had to worry about. It was dumb play by a “worse” defender. Specifically a guy who forgot the rule that you can’t hit a quarterback low.

A little more weight or awkward position and the Bears lose their prized draft pick for the year and in all likelihood Fox loses his job. Of course his stubborn stance on Mike Glennon as starter is bound to do that anyway. In the end maybe it is good that Chicago keeps Trubisky on the bench.

At least this way the man who replaces Fox in 2018 won’t have to worry about inheriting damaged goods.

Yoan Moncada’s Swing Exposed With Change Of Speeds

By
Matt Enuco
-

Perhaps the weight of an organization is too much for Yoan Moncada. Since his promotion to the Chicago White Sox, the slugging middle infielder has ground to a .182 batting average – albeit, with a few dramatic performances – and a .327 on-base percentage. Moncada’s OBP is outstanding considering his haunting strike-out rate, but as he approaches 100 at-bats in the show, it is time to start making adjustments.

Let’s face facts, Moncada has trouble with the changeup. Every switch-hitter has a weak side and Moncada’s weakness is when he flips to the right side of the plate. He is batting a dreary .218 from the left side but that smacks of virtuosity compared to his .121 average against left-handers.

I’m certainly not suggesting he should abandon his ambidextrous approach, and quite frankly, the league isn’t too concerned about his ability to hit from either side. They are waiting for him to prove he is worth a match-up before burning a bullpen arm.

Moncada’s problem isn’t which side he hits from; it’s his pitch selection.

His approach needed considerable adjustment once he joined the White Sox. Moncada trimmed down his strikeouts and elevated his walks at Triple-A – something that has carried over into the big leagues to varying degrees. Still, his patience at the plate has yielded inscrutable returns.

Moncada has been less aggressive early in the count since joining the big-league squad making more weak contact and more hard contact on pitches than he did in an abbreviated appearance with the Red Sox. Meanwhile, he is chasing over 10 percent more pitches out of the zone than last season and making almost nine percent better contact. Yet, somehow he has managed to earn more walks than before.

Most of this his walks have been products of eye-balling close pitches in risky counts, but Moncada deserves credit for demonstrating command of the strike zone. However, after mining further into the data Moncada is an easy mark for the changeup.

It’s a classic set up; speed up his bat with the fastball and pull the string. Over 30 percent of Moncada’s strikeouts have been on changeups. He is one of two players who faced less than 1,000 pitches and rank in the top 60 for strikeouts. It doesn’t matter which arm it comes from; Moncada is a sucker for the changeup diving out of the zone.

Baseball Savant

When all manner of outs is tallied on the eephus pitch, Moncada falls victim to the changeup on 3.70 percent of pitches – second on the White Sox to Leury Garcia. Pitchers aren’t afraid to attack Moncada in any count with the pitch as long as it is located down and away.

Baseball Savant

And even when Moncada can get the barrel on it, he doesn’t do much damage.

Baseball Savant

Charts and statistics serve many purposes, but the true testament to the epic struggle Moncada is having with the changeup is that he has yet to log a hit on the pitch. Rick Renteria and Todd Steverson must address this with their young stallion of a middle-infielder. Now is the time to have Moncada home in on how pitchers are going to use the changeup off the fastball, while also learning how to sit back and protect against change of speeds.

The Stats Show It: Bears Defense Has Solved Its Biggest Problem

By
Erik Lambert
-
bears run defense
Credit: USA Today

People talk about the pass rush and coverage. Understandably so. The NFL has become a league driven by quarterbacks. Stopping them is top priority. At the same time, coaches continue to insist none of that matter unless a team can stop the run. The Chicago Bears run defense was, to put it mildly, porous in 2016. It was a big reason their secondary was exposed to the extent it was.

All told they finished 27th in the league against the run, allowing over 121 yards per game on ground. People knew something was wrong when Ty Montgomery, a converted wide receiver in Green Bay, almost hung 200 on them. After that there was no doubt a point of emphasis going into 2017 was better gap integrity and better tackling. Control the line of scrimmage.

Having their front seven healthy would be a nice start. Eddie Goldman is back. Danny Trevathan is on his way. Of course it will take more than them. It would seem the Bears knew that and have figured it out.

