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The Chicago Bears Roster: The Bears’ Biggest Needs

January 29th, 2017

Bryan Dietzler

Posted in Bear Insight, BuzzHype, Draft, Inside The Bears, Main, Notes & Observations, Opinions, Roster

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By Bryan Dietzler

The 2016 season has just about come to an end and the Bears are on the hunt for some talent. They have a lot of needs in several areas and they will have the money and the draft picks to try to fill them. Another thing that will factor in is injuries. The injury bug hit the Bears hard and those players that status of those players heading into the 2017 season will be key. Will they be fully healthy or will the Bears have to find long term replacements?

General Manager Ryan Pace will have his work cut out for him this off-season trying to fill all the Bears holes. What are the Bears missing? What positions are the neediest as they head into this coming off-season?

This writer has identified top five areas of need for the Bears heading into free agency and the 2017 NFL Draft period. These are needs that the Bears should fill and would help them win more games next season. Let’s look at the what and the why of these needs and see what the Bears can do to take care of them before training camp this summer.

Quarterback-Some may consider this to the Bears’ number one need heading into the off-season. There, there are a lot of choices and a lot of options here and the Bears should be able to solidify this spot. With Jay Cutler, still under contract and several other players still on the team up to free agency, the Bears could go a few different ways. The scenarios will be discussed in a future article but for now, it’s clear. The Bears desperately need help at quarterback.

A likely scenario is that the Bears could find a “bridge” quarterback in free agency or by trade and then draft a future starter. They could also rely on one of the guys they have on the roster right now to get them through until a draft pick is ready. Whatever they decide to do, Chicago needs to figure this position out this off-season or the current coaching staff and general manager may not be around to figure it out next year.

Safety-The safety position has been a contentious one for several seasons and it’s time the Bears address it. Unlike other years, there is some strong safety talent at the top of the draft so drafting a safety early might be a good option. There is also a guy named Eric Berry who should end up being a free agent this year (if the Chief’s don’t re-sign him). If the Bears could get him, he could instantly and effectively upgrade their secondary.

This position must be addressed this off-season. The Bears have struggled so much there and the weakness at safety has cost them games. This is the year to pull the trigger and get a quality starter at one of the two safety positions. Perhaps they could get help at both. If they can’t get this figured out this off-season, they will struggle there again for a long time.

Tight End-Zach Miller, when he plays, is an adequate starter but he is not a dynamic one. His health is also a concern. After him, the Bears have no one who can be a solid starter (blocker and receiver) at tight end. They could try to find a free agent or make a trade butthere are some decent tight ends coming out in the draft. Spending a third or a fourth-round pick on someone could net them a future starter. But it would take time for them to develop.

The Bears had thought they had solidified the position with Martellus Bennett but they had to separate themselves from him. Now, they need someone who can become the type of player Bennett was without the drama. That player can be found in the draft. We will profile some great, mid-round tight ends, later.

Cornerback-With Kyle Fuller never a sure thing and Tracy Porter regressing, the Bears need to shore up at least one, if not both, of their cornerback spots. As with the other positions, free agency may be one place to look for a starter. However, the draft will allow them to develop long term depth. The Bears secondary gave up a lot of critical plays in 2016 so getting help is a must.

Keeping Porter one more season and drafting a young corner could be the Bears’ best bet here. Like safety, the cornerback spots were another problem area for the Bears in 2016. They must get those fixed ASAP.

Offensive Tackle (left tackle)-Charles Leno Jr. was a serviceable left tackle last season but the Bears need something more. Also, if Leno was to get hurt, the team would be in serious trouble. They could try to look for some help there in the draft and pick up someone a little later . But, that is not where you find your strong starting left tackles.

Free agency is another option here. But, perhaps the best choice is for the Bears to draft a left tackle to compete with Leno Jr. Then this draftee could either push him or take over his starting job. But maybe only great, quality left tackles can be found in the first or second round? Would the Bears go for one there?

Judging by this list, it can be seen that the Bears cannot find all the help they need in the first three rounds of the draft. Why? Because most of your immediate starters are found in those rounds. The Bears have more needs for starters than they do draft picks in the first three rounds. That’s why they need to find help using a balance of free agency and the draft. If they can do this successfully they will take care of most of their needs.

In future articles, we will look at how the Bears can fill these positions through free agency and the draft. What players will be available and which will be the best fit? Those questions and more will be answered soon.

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Chicago Bears Draft Needs: The Quarterback Position

January 22nd, 2017

Bryan Dietzler

Posted in Bear Insight, Draft, Inside The Bears, Main, Notes & Observations, Off Season Moves, Opinions, Roster

By Bryan Dietzler

If you have been keeping track of what has been happening on social media or message boards, Chicago Bears fans have been saying that the team’s biggest need is at quarterback. That is a given. The Bears have struggled at the positon for so long it’s hard for fans to remember when they had a true winning quarterback. Can Bears’ fans even say they have seen a winning franchise quarterback in recent memory? Not really.

When Jay Cutler came to the Bears in 2009 he was thought to be the “chose one”. The organization and the fans thought that he would save the team and get the them to the Super Bowl. He had his ups and downs (mostly downs) during his career in Chicago. Some of it can be blamed on Cutler himself while there were problems that were not his fault.

Some of the things that were out of his control included coaching changes, specifically with the offensive coordinators. He didn’t have much consistency as he was constantly learning a new offense. His offensive lines have traditionally been very weak and have underperformed. The blame cannot rest entirely on him.

But he has traditionally had poor decision making skills, injury concerns (granted he can’t control those) and has not been the ideal teammate in some people’s eyes. The promise of taking the Bears to the Super Bowl has never panned out and some feel they have wasted time with him.

The time for the Bears to part ways with Cutler is now. And now is the time to find his replacement.

Let’s assume that Chicago does not get their “franchise” quarterback through free agency or from a trade. Maybe they will get a bridge quarterback but still need to draft a “long term solution” at quarterback this year. Who might they draft? Which quarterbacks could be the best available.

For this article, we are going to have the assumption that the Bears could take a quarterback in the first, second or third round of the 2017 NFL Draft. We will look at the top prospects, per round, that could interest the Bears.

Round One

The Bears could choose to move down in the first round and collect additional picks on their way down. If they do that, that could throw everything off but for now, let’s assume they stay at number three.

Taking a quarterback that early is a huge risk. It can either make your team a success (Andrew Luck is a good example) or a failure (see Jamarcus Russell). You must tread lightly here.

Should Chicago decide to roll the dice on a quarterback in the first round, here are the three they should consider (in no particular order):

DeShaun Watson-Clemson-There are some that consider Watson to be the number one quarterback in the 2017 NFL Draft. He’s got a ton of talent and a lot of skill but there are still some questions surrounding his ability to become an NFL starter. The Bears will look at him, however, because he could help right the ship and become their new starting franchise quarterback. He’s got the talent to that and that can’t be denied.

