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Ravens Fans Were Pissed When Bears Claimed Taquan Mizzell

By
Erik Lambert
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bears claimed taquan mizzell
Credit: USA Today

It seems GM Ryan Pace is not one to play favorites. He’s all about getting players who help his team get better. That became true when Jeremy Langford, his former fourth round pick from 2015 got waived. Why did this happen? Well aside from injury issues, along with lack of vision and stone hands, the roster just improved vastly at running back while he’s been shelved. Jordan Howard arrived last year. Tarik Cohen was drafted this year. Now the Bears claimed Taquan Mizzell off waivers.

That last one was the final nail in the coffin for Langford. Of course most Bears fans ask the question. Who the (bleep) is Taquan Mizzell? Well if one were to ask Baltimore Ravens fans that question, they might immediately go into a slight depression. Many of them were not happy when the rookie running back was claimed off waivers by Chicago.

In essence Mizzell was their Tanner Gentry. A training camp and preseason standout who looks like he could become something more in the future.

Bears claimed Taquan Mizzell for versatility and depth

With Howard, Cohen and Bennie Cunningham the Bears were already stocked at running back. So why did Pace decide to add Mizzell anyway? The better question is why not? Injuries are a fact of life in the NFL. The deeper a position group is, the easier it can handle that reality. A luxury only top teams in the league enjoy.

Mizzell is not a complete back, but then again New England has shown that’s not necessary to make him a productive one. NFL.com stated before the draft what he might be able to do for a team.

“Shifty outside zone fit who played in a pro-style rushing attack in 2015. Mizzell runs with plus vision and plays with the desired pace and wiggle of a runner looking to exploit fluid running lanes along the perimeter. He is undersized as an early down back, but might be able to find work as a change-of-pace runner with good elusiveness and an ability to make plays out of the backfield as a pass catcher.”

It’s easy to see why the man earned the nickname “Smoke.” He must makes a lot of plays. In the hands of a creative offensive coordinator, he can be a serious weapon. Never mind the fact the Bears already have Howard, who’s a Pro Bowler, and Cohen who lit up the preseason. That’s three young backs with diverse skill sets.

There’s just no way to game plan against all of that. That’s the NFL in a nutshell. The more complicated the Bears can make life for opposing defenses, the better.

Bears Waiver Wire Moves Net Them Another Intriguing Pass Target

By
Erik Lambert
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chicago bears waiver wire

The Chicago Bears waiver wire process was bound to be active given the depth concerns at some points of the roster. Sure enough GM Ryan Pace didn’t disappoint. Though other teams made more claims, he pinpointed three players that could help this team. First was a long snapper in Andrew DePaola as well as preseason standout running back Taquan Mizzell. However, the most intriguing name of the three had to be Tre McBride.

Out of William & Mary, he was a seventh round pick of the Tennessee Titans in 2015. Since then McBride has made nine catches for 130 yards in nine appearances. In that times he’s hovered between the practice squad and the main roster. After the Titans made a significant investment to their receiving corps this offseason, the writing appeared on the wall.

Bears waiver wire move for McBride could yield something

Most will dismiss this move as a depth option but is it? McBride was highly productive in college and there’s also something else worth noting. The coaching staff that drafted him was thrown into turmoil after head coach Ken Whisenhunt was fired. Things changed after that. The new guys in charge never really gave him a chance. They transitioned to a run-heavy scheme and he was left in limbo.

Draft experts really liked McBridge too. Lance Zierlein of NFL.com was a big fan. Though he went in the seventh round, Zierlein felt he could go as high as the third. He explained why.

“Good NFL size and physically dominated opponents when the ball was in the air. Makes circus catches look easy and appears fearless in the air. Elite high-point ability with outstanding body control, ball tracking and concentration. Plucks the ball out of the air. Excellent catch radius that saved his quarterback one or two incompletions per game. Will catch in traffic with ability to tuck-in, absorb blow and hang onto ball. Adjusts well to low throws. Competitive runner after the catch.”

Others tended to agree with that assessment.

McBride ran a 4.41 in the 40-yard dash and also scored high in the 20-yard shuttle. This indicates he not only has speed but also quickness. It showed a number of times in his route running. He has a knack getting out of his stance with suddenness and knows how to hand fight defensive backs to gain some space. Also he has a good feel for finding dead spots in zone coverage.

