Small School Crushes, Dalton’s Other Options, Trestman Gets a Dub, and Other Bears Bullets

I tried something new on the grill yesterday.

In a most unconventional way to make mashed potatoes, I took red potatoes, seasoned them with extra virgin olive oil and a bunch of herbs from my cabinet, grilled them for an hour or so, brought them back into the house, smashed them, tossed in some milk and butter, then — BOOM! — dinner time. I’m definitely trying that again sometime soon.

This is a Jeremy Chinn Fan Site now:

https://twitter.com/PFF_College/status/1234233044103548928?s=20

Here is another great rep by Jeremy Chinn. He times the blitz perfectly, dips his shoulder under the center and brings down the quarterback for a big loss. pic.twitter.com/0vbEYhTLK2

— Nicholas Moreano (@NicholasMoreano) March 2, 2020

Jeremy Chinn (Southern Illinois) & Kyle Dugger (Lenoir-Rhyne) finished the night with the top Athleticism Scores among 2020 safeties based on their combine workout.

Chinn & Dugger are the only non-FBS safeties since 2003 to finish with a max 99 Athleticism Score. pic.twitter.com/LlHqiEK97R

— Next Gen Stats (@NextGenStats) March 2, 2020

11’6” broad jump.
41" vertical.

Safety Jeremy Chinn brought the HOPS to the #NFLCombine.@ChinnJeremy2 | @SIU_Football pic.twitter.com/QKwkqUeGNB

— NFL (@NFL) March 1, 2020

Jeremy Chinn with a monster 11'6 broad jump! Whoa https://t.co/k4LEBmmCln

— Ben Fennell (@BenFennell_NFL) March 1, 2020

Chinn’s time as an under-the-radar prospect is over. The guy is here and is about to get some serious draft consideration. Chinn has size, speed, athleticism, and pedigree that comes with being unanimous All-American (even if it’s at the Football Championship Subdivision level). The game tape shows a solid safety prospect, while the Scouting Combine performance is only going to boost his stock. I can’t believe I’ve gone this long without mentioning how the Bears need a safety, but you knew where I was going with this as soon as I made a mention of it.

Give GM Ryan Pace credit for this: He knows safety play. You already know that Eddie Jackson has been an absolute steal of a fourth-round pick. And Adrian Amos was a solid selection as a fifth-rounder out of Penn State in 2015. Deon Bush and DeAndre Houston-Carson were decent additions in the 2016 NFL Draft. Neither grew into a full-time starting role, but that doesn’t mean the picks weren’t good. Both players turned into core special teams members, while Bush was a serviceable spot starter when called upon. There are other position groups that might give you pause when Pace is on the clock to make a pick, but he has earned the benefit of the doubt when it comes to drafting safeties.

Will Dewitt of The Chicago Audible catches up with edge rusher prospect LaDarius Hamilton, who says he would love to play next to Khalil Mack. I’ll have to dig into some more tape and background on the North Texas product, but ranking sixth in sacks and tackles-for-loss in school history is a good place to start. And as one of six edge rusher prospects who confirmed with The Chicago Audible that they have met with the Bears, perhaps Hamilton could be on their radar as a draft pick. Just don’t knock him down a peg because you haven’t watched the Mean Green play football. Now is a time to be open to all sorts of prospect possibilities, because you never know which stars will shine in the right opportunity.

As a reminder, Khalil Mack played his college ball at Buffalo. So, yeah … don’t underestimate the small school dudes for a second.

For all the Bears-Jaguars comps over the last year or so, it’s conveniently ignored how Chicago has done a good job at retaining its most talented players (and they actually want to be there!). The same cannot be the said for the team in Jacksonville:

The Jaguars are aware I no longer have interest in signing a long term contract in Jacksonville. Duval, I love you and gave you guys everything I got. I’m thankful for the journey and look forward to continuing my career elsewhere. -91

— Yannick Ngakoue (@YannickNgakoue) March 2, 2020

Jacksonville Jaguars will use their franchise tag on pass-rusher Yannick Ngakoue, per league sources. The tag will allow them to try to trade him if that’s what they decide or are forced to do.

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 2, 2020

It’s almost impressive how bad the Jaguars have been at this for the past couple years. They drafted Jalen Ramsey, Yannick Ngakoue, and Allen Robinson — and none of them will be on the roster when this season starts. And they have no money. It’s seriously amazing.

— Robert Mays (@robertmays) March 2, 2020

The Jaguars are on the Bears’ schedule this year because teams from the NFC North play their counterparts in the AFC South. If this one isn’t a win for the Bears, someone will have some explaining to do.

Also, there’s a valuable lesson to be learned from the Jaguars’ fall: Do not — and I cannot stress this enough — give big money to a quarterback who has legitimate questions. It can be the downfall of everything else you’ve created from a team-building standpoint. Learn from your own mistakes by learning from those made by others. Just a thought.

Some excellent Deals of the Day at Amazon today on MacBooks, Instant Pot, bluetooth speakers, and juicers. #ad

Thanks for the nightmare fuel, Hub:

You want Dalton?
What if the #Bears give up picks they can’t afford, take on his $17 million cap hit and he gets here and is the same guy he was last year — an awful quarterback on the worst team in the league?https://t.co/SBAanBhlGd

— Hub Arkush (@Hub_Arkush) March 1, 2020

I suppose the alternative here is the Bears end up in a position to draft Trevor Lawrence, Justin Fields, or a quarterback to be named later. Hmmmm…

NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport with the update on the Andy Dalton trade market:

From our Combine coverage: A look at the Andy Dalton trade market, as the #Bengals work with his agent Jeff Nalley to find a trade partner later in March. Dalton will have options. pic.twitter.com/8TYPwdBUnZ

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 1, 2020

Alright, so Dalton could ultimately get his pick of the litter when the Bengals decide to make a trade. And the Bears aren’t the only team in the mix. The Colts and Patriots being interested parties makes sense. But imagine going from Tom Brady to Dalton if you’re a Pats fan. Or from Andrew Luck to Dalton if you’re a Colts supporter. This is less of a knock on Dalton, and more about the optics at play. Being the man who follows The Man is no fun.

Jokic is gonna mess around and get a tryout for the Broncos if he keeps dropping dimes like this:

https://twitter.com/ActionNetNBA/status/1234288438704328706?s=20

This place better be ready by the time the Bears roll into town to play the Rams later this year:

@SoFiStadium construction mishap isn't expected to delay the @RamsNFL and @Chargers from moving into it this season via @ForbesSports @forbes https://t.co/3FdUDlMZSA

— Jay Paris (@jparis_sports) February 29, 2020

It happened:

No caption needed. pic.twitter.com/lrqPWCxKR9

— Tampa Bay Vipers (@XFLVipers) March 2, 2020

Strong defense and an unstoppable rushing attack helped the @XFLVipers secure their first W. #ForTheLoveOfFootball pic.twitter.com/dmv10ph2mN

— XFL (@xfl2020) March 2, 2020

Going UP in the Bud Light Seltzer Lounge.@budlight | #SeltzerCelly pic.twitter.com/dF9IvAQikB

— Tampa Bay Vipers (@XFLVipers) March 2, 2020