NEWSLETTER
I’m struggling to get into the swing of things in terms of watching postseason baseball. There’s just nothing here for me. Maybe another Wild-Card game could push some buttons.
• Bullets are coming in late and hot, in part, because I had nightmares about trying to pick one in this poll:
Who is better at their job?
YOU MUST PICK ONE!!!
— Silvy (@WaddleandSilvy) October 5, 2021
• Thanks, Silvy. 😏
• This is probably a dead heat, right? Matt Nagy was the NFL’s Coach of the Year in 2018, while Ryan Pace earned the highest honor on the executive side (as voted on by his peers) for building that squad. Both have big red flags that you can see clearly from the highest corners of the Soldier Field stands. But both aren’t without things they have done well throughout the duration of their stay in Chicago. But if Pace wants to pull ahead, I have an idea of how he could do it soon.
• In the meantime, Nagy can boost his stock by continuing to not call plays. Odd as that may seem for an offensive-leaning head coach to not be the lead play-caller, we’re gaining more data points suggesting that Nagy’s scheme could work if given an opportunity for someone else to call plays. This is starting to become more evident, because it isn’t as if we’re short on film that shows plays working. But there is a significant difference between being aa play-caller and a play collector. Perhaps the best mode of operation moving forward is to continue collaborating in building a game plan, then letting Lazor execute it. The differences between a Nagy-called game and one featuring Lazor’s calls are eye-opening.
• It will certainly help matters if this fella is pulling the trigger as QB1:
@ChicagoBears @justnfields makes me wanna sing and dance up and down Michigan Ave. It’s more than a sample. It’s more than an appetizer It’s a new beginning in the Windy City. I will never stop believing in what Fields #1 can do. Never! #BaldysBreakdowns pic.twitter.com/VWI6rXrN6F
— Brian Baldinger (@BaldyNFL) October 6, 2021
• Allen Robinson II continues to be a commendable leader through a tough period:
I say "right" like that because it's subjective. I don't consider it "wrong" if a player demands a trade, holds out, speaks up, etc. Those are all reasonable avenues for them to get what they want and perfectly acceptable approaches. Robinson's been very loyal to the Bears.
— Jason Lieser (@JasonLieser) October 5, 2021
• It was nice to see A-Rob fully engaged on Sunday. I imagine having Fields throwing it to him helped a bit. Seeing QB1 wearing No. 1 gets everyone a bit more fired up these days, doesn’t it? For what it’s worth, Robinson has been a bit of a slow starter the last two seasons. But much like a baseball slugger you can count on for 30 dingers and 100 ribbies when the season is hall said and done, I think we’ll see Robinson end with numbers we were expecting to start the year. Especially if history repeats itself and Robinson shakes off a slow start and shines moving forward.
• Remember the last time Robinson saw the Raiders defense?
Allen Robinson with his first TD of the year!
Here come the Bears!! #CHIvsOAK pic.twitter.com/yktDfGPCzP
— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) October 6, 2019
Quite the turn of events!
21-17, BEARSSSS.@AllenRobinson | #CHIvsOAK pic.twitter.com/Kgo2IK2PTw
— Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) October 6, 2019
• I don’t know anything about conversion rates right now. But 6 points across the pond is still worth 6 points in Vegas. And with the Raiders’ banged-up secondary, we could be in line for another Robinson breakout similar to the 7-97-2 line he put up in 2019.
• This *IS* a fun fact:
Fun fact: When the #Bears play the #Raiders in Vegas, it will mark the fourth different host city in the last four meetings. They met in London in 2019, Chicago in 2015 and Oakland in 2011.
— Patrick Finley (@patrickfinley) October 6, 2021
• Alex Shapiro (NBC Sports Chicago) explains why the Bears are unlikely to sign Stephon Gilmore. It was only a matter of time until cap mismanagement would cost the team an opportunity to realistically address an in-season hole. Grumble.
• This makes me wonder about Akiem Hicks’ availability this week:
#Bears brought in DE Austin Larkin for a tryout.
— Brad Biggs (@BradBiggs) October 5, 2021
• Remember, Hicks left the Bears’ Week 4 win against the Lions after one defensive snap. Chicago listed it as a groin issue. And while he was initially ruled as questionable to return, Hicks never re-entered the game. For what it’s worth, this team has depth along the defensive side of the line. Angelo Blackson and Khyiris Tonga are available. Or perhaps the Bears could do some different things with their fronts and get Trevis Gipson some more work. But still … being without Hicks would STINK.
• A pair of former Bears kickers were in the news on Tuesday afternoon:
The #Saints have agreed to terms with FA K Cody Parkey, source said. A new kicker in New Orleans.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) October 5, 2021
The #49ers are placing K Robbie Gould on Injured Reserve with a groin injury, source said. The team is signing Joey Slye to kick this week, per @TomPelissero.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) October 5, 2021
• The only thing this duo couldn’t do was get Sweetness aa Super Bowl TD:
Crockett and Tubbs have nothing on McMahon and Payton … pic.twitter.com/1koYV9UCjO
— Super 70s Sports (@Super70sSports) October 5, 2021
• The Bulls are BACK:
THE HYPE IS REAL. The Bulls turned their first preseason game into a dunkfest: https://t.co/xj2S7VgrbQ
— Bleacher Nation Bulls (@BN_Bulls) October 6, 2021
• Some old friends were up to no good, bashing baseballs deep into the Boston night:
Now Anthony Rizzo Joins the Bittersweet Homer Symphony – https://t.co/YeKheSpIR5 pic.twitter.com/dYeHAuhQnD
— Bleacher Nation (@BleacherNation) October 6, 2021
Kyle Schwarber Just Hit a Massive Homer Off of Gerrit Cole in a Wild Card Game Because It Is the Natural Order of Things – https://t.co/ykjcHVuJCN pic.twitter.com/WtfH0wmHSZ
— Bleacher Nation (@BleacherNation) October 6, 2021
• Well, that stinks:
Wyatt Kalynuk Will Miss 2-4 Weeks with Ankle Sprain https://t.co/jeDGXIy915
— Bleacher Nation Blackhawks (@BN_Blackhawks) October 6, 2021
