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TRENDING: Minnesota Vikings vs. Chicago Bears: Prediction, preview, pick to win. (See the football section for Bears news and NFL updates).
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TRENDING: 6 main NLDS takeaways heading into Cubs-Nationals Game 3. White Sox Talk Podcast: What happened in 2017 and what happens next? (See the baseball section for Cubs and White Sox updates).
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TRENDING: What the playoff picture looks like for the Fire; Finally fit, Yedlin fills USMNT’s longtime void at right back. (See the soccer section for Fire news and worldwide soccer updates).
TRENDING: TCU, NC State, Ohio State and Wisconsin among those who can clinch bowl eligibility in Week 7. (See the NCAAFB section for college basketball news and team updates).
Bear Down Chicago Bears!!!!! Minnesota Vikings vs. Chicago Bears: Prediction, preview, pick to win.
By The Sports Xchange
MINNESOTA VIKINGS (2-2) AT CHICAGO BEARS (1-3)
GAME SNAPSHOT
KICKOFF: Monday, 8:30 p.m. ET, Soldier Field. TV: ESPN, Sean McDonough, Jon Gruden, Lisa Salters (field reporter).
SERIES HISTORY: 112th regular-season meeting. Vikings lead series, 52-57-2. The Bears have won eight of the last nine at Soldier Field, including a 20-10 game in 2016 on Halloween last year, a Monday night game. The Vikings are 22-31-2 at Chicago.
KEYS TO THE GAME: The Vikings have big questions in the backfield. Quarterback Sam Bradford has missed three games with a knee injury, and coach Mike Zimmer has played coy about when he might return. Case Keenum might continue to start.
At running back, rookie Dalvin Cook was lost for the season last week when he suffered a torn ACL. The Vikings will look to Latavius Murray and Jerick McKinnon to carry the load this week and beyond.
If Bradford is unable to return, a zero-turnover night is a must. The defense needs to shut down the running game, something it didn't do while being upset in prime time a year ago at Soldier Field. Jordan Howard is priority No. 1. If the Vikings take him out of the game, they'll be able to go after rookie quarterback Mitchell Trubisky in his NFL starting debut.
The Bears' offensive game plan will look quite different with Trubisky behind center. In preseason, the moving pocket, the rollouts and bootleg passes and even the occasional read-option run were suddenly in play with Trubisky at quarterback. The Bears might be more horizontal in their approach with the pass and will want to get Trubisky outside.
Defensively, the Bears should take a good look at how Pittsburgh mixed up blitzes to get pressure on Case Keenum and force mistakes. Most of the pressure came off the edge, whether it was from a linebacker or blitzing slot corner. Confusing Keenum by keeping him off balance is the best approach. He has mobility but isn't strong running to his left and throwing. The delayed blitz is another option against the Vikings.
MATCHUPS TO WATCH:
--Bears RT Bobby Massie vs. Vikings DE Danielle Hunter. Massie hasn't allowed a sack the last two games. Hunter recorded both his sacks in last week's 14-7 loss to Detroit. Hunter had 12.5 sacks last year and was graded the No. 1 edge run stuffer in the league by Pro Football Focus. Massie's size makes his strength blocking the run. The outside zone blocking scheme will be big in this game for the Bears, with Jordan Howard trying to wear down the edges, and Hunter is also going to be challenged. Also helping Massie in this battle is Mitchell Trubisky's bootleg ability and speed to the outside.
--Vikings TE Kyle Rudolph vs. Bears LB Christian Jones. Without Jerrell Freeman, without Nick Kwiatkoski and most likely without suspended Danny Trevathan, the Bears are scraping the bottom of the linebacker barrel for coverage of Vikings tight ends, receivers and backs coming over the middle. Jones isn't much better than John Timu and Jonathan Anderson, the other available inside linebackers. Rudolph struggled against the Bears initially; but, in the last two years, he has had their number, with 20 catches for 191 yards and a TD. Usually it's been the seam routes that are a strong point for him, but he won't have to go far downfield in this one.
PLAYER SPOTLIGHT: Vikings RB Latavius Murray. He joined the Vikings as a free agent from Oakland and was considered a key signing, but he recovered so slowly from offseason ankle surgery that rookie Dalvin Cook zoomed past him as the team's top back. The plan to share the load with Murray was scrapped. But Cook went down for the season last week and Murray was thrust into the role of No. 1 back. He still doesn't look like he did last year when he rushed for 12 touchdowns. He says it will take time for the ankle to reach the point where he's as good as he was before. But he says he's getting close. Now would be a very good time to prove that.
FAST FACTS: Vikings QB Case Keenum has 588 passing yards, three TDs and no interceptions in his past two starts in place of Sam Bradford. Bradford has 478 yards, four TDs and one interception in the past two meetings. ... Vikings RB Jerick McKinnon had 110 scrimmage yards and two TDs in the last meeting. RB Latavius Murray ranks sixth in the NFL with 18 rushing TDs since 2015. ... Vikings WR Stefon Diggs leads the NFL with 391 receiving yards and is tied for second with four receiving TDs. He has four TD catches in three games against Chicago. ... Vikings DE Everson Griffen ranks second in the NFC with five sacks. He has 4.5 sacks in his past six road game vs. the NFC North. ... Bears RB Jordan Howard is tied for second in the NFL with four rushing TDs. In two career meetings, he has 288 rushing yards and a score. ... Chicago rookie RB Tarik Cohen is aiming for 100 scrimmage yards for the third straight home game. He ranks fourth among rookies with 331 scrimmage yards and leads NFL RBs with 24 receptions. ... Chicago LB Pernell McPhee has two sacks and a forced fumble in his past two home meetings.
PREDICTION: The Vikings' stout defense will make it tough on the Bears' rookie QB.
OUR PICK: Vikings, 24-17. Chris Cluff.
Chicago Sports & Travel Inc./AllsportsAmerica: Nah..... Wrong Answer. The Bears will upset the Vikings.
Million dollar question for Bears: Is Dowell Loggains up to handling, developing Mitch Trubisky?
By John Mullin
A loose trend line of sorts has formed over time around the belief in some NFL halls that rookie quarterbacks are best developed and handled by head coaches from the offensive side of the football (Bill Belichick and Tom Brady, Tony Dungy and Peyton Manning notwithstanding): Bill Walsh and Joe Montana, Mike Holmgren and Brett Favre, Andy Reid and Donovan McNabb, Sean Payton and Drew Brees, Mike McCarthy and Aaron Rodgers, even Jim Harbaugh and Colin Kaepernick, and recently Jason Garrett and Dak Prescott and Bill O’Brien and Deshaun Watson.
The Bears, who lived through the Marc Trestman/Jay Cutler case study in dysfunction, have placed the care and feeding of the future of their franchise — Mitch Trubisky — in the hands of defense-based John Fox and more specifically offensive coordinator Dowell Loggains, and under him quarterbacks coach Dave Ragone. Obviously more than only Loggains and Ragone are involved in whether or not Trubisky becomes what an organization expects from a No. 2 overall pick, but they’re the ones walking point right now.
The next several weeks and extending presumably on through the end of December will go a long, long way in establishing both Trubisky as an NFL quarterback and, by extension, the legacies of Loggains and Ragone.
The sometimes-dawdling state of the Bears’ offense under Fox ostensibly inspires at best tepid optimism. But a handful of developments suggest a little more. Consider:
— Separate from the Mike Glennon debacle, Trubisky has been developing at a dramatically faster rate than had been foreseen even by those involved in drafting Trubisky. The plan has been for Ragone, in addition to his general quarterback-coaching duties, to focus particularly on coaching Trubisky. If Trubisky's progress was non-existent or even sluggish, Loggains and Ragone would be in for hard questions.