Bears run defense has excelled through two preseason games

If one were to look at the straight stats through the first half of the preseason for Chicago, they’d find positive signs. Currently the Bears rank eight overall against the run at 73 yards allowed per game. Of course that stat can be misleading. By and large it’s how the first and second team units performed that matters since they’ll actually make the team.

So how have the Bears fared under those conditions? In total opponents have run the ball 22 times against their first and second string defenses for 57 yards. That’s an average of just 3.85 yards per carry. As a team they’ve yet to allow a run of 10 yards or more. Sure it’s only been two preseason games but considering they’ve done this without two of their best players (Trevathan and Akiem Hicks) on the field? That’s progress.

It’s clear the Bears are getting it done at all levels. If good health can prevail this season then there’s every chance their run defense could become a strength for the team. Leonard Floyd would like that a lot. The more short runs they allow, the more third and long situations an opponent will face. The more third and long situation, the greater the opportunities for sacks.

As always the defensive game is linked from one facet to the next. Chicago knows this all too well after many decades. Now the new generation has begun to figure it out.

Cubs Walk-Off And Sweep Blue Jays On One Of The Wildest Endings Of The Year

By
Aldo Soto
-

What a wild ending at Wrigley Field, as the Chicago Cubs came back to score three runs in the bottom of the 10th inning to beat the Toronto Blue Jays 6-5, completing the three-game sweep.

The Cubs bullpen was spotless until the 10th, when the Blue Jays scored two runs after a bizarre incident when Alex Avila bounced a throw to Koji Uehara that allowed Josh Donaldson to advance to second base. He eventually scored and struggling lefty Justin Wilson walked in another run to put the Cubs behind 5-3.

Yet, the bottom of the inning was an even crazier, as Kyle Schwarber leadoff the 10th with a strikeout, but reached safely on the strike three wild pitch.

Ben Zobrist singled, putting Schwarber at third base and with Anthony Rizzo at the plate Blue Jays closer Roberto Osuna threw another wild pitch.

Schwarber scored and Zobrist moved to second. Rizzo made the lone out of the inning, but was able to advance Zobrist to third base with a ground ball.

Then, more wildness. Javier Baez came up and he struck out, but reached safely after Toronto’s catcher reacted late on the strike three ball in the dirt. Then, Jason Heyward was hit to load the bases, which brought up Avila.

And just like that the Cubs went from what would have been another brutal loss, to a sweep!

Brian Urlacher Trolls Former GM Jerry Angelo on Super Bowl Failure

By
Erik Lambert
-
bears super bowl failure
CHICAGO - DECEMBER 17: Thomas Jones #20 of the Chicago Bears runs the ball against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers December 17, 2006 at Soldier Field in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

Brian Urlacher is like almost every other retired football player. He looks back on his career with a degree of satisfaction. He enjoyed it while it lasted and had a lot of success. At the same time he also couldn’t help but have some regrets. In an interview with The Athletic columnist Dan Pompei, he was asked what his biggest was. The answer was simple enough: the Bears Super Bowl failure.

It’s no secret that from 2005 to 2010 Chicago was considered a championship contender. They got close in ’06, but couldn’t quite finish the job. Still, many including Urlacher himself thought they’d get another shot at it. That never came to pass and fans continue to lament where things went wrong for what was such a good team.

In fact Urlacher himself was asked that very question. His answer may come as a surprise, and also has a tiny bite to it as well.

Bears Super Bowl failure came down to a misguided trade

“We traded Thomas Jones, and he was a big part of our team. He was a bad-ass running back, but he also was one of our team leaders. I’m not saying that’s not the reason we didn’t do well, but he was in my opinion our best offensive player and we traded him. We were never the same. We didn’t run the ball the same. We weren’t as good on defense either. We weren’t bad, but we weren’t as good as we were in 2005 and 2006. I can’t pinpoint why we didn’t get back.  It was frustrating because we had good teams.”

He’s not wrong. In 2006 the Bears ran for over 1,900 yards and 14 touchdowns. Jones had 1,200 and six of each. He was even better in the playoffs, running for 301 yards and four scores in three games. Going into 2007 he would’ve been 29-years old. Not young but certainly not over the hill just yet. Instead Chicago willingly dealt him.

The next year they went from 15th to 30th in rushing as a team. They would not place that high again until 2011 when Matt Forte was reaching his peak. By then the high point of the teams’ core was already showing its age.

