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10 Reasons The Chicago Bears Will Overachieve In 2017

By
Erik Lambert
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bears 2017 offense

Jordan Howard

Despite only starting 13 games and not being in true NFL shape last year, Jordan Howard was the second-leading rusher in all of football. That certainly bodes well for the 2017 Chicago Bears. Generally teams that feature a strong running game are able to keep games close. Even though they went 3-13 last season, six of their losses were by less than a touchdown. A big reason for that was Howard helping to sustain drives and control the clock. The trick this year will be capitalizing on that by scoring more touchdowns.

Opposing QBs Won’t Like Hearing This About Leonard Floyd

By
Erik Lambert
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leonard floyd quarterback

The Leonard Floyd quarterback hunt didn’t begin right away in 2016, but once it got started the results were so intriguing. Many thought the Chicago Bears were nuts to trade up for him in the draft. That is until he delivered 6.5 sacks in five games between October 20th and December 4th. It was a tantalizing trailer of what he was capable of. That of course being the franchise pass rusher their rebuilding defense needs.

Not bad considering he was seldom used as a primary QB hunter at Georgia. A fitting sign that the front office and coaches knew what they were doing. If there was one gripe for people to make about him, it was his overall physique. Floyd arrived in Chicago at around 230 lbs. That’s fine for a traditional linebacker, but for a 6’6″ edge rusher in the NFL? Way too light.

Some were nervous about that, wondering if he’d ever be able to put and keep on the necessary pounds without losing his trademark speed and athleticism. Seems his emergence from the offseason back at Halas Hall has provided an answer.

The new Leonard Floyd looks oh so dangerous

Adam Jahns of the Chicago Sun-Times caught up with new outside linebackers coach Brandon Staley to discuss Floyd going into his second year. One of the biggest nuggets of info dropped was how the young defender had arrived in excellent shape, and heavier too.

“But to truly excel in Year 2, the Bears need Floyd to be prepared physically. It’s an ongoing process, but he reported to the offseason program in impressive shape.

“His body now when you see him is just so much different than when he came in here,” Staley said. “He was like 225 [pounds] when he came in here — and now he’s almost twice that. He’s almost 250. just a lot stronger player. He’s a lot more equipped to handle the rigors of the NFL.”

So a high bar is set for Floyd in 2017 – one arguably higher than everyone else.”

As stated earlier Floyd is already fast, agile and quick off the snap. One thing missing from his arsenal was strength. By this account he’s added 20-25 lbs, most of it muscle. That has to be a frightening visual for quarterbacks who know they’ll be seeing him in 2017. Remember, this is a guy who had 6.5 sacks in five games without the additional power.

Second City Sack machine?

With it? Oh doctor. Quite simply the prospect for a second-year breakout just took a significant step forward. Music to the ears of Bears fans who know that the defense will be expected to carry the load for this team. At least until Mitch Trubisky is ready to assume the mantle.

Even better is the fact teams won’t be able to devote too much attention to Floyd on the edges. Not with Akiem Hicks, Eddie Goldman, Jaye Howard and Pernell McPhee to also contend with. If he stays healthy he can be the first double digit sack producer the team has drafted since Mark Anderson way back in 2006.

Only with an infinitely higher ceiling.

One Name Dominated Early Bears Rookie Minicamp and It’s Not Who You Think

By
Erik Lambert
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bears rookie minicamp

The 2017 Chicago Bears rookie minicamp practices were perhaps some of the most highly anticipated in recent memory. A big reason for that is obvious enough. It features the first quarterback taken by the franchise in the top five picks of a draft in 35 years. People are no doubt anxious to see Mitch Trubisky throw and begin the long process towards becoming a starter.

Though all eyes were on him, the minicamp is traditionally an avenue for other young players to get noticed. Names who showcase well at them tend to get signed by the team. At least for training camp and maybe more. In 2015 that spotlight belonged to Cameron Meredith and last year it was Taveze Calhoun. Sometimes it leads to bigger things and sometimes not.