That doesn’t appear to be close to the case. Apart from the kid’s talent, somebody apparently has been whispering good things in his helmet radio.
— The 2016 season was a disaster, in no small part because the Bears were forced to start three different quarterbacks. They even won a game with three different quarterbacks.
More to the Loggains point, Cutler, Brian Hoyer and Matt Barkley each had stretches of football that were the best of their respective careers — Cutler during the 2015 season and the other two during the 2016 season. The one common denominator/thread was not Adam Gase; it was Loggains. Gase’s experience with Cutler and without Loggains in Miami this year is with a Cutler showing signs of reverting to his career-base course.
Loggains has drawn occasional fire for play calling, but his quarterbacks aren't the only ones working with a receiver group in no danger of eclipsing Jerry Rice and John Taylor or Lynn Swann and John Stallworth.
The quality of raw material is more than important; it is ultimately everything, since no amount of coaching can create talent that’s not there, only work to maximize what’s there. After replacing Terry Shea, Ron Turner was in that position with Rex Grossman and Kyle Orton in 2005 and arguably got what could be gotten from both before Turner’s exit after the 2009 season, the first year of Cutler. Gary Crowton and then John Shoop, who was in his final year when Grossman was drafted in 2003, were tasked with Cade McNown, who the Bears drafted back in 1999.
Loggains gets the landscape before him. “But I know this,” he said this week.
“The so-called quarterback ‘busts’ I don’t think exist. If you drafted the right guy, made of the right stuff, they battle through. Look at Eli Manning’s resume; he struggled, there were times as a rookie when he had a zero quarterback rating. And he’s won two Super Bowls and become one of the great ones.
“I don’t think there is a secret formula. I think we drafted the right guy and he’s going to play well. There’s no question: He’s going to make some mistakes. You know it; I know it. We’re going to learn from it, grow from it, rally around him. I gotta make sure I’m doing a good job putting him in the right situation and the 10 guys around him are playing well.”
Depth check: How injuries and suspension will have a major impact on Bears-Vikings.
By JJ Stankevitz
But on Monday, the Bears will be without the trio of players who comprised that depth: Jerrell Freeman is on injured reserve with a pectoral tear; Nick Kwiatkoski’s pec injury isn’t as serious but will keep him sidelined; and Danny Trevathan will serve his one-game suspension for the helmet-to-helmet hit he leveled on Green Bay Packers wide receiver Davante Adams last week.
Trevathan will be back next week and Kwiatkoski appears to have avoided injured reserve, meaning he can be expected back at some point this season. But without them, the Bears will roll with Christian Jones, John Timu and Jonathan Anderson (the latter two began the season on the practice squad) against the Minnesota Vikings.
“It's a concern, but at least we're playing with guys that were here that were in camp,” defensive coordinator Vic Fangio said. “That was the one position on defense, when we went to the 53 and practice squad where we did have guys, we had four active and two on practice squad and now all six of them have played, so (we) feel good about that in that we're not having somebody in off the street having to learn a new system and I think they'll all do fine.”
Jones and Timu have seen a decent amount of snaps alongside Trevathan this year: In the last three weeks, Jones’ defensive snap counts are 47, 36 and 28 while Timu played 17 snaps against Pittsburgh and 19 against Green Bay (Anderson has not played a defensive snap since Week 2).
Timu, who’s played in 20 games over the last three years, will handle the defensive calls on Monday.
“We’re confident in John,” Fangio said. “John knows our defense. He’s been here for three years. The game’s not too big for him. He loves to play. He is instinctive and smart. So we think he’ll go in there and do fine.”
Added linebacker Pernell McPhee: “Timu’s a very good player, a very smart player, a very patient player. I think his play on the field shows how much he’s studying and how much he’s really locked in throughout the week.”
The Bears may be without two other starters, too: Saturday’s final injury report listed outside linebacker Willie Young (tricep) as doubtful, while cornerback Marcus Cooper is questionable with back spasms. Going back further, the Bears are also without veteran safety Quintin Demps, who handled a lot of the communication duties for this defense.
But the Vikings will be without rookie Dalvin Cook (74 carries, 354 yards, 2 TDs), who tore his ACL last week. Backups Jerick McKinnon (2.6 yards/attempt) and Latavius Murray (2.7 yards/attempt) haven’t inspired much fear in 2017. And the expectation at Halas Hall is that quarterback Sam Bradford will start, though he’s listed as questionable on the Vikings’ final injury report.
So in the matchup of the Bears' defense against the Vikings' offense, the group that gets the most out of its depth guys may be the one that swings that battle on Monday.
“Any time you lose a starter — I think there's a reason they're the starter — but you know I feel good about our backups,” coach John Fox said. “I feel good about the replacement people we've had in there. We've got more depth this season than we've had in the past so I feel confident in the people we'll have out there and the options we have.”
How Mitch Trubisky can re-set the Bears’ running game.
By JJ Stankevitz
For the Bears’ offense to be successful, it has to consistently and effectively run the ball. The Green Bay Packers, and every other team in the league knows that and (except, oddly, the Pittsburgh Steelers) schemed against that strength.
“It’s a copycat league,” offensive coordinator Dowell Loggains said. “When they see you’re efficient in one area, they’re going to do things to take that away.”
So two in every three times Jordan Howard carried the ball last week at Lambeau Field, he did so facing eight or more Packers in the box, according to NFL’s Next Gen stats. Only two running backs have faced a higher percentage of loaded boxes in a game this year: Tennessee’s Derrick Henry (71.43 percent, Week 2) and Carolina’s Mike Tolbert (72.73 percent, Week 3).
Henry isn’t necessarily a pure short-yardage/goal line back, but at 247 pounds and splitting carries with DeMarco Murray, he’s built to grind out necessary yardage. And Tolbert, as a 5-foot-9, 243 pound bowling ball, has made a career out of snagging touchdowns from short-and-goal situations.
Neither player is a feature running back in the way Howard is. But as long as Mike Glennon was quarterback, the secret was out: Load the box, stop Howard and that’ll stop the Bears’ offense.
The good news for Howard: Mitchell Trubisky’s arm strength and mobility could alleviate some of that pressure at the line of scrimmage.
The Bears won’t put a lot on Trubisky, at least not yet, in terms of making run checks — an area of Glennon’s game that Loggains pointed out was a strength — but his own running ability will open up more for the offense.
“The threat of the other things—the zone-reads and the nakeds and the boots and the sprint-outs and all those other things definitely can help and affect the run game in a different way,” Loggains said.
Trubisky’s arm strength, too, could force defenses to back off stacking the box if he shows he can complete downfield throws to guys like Markus Wheaton or Deonte Thompson (it’s also incumbent on those receivers to catch the ball when given the opportunity). Opposing defensive backs will have to deal with the threat of having to cover receivers for longer if Trubisky is rolling out or making something happen on a broken down play, too. Specifically: Cohen's quickness could result in some big gains on broken plays.
"You have to always be available for him because you never know what he’s going to do," Cohen said. "He’s very mobile. Just keeping the play alive is something that’s he’s going to do and we’ve got to be ready for it."
Also helping for the run game: The Bears’ offensive line is in the midst of its first full week of practice together (Charles Leno, Josh Sitton, Cody Whitehair, Kyle Long, Bobby Massie) in 2017.
“It’s just great cohesion and stuff like that because the more games they play together, they better they work off each other,” Howard said.
