Chisoxfn

QUOTE (knightni @ Nov 10, 2015 -> 10:34 AM) A makeshift offensive line has been a consistent trend with the Bears in recent years. They can't seem to keep a line group healthy long enough to get some cohesion. This one has been a hell of a lot more productive then others. Part of that is scheme and I think Jay deserves a lot of credit their as well. He's been fantastic under pressure and just having strong pocket awareness, which historically has been a mega weakness of his. No idea if this sticks long-term or if it is just a small sample size, but Jay has been ascending thus far in the season and I sure as s*** hope it continues.

QUOTE (Jenksismyb**** @ Nov 10, 2015 -> 10:34 AM) Jesus you people can drink the kool-aid with the best of them. I never said we were a superbowl team (presume you are talking about my post). I think our defense is awful (don't care what the stats say) but we are scheming well and are making major improvements. We also have seen very nice strides out of 3 late round picks (Leno - Last year 7th rounder, Langford, and Amos) while our 2nd round pick has looked solid (still don't know where he stands but he isn't an immediate bust like Bostic or Greene). Our C (3rd round pick) is hurt and the book is fully out on him. And I couldn't even tell you what our 6th rounder is doing. We obviously have no idea about White, but it seems like we found some players in the later round, which is huge. While I'm pissed we lost 2 of the games we did, I couldn't be more pleased with the direction of this franchise. The fact that Jay is making strides is also great because it buys the front office time to find a QB. I don't want to find myself in QB hell like some teams find themselves in. I'm not saying Jay is great and I think the great think with this front office is, they can keep Jay for a couple years while still aggressively targeting the next QB of the franchise.

QUOTE (AustinIllini @ Nov 10, 2015 -> 06:48 AM) He's a good offensive tactician. The problem is, he has a team that was essentially built by Thibs, the Rose/Butler problem is a reality, and health continues to be a problem. There's a ton of talent on the Bulls, but they just aren't much of a team. Hoiberg does look like a pretty good coach so far. I still think all of these statements, other then their is talent on the team, are incredibly premature. They could very well be true, but coming to any of the conclusions you made based upon the current sample size is just extremely premature.

QUOTE (bmags @ Nov 10, 2015 -> 08:33 AM) Yeah while I've liked some of Gase's game plans I have a hard time believing anyone is watching the offense (which has loads more talent than the defense) and is like "yes he is great". Despite having gigantic targets like bennett, wilson and alshon, we somehow cannot convert in the red zone. Alshon was out for half of the games. Our oline has been totally megshift. We haven't had Royal often. And lets not act like Wilson is a star. Yes, we clearly need to improve in the red zone, but we are effectively moving the ball. In fact, a lot of the times we haven't done things, it hasn't been the play call as much as it has been the lack of execution and I expect with more time that will get better. Of course after 1 year of Trestman we thought the same thing, however, evidently he couldn't make adjustments and once teams got game film on the Trestman offense, we were toast. I hope the same doesn't hold true with Gase. It certainly seems like we do a lot of things, but it will be interesting how effective our screen game will remain. That said, the more people get film, the more you can build other nuances to burn people other ways (I hope). Jay certainly looks comfortable out their. Comfortable with his read of the blocking schemes, picking up blitzes and hitting the right spot. Curious on the pick what happened. If it was a bad throw or miscommunication or what. Either way, that can't happen. On the sack and fumble, I can't really fault Jay. He got crushed in a hurry and I was curious why a penalty for helmet to helmet wasn't called on the fumble. Our penalties on the oline have been tough to handle though.

QUOTE (iamshack @ Nov 10, 2015 -> 07:37 AM) They've definitely had struggles in the red zone, and they of course had Clausen play in 6+ of those quarters. They didn't have Alshon in half of those games. Honestly, Gase isn't going anywhere after this year. The massive key in all of this is that Cutler looks as comfortable as he ever has in a Bears uniform. As the Bears continue to build, including White eventually coming back, they have the makings for something solid here, if you ask me. I don't know...all depends on where we go. If Jay keeps taking steps forward, given gase's previous track record with the Broncos, he's getting a job. It also helps that we won't be a playoff team so teams can start interviewing him very early in the process.

QUOTE (buhbuhburrrrlz @ Nov 9, 2015 -> 02:10 PM) didn't know she was pregnant in real life. what blew my mind is these 3 people are siblings Her full brother is also an actor that I think you'd recognize. Plays one of the characters on Last Man Standing (Tim Allen's sitcom).

