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Zach LaVine With The Poster Dunk Of The Year

By
Aldo Soto
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Zach LaVine had his best game as a member of the Chicago Bulls and he also showed off his incredible dunking skills against the Sacramento Kings Monday night.

Fans know the explosiveness that LaVine has, but the guard took it to another level in Sacramento. The two-time dunk champion posterized JaKarr Sampson and Bulls announcer Stacey King gave us another classic call.

Here it is, the poster dunk of the year.

The knees look just fine for LaVine, who’s coming off ACL surgery. He finished the game with a season-high 27 points, shooting 9-of-18 and 4-of-8 on 3-point attempts. He has scored at least 20 points in the last three games.

Unfortunately, or fortunately for lottery purposes. the 27-point performance by LaVine wasn’t enough, as the Kings overcame a 21-point deficit and won 104-98, scoring 95 points after the first quarter.

The Bulls are now 18-35, still with the sixth-worst record in the league, but they’re creeping closer to the very bottom. Following the loss, the Bulls are only two games behind the Atlanta Hawks for the worst overall record.

The Bulls could have gained a game on the Dallas Mavericks, but they blew a fourth quarter lead and lost 104-101 to the Los Angeles Clippers, who ended the game on a 13-0 run. The good news there is that the Clippers are getting closer to the New Orleans Pelicans for the No. 8 seed in the West. The Clippers are now half a game back of the eighth seed and as you know the Bulls have the Pelicans’ first-round pick, as long as it doesn’t fall in the top-five.

Keep on losing New Orleans! (But not too much)

Back to the Bulls. They’re 1-7 and currently on a seven-game losing streak since Kris Dunn’s concussion. Lauri Markkanen missed all three games of the road trip, but will be back for Friday’s game at home against the Minnesota Timberwolves. Still no word when Dunn will be back.

So, really aside from Dunn being out, the plan is working for the Bulls and they’re still talking about other moves before the trade deadline.

Robin Lopez Threw A Chair After Getting Ejected

By
Aldo Soto
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We all know that Bobby Portis is an intense player, but there’s just something about Robin Lopez going batshit crazy that makes him seem scarier than crazy eyes. That was on full display Monday night, when Lopez had to be held back from a referee after getting ejected and then walking back to the locker room the center grabbed a chair and threw it down a hallway.

It was a pretty good night for the tank, as the Chicago Bulls lost to the Sacramento Kings 104-98, and losing Lopez in the second quarter certainly played a factor. At the time of his ejection, the Bulls had a 43-27 lead. Eventually, the Bulls blew a 21-point lead after Lopez was tossed out of the game.

To say Lopez went nuts would be an understatement. Take a look for yourself, as the big man wasn’t happy about not getting a few calls and others going against him.

You know it’s bad when Portis is the level-headed one.

However, Lopez wasn’t done.

Hey, it could have been worse. I still remember when Cubs pitcher Kyle Farnsworth injured himself by kicking an electric fan at Wrigley Field.

We’re getting closer to the trade deadline and Lopez’s name has been tossed around in trade discussions. So, good thing the chair took all of the punishment.

Lopez isn’t a flashy player, but you have to respect how he carries himself. Just a great pro all around, who obviously can turn on the intensity when he’s on the court.

There must be something in the air in Sacramento that make Bulls’ centers go insane.

Harry Hiestand Came as Thunderclap To Bears Offense Once Before

By
Erik Lambert
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harry hiestand

People aren’t quite grasping just how big an acquisition Harry Hiestand is. Sure he’s an offensive line coach. Not exactly a glamorous title. Then again great offensive line play tends to create winning teams. Ask the Philadelphia Eagles. People have already assured fans that Hiestand is one of the best in the business. His resume at Notre Dame alone should reinforce that.

He’s already produced multiple high draft choices for the NFL including All-Pro Zack Martin. This coming April could see two more of his pupils, Quenton Nelson and Mike McGlinchey, go in the first round. The man is really good at his job. Problem is Bears fans seem to have taken that for granted, forgetting what he did for the team last time.