The Minnesota Vikings have held opposing ball-carriers to 3.1 yards per rush, the third-lowest average in the NFL, and this defense ranks 8th in rushing DVOA. So while the thought is Howard and Cohen could help ease things for Trubisky, it can work the other way, with the first-time starter giving the running backs some breathing room against a top-tier run defense.
How 'bout them Chicago Blackhawks? Lost in Blackhawks' explosive start, Corey Crawford has been stellar in season's first two games.
GAME SNAPSHOT
KICKOFF: Monday, 8:30 p.m. ET, Soldier Field. TV: ESPN, Sean McDonough, Jon Gruden, Lisa Salters (field reporter).
SERIES HISTORY: 112th regular-season meeting. Vikings lead series, 52-57-2. The Bears have won eight of the last nine at Soldier Field, including a 20-10 game in 2016 on Halloween last year, a Monday night game. The Vikings are 22-31-2 at Chicago.
KEYS TO THE GAME: The Vikings have big questions in the backfield. Quarterback Sam Bradford has missed three games with a knee injury, and coach Mike Zimmer has played coy about when he might return. Case Keenum might continue to start.
At running back, rookie Dalvin Cook was lost for the season last week when he suffered a torn ACL. The Vikings will look to Latavius Murray and Jerick McKinnon to carry the load this week and beyond.
If Bradford is unable to return, a zero-turnover night is a must. The defense needs to shut down the running game, something it didn't do while being upset in prime time a year ago at Soldier Field. Jordan Howard is priority No. 1. If the Vikings take him out of the game, they'll be able to go after rookie quarterback Mitchell Trubisky in his NFL starting debut.
The Bears' offensive game plan will look quite different with Trubisky behind center. In preseason, the moving pocket, the rollouts and bootleg passes and even the occasional read-option run were suddenly in play with Trubisky at quarterback. The Bears might be more horizontal in their approach with the pass and will want to get Trubisky outside.
Defensively, the Bears should take a good look at how Pittsburgh mixed up blitzes to get pressure on Case Keenum and force mistakes. Most of the pressure came off the edge, whether it was from a linebacker or blitzing slot corner. Confusing Keenum by keeping him off balance is the best approach. He has mobility but isn't strong running to his left and throwing. The delayed blitz is another option against the Vikings.
MATCHUPS TO WATCH:
--Bears RT Bobby Massie vs. Vikings DE Danielle Hunter. Massie hasn't allowed a sack the last two games. Hunter recorded both his sacks in last week's 14-7 loss to Detroit. Hunter had 12.5 sacks last year and was graded the No. 1 edge run stuffer in the league by Pro Football Focus. Massie's size makes his strength blocking the run. The outside zone blocking scheme will be big in this game for the Bears, with Jordan Howard trying to wear down the edges, and Hunter is also going to be challenged. Also helping Massie in this battle is Mitchell Trubisky's bootleg ability and speed to the outside.
--Vikings TE Kyle Rudolph vs. Bears LB Christian Jones. Without Jerrell Freeman, without Nick Kwiatkoski and most likely without suspended Danny Trevathan, the Bears are scraping the bottom of the linebacker barrel for coverage of Vikings tight ends, receivers and backs coming over the middle. Jones isn't much better than John Timu and Jonathan Anderson, the other available inside linebackers. Rudolph struggled against the Bears initially; but, in the last two years, he has had their number, with 20 catches for 191 yards and a TD. Usually it's been the seam routes that are a strong point for him, but he won't have to go far downfield in this one.
PLAYER SPOTLIGHT: Vikings RB Latavius Murray. He joined the Vikings as a free agent from Oakland and was considered a key signing, but he recovered so slowly from offseason ankle surgery that rookie Dalvin Cook zoomed past him as the team's top back. The plan to share the load with Murray was scrapped. But Cook went down for the season last week and Murray was thrust into the role of No. 1 back. He still doesn't look like he did last year when he rushed for 12 touchdowns. He says it will take time for the ankle to reach the point where he's as good as he was before. But he says he's getting close. Now would be a very good time to prove that.
FAST FACTS: Vikings QB Case Keenum has 588 passing yards, three TDs and no interceptions in his past two starts in place of Sam Bradford. Bradford has 478 yards, four TDs and one interception in the past two meetings. ... Vikings RB Jerick McKinnon had 110 scrimmage yards and two TDs in the last meeting. RB Latavius Murray ranks sixth in the NFL with 18 rushing TDs since 2015. ... Vikings WR Stefon Diggs leads the NFL with 391 receiving yards and is tied for second with four receiving TDs. He has four TD catches in three games against Chicago. ... Vikings DE Everson Griffen ranks second in the NFC with five sacks. He has 4.5 sacks in his past six road game vs. the NFC North. ... Bears RB Jordan Howard is tied for second in the NFL with four rushing TDs. In two career meetings, he has 288 rushing yards and a score. ... Chicago rookie RB Tarik Cohen is aiming for 100 scrimmage yards for the third straight home game. He ranks fourth among rookies with 331 scrimmage yards and leads NFL RBs with 24 receptions. ... Chicago LB Pernell McPhee has two sacks and a forced fumble in his past two home meetings.
PREDICTION: The Vikings' stout defense will make it tough on the Bears' rookie QB.
OUR PICK: Vikings, 24-17. Chris Cluff.
Chicago Sports & Travel Inc./AllsportsAmerica: Nah..... Wrong Answer. The Bears will upset the Vikings.
Million dollar question for Bears: Is Dowell Loggains up to handling, developing Mitch Trubisky?
By John Mullin
(Photo/AP)
A loose trend line of sorts has formed over time around the belief in some NFL halls that rookie quarterbacks are best developed and handled by head coaches from the offensive side of the football (Bill Belichick and Tom Brady, Tony Dungy and Peyton Manning notwithstanding): Bill Walsh and Joe Montana, Mike Holmgren and Brett Favre, Andy Reid and Donovan McNabb, Sean Payton and Drew Brees, Mike McCarthy and Aaron Rodgers, even Jim Harbaugh and Colin Kaepernick, and recently Jason Garrett and Dak Prescott and Bill O’Brien and Deshaun Watson.
The Bears, who lived through the Marc Trestman/Jay Cutler case study in dysfunction, have placed the care and feeding of the future of their franchise — Mitch Trubisky — in the hands of defense-based John Fox and more specifically offensive coordinator Dowell Loggains, and under him quarterbacks coach Dave Ragone. Obviously more than only Loggains and Ragone are involved in whether or not Trubisky becomes what an organization expects from a No. 2 overall pick, but they’re the ones walking point right now.
The next several weeks and extending presumably on through the end of December will go a long, long way in establishing both Trubisky as an NFL quarterback and, by extension, the legacies of Loggains and Ragone.
The sometimes-dawdling state of the Bears’ offense under Fox ostensibly inspires at best tepid optimism. But a handful of developments suggest a little more. Consider:
— Separate from the Mike Glennon debacle, Trubisky has been developing at a dramatically faster rate than had been foreseen even by those involved in drafting Trubisky. The plan has been for Ragone, in addition to his general quarterback-coaching duties, to focus particularly on coaching Trubisky. If Trubisky's progress was non-existent or even sluggish, Loggains and Ragone would be in for hard questions.
That doesn’t appear to be close to the case. Apart from the kid’s talent, somebody apparently has been whispering good things in his helmet radio.
— The 2016 season was a disaster, in no small part because the Bears were forced to start three different quarterbacks. They even won a game with three different quarterbacks.