So who’s the star of the first few days this time around? Turns out it’s somebody a lot of people wouldn’t expect. Though second round pick Adam Shaheen and fourth rounder Tarik Cohen have had their share of impressive moments, they took a back seat to Tanner Gentry.

Bears rookie minicamp days 1 & 2 belonged to Tanner Gentry

Gentry was considered one of the more intriguing pickups by the Bears in undrafted free agency. A wide receiver out of Wyoming, he came into camp on a roll after posting 1,326 yards and 14 touchdowns during his final year in college. Sports Mockery got a chance to interview him a few days ago where he stated with confidence that he not only planned to make the team but could become one of the best receivers in the league.

Well he seems to be off to a great start. According to Jeremy Stoltz of Scout.com, Gentry lit up the field on the first day of practice.

“One of the first snaps of 7-on-7s, Trubisky found WR Tanner Gentry — who had a solid practice himself — on a 15-yard out route from the far hash. It was an NFL-level throw with excellent timing and ball placement, giving the cornerback no chance to make a play.

Later, during 11-on-11s, Trubisky ran a play-action naked bootleg, outraced the outside linebacker to far sideline and fired a strike on the run to Gentry. As on film, his accuracy and arm strength are top-tier on the run as well.

WR Tanner Gentry was by far the best receiver of today’s practice. He had three quality catches from Trubisky, two against man coverage and one on a deep hitch against zone coverage. Gentry has good size (6-2, 220) and showed great hands today.”

That success didn’t end on the second day though. Gentry proved himself to be a model of consistency, proving his statement that creating separation and catching the ball are indeed his strengths.

“I mentioned him yesterday and WR Tanner Gentry continues to impress. He caught nearly every pass thrown his way today, showing by far the best hands of any receiver on the field.”

It’s a surefire sign that Gentry is almost certain to make the roster and attend training camp in July. Then again this shouldn’t be a surprise. Experts have been high on him for months.

It’s not an accident

Several outlets called him by far the best undrafted player Chicago was able to sign. Pro Football Focus wrote a glowing review of him in their scouting report. They stated that while he’s not much of a run-after-the-catch threat “he makes up for that with his large catch radius and athletic ability, which allow him to make circus catches on off-target passes.”

If nothing else this could be a good way for the Bears to add more quality depth to their receiving corps. Something needed after the team lost Alshon Jeffery to free agency and then cut veteran Eddie Royal.

New Intel From NFL Scouts On Trubisky Will Shock Bears Fans

By
Erik Lambert
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chicago bears mitch trubisky

The Chicago Bears Mitch Trubisky draft narrative was pretty much set by the national media seconds after the pick was made. Tones may have differed, but the general opinion was the same. Not only had the Bears taken a player many felt wasn’t worth that high a pick, but they’d given up way too much in their trade from #3 to #2 to secure him.

For the next week the organization took hellacious beating from the press. Some went so far as to call it the move that would get GM Ryan Pace fired. Never mind the fact that several respected pundits like Peter King, Ron Wolf and Bill Polian applauded the move. Both for its execution and intention. It was a dumb, dumb, dumb decision.

Or was it? Steadily over the past couple weeks more and more information has come out. Sources that continue to hint the Bears not only got the best quarterback in the draft, but maybe the best one to come out of college in years.

Chicago Bears Mitch Trubisky move a brilliant ploy?

Pace said after he made the move to get Trubisky that he felt it unwise to sit on his hands. He wants to be great. He thinks the young QB is a huge step towards that. John Mullin of CSN Chicago continued to reach out around the league for opinions on the subject. Some of the responses he got back were surprising. In the best way possible.

“Two AFC scouts revealed that they had the highest grade on Trubisky that they’d had on any quarterback over the past six years. That means: higher than Jameis Winston; higher than Marcus Mariota; higher than Cam Newton; higher than Russell Wilson; higher than Andrew Luck; higher than Derek Carr; higher than Carson Wentz.