Hiestand was hired by the Bears back in 2005 by Lovie Smith. A job he’d hold through 2009 before a switch at offensive coordinator saw him depart elsewhere. It was a huge error by Chicago to lose him because he was easily the best assistant coach on their staff. If fans want to know just how big his impact can be, look at his first season.

Harry Hiestand transformed Bears O-line almost overnight

People think 2017 was the epitome of putrid for Bears offensive football. They should check themselves on that and be reminded of the garbage fire that was the 2004 offense. Four different quarterbacks combined for 2,641 yards passing, nine touchdowns and 16 interceptions. A big part of that problem was the offensive line which gave up a whopping 66 sacks.

Even their traditionally decent running game was sluggish most of the year. As a team, they managed just 3.8 yards per carry and 10 touchdowns despite running it 430 times. They shuffled starters in and out of the lineup up front, partly due to injuries and partly poor performance. It was a jumbled mess. A year later the Bears called on Hiestand to fix it.

He complied. In 2005 the Bears offensive brought back three starters from the previous year. Hiestand though made a couple tweaks to the alignment. The results were immediate. Chicago gave up 31 sacks total, cutting their previous mark by more than half. They also ran the ball far more efficiently, averaging 4.3 yards per carry. The offense went from 32nd to 26th in scoring despite starting a rookie QB in Kyle Orton for 15 games.

That’s real progress and it didn’t come until Hiestand worked his magic. If the Bears continue to invest in the offensive line as well as they have to this point, there’s a chance this offense could do serious damage moving forward.

Bears and Matt Nagy Just Scored Another Big Staff Hire

By
Erik Lambert
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matt nagy

If the Philadelphia Eagles proved anything this year, it’s that stocking up on good players is only half the equation. A stocked up coaching staff is equally important. Their formula involved two keys:  an experienced mind running the defense and loads of offensive coaches with QB backgrounds. It would seem the Chicago Bears and head coach Matt Nagy have taken these lessons to heart. Their moves up to this point reflect as much.

On the defensive side, they were able to retain Vic Fangio. He’s one of the best in the NFL at what he does. His unit just finished in the top 10 this past season. Keeping him around was a no-brainer. The trickier part for Nagy was the construction of his offensive staff. Following the lead of his former colleague, Doug Pederson, he went heavy on the QB specialists.

Mark Helfrich was brought out of the analyst studio after a year off to become offensive coordinator. He was one of the masterminds behind Marcus Mariota’s rise at Oregon. Dave Ragone, a former NFL quarterback himself, was retained as quarterbacks coach. Nagy though knew something more was needed. So he reached out to an old friend.

Bears and Matt Nagy lure Brad Childress out of retirement

Most Bears fans will remember Brad Childress as the former head coach of the Minnesota Vikings. He spent five seasons with them, got them to the playoffs twice and reached the NFC championship game in 2009. A decent run of success but hardly what one would call memorable. In that context, this may not look like a credible addition. Truth be told though it’s an excellent move from Mitch Trubisky’s perspective.

People can say a lot of things about Childress. What they can’t say is he doesn’t know how to coach quarterbacks. The man has been doing that job since 1985. His first major stint in the NFL came in 1999 with the Philadelphia Eagles. There as QB coach and then offensive coordinator he turned Donovan McNabb into a start. McNabb had the best season of his career under Childress in 2004 when the Eagles reached the Super Bowl.

A few years later he helped Brett Favre, at 40-years old, deliver the best season of his Hall of Fame career. Favre threw for 4,200 yards, 33 touchdowns, and seven interceptions. As if that weren’t enough, Childress rejoined Andy Reid in Kansas City where he helped Nagy transform Alex Smith into a three-time Pro Bowler. The guy has chops at this stuff.

Having his voice in the room helping with Trubisky can only be a good thing. This offensive staff is only loaded with intelligence. It also strikes a careful balance of youth and experience. Nagy and Helfrich are the young bucks thinking towards new ideas. Now Childress is there to provide them direction on what has or hasn’t worked in the past. It’s a well-constructed and inspired group.