More to the Loggains point, Cutler, Brian Hoyer and Matt Barkley each had stretches of football that were the best of their respective careers — Cutler during the 2015 season and the other two during the 2016 season. The one common denominator/thread was not Adam Gase; it was Loggains. Gase’s experience with Cutler and without Loggains in Miami this year is with a Cutler showing signs of reverting to his career-base course.
Loggains has drawn occasional fire for play calling, but his quarterbacks aren't the only ones working with a receiver group in no danger of eclipsing Jerry Rice and John Taylor or Lynn Swann and John Stallworth.
The quality of raw material is more than important; it is ultimately everything, since no amount of coaching can create talent that’s not there, only work to maximize what’s there. After replacing Terry Shea, Ron Turner was in that position with Rex Grossman and Kyle Orton in 2005 and arguably got what could be gotten from both before Turner’s exit after the 2009 season, the first year of Cutler. Gary Crowton and then John Shoop, who was in his final year when Grossman was drafted in 2003, were tasked with Cade McNown, who the Bears drafted back in 1999.
Loggains gets the landscape before him. “But I know this,” he said this week.
“The so-called quarterback ‘busts’ I don’t think exist. If you drafted the right guy, made of the right stuff, they battle through. Look at Eli Manning’s resume; he struggled, there were times as a rookie when he had a zero quarterback rating. And he’s won two Super Bowls and become one of the great ones.
“I don’t think there is a secret formula. I think we drafted the right guy and he’s going to play well. There’s no question: He’s going to make some mistakes. You know it; I know it. We’re going to learn from it, grow from it, rally around him. I gotta make sure I’m doing a good job putting him in the right situation and the 10 guys around him are playing well.”
Depth check: How injuries and suspension will have a major impact on Bears-Vikings.
By JJ Stankevitz
(Photo/USA TODAY)
But on Monday, the Bears will be without the trio of players who comprised that depth: Jerrell Freeman is on injured reserve with a pectoral tear; Nick Kwiatkoski’s pec injury isn’t as serious but will keep him sidelined; and Danny Trevathan will serve his one-game suspension for the helmet-to-helmet hit he leveled on Green Bay Packers wide receiver Davante Adams last week.
Trevathan will be back next week and Kwiatkoski appears to have avoided injured reserve, meaning he can be expected back at some point this season. But without them, the Bears will roll with Christian Jones, John Timu and Jonathan Anderson (the latter two began the season on the practice squad) against the Minnesota Vikings.
“It's a concern, but at least we're playing with guys that were here that were in camp,” defensive coordinator Vic Fangio said. “That was the one position on defense, when we went to the 53 and practice squad where we did have guys, we had four active and two on practice squad and now all six of them have played, so (we) feel good about that in that we're not having somebody in off the street having to learn a new system and I think they'll all do fine.”
Jones and Timu have seen a decent amount of snaps alongside Trevathan this year: In the last three weeks, Jones’ defensive snap counts are 47, 36 and 28 while Timu played 17 snaps against Pittsburgh and 19 against Green Bay (Anderson has not played a defensive snap since Week 2).
Timu, who’s played in 20 games over the last three years, will handle the defensive calls on Monday.
“We’re confident in John,” Fangio said. “John knows our defense. He’s been here for three years. The game’s not too big for him. He loves to play. He is instinctive and smart. So we think he’ll go in there and do fine.”
Added linebacker Pernell McPhee: “Timu’s a very good player, a very smart player, a very patient player. I think his play on the field shows how much he’s studying and how much he’s really locked in throughout the week.”
The Bears may be without two other starters, too: Saturday’s final injury report listed outside linebacker Willie Young (tricep) as doubtful, while cornerback Marcus Cooper is questionable with back spasms. Going back further, the Bears are also without veteran safety Quintin Demps, who handled a lot of the communication duties for this defense.
But the Vikings will be without rookie Dalvin Cook (74 carries, 354 yards, 2 TDs), who tore his ACL last week. Backups Jerick McKinnon (2.6 yards/attempt) and Latavius Murray (2.7 yards/attempt) haven’t inspired much fear in 2017. And the expectation at Halas Hall is that quarterback Sam Bradford will start, though he’s listed as questionable on the Vikings’ final injury report.
So in the matchup of the Bears' defense against the Vikings' offense, the group that gets the most out of its depth guys may be the one that swings that battle on Monday.
“Any time you lose a starter — I think there's a reason they're the starter — but you know I feel good about our backups,” coach John Fox said. “I feel good about the replacement people we've had in there. We've got more depth this season than we've had in the past so I feel confident in the people we'll have out there and the options we have.”
How Mitch Trubisky can re-set the Bears’ running game.
By JJ Stankevitz
(Photo/USA TODAY)
For the Bears’ offense to be successful, it has to consistently and effectively run the ball. The Green Bay Packers, and every other team in the league knows that and (except, oddly, the Pittsburgh Steelers) schemed against that strength.
“It’s a copycat league,” offensive coordinator Dowell Loggains said. “When they see you’re efficient in one area, they’re going to do things to take that away.”
So two in every three times Jordan Howard carried the ball last week at Lambeau Field, he did so facing eight or more Packers in the box, according to NFL’s Next Gen stats. Only two running backs have faced a higher percentage of loaded boxes in a game this year: Tennessee’s Derrick Henry (71.43 percent, Week 2) and Carolina’s Mike Tolbert (72.73 percent, Week 3).
Henry isn’t necessarily a pure short-yardage/goal line back, but at 247 pounds and splitting carries with DeMarco Murray, he’s built to grind out necessary yardage. And Tolbert, as a 5-foot-9, 243 pound bowling ball, has made a career out of snagging touchdowns from short-and-goal situations.
Neither player is a feature running back in the way Howard is. But as long as Mike Glennon was quarterback, the secret was out: Load the box, stop Howard and that’ll stop the Bears’ offense.
The good news for Howard: Mitchell Trubisky’s arm strength and mobility could alleviate some of that pressure at the line of scrimmage.
The Bears won’t put a lot on Trubisky, at least not yet, in terms of making run checks — an area of Glennon’s game that Loggains pointed out was a strength — but his own running ability will open up more for the offense.
“The threat of the other things—the zone-reads and the nakeds and the boots and the sprint-outs and all those other things definitely can help and affect the run game in a different way,” Loggains said.
Trubisky’s arm strength, too, could force defenses to back off stacking the box if he shows he can complete downfield throws to guys like Markus Wheaton or Deonte Thompson (it’s also incumbent on those receivers to catch the ball when given the opportunity). Opposing defensive backs will have to deal with the threat of having to cover receivers for longer if Trubisky is rolling out or making something happen on a broken down play, too. Specifically: Cohen's quickness could result in some big gains on broken plays.
"You have to always be available for him because you never know what he’s going to do," Cohen said. "He’s very mobile. Just keeping the play alive is something that’s he’s going to do and we’ve got to be ready for it."
Also helping for the run game: The Bears’ offensive line is in the midst of its first full week of practice together (Charles Leno, Josh Sitton, Cody Whitehair, Kyle Long, Bobby Massie) in 2017.
“It’s just great cohesion and stuff like that because the more games they play together, they better they work off each other,” Howard said.
The Minnesota Vikings have held opposing ball-carriers to 3.1 yards per rush, the third-lowest average in the NFL, and this defense ranks 8th in rushing DVOA. So while the thought is Howard and Cohen could help ease things for Trubisky, it can work the other way, with the first-time starter giving the running backs some breathing room against a top-tier run defense.
How 'bout them Chicago Blackhawks? Lost in Blackhawks' explosive start, Corey Crawford has been stellar in season's first two games.