I bet if you took a poll of Bear’s fans, most them would probably agree that the Bears should choose Watson. It might be the right choice but the Bears need to weigh their options carefully.

DeShone Kizer-Notre Dame-Kizer comes from a program that did not win a lot of games but scouts love him more for his ability than ability to win. Kizer must prove that he is as talent as they think he is but he may be able to rise above the other quarterbacks in the draft. Depending on who you are reading, he is either a high first to high second round pick. We will see how the pre-draft workouts go.

Mitch Trubisky-University of North Carolina-There are some that think that Trubisky is the best quarterback in the draft. The reality about him is that he has the least starting experience of most of the guys in the draft and that can scare some teams. The Bears will surely take that into consideration when looking at him and may choose another quarterback due to his lack of starts. But he has a lot of talent and if a team wants to develop him further (take the time to) they could have a good long term option.

He may be the best “long term” option of all the quarterbacks in the first round.

We won’t pick which one the Bears should take just yet. But if they go for a first round quarterback, it should be one of the three previously mentioned. That is, unless someone sneaks into the top of the first round which could easily happen.

Second Round

The second round of the 2017 NFL Draft has limited talent at the quarterback position as it grades out right now. There are some that believe that Kizer could fall into the early second and perhaps the Bears could grab him there. But if he goes before that, they may not have much to choose from in the second round.

Who is the lone player that is rated a second pick right now?

Brad Kaaya-Miami (Fla)-If you have followed Kaaya’s career, you will see that he is a consistent playmaker who understands the game. He is smart and makes good decisions throwing the ball. He did come out a year early but even though he is a junior, he plays like he more experienced. Some seem to think he could be a sleeper in this year’s draft. He is this writer’s favorite pick, at quarterback, for the Bears right now.

Kaaya may not be able to start right away so the Bears will want to get a bridge quarterback in free agency or among the guys they have on the roster. They could let him sit for a year, learn then step in and be their quarterback of the future. But that’s if they pick him.

Round Three

There are a couple of quarterback prospects that are rated as third rounders at this time. This will change as workouts and the combine showcase more of these player’s talents. These quarterbacks would likely not be starters in their first season in the NFL. They would have to learn behind an experienced veteran quarterback. They are:

Nathan Peterman-Pittsburgh-Peterman was quietly one of the better quarterbacks in college. He is also a popular sleeping pick with some experts. With some experience, he could end up being a decent starter but he’s not ready to start right away. Peterman did have a winning record in school but he wasn’t “NFL consistent”. Hopefully he can learn consistency and build himself into a franchise quarterback NFL. He can put up good numbers, he’s intelligent and he could be a solid starting quarterback at some point.

Patrick Mahomes-Texas Tech-Mahomes comes into the 2017 as a junior and may move his draft stock forward as time goes on. Some say he could be a good fit for the Bears if they decide to skip taking a first round quarterback. Why is that? Mahomes has been tabbed as being a future franchise quarterback. He has the physical tools, the intelligence and the skill to become a solid starter in the NFL someday.

There are those that believe that he could be the best future franchise quarterback in the draft. They also say he would not be an immediate starter. Could this be the guy the bears need the to take? Could he be the long-term answer in Chicago?

The Bears could dig deeper but the talent they seek is not there in later rounds. It has been said that this is not a strong quarterback class so if the Bears are going to do something, they need to do it at the top of the draft.

Which of these quarterbacks should the Bears take? Should they even take a quarterback? What are your thoughts?

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Mid-January Chicago Bears Mock Draft

January 19th, 2017

Bryan Dietzler

Posted in Bear Insight, Bear Necessities, Bears Banter, Features, Inside The Bears, Main, Notes & Observations, Off Season Moves, Opinions, Roster

By Bryan Dietzler

Several NFL Draft prognosticators have already started putting out their seven round mock drafts for each NFL team. There have been a few put out for the Bears already and, of course, every one of them is different. No one has a consensus as to who the Bears would pick with all their draft picks in the 2017 NFL Draft and right now it’s purely speculation. But it’s a lot of fun isn’t it?

This writer decided to throw his hat in the ring and do a seven round mock draft based on the Bears’ current pick set.

In the 2107 NFL Draft, the Bears have seven picks. They include one first round pick, a second round pick, a third round pick, two fourth round picks, a fifth round selection and a seventh round pick.

Note: The order in which the Bears pick, beyond the first round, has not yet been determined. We will not have the pick number for this mock draft.

Round One

The Bears have the third round pick in the first round of the 2017 NFL Draft. So they have their pick of just about any player in that round. The two teams ahead of them, Cleveland and San Francisco could put a wrench in their plans though and it could be competitive at the top of the that round.

There are several people who think the Bears should take a quarterback and if the right guy is there, they just might do that. But taking a quarterback in the first round is a gamble and the Bears are not a gambling team.

I think the Bears will not look at a quarterback in the first round and try to go with the best player available. But who could be the best player available?

You can expect the Cleveland Browns to take the best player available regardless of position while the 49ers may take the best quarterback available. The best quarterback available right now is (if you read what the experts say) is DeShaun Watson. Mitch Trubisky is also creeping his way in as a top quarterback. The best player available could be Texas A & M defensive end Myles Garrett. He might end up with the Browns.

The Bears could really use a safety and if one of the top three are available and are worth it, they should take one. Right now, Michigan’s Jabrill Peppers, LSU’s Jamal Adams or Ohio State’s Malik Hooker grade out as first rounders so the Bears might want to take one of them. For the value and if he’s worth it, Malik Hooker may be the guy the Bears want to go with.

First Round Selection-FS Malik Hooker-Ohio State

Second Round

The Bears could go for a quarterback in this round. It would be safer to get one there and they could find a developmental player or a starter. They will be picking pretty low in the round (they should be picking third in the second round) so the possibility of finding a good quarterback there is strong.

Some of the quarterbacks that are rated as second round prospects, right now, include Miami Hurricane quarterback Brad Kaaya and Texas Tech’s Patrick Mahomes. Both are juniors who declared early and both have a lot of talent.

If you had to choose between the two, Kaaya might be the best bet. He’s got a better skill set and has looked better in preliminary tape sessions. He might also take to offensive coordinator Dowell Loggains teaching a little better. Things will change a lot before the draft but for now, Kaaya could be a great possibility in the second round.

Second Round Selection-QB-Brad Kaaya-Miami

Third Round

The Bears could use some help at the cornerback position and the third round might be a good place to get that help. This could be the round they find a starter in either in 2017 or in the near future. There is some nice talent available at the cornerback position in the third round so the Bears will have plenty to choose from.

