Jerry Angelo Finally Brings Hope to Chicago Fans By Acquiring Jay Cutler

I got in the car on Thursday afternoon wondering if the sports radio would be talking about the Bulls’ playoff hopes, the Hawks’ recent stuttering, or opening day being around the corner.

I was not expecting to hear anything about Jerry Angelo.

I presumed he was still on vacation until September 1st, until football commanded his attention. The GM for the Bears was one of the most despised in the city, where falling on ill favor is not that easy. Fans, while loyal and passionate, are usually comfortable here. It is hard to find a terrible rant about a sports figure in Chicago. Jerry Angelo, however, was on the verge of finding Windy City protesters at his house.

The Bears’ 2008 season proved nothing, except that the Bears had a franchise that desperately needed help. Questions popped up everywhere and it seemed that we would have to wait for the draft to have any of those questions answered.

The I hear on 670 the Score immediately upon getting into my car, “The Sun-Times website is reporting that the Bears got Jay Cutler.” Terry Boers stays on the mic reporting the story, while Dan Bernstein clearly pushed the rolly chair back from the mic and said, “Good GOD!” You would think that a stripper walked into the studio with a huge cardboard check, with his name on it.

The news about Cutler coming to the Bears was shocking, an amazing franchise move, something warranting exaltations.

But I paused.

I paused because of my not-so-emotional connection to the Bears. I am a transplant, and while I love the team and the city, my mind immediately began to dissect the pick, the pros and cons. Here’s what I got:

PROS

1. Jerry Angelo is alive and cares about his job. In fact, he has an eye for football talent; in fact, he actually seems to understand the amazing loyalty of Chicago’s fans and will try to reward that by performing the duties of a competitive GM.

All kidding aside, this was huge for Angelo.

On ESPN radio The Afternoon Saloon declared April 2 “Jerry Angelo Day”. The GM has never been a fan favorite but won over hearts by making a decision that will help the franchise in the long term.

2. Jay Cutler. Dude is All-Pro. He’s up and coming at 25 and has proven his competitive edge in the AFC West with a team that struggled last year with injuries and a brutal defense. Finally a quarterback will actually hold the football for the Bears whose major value is not the jokes you can throw around about his neck beard or errant passes.

3. The fans get a shot of life at long last. Bears fans weren’t thrilled about the future of the franchise at the end of last season. The McCaskeys couldn’t hide behind the accidental NFC championship in 2005 and Brian Urlacher. Moves needed to be made, so they were.

CONS

1. When I think of Cutler, I think of the highlight reel of him hitting Brandon Stokely in the slot, Eddie Royal deep, and Brandon Marshall in the end zone. Then I thought about Rashied Davis tripping on poorly run routes, Devin Hester apologizing to Lovie on the sideline cause he can’t run anything but a streak, and Greg Olsen dropping balls.

Who the hell does Cutler throw the ball to?

Yes, Brandon Lloyd showed some talent last year and barring injury maybe he’ll do it again. Of course you hope that Hester and Olsen improve with a talented QB placing the ball or else they’re just more dead weight waving around their two handed “U” on MNF. I understand that things will have to build around him but with a great running game you hope that Cutler doesn’t waste that deadly arm on pitching the ball to Matt Forte 35 times a game.

2. The cost was monumental. It is a fact that the Bears have a terrible history with first round picks but you must understand the value of those picks for two years is humongous. You can kiss that chance at grabbing Jeremy Maclin or some other first round caliber receiver you desperately need (I won’t even consider Crabtree or Harvin, because that’s just unreasonable…)

Forget replacing the aging and injured line. Last year’s 1st rounder, the OT Chris Williams went down with a flimsy back before he even saw the inside of Soldier Field and now you got to look to the later rounds to find that kind of talent again. I’m sure it’s out there, but the Broncos certainly now have a monopoly on it.

3. The buildup could hurt. Let’s remember, Cutler had one All-Pro year. Yes, he is talented. Yes, he can play. Is he Jesus? Well, if you’re going on looks alone Kyle Orton was just as close to this team’s personal Jesus. The reality is, we know nothing yet and if it proves to be a whole lot of not-that-great then this city will have blue balls for the next decade.