He’s also a noted special teams player as well. So how good can he be? It all depends on the chance the Bears are willing to give him. McBride has shown he can be a playmaker. It’s a matter of whether a team understands what he does well and knowing how to exploit it. To be fair Dowell Loggains has seen his type before and done well with it.

Backup Goaltender Honors Tony Esposito On First Blackhawks Mask

By
Marc-Louis Paprzyca
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Jean-Francois Bérubé hasn’t appeared with the Blackhawks yet but already has one of the cooler goalie masks. He honors Blackhawks’ Hall of Famer Tony Esposito with his masked profile on the right side.

Bérubé’s mask was designed by Sylvie Marsolais of Sylabrush and features the team’s iconic crest on the left side. It also includes the tomahawk logo featured on the shoulders of Blackhawks’ jerseys and the Chicago skyline on the chin.

With this cool mask I’d keep him on the roster automatically. Just kidding.

Bérubé is going to have to work to be Corey Crawford’s backup. The fourth-round pick of the Los Angeles Kings in 2009 has only played 21 NHL games, with the New York Islanders over the last two seasons. He will have stiff competition from Anton Forsberg who was acquired in the Panarin and Saad trade. At least he’ll look good at camp.

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

 

NFL Gives Rookie QB Class Preseason Grades and Trubisky Owned It

By
Erik Lambert
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packers players
Credit: Cleveland.com

The 2017 rookie quarterback class overachieved in the eyes of many during the NFL preseason. For a group that many panned for one reason or another, they came off really well. None more so than the top picks. NFL Network analyst and former scout Daniel Jeremiah was tasked with giving them all a report card for their performances this August. So what was the Mitch Trubisky grade?

That’s all Chicago Bears fans want to know. Well certain players like Cooper Rush (Dallas), DeShone Kizer (Cleveland) and Patrick Mahomes (Kansas City) earned high B grades for their efforts. Good stuff, just not quite good enough. Amazing as it sounds, the Bears’ top pick outshined them all with the only A in the entire class.

“Mitchell Trubisky: A

Preseason analysis: Trubisky has been outstanding in the preseason. He’s thrown with timing, accuracy and touch. He shows plenty of arm strength to drive the ball and looks comfortable working through progressions from inside the pocket. He’s also shown impressive athleticism, throwing on the move or picking up free yards with his legs when the opportunities arise.

Areas for improvement: I don’t think there’s a lot to criticize, based on his play in the preseason. He did miss a couple of easy underneath throws and will occasionally lock on his first read, but the good has far outweighed the bad. The biggest thing he needs: more game reps.”

Mitch Trubisky grade showcases how quickly he’s developing

Of course preseason grades don’t indicate whether a player will have a successful career, but it does showcase whether they have that capability. All anybody could talk about for months was the same thing. Trubisky only started 13 games in college. He didn’t have enough experience. NFL teams would eat him alive.

Except no. At least not through four games they haven’t. Trubisky finished the preseason completing 67.9% of his passes for 364 yards and three touchdowns without a turnover. Throughout that time his accuracy, poise and athleticism were all on display.

Despite all that the Bears coaching staff remained unconvinced he’s ready to start. Not a surprise. John Fox is an old school, conservative coach. He would never start a rookie at any position if it could be avoided. Mike Glennon, worthy or not, is going to get the first crack. How long that lasts depends on the win-loss record through the first month or so of the season.

Until then Trubisky will be able to sit back, relax and wait his turn.

The Most Surprising Chicago Bears Cuts at the NFL Deadline

By
Erik Lambert
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cut tanner gentry

GM Ryan Pace is in his element now. The Chicago Bears cuts, courtesy of John Fox and his coaching staff are now complete. The September 2nd deadline has come and gone. Now the job at hand is to see if Pace and his front office can work a little more magic via the waiver wire and late free agency. It’s not unprecedented. He’s done it before and never had high position in the pecking order like this year.

Of course in the midst of this it’s fair to wonder if the team might’ve made a few mistakes amidst the 37 players they dismissed over the past couple days. It’s not like it hasn’t happened before. Here are a few names that the Bears allowed to walk in the past 24 hours and why it was at least a slight surprise.

Tanner Gentry (WR)

This of course is the big one. Gentry was the talk of Bears training camp. It seemed like every day he was making a handful of big catches. Fans grew to love the undrafted free agent out of Wyoming. Then in the preseason he provided a couple notable plays including a 45-yard touchdown catch from Mitch Trubisky. Given the Bears’ woeful situation at wide receiver, most felt that made him a lock to make the roster. Turns out he might be the next Daniel Braverman. A training camp phenom destined for the practice squad.