Bulls Rumored To Be Interested In Rodney Hood

By
Patrick Mooney
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Rodney Hood, a 25-year-old wing with a 6’8 wingspan who’s averaging 16.4 ppg on 38.7% 3-point shooting, has become a hot name on the trade market. Hood’s contract expires at the end of the season, but he will be a restricted free agent, giving whichever team that trades for him a major leg-up in re-signing him.

With Nikola Mirotic gone, it’s hard to imagine the Bulls being able to acquire Hood unless they part ways with a first-round pick. So, Bulls, please don’t trade for Rodney Hood.

It makes sense that the Bulls are leaving no stone unturned, a lot of players/assets become available around this time that might not be as available, or as cheap, during other parts of the season. Hood is a good, young player that has multiple traits that make him a desirable player in today’s NBA. Picking up the phone and inquiring about him isn’t a mistake, but giving the Jazz what they want in return for him likely would be.

Hood makes plenty of sense for a team like the Thunder, who could desperately use another wing while their starting shooting guard Andre Roberson is out with an injury. The Pistons have also reportedly looked into Hood, who could add the type of impact alongside Reggie Jackson in their backcourt that could help push Detroit into the playoffs, something VP/Head Coach Stan Van Gundy seems Hellbent on doing after trading for Blake Griffin last month.

The Bulls on the other hand? None of the players on the roster would be enough, even if combined together in a package, to land Hood, and Hood is certainly not good or cheap enough to warrant giving up a first-round pick.

Good for the Bulls for doing their due diligence, but his price tag has been set and it’s too high. Pass.

Cubs Are Having An Arbitration Hearing For The First Time In The Theo Epstein Era

By
Aldo Soto
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The Chicago Cubs are going to have an arbitration hearing to settle Justin Grimm’s salary for the 2018 season and normally this wouldn’t be worth so much attention. Players and teams have arbitration hearings all the time. However, what makes Grimm’s case unique is that Theo Epstein has never had to go to a hearing while being with the Cubs.

According to ESPN’s Jess Rogers, Grimm and the Cubs could not agree on a number, as the two sides are less than $300,000 apart.

The Cubs settled with five players earlier in the offseason, including Kris Bryant, who is going to earn a record $10.85 million in 2018.

Grimm, 29, is out of minor-league options. The right-handed reliever struggled out of the Cubs bullpen in 2017, recording a 5.53 ERA and 1.34 WHIP in 55.1 innings.

Again, the current front office hasn’t ever gone to an arbitration hearing, so it’ll be interesting if we ever find out why that happened. Was it from the Cubs’ side, or did Grimm not want to negotiate? It seems pretty silly to not come to an agreement over $275,000, but who knows what the story is here.

Grimm isn’t a lock to make the Cubs bullpen out of spring training and after a bad season that hearing could be a little awkward. Remember, the team is literally arguing why a player doesn’t deserve whatever salary he is asking for.

Bleacher Nation offered up this reasonable explanation as to why we’re seeing this with the Cubs and Grimm.

The implication, supported by various reports in the past week, is that some players have decided they were going to go to arbitration no matter what as part of the current climate. That said, there were also whispers that a huge volume of teams were switching to file-and-trial (i.e., if no settlement before the exchange of salary figures back in January, the case is going to arbitration), so it’s possible we’re seeing some of that, too.

If Grimm doesn’t make the team, then the Cubs will only be responsible for about $300,000-$400,000 of his salary.

It’s Pretty Obvious What The Bears Need To Do To Guarantee Their Next Super Bowl Win

By
Aldo Soto
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Every single pro team in Chicago has won a title since the Bears capped off the 1985 season by demolishing the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XX. The beloved have only sniffed the Vince Lombardi Trophy once since, but the Philadelphia Eagles once again proved the simple solution to winning a Super Bowl.