4. IF JAY CUTLER IS INJURED OR HIS DIABETES ACTS UP, REX GROSSMAN IS REQUIRED TO PLAY QUARTERBACK, DUE TO THE LOSS OF KYLE ORTON. REXTASY REMAINS DANGEROUSLY CLOSE TO THE FOOTBALL, FOLKS.

Are we excited? Damn right we are.

Football season has new blood in this city. Enough blood that I might start inviting people over to watch the games again because it’s worth getting excited about. Unfortunately, Jay Cutler hasn’t even been fitted for his jersey, and has a lot riding on him.

It was a great day in Chicago. For a city that has never had a quality QB, at least not a consistent one, loyalty was rewarded and fans are thrilled. Well done, Mr. Angelo. Perhaps if the Bears go 11-5 this year and win the division with Cutler, April 2nd 2010 will be Jerry Angelo Day. We’ll have to wait and find out, though, and now fans are happy to wait.

College Basketball: Big East is too tough for Luke Harangody alone

All you could hear was Jay Bilas talking about how Notre Dame could come back, “Give it to Harangody…They have got to see Harangody down low…He has got to get to the line more.” He did that, but it did not solve the recent woes of a sliding Irish team. It has been clear in the last two games that Notre Dame, while hanging tough, may not be the contender in the Big East that everyone thought they were. It has a lot to do with Luke Harangody. Back up the truck, chief. Harangody is a beast, he’s a corn-fed monster with a stroke. I wonder aloud what he could do at offensive tackle. Speculation aside, his work is on the court and he can’t do it all for the Irish to win in the Big East, that is becoming crystal clear, with the Irish taking their 5th in conference loss on the chin Tuesday night from Marquette.

Harangody is a serious candidate for player of the year and has been averaging almost 25 points per game all season, with 13 rebounds dominating the glass for the Irish throughout their season. That’s not the problem, the problem is Luke cannot carry the team alone.

The Irish dropped to 12-7 Monday night with a second home loss to a tough, experienced Marquette team who is best in the Big East, undefeated in conference play. Tough game. So, was Saturday’s UConn game, too. No win with Gameday in house. It’s a tough conference, though, not just a tough game. They have racked up 5 in-conference losses, already, dropping games to Marquette, UConn, Syracuse, Louisville and St. John’s.

The Big East is the, top to bottom, most complete conference this year. It seems each team can be a contender but Notre Dame has begun to sink, slowly since a strong start. Harangody has been out of his mind, though, with 14 double-doubles and with last 9 games in a row. He is a dominant force in the Big East playing like Blake Griffin of Oklahoma but in the toughest conference in the country. There’s a problem, though, he’s it. He is it for the Irish. Yes, other players like Kyle McAlarney and Tory Jackson have done some great work on the court, but neither can remain consistent and when one, or both of those players fall off, the Irish stall and cannot produce effective offense, enough, to win games.

Against Marquette, Monday, Harangody put up 29 points and pulled down an amazing 17 rebounds. He took over the paint at moments, putting the Irish in the driver’s seat and within striking range for a majority of the game. They lead by as much as 4 in the second half, and were playing in a Joyce Center that was about to lose it’s top for the 2^nd time in 3 days. Ultimately, though, they could not finish.

There are dozens of problems, questions and answers surrounding Notre Dame and their season right now. They must play better defense on penetration, they must execute their offense and stop resorting to the long ball and they certainly need someone else to step up and at least play in the same gym as Harangody. Tory Jackson and Luke Zeller have visited that gym, but never stayed. McAlarney plays there, and will. He’s definitely trying. He’s working his darndest to do his Reggie Miller impression, running off every screen he can find. But the news is out on him and so he hasn’t been able to back up the big fella. Buzz Williams rotated his defenders and kept a fresh set of legs on McAlarney’s jock all night, then the answer was easy. Do the best you can with Luke, don’t foul him too much, too early and get in foul trouble. Then, shut down the other 4 on the floor and take advantage of their spotty, slow defense on the offensive end. There’s no easy solution for Coach Mike Brey.