Some of the better talent available at cornerback in the third round include Colorado’s Chidobe Awuzie, Houston’s Howard Wilson and Washington’s Kevin King. Wilson has the least experience of them all but is an interesting prospect. King seems to be the better of the three and might be the most pro-ready of them all.

If King is there, the Bears might want to grab him. He just might be able to start in 2017 or in 2018 making him a wise investment.

Third Round-Kevin King-CB-Washington

Fourth Round

The Bears have two fourth round picks so they have some options in that round. By this point they have taken care of the quarterback positon, safety position and cornerback position they can start striking out for some depth.

Perhaps the first area of need the Bears could address is at outside linebacker. They have Leonard Floyd,when he is healthy. But Pernell McPhee has missed a lot of time due to injury. Some depth to help the starters (giving them some time to rest) would be good.

Three of the best outside linebackers who are currently rated as fourth round prospects include Illinois Carroll Phillips, Louisville’s Devonte Fields and Wisconsin’s Vince Biegel. After a quick glance at these guys, it would appear as if Biegel might be the better fit. He has speed and can get to the quarterback. In the Bears’ scheme, that’s what the outside guys need to do.

Fourth Round #1-Vince Biegel-OLB-Wisconsin

The Bears have some decent talent along the offensive line and the depth there is nice. But one position they could use some depth in is at the left tackle position. What they do need is some help for Charles Leno Jr., who did start in and play in every game last season but is not a “franchise” left tackle. While the Bears may not be able to find a starter in the fourth round, they could find someone to push Leno and provide more competition.

The fourth round of the 2017 NFL Draft has good talent at the tackle position. Some of the top fourth round offensive tackles include Arkansas Dan Skipper, Michigan’s Erick Magnuson, Bucknell’s Julie’n Davenport and USC’s Chad Wheeler.

Wheeler has received some attention while at USC and may move up in the draft due to his talent. If he was to make it to where the Bears pick, they should get him. He might just end up as a starter with some experience. He might be a steal.

Fourth Round #2-Chad Wheeler-OT-USC

Fifth Round

Chicago’s next pick is in the fifth round and this might be the point they look at getting some wide receiver depth. The Bears may be letting some of their receivers go this off-season and may need some help. A fifth-round pick can take a while to develop into a starter but the Bears might find a gem in the fifth round.

What the Bears should do at the receiver position is very contentious. If they let Alshon Jeffery leave, they will need more help than they already do. If they keep him, and allow some of their third stringers to walk, they will need some depth. Because it’s the fifth round, let’s assume the Bears are looking for depth at receiver.

It’s early but there are about five prospects that could be available for the Bears in the fifth round. They include Darreus Rodgers of USC, Josh Malone of Tennessee, KD Cannon of Baylor, Kenny Galloway out of Northern Illinois and Ryan Switzer out of North Carolina.

These guys are talented but none of them will ever be a number one wide receiver. Having come from such a potent passing offense as the one they had at North Carolina, Switzer may be the guy the Bears want to look at. But, he does lack the ideal height (he is 5-10) for a wide receiver. He could be one of those quick, smaller slot guys that can help move the ball on those critical third downs.

Maybe the Bears could try to get Switzer. He could be an Eddie Royal type of receiver hopefully without the crippling injuries.

Fifth Round-Ryan Switzer-WR-North Carolina

Seventh Round

The Bear’s final pick in the 2017 NFL draft is in the draft’s final round. Another need they have, (which might be addressed earlier in the draft) is at tight end. For a seventh round pick they could only get a backup or a practice squad player. They do need much more than that however.

Tight end talent in the seventh round is okay but none of the guys look like they could be long term NFL starters. The Bears might want to bring in one of these guys for competition and depth.

The top five tight ends in the seventh round are Pittsburgh’s Scott Orndoff, Oregon’s Pharoah Brown, Michigan State’s Josiah Price, Nebraska’s Cethan Carter and Washington’s Darrell Daniels.

If the Bears are looking for a good blocker and receiver then they may want to look Brown. He’s got great size (6-5), can catch the ball and can even block.

Seventh Round-Pharaoh Brown-TE-Oregon

This is the first mock draft. There will be more chances to perfect it and get it more in line with what might happen. It’s still early.

Let me know what you think and who the Bears should pick in this year’s draft.

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What Can The Bears Do In The Off-Season To Improve For Next Year?

January 13th, 2017

CJ

Posted in Opinions

It been a pretty dismal season for the Chicago Bears, containing a record of 3-13 has forced general manager Ryan Pace to play some of his rookie stars which unfortunately hasn’t bolded well for the head coach. An injury-ravaged roster, combined with an ongoing youth movement, meant several rookies were featured in the line-up or played on a rotational basis. This can be considered to why they haven’t played to the best of their ability this season. No disrespect to their rookies, but sometimes, experience ranges superior over youth. With that said, they should take this a slight advantage because these rookies have featured more than they expected this season and can now take this to their offseason and develop their game from what they have already experienced this season.

Another positive factor about their disappointing season finish is that they now have the opportunity to have a good draft enabling to build a more offensive squad in addition to covering their squad’s depth if this influx of injury were to occur again. This early mock draft for the Bears will show the perfect picks in regards to creating a playoff defining team next season:

Round 1, Pick 3: Jonathan Allen, Defensive Line, Alabama

The Bears defensive line has been their Achilles heel this season and is one of the major factors they need to improve on. This is where Jonathan Allen comes into play, if Myles Garrett goes first to the Browns and the 49ers pass on Allen to avoid redundancy up front with their previous two first – round picks, then the bears should be ecstatic to have Allen fall into their grasp. Obviously a quarterback is going to be an important consideration, but the talent available doesn’t come anywhere near the value that Allen would bring to Chicago.

Round 2, Pick 67: Brad Kaaya, Quarterback, Miami

Like the Bears, it was a disappointing season for Kaaya, he came into the season fighting with Deshaun Watson for pole position to the no.1 quarterback. Watson’s stock has taken a bit of a hit, but Kaaya has completely left the picture, he ended up picking up bad habits behind a weak offensive line and needs to rebuild his mechanics again. The Bears will be a good bet for him as they can develop him in the quarterback he knows he can be. He has coachability and a good footballing brain, he just needs that fitted team to build him into a franchise player.

Round 3, Pick 109: Roderick Johnson, Offensive Tackle, Florida State

The Bears are desperate to find help in their offensive line and this was a recurring problem for them under the Jay Cutler era. While the additions of Kyle Long and Cody Whitehair have quieted those concerns, adding a tackle of Johnson’s ability would really add a new dimension to their O-line thus improving additional aspects of the roster. Johnson had struggled in pass protection for Florida State but proved to be a good run blocker on the left side of his team mates. He may ultimately end up as a swing tackle at the NFL level but could find a home in Chicago, especially as they build the interior of the line into a real strength.