Jerry Angelo used money and Cedric Benson as excuses for trade

Much of the ire in Urlacher’s response seems directed at the trade itself. That would put it squarely on the shoulders of former GM Jerry Angelo. The man has a track record of questionable trades in his time. His dealing of a second round pick for Gaines Adams and Greg Olsen to Carolina were both especially bad.

The Jones deal though was curious. To this day it’s hard to figure out. Money shouldn’t have been a huge issue. Some believe there was pressure to make former top five pick Cedric Benson the feature back even though he hadn’t earned it. Nonetheless that’s exactly what the Bears did.

Jones was shipped to the Jets and Benson made the starter. In 2007 Benson played 11 games and managed 674 yards. Jones had 1,119 his first year in New York. A year later he went to the Pro Bowl. Benson was cut before the 2008 season began after multiple arrests. It’s hard not to wonder how different things might’ve been if Jones had stayed.

So yeah. Urlacher seems to have a point.

Bears Owe Their Arizona Win To The Entire 2017 Draft Class

By
Erik Lambert
-

It’s funny that some people are slamming GM Ryan Pace for the “failure” of his 2015 draft class. For one it’s not entirely set in stone yet that the class is a bust. Kevin White and Eddie Goldman are still starters and have significant upside. Hroniss Grasu seems to have become a dependable backup. Adrian Amos remains a serviceable, if uninspiring safety. So it can’t be called a failure. At least not yet. Of course the 2016 class was outstanding and is getting better. So what about this Bears 2017 draft class?

Turns out for the second-straight week they were front and center for a strong preseason performance. Pace got a lot of flak for putting together this group. There were only five picks to start with. He traded up for one that had 13 games of college experience. He traded up for another that had a broken leg. The other three players came from Division II schools and one barely stood 5’6″.

What a disaster, right? Apparently not.

The Bears 2017 draft class was central to Arizona victory

As it turns out the group is showing up much faster than anybody could’ve predicted. All five of them had a hand in the 24-23 victory against the Cardinals. Sure it’s preseason but to have so many draft picks flashing positive plays is undoubtedly a welcome sign. Let us run down each one and explain the contribution they made to the effort.

Mitch Trubisky

People will be quick to cool their jets on Trubisky this week. Much in part due to his taking a couple sacks and throwing one pass that probably should’ve been intercepted. While it’s fair to point out those criticisms, they weren’t entirely on him. Bears receivers struggled to gain separation the entire night, forcing Trubisky to throw into tight windows.

His protection was also spotty, suffering a couple breakdowns that led to him getting hit. Regardless it didn’t seem to alter his mindset at all. Nursing a 17-14 lead late in the fourth quarter, the Bears knew they needed some sort of points to come out of their latest drive. Trubisky ran some impressive bootleg fakes including one that resulted in the game-winning touchdown. Rough patches aside, he did the job.

Adam Shaheen

Through two weeks it’s plainly obvious that Adam Shaheen is still adjusting to just how big of scope the NFL is. Remember this is a young man who played on fields that were fit for high school teams most of his college career. So for him to go from that to Soldier Field and University of Phoenix Stadium? It can be somewhat intimidating at first.

That’s perfectly understandable. Shaheen still managed to make an impact in spite of his obvious nerves. He was a solid contributor on the blocking end, helping to open up a couple nice runs. Also he caught a pass for nine yards that resulted in a first down. As he gains greater familiarity with playing in those settings, his productivity is bound to spike.

Eddie Jackson

The safety discussion has been ongoing for a decade in Chicago. When are the Bears finally going to get that position solved? Well it seems like they might have something cooking for the first time in years. Much of that optimism centers on fourth round pick Eddie Jackson. Chicago traded up for the Alabama product despite his recovering from a busted leg, as mentioned earlier. So there were plenty of skeptics off the bat.

At the same time many felt if he healed well, his range and instinct on the back end would prove to be exactly what this secondary has missed. He had a positive play in the opener against Denver, but he topped himself against Arizona. Though the Cardinals would eventually score, Jackson made an outstanding individual play to prevent one from happening earlier.

If Jackson doesn’t make that play, it’s likely a touchdown. Yet he was in perfect position and almost picked it off. How many others on this roster or in recent years could’ve made that play?