The Big East features some of the best guard play in the country and certainly some of the toughest defense. Marquette was the perfect example. With 3 seniors leading the #8 team in the country, Marquette saw 27 points from Jerel McNeal, 15 points from Dominic James and 16 points from Wesley Matthews. They created 17 rebounds, 2 steals, 2 blocks and 9 assists. They played a floor to floor game that with the help of Maurice Aker that put Kyle McAlarney on ice with 9 points in the full 40 minutes and let Luke have a day. Notre Dame could not find a winning answer, though. The only thing keeping them in the game was Big Luke, but he can’t win games alone.

It’s a big problem. A problem that has some wondering if they can salvage the rest of the year without seeing many more losses, that they can’t afford.

Buzz Williams notched one more strike for the Irish tonight. He did it with a team that fell in his lap, but he did it, and on the road. Marquette left Domers shaking their heads, wondering where days of old, and wins over Texas and Georgetown had gone for the Irish. Where the team had gone off to that was going to be a force in the Big East.

Luke will find help, the Irish will not die. I see some W’s coming soon against, perhaps, UCLA, Cincinnati and Providence, hopefully against South Florida, Rutgers and in a second chance against St. John’s. Those aren’t guaranteed, though, no game in the Big East is and Luke Harangody is feeling that hurt now for his low-luck Irish.

Minnesota Basketball: Tubby Smith has a whole team running towards tourney

Minnesota basketball is enjoying unseen success, since the addition of Tubby Smith. The team has exploded out of the gate to 11-0 and entered the nation’s top 20. They are sitting at 16-1, now, with their only loss coming to a seriously tough Michigan State team. They notched another gutsy win in Wisconsin last night, and I’m trying to find out what’s responsible for this team’s performance on the court, the inspiration seems to be on the bench, though.

Virtually identical, I couldn’t find any serious differences in numbers and percentages while I scoped the official Minnesota Wisconsin box score from last night. I read up on the game, watched the highlights and still couldn’t find a serious statistic or problem that would point to how Wisconsin fell to the Gophers at home, after taking an 11 point lead before the half. It had to exist in the intangibles, and it does.

Since he left Kentucky, the SEC has suffered, but the Big Ten has added one of college basketball’s best minds to match Tom Izzo. There’s a reason that he will be in the Hall of Fame one day. Tubby Smith knows how to create a team that wins. He has done that in Minnesota and we can look towards the Wisconsin game for why.

Every good coach has to “sell his system”, when the W’s come, the troops get on board. Tubby Smith has his entire team on board with his system. Not just his assistants, not just starters, not just the sixth man; I mean the whole team. That’s because everyone is involved.

Bo Ryan worked a rotation of primarily 7 players, maxing out starters with each one close to 40 minutes for the Badgers last night. While some of the best squads in the country are primarily looking at 7 player rotations – Duke, Wake Forest, Michigan State, UConn. The minutes lean heavily on 5 starters and two players coming off the bench, for the most part.

7 players came off the bench last night for Tubby Smith. That means 12 players got minutes in a hard fought, OT battle, in the heat of conference play. 9 players saw more than 15 minutes in the game. The whole team got a win. Not just 7 guys and there’s value in a having a long bench in college basketball and it extends beyond conventional sports thinking

Putting guys on the floor, and having a deep bench doesn’t just keep legs fresh and defense active, it creates intangibles. It creates a new definition for team game. Tubby Smith has 9 players averaging 15 minutes, more than 5 points and 2 rebounds. No those numbers aren’t staggering but at the minimum everyone is contributing, positively. To have accountability and 9 players that you can trust on the floor isn’t something every coach in the country has or wants to risk.

That’s a decision by the coach, to get every member of his squad on board, to get every man minutes, to create a culture of belief around your program. Taking risks on young players in college, at the peak of their development breeds confidence and hunger in a team and a locker room. When virtually every player on Minnesota’s team has contributed something to their start, players are all in. It shows, too. They’ve won 16 games and they are 4 wins away from the magic 20 and gaining that invitation to dance in March.