The evaluation of one NFC regional scouting team was that “Trubisky is an almost perfect quarterback prospect” and that ‘the Bears should count their lucky stars he only started 13 games because if he was a two-year starter, he goes 1/1 [overall No. 1] without hesitation.”

Wow. That’s quite the high praise. In a way it makes sense. Throughout the draft process, the singular issue every expert raised about Trubisky was the same. He doesn’t have the experience. He hasn’t played enough games. Not his size or his arm strength, accuracy, poise, leadership or work ethic. Just the fact he chose to come out of college after just 13 career starts. Some hold the belief he’d be the hands down top pick in the 2018 draft had he gone back for another year.

Thinking ahead

Ironically by coming out early he knocked down his value just enough for the Bears to pounce for him. Think of it as a Larry Bird scenario. In 1978 the Boston Celtics selected Bird sixth overall. This despite the fact he was returning to college for one more season. In essence they had invested in the future rather than taking an immediate need. Bird signed with them upon completion of his senior year and went on to become an all-time great.

That is similar to what the Bears just did. They took a player who probably won’t play until the next year but in the long run can end up being great. It’s really the first time a GM has thought that way for this franchise in a long, long time. Refreshing isn’t nearly a strong enough word to encompass that feeling.

All fans can do at this point is drink in the comments and hope they are 100% true.

WATCH: Ian Happ Crushes First Major League Home Run In MLB Debut

By
Matt Eastman
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Let the Happ hype officially begin!

Ian Happ hits his first major league home run to bring in two runs and cut the Cubs’ deficit to 5-3 in the 7th inning against their rival St. Louis Cardinals.

Another angle…

Two Bears Rookies Thanking the Packers? Yep, and It’s Pretty Cool Why

By
Erik Lambert
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bears packers

Tight end Adam Shaheen and safety Eddie Jackson are two of the newest members to Chicago football. So it will take some time before they begin to understand the depths of the Bears and Packers rivalry. They’re young. It takes time for the history and tradition to sink in. After all, if they’d had a true knowledge of it they wouldn’t have so willingly given thanks to two players who currently suit up for the Bears’ arch nemesis.

Oh they sure did. Not to worry though. Neither was in the context of them praising the actual organization. As it turns out Shaheen and Jackson credit two particular Packers players for giving them huge boosts to their football careers. The stories behind each are rather interesting and perhaps a window into the promising future for both.

The Shaheen Bears Packers connection

Shaheen stated earlier before he was drafted that it was watching a Wisconsin-Ohio State game that caused him to make a momentous career decision. One that took him from the hard court of basketball to the football field. Turns out there was a specific player involved in Abbrederis. A young wide receiver who was later drafted by his home state Packers. He had 207 yards and a touchdown in that game.

It was an impressive performance. Shaheen took it to heart, trying to emulate that same playmaking style when he became a tight end at Ashland. Safe to say its been working, now a second round pick of Chicago.

The Jackson Bears Packers connection

Ha Ha Clinton-Dix is currently a Pro Bowl safety for the Packers. Something several Bears fans are still annoyed about after former GM Phil Emery passed on him back in 2014. He’s also a former Alabama safety. So he has a lot in common with Jackson. Though the fact he plays for Green Bay is a sensitive spot, anything Jackson could take from Clinton-Dix and apply to his own game is only a good thing.

Shaheen and Jackson are both expected to become key part of the roster moving forward. They certainly have the talent to excel in the pros. It’s about applying the right work ethic and doing everything they can to get better. One must hope they keep their fraternization with the enemy up north to a minimum moving forward though.

Ian Happ Is In The Cubs Lineup That Has 4 1st Round Picks

By
Aldo Soto
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Starting with Jason Heyward’s nagging hand injury, the Chicago Cubs have had a few players unavailable in the month of May. Addison Russell isn’t starting for his third straight game because of a sore right shoulder and Kris Bryant is missing his second game in a row because of a stomach illness. Both issues aren’t enough to require a move to the disabled list, but because of the unavailability the Cubs’ hand was forced on Saturday. Ian Happ, the No. 2 prospect in their farm system, was called up and is in the starting lineup against the St. Louis Cardinals on Saturday.

