Montgomery as the Next Day 2 Star, Piñeiro Embraces Competition, Robbie Teases in the Elements, and Other Bullets

May 07, 2019

This is exactly what I needed to see this morning:

Don't be afraid to start over. It's a brand new opportunity to rebuild what you truly want. Good morning and #BeGreat today everyone! #TuesdayThoughts
— Jarrett Payton (@paytonsun) May 7, 2019

I don’t know who else needed to see that tweet, but I hope you did. Let’s get the ball rolling!

The Bears traded for a kicker from the Bay Area on Monday, but it wasn’t you know who. And that’s a real shame because he continues to tease us to bits:

Rain or shine the work never stops! Prepare for all situations you may face. #motivationmonday #begreat pic.twitter.com/ooW58pXQr9

— Robbie Gould (@RobbieGould09) May 6, 2019

From way downtown … in the elements … BANG!

Maybe it’s just me, or maybe the goal-posts look wider when Gould is kicking compared to when Bears kickers are lining up for an attempt.

In my appearance on SportsFeed last night, we discussed Gould and other possible kicking options that could become available:

View this post on Instagram

‪Should the Bears consider a veteran kicker for 2019 – even if not Robbie Gould? @lcm1986 of @bleachernation discussed that and more on the team along with the Cubs on Sports Feed Monday. Watch his talk with @paytonsun and @joshfrydman by clicking on the link in the bio. #bears #chicagobears #nfl #kicker #robbiegould #cubs #chicagocubs #mlb

A post shared by Larry Hawley (@cltvsportsfeed) on May 6, 2019 at 5:50pm PDT

According to our friends at OverTheCap.com, the Bears have $17,691,357 in available salary cap space. And while I’m still certain a chunk of that money will go toward an extension for center/guard Cody Whitehair, I’m convinced some of that available cash has been earmarked for a veteran kicker in case the team’s kicking competition doesn’t produce a clear-cut winner. It’s good to have options, but it’s even better when you can pounce on something at a moment’s notice because you have the available cash flow to do so.

As for the Bears’ newest kicker, Eddy Piñeiro, there is a lot to like:

Also, and perhaps most importantly, he's never missed from 43 yards (1 for 1).

— Bill Zimmerman (@ZimmermanSXM) May 7, 2019

Bears GM Ryan Pace emphasized leg strength as something he was looking for in his next kicker, and Piñeiro seems to have it. A high percentage of touchbacks would help the Bears defense establish an edge in the field position battle, which would also help put the offense in a good place whenever that group hits the field. An 80 percent success rate from 40-49 yards out is encouraging, too. The only number that’s better is that 5-for-5 from 50+ yards. We haven’t seen Piñeiro kick in the Soldier Field elements, but his résumé is enticing enough to send a conditional seventh-round pick to Oakland to see what he can bring to the table.

Check out this video snippet from last year’s Raiders kicking competition, which suggests Piñeiro is ready for whatever competition comes his way:

The Bears just ran through a wave of kickers to settle on Chris Blewitt and Elliott Fry as the bench of that bunch, then added Piñeiro to the mix. In addition to needing talented legs competing for this gig, Chicago needed to bring on fearless players who were ready to embrace the challenges ahead. I think each of these guys fits the bill in their own special way.

So close to college greatness:

New #Bears kicker @EddyPineiro would qualify as the 4th-most accurate kicker in NCAA history (88.4%) if he had 50 career collegiate attempts (he had 43).

— Ryan Heckman (@RyanHeckmanFS) May 6, 2019

Those pesky qualifiers will get you every time!

For what it’s worth, the Bears won’t need to rely on late-game field goals if the offense scored more touchdowns. Bleacher Report’s Brad Gagnon mentions Bears third-round pick David Montgomery in the same breath as Saints star Alvin Kamara. Both were Day 2 running backs going into offenses that needed variety and versatility from a young back. If Montgomery turns out to put up Kamara-like rookie-season numbers in his first year, then I don’t think we’ll spend too much time worrying about field goals because the Bears will be in position to score touchdowns more often than not.

It’s simple math, people: 6 > 3. (Yeah, I’m not assuming extra points any more. Sorry.)

ESPN and Football Outsiders teamed up for a piece analyzing each NFL team’s biggest weakness, but didn’t land on kicker as a spot. Huh? I’m not sure how depth along the defensive front is a hole for the Bears when Khalil Mack, Leonard Floyd, and Aaron Lynch make up a darn-good pass-rushing trio. Or when Akiem Hicks and Eddie Goldman are up front eating space and making plays. The depth on the line isn’t much of a concern. Not when Bilal Nichols and Roy Robertson-Harris proved to be more-than-serviceable rotational players. Maybe it would be a problem if Mack, Floyd, Lynch, Hicks, Goldman, Nichols, and RRH went down with injuries. But then again, what team would able to withstand losing five starters and three key reserves on the front line?

On a brighter note, of course you want to go to each of the Bears’ eight home games this coming season! I know it. You know it. We all know it! Here’s how it can happen:

https://twitter.com/ChicagoBears/status/1125441976747343872

SOON:

https://www.instagram.com/p/BxKiJdAHpAX/

An old friend finds a new home in San Francisco:

The #49ers have claimed G Willie Beavers, a 2016 fourth-round pick of Vikings, off waivers from the Bears.

— Eric Branch (@Eric_Branch) May 6, 2019

written by

Luis C. Medina

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.

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