We all know that college basketball is an emotional game. One that champions a team game played with commitment, toughness, and a never-die attitude. The Gophers showed that last night overcoming a huge second half deficit. They showed swagger and depth on the road. They showed that their record is not a fluke, and that they have the moxie to challenge Tom Izzo’s team for the Big Ten title. (By the way, Feb. 4 is the date when the two see each other again in East Lansing.) All this, thanks to a new face on the sidelines. Tubby Smith has created a team in the Barn that is enjoying unseen success, and challenging the hockey team for headlines due to selling his brand of team basketball.

Far-fetched? Maybe, if you’re a numbers guy, or one that just believes in talent. Though, for those who have been part of a scrappy locker room, jumped around in warm-ups as part of confident bench, or get a little choked up during “Rudy”, it makes sense. When your coach calls your number more often than not, you’re that much more willing to fight for that team, that fight will win games in college basketball.

Big Ten Hoops Round-up: Hot Start for Gophers, Wolverines

Trying to stay on top of college basketball is a full time job, a full time job that people like Jay Bilas get paid for. I’m not Jay Bilas, but I’m going to try and break down the week in Midwestern college basketball.

There were some interesting headlines, but the ball being played here in the heartland isn’t getting the press that the ACC or Big East sees; yet it’s clear that there are some contenders this year, namely Michigan State and Minnesota. Michigan is back on the rise and we’ll see if Purdue can battle back from injury woes and early losses to pop out of a slump.

One of the teams that hasn’t been in the news for a number of seasons may soon have fans in Ann Arbor smiling about something. Michigan got three quality wins this week against Illinois, Indiana and Iowa. The Wolverines are 3-1 in the conference and are starting to show their depth and talent. An emotional win last Sunday against the Illini started the week, then an overtime victory over the Hoosiers, topping it off with a win against Iowa is making Big Ten coaches and fans take note. Remember, this team beat Duke early in December. If they can stay hot in conference play, the legacy of quality Michigan basketball might be alive and well again.

Across the state, the Spartans are putting Tom Izzo back on the minds of basketball fans. Izzo has always been among the nation’s elite but recently hasn’t gotten past the Sweet 16 since 2005. Izzo’s high intensity team got two wins this week, one over Ohio State and another out of conference at Kansas. This year’s team seems to be emerging as the favorite to win the Big Ten, with the cooling off of the Boilmakers.

Which brings me to Purdue.

The preseason predictions had these guys making serious waves, but they aren’t making the kind of headlines they want to. They already have two in-conference losses and dropped an away game against the unranked Nittany Lions early in the week. Without starters Robbie Hummell and Chris Kramer, the Boilmakers offense stalled in the first half and couldn’t crawl back. They bounced back to beat Wisconsin but have put themselves in an early hole.

In The Barn, though, the Gophers are making some serious noise. Minnesota has only one loss on the year, to Michigan State, their first in conference game. The Tubby Smith era has just begin but they have got to be happy with three conference wins already. They took care of the Buckeyes, squeaked out a comeback against Iowa, then went into Happy Valley and wiped the floor with Penn State. This team will challenge for the Big Ten title for sure; they are confident and have a coach in place who has proved that sometimes a change of scenery can be a good thing.

The rest of ‘em? Well, Illinois and Wisconsin are the ones to watch, but they have proved to be hot and cold. We can wait for the news on those.

I’m no Jay Bilas, but at least this way you know who won what.

2008 ACC-Big Ten Challenge Schedule and Preview

The ACC-Big Ten challenge is in its tenth year in 2008 and this year promises some key matchups; matchups that will likely separate the pre-season wannabees from the conference contenders. The schedule promises three days of action from the night of Monday the 1st to Wednesday the 3^rd.

The ACC has already boasted 4 teams in this week’s AP poll with UNC clearly at the top followed by Duke (7), Wake Forest (19) and Miami (22). After this weekend and Carolina’s impressive performance in the Maui Invitational, beating Notre Dame easily in the championship game, they will certainly remain atop the standings. Wake Forest may slide up the rankings as well after a quality win against Conference USA’s UTEP, keeping them undefeated in the out-of-conference portion of their schedule.