Tarik Cohen

Easily the star of week two for the Bears. When he was drafted the 5’6″ Tarik Cohen was viewed as nothing more than a gadget running back. Somebody who could be utilized in creative ways as a runner and receiver. A third down specialist to compliment Jordan Howard. Throughout training camp though, the buzz began to build. People were starting to think this kid was about much more than special packages.

He’s got game.

The Cardinals starting defense, which finished second overall last season, found that out the hard way. Cohen, in place of the injured Jordan Howard, was sensational. He ran the ball 11 times for 77 yards. Not only was his quickness and speed on displayed, he also showed a degree of power many didn’t think he had.

Unfortunately Jordan Morgan only played one snap in the game. The fifth round rookie offensive lineman never got the chance to contribute. This does not automatically means he’s good or bad. He was decent in the opener. It’s possible the Bears aren’t sold that he’s transitioned from tackle to guard quite yet.

Either way the entire draft class deserves high marks. They went into a loud stadium against a talented, well-coached opponent and didn’t blink. Imagine how much better they’ll get when the game starts to slow down for them.

Chicago Bears Preseason Week 2: Here’s What We Learned

By
Dhruv Koul
-
(Ralph Freso / AP) Bears quarterback Mike Glennon makes a call against the Cardinals during the first half.

I was in Australia during Week 1 of the preseason and missed the woeful Chicago Bears preseason debut of Mike Glennon and grand entrance of Mitchell Trubisky. From the highlights I watched, it was clear that Glennon looked completely lost against a Denver Broncos defense that was without Von Miller. Meanwhile, Trubisky displayed great command of the offense and even better arm strength and accuracy, even if it was against Broncos backups.

But I thought that I’d wait to reserve true judgment until I saw some game action live for myself. It was a hell of an opponent too: Against the Arizona Cardinals and their filthy secondary, on the road, against a vengeful Bruce Arians. Yes, it’s only preseason, but if any team was going to test what the Bears were made of, it was the Cardinals.

In the end, the Bears eked out a 24-23 victory. But that means nothing. What matters is the progress (or, in some cases, the lack thereof) that different players and units showed during the game. After taking the night to sleep on it and re-watching some highlights of the game this morning, here’s what I learned:

Offense

Glennon continues to be awful. His stat line was mediocre thanks to a late touchdown drive at the end of the first half, but he looked terrible all night. He looked slow and confused on the field, his accuracy was off, and his decision making was terrible. He was picked off on a telegraphed out-route in the red zone, but that wasn’t even his worst decision of the night. He followed that up later on with a bootleg to his left and pass that fluttered to a Cardinals defender, which was dropped. Turned out, he should have been intercepted a total of three times by the time his 11th pass attempt came around. That’s garbage. I don’t usually tweet during games, but I had to last night:

Trubisky, for some reason, wasn’t allowed in the game until a couple minutes left in the third quarter. After his tremendous Week 1 showing, why did he get LESS playing time? Anyway, when he was in the game, he did the best he could with what he was given. Playing behind a swiss-cheese offensive line and receivers that won’t be starting any games during the regular season if the Bears can help it, Trubisky was put in a terrible spot. The play-calling asked for Josh Rounds to run twice for negative yardage almost every series early on, putting Trubisky in 3rd-and-long situations frequently. He made one poor decision where he threw a pass late to Titus Davis that should have been intercepted, but overall he overcame the situation pretty damn well. And his touchdown pass to Benny Cunningham turned out to be the game winner. Plus points for that!

Tarik Cohen continued to show he belongs in the NFL. He gained 72 yards in the first half, and showed he can run past anybody. It’s interesting that the Bears continue to run him inside the tackles a good amount so far this preseason. I can’t imagine that being the bulk of his workload in the regular season, but he’s doing a pretty damn good job of it anyway. I’d love to see two-back sets with Jordan Howard on a regular basis. All in all, the Bears have great depth at running back.

The Bears’ receivers seem to have trouble gaining separation from defenders. I saw a lot of tight throwing windows, especially with some of the bubble guys running their routes. With a quarterback like Glennon whose accuracy has sucked, that could be a big issue going forward.

Defense

The defense played a hell of a game and continues to look like a potential Top 10 unit in the NFL this season, pending good health. They surrendered only one touchdown, and that too on a 4th-and-Goal midway through the second quarter. They made the Cardinals earn that touchdown, along with any rushing yards. Keeping David Johnson in check is no joking matter.

