Welcome back

It’s a long hiatus (again), and I had to take a break due to my schedule with the Herald this week.

In the past week, we saw the Bears go 4-2 against a weak Seattle Seahawks, the Cubs still searching for a manager and UIC basketball taking Chicago State off their schedule.

First the Bears:

I know what you’re thinking. That I am going to say that the Bears are an undeserving 4-2 squad standing alone in first in the NFC North. No, but I will requote peer Barry Rozner from the Daily Herald.

After a week off to rest concussed Jay Cutler, the offensive line let up six sacks. But is it all the lines fault?

 ‘The Bears are extraordinarily mediocre.’

It’s obvious that Lovie has had enough with a stubborn Cutler/Martz combo. However, the line is just so dismal.

I understand and respect the effort of flip-flopping the line, to try to get your best five concoction, but there is a time to just let them play.

This offensive has let so much go by, but is it really all their fault? Sure you have nine sacks let up in the New York melee and then six in the Seahawks game, however, don’t you think Cutler holds the ball a little long?

It seems Cutler had Forte and Olsen on the check down, and chose not to throw to those routes. And shame on Martz for being so stubborn in running plays that take an eternity to develop. When your down, you still could use that running game. It’s about a 80/20 advantage to the pass game, proving that Taylor and Forte are essentially obsolete in the rush.

On the defensive side, with Lance Briggs being inactive, we realize how valuable his talent is. Don’t get me wrong, Brandon Iwuh is a formidable fill-in by all means. However, old Beast Mode (Marshawn Lynch) would have been quiet, and Mike Williams wouldn’t have been able to revive his career if Briggs was there.

It makes you think drafting Major Wright was a bad idea, when you’re starting seventh-round/undrafted guards and tackles. If the Bears front office had started Daniel Manning at free safety once Mike Brown left, we wouldn’t be in this predicament in the first place.

But thumbs up to Devin Hester’s 13th record tying touchdown return for 89 yards to make things interesting. Run Forest Run…
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Still no coach?

I won’t touch on the lovely Chicago Cubs for very long, but need I remind fans that they still have no manager.

Eric Wedge signed with the Seattle Mariners Monday afternoon, and it looked as if he was a lock for the Cubs all week after a second interview.

It’s pretty much unknown who the Cubs will sign as manager, but if you want my opinion (which you’re going to get whether you like it or not), is signing interim coach Mike Quade. Why not?

He knows the system, knows the big city pressure and is very vocal with and about his players on not settling for mediocrity.

Maybe it’s just not me being ready for a Ryne Sandberg era (or they’re just praying for Joe Girardi to leave his cushy Yankees job).

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Finally according to sources @ espn.com, the UIC Flames cancelled their game  against the Chicago State Flames on their schedule. Normally I wouldn’t care, just because I don’t follow college basketball until the conference tournaments start, but apparently Chicago State head coach Tracy Didly had a lot to say to this. 

 

“For a team to call in September and give up a home game, there’s something to it.” Didly said to ESPN’s Scott Powers. “I have no doubt that [the Flames] were scared they would lose and it would hurt them in recruiting. I have no doubt. They have lost the last two times against Chicago State – the scrimmage and at UIC. Those are the facts.”

Didly was an assistant coach for the Flames, and when he heard he was out of the running to take over UIC (after Flames head coach Jimmy Collins retired) Didly jumped on the opening at Chicago State.

I think this is too good to be true, however no one will care about it because both teams are pretty weak. UIC loses their prospects to Loyola and Depaul (and Loyola and Depaul lose their prospects to everyone else who has D-I notoriety. But for some reason, Northwestern always brings in Europeans which is interesting as well), while Chicago State picks up the scraps from all of the above.

His confidence in his new program makes me admire him, even though they went 9-23 last season. I have become a Chicago State fan instantly.