The Big Ten, on the other hand, suffered a few tough losses during the pre-season tournament schedule but grabbed some key wins. While Big-Ten front runner, Purdue, knocked off Boston College in the second round of the NIT invitational, they lost a hard fought battle against Oklahoma in the championship game. Michigan State reversed that trend losing to an ACC contender, Maryland, then knocking off Oklahoma State.

What do we learn from all this? There’s still a lot of basketball to be played until March. Teams looked hungry. Both the Big-Ten and ACC showed a quality field of contenders that will lead to some great conference play down the road.

We will certainly continue to learn about the these teams in the next three days, with the upcoming Big Ten/ACC challenge coming up. Here’s the schedule:

Monday, Dec. 1

Wisconsin at Virginia Tech

Both teams are expected to make a quality run this year. Wisconsin more than the Hokies. Look for Bo Ryan’s squad to play with pace and confidence, as they always do. VaTech has always run the court but they have already suffered two losses to Xavier and Seton Hall. The Hokies need the win, but I like the Badgers.

Tuesday, Dec. 2

Duke at Purdue

This is the marquee matchup, the ESPN commercial maker, the talk of the town. Purdue is clearly the best team in the Big Ten and Coach K always has his team in top form. Both teams are a benchmark for each conference. The winner here will determine the quality of ball being played within the conference this year.

Clemson at Illinois
- Not a headline matchup, but both of these teams will not be overlooked by anyone they see. Clemson is still seeing votes for the top 25 and sits at 7-0, they have been beating up on local neighbors like Charlotte and Savannah State, not too impressive but they haven’t slipped. Illinois has only played 4 games but beat Vanderbilt during that time and will certainly look to jump into the polls this winter.

Ohio State at Miami
- OSU made the NIT interesting last year but haven’t done anything this year. Their schedule will really jump into first gear in quality when they face the Canes (they see ND and Butler in the week after Miami). The Canes are expected to do big things this year with quality leadership from a roster loaded with Juniors and Seniors, they still have yet to prove themselves as a contender in the ACC.

Virginia at Minnesota
- Nothing terribly exciting here, but look for a quality matchup between two teams that could play spoiler in conference play.

Iowa at Boston College
- This game means a lot more for Boston College than it does for the Hawkeyes, the young Eagles is high on prospects but low on confidence. The team has one leading senior in Tyrese Rice, but has to balance their attack to contend this year. Iowa hasn’t seen a quality opponent except West Virginia, who they lost to. Hard fought battle for potential bubble teams.

Wednesday, Dec. 3

North Carolina vs. Michigan State (Ford Field, Detroit, Michigan)
- Another marquis matchup that will show the quality of each conference. Trouble is UNC will roll. Michigan State is a team that relies on momentum and feisty defense. UNC has their way with anyone, they will have their way with Izzo’s squad, unless they go real cold from the field.

Indiana at Wake Forest
- A rebuilding year in Indiana this year will be tough to swallow for Hoosier fans. The Demon Deacons, though, are looking at the potential of a powerful young roster. Look for Wake to start turning heads during this game.

Michigan at Maryland
- Maryland is a team that can always go either way. Gary Williams always seems to have his team in contention but never close to domination. Michigan hasn’t even made a news reel in recent memory but stole a win over UCLA early. As we speak, though, they are down by 20 at the half to Savannah State…?

Florida State at Northwestern
- I have a feeling we won’t see any serious news come from this game. The Noles were an athletic contender last year and are at 6-0 this year, we will see what they are made of in Saturday’s matchup against Cal. I have a hard time believing that the Wildcats will be able to keep up. Noles roll.

Penn State at Georgia Tech
- The Yellow Jackets have been squeaking out wins against some pretty weak opponents lately, Mercer took them into OT and they beat Jacksonville by 3. They are hanging by a thread but at least they have a thread. The Nittany Lions, however, have had some decent wins so far. I like the boys from Happy Valley.

The ACC has dominated the history of this inter-conference challenge. I don’t see much difference this year, at least amongst the Big Dogs. Duke and UNC should win, look for the shakeups and buzzer beaters to come from the middle of the pack games on Tuesday. The momentum is what’s key now, teams need to gather speed, confidence and poise early in the year before they go into conference play. Young ACC teams are looking for serious growth and Big-Ten bubble watchers would love a good win in November to strengthen their case in March.