By Tracey Myers
(Photo/AP)
The numbers in the early going are gaudy, for sure.
Two games, 15 goals for a Blackhawks offense that has easily worked in Brandon Saad and Patrick Sharp again and has struck upon a dynamic duo with Nick Schmaltz and Patrick Kane.
Lost in the shuffle of all of this, however, are equally strong numbers on the other end of the ice. While the Blackhawks’ offense has been overwhelming at one end, Corey Crawford has quietly done stellar work at the other. He’s allowed just two goals in two games and — the sample size being what it is at this point — has gotten off to as strong a start as he did last fall.
“I mean, he made several key saves,” coach Joel Quenneville said. “I like him around the net. He’s cutting off plays that they’re trying to make that could generate even more chances. His anticipation in that area has been outstanding, he’s been moving the puck well, he’s square and seems like he’s very involved. A lot of good things have happened in a couple of games, but Crow’s been rock solid.”
Nobody pictured the Blackhawks putting up 15 goals in their first two games. The sizeable leads, including the Blackhawks’ 5-0 first-period edge over Pittsburgh on Thursday night, have meant less worry. But Crawford said there’s a fine line between being happy with a lead and being comfortable.
“It’s nice to have a cushion, but sometimes in those games it’s easy to let up and try not to let up and let them back in the game. That’s the way we want to start, and we’ve been good in all areas,” Crawford said. “I know we scored a ton of goals, but our defense has been great moving the puck up, getting in the rush, ending plays quick in our zone. Every aspect of our game right now is looking good. We just have to keep that momentum going.”
Crawford usually credits the defense for his victories, and it has played its part. But the Blackhawks’ propensity to get a little scattered in the second period occurred again in their first two games. Both times Crawford was strong, denying breakaways and second opportunities. Crawford talked in the preseason about always working on little things with goaltender Jimmy Waite, and that will continue.
“Sometimes you might not be feeling good in one part of your game. We might work on that in practice. The first two games have been pretty good. I’ve been able to be aggressive when I had to, read it, be patient and stay back a little more on other plays,” he said. “For us, it’s a great start. We’re going into a tough building now against a high-scoring team (Toronto on Monday) and it’s going to be a fun game for us.”
Yes, Toronto also has 15 goals in its first two games, but will Crawford start against the Maple Leafs? Based on his first two performances this season it’s easy to say yes, but remember Tuesday’s game is in Montreal and Crawford has always been spectacular against the Canadiens: 7-0-2, with a 1.55 goals-against average and a .951 save percentage.
Offense has been plentiful, but those numbers are going to deflate at some point. Crawford will once again be critical to the Blackhawks’ success, and he is once again getting the necessary start.
Five takeaways from Blackhawks' 5-1 win over Blue Jackets in Artemi Panarin's return to Chicago.
By Charlie Roumeliotis
(Photo/csnchicago.com)
Here are five takeaways from the Blackhawks' 5-1 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets on Saturday night:
1. Brandon Saad stays hot.
We're not sure you could've scripted a better start for Saad in his second go-around with the Blackhawks. Fresh off a hat trick on Opening Night, the 24-year-old winger found himself on the scoresheet again — and early — when he potted Chicago's second goal (on the power play) against his former club 6:04 into the first period.
He also added an assist, and finished with seven shot attempts (five on goal) in the victory.
"His quickness is the thing that's been very noticeable," Joel Quenneville said of Saad. "Quick to pucks, quick to beating the guy to the net. That line was excellent again tonight."
2. Nick Schmaltz injured again, and it'll sideline him this time.
For the second straight game, the Blackhawks lost their second-line center to an upper-body injury. Only this time, it will force him to miss some action. Just 1:33 into the game, Schmaltz got sandwiched in between two defenders charging hard to the net while Patrick Kane was receiving a pass that he eventually scored on.
Schmaltz stayed down for a little bit, then needed help from trainers to get off the ice. He did not return, despite coming back on the bench briefly later in the period, before heading back to the dressing room for good.
Quenneville said after the game that Schmaltz will "probably" not go on the team's upcoming road trip in Toronto and Montreal: "We're thinking maybe Thursday" for a potential return.
3. Jonathan Toews is on the board.
Just about everyone scored in the Blackhawks' season-opening 10-1 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins, except The Captain. That changed in Game No. 2, when Toews buried home his only shot of the game from new/old linemate Saad for his first goal of the season.
Toews also tallied an assist, and won an offensive zone draw that immediately led to a Richard Panik goal to get all three players from that line a tally.
Toews hasn't been shy about his intention to re-establish himself as an elite center, both on defense and offense, but especially the latter. If his line can continue playing the way it has been early on, his offensive numbers will start to come on a consistent basis.
4. Patrick Kane, Artemi Panarin just fine without each other (sort of).
Remember how some were wondering how these two would survive without each other? Well, they're doing just fine.
Kane added a goal and an assist in his second game, increasing his point total to six, while Panarin set a Blue Jackets record by recording three points in his team debut Friday night.
Panarin didn't get on the scoresheet against his former team, but his line had solid even-strength possession numbers — although he was on the ice for two of the Blackhawks' goals.
Do they miss playing with each other and toying with opponents? Sure. But they're both superstars in their own right, and don't need each other to prove just how great they are individually.
But they hit the city of Chicago right in the feels after Panarin shared the exchange — through an interpreter — he had with Kane at center ice during pregame warmups: "Patrick came by and said, 'Hey, I miss you' and I said 'I miss you too' and off we went. And then we lost 5-1."
5. Jan Rutta rewarded with first career NHL goal.
An underrated part of the Blackhawks' success in their first two games this season has been their defense. In 120 minutes, they haven't had any glaring defensive lapses or spent a lot of time in their own end.
Rutta, a 27-year-old rookie, is blending right in. He's registered a point in consecutive games to kick off his NHL career, and was rewarded with his first goal Saturday after pinching in to receive a nice backhand pass by Kane before wristing it past Blue Jackets goaltender Joonas Korpisalo.
Rutta also owns a plus-7 rating, which may not be a great stat but at least it indicates good things are happening when he's on the ice.
"Every game I’ve seen him play I’ve been impressed with him," Quenneville said. "It was a special pass that he received from Kaner on the play, nice finish but he does a lot of good things. His anticipation, his reach, his gap, his thinking are all high end. Looks like he’s been around here the way he plays the game. He gives us some experience back there the way he handles his own game."
Blackhawks showing why trading Artemi Panarin for Brandon Saad was necessary.
By Tracey Myers
(Photo/AP)
The Artemi Panarin video tribute rolled during the first period on Saturday, the United Center crowd cheering and Panarin acknowledging the applause. It was a strong appreciation and understandably so; in two seasons here Panarin was outstanding, the Russian equal to line mate Patrick Kane in skill and creativity.
On the other bench was Brandon Saad, whom the Blackhawks reacquired in exchange for Panarin in late June. It was a surprise move – and to the two players involved. The Blackhawks loved Panarin, but they loved and needed Saad, whose power game was a notable absence the past two seasons.
There’s nothing wrong with missing Panarin. He put up impressive numbers with the Blackhawks and started his Columbus career off well with a three-assist night on Friday against the New York Islanders. But the Blackhawks kept him off the scoresheet on Saturday.
Meanwhile, Saad’s presence has been felt in two consecutive games, from his hat trick on Thursday to his two-point night (game-winning goal, assist) on Saturday. When camp opened Saad said it could take some time for he, Jonathan Toews and Richard Panik to gel. It really hasn’t. The top line, which combined for five points on Saturday, has become the top line again.
