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Exact Reason the Bears Cut Tanner Gentry Finally Revealed

By
Erik Lambert
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cut tanner gentry

Why did the Chicago Bears cut Tanner Gentry? This was by far the biggest question most fans were asking on social media. It didn’t make a lot of sense at the time. For most anyway. He was easily their most impressive receiver in training camp outside of Cameron Meredith. Given how thin the team was at the position, it was hard to see their reasoning.

The kid is 6’2″ with great body control and a strong pair of hands. He had the biggest play of the preseason, a 45-yard bomb from Mitch Trubisky against the Titans. The assumption was that play did enough to cement his spot on the roster. Then the Bears cut him anyway. Gentry was soon signed to the practice squad, leading many to wonder why take the risk.

At last some clarification has come on this subject.

Bears cut Tanner Gentry over his route running

Chris Emma of CBS Sports caught up with the rookie recently to discuss his time with the team. When the subject of his release came up, the wide receiver was matter-of-fact over why the Bears relegated him to the practice squad.

“Tanner Gentry, the undrafted free agent out of Wyoming who became a training camp fan favorite, was waived and signed to the practice squad after the team wanted to see him improve his route running. While Gentry showed he can go for a deep ball, the Bears want to see him become more crisp with cuts.

“Continue to work hard in practice and work hard on my route running,” Gentry said last week. “Just continue to get better. When my name is called, I’ll be ready.

“(I hope to) just to be able to run a variety of different routes, be able to drop my weight at the top of routes and get in and out of breaks.”

Indeed this is a common problem for rookie wide receiver in the NFL. Most of them have only rudimentary understand of proper route running. That’s why so many who play as rookies struggle to get open. Pro defensive backs are much better in coverage than college defensive backs. It takes precise, quick cuts to gain any sort of separation on them.

Having played his college career at Wyoming, route running was obviously not high on the priority list. The competition he faced wasn’t elite, so he was able to win on sheer talent and athleticism. That doesn’t work on this level. So the Bears are working with Gentry to correct that issue.

Turns out with Cameron Meredith and now Kevin White likely done for the year, they may test his progress sooner than expected.

Fans Troll Kevin White With Harsh Edit of His Wikipedia Page

By
Erik Lambert
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kevin white

At one point in time the Kevin White Wikipedia page was an active source of information. Chicago Bears fans wanted to learn all they could about the former West Virginia wide receiver. It was felt at the time they’d just gotten a potential star with his mix of 6’3″ size and 4.35 speed. All they had to do was watch him develop.

Fast forward three seasons and the page has become a desolate, depressing place. A location where people lament what could’ve been. Chicago watched as White broken the scapula in his shoulder, landing him on Injured Reserve for the third-straight season. This almost certainly has put an end to any idea that he can still be a viable receiver moving forward.

No doubt it also puts White in the territory of one of the biggest NFL draft busts in modern franchise history. If that sounds harsh, just wait to see what some angry Bears fan did to add insult to injury.

Kevin White Wikipedia page vandalized following injury news

There are so many emotions to process with this. On the one hand it’s quite funny and fitting due to the inescapable truth of it. At the same time one has to feel sympathy for White himself. He didn’t ask to keep getting injured like this. All he wanted to do was play football and help the Bears win games. His body just isn’t letting him do that.

This isn’t the first time its happened and won’t be the last. It’s a violent game. Some guys can’t hold up to the physicality of it. White is clearly one of those guys. It’s sad more than anything because he’s a talented athlete who loves the game. Nonetheless the Bears can’t keep waiting for him to show up. Odds are strong they’ve reached the conclusion to move on.

Why the Mitch Trubisky Debut Just Got Delayed Even Longer

By
Erik Lambert
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mitch trubisky

While it would be easy to share an opinion in this, it’s important to maintain perspective. The Chicago Bears know Mitch Trubisky is their future. It became more evident than ever in the preseason. However they came into 2017 with a plan. They wanted to avoid throwing him out on the field until he was ready. That’s a big reason why they signed Mike Glennon. He could buy them time until the Trubisky debut is more feasible.