Bears-Vikings Preview – Playoff Outlook Hazy for Chicago

So, I’ve been sleeping on this Bears’ team, I know.

Well, after the Packers game I had no words. JRod emailed me asking, “Dude, what happened out there?” All I could say was, “Finally, this team is playing like I expected them to.”

With that said, the NFC North is clearly still up for grabs. The Lions are terrible, the Vikings are okay, I guess, the Packers are not that good…well, they might be. No one knows. That means that the Bears control their own destiny at this point. We could sneak a division title if three things happen: beat the Vikings this weekend, beat the Pack at home and grab a win over Jacksonville. But then again, we could flop and play “like I expected them to.”

We need the three wins. To keep the Pack out of it we have to split the series. We can’t split with Minnesota and we have to have at least 9 wins to really sew this thing up.

Sure they could run the table and beat the Saints and the Texans, too. That might be nice but Drew Brees is superhuman and if Matt Schaub is healthy, then those games will be a wash, I can’t see a W in either. The three other Ws I want to see are a bit blurry, too, but not out of reach.

Let’s focus on this upcoming weekend, though. Really that’s the first step, “One game at a time” just like the press conference script says.

Minnesota got a huge win this weekend over Jacksonville, scoring 30 points. The running game had 2 touchdowns, the defense had one and picked up five turnovers. They are rolling, coming into a huge Sunday night game.The Bears’ come off a solid win where they played great “Bears” football – running the ball down people’s throats, getting into the backfield with the front four and creating opportunities on special teams, we didn’t show a juggernaut offense, though, over the sputtering Rams.

Last time, in order to beat them we had to score 48 points. If the Vikes give up some big plays and cough up the ball, then we’ll be fine. If not, I’ll start wondering how many yards Adrian Peterson could possibly get in just 3 quarters, I’ll set the over-under at 130. He has scored 7 touchdowns in 3 career games against the Bears.

We can’t stop him. He is literally a Viking. A bloodthirsty, charging, horned beast that stops at nothing, consuming men with reckless embarrassment left in his wake. I imagine he doesn’t wear fur or own a goblet but then again I could be wrong. Nelly does, people do.

Goblets and Nelly aside, stopping AP this weekend could be the determining factor in the Bears’ season. At Soldier Field in October AP had 122 yards, 2 TDs and went for over 5 each time he touched the ball. If the Bears can’t create those “wildcard” points, as I call them, through special teams, INTs and turnovers, the offense may not be able to match the running game in the Metrodome. (see note)

NOTE: The Metrodome is a damn deathtrap of a place, I’m beginning to think of the Sox trip to Minnesota at the end of the season this summer. One that seemed it would determine whether or not we would go to the playoffs. We got shelled. I don’t trust that building at all. Could be the same this weekend. We put our playoff fate in the hands of our team that we can’t always trust, against a divisional rival breathing down our neck, in a building that should be burnt down. It’s shaky at best.

Here’s the game plan. Stop the rush. Create third and long and get to Gus. He does not have the mobility that he needs if our front four show up. They have to own the line, bat down balls and create some mayhem, stopping rhythm. As for the offensive side of the ball. We have to convert third downs. Against the Rams, we went 4-12. 3-12 against the Pack, 3-14, against the Titans and 5-15 against the Lions. That’s terrible. You cannot expect to beat a running team if you give them ball back 75% of the time. Sunday night we need sustained drives, chewing some clock, keep the defense rested and we could scrape one out. Again, shaky at best.

Folks, I’m not gonna’ lie. This could be an awesome game or just terrible. The reality is that the NFC North is a mess and the Bears like it that way. It suits our terrible inconsistencies.

The only thing we know for sure about the NFC north is that no one wants to watch the Lions on Thanksgiving Day. Not even Lions’ fans. But that’s just science.

So, it’s one game at a time for Lovie and the boys. One game that starts on Sunday night at 7.