Jaye Howard (DE)

It’s hard to figure out the exact reasoning why the Bears decided to part ways with Howard. He seemed to be improving over the course of the preseason and they needed defensive line help. So what happened. Likely two factors. First is the status of his hip. The Bears brass probably weren’t comfortable with its healing progress. Second, and more likely, is the emergence of both Jonathan Bullard and Roy Robertson-Harris as legitimate forces over the past month. Along with veteran Mitch Unrein it was just too difficult to find room.

Isaiah Irving (OLB)

The knee injury to Lamarr Houston and shady health of Pernell McPhee put a major squeeze on the Bears outside linebacker position. Edge rushers are at a premium for them with Leonard Floyd and Willie Young being their only viable options. So wouldn’t it make sense to keep a young prospect around who had three sacks in two games to end the preseason? Apparently not. Odds are they try to sneak him onto the practice squad.

John Timu (ILB)

All anybody can say about John Timu is he plays hard. The inside linebacker has his faults but he’s a smart defender with uncanny ability to time the snap and make stops in the backfield. It looked like he’d done enough to secure a reserve spot after a couple nice games but not so much. Christian Jones also played well and he brings added versatility on special teams. In the end that was something Timu couldn’t offer.

Recent Roster Cuts The Chicago Bears Have To Look Into

By
Erik Lambert
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nfl roster cuts

The Chicago Bears know that the finalization of their roster isn’t done yet. Based on a number of their moves to this point, it’s reasonable to think they will be active as NFL roster cuts around the league finish up. The massacre is complete now but the waiver wire process will not begin until September 3rd.

There are a number of names out there Bears fans might not know about but could serve a key purpose were they to get picked up. Here are a few names to watch carefully as things develop over the next 24 hours.

Obum Gwacham (DE, New Orleans Saints)

The story around this kid is pretty amazing. He was a wide receiver when he first started at Oregon State before they shifted him to defensive end, of all places. It was clear he had plenty of physical skill with a 6’5″ frame, 34-inch arms and explosive athleticism. However, he was obviously raw. The Seattle Seahawks drafted him in the sixth round but were already stacked up front. Gwacham spent the past two years in New Orleans playing limited snaps. It’s fair to believe he might be a better fit as a 3-4 outside linebacker given his body type and skill set.

Cobi Hamilton (WR, Pittsburgh Steelers)

He was compared to Mohamed Sanu coming out of Arkansas but for one reason or another in took four seasons for Cobi Hamilton to finally get on the field. The Steelers represented his fifth NFL team. Though his playing time was limited, he made some flash plays both down the field as a vertical threat and using his 6’2″ frame to make tougher catches. He’s still waiting for that legitimate opportunity. At age 26, it might finally be time.

Demetrious Cox (S, Cincinnati Bengals)

It looks like Eddie Jackson can be the future for the Bears at safety presuming good health. Quintin Demps should be a good signing, at least for 2017. Beyond that it’s a big question mark. Chicago still hasn’t found their long-term option at strong safety. Demetrious Cox was one of the standout rookies of preseason. He made a number of tackles, had a sack, an interception and a forced fumble. The versatility is something the Bears can get behind.

Alex Collins (RB, Seattle Seahawks)

Look it’s no secret the Bears are stacked at running back. Jordan Howard is a stud. Tarik Cohen looks like a major find. Jeremy Langford is still kicking around and Bennie Cunningham should become a special teams ace. That being said there’s no truth to the phrase, “Too much of a good thing.” Alex Collins was never given a fair shake in Seattle before getting squeezed out. He was tremendous at Arkansas with three-straight 1,000-yard seasons. He’s got talent and the Bears want to run the ball.

Jordan Leslie (WR, Cleveland Browns)

The Bears actually got a front row view of Leslie during the preseason finale when he burned them for 50 yards and a touchdown. He had 84 yards and two touchdowns over his final two preseason games for Cleveland. He’s got size at around 6’3″ and runs well, showing an ability to get behind a defense. Whether that’s enough to convince the Bears to sign him is debatable, but there is definitely some intriguing talent.