Glennon, for better or worse plays the John Fox style of game. He takes the safe throws and avoids the turnovers, letting the running game and defense do the work. It sounds simple enough, but there is deeper reasoning for the Bears taking this course of action. One that didn’t begin to surface until late in the preseason.

That’s the situation at wide receiver. People couldn’t quite grasp at the time how critical the loss of Cameron Meredith was to their entire offensive outlook. Now that was made even worse with news that the much-maligned Kevin White broken the scapula in his shoulder. He’s going on IR and could be done for the year.

Trubisky debut may wait until weaponry is better

Jenny Vrentas of the MMQB illustrated just how big of a conundrum the Bears are in. It’s not a question of whether they want to go with Trubisky. It’s a question of whether they should.

“It’s a little bit of a catch-22: The worse the supporting offensive cast is for the Bears, the more likely it is that the team will struggle, which means that the calls to give Mitchell Trubisky a chance will no doubt intensify. But throwing into the fire their No. 1 draft pick, without a lot of help around him, is exactly what the Bears don’t want to do.

All around the league, teams are putting in rookie QBs. DeShone Kizer is starting in Cleveland. Tom Savage lasted all of one half in Houston before being yanked in favor of Deshaun Watson. After a promising preseason in which he displayed his unique talents, Trubisky is the most popular guy in Chicago right now.”

It’s basically a damned if you do, damned if you don’t situation for the Bears. Bringing in Trubisky might make the fans happy. It also might expose him to a lot of hits because his receivers can’t get open. Sure his mobility could serve to help that issue, buying time for guys to find space. Then again there were glimpses in the preseason that he tends to take hits when can’t find guys.

He’s a competitor and wants to make every play work. That’s great, but also dumb. He must still learn how to protect himself and live for the next play. The Bears would prefer he learn that from the safety of the sidelines. There will be time enough for them to properly stockpile the weapons he’ll need to carry this franchise forward.

“Fine” Isn’t Good Enough – Here’s Why It’s Trubisky Time

By
Dhruv Koul
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john fox
(Jose M. Osorio / Chicago Tribune) Bears quarterback Mike Glennon slaps the ground after he is sacked by Falcons defensive end Brooks Reed on their last offensive play of the game.

After the Chicago Bears’ brutal season opening loss to the Atlanta Falcons at home on Sunday, many were quick to defend Mike Glennon’s performance due to his efficient 4th quarter, calling his performance “fine”.

Sure, on the surface, Mike Glennon played “fine”. His stat line read: 26/40, 213 yards, 1 TD, 86.8 passer rating, and no turnovers.

But he took 4 brutal sacks, one of them on the last play of the game, two of them resulting in a potential loss of points. Sacks, mind you, that a quarterback with an iota of athleticism or pocket awareness would have been able to avoid.

But, no interceptions! No fumbles!

Enough. I understand John Fox comes from an older era of football and has conservative tendencies. But in this day and age, playing not to lose gets you killed. And for the first three quarters, the Bears, at least on offense, were playing not to lose.

Glennon had 41 yards passing in the first half. Forty one yards – that’s not a typo. The Bears went over 25 game minutes between completed passes!

Yes, play-calling was a large part of that. But here’s why: I’m not convinced anybody on the Bears coaching staff believes Glennon can do more than what he did on Sunday. That’s why the offense was scaled back so much and for so long until they couldn’t scale it back any longer. Kudos to Glennon for directing a scoring drive right after the Falcons took a 20-10 lead, and again for driving them down the field in the final minutes with a chance to win. But he did that against surprisingly soft coverage, and he shares in the blame of the Bears being in that situation in the first place.

Maybe I’m biased, but I counted at least eight throws that made me ask “what the hell was that ball placement?”, especially when he missed receivers when they were open. Three of the four sacks he took were directly his fault, one of them costing the team a shot at three points. I don’t pin the last sack on Glennon, but a more mobile quarterback extends that play better than he did.