Furthermore, if the Bears have a good offseason and have a successful draft, they maybe be worth a good bet in reaching the playoff’s next season.

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The 2016 Chicago Bears Postseason Awards

January 9th, 2017

Bryan Dietzler

Posted in Bear Insight, Bears Banter, Features, Inside The Bears, Main, Notes & Observations, Opinions

By Bryan Dietzler

The 2016 NFL season has ended and to fans of the Chicago Bears, it has been one of the most painful in recent memory. There is no way that Bears fans want to go through another season like that. It was simply horrible.

But through all the darkness and despair there has been a silver lining to the 2016 season. There have been players who have stood out and played well, giving the Bears hope for the future. But then there have been some guys that have struggled and caused the Bears problems. They have helped make this season a miserable one.

Now that the season is over, it’s time to hand out some honors to a few Bears players and coaches. We should recognize some of the good and just a tiny bit of the bad that was part of the Bears season. Some people deserve recognition for what they did or didn’t do in 2016.

What do you say Bears’ fans? Let’s go back to the “dark ages” one more time before we close the book on the 2016 season.

So, without further ado, here are a few honors to hand out to the 2016 Chicago Bears for what they did and didn’t do last season.

Team MVP/Offensive Player of the Year/Offensive Rookie of the Year/Bears Rookie of the Year-I have covered this a previous article so I won’t say too much about it. Jordan Howard should easily be considered the MVP of the Bears in 2016. When he was utilized effectively, the Bears had some success and he proved that, for a fifth round pick, he can play. He came in second in the NFL with 1313 yards earning player of the week and player of the month honors along the way.

Howard was productive and consistent. He proved himself to be the best player not only on offense but on the entire team. Let’s just hope he can continue the effort next year.

Honorable Mention-Akiem Hicks- (See Below)

Offensive/Bears Rookie of the Year Honorable Mention-Cody Whitehair-Whitehair played in and started in all 16 games at center for the Bears. He was their most consistent offensive lineman in 2016 and played well for it being his first year in the league. For someone who was supposed to play guard and maybe see time this year, he stepped up and had a remarkable season. He leaves the Bears with a tough decision next year with Hroniss Grasu coming back.

Defensive Player of the Year-Akiem Hicks-Trying to find someone who was consistent and productive on the team in 2016 was difficult. There were so many injuries which forced players in and out of the lineup, you could hardly rely on any player to put a string of games together. But there was one guy who played in and started in all 16 games and was productive. That player was Akiem Hicks.

Hicks, in his first season with the Bears, he recorded seven sacks and was the leader of the defensive line. He put together a strong of good games when some couldn’t even put together back to back games. With so many injuries, he was the most consistent of all the defenders the Bears put on the field last year. He made general manager Ryan Pace look brilliant.

Defensive Player of the Year Honorable Mention-Jerrell Freeman-Had Freeman not missed four games due to a suspension for PEDs, he would have easily been the defensive MVP. Freeman was all over the field making plays in every game he played in. He was another free agent that made Pace look like he knows what he is doing. Freeman has a lot of potential and could easily be a Pro Bowl player.

Defensive Rookie of the Year-Tie-Nick Kwiatkoski and Leonard Floyd-It’s hard to pick between Floyd and Kwiatkoski for this honor. Floyd did not play in every game due to injury. Kwiatkoski didn’t play in every game because of the talent ahead of him. He played in 14 games with seven starts while Floyd played in 12 games with 12 starts. Both have very good futures with the Bears especially Floyd if he can stay healthy.

These are two of Pace’s better draft picks. If they can stay healthy and not hit the “year two” wall, they might be Pro Bowlers someday.

Special Teams Player of the Year-Joshua Bellamy-Most fans know Bellamy for his dropped passes and not his special teams play. However, Bellamy quietly had one of the best seasons of any special teams player in the league. He wreaked havoc acting as the “gunner” on coverage units keeping opponents from gaining a lot of yards on returns.

Did you know that he even received one All-Pro vote for his play this year? Not bad for a guy who is known more for what he didn’t do than what he did.

Special Teams Player of the Year Honorable Mention-Pat O’Donnell-Although he didn’t have his best season statistically, he did keep Bears’ opponents somewhat at bay in 2016. Good coverage units helped too and allowed just one touchdown on a punt return all season. There weren’t too many bright spots for the Bears on special teams but O’Donnell did help at least a little.

Game of the Year-The Bear’s 20-10 win over the Minnesota Vikings on Halloween was their most dominant game of the season. The Vikings came into the game with a highly-ranked defense but had stumbled the previous week. Everyone thought they would get back on track against Chicago. No one thought the Bears could win but they not only won, they also dominated the game. It was perhaps the Bears’ best performance since head coach John Fox came to the Bears in 2015. It was easily the best performance of the season.

Dud of the Year-Chicago Bears Strength and Conditioning Staff- If there was one glaring, huge issue on this team throughout the entire season, it was injuries. Now some injuries cannot be avoided but you can prevent them and come back quicker if you have a good medical staff.

A few years ago, the Bears had a strength and conditioning coach named Rusty Jones. When he was in Chicago, the Bears enjoyed excellent health and suffered few injuries. He proved that a strength and conditioning coordinator can make a big difference. The Bears need to find someone who can keep their players healthy and be an asset .

Coach of the Year-Vic Fangio-Fangio deserves a lot credit for what he was able to do despite the team’s record. He also accomplished some good things despite the obvious glaring weaknesses his defense had. He managed to have the leagues’ number seven pass defense. Chicago’s defense ranked 15^th in total yards allowed as well. Not bad for being one of the worst teams in the league.

With the right, healthy, pieces in place, Fangio should be able to put together a solid defense in 2017. He is seasoned and knows how to call a good defense. The Bears have been lucky to have him.

Coach of the Year Honorable Mention-Dave Magazu-Magazu was the team’s offensive line coach until he got fired last week. He took a unit that was wrought with injuries and made them into a dependable group. Magazu took a rookie and made him one of the best centers in the league (Whitehair). It was truly quite a piece of work. He will be missed.

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Chicago Bears Team MVP: Jordan Howard

January 7th, 2017

Bryan Dietzler

Posted in Bear Insight, Bear Necessities, Bears Banter, Features, Inside The Bears, Main, Notes & Observations, Opinions, Rookies, Roster

By Bryan Dietzler

The 2016 season has come to an end for the Bears and there are probably many of us who are happy it’s over. 3-13 is a miserable record and the Bears found little success in much of anything this season. You can blame injuries for a bulk of their problems but coaching issues and poor depth hurt them as well. It wasn’t just one thing that took them down.