Bears Defense Gets a Huge Boost With Return of Pernell McPhee

By
Erik Lambert
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chicago bears roster

For a time it appeared like the Chicago Bears pass rush was in dire straits. Lamarr Houston was going on injured reserve and by all accounts linebacker Pernell McPhee would stay on the PUP list. This meant he’d miss the first six weeks of action. Turns out the initial predictions were wrong as the word broke the Bears planned to take their key rusher off the list.

McPhee’s return couldn’t come at a better time. The entire Bears outside linebacker position was ravaged by injuries. Lamarr Houston once again suffered a knee injury and is destined for Injured Reserve. Backups Sam Acho and Dan Skuta are also dealing with ailments and were apparently discussed for trades not too long ago.

It looked like the only reliable guys set to go against Atlanta on September 10th were Leonard Floyd and Willie Young. Not ideal. Now this doesn’t necessarily mean McPhee is a lock for week one either. It might just mean the Bears feel confident he’s not too far off from being healthy enough. He still could miss a game or two. Just not six like it would’ve been had he stayed on the PUP list.

Everything changes if McPhee is healthy

There’s no denying that the health concerns remain with McPhee but it’s also impossible to argue his value to the front seven. Not only is he one of the best run-defending outside linebackers in the league, he’s also a major shot in the arm to the pass rush. It’s not a coincidence that Floyd had 6.5 of his seven sacks last year when McPhee was on the field. In fact Floyd sacked Aaron Rodgers twice in their first game together.

Question his health all you want, the fact is this man can be a game changer for this defense both as a player and as a leader.

Ex-Pro Bowl QB Explains Why Bears Trubisky Plan Won’t Last Long

By
Erik Lambert
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mitch trubisky

The Mitch Trubisky plan appears unchanged for the Chicago Bears. They stated from the beginning that he would sit behind Mike Glennon this year. So far they’ve stuck by that. Some will say that’s to their credit, others believe it’s a misguided stubbornness to not play the better QB. Based on the stats and tape to this point Trubisky has looked like the obvious option.

Head coach John Fox doesn’t agree. He’s dead set on riding with the more experienced Glennon. Why? There are plenty of theories. Trubisky hasn’t seen complicated coverages defenses are sure to throw at him. The opening schedule is murderous and could mentally frazzle a rookie. Last but not least, the team is woefully lacking in receiving weapons.

All valid points, but is it enough to overcome the same argument? That Trubisky is simply the better quarterback and should play because of it. Apparently not. So he’ll stay on the sideline. For how long is anybody’s guess. Well a former Pro Bowl quarterback might have an idea.

Matt Hasselbeck believes Mitch Trubisky plan will accelerate

Few men understand the value of waiting ones’ turn quite like Matt Hasselbeck. He spent the first three seasons of his career as a backup to Brett Favre in Green Bay. It wasn’t until after being traded to Seattle that he got his shot. He went on to become a three-time Pro Bowler. During that time he learned the game, not just on the field but off it.

In an interview with The Ringer, he explained that a quarterback plan doesn’t always hinge on the players involved. Often it might be wise to look a little higher up the chain.

Yet ask the veteran quarterbacks who’ve lived this reality and they know how quickly those winds can change. “When you’re trying to wonder what someone is going to do at the quarterback position, young quarterback or old quarterback, you should look at when the GM or head coach’s contracts are up,” Hasselbeck says. “That’s when they want to be hitting their stride, not starting over.” Reid got a new deal with the Chiefs in June, but the timelines for the head coaches in both Chicago and Houston are considerably shorter.

Fox signed a four-year deal in 2015 to become head coach of the Bears. That means 2018 will represent his last season with the team. Coaches rarely ever get to the last year of their deal. Either they sign an extension before that happens or are likely fired. In essence this means unless Glennon lights it up right away, Fox won’t have a choice but to turn to Trubisky sooner than later.

He’ll have to show everybody that he knows how to develop the kid properly and deserves to stay and finish his work. Of course recent events already poke holes in the theory that he’s qualified for said job. Nonetheless the original statement stands.

Ryan Pace’s Lone Offseason Blunder Has Come Back To Haunt Bears

By
Erik Lambert
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bears gm ryan pace
Credit: AP

First this must be prefaced. This is not a shot at Chicago Bears GM Ryan Pace. The evidence over the past month indicates he’s done a fine job rebuilding a once old and depleted roster. Suddenly the Bears are young and fast again. They have an emerging defense, a loaded running back stable, a strong offensive line and a promising quarterback to groom. All in all it’s an exciting time.