Happ was drafted in the first round of the 2015 draft, ninth overall, and he’s hit since the moment he joined the Cubs organization. Two years later, Happ is starting in right field, batting between Kyle Schwarber and Anthony Rizzo.

Take a closer look at the lineup. Not only are six of the starters home grown, but including Happ, four are first round picks drafted by the Cubs and that’s with Bryant on the bench.

https://twitter.com/LenKasper/status/863464690315390976

Remember when Cubs first round picks used to be complete busts? Not anymore my friends. Every first rounder for the Cubs starting with the 2011 draft has now made it up to Majors with the Cubs. Javier Baez was Jim Hendry’s last pick, but since then Theo Epstein went on a run of selecting Albert Almora Jr., Kris Bryant, Kyle Schwarber and Ian Happ.

Those four Cubs were top-10 picks, three of which are World Series champs, and all have promising careers ahead of them. Consider it luck, or just a great eye for talent by Epstein and the rest of the front office, but they definitely took chances with Schwarber and Happ. Those, so far have worked out, but again let’s not take this for granted. Here are the previous four top-10 picks the Cubs had before Baez in 2011.

Josh Vitters – 3rd overall in 2007

Ryan Harvey – sixth overall in 2003

Mark Prior – 2nd overall in 2001

Luis Montanez – 3rd overall in 2000

Brutal. Mark Prior, who flamed out after 2003, was by far the most successful from the group and Josh Vitters is the only other player to reach the Majors out of the quartet.

So, once again, thank you Theo.

By the way, remember when the Cubs got Addison Russell from the Oakland A’s for Jeff Samardzija and Jason Hammel? Russell, also a first round pick. That was awesome too. Oh and the other player in the trade, Billy McKinney, was used in a trade to get Aroldis Chapman and then the Cubs won the World Series. Pretty cool stuff.

Willson Contreras Has First Multi-HR Game Of His Career, Smacking 2 Dingers vs. Cardinals

By
Aldo Soto
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Willson Contreras had a big game-tying home run in the season-opener against the St. Louis Cardinals, but the young Chicago Cubs catcher hadn’t produced much power since then. Before Friday night’s game in St. Louis, Contreras last homered on April 22. Facing Mike Leake, Contreras doubled his home run total, cranking out two dingers against the Cardinals.

Leake had only allowed one home run in his previous six starts to begin the season for St. Louis. Contreras must really see the ball well in Busch Stadium because he’s now hit three of his four home runs there to start his first full MLB season.

These were both rockets of his bat, 109 mph and 114 mph, off Contreras’ bat.

New Bears WR Coach Thinks Predecessors Failed Kevin White

By
Erik Lambert
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kevin white bears

One of the bigger surprises of early 2017 was the Chicago Bears again making changes to their wide receivers coaching position. It marks the third time in three years it has happened under head coach John Fox. This time though it got a little creative. Apparently Fox and the rest of the brass did tireless research scouring the college ranks. They asked for any names worth exploring. One that kept coming up was Zach Azzanni of Tennessee.

After some negotiating the two sides came to an agreement and he took the job. The general feeling was the Bears wanted a fresh voice in the locker room. Somebody who had new, different ways for developing players at the position. Not a surprise after watching every key name at the position underachieve and deal with rampant injury problems. None more so than promising former first round pick Kevin White.

Azzanni is beyond excited to get a chance to work with the young talent. Not only that but he had some interesting comments about the seemingly luckless start to his NFL career.

Zach Azzanni thinks White failure was about more than luck

Kevin Fishbain of the Northwest Herald caught up with him during the first rookie minicamp practice of the year. The new coach had plenty to say.

