Steven Dunbar Steals The Show In East-West Shrine Game and Other Bullets

This is one way to make an impression ahead of the NFL Draft:

With the West trailing 10-7 with 1:38 to go, University of Houston wide receiver Steven Dunbar put his stamp on the game with a 34-yard touchdown grab that turned out to be a game-winner. A precisely run route and the agility to stay in bounds and secure the touchdown sandwiched a perfectly thrown pass from Nic Shimonek.

Listed at 6-3, 202 pounds, Dunbar started 37 of the 51 games he appeared in during his college career. He racked up 1,070 receiving yards on 76 catches as a senior.

As you well know, the Bears are in the market for receiver help. And while Dunbar doesn’t appear to have elite speed, he has shown to have reliable hands and the necessary skills to haul in contested throws. Those things could be assets for him at the next level.

  • When you think about the Bears offense, a clear idea of what it looks like pops in your head. What if I told you that was going to get turned on its ear? Oh. And what if I told you we don’t quite know what it will look like? The Bears’ offensive identity is relatively unknown, according to John Mullin of NBC Sports Chicago. Instead of one singular identity, the Bears’ offense looks to be a blending of multiple schemes and concepts that could keep opposing defenses on their heels. The play calling (and results) became predictable, so perhaps not having a clear identity is a good thing.
  • JJ Stankevitz of NBC Sports Chicago writes the “adapt or die” motto is a perfect one for Matt Nagy’s coaching staff. It’s a sharp change of direction from the previous regime, which seemed to stubbornly chip away at their problems with the same tools and methods. It’s worth noting that Nagy and each of his assistants are well versed in making the most of their respective situations. Offensive Coordinator Mark Helfrich spliced his spread concepts with the Air Coryell things he was schooled in. Chris Tabor took what he learned under Dave Toub to successfully coach Cleveland’s special teams unit. Defensive Coordinator Vic Fangio lost six defensive starters in 2017 and still engineered a top-10 defense. Maybe it’s not a coincidence these three will be working together under Nagy.
  • On Bears All Access, Nagy gushes over the staff he has put together. “We brought a lot of good guys in here who are going to have a lot of good ideas,” Nagy said. “We just need to hone it all together.” Between the concept of “adapt or die” and having a bunch of new voices expressing good ideas, it’s understandable why Nagy is excited about this group. Especially offensively, where there will be plenty of hands available to mold Mitch Trubisky into the quarterback he needs to be for the Bears to be a winning team once again.
  • While the focus will (understandably) be on fixing the offense, the Bears have some patchwork to do on the defensive side of the ball too. Bryan Perez of Bears wire offers up Lions defensive end Ezekiel Ansah as a possible free agent target. Ansah bounced back from a down year in 2016 with 12 sacks in 14 games in 2017. Back in 2015, Ansah was a terror with 14.5 sacks and a trip to the Pro Bowl. Putting Ansah in the front seven with Akiem Hicks, Eddie Goldman, Leonard Floyd, and Danny Trevathan would make the Bears defense a tough group to solve for opposing offenses.
  • Of course, there is the matter of the secondary and the two free agents who could leave town. Steve Letizia of Da Bears Bros blog weighs the possibilities for Kyle Fuller’s future. There are cases to extend him, let him walk in free agency, and even hand him the franchise tag. Poor self scouting is among the reasons the Bears have been this bad for a while. With Fuller, the Bears are at a crossroads and can’t afford to miss again on a player they drafted and developed.
  • As we prepare for Sunday’s championship games, Andrew Beaton of the Wall Street Journal examines how the Vikings built a high-functioning offense with bit pieces that were tossed aside by other teams. It’s a lesson GM Ryan Pace should take note of as he goes on to rebuild the Bears’ offense this offseason. If the John Fox era taught us anything, it’s that there is no one way win a game … and that kind of thinking should be applied to the Bears’ offseason rebuild. The proof is in the Vikings’ appearance in the NFC title game.
  • Now, this is how you get hyped for a conference championship game:
  •  

    written by

    Luis C. Medina, who you can find on Twitter at lcm1986, has been covering the Chicago Bears at Bleacher Nation since 2017. Since then, he has written about 3 head coaches, 5 play-callers, and 11 starting quarterbacks. Previously, Luis wrote about the Cubs and MLB at BN (2015-16) and worked in the Chicago Tribune sports department (2011-16). He also co-hosted a Cubs postgame show, Outside the Ivy, in 2019.

    more bears news

    What Does a Chicago Bears NFL Draft Trade Down Look Like?

    You'd think we'd be well-versed in trade-back options after months of wondering what kind of haul it would take for the Bears to move off taking quarterback Caleb Williams with the first pick of the 2024 NFL Draft. But trading...

    D-Line Thoughts, Caleb, GM Seth Rollins, Pack Votes No, and Other Bears Bullets

    Cubs and White Sox opening day is today today. March Madness resumes with the Fighting Illini playing in the Sweet 16 later tonight. SIU, my alma mater, is reportedly hiring a "Coach Nagy" to lead its basketball team. And what...

    Dan Campbell is Happy To See Justin Fields Leave the NFC North

    There was no escaping the mixed emotions from Chicago Bears fans when the Justin Fields trade went down earlier this month. But there were none of that from Detroit Lions Head Coach Dan Campbell. Heck, I'd argue there was just...

    Another Pass Rusher Signs Elsewhere: Jadeveon Clowney Lands With the Panthers

    Another day. Another pass rusher signing. And another defensive lineman going to a team that isn't the Chicago Bears. NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport was the first with the news of Jadeveon Clowney signing with the Carolina Panthers. Meanwhile, ESPN's...