Notre Dame vs. Boston College: The Holy War means a little something this year

Well it isn’t going to be happening in the Midwest and it isn’t exactly the biggest game that Gameday will be covering. Let’s say this, though: when you turn on ESPN this Saturday and you see the battle of the Golden Domes, BlarneyFest, the Holy War going down in Alumni Stadium you will witness one of the most heated rivalries in college football.

I’m talking about the Boston College/Notre Dame game.

This year the 5-3 teams face off for the 18^th time since 1975. Irish Catholics from Chicago to Boston will be drinking heavily, and pleading with their teams to rise out of bitter mediocrity to walk away saying, “If the rest of the season fails, at least we beat them.”

I’ll give you some history. You may be wondering, “Kaner, Chicago based? You must be an ND fan.” Bull. I would have already made some pretentious comment about how Jimmy Clasuen is the truth, our “storied history” or how everything is Ty Willingham’s fault. I am a Boston College Eagle to the core.

… Continue Reading

Bears Defense Must Step Up While Rex Grossman Fills in For Injured Kyle Orton

“And the Lions have scored on 3 straight possessions!”

Dan Orlovsky has never looked better than he did in the first half. He skipped into the end zone, chasing Shaun McDonald after his second touchdown in the second quarter. Coming off the bye, Bears’ fans wondered, how bad can we beat the Lions this week? How good will Kyle Orton look?

Well, that’s all for naught when your secondary starts out by making a winless NFL quarterback look like he’s Graham Harrell!

Of course, we got the win and that’s the important part. Like I’ve said before, this is a results league and that’s what matters. No one will remember that the defense gave up 20 unanswered points, except every team that watches the game tape and realizes how they can pick apart the Bears.

Dan Orlovsky threw for 292 yards, and while we did steal two picks from him, it seems that the only thing that can beat a quarterback facing the Bears is himself. The defense, the schemes, and the strange breed that is this inconsistent 5-3 team had fans on the edge of their seat against the worst team in football. The Bears made the Lions look like a team that really had a chance in this league. I look straight at the defensive side of the ball for that because how can you look disparagingly at an offense that runs for 126 yards and only turns the ball over once on a tipped pass? They did their job.

What isn’t doing the job well enough to keep the acid reflux or opposing slot receivers at bay is the Bears’ secondary.

… Continue Reading

Fantasy Football Week 9 Wide Receiver Tips and Advice

This week in fantasy football the wide world of receivers has blown right open. With guys coming back from injuries, rising stars, and offenses on the move, there are some important news and notes to consider before Sunday morning.

Controversy in the Desert

The Cardinals have some incredible talent in the desert. Kurt Warner prayed that his team wouldn’t suck after he got Anquan Boldin rocked by the Jets and his prayers were answered by Steve Breaston. Breaston proved to fill the spot well and has averaged 98 YPG since week 4. Everyone saw his value hitting the floor, though, when Anquan Boldin bounced back. It didn’t. This week against the Panthers he had 91 yards and made it clear that he was still considered a key part of the offense. Not to mention, sticky contract negotiations with Boldin have Steve Breaston in the front office looking to ink a deal with the Cards.

Even with Anquan Boldin back, look for his value to even out slightly, and Steve Breaston’s to stay consistent. Remember the Cardinals throw the ball 60% of the time and Breaston is a primary kick returner, too. (Even with that, Tim Hightower has been the touchdown hawk for the Cards, so don’t count on blowup numbers for Breaston.)

There are some other key dudes back from injury that will change value around the league:

… Continue Reading

Chicago Bears Beat Minnesota Vikings 48-41 | Defensive Issues Remain for Lovie Smith

It was a win, but I would feel comfortable saying that it was not good win. There were certainly bright spots for the Bears this afternoon in Soldier Field, special teams, turnovers and offense all generated scoring chances and points. The defense did, also, finish the game. Things that were off beat and players needed to step up for the Bears to have the complete game they were looking for after a disappointing loss to the Falcons last week, and they did. Orton had a breakout game, the special teams scored twice and there were 4 interceptions.

“Kaner, with all the positives, what’s the problem?” 41 is the number that’s a problem. How do you let a team who turns the ball over 6 times still score 41 points? The Bears got a W and that was on account of a great team effort, the defense however did not impress consistently. To give up 7 scoring drives and 439 yards of total offense, you should lose that football game. But the Vikings beat them to the punch making mistake after mistake.