Here’s the deal: The Bears are a pretty damn decent team. Yes, they are. They hung around with the defending NFC Champions and at the end of the day should have beaten them. Are they equal to the Falcons? No. But anyone who thinks of the Bears like Bruce Murray from the tweet below doesn’t know the first thing about football.

What are they missing then? A quarterback whose skillset is better than Glennon’s would be a start. I wonder where they can get one of those …

Oh wait, they HAVE one.

Yes, Mitch Trubisky is a rookie. Yes, he has minimal experience. Yes, the Bears have issues at wide receiver. But Brian Hoyer did what Mike Glennon did yesterday. Matt Barkley, for a while, did what Glennon did yesterday. And you’re kidding yourself if you think Trubisky couldn’t do what Glennon did yesterday, and more.

And that’s the thing. The future face of your franchise can do everything the team asked Glennon to do yesterday. Yet, he’s on the bench. And as a fan, that’s hard to swallow.

Why? Because you’re deliberately slowing the growth of this already pretty damn decent team. None of the chemistry that Glennon builds with anybody on the roster will matter next year. Or perhaps later this season. Why delay the inevitable now?

You don’t want a David Carr situation? Well guess what – the Bears offensive line isn’t the worst in NFL history like that Texans line was. He won’t get sacked to death like Carr did.

The receivers aren’t good? I’ll argue that Trubisky’s skill set and mobility will make them BETTER! How? Because he can extend plays and give them time to work themselves open. He proved it in the preseason. Glennon never did. Glennon can’t. Glennon won’t.

Is this about Glennon, then? You’ve guaranteed him $18 million and so you can’t let him sit? That’s nonsense. It’s the coaching staff’s JOB to coach up and then play the best players on the roster; or else you risk alienating your entire team. Given the fact that Bears leaders, like Akiem Hicks, have essentially publicly asked for Trubisky, that should tell you something.

I’ve brought up the fact that maybe the Bears are trying to save face with future free agents. The Bears gave Glennon their word that he’d have the first crack at the starting job. And they fulfilled that promise. And now, after Week 1, they owe him nothing. Sure, he didn’t do anything to “lose” the job on the surface, but this is where I have an issue.

It’s way past time for the Bears to give pats on the back for not “losing” the game. I know we’re coming off eight years of Jay Cutler and his penchant for inopportune turnovers, so this seems like a breath of fresh air. But it’s not. It’s not good enough. Not anymore.

Ryan Pace has done a masterful job of constructing this roster in relation to what he inherited three years ago. This team is younger, deeper, and way more talented. They’re brimming with potential, and all they need now is hope at quarterback. Mitch Trubisky offers that hope. And the best part is, he can offer that hope as early as Week 2!

Of course, there will be growing pains for Trubisky. Of course, there will be moments of frustration as he develops. Nobody is denying this.

But here’s the thing – the excitement over the journey of the unknown with Trubisky far, far, FAR outweighs the journey of the known with Glennon. We KNOW what Glennon is by now. He’s “fine”. But “fine” is neither exciting nor good. Trubisky has the potential to be, and it’s time to let him prove it. Bring out the kid and move on to the real next chapter of Bears football already.

How This Regular Guy Got To Throw A Chicago Cubs First Pitch

By
Marc-Louis Paprzyca
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Every so often I find myself in amazing situations related to sports. Situations that I dreamt about as a kid and never thought would come to fruition. The latest, which I also believe to be the greatest, was receiving the opportunity to throw a first pitch for my favorite team. The Chicago Cubs.

I’m certainly not rich or famous. I’m just a regular guy from the southwest side of Chicago who enters a lot of contests. There are tons of contests that fit my interests and I enter because of the old Wayne Gretzky quote, “You miss 100 percent of the shots you don’t take.” It turns out that I have a pretty good shot percentage.

Rarely do I win the contests where only have to fill out a form. I win the contests where I have to complete a challenge, take a funny photo or creatively write why I deserve the prize. I’ve found that this is something I must actually excel at.