That said Pace isn’t perfect. GMs make mistakes and he’s no exception. It was the opinion of this writer that he’d made a big one during the primary acquisition periods of March and April. It centered on the Bears’ failure to add a significant talent to their edge rusher position. Through all of free agency and the draft they didn’t bring in anybody.

Sure they were focused on boosting the secondary and finding a quarterback, but they had to see the lingering problem at outside linebacker. Right?

Bears GM Ryan Pace is regretting his inaction back in spring

Well if they didn’t then it’s a gross miscalculation on Pace’s part. Yes Leonard Floyd is an emerging superstar. That’s great. The problem is the depth chart behind him is more than a little dicey. Pernell McPhee has already had knee surgery for the second-straight year. He looks like a PUP list candidate, meaning he’ll miss the first six games. Willie Young is 32-years old and might be slowing down.

If that weren’t bad enough, now another vital depth option in Lamarr Houston might be off the table.

So to recap. McPhee has a knee injury and is likely out over a month. Houston now may have another knee injury. Remember he tore his ACL twice in three seasons since 2014. If that weren’t bad enough, veteran Sam Acho is dealing with an ankle problem as well. This means Floyd and Young are their only two healthy edge rushers and Floyd has a shaky injury history of his own.

Keeping in mind of course the Bears play in a division with Aaron Rodgers and Matthew Stafford. This is a problem. A big problem. Pace deserves credit for the number of positive moves he made this offseason, but if there is one criticism that he should not avoid it’s his failure to supplement the edge rush.

Maybe he can find help on the waiver wire within the next few days, but that’s a reach. Odds are this issue will linger all season.

Take A Peak At The High-Cieling Prospect The White Sox Netted In Rangers Deal

By
Matt Enuco
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White Sox net a new prospect in Gonzalez deal.
Ken Inness/Milb.com

Just when you thought the market for White Sox pitchers had settled, Rick Hahn struck another quality deal. Miguel Gonzalez was sent to the Texas Rangers in the eleventh hour before the Sept. 1 waiver deadline and netted a peculiar young prospect.

The Rangers’ move to acquire Gonzalez is curious in and of itself since they remain four games out of wild-card contention and with the Yankees and Twins competing for wild-card births themselves, the Rangers postseason odds seem slim.

But there are plenty of questions surrounding this whole deal; the most pressing: why would Texas give up a 21-year-old prospect with a high ceiling for a mediocre pitcher who will be a free agent at the end of the season?

At first glance, this deal smacks of a prospect dump. Edward TiQuan Forbes was a second-round pick in 2014 and the top prep-prospect out of Mississippi that year. He was ranked as the 18th best high school prospect nationally by Perfect Game and signed for $1.2 million. Moreover, Forbes was ranked as the No. 15 prospect in the Rangers organization the same year he was drafted.

Perhaps his overwhelming ceiling has stalled with Texas brass. His batting average has declined each of the past four seasons while his power has just begun to surface.

The Mississippi-slugger is batting .236 between Full-Season-A and High-A in 2017 while rifling 11 home runs. Forbes’ 11 dingers this season accounts for most of his career power numbers considering he has managed a meager 15 home runs in four years of professional baseball. Meanwhile, Forbes has fanned an alarming 130 times this season.

Forbes is a classic right-handed match-up for pitchers. Left-handers are his bread and butter, batting .291 against southpaws and struggling with right-handers (.200).

Yet, Forbes turned 21 years old in late August and still has maturing to do. He possesses the intangibles to become a big leaguer with a 6-foot-3-inch frame at a lean 180 pounds. Most experts might like to see more heft to such a long frame but he is strong in the right places and adds exceptional speed with long, quick strides.

Forbes was a shortstop in high school and moved to third base as a professional. Scouting reports indicate he has the arm and instincts to hang at the hot-corner but if the infield puzzles the youngster he could easily switch to center field.

Offensively, evaluators must be waiting for Forbes to develop an approach and maturity. Video illustrates some insecurities about how to attack an at bat and control the match-up at the plate.

The bat speed is impressive and he is still very young. Perhaps this is a classic case of needing a change of scenery. Forbes doesn’t appear to have haunting character issues like other White Sox trade targets have in the past and maybe the slugger is just beginning to tap his potential.

 

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