The Eagles were 0-2 in Super Bowl games before finally winning it all Sunday, when Nick Foles led Philadelphia to a 41-33 victory over the Patriots and if you believe that random stats somehow cause something else to happen well then you’re in luck!

See, the key to winning a Super Bowl isn’t having an elite quarterback, a great defense or a good running game, it’s much easier than that. All you need is a former Eastern Illinois football player on your team and you’re guaranteed a Super Bowl title.

The play pictured to the right of Doug Pederson is special teamer Kamu Grugier-Hill, who played his college ball at Eastern Illinois. He became the eighth former Panther to win a Super Bowl ring as either a head coach or player.

Jimmy Garoppolo has two rings as Tom Brady’s backup and back in the 1970s, offensive lineman Ted Petersen won two Super Bowls with the Pittsburgh Steelers. But wait, there’s more!

Remember how the Denver Broncos kept losing in the Super Bowl? They were 0-4 before winning two in a row in the late 1990s, but the difference wasn’t Terrell Davis, it was head coach Mike Shanahan, who as you guessed it went to Eastern Illinois. It doesn’t stop there.

The New Orleans Saints had never even reached the Super Bowl before Sean Payton became their head coach in 2006. Four years later, the Saints beat Peyton Manning and the Indianapolis Colts. Of course, Payton went to Eastern Illinois.

It’s just a fact guys, Eastern Illinois is undefeated in the Super Bowl, as long as you’re a head coach or player. Sorry assistants. (Brad Childress)

Via Eastern’s athletic website.

EIU Super Bowl Appearances (Player/Head Coach)
Super Bowl LII – Kamu Grugier-Hill, LB (Philadelphia Eagles)
Super Bowl LI – Jimmy Garoppolo, QB (New England Patriots)
Super Bowl XLIX – Jimmy Garoppolo, QB (New England Patriots)
Super Bowl XLIV – Sean Payton, Head Coach (New Orleans Saints)
Super Bowl XXXIII – Mike Shanahan, Head Coach (Denver Broncos)
Super Bowl XXXII – Mike Shanahan, Head Coach (Denver Broncos)
Super Bowl XIV – Ted Petersen, OL (Pittsburgh Steelers)
Super Bowl XIII – Ted Petersen, OL (Pittsburgh Steelers)

So, it’s kind of late on the hiring a former Eastern player to be head coach because Bears GM Ryan Pace is going with Matt Nagy, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t players he can’t sign. Yeah, Mitch Trubisky’s the starter, but there’s no question he could use some more mentoring.

Oh yeah, you know what I’m thinking. Mike Glennon is about to be cut, so the Bears are going to need a backup quarterback and it should be non other than TONY ROMO!

A quick reminder though, having a former Eastern Illinois player doesn’t guarantee you making the Super Bowl, that’s on the whole team to deliver, but once you win a conference championship AND have an ex-Panther then you’re guaranteed to win the Super Bowl, obviously. The numbers don’t lie, people.

And actually, if Ryan Pace wants to commit to the stat he’ll suit up, as he also went to Eastern Illinois.

More Proof the Chicago Bears Plucked From Right Coaching Tree

By
Erik Lambert
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One of the persistent problems for the Chicago Bears over the years has been where they get their head coaches from. While most of them were qualified professionals, the Bears had a nasty habit of grabbing men who come from questionable coaching trees. Marc Trestman was an NFL journeyman who served under Bud Grant and Jon Gruden. Dick Jauron had a modest run as an assistant under Mike Holmgren and Tom Coughlin. Dave Wannstedt fed off Jimmy Johnson’s success in Dallas.

None of those men went on to nurture and develop future great coaches. One reason Lovie Smith had so much success was that he got lessons from Tony Dungy, a Hall of Famer. One of the reasons Mike Ditka had so much success was because he got lessons from Tom Landry, a Hall of Famer. Sensing a pattern here yet?

Simply taking from a successful coaching staff isn’t enough. One must be careful to take from one that’s run by a coach known for developing his assistants properly. Bill Walsh, Bill Parcells, and Sid Gillman were among the all-time greats at this. Another who is proving to be the same? Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid.