I’ve won countless tickets, autographs, a trip to the Final Four, played trivia in an Uber with Denis Savard and Scott Darling, had a behind the scenes tour of game day with the Cubs and even got to be a ball boy for the Chicago Bulls once.

Well, throwing out a first pitch at a Cubs game beats all of those.

How It Went Down

I saw a post on Facebook from Chicago Italian Beef who I have been following for a while. I love Italian Beef sandwiches, like most Chicagoans, and they have great contests. They often give out Cubs and White Sox tickets or other experiences relating to the teams.

This time they were offering a chance to throw out a first pitch at a Cubs game. A once in a lifetime opportunity!

I followed the rules. I liked, shared and commented on the post. Chicago Italian Beef later replied to my comment and attached a form in which I had to state why I deserved the opportunity.

I racked my brain for a couple minutes to think why. I came to the conclusion that everyone was going to give the old “because I’m the biggest Cubs fan EVER” response.

Well, there’s no way to prove or quantify that. It’s also not very creative. From entering a lot of contests, I find that creativity is key. You have to come up with something to catch the judge’s eye.

I came up with, “Everyone will say they’re the biggest Cubs fan and we’re all big Cubs fans. If given this once in a lifetime opportunity, I’m going to make the most of it and bring the heat like giardiniera on my Italian Beef sandwich. If there was a batter in the box, he better keep his elbows up like he’s eating one too, because I’m bringing it hard and inside.”

Keep in mind that heat is also relative. I know I couldn’t even hit 70 mph on the radar gun if I threw as hard as I could. I just had to stand out from the other entrants.

A few days later a gentleman named Aaron from Buona Beef called me and informed me I was a finalist. I was already overjoyed and I’m sure he could tell. He told me if I won I would receive a call in a couple hours. Those two hours felt like the longest of my life and you better believe I ran when my phone started ringing.

Day Of The Game

I woke up slightly earlier than normal that Saturday because the anxiety was already building. It turns out that I couldn’t sit still all morning. I found myself pacing about what Cubs gear to wear, messing with my cameras and even packing my daughter’s diaper bag. I admittedly never do that.

i went through throwing motions with my action camera attached to my hat to make sure it wouldn’t fall off on the mound. Then we were off to the park.

I received messages from friends and family wishing me good luck or saying, “don’t mess it up.” Thanks friends! My wife and daughter were the only thing keeping me somewhat relaxed.

When I arrived at Wrigley Field, John from Buona Beef met me with a couple hats and some instructions. He was very personable and eased me a little more.

Then it was time to go to the field. Vickie from the Chicago Cubs led me to the field and I saw Hall of Famer Fergie Jenkins! I admittedly looked it up and saw that he was also throwing a first pitch but it’s still really exciting as a fan.

I told myself I would try to take it all in but my mind was racing. I wish I took Ferris Bueller’s advice to look around because I certainly missed a lot.

The Pitch

The staff informed me I was first to go. I didn’t want to go first because I wanted to see how long everyone else took and acted but I was off!

I crossed the third base line, not stepping on the kinescope of course, and looked up to see my name on the scoreboard. That was cool!

Then I heard my last name get butchered over the PA. Oh well. I was on the mound at Wrigley Field in front of about 30,000 people about to throw a first pitch!

Here I go.

Hard and outside in the left-handed box. Well, I did say it was going to be hard, for me, and inside. It was definitely a ball but…I did it!

Rob Zastryzny who caught for me asked if I got it on tape. I didn’t, but he said, “The pitch was great. That’s all that matters.” My camera fell off my cap but I did capture him actually saying this. So that’s worth a lot to me.

Zastryzny and Jenkins signed my baseball to make one of the coolest moments of my life even better. That was until one of the ushers told me it was one of the best first pitches of the season. He’s seen a lot of them, so I’m going to believe him.

The Experience 

Everything was incredible and I can’t thank Buona Beef enough for it all. They believed in this goofball with a subpar arm to go out there and make them proud. I sure hope I did.

I’d also like to thank the Cubs and Rob Zastryzny for their professionalism.