Some people feel there are no bright spots from the Bears 2016 season. After all, with just three wins, how can you find anything to be excited about? But there were some moments when the Bears shined and there were a few players that shined as well.

But out of all the players that graced the field for the Bears this year, and there were many, there is one guy that was consistent in just about every game he played in. And he was a record setter along with being one of the top weapons for the offense this season.

That player is running back Jordan Howard.

There is no fan who can deny that Howard was the best player on the team in 2016. He was productive, consistent (as much as the coaching staff would allow him to be) and reliable. He had a hand in helping the team win when they did win. And all this by a rookie fifth round running back.

Some fans out there are clamoring for more information about the Bears new star. The following is a look at Howard’s life before football, during college and his short time with the Bears. He hasn’t established a lot of stats or a big track record just yet but it’s still interesting to know where the Bears players come from.

Jordan Reginald Howard was born on November 2^nd, 1994 in Gardendale, Alabama. He played his high school football at Gardendale High School where his team was known as the Rockets. Howard started for two seasons (his junior and senior years) gaining 2876 yards. That should have been considered excellent among college coaches but he was not a very highly recruited player coming out of high school.

Howard found himself playing for the University of Alabama at Birmingham. His first season with the Blazers saw him rush for 881 yards averaging 6.1 yards per carry. He recorded just three touchdowns in that season.

In 2014, his sophomore year, Howard stepped it up setting a single season school record with 1587 yards on the ground. His 132.3 yards per game was seventh among Division One FBS players.

Following his sophomore season at UAB, the school’s football program ceased to exist. Howard was able to transfer to the University of Indiana just before the 2015 season and play the next season. In his first and only campaign with the Hoosiers, he rushed for 1213 yards with an average of 6.2 yards per carry. Howard had ten total touchdowns.

Howard decided not to complete his senior year and entered the 2016 NFL Draft. Some well-known draft services had him rated anywhere between third and sixth in running backs coming into the draft. But no one had really heard of Howard before the draft.

During pre-draft workouts, Howard posted a 40-yard dash time of 4.59. He had 16 repetitions on the bench press and recorded a 34-inch vertical leap.

Howard was taken by the Bears in the fifth round with the 150^th overall selection. Despite being ranked so high among running backs entering the draft, he was the tenth running back taken. Chicago gave Howard a four-year deal with 2.58 million dollars.

With a strong showing against Cleveland Browns in the preseason (a 107-yard performance that came with a touchdown) Howard helped earn himself a spot on the roster. He came into the regular season as the third running back on the depth chart behind starter Jeremy Langford and second stringer Ka ’Deem Carey.

Following a hamstring injury to Carey, Howard entered the game against Philadelphia Eagles marking the first time he played in a regular season NFL game. After an ankle injury, sidelined Langford, Howard was named the Bears starting running back. He made his first start against the Detroit Lions and broke the 100-yard mark rushing for 111 yards on 23 carries.

Howard had another 100-yard outing in the team’s next game (against Indianapolis) and scored a touchdown off a pass from quarterback Brian Hoyer. His first rushing touchdown was scored against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

He rushed for his season high 153 yards on 26 carries against the Minnesota Vikings in the Bears’ first game against their division rival. For his efforts in that game, he was named the NFC Offensive Player of the Week. In early December, he eclipsed the 100-yard mark again in the Bears third and final victory of the season over the San Francisco 49ers.

He went over the 100-yard mark in the final two games of the season and broke another record, this one a team record. He became the leader in rushing yards in a rookie season with 1313. Howard edged out the Bears’ previous starter at running back, Matt Forte, for that honor.

Just recently, Howard was named the NFC Offensive Player of the Month for the month of December. This was quite an honor for the rookie and for the 3-13 Chicago Bears.

While Howard came in second in the league in rushing, he was not a finalist for the NFL’s Rookie of the Year honor. Dallas Cowboys’ running back Ezekiel Elliot is going to run away with the honor. Howard should have garnered some consideration for it. Such is the politics of the NFL.

Aside from his career in the NFL, Howard has been active in the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation. His father, Dr. Reginald Howard died in January of 2007 of the disease. Pulmonary fibrosis is a disease that can result in scaring of the lungs which then makes it harder for a person to breathe.

In honor of his father, Howard wears a shirt with his father’s picture on it beneath his uniform in every game he plays.

The future looks very bright for Howard and Chicago’s running game. He is a consistently healthy starter who has not missed any action (perhaps a series or two in some games but that was a coaching decision, time to rest or some time to recover from getting dinged up). He should roll into the 2017 ready to go. If the Bears can use him more often it could help balance the offense. With that, they should be able to win more games.

Consider him one of the best, if not the best, pick of the Ryan Pace era so far. Hopefully he will remain a consistent and productive player for years to come.

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The Chicago Bears versus the Minnesota Vikings Game Review

January 3rd, 2017

Bryan Dietzler

Posted in Bear Insight, Bear Necessities, Bears Banter, BEARS Blitz, BuzzHype, Features, Game Stories, Inside The Bears, Main, News, Notes & Observations, Opinions, Recap

By Bryan Dietzler

The final game of the 2016 NFL season just happened to land on the first day of 2017. You would have thought that the Bears would have wanted to start the new year off right. Chicago came into their final game with a record of 3-12 and nothing to lose. The Vikings came in trying to get to .500 on the season after a promising start and a “fall from grace”. It looked like this would be a close game and that the Bears could give the Vikings a challenge. Besides, these two division rivals typically play one another close.

But in the end, it was nearly a blowout as the Vikings beat the Bears, in Minneapolis, 38-10. Chicago could not do anything right in all three phases and showed why they are one of the worst teams in the NFL. The Vikings are by no means a strong team but they had their way with the Bears in a game that should have been much closer.

It was truly a game that summed up the Bears’ three-win season.

The Vikings were the first to score as they put seven on the board in the first quarter following a 16-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Sam Bradford to Jerrick McKinnon. That was the only score of the first quarter.

Minnesota would add to its lead following a 21-yard field goal by Kai Forbath early in the second quarter. That would it 10-0. The Vikings would go up 17-0 after tight end Kyle Rudolph, who had a huge day, snagged a 22 yard Bradford pass. It appeared, at that point, a rout was on.

The Bears would make it interesting and the play they used to get their only touchdown of the game was their most creative play of the season. With wide receiver Cameron Meredith at quarterback and quarterback Matt Barkley at wide receiver, Meredith took the snap and fired a two-yard touchdown pass to Barkley. Maybe it was the Bears’ best play of the season? The made the score 17-7 and it looked like the Bears might be able to at least make it interesting.