Doug Pederson adds to Reid legacy and gives Chicago Bears hope

Right now there isn’t a head coach in the NFL who has done a better job cultivating future head coaches than Reid. The list of quality names has grown staggeringly long. To date 10 of his subordinates have become head coaches, six of them made the playoffs at least once, four have reached a conference championship, three have reached the Super Bowl and now two of them have rings. That became the case after Doug Pederson and the Philadelphia Eagles knocked off the New England Patriots.

The amazing part about the Reid coaching tree is the former pupils are developing a reputation of outproducing their teacher. Pederson and Harbaugh now have rings. Reid still awaits his first despite having coached since 1999. While it’s hard not to feel sorry for him, at the same time it’s also hard not to feel giddy about the Bears’ prospects.

Matt Nagy couldn’t be more homegrown from the Reid coaching tree if he tried. He was brought up as an intern in Philadelphia in 2008. Since then he followed Reid to Kansas City where he was QBs coach and then offensive coordinator. In fact, Reid went on record saying he believes Nagy is the best head coaching candidate he’s ever produced.

Things may not happen as quickly as they did for Pederson. Still, it’s hard not to feel a little more confident about the Bears’ future prospects. Nagy is renowned for his leadership and intelligence. If Ryan Pace can give him a strong roster to work with this team could be in line for big things.

NFL Draft Wide Receivers Who Fit The New Matt Nagy Bears Offense

By
Erik Lambert
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matt nagy bears offense

The new Matt Nagy Bears offense is going to look a lot different from what Chicago was used to seeing over the past few years. The days of the living trees are over. Size will be less emphasized while speed, quickness, and route running skill come to the forefront. That much was evident about the Nagy offense during his time with the Kansas City Chiefs.

Nagy is a coach who is big on what they call “chunk” plays. He likes to cut up defenses in considerable portions, always staying on the attack. Aggressiveness is the order of the day. This is something he learned during both his college and Arena League days. Those offensive styles can use bigger receivers of course, but often have the most success when they stress a defense down the field.

This has been a persistent problem for the Bears. In 2017 Mitch Trubisky had just 11 “big” pass plays of 25 yards or more. Alex Smith, whom Nagy directed in Kansas City? He had 38. Only three QBs in the entire NFL had more. A big reason why was because the Chiefs had the quick, fast receivers to make it work.

One must presume the Bears will angle to build a similar group in Chicago. The upcoming draft will certainly be one of their tools to that end. Who are some names to keep in mind that would fit their blueprint nicely?

Calvin Ridley (Alabama)

Most believe he’s the best wide receiver in the entire draft, and for good reason. Ridley has drawn numerous comparisons to Marvin Harrison. What he lacks in size and overall youth, he makes up for in speed, route running precision and reliable hands. He was the only viable pass weapon Alabama had in 2016 and 2017 and defenses still couldn’t stop him. For an idea, he had over 900 yards this past year. The next closest on the roster didn’t top 300. That’s proof enough Ridley doesn’t need ideal situations to have success.

Anthony Miller (Memphis)

The general rule for a player is this. If you come from a smaller program and want to be drafted, you need to dominate your level of competition. Anthony Miller did that and then some at Memphis. Despite being just 5’11” defenses couldn’t find an answer for him. He had 2,996 yards and 33 touchdowns over the past two seasons. Everybody knew the ball was going to him and it didn’t matter. He averaged over 15 yards per catch during that run, showcasing a consistent ability to create separation.

Christian Kirk (Texas A&M)

If anybody could be called the Tyreek Hill of the 2018 class, Christian Kirk is the closest. He has the same size, versatility and athletic traits that make the Chiefs Pro Bowler so dangerous. He might not be quite as fast but he’s plenty fast enough. There is no magic formula to Kirk. It’s easy. Get the ball in his hands and let him do his thing. Get it to him in space? That’s easy money. Kirk can run good routes. That’s not his issue. It’s that he doesn’t do it consistently. He still relies a bit too much on his natural ability, which is substantial. An easy fix for someone like Nagy.