“His quickness is what’s been very noticeable: quick to pucks, quick to beating the guy to the net,” coach Joel Quenneville said of Saad. “That line was excellent again tonight. They all do a little something different but they’re all big, all can move and Saader sniffing out a loose puck right off the bat got us off to a good start.”
As Quenneville mentioned over the summer, finding line mates for Kane has rarely been a problem; no matter who Kane’s lined up with the points have usually come. There’s already been evidence of that, given Kane’s five points in two games. He’s found success with Nick Schmaltz and Ryan Hartman – and played some Artem Anisimov on Saturday after Schmaltz left with an upper-body injury. Kane talked on Saturday morning about missing Panarin but his ability to adjust to new line mates – and he did it plenty prior to the last two seasons – has made Panarin’s absence easier.
The reception Panarin got on Saturday was rousing and justifiably so. For two seasons Panarin showed the “wow” factor, as Quenneville often referred to it. Sure, it’d be great if they could both be on the same team but that pesky salary cap just won’t allow it. The Blackhawks loved Panarin. But they needed Saad.
“[Saad’s] probably added, whether it’s confidence or the ability to get his stick on pucks around the net, it seems really high-end right now. Great start for him,” Patrick Kane said. “We were saying he’s not a Man-Child anymore. He’s just a man.”
Just Another Chicago Bulls Session..... Pace, bouncing back, Holiday shines: Observations from Bulls-Bucks.
By Vincent Goodwill
(Photo/USA TODAY)
The Bulls picked up their second win of the preseason, topping Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Bucks 114-101 Friday night at the United Center.
Here are three observations from the victory:
Pace, pace, pace: Bulls coach Fred Hoiberg wouldn’t definitively say whether he wanted this team to lead the league in pace in terms of the advanced stats, but it wouldn’t be a stretch to say being a top-five team is a micro goal.
With that said, they got up shots early and often, not allowing the shot clock to get in the danger zone many times.
Eight of their 10 first-quarter field goals were assisted and they finished with 30 assists on the night.
“We want to play with pace and draw two to the ball. Our bigs were much better, our space was much better,” Hoiberg said. “When you can collapse the defense, generally good things happened. We had a lot of good to great plays, where we had a good shot and turned it to a great shot.”
The great equalizer? Denzel Valentine hit four triples in the first half, and Nikola Mirotic hit three of his own. Over half the Bulls’ 23 field goals came from behind the 3-point line in the first two quarters, enabling them to score 60 points. They only hit three in the second half but the tone was set.
Valentine was perfect with his first five 3-point looks before missing his final attempt. He scored 15 off the bench. Mirotic matched him and added seven rebounds.
“Playing unselfish and open shots came,” Valentine said. “I shot confidently and made my open looks. The trust factor, we’ll keep gaining that.
“We all believe in ourselves and trust ourselves. If we have an open shot, take it. Sometimes we’re almost too unselfish.”
Bouncing back from a bad loss: No matter if it’s preseason, regular season or CYO ball, getting outscored 44-11 like the Bulls were in the fourth quarter Wednesday to Dallas is bound to shake a team’s confidence, especially one as young as the Bulls.
Seeing them play with a consistent and confident effort bodes well for a season that’s sure to have more than its share of lumps.
“I give our guys a lot of credit for coming in with a great mentality this morning with practice. Our guys went out there and got better,” Fred Hoiberg said. “I think it really bothered them the way the game ended the other night. They came in focused and had a great teaching moment and carried that over to a good session on the floor.”
The Bulls played with energy and competed, two things they’ll need in full supply this season to keep the fans engaged and hopeful this rebuild is going in a position direction.
“We know we played uncharacteristic (Wednesday),” Valentine said. “We were taking shots that weren’t good shots. On the defensive end, they were doing whatever they wanted. It was right there for us, we gotta keep playing hard, keep playing together.”
Holiday: With Zach LaVine out until at least December, Justin Holiday is admirably filling in, being aggressive without being too thirsty with his shots and getting them into the flow of the offense.
Scoring 21 and looking for his offense, there will be shots to take and he’ll be glad to do so, which will be a necessity from the shooting guard and small forward spots no matter if LaVine is on the floor or not.
“The way Fred has been with us, play your game and take what the defense gives you,” Holiday said. “So we’re moving the ball to get a situation where we can attack or have an open shot. If you have it, you have to go.
“You don’t have to, but pick and choose your times. I’m the type of person where I’ll go. In attacking those slots, the ball will still move.”
Holiday recalled an instance where he caught the ball and swung it, then looked around to realize every player on the floor was a threat to hit an outside shot—not something that will happen all the time, but enough of an instance to see nights where the Bulls can be effective.
Being in this type of offense will certainly allow him to improve on that 5.7 career scoring average. No one should be surprised if it doubles this season.
“That’s something I’ve tried to work on, something I try to do, improving my game, moving forward in my career,” Holiday said. “This offense allows you to do that. It’s so many spots I can shoot, drive and open up things for other people.”
Battling for point guard spot, Kris Dunn dislocates finger and will miss multiple weeks.
By Vincent Goodwill
(Photo/USA TODAY)
Dunn will miss at least the next couple weeks with an open dislocation of his left index finger in an awkward basketball play in the Bulls’ 114-101 preseason win over the Milwaukee Bucks at the United Center.
Dunn was having his best outing of the preseason, playing confidently and assuredly before his progress came to a halt, as he’ll lose valuable time picking up the offense and learning to play with his new teammates.
With 8:53 left in the fourth quarter, Bucks guard Sterling Brown made a quick move to the basket for a dunk and foul on Bulls guard David Nwaba. Nwaba made contact with Dunn’s finger and it twisted in what didn’t look like a natural position.
Teammates squirmed.
“I saw it for a second, I had to turn away, I can’t look at things like that,” teammate Justin Holiday said.
“It was almost at a 90-degree angle,” said guard Denzel Valentine.
Fred Hoiberg said he could almost see the tendon on Dunn’s finger, thus explaining the “open dislocation” as the bone went through his skin.
Dunn writhed in pain as he immediately went to the locker room with trainer Jeff Tanaka. Unlike a normal dislocation where a bone can be popped back into place, Dunn’s wound will have to heal after stitches are applied.
If it sounds wrenching, it’s because it is.
“The first thing that will have to be done, Jeff Tanaka popped it back into place. But with the open wound it’ll be at least a couple weeks to get that healed,” Hoiberg said. “He’ll get that stitched up and have an appointment with our hand specialist tomorrow and go from there.”
If one is counting, it means all three participants from the Jimmy Butler trade are all out with injury—Zach LaVine is recovering from an ACL injury, first-round pick Lauri Markkanen is dealing with back spasms and now, Dunn with this injury.
It certainly appears Dunn will miss the season opener against Toronto, which is less than two weeks away, and for the eternal optimist, a game like this could’ve been a confidence builder for the season.
Dunn was aggressive in going to the basket, playing under control and hit his lone 3-point attempt in 16 minutes, hitting five of seven shots to score 11 points. With his outside shooting struggles well known, he took smaller Bucks guards to the midrange area, deliberately setting himself up for easy shots in the 10-foot range.
“Kris was unbelievable tonight. He was ballhawking on defense, getting to the paint, making plays,” Hoiberg said. “His shot was looking really good on that 3 that he hit on the right wing. He looked really comfortable out there.”
Dunn was a big part of the Bulls playing with pace and getting into their offense quickly as opposed to rushing shots, making his case to start opening night as he and Jerian Grant vie for honors.