It just so happened that the second quarter would see the most scoring plays in the game. Following the Bears’ score, the Vikings would tack on more points. A one yard pass from Bradford to Jarius Wright would make it 24-7 and once again make it look like the Vikings would blast the Bears. But Chicago would add some additional points at the end of the half to make it a little bit closer. A 29-yard field goal by Connor Barth would make it 24-10 and end the scoring for the half.

The third quarter didn’t see any scoring. It would pick back up again in the fourth quarter and come solely from the Vikings. Minnesota would make it 31-10 after Jerrick McKinnon ran into the end zone from ten yards out. The final score of the game came on a 20-yard fumble return by Everson Griffen. That put the score at 38-10 and that is how it would end.

There isn’t much good to come out of this game except for the play of running back Jordan Howard. Not only did he break the 100-yard mark but he also set the record for the most rushing yards in a season by a Bears’ rookie (1313 yards). If there was a positive this season on offense, Howard was it.

This game was an excellent showing of what Howard has been able to do during the season. He is a tackle breaker, is always falling forward and is generally reliable. It does seem that the coaching staff will pull him at times during games. Yesterday, he was pulled because he was sick (did anyone see him throwing up on the sidelines?). But at other points in games this season, he gets taken out of the lineup for no apparent reason. That has hurt the Bears’ offense.

We will take a closer at Howard later. For now, we should consider him to be the star of the Bears final, dismal game of the season.

Barkley continued his downward spiral throwing two interceptions and losing one fumble. His decisions were poor and he seems to have regressed over the last three games. He is not the answer at the quarterback position and quite frankly, he never was. Barkley was just the starter to close out a dismal season and he has played just like a third string quarterback.

He had decent protection from his offensive line while the rushing attack took pressure off him. His wide receivers and tight ends were spot on. But Barkley could not get it done. But what could you expect out of someone with just four NFL starts?

The wide receiving group was good and had some nice catches but Barkley couldn’t get the ball out to them that often. Cameron Meredith had a strong game but folks, he is not a number one wide receiver. The Bears “true” number one, Alshon Jeffery, was basically absent and has had a poor season (not his fault wholly). There are doubts as to whether he will even be back with the Bears next year.

While there is some talent at the wide receiver position most of it lies at the second and third wide receiver tiers. This will be an interesting position to watch in the offseason because it needs more work than anyone thinks.

The tight end position is another one that needs work. In this game, Barkley found his tight ends a couple times but other than that they were invisible. As usual, Logan Paulsen had his “every game” bonehead move and makes some wonder how he even plays football. Apparently, he is good enough to play for the Bears though and is representative of some of the talent they have.

Chicago’s offensive line had a good game despite allowing two sacks. This group did help Howard gain his 135 yards and should be commended for what they have been able to do in blocking for the run this season. One thing this group did do poorly in this game, and has struggled with all season, is that they had a few penalties. The holding calls and false starts hurt the Bears and continue a trend that has affected them all season.

The Bears’ offensive line could be stronger if it’s starters stayed healthy. This, like so many other units on the team, will be an interesting one to watch in the off-season as the Bears could use some work here.

Chicago’s defense came into this game depleted by injuries. Some of its top stars, guys like Pernell McPhee and Leonard Floyd, among others, were not in the lineup. When you looked out on the field and looked at the backs of the Bears’ jerseys, you probably saw guys you may have never heard of. This was yet another representation of how the Bears season had gone.

Having so many starters out made it very difficult for the Bears to be anything close to effective on defense. In fact, their defense was basically a disaster.

We did see some good things out of Akiem Hicks but he did have a critical penalty to help make things difficult. The rest of the defensive line did get some pressure at times but didn’t make any big plays. Yes, most of the guys playing were second and third stringer so we shouldn’t have expected too much out of them but the Vikings offensive line is not filled with All-Pros so something the Bears should have gotten more done.

Remember that McPhee and Floyd were out and that left the Bears with only one experienced pass rusher in Willie Young. The outside linebackers didn’t have much success against the Vikings because of this. Young did have some pressures but this group (and the team) didn’t have a single sack Sunday. You could say that was to be expected with all the injuries.

The inside linebacker positions were manned by Jerrell Freeman and Nick Kwiatkoski and both had a decent game. Freeman showed, once again, that he is the Bears’ top defender as he makes a lot of plays. He is so much fun to watch. Kwiatkoski has come a long way this season as a rookie and looks to have a promising career with the Bears. Thankfully both guys were healthy because it could have been an even more dismal day for the defense had they been sidelined.

The secondary had some breakdowns like they do in every game but for the first time in weeks, we saw some good tackling and smart play out of the safety position. Starter Adrian Amos had a very nice game and helped keep the Vikings from gaining a lot of yards on the ground. He is a sure tackler and very quick to reach the ball carrier.

Harold Jones-Quartey started opposite Amos and he played well. He had some hard hits and kept up well with receivers. He has good games and bad games and needs to be more consistent. This may have been his best game of the season.

The cornerback position had its problems and suffered yet another injury Sunday. Jonathan Banks, playing in his second game with the Bears, exited the lineup hurt. This put Tracy Porter in as his replacement and he was sitting because he was hurt. Cre’Von LeBlanc had a nice play (an interception) and has had an up and down season. Statically he is solid but if you have watched the Bears closely this season he is very inconsistent.

Chicago’s secondary allowed Bradford to throw for 250 yards and three touchdowns. They have consistently broken down throughout season at critical times and this game showcased their struggles.

The coaching staff and management need to do a lot of work here during the offseason to fix this critical part of the defense.

In the preview of this game, I mentioned that the Bears had to keep Cordarrelle Patterson contained. On Sunday, he had a 35-yard return just about breaking it for a touchdown. That could have been a backbreaker.

However, the Bears just about had a touchdown of their own thanks to a 64-yard return by Deonte Thompson. Thompson had been unimpressive up to that point but his light shined on Sunday. Still, he is not the long-term answer as the Bears’ return specialist and this be addressed during the offseason.

The kicking and punting was on the spot. Pat O’Donnell has had a good season and Barth has come on well after a rough start. The Bears do need to look at other kicking options in the offseason though.

Chicago’s coaching staff had another poor game although it appears as if Dowell Loggains finally realized that he should use Howard more. Loggains did get creative on the Bears’ only touchdown but it came a little too late. This game showcased the Bears’ struggles on offense this season and despite the injuries the offense is not effective.

Defensive Coordinator Vic Fangio’s defense struggled with execution on Sunday. The reason for that is because of the massive amount of injuries they suffered prior to Sunday. Fangio’s premise is sound but without the players to do what he needs them to do, his defense really suffers. Hopefully he will stick with the Bears and get a chance to showcase a better defense in 2017.