It was an honor to have this opportunity and this is more proof that people actually win contests. Keep your eyes open and get creative because you’ll never know what your capable of experiencing.

Follow me @Pappy_Hour on Twitter or @mlpaprzyca on Instagram.

 

Rams and Eagles Offer Blueprints to Quickly Rebuild Bears Receiving Corps

By
Erik Lambert
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chicago bears wide receiving corps

Nobody can possibly know what the Chicago Bears wide receiving corps is going through at this point right? In the space of six months they’ve lost their three most talented pass catchers. One to free agency and the other two to injury. Suddenly a passing offense that was already questionable has become easily the most depleted in the NFL.

Turns out though there are a few teams around the league who would look at the Bears and slowly nod their head with understanding. They too have endured the ordeal. A young franchise quarterback waiting in the wings and no weapons to help him. In fact two teams, the Los Angeles Rams and Philadelphia Eagles, experienced this exact same problems.

Last year Jared Goff of the Rams was throwing to guys like Tavon Austin, Kenny Britt and Brian Quick. Carson Wentz of the Eagles had Dorial Green-Beckham, Jordan Matthews and Nelson Agholor. The two teams finished 31st and 24th respectively in passing for 2016. Both set about overhauling their receiving corps this past offseason.

How Chicago Bears wide receiving corps can be fixed quickly

Early signs are their hard work is being rewards. The two teams came out aggressively back in March and April to get their hands on any pass target they could. They took different paths to their goals as well and thus far each has met with success on the field. Here is a breakdown of who they acquired and how it was done.

Rams:

 

  • Robert Woods (Free agent)
  • Cooper Kupp (Draft)
  • Josh Reynolds (Draft)
  • Sammy Watkins (Trade)
Jared Goff week one stats:  306 yards and 1 TD

Eagles:

  • Alshon Jeffery (Free agent)
  • Torrey Smith (Free agent)
  • Mack Hollins (Draft)
  • Shelton Gibson (Draft)
Carson Wentz week one stats:  307 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT

The evidence is there to see. If Bears GM Ryan Pace is willing be aggressive, there is no reason to think he can’t transform the receiving corps by next year. His work on the front seven, offensive line and running back positions are perfect examples of what he can do. The best part is he’ll be well-equipped for the task.

Chicago has seven draft picks at their disposal along with a projected $42 million in salary cap space. That’s more than enough to make something happen. Best of all the options available could but unusually high in 2018. Free agency could see names like Jarvis Landry, Taylor Gabriel, Terrelle Pryor, Allen Robinson, Jordan Matthews, and Alshon Jeffery be on the market. The 2018 draft class also could be rich at the position.

In other words Mitch Trubisky could be well-equipped for what should be his first full year as a starter in the NFL.

Tarik Cohen Makes Hilarious Comparison for Him and Jordan Howard

By
Erik Lambert
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tarik cohen and jordan howard

The Chicago Bears may have themselves one of the best running back tandems in the league. Tarik Cohen and Jordan Howard looked like a decent enough mix of talents on paper. Howard of course being the Pro Bowl stud who could shoulder the heavy workload. Cohen being the versatile scat back that offered more speed and agility.

Then they got to the field and it was evident right away the Bears had more than most expected. Combined the two backs had 118 yards rushing, 61 yards receiving and a touchdown. Cohen also returned three punts for 45 yards. Altogether the two combined for 224 all-purpose yards and six points. That’s outstanding stuff.

This is welcome news for the Bears considering how bad things have gotten for them at wide receiver, losing Cameron Meredith and now Kevin White to season-ending injuries. In what was a difficult, solemn locker room it was Cohen who kept things somewhat cheery.

Cohen shares his ideal comparison to him and Howard

Though a rookie Cohen has already established himself as one of the most entertaining characters on the Bears roster. His description of getting a direct message on Twitter from his hero, Tyrann Mathieu was especially excellent. This time though it was his creative comparison for the sports duo he sees as the closest comparison to him and Howard.