“Just trying to get my groove. Yesterday was the most shots I took in a game, in awhile. It felt good,” Dunn said at the morning shootaround, speaking of his one-for-nine shooting performance against Dallas Wednesday night.
Grasping Hoiberg’s offense hasn’t been a problem for Dunn, as he’s trying to wash away the negative memories of a bad rookie year in Minnesota with a fresh start in Chicago.
“It’s a lot of read and react,” Dunn said. “Trying to get a good rhythm going into the regular season. I’m a competitor, they want to see that every day out of me. I have to bring that to the team.”
Now that recovery has been put on hold for one of another kind, and more will be known in the days ahead.
“It’s unfortunate that it happened in this game, it can happen to anybody,” Hoiberg said. “He’s gotta keep his spirits high as he goes through the recovery process and hopefully we’ll get him back before too long.”
Report: Why Bulls passed on one of world's best passers.
By Tim Goldrick
(Photo/AP)
Milos Teodosic was on the verge of becoming the point guard of the Bulls' future, according to a report by Eurohoops and NBA Greece.
The 30-year-old Serbian, who's known as a passing genius in international basketball circles, verbally committed to play in Chicago before the deal fell through, and he opted to suit up for the Clippers instead.
"We initially had a deal with the Chicago Bulls," Nick Lotsos, the longtime agent of Teodosic, said to NBA Greece.
“I met in Treviso, Italy, the head of international scouting Ivica Dukan, who is the man who took Tony Kukoc to Chicago. His opinion has a real value within the Bulls organization. He is practically the one decision maker on the team. We talked and he said to me that Milos was the best player they could get. After a few days the GM, Gar Forman, called me. We had agreed to a contract close to $30 million for three years, similar to the one Bogdan Bogdanovic signed in Sacramento. My only objection was that I wanted Milos to have the chance to opt out every summer because I believe that he can all-star money. We were ready to sign and Forman wanted the deal for one more reason. There are many Serbs in Chicago."
Despite GarPax seemingly showing strong interest early in the recruitment process, the team altered its course after shipping Jimmy Butler to Minnesota. Post-blockbuster, the team's desire to sign an older guard dissipated, according to Teodosic's agent.
“I knew that the deal will not be completed after the trade," Lotsos said. "And two days later, Forman called me and explained to me that the team wanted to rebuild, so getting a 30-year-old point guard without NBA experience was out of the question."
With the rebuild in its initial stage, the Bulls are moving forward with Kris Dunn, Jerian Grant and Cameron Payne at the 1.
Still, though, one can daydream about having a PG drop incisive, imaginative dimes such as this one:
Rob Perez ✔
@World_Wide_Wob
Wait a second what on Earth ... Milos Teodosic just threw a full-court underhand shovel pass on a DIME
12:27 AM - Oct 4, 2017
Or this precise underhanded post pass:
Mike Schmitz✔
@Mike_Schmitz
The underhand scoop pass is nothing new from Milos Teodosic. The Serbian guard has been dropping dimes from all different angles for years.
8:25 AM - Oct 4, 2017
CUBS: 6 main NLDS takeaways heading into Cubs-Nationals Game 3.
By Tony Andracki
(Photo/AP)
The Cubs may be in the midst of a playoff race, but you wouldn't know it if you spent the morning/early afternoon at Wrigley Field Sunday.
The team's "workout" consisted of brunch and football on the field. In other words, they were doing exactly what a whole bunch of Chicagoland's 20- and 30-somethings were doing.
Kyle Schwarber spent five minutes talking the talk with reporters about the lack of pressure the Cubs are facing right now but he also walked the walk just a few minutes earlier when he showed no sign of feeling that weight. During "batting practice," Schwarber was drilled in the ribs by the young son of Cubs first-base coach Brandon Hyde and Schwarber retaliated by sprinting after the younger Hyde, playfully tackling him and throwing light punches.
Schwarber joked he was worried about a suspension after charging the mound.
That's where these Cubs are at right now, on the eve of Jose Quintana's first career postseason start: a Game 3 date with NL Cy Young favorite Max Scherzer — who insists he's healthy enough to throw 100 pitches — and the high-powered Nationals offense in a series tied at one game apiece.
Here are some other key takeaways from Sunday entering the last few days of this NLDS:
Dusty doesn't live in the past
Dusty Baker is a household name around these parts, resonating with fans after nearly taking the 2003 Cubs to the first World Series in a lifetime.
Even though Baker is returning to the scene of the infamous Bartman incident and that NLCS meltdown, he wouldn't allow himself to truly get nostalgic.
But yes, he absolutely watched the Cubs finally win it all last fall.
"Oh, I was watching," Baker said Sunday afternoon. "I watch every game. I like watching baseball. Doesn't matter who's playing. I had some friends over there in Cleveland and some guys I know here that were here when I was here — [Cubs bullpen coach] Lester Strode and Bussy [Cubs strength coach Tim Buss] and some of those guys.
"I was neither rooting for them nor against them. I was just rooting for a good game, because I didn't have any skin in the game. I'm not a gambler. I just wanted a good time and that's what we got.
"Deep down inside, you know, we were one out or one pitch away from that possibly being us. But you can't live in the past."
Baker instead is focused on managing this Nationals team that found new life off one swing of Bryce Harper's bat Saturday evening in D.C.
Cubs lineup surprise?
Nobody will truly know how healthy Scherzer will be until the first few pitches of Monday evening's game when he actually gets to test his "tweaked" hamstring in game action.
But the Cubs have to prepare to face Scherzer like it's any other game he's started, which could mean a lineup surprise from Joe Maddon.
Scherzer is nasty from either side of the plate, but he's allowing a .215 average and .692 OPS against lefties this season while right-handers are hitting just .136 with a .425 OPS off the veteran.
In Game 1 against Stephen Strasburg, Maddon went with and outfield of Kyle Schwarber-Jason Heyward-Ben Zobrist, but indicated he could find another way to get a left-handed bat into the starting lineup against Scherzer.
"Yeah, I'm leaning towards that right now," Maddon said Sunday morning. "I mean, he's just so oppressively difficult versus right-handed hitters. I thought it might be wise to get one more lefty out there."
But who could it be?
There are several different possibilities, including Jon Jay and Ian Happ, with either Happ or Zobrist manning second base and Javy Baez potentially on the bench.
But Tommy La Stella could actually be the call here, as he's had success against Scherzer in a limited sample size — 3-for-6 with a double, triple and homer. Maddon could opt for La Stella in the leadoff spot, give him a couple at-bats and then get Baez into the game in the middle/latter innings.
That seems quite bold to bench Baez — a guy who can change a game in so many different ways with his baseball IQ, baserunning, defensive instincts or elite batspeed. But Baez is 0-for-5 all-time against Scherzer with three strikeouts and he could still enter the game in the fourth or fifth inning and make a huge impact.
But would the Cubs really want to bench a guy who started all 17 postseason games at second base last fall and was named the co-NLCS MVP?
It's also possible the Cubs could move Baez over to shortstop and sit Addison Russell. Or this could just be a smokescreen and a bit of gamesmanship by Maddon to give the Nationals something else to think about and prepare for.
Forgot about Trea
Heading into the series, Nationals shortstop and leadoff hitter Trea Turner was a huge talking point given his ability to change the game with his speed on the basepaths.
The Cubs reiterated several times in the days leading up to the NLDS that the best way to combat Turner's speed is to keep him off the bases.
That's exactly what they've done, as Turner has begun the postseason in an 0-for-8 slump, striking out four times.