Head coach John Fox failed once again to instill a winning attitude in his team Sunday. Fox has not been that good of a coach, overall, this season and it shows in how the team plays. He will get a pass though because of all the injuries his team suffered and that will earn him another year in Chicago. But if he does not have marked improvement in 2017 and his team continues to be uninspired he deserves to get fired.

The game this Sunday was perfect example of what the Bears have looked like this entire season. It’s perfectly clear that injuries had a big effect on this game and if you couple that with having to play second and third string players, it makes it nearly impossible to win. This has been the Bears’ “mantra” all year. No top talent no way to win. That sums up 2016.

It will be interesting to see what the Bears do in the offseason. They have questions at almost every position especially at quarterback. It does appear that the coaching staff will be back again next season and that is good and bad. Will we see more of the same in 2017? Hopefully not. We will cross our fingers and hope that the Bears improve greatly this offseason.

Please keep coming back to this site for news and opinions about the Bears’ offseason including free agency and the draft.

Happy New Year!

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The Chicago Bears versus the Minnesota Vikings Game Preview

December 31st, 2016

Bryan Dietzler

Posted in Bear Insight, Bear Necessities, Bears Banter, BEARS Blitz, Features, Game Previews, Inside The Bears, Main, News, Notes & Observations, Opinions, Picks, Preview

By Bryan Dietzler

The 3-12 Chicago Bears will travel to Minneapolis, Minnesota to finish up their dismal 2016 campaign against the flailing Minnesota Vikings. The Vikings come into this game with a record of 7-8. They played the Bears earlier this season and ended up losing 20-10 in what many considered to be a surprise loss. The Vikings started out the season on a five game winning streak but stumbled and have moved themselves out of playoff contention.

With nothing to play for, this game promises to be one that is played for pride more than anything else. You can also consider it a job interview for several players who are second and third stringers on both teams. Not only will they be auditioning for these two teams but they will be putting on a show for other NFL franchises. So this game shouldn’t be a “lie down and die” type of game but rather a showcase of second and third tier talent.

After last week, predicting that the Bears should or could win has become almost impossible. Everyone expected a better game out of them last Saturday and they fell flat. This weekend, they play a division rival and games between the Bears and the Vikings are always tough. This one should be very tough and hard fought.

Let’s look and see whether or not the Bears have a shot of winning their final game of the season. Four wins would look a lot better than three that’s for sure and it would be nice to close out the season with a victory.

There had been some talk that the Bears may start David Fales over Matt Barkley but that doesn’t appear to be happening. Barkley is a bit of an enigma with Bears fans right now. He was doing so well before the Bears’ game against the Packers two weeks ago and then he fell completely apart against the Redskins. Now people are saying he’s not a starting quarterback. Perhaps they are right but he could use a little more work to get to the point where he could be a viable option at the positon in the future. But will the Bears allow him to get to that point?

For this game, Barkley needs to keep his head level and not make mistakes. One of the reasons (perhaps the biggest) he made so many mistakes against the Redskins was because the coaching staff was putting the onus on him to win the game. They did not give him much help. Had they run the ball more often and taken some of the pressure off of him, both the quarterback and the Bears might have had more success.

The Bears can easily run the football with their star running back Jordan Howard but how well can they do it against the Vikings defensive line? Remember that the Vikings had one of the NFL’s best defenses to start the season but they have gone downhill a ways ever since. In fact, the Vikings defense was exploited heavily by the Bears in their first game. That helped start the decline of the Vikings.

For Minnesota, guys like Linval Joseph and Everson Griffen are tough on that left side. On the right, they have Danielle Hunter and he is solid. The offensive line of the Bears features talent that is rated at about the league average. The two “studs” in the center, Cody Whitehair and Josh Sitton should help open up some holes for Howard and protect Barkley. The rest of the group can hold up but may get beaten. Still, this line has performed well this season.

The Bears are averaging 103.5 yards per game on the ground which is ranked 19^th in the NFL. The Vikings are allowing teams to rush for an average of 101.9 yards per game and are 15^th in the league. There is a good chance that the Bears can run the ball well in this game and so they need to take advantage of this and use Howard often. If they can control the ball and the clock then they have a good chance of winning.

Chicago’s wide receivers have had a lot of opportunity to catch the ball lately as Barkley has been putting it up a lot since becoming the starter. The group went through a period of a couple of games where they struggled to catch the ball and that easily cost them at least one win. They looked better last week and hopefully that continues.

Cameron Meredith has been the star of the Bears’ pass catching crew as of late. He has become a reliable target and is putting up some decent numbers. The guy who you would think would be the number one receiver, Alshon Jeffery, missed four games due to a suspension and has fallen behind. Guys like Deonte Thompson are reliable and tight end Daniel Brown have been steady.

But they will face a better than average secondary. The Vikings have such talented as Terence Newman and Harrison Smith and they can not only cover well but create turnovers. Barkley and his pass catchers will have to beware of these guys.

Hopefully Barkley will be able get the ball out to his receivers and not hand it over to the Vikings defense. This game will be a big test for him.

Offensive coordinator Dowell Loggains has received praise from some circles but he has not been as effective as an NFL offensive coordinator. He has to realize that the Bears needed run the ball more to find success. They could have won more games had he been able to figure this out. He cannot put the entire game on Barkley’s shoulders. If he does that they will lose.

Here is this week’s injury report for the Bear’s offense:

Tight End Daniel Brown was had a full practice despite having a shoulder injury.

Quarterback David Fales was limited with a right thumb issue. He is questionable for the game.

Erick Kush, a guard, practiced fully after coming out of the concussion protocol.

Tackle Bobby Massie was limited with a toe injury and is questionable.

Wide receiver Alshon Jeffery missed Thursday’s practice because of an illness but practiced in full Friday.

Running back Bralon Addison missed practice with an illness earlier in the week but practiced in full at week’s end.

The following is a list of players on the Vikings defense who are on the injury report this week:

Safety Harrison Smith was limited in practice with an ankle injury to start the week but practiced in full Friday. It looks like he will play Sunday.

Andrew Sendejo did not practice due to a knee injury and is out for Sunday.

Chicago’s defense has been shredded in the running game the last two games. As of now, the Vikings status at the running back position is undecided. Their star, Adrian Peterson, will not play this game so that leaves Jerrick McKinnon and Matt Asiata to play. They aren’t barn burners so the Bears have that going for them. But Chicago cannot allow them to turn into superstars this Sunday. They must stop the run.

Chicago’s rushing defense is allowing teams to gain an average of 121.7 yards per game which is ranked 27^th in the NFL. The Bears had been doing well against the run to start the season but the last couple of games have been brutal.