Eddie Goldman was a handful for the Cardinals’ interior offensive line. If he can stay healthy, the Bears run defense will be a force.

Same with Jonathan Bullard. He showed great quickness off the line to ruin multiple plays. My colleague, Erik Lambert, wrote about the incredible display he and Roy Robertson-Harris put on throughout the game. If either, or both, of these guys take steps forward in Year 2, the defense will be that much better.

Leonard Floyd continued to dominate. He drew a holding penalty and should have had another one that was missed earlier in the game. He is so fun to watch. I’ve seen some estimates that say he’s in line for 12 sacks this season. If he stays healthy, that number might be low.

Another linebacker that deserves props? Jerrell Freeman. That dude still flies around like he’s in his mid-20s. I expect him to be the leader of this defense once again, assuming he doesn’t test for any performance-enhancing drugs again.

Kyle Fuller played a solid game as well. He made a great open field tackle on a screen play, and overall looked comfortable. I’m hoping the Bears can find a way to use him on the field and not as trade bait. The secondary still needs to prove itself and Fuller looks like he’s coming around.

Speaking of secondary, Eddie Jackson looks like the real deal. I think he’s crushing Adrian Amos in their competition. Jackson almost made a sick one-handed interception, and broke up a destined touchdown pass in the red zone. I’m not sure if he’ll start in Week 1 yet, but I think he should. I haven’t been this hopeful for a safety in a long time.

Special Teams

The special teams unit looks much improved this year. Part of it is they have much better depth on their team, meaning the bottom of the roster that generally makes up the special teams unit overall has better talent. And it’s showing. In fact …

Deonte Thompson conjured images of Devin Hester with his missed field-goal return for a touchdown that was a record return of 109 yards. That play probably sealed him a spot on the roster, if he hadn’t done so already.

Connor Barth might have won the kicking competition last night. He continues to be perfect on the preseason. Meanwhile, Roberto Aguayo missed a 49-yarder, and the kick looked awful. I don’t think the snap and hold were great on that play, but a miss is a miss. The kid already doesn’t have a lot of positive film. That miss might have sealed his fate.

Eddie Jackson muffed a punt that should have been called a fair catch, but he was bailed out by an interference called. Still, he has to learn from it. Meanwhile, the muffed pooch-kickoff by Daniel Braverman in the closing minutes of the game was inexcusable. For a bubble player, that is sure to get him cut.

Final Thoughts

The Bears looked like they belonged yesterday. Forget the fact that they won. Again, that means nothing. When it was starters vs. starters, the defense made life miserable for Carson Palmer and Cardinals offense. The offense left a lot to be desired, thanks mainly to another poor display from Glennon. But the team overall has to be encouraged after a showing like that.

I just hope that John Fox realizes he can’t be winning points with his team, let alone the fans, for the way he’s handling Trubisky. I’d like to see that change before the ever-important third preseason game against the Tennessee Titans in Nashville.

John Fox Invites His Own Demise With Handling of Trubisky

By
Erik Lambert
-
john fox mitch trubisky

It’s hard to understand the logic of the John Fox Mitch Trubisky decision-making process. Yes the kid is inexperienced and will make rookie mistake. He’s also the best quarterback on the depth chart. It’s not even that close. That the 62-year old head coach doesn’t recognize that and continues to stick with Mike Glennon is hard to imagine.

Fox has been around the NFL since the 1980s. One would think a man who watched the QB position evolve as it has would understand. Then again this is the same man whose conservative nature got him fired by two previous NFL teams despite loads of success with both. He just doesn’t have the reputation for making the bold decisions. At least not until he’s forced to.

That perhaps comes from him being a defensive coach. History proves men from that area of the coaching field tend to prefer ball control, clock management and smashmouth football. A lot of them just don’t know how to properly handle the quarterback position.

John Fox Mitch Trubisky dynamic shouldn’t be surprising

Then again none of this should be a surprise. Fox has never developed a drafted QB into a starter. Not once in his decade-and-a-half of coaching. All of his greatest successes came courtesy of established veterans like Jake Delhomme and Peyton Manning. That more than anything would explain his stubbornness on the subject of Mike Glennon.

