My friend Jim’s cacio e pepe pasta recipe is one of the best things he has ever given me. And now, he is sharing the recipe with everyone. Now all of you (well, those of you who have at least a smidge of skill in the kitchen) get to be as lucky as me.
I haven’t been cooking much the last two weeks for obvious reasons. But I’ll admit I don’t love that I lean heavily on takeout during times of grief. And that feels like a good first step toward getting through to the other side. With that being said, maybe this is something I can cook up this weekend and get back into some good habits.
Nah, we don’t need to talk about the vomit-inducing kicking incident that happened four years ago today. Self-care is important. Go watch some Devin Hester highlights instead. After all, it is Friday. Enjoy it a little.
It can be hard to be fully focused on the future when the past weighs on you so heavily. But we have to keep on pushing. It is the only way to go. And with that being said, I thought this was a good thread from the Trib’s Dan Wiederer. Some highlights:
Bears coaches have plans to do a detailed study of all the reasons the passing game faltered this season and how it can expand in ‘23. Janocko: “We want to have a plan as an organization so we can put our best foot forward in making sure this kid is going where he needs to go.”— Dan Wiederer (@danwiederer) January 6, 2023
At the end of Season 2, Justin Fields has cleared countless hurdles – playmaking ability, off-script magic, aptitude, approach, confidence, infectious steadiness.
2023 now a test on applying enhanced knowledge/experience to high-speed, instinctive next-level QB play.— Dan Wiederer (@danwiederer) January 6, 2023
I love that the Bears are planning a “detailed study” examining what failed in the passing game in 2022 and how it can be better in 2023. Surely every team does this, but it lifts my spirits that the Bears are vocal about it. With that being said, I hope their research unearths things that worked in the passing game. To be fair, I don’t imagine that will be a lengthy strip of highlights. But there were some concepts that worked. And Fields made some throws that give you hope for the future. In the end, a thorough assessment of the offense is necessary this offseason.
Fun with sample sizes! Take Justin Fields’ stats in the 11 games from Week 4 to Week 16 and extrapolate them over a full 17-game season. I’ll save you the hassle of whipping out your calculator and give you the per-17 numbers here: 250/389 (64.3%), 2,890 passing yards, 22 TD (5.6 TD%), 9 INT (2.3 INT%), 95.2 passer rating. And, as you might expect, the rushing numbers are also eye-popping. Those per-17 game numbers: 190 carries, 1,416 rushing yards, and 11 TDs. If you told me Fields can put up a 30+ total TD season next year, then I’d tell you that I feel pretty darn good about that offensive future. Although, the fumbles (projected to come out to 19 per 17 games) are a concern. But we’ve got a long offseason ahead of us and we can sort through that whenever.
Keep in mind that Fields has already put it out there that he doesn’t plan on rushing for 1,000 yards every year. So maybe some of those rush yards turn into passing yards. Hopefully, Fields gets the type of firepower around him that can help him boost those passing numbers.
FWIW: Arizona Cardinals stud receiver DeAndre Hopkins might hit the market this offseason. And if he does, he is the type of receiver who could help raise the bar for Chicago’s passing game. All things considered, the Bears should kick the tires regarding his availability and the cost of doing business via trade. But the red flags (recent hamstring issues and an MCL tear in 2021, then a PED suspension in 2022) are quite bright. Josh Schrock (NBC Sports Chicago) explores Hopkins as the answer to this team’s WR1 need (but doesn’t seem convinced the fit is totally there).
Finding Fields in this picture of the Bears wishing Virginia McCaskey a happy 100th birthday is like playing Where’s Waldo? in 2023:
Dan Wetzel (Yahoo! Sports) reports the NCAA is about to hand down numerous allegations of violations against Michigan football, including one on Jim Harbaugh for failing to cooperate with investigators. Suddenly, Harbaugh’s openness to coaching in the NFL again makes a lot more sense.
ICYMI: A neutral-site AFC Championship Game is on the table if one of three specific scenarios plays out by the time that weekend rolls around. NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport adds via Twitter that an outdoor neutral site stadium “is definitely part of the discussion.” What do we need to do to get Soldier Field as a neutral-site host for an AFC Championship Game featuring Patrick Mahomes and Josh Allen?
A tip of the cap to the Bears for this:
Donations to Damar Hamlin’s Chasing M's Foundation Community Toy Drive are now over $7.5 million, including the recent $19,203 donation from the @ChicagoBears — 1920 being the year the Bears were founded and No. 3 being Hamlin’s number.https://t.co/NDMtrF5sP4— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 6, 2023
Admittedly, I’m hypersensitive to these kinds of stories right now. But I must say that seeing the continuous positive updates regarding Hamlin’s health and the outpouring of support sparks a feeling in me. I’m struggling to describe it. But it is like a reassurance that there can be justice in this universe.
Follow Bears GM Ryan Poles and Head Coach Matt Eberflus on their visit at Maryville Academy’s Children’s Health Center in Chicago:
I truly enjoy seeing the Bears reach out and give back to the community.
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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