The genius behind that is subtle. On the surface it feels like a simple enough idea. LeBron being the established star everybody knows, just like Howard. Thomas being the underappreciated utility man who can do a bit of everything. Where it gets even better is that he also poked fun at the size differential. LeBron is 6’8″ and Thomas is 5’9″. Howard is 6’1″ and Cohen is 5’6″.

No one can ever say that the young man can’t makes jokes about his well-documented lack of height. If anything that will only endear him more to Bears fans moving forward. No doubt people are anxious to see what this duo can put together in the weeks to come.

Replacement Options For the Bears After Losing Kevin White

By
Erik Lambert
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ryan pace

The biggest warning signs going into 2017 was the Chicago Bears wide receivers position. Everybody knew the tight rope this team was walking after Alshon Jeffery walked in free agency. It fell to Cameron Meredith and Kevin White to carry the banner forward. Now both men are done for the year. A knee injury felled Meredith in the preseason and it appears a broken collarbone will sideline White.

This marks the third-straight season-ending injury for the former first round pick. No doubt this might qualify him as one of the biggest busts in Bears history. A shame too because he’s a really good guy who works hard. Unfortunately that’s football and now the Bears have to move forward. Options this late into the year are limited. Nonetheless here are some names worth exploring.

Tre McBride (Activation)

The Bears claimed the former Titans receiver off waivers right before the season. So it’s evident just by this that he’s in their future plans at the position. McBride jumped between the main roster and the Tennessee practice squad the past two years. Word is the team had hoped to hang onto him but couldn’t sneak him through waivers again. In college he earned a reputation for being a crisp, quick route runner with soft hands.

Tanner Gentry (Practice squad)

The calls grew loud for Tanner Gentry the moment word came in that White was done for the year. Many felt the training camp hero should never have been cut in the first place. Regardless the opportunity has arisen for the Wyoming undrafted free agent to get his shot. By rights it should be him. He knows the offense and has shown playmaking ability in practice. He also presents a target with some size at 6’2″. The average height of those who finished the Atlanta game was under 6’0″.

Travis Rudolph (Giants practice squad)

Scouts expected Travis Rudolph to go as high as the fifth round this year. Unfortunately he went undrafted. Most of it had to do with his average size and lack of timed speed. If one were to watch the tape though they’d see a crisp route runner with strong hands. He’s not a burner but he knows how to gain space and make the catch. He’s 21-years old and also has considerable hops as evidenced by one of the best plays of the preseason.

Hunter Sharp (Broncos practice squad)

The former Utah State star has remained stuck on a loaded depth chart with the Denver Broncos for the past two years. He was a consistent threat throughout the preseason, making six catches for 92 yards and a touchdown in three games. He’s only 5’11” but makes up for it with speed, sharp route running and an aggressiveness to attack the ball in the air. He looks like a man who’s ready for his opportunity to play in actual games.

Stevie Johnson (Free agent)

After what’s happened most people wouldn’t want to bring in yet another wide receiver who can’t stay healthy. Of course the Bears don’t have much choice. The last time Stevie Johnson played a full season in the NFL he topped 1,000 yards. Over the past three years though he was dealing with a multitude of ailments. How much gas does he have left in the tank to give it one more go. When his body is right he can make plays.

Hurricane Jose Sweeps Through Chicago On Record Setting Mission

By
Matt Enuco
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White Sox Abreu follows record setting night with a thunderstorm of home runs.

Shortly after Jose Abreu became the first Cuban-born Major League Baseball player to hit for the cycle he lost hours of sleep wondering about the safety of his family in Miami and Cuba. Irma ripped through the north coast of Cuba on its way to Miami overnight and all Abreu could do was wait.

He has since gotten word that his family in Miami weathered the storm and whipped up a merciless weather front of his own on the south side of Chicago. Abreu rifled two home runs on Sunday in the series finale against the San Francisco Giants.

Abreu went 7 for 12 in the weekend series with three home runs and six runs batted in. Irma may be the most powerful hurricane in history but Abreu plays no second fiddle. Over the past 30 days, Abreu is batting a stout .359 with 10 dingers a 1.142 OPS.

