Today is a good day to open all the windows in the house and let it breathe. I reckon we won’t see 70 degrees again in Chicago until March.
• As if we needed another layer to the Javon Wims-Chauncey Gardner-Johnson fiasco, here it is:
Bears WR coach Mike Furrey told his group during the Saints game, “Do not get involved with 22” referring to C.J. Gardner-Johnson. The next possession, Javon Wims punched him.
Furrey said the fact that he addressed it prior only added to his disappointment in Wims.
— Kevin Fishbain (@kfishbain) November 9, 2020
• So not only did the Bears know not to get into it with Gardner-Johnson, one player did it anyway. And while I understand stuff happens in the heat of the moment, it takes real strength to rise above the noise. Wims didn’t. It cost his team some yards and momentum in a game it ultimately lost in overtime. Twisting the knife further, it also cost Wims two game-checks. And what happens if Riley Ridley shines in his brief opportunity on the active roster in Wims’ place? All because he didn’t heed his coach’s warning. Ugh. This stinks.
• Things aren’t as bad as they were in the Marc Trestman era, when the team was bad, undisciplined, and played selfishly. However, I’m seeing warning signs. To be clear, these aren’t full-blown sirens at this point. Instead, stuff to keep tabs on for future reference. The Bears’ 63 penalties are the most in football, per the Football Database. This isn’t to say your team can’t be competitive solely because it is committing penalties. Playoff-caliber teams such as the Cardinals (62), Bills (59), Chiefs (56), and Buccaneers (54) are among the 10 most-penalized teams. In other words, it’s possible to overcome your team’s mistakes. But being at the top of this list is far from ideal.
• And what do the Cardinals, Bills, Chiefs, and Buccaneers have in common? Quarterbacks talented enough to play their way out from messes created by others. A high tide raises all ships, and that’s what a good quarterback does. They hide deficiencies elsewhere and get things back on the right track when derailed. Wouldn’t it be nice to have one of those?
• An old friend is thriving in a new scene:
Cornelius Lucas has played 74 pass blocking snaps. 0 hurries, 0 hits, 0 pressures, 0 sacks, 0 penalties. https://t.co/5OxCJmQ2pe
— Steve (@SteveNFL_) November 10, 2020
• Admittedly, it’s a small sample of snaps. But seeing that former Bears reserve tackle Cornelius Lucas has allowed no hurries, hits, pressures, or sacks in 74 pass-blocking snaps is eye-opening. And that he hasn’t committed a penalty in those snaps is also impressive. Moreover, it goes to show how good the depth was for Chicago’s offensive line last season. Losing Lucas didn’t sting so much when it happened. But not replacing the depth he provided was a mistake the Bears are paying for right now.
• The 2018 Bears had reserve offensive linemen Eric Kush, Bradley Sowell, and Bryan Witzmann who had ample league experience before the start of that season. Sowell started 23 of the 84 games he played from 2012-17. Kush made 18 appearances (including six starts) from 2013-16). Witzmann played 27 games with 13 starts in 2016-17. These were seasoned vets ready to step in at a moment’s notice. This year’s reserve corps doesn’t have what that group had, which goes a long way toward explaining what’s up with the backups.
• #FeedMingo:
https://twitter.com/thecheckdown/status/1325513152969072640
• Dropped passes were problematic last year. This year? Not so much:
NFL teams with the fewest drops per 100 pass attempts, by Fox Sports data:
Cardinals 2.867
Vikings 2.871
Bears 2.96
Raiders 3.10
Washington 3.19
Colts 3.21
Patriots 3.33
Jaguars 3.61
Chargers 3.65
Texans 3.68— Greg Auman (@gregauman) November 10, 2020
NFL teams with the fewest drops this year, per Fox Sports data:
Vikings 6
Cardinals, Raiders, Patriots 8
Colts, Washington 9
Texans 10
Ravens, Bears, Jaguars, Chargers, Dolphins, Titans 11— Greg Auman (@gregauman) November 10, 2020
https://twitter.com/PFF/status/1325951563588907013
• Watching Cam Newton play football is fun:
https://twitter.com/BN_Bears/status/1326005141854687232?s=20
• What in the world has happened to Carson Wentz?
In 2017, Carson Wentz looked like one of the best young quarterbacks in the league.
The Eagles have been chasing that version of Wentz ever since. So what happened?
A deep dive for @TheAthleticPHI. Free trial through link for new subscribers.https://t.co/6oAuCMd7Qt
— Sheil Kapadia (@SheilKapadia) November 10, 2020
• Star Wars toys and gear, cookware, bakeware, mini speakers, and more are your Deals of the Day at Amazon. #ad
• Here comes basketball:
2020-21 NBA Free Agency Will Begin In Just Ten Days!https://t.co/0GUin84CMB
— Bleacher Nation Bulls (@BN_Bulls) November 10, 2020
https://twitter.com/BN_Bulls/status/1326189913906286592
• The hiring of Tony La Russa takes another unfortunate turn for the White Sox:
REPORT: Tony La Russa Charged with His Second DUI the *DAY BEFORE* the White Sox Hired Him – https://t.co/R8QXT1g7ld pic.twitter.com/Qjd5ppgedk
— Bleacher Nation (@BleacherNation) November 10, 2020