… Continue Reading

Chicago Blackhawks: Fire Head Coach Denis Savard, Name Joel Quennevelle New Coach

Denis Savard was just officially fired as the Chicago Blackhawks head coach. After only four games, the organization handed down the decision earlier today and officially announced the decision this afternoon. They cited a desire to develop young players and create a consistent system of development and improvement. General manager Dale Tallon stated during the press conference that the decision was not soley based on the opening weeks of the season but from a series of evaluations from the beginning of training camp.

They have named former Colorado Avalanche coach Joel Quennvelle as the Hawks new coach. Quennvelle was brought on as a scout and consultant three weeks earlier by the organization. “I’m extremely excited to start working with our group…it was different watching from a far and the appetite is already with me…It’s all about winning, that’s what I’m ready to do”

… Continue Reading

Ohio State – Michigan State Preview | Big Matchup in the Big Ten

Jim Tressel and Mark Dantonio both admitted outright this week that they don’t look forward to playing each other this weekend in East Lansing. The two worked together most recently in 2002 for OSU’s championship run but had been together for years before that. It’s not bad blood, it’s just close, too close for anyone to be comfortable. While impartial fans look forward to the game, the reality is this week could be a watershed for either team. Both squads sit at 6-1. The Spartans could continue to prove that the coaching change is the best news around, and leading an improved running game and defense will put Michigan State in the mix for a New Year’s Day bid. Trouble is, they haven’t had any big wins, the Northwestern win was solid, but any Big Ten contender should win that game. Their stock will continue to rise if they can beat the Bucks at home. The Ohio State University, however, is coming off a very shaky win against Purdue, and Buckeyes fans seem like they are waiting for this team to fall, but would rather see it happen against Penn State.

… Continue Reading

Bears’ Wrapup: Late letdown in last second loss to Falcons

Bears’ fans are livid today. How the heck do you drop a game to the Falcons in the last 11 seconds? Listening to fan reactions all day long on the radio, people point directly at the defense and special teams. The glue that made this team respectable last year, the leaders of the 05 Super Bowl run has fallen asleep on the job against 3 NFC South opponents this year. The Bears’ defense has given up game winning performances to Jake Delhomme, Brian Griese and Matt Ryan. While the Panthers, Bucs and Falcons have been impressive in some wins, none of them seem to be NFC Super Bowl contenders. Until they play the Bears, and the defense gives up late, heroic drives that are suitable for NFL films. Well, it’s not just the defense and special teams making these highlight reels, I say it starts at the top.
… Continue Reading

Big Ten’s Big Matchup: Michigan State at Northwestern

There’s a big one happening north of the Windy City this weekend when the Spartans make the trek to Evanston to match up with the unbeaten Northwestern Wildcats. I’ve been patrolling the message boards, blogs etc. the tension is high. Big-Ten fans seem split, MSU fans contest, “Don’t be fooled, this isn’t a game” with an air of confidence that seems to say, “I’m a little nervous but I got a chip on my shoulder to hold off the cats”. Outsiders see it differently, people want to see David slay Goliath (MSU isn’t really Goliath this year but they are the toughest opponent the Cats have seen to this point) claiming that NW will slow down the Spartans and have an upset on their hands.

Being the ACC man that I am, I ensure that I will maintain a fair and balanced approach to the game (because I don’t believe in the Big-Ten that much. We will discuss that come bowl season.)

… Continue Reading

MLB Playoffs: Rays Beat White Sox and I Have to Come Clean

I guess I may as well come out and say it. I don’t want to sound like a traitor but I have to be honest here. I grew up in the Trop. I own a Rays hat, a Carl Crawford jersey and my family was at game 2. Now that the Sox have been eliminated I feel like I had to come clean. This, was a tough series to watch. Having not lived in Southwest Florida for almost six years now, my frequency at the Trop fell. I wasn’t getting Bucs coverage and my relationship faded. I moved here to S. 45^th St. and Wells two years ago and as I have mentioned listened to raining fireworks for two summers and grew fond of the Sox.

… Continue Reading