    Malik Nabers Might’ve Run His Way Out of the Chicago Bears Draft Spot

    Today was LSU's Pro Day and Chicago Bears GM Ryan Poles was scheduled to be in attendance, per The Athletic's Adam Jahns. Assuming Poles made his flight, he got a good look at the likes of quarterback Jayden Daniels, as...

    Goodell on Bears Stadium Deal, No to Hard Knocks? More Old Friends Go to Steelers, and Other Bears Bullets

    I keep forgetting that I have a Starbucks gift card from Christmas that has gone unused to this point. Maybe I'll remember it next time I go out for coffee. A big shout out to PFF Brad, who made the...

    Ryan Poles Was Pissed Off By RGIII’s Comments About Caleb Williams Situation

    When I saw them pop up, RGIII's comments suggesting Caleb Williams pull an Eli Manning and refuse to play for the Chicago Bears were met with an eye-roll, audible groan, and immediate dismissal before moving onto more pertinent topics. But...

    Bears Stadium Update: Kevin Warren Reiterates Plans to Build in Downtown Chicago

    It sure is starting to sound like Arlington Heights fumbled the bag when it comes to locking in Arlington Park as the future home of a Chicago Bears stadium. While meeting with the media at the NFL owners meetings in...

    The NFL is Playing a Christmas Day Doubleheader in 2024

    Christmastime is generally full of cheer. And in 2024, it will be full of cheering. In fact, we're talking double the cheer. ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter reports the league will play not one, but *TWO* Christmas Day games. It's...

    2024 NFL Mock Draft: How High Can J.J. McCarthy’s Stock Rise?

    Hard to believe we're less than a month away from the 1st Round of the 2024 NFL Draft! With just weeks remaining until the NFL's most noteworthy offseason event, there are plenty of rumors floating. As we work through all...

    Latest News

    Braves vs. Phillies: Start Time, Streaming Live, TV Channel, How to Watch

    Spencer Strider will take the ball for the Atlanta Braves when they take on starter Zack Wheeler and the Philadelphia Phillies in their season opener on Friday, with first pitch at 3:05 PM ET.If you're trying to watch this game,...

    Jonas Valančiūnas Player Props: Three-Pointer Props and Odds vs. the Bucks – Thursday, March 28, 2024

    The New Orleans Pelicans face the Milwaukee Bucks at 8:00 PM ET on Thursday, and one of the 3-pointer props available for this matchup requires only one trifecta from Jonas Valančiūnas.Jonas Valančiūnas' Three-Pointer Prop Odds vs. the BucksJonas Valanciunas' over/under...

    Top 25 College Basketball Picks and Best Bets: March 28

    The Illinois Fighting Illini and the Iowa State Cyclones hit the court in one of four games on the college basketball slate on Thursday that include a ranked team.How to Bet on Top 25 Games[lasso rel="draftkings-promo-1" id="299003"]Top 25 Games for...

    What Does a Chicago Bears NFL Draft Trade Down Look Like?

    You'd think we'd be well-versed in trade-back options after months of wondering what kind of haul it would take for the Bears to move off taking quarterback Caleb Williams with the first pick of the 2024 NFL Draft. But trading...

    Diamondbacks vs. Rockies Prediction: Expert Picks, Odds, Stats & Best Bets – Thursday, March 28, 2024

    The Arizona Diamondbacks begin their season as -226 favorites in a home tilt against the Colorado Rockies on Thursday at 10:10 PM ET, live on ARID.Arizona's Zac Gallen gets the start, and he'll go against Colorado's Kyle Freeland.Diamondbacks vs. Rockies...

    Mariners vs. Red Sox Prediction: Expert Picks, Odds, Stats & Best Bets – Thursday, March 28, 2024

    The Seattle Mariners begin their season as -155 favorites in a home tilt against the Boston Red Sox on Thursday at 10:10 PM ET, live on NESN.Luis Castillo takes the mound for Seattle while Brayan Bello is Boston's starter for...

    Guardians vs. Athletics Prediction: Expert Picks, Odds, Stats & Best Bets – Thursday, March 28, 2024

    The Cleveland Guardians start their season as road favorites (-156) in a matchup with the Oakland Athletics on Thursday at 10:07 PM ET, live on NBCS-CA from Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum.Cleveland's Shane Bieber and Oakland's Alex Wood have been named the...

    Damian Lillard Player Props: Three-Pointer Props and Odds vs. the Pelicans – Thursday, March 28, 2024

    The Milwaukee Bucks face the New Orleans Pelicans on Thursday at 8:00 PM ET, and if the Bucks' Damian Lillard drains four 3-pointers, he'll beat his over/under.Damian Lillard's Three-Pointer Prop Odds vs. the PelicansDamian Lillard's over/under for three-pointers in this...

    Brook Lopez Player Props: Three-Pointer Props and Odds vs. the Pelicans – Thursday, March 28, 2024

    The Milwaukee Bucks face the New Orleans Pelicans at 8:00 PM ET on Thursday, and one of the 3-pointer over/unders available for this matchup requires two trifectas from Brook Lopez.Brook Lopez's Three-Pointer Prop Odds vs. the PelicansBrook Lopez's over/under for...

    Giannis Antetokounmpo Player Props: Three-Pointer Props and Odds vs. the Pelicans – Thursday, March 28, 2024

    On Thursday at 8:00 PM ET, the Milwaukee Bucks meet the New Orleans Pelicans, and Giannis Antetokounmpo's 3-pointer prop for this clash requires just one trey.Giannis Antetokounmpo's Three-Pointer Prop Odds vs. the PelicansGiannis Antetokounmpo's over/under for three-pointers in this game:...

    more bears news