Despite the Bears starter making more bad throws in Arizona, Fox was quick to praise him and the first team offense for an improved showing from week one. Adam Hoge noted that much in a recent article.

“I thought it was a big improvement,” head coach John Fox said about Glennon, which is technically true following the quarterback’s 0.0 passer rating in the first preseason game. “I thought we had a very limited look in Week 1, like most first offenses in this league. Some starting quarterbacks don’t even play in Week 1. But I thought the whole offense responded, including Mike.”

Keeping Glennon the starter for another week wasn’t the big issue though. It was the refusal to elevate Trubisky to the #2 spot. One could easily argue the rookie earned it after his stellar performance last week. Instead Fox changed nothing. Mark Sanchez came in to start the second half. Thanks to that and a long Cardinals drive, the rookie didn’t see the field until under two minutes remained in the third quarter.

So not only was the rookie getting less time to play than last week, he’s being forced to play on the road against an aggressive defense with limited personnel around him. Brilliant. Sure enough Mitch was hit a lot during his first couple series including a scary low blow to his left knee.

Receiver depth problem is apparent

This move also only served to expose how thin the Bears are at wide receiver. None of the options Trubisky threw to could get open with any consistency against man coverage. This of course forced the rookie to throw in tight windows. Though his accuracy was still excellent, it also almost led to an ugly turnover.

Fox of course could then use that as an excuse to prove he’s right. That Trubisky isn’t ready and needs work. Of course there’s no way to prove that. Nonetheless this stick-to-the-plan idea for Fox isn’t going to do him any favors in the win column. Despite getting outstanding contributions from the defense and running game, Glennon managed to put 10 points on the board in one half.

All the while throwing another really bad interception in the process. He also should’ve had another that went into triple coverage. Meanwhile Trubisky shrugged off his up-and-down start to throw what turned out to be the winning touchdown pass.

Speculation has run rampant since the winter that Fox’s job was very much in jeopardy this year. The win-loss record in 2017 will determine that, but so will his handling of the Bears’ prized top draft pick. Two preseason games in it’s clear the man is determined to play the Glennon charade out.

Jonathan Bullard and Roy Robertson-Harris Took Turns Abusing Arizona

By
Erik Lambert
-
jonathan bullard and roy robertson-harris

Ever so suddenly it looks like the Chicago Bears defensive line might be stacked. Of course Akiem Hicks, Mitch Unrein and Eddie Goldman are the known commodities. What the coaches are trying to find out if there might be some young depth options that have developed since last year. Based on the performance in Arizona against the Cardinals, the answer to that is an emphatic yes. While others showed up well, the two names that stuck out the most were Jonathan Bullard and Roy Robertson-Harris.

Bullard was a third round pick in the 2016 draft for the Bears. There was excitement about the Florida prospect thanks to his uncanny burst and quickness for being a big guy. Unfortunately things just didn’t click for him as a rookie. So he spent the offseason working with former Bears defensive end Alex Brown. Two games into the preseason it appears that work is paying huge dividends.

Jonathan Bullard and Roy Robertson-Harris played “Can you top this?”

Turns out there may have been an inner competition going on. After Bullard exited the game with a glute injury, teammate Robertson-Harris stepped up. He was an undrafted free agent for the Bears in 2016. An edge rusher out of UTEP, he was lauded for his immense 6’7″ frame mixed with uncanny athleticism. There was tons of physical potential worth exploring. In the end Robertson-Harris landed on the NFI (Non-Football Injury) list for season.

Come this offseason it was announced he’d been moved from outside linebacker to defensive end and gained significant weight for it. Suffice to say the move was a wise one by the team. Robertson-Harris was all over the Cardinals backfield on a number of different plays.

The two combined for six tackles, two sacks and a batted arm that forced an incompletion. It would’ve been three sacks, unfortunately Bullard’s got call back by a Kyle Fuller penalty. Nonetheless their impact was impossible to miss. Suddenly there’s a lot of young depth up front for this Bears defense. One can imagine it will become a huge factor in 2017.

1...3,0183,0193,020...3,202Page 3,019 of 3,202

Subscribe to our Newsletter

✶ An Unfiltered Voice For Chicago Sports Fans ✶

Chicago Sports News

About Us

© Sports Mockery, Inc. 2026