Happy game day! I hope your Halloween was festive, fulfilling, and most of all, safe.
• Had this play counted for a touchdown, Rutgers would’ve covered the spread against Indiana. And frankly, this was so cool, I don’t think Indiana bettors would’ve minded it one bit:
I was waiting for the band to jump on the field. @CFBONFOX pic.twitter.com/CtYmTirJIQ
— Bleacher Nation Bears (@BN_Bears) October 31, 2020
• So. Many. Laterals. And on 4th-and-32? That’s an all-time fun play. I don’t care that it didn’t count in the box score. It counted in my heart.
• My new favorite Saturday tradition is obsessing over quarterback prospects that I can dream on the Bears drafting in 2021 because they’ll have their own first-round pick for the first time since 2018:
Zach Wilson with a celestial dime without his feet set stepping up into the pocket. Gotta make that play for him. #BYU #BYUFootball #ESPN960 #GoCougs pic.twitter.com/VloMyss0QA
— Benjamin Criddle (@CriddleBenjamin) November 1, 2020
The ball gets from Point A to Point B so quickly from Zach Wilson. Off to a great start.
8-of-11, 115 passing yards, and a TD. pic.twitter.com/YkiiZnxuSn
— Jordan Reid (@JReidNFL) November 1, 2020
Justin Fields, how? pic.twitter.com/MglOF1NKOi
— ESPN College Football (@ESPNCFB) November 1, 2020
https://twitter.com/OhioStateOnBTN/status/1322743882132512769
https://twitter.com/AlabamaDieHards/status/1322686304048599040
https://twitter.com/PFF_College/status/1322684430016749581
• In other college quarterback news, Trevor Lawrence won’t play in Clemson’s next game against Notre Dame. Lawrence, the presumptive No. 1 pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, tested positive for COVID-19 and won’t complete the necessary protocols in time to play in the big game. Clemson has a load of talent elsewhere on the gridiron, but playing ball without the best player on any campus in America will be tough.
• The Bears should obsessively watch over this class of quarterbacks. If Lawrence is joined by Fields, Wilson, and Trey Lance in Round 1, then Chicago could benefit from a skill position player dropping to wherever they draft. At first blush, this looks like a draft that will be loaded with skill players who could contribute immediately. And while the Bears have obvious quarterback questions, getting better elsewhere in the draft should be another priority.
• As for the current Bears, they’re looking to improve to 6-2 on the season. They can accomplish that with a win against the Saints later this afternoon. It won’t be easy, but at least they’re receiving positive news on the injury front. Allen Robinson cleared concussion protocol and is expected to play. Meanwhile, it sounds like three teammates — Khalil Mack, Cordarrelle Patterson, Eddie Jackson — who were listed as questionable will give it a go, too.
• If the Bears can win, they’ll break a five-game losing streak to the Saints. Chicago hasn’t beaten New Orleans since 2008. That’s far too long in my book. If the last time the Bears beat a team was back in my college heyday, it’s been too long.
• GOOD:
Bears DT Akiem Hicks, who was flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct and roughing the passer against the Rams, was NOT fined.
— Kevin Fishbain (@kfishbain) October 31, 2020
• Since we have a little less than six hours until kickoff, you’ve got some time to do some additional reading this morning. So allow me to point you in the direction of two enlightening pieces from The Athletic. The first is a re-visiting of the Peanut Punch, which got feature treatment on ESPN’s Sunday NFL Countdown:
Remembering Charles Tillman’s NFL-changing “Peanut Punch” with the #Bears.
ESPN has a cool feature on the legacy of it this morning on Sunday NFL Countdown.
My column. https://t.co/fSdFaDyB8x
— Adam Jahns (@adamjahns) November 1, 2020
• Charles Tillman’s ability to create turnovers by closing his fist and firing a decisive blow to the ball is the reason we discuss him as a potential Hall of Famer. The Peanut Punch was a game-changing play that altered the course of his career, inspired others to follow in his path, and is still used to this day. In addition to Tillman’s superb coverage skills, The Punch changed football, thus, we get to have real conversations about Tillman’s HOF chances. Admittedly, it’s a tall mountain to climb because Tillman didn’t rack up Pro Bowl appearances or All-Pro nominations. But game-changing players deserve their day, so I hope Tillman gets his at some point down the road.
• Elsewhere at The Athletic, Bob McGinn serves up a reminder of how the Bears’ issues in finding a quarterback go far beyond Ryan Pace’s missteps:
“If he had stayed healthy, you probably would have never heard of Orton, Cutler." Tremendous look back at the drafting of Rex Grossman from @BobMcGinn. https://t.co/oerXgMfIcS
— Dan Pompei (@danpompei) October 30, 2020
• So much of this sounds so familiar because it’s a similar story despite different decision-makers leading front offices. No unanimous choice among internal evaluators. Questions about the player’s physical traits. The odd tactic of avoiding meeting with a player in an attempt to not show their cards early. Quarterbacks make front offices do weird things. And when they miss on said quarterback, they go into scramble-and-chase mode. Ugh. I hate how familiar this feels.
• I love art:
Remembering loved ones & celebrating tradition. ¡Feliz #DiaDeMuertos!@MotorolaUS | #razr pic.twitter.com/cHpvjufMAa
— Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) November 1, 2020
https://twitter.com/ChicagoBears/status/1322191539486019591
• For more Bears art, check out what Michael wrote earlier in the week.
• An update on some old friends:
Bronocs' HC Vic Fangio will continue to call the defense, just without his top deputy, Ed Donatell, who is home due to COVID protocols. https://t.co/PKrIUQbApX
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) November 1, 2020