Keke Coutee (Texas Tech)

The term “human joystick” is becoming a bit too commonplace these days but it’s hard not to use it with Coutee. This guy is so, so quick. Not just in the legs either. His entire body has a read-react timing that is hard to describe. He’s one of those players that can get open conventionally but is even more difficult to deal with after the catch. This belies how tough he is too. He’s taken some wicked shots by defenders and not only held onto the ball, but often wasn’t knocked down. His knowledge of the spread offense at Texas Tech as well makes him an easy sell.

D.J. Moore (Maryland)

A classic case where size is deceiving. Teams will focus on the fact that Moore is only 5’9″. Yet if they watch his tape for a few seconds they’ll realize he plays like he’s 6’8″. The guy packs a lot of power into his shorter frame. Defenders have a hard time bringing him down not just due to his agility but also his strength. He’s got a running back build but the quickness of a slot receiver. It’s an unusual combination. Running routes isn’t a problem either. He’s shown he can beat different types of coverage to get open.

DaeSean Hamilton (Penn State)

Nobody really took notice of Hamilton until the Senior Bowl came around. Up to that point most saw him as a modestly-sized, modestly-productive receiver from a modestly-successful program. Then during the practices leading up to the game, Hamilton consistently made most of the opposing cornerbacks look foolish. His polished route-running and surprising quickness stuck out over and over. He may not be the most explosive but Hamilton is consistent and highly-experienced.

The Chicago Bears Are Still Awaiting Their Next “Pillar”

By
Erik Lambert
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chicago bears

They say football is a team sport. This is true for the most part. Teams that play their best together for 60 minutes in almost every time. One great player can’t beat a great team. However, there can’t be any great teams without that one great player. Everybody knows it. That one player who is the pivot around which all the others turn. The “franchise” if one prefers to call it that. Look at the past Super Bowl champions, they all have one. Tom Brady, Von Miller, Marshawn Lynch, Ray Lewis and so on. The Chicago Bears are no different.

Their existence has always been defined by having or not having that single “pillar” player. The superstar who creates change. The man who gets teammates to follow him, fans to fills the seats and tickets to sell. Most importantly they tend to bring about more winning. Look back at every era in Bears history. The most successful ones all have the same thing in common. They had that player and everybody knew his name.

  • 2000s:  Brian Urlacher
  • 1980s:  Walter Payton
  • 1950-60s:  Bill George and Dick Butkus
  • 1940s:  Sid Luckman
  • 1930s:  Bronko Nagurski

Life with those players can be so grand, but life without them has proven equally gut-wrenching. The Bears have experienced such lulls in the past. It was true for most of the 1970s and 1990s. It’s been true since 2013 when Urlacher retired. Chicago continues to wait on when that next hero will step out of the mist to pull them out of the mud.

Chicago Bears have promising candidates but nothing “special” yet

This is not to say the Bears of today don’t have good players. They do. Certainly, more than they had a couple years ago. Jordan Howard, Akiem Hicks, Kyle Fuller, Danny Trevathan, Kyle Long, Leonard Floyd and Eddie Goldman have reached that category. Still, can any of them claim they’re anywhere close to the Urlacher level? Of course not.

That’s not to say none of them can reach it. Howard might be the closest given his back-to-back Pro Bowls. Many certainly hope quarterback Mitch Trubisky is poised to make that jump. He has the athletic capability to do so. It’s a matter of having the desire, work ethic and natural reflect to get himself there. Trubisky already has teammates believing in him, so that’s a vital component. Regardless the waiting continues.

The Bears needed Urlacher to wake the franchise up from this sort of lingering nightmare back in 2000. It was like a jolt of electricity that slowly resuscitated a dying body. After four-straight seasons of misery, Chicago is ready for another jolt. Do the Bears already have it on the roster, or could it be looming in the months to come?

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