Ever since he risked intestinal blockage to sign with the White Sox, Abreu has been a steady force in the South Siders’ lineup. After lacing his 30th and 31st home run on Sunday he has belted 30 home runs or more in three of his first four big league seasons. The only feat he has yet to reach this season – and it appears it is only a matter of time – is knock in 100 runs, something he has accomplished in all three of his first major-league seasons.

The Cuban slugger has been remarkably consistent and owns a wRC+ that rivals his counterpart on the north side, Anthony Rizzo. With 20 games remaining and the searing pace Abreu has set, I’d say he’s in for a category-five September.

Besides Abreu stealing the show, Carson Fulmer turned in a quality start in his encore audition for a starting role.

His pitch count bubbled early but he fought through early command issues demonstrating the gut to face adversity. He didn’t seem to have good depth on his pitches but he found a way to fan the first six batters of the game and finish with nine punch outs over six innings, the lone run coming off a solo-shot by Jarrett Parker.

The Good and Bad Chicago Bears Takeaways From Falcons Loss

By
Erik Lambert
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chicago bears takeaways

The Chicago Bears takeaways this week will be a mix of great and terrible. Quite the roller coaster for this team to start the season. This is a game that’s going to sting for a team still trying to find their way back to winning football. Despite a myriad of mistakes they had four cracks at the end zone with a touchdown to win and, as has become routine, couldn’t quite finish the job. Chicago fell to 23-17.

All that being said here are a few notes about the game with three good points and three bad. Or three “to work on” for the optimistic crowd out there. Of course we must start with the young phenom at running back.

Good:  Tarik Cohen

What a find this kid is turning out to be. Here’s a stat to digest. He was both the leading rusher and receiver for the Bears on the afternoon. Cohen had 66 yards rushing and 47 yards receiving with a touchdown. His amazing versatility gave the Falcons fits all game long including a circus run for 46 yards after reversing field. No doubt Chicago is going to need him more and more with injuries piling up at wide receiver.

Bad:  The wide receivers

Speaking of. It’s getting ugly in a hurt for the Bears at this position. They lost Alshon Jeffery to free agency. They lost Cameron Meredith to a knee injury. Now Kevin White is hurt again. They just don’t have many credible options at this point, scraping the bottom of the barrel. To be fair that makes life difficult for the quarterback. Still, the fact they couldn’t get any separation until the fourth quarter against the 28th ranked pass defense last year is troubling.

Good:  The front seven

As expected the Bears defensive line and linebackers came to play in that game. They dominated the line of scrimmage for much of the first half and most of the second. Pro Bowl running back Devonta Freeman ran for just 37 yards and Atlanta as a team had 64. Akiem Hicks was a monster, sacking Matt Ryan twice. The best part is they escape the game healthy and will face much worse offensive lines in the near future.

Bad:  Quintin Demps

As the old saying goes, you get what you pay for. The Bears paid over $4 million per season to make 32-year old Quintin Demps their starting safety and unfortunately he played like it. Not only was he badly undressed in coverage on the most pivotal play of the game, he also got humiliated with a bad tackle attempt on top of it. He missed a number of big opportunities to get stops for his team and whiffed. Not a good start for him.

Good: Kyle Fuller

While one former first round pick is watching his last opportunity fizzle out, another is being reborn. Kyle Fuller wasn’t perfect on the afternoon but he played outstanding considering the talent he was lined up against. He tackled well, played the run solid and didn’t get badly burned on any pass play. His confidence and attitude really showed up. If the Bears continue to get that guy the rest of the season, it’s great news.

Bad:  Mike Glennon’s pocket awareness

People will say the man as a whole was terrible but the truth is he wasn’t. Glennon was his usual self:  serviceable but not good. He didn’t turn the ball over and made a few nice throws. However, he was absolutely brutal from inside the pocket. He took four sacks on the afternoon and three of them were more his fault than the protection. His inability to process the field quickly or step up in the pocket allowed the Falcons rushers to get him. Two of those plays ended up costing the Bears points. And the game.

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