“His past two position coaches weren’t able to develop him as much as they would have liked because of injury setback, right? So I get to almost start from square one, to be quite honest with you. Nothing against those guys, they just weren’t able to get him out there a lot. Some of the habits he had, bad habits from college, he probably still has, and I’m able to come in and try to break those habits.”

Azzanni didn’t come right out and say it, but his opinion is pretty clear. Part of the reason White hasn’t taken off already is due to poor habits the previous coaches failed to erase in him. That may be a bit unfair but is it totally untrue? After all Mike Groh and Curtis Johnson have since left for other teams. Was it voluntary or were they ushered out the door? Impossible to say but Azzanni didn’t lack for confidence in his own process.

The 40-year old understands by far the biggest issue White is dealing with. He has used the entire offseason up to this point focused solely on correcting it. So far the team brass and even White himself are apparently surprised by the early results.

“Didn’t have to do the route tree at West Virginia. Just didn’t. Not right or wrong or different, just didn’t have to. So we’ve been working on that hard, some of his breaking points stuff. A lot of times when you’re a big guy like that, stopping and changing direction is hard. We’ve really been working on it. He ran a curl the other day and a bunch of mouths dropped, like, ‘Wow, we have not seen Kevin do that in a long time.’ I think it got him excited.”

There is no possible way to describe how important it is that Kevin White start to emerge in 2017. Most people have already given up hope he’ll ever live up to his draft billing. With Alshon Jeffery gone, people aren’t sure what to make of the Bears receiving corps. If White were to suddenly emerge as a legitimate threat it would change the entire outlook of the offense. Not just this season but moving forward as well.

Mitch Trubisky would inherit an arsenal consisting of White, Jordan Howard and hopefully the promising young tight end Adam Shaheen as well. All with a solid offensive line up front. Azzanni knows how important his job is this year. Most critics are laughing at the Bears receiving corps in the wake of Jeffery’s exit. It would be quite the first impression if he showed them otherwise. White is the key.

Mitch Trubisky Already Has A Favorite Target After One Practice

By
Erik Lambert
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mitch trubisky to adam shaheen

Learn to love Mitch Trubisky to Adam Shaheen. Minicamp practices must be kept in perspective. They aren’t an accurate barometer for how any players will perform when the real bullets start firing. More they’re a great way for guys to shake off the cobwebs, get back on the field and sort of reconnect in terms of chemistry. No position is more important for such things than the quarterbacks. Loads of media were on hand to see the top Bears draft choice do just that.

One practice doesn’t normally dictate anything. Especially when it’s mostly just rookies. However, this could be the rare exception. Aside from getting on the field for the first time, Trubisky couldn’t hold back his excitement for something else. Namely the first chance to throw to second round pick Adam Shaheen.

Remember him? The Ashland tight end was taken 45th overall two weeks ago by Chicago. Though a Division II standout, most feel he has all the potential in the world to become a legit offensive weapon. Seems Trubisky couldn’t hold back his enthusiasm for such an idea.

https://twitter.com/RyanBakerMedia/status/863088529349496833

Mitch Trubisky to Adam Shaheen gets going

Everybody could see right away what Ryan Pace had in mind with that pick. He saw first hand what Jimmy Graham did to defenses during his run in New Orleans. A big, athletic tight end with a wide catch radius can be the best friend of a quarterback. Shaheen not only towers over most linebackers or defensive backs. He’s also fast for his size. There is a reason experts gave him the nickname “Baby Gronk.”

Just read this statement by an AFC pro personnel director talking to NFL.com.

“I watched him for two games and turned the tape off because I want to see him live in Indy before I develop any more of an opinion of him. I saw some things that has me very excited.”

Trubisky is no fool. He sees the potential value as well. He also knows that within a year or two both he and Shaheen should be starters in the Bears offense. The heights they could reach together are near limitless. Given he can sense that after just one half-speed practice? It’s hard not to feel charged up about where this Bears offense is headed.

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