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Nov 9, 2015 -> 10:06 AM) I wonder how many of the Iowa fans who gave up their season tickets and vowed never to return until Ferentz was fired have changed their minds. I hope this ride keeps on going. Been a very enjoyable season. I know we aren't as good as other teams (even some 1 loss teams), but still be a lot of fun and I hope it continues. Of course I was never anti ferentz.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Nov 6, 2015 -> 01:14 PM) This would make a pretty good made for TV movie. I am sure I will see my wife watching the lifetime movie of this someday in the future. When she turns that on, I am happy cause it means I got a good 2 hours to watch tv in the other room to enjoy pure sports

Oh and it was just a fun game to watch too.

By the way, the overall team movement was much improved as well yesterday. Less ISO / 1 on 1 and a lot more movement and Rose even had a few pretty dishes (as did others).

QUOTE (RockRaines @ Nov 5, 2015 -> 07:31 PM) Pretty good win there actually. In the first I thought OKC was running away with it. Yeah, whatever happened between the 1st and the 2nd, changed when Rose showed up. He played far more aggressive beginning in the 2nd quarter and the Bulls offense took off.

QUOTE (AustinIllini @ Nov 5, 2015 -> 10:59 AM) Fair or unfair, the same accusation has followed Big Ben, Kobe Bryant. It will be interesting to see what the NHL or Blackhawks do. They probably don't need to do anything and they probably shouldn't have him miss games, but I wouldn't be surprised if the Blackhawks would want Kane to seek some kind of treatment. I don't think it has really followed Kobe much. Big Ben yes, but it wasn't ben's first instance. With Kobe, it was very clear what it was (cash play) and other then being a perceived ass on the court, their have never been any off the court issues with him. Kane has had previous off the court issues (of course none to the extent of this one) and Big Ben is a guy I truly believe the accusations made. Wasn't it 3 separate potential cases with Ben. Ben is a total slimeball scumbag in my eyes.

QUOTE (Jenksismyb**** @ Nov 5, 2015 -> 12:21 PM) Do you really buy it? I'm iffy. I would think if you really had double vision like that you'd be suffering from nausea and vertigo/balance issues. I don't think I couldn't stand walking around the house, let alone playing professional basketball. If that is the case, then it truly is a damn if you do, damn if you don't. I already feel like with all the griping / hard time everyone is giving him for his performance, its basically like, saying, we made fun of you for not playing soon enough, now you just suck (cause you came back too early). I give Rose a lot of credit for coming back from his last two injuries relatively on time. Even the fact that he was willing to start the year coming off of the bench. Problem is, Bulls front office totally screwed up by continuing to ignore the PG position. Our backups are brutal and when you have Rose playing with one eye (who is also brutal), we are just in a bad spot. This team has to find a way to find a good passing point guard who can play a bit with rose (who isn't the best passing point guard anyway) and help when Rose is out.

By the way, if it wasn't clear, Windhorst take was purely his commentary. Nothing to do with any inside info or sources...just his watch and initial (knee-jerk) reaction based upon the first few games of the season. He even told Waddle and Silvy that in a few months everyone might be looking back at his opinion and laughing at him and calling him a jackass.

QUOTE (SoxPride18 @ Nov 5, 2015 -> 10:11 AM) http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/12456178...a-detroit-lions The alternative, which involved giving Suh absurd money, probably wasn't the right decision either. They definitely had some significant losses and in Fairley's case, he had a lot of baggage. Front office clearly could have done a better job addressing / filling those needs though.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Nov 5, 2015 -> 09:58 AM) It must suck playing with that mask. No way he could possibly be used to it yet. He looked really good in the exhibition, but since the games have counted, seems a bit tentative. The talent is still there, but I just wonder if the head will ever allow him to get back to anywhere near what he was. Your 2nd eye provides for depth perception, so I have no idea how he can really shoot effectively with it and I'd also think it would significantly impact your passing ability (which in Rose's case was never a strength). Defensively I'd also think you'd have issues since peripheral vision is off, etc. You can tell he is extremely uncomfortable and playing very tentative.