The Vikings, without Peterson, have been averaging a low 72.1 yards per game rushing. That puts them dead last in the NFL. Hopefully the Bears can clamp down on the Vikings rushing attack and shut it down. If they can’t stop the NFL’s worst rushing attack then the defense is much worse off than anyone could have thought.

Some of the problems that the Bears have had stopping the run have been due to injuries they have suffered on the line and at linebacker. Their star on the line, Eddie Goldman, has missed a bulk of the season with an ankle injury and is now on IR. The Bears have one “star” left on the line, Akiem Hicks and he is supported by a bevy of second and third string defensive lineman. That equates to the Bears not being able to stop the run.

The Vikings offensive line has one very good player in guard Joe Berger. After that, the talent drops off. If the Bears can get through these guys and get to the Vikings running backs at or behind the line then they should have some success.

Chicago’s inside linebackers have been bolstered by the return of Jerrell Freeman who completed his four game suspension and came back for the game last Saturday. He picked up where he left off in being the Bears’ best defender. The other starter at the inside position is rookie Nick Kwiatkoski. For a rookie, he’s been playing well. He earned his starting role due to injury.

Look for both Freeman and Kwiatkoski to have a good game against the Vikings leading the team in tackles and making good plays.

It appears as if the Bears might have some trouble getting their two best pass rushing outside linebackers healthy in time for this game. Both Leonard Floyd and Pernell McPhee did not practice this week. Floyd is dealing with a concussion (suffered last Saturday) and is out. McPhee’s has a shoulder issue and he is questionable.

If, for some reason, McPhee can’t play, the Bears are going to have a difficult time rushing the passer. Willie Young may even miss this game as he is questionable and hasn’t practiced all week. Who will rush the passer for the Bears’?

The Bears’ pass rush could be non-existent Sunday.

Injuries have rocked the secondary and they could struggle with what they have left on Sunday. The cornerback position should see Cre’Von Leblanc back but Tracy Porter may be out. The nickel back, Bryce Callahan may also be out for this game. That leaves guys like Jonathan Banks, Deondrie Hall and Demontre Hurst, among others, left to play. We saw what a depleted secondary can do to the Bears last week and if it’s like that this week this team could be in trouble.

Chicago will face a slightly above average group of wide receivers and quarterback but the Vikings passing attack has not been too proficient. They average 239.1 yards per game which is 18^th in the NFL. The Bears pass defense, despite the fact it was dinged last week, has been allowing 223.2 yards per game which is ranked sixth. The Bears’ near stellar pass defense will be hampered by injuries, however, and it could crumble under the weight of these missing men and guys like Stefon Diggs (may not play) and Adam Thielen.

We may get chance to see some of the younger talent on the Bears in this game (especially at cornerback). A glimpse into the Bears’ future could be what fans get this Sunday.

The safety positon could be at half strength Sunday. Adrian Amos is healthy but his counterpart, Deon Bush, has not practiced and could miss the game. That means we could see guys like Chris Prosinski and Harold Jones-Quartey lining up in the backfield. These guys are adequate backups but they are not starting caliber players. Jones-Quartey, in particular, is adequate in run support but not a good cover safety.

With the secondary in the shape it’s in, the pass rushers hurt and the defensive line missing its key starter, the Vikings offense may have an easier time of it than they did in the first game against the Bears.

Bears’ defensive coordinator Vic Fangio is one of the best in the business and he has done some wonders with what he has had to work with this season. He will be very limited in what he can do for this game because of the injuries that have depleted the defense. Hopefully he can put something decent together and get some nice execution out of his starters. If the Bears defense can clamp down like they did in the first meeting between these two teams, this will be a close game. But that will be difficult.

The following defensive players, for the Bears, were listed on the injury report this week:

Safety Deon Bush did not practice until Friday due to an ankle injury. He is questionable for Sunday’s game.

Nickelback Bryce Callahan was limited with a knee/hamstring injury. He is questionable this Sunday.

Leonard Floyd, the Bears’ rookie pass rusher, did not practice due to a concussion suffered against the Redskins. He is doubtful (they say he will be out) against the Vikings.

Cornerback Cre’Von LeBlanc was limited with a knee injury. He is questionable.

Outside linebacker Pernell McPhee did not practice because of a shoulder injury. He is questionable for Sunday.

Cornerback Tracy Porter was limited in practice with a shoulder/knee issue. He is listed as questionable.

Outside linebacker Willie Young did not practice this week until Friday due to a knee injury. He is questionable for Sunday.

The following is a list of offensive players for the Vikings who were listed on the injury report this week:

Center Joe Berger was limited to start the week with an elbow injury but practiced fully as the week went on. He will play Sunday.

Guard Alex Boone has not practiced yet with a back injury. He is doubtful for the game.

Wide receiver Stefon Diggs has a hip injury and has not practiced this week and is doubtful for Sunday.

Guard Brandon Fusco has been limited in practice with a concussion but practiced in full on Friday and could play Sunday.

Wide receiver Charles Johnson was limited in practice with a knee injury. He is questionable.

Running back Zach Line was limited with a concussion but practiced in full on Friday. He may play Sunday.

Adrian Peterson, the Vikings star running back did not practice due to a groin and knee issues. He is out.

Wide receiver Laquon Treadwell didn’t practice due to an ankle injury. He is doubtful for Sunday.

Special teams for the Bears has been hot and cold all year. Punting has been decent while kicking has gotten better after a rough first few games. The return teams have been inconsistent and have suffered since the loss of Eddie Royal (on punt returns). Thompson hasn’t been that consistent on kick returns. You aren’t going to see a lot of dynamic run-backs out of this group.

The portion of special teams that will be the most tested will be the coverage units. The Vikings have Cordarrelle Patterson and he is dangerous. The Bears will want to keep this game close so they cannot allow someone like him to change the game by adding a special teams score. Chicago has had decent coverage all season so hopefully they can finish the season strong here.

John Fox has been less than mediocre since coming to the Bears. He hasn’t really inspired this team to win this season but he has had his hands tied with injuries. Hopefully he will have his team fired up and ready to play this game and win because closing this dismal season out with a win would be much better than ending it with a loss. And he could be playing for his job. You never know.

This game, like last week’s, is too close to call but for a different reason. Both teams are heading downhill and have injury plus performance issues. Also, this is a division game which means you can throw just about all the statistics out the door and call it even. Everything changes when two division rivals play one another.

Both teams are out of playoff contention so the only thing to fight for is pride. They don’t want to end the season on a low note so these two teams might just play hard and fans could get to see a decent game.

So, call this game even because these two teams are even. This could be an exciting game to close out a horrible Chicago Bears season.

Prediction: Even

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