QUOTE (KyYlE23 @ Nov 5, 2015 -> 09:57 AM) It is his second year, and quite a year it has been. It has been a while since they have looked this uninspired. I mean, if you you are cleaning house, and his superiors and underlings have all been fired, you might as well make it a clean sweep He did get a lot of credit for turning them around last year. I think a lot of their issues have to do with the fact that they made the wrong bet on Stafford (who is awful). They also have quite a few other issues, including an aging Megatron who is a shell of what he once was (due to all the abuse he took on that turf).

Bulls tend to play well against better teams. Rose also tends to show up when he goes against top line players. That said, I think Rose's game is being impacted a lot more significantly then we all think from his eye.

QUOTE (KyYlE23 @ Nov 5, 2015 -> 09:34 AM) how is it that Caldwell is surviving this? It is only his 2nd year right? I am going to imagine his time will come in the off-season, but someone needs to stay around. Plus, didn't Caldwell make the playoffs in his first season, or am I misremembering things?

QUOTE (whitesoxfan99 @ Nov 4, 2015 -> 03:18 PM) He hasn't been good since the 2011-2012 season. While a lot of that is injury related we haven't seen a good Derrick Rose for 3 1/2 years. I'll believe he can actually be good again when I see it. I don't disagree but I also don't see any scenario where last year he'd have been an MVP (having missed as much basketball as he did). In the post-season he was pretty darn good and had a good off-season in general. I'd expect him to improve not play the worst basketball of his career. However, its a new system and playing with 1 eye (and having limited preseason). Way too early to jump to conclusions, imo (in terms of his play). If you want to just say he won't be able to be healthy anymore because of his past few years, fine, fair point with plenty of evidence on that side, but right now he's the worst PG in the league and I'd be hard pressed anything other then legitimate excuses for why that is currently the case and I wouldn't bet on him being in that camp. I also wouldn't bet on him being top 3 either.

QUOTE (buhbuhburrrrlz @ Nov 4, 2015 -> 03:07 PM) he really didn't say anything new or interesting. just watching the team you get that sense.... "the breakup with the Bulls has begun... i don't know how long it's going to last... i don't know when it's going to be complete... but you can sorta see it..." Absurd comments given Rose is playing with one eye and we aren't even 10 games into the season (oh and he had one game in the preseason...and a lot of the other guys had limited action as well). However, if 25 or 30 games into the season Rose is still at this level, then I wish we could have just amnestied him. I don't think that will be the case though. I think everything being discussed right now is extremely premature.

New system / new coach...I don't expect this to be effortless. We also have the worst starting PG in the league right now. Rose has been horrific but that doesn't mean he'll stay that way (I hope not).

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Nov 4, 2015 -> 11:55 AM) I think this is what most teams do. You really can only have preliminary discussions. Then he finds out what's available at what cost, he probably has a little idea who's available from the trade deadline. It's really not all that shocking. You have to be flexible. Plus...the market will move. You have no idea what is going to happen at this point. All you have a is a list of potential options and scenarios and probably have ranked things by buckets.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Nov 4, 2015 -> 10:41 AM) Not 34 year olds with declining offensive and defensive production. In fact, I would say, the over 30 crowd is probably having a harder time getting a big payday than their steroid era counterparts. You are probably right, that it could be closer to 3-4 M. I presume somewhere in the deal their will be an option for the 2nd year (if he signs with the Sox). In terms of the market, I agree that in general, aging players are having a hard time getting bigger contracts as people are aging more normally (vs. during the steroid era). Both OC and Alexei are good comparisons as neither was ever the best shortstop in baseball, but both were widely viewed as upper echelon guys during chunks of their career. That said, 3-4M puts him at utility costs (of some guys) so I do think he gets a tick more then that (or at least has some incentives that could push the value up).

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Nov 4, 2015 -> 10:31 AM) What do you think Alexei is worth on the open market? Will teams really offer him $7 or 8 million a year? I'm thinking half of that. I don't think the White Sox would have declined the option to save a million or 2. They probably would have tried to negotiate it, but if they couldn't, I think they just would have picked it up. I think Sox will eventually offer him something in neighborhood of 2yr 8-10M or so. Might be a 1yr deal with an option / buy-out as well. But I don't think anyone was coming close to his current option. Would seem that Anderson is the future plan for SS so club would use Ramirez as a stopgap solution. Of course Hahn could have other things on his mind and go a different route (using Anderson as trade bait for viewing him more as a 2B).