Baker wouldn't even acknowledge that as a "mini-slump," however, indicating the hits could come in bunches for Turner, who has a career .304 batting average in the big leagues with 81 stolen bases in 198 games.
One big inning
The entire series shifted on two swings Saturday night, both coming in the eighth inning as the Cubs bullpen melted down and gave up a game-tying homer to Harper and the game-winning longball to Ryan Zimmerman.
The Nationals scored five runs on four hits and a walk in that eighth inning, but their offense has been completely silent in the other 16 innings of the NLDS.
If you take the eighth inning out of the equation, the Nationals have just one run and are putting up an .077 average with a .158 on-base percentage and .135 slugging percentage.
The only run was Anthony Rendon's two-out line drive homer in the first inning of Game 2
— a ball that is only a hit 33 percent of the time based on exit velocity (96.4 mph) and launch angle.
The Cubs will throw Jose Quintana in Game 3 and Jake Arrieta in Game 4 and will have a completely rested bullpen, so they have every reason to feel good about the state of their pitching staff against a Washington lineup that has been completly baffled by these Cubs arms apart from that one inning.
Star power
However, the same can be said for the Cubs, who have really only received offensive production from Bryzzo — Anthony Rizzo and Kris Bryant — in the first two games of this series.
The two franchise cornerstones have driven in five of the Cubs' six runs and combined for six hits in 12 at-bats.
Meanwhile, the rest of the Cubs offense has put up a miniscule .104 batting average (5-for-48) against the Nationals pitching staff.
Willson Contreras homered and Addison Russell has a pair of singles and a walk, but the Cubs will need the rest of the lineup to step up against Max Scherzer and Tanner Roark in the rest of this series if they're gonna advance to their third straight NLCS.
It's not how hard you get hit
These Cubs can take a punch, as we saw for a month straight last October.
Rizzo led the charge on the "Rocky" themed inspiration in fall of 2016 as the Cubs responded to relentless adversity on the road to ending the franchise's 108-year championship drought.
So it shouldn't be a surprise to anybody that there has been absolutely no sense of panic or frustration within the clubhouse of the defending champs, even after blowing a 3-1 lead and suffering a heartbreaking loss in Game 2.
"You're not gonna knock us down," Rizzo said. "We gave up a home run to Rajai Davis to tie the game in the 8th inning [in Game 7 of the World Series].
"It's part of the journey. You gotta embrace it. It's obviously not a good feeling to lose the way we did, but it's part of the experience."
With time running out at Wrigley, Jake Arrieta chases another World Series ring.
By Patrick Mooney
(Photo/USA TODAY)
The odds of Jake Arrieta coming back next season feel like the kind of lottery ticket the Cubs cashed in when they traded for a pitcher with a 5.46 career ERA and watched that Triple-A guy blossom into a Cy Young Award winner.
Arrieta puts his trust in super-agent Scott Boras to handle the negotiations, understands how team president Theo Epstein runs baseball operations and knows the end is probably near on the North Side.
This will be another draining October, from the physical demands in recovering from a Grade 1 hamstring strain, to the emotional stress in the dugout while watching what could be an instant classic playoff series against the Washington Nationals, to the mental checklist before he goes home to Austin, Texas, to weigh his options as a free agent and map out the rest of his life with his family.
Splitting Games 1 and 2 at Nationals Park means Arrieta will get another chance to perform in front of 40,000 fans at Wrigley Field. That Game 4 start on Tuesday means Arrieta will be either trying to end this National League Division Series or extend the season for the defending champs by nine more innings.
“If these are my last experiences in this uniform,” Arrieta said, “I’m just trying to take it all in and really look around a little bit more and kind of get those mental snapshots and those memories for down the road, things that I’ll be able to reflect on in a year, or five or 10 years, however long it is.
“The further you get away from the World Series, I feel like the more you actually think about it. So it’s just being at Wrigley, taking everything in, trying to hear everything the fans are saying, look around as much as I can, because Wrigley’s the best there is.”
Showing no signs of pressure or anxiety, the Cubs did a Sunday Funday at Wrigley Field, with brunch tables and an omelet station set up behind home plate and the Detroit Lions-Carolina Panthers game showing on the huge video board.
First base coach Brandon Hyde and World Series MVP Ben Zobrist played with their sons in the outfield, letting them take batting practice and try to hit balls into the bleachers. The Cubs wore gray T-shirts with No. 41 and John Lackey’s silhouette on the front, framed by the pitcher’s one-liners like “Didn’t come here for a haircut” and “I’m always one more out closer to a beer,” etc.
The Cubs have a unique vibe that Arrieta helped create with his enormous confidence, freethinking approach and fearless attitude. This environment will inevitably change once he is gone.
Arrieta joined a team that would finish with 96 losses in the middle of the 2013 season, way back when the Cubs didn’t really have any idea when they would be able to compete.
It never would have happened this quickly or dramatically without Arrieta. Since that flip deal with the Baltimore Orioles, the Cubs have won the franchise’s first World Series title since 1908 and two division titles while competing in seven playoff rounds.
During that time, Arrieta is 68-31 with a 2.73 ERA and two no-hitters in 128 starts for the Cubs, plus dominating the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 2015 wild-card game and beating the Cleveland Indians twice on the road in last year’s World Series.
“If I have to play somewhere else,” Arrieta said, “I’m going to try and remember as much as I can about Wrigley and Chicago. It’s a huge part of my life.”
Arrieta pointed out how much time his 6-year-old son, Cooper, and 4-year-old daughter, Palmer, have spent growing up in Chicago, knowing what he did for this franchise, how much the Cubs meant to his career and that in the end this is still a business.
Arrieta has also made it clear that he doesn’t want to leave without earning another World Series ring.
“Regardless of what happens, I’m always going to feel like a Cub,” Arrieta said. “At least a part of me is going to feel like a Cub, wherever I end up. It’s just a really special part of our lives."
Jose Quintana has a plan to combat excitement surrounding postseason debut.
By Dan Hayes
(Photo/USA TODAY)
One of baseball’s best kept secrets is about to step into the October spotlight for the very first time and everyone wonders how he’ll handle the moment.
Even though Jose Quintana has never pitched in the postseason, he said the key to his debut on Monday in Game 3 of the National League Division Series will be to keep things simple.
Prior to Sunday afternoon’s brunch-out at Wrigley Field, Quintana said he spent the previous two games soaking up the playoff atmosphere and taking notes from veteran teammates. The Cubs’ key midseason acquisition expects to be excitable when he faces Max Scherzer and the Washington Nationals in front of a sellout crowd at Wrigley Field with the series tied 1-1. But Quintana also believes that all that matters is if hit his spots and stays out of the middle of the zone.
“I feel really good,” Quintana said. “I’m so excited. I try to be like, you know, cool, but be present and focus on my game.
“Like I say, I don’t want to change nothing. Just throw my ball well and just focus, pitch by pitch. At this time, a short series, it’s really important, every pitch.”
Quintana’s only other opportunity to reach the postseason in five seasons was with the 2012 White Sox, whose position players were beat up and its rotation simply ran out of gas in September. Even though this type of start is exactly why the Cubs made a blockbuster to acquire him, shipping elite hitting prospect Eloy Jimenez and hard-throwing righty Dylan Cease to the White Sox in July, it’s only natural to wonder how Quintana will fare. The 2017 postseason has been largely unkind to first-time starting pitchers so far as Arizona’s Robbie Ray and Taijuan Walker, Boston’s Chris Sale and Colorado’s Jon Gray were all hit hard in their October debuts.
But the left-hander has come close to replicating a similar atmosphere when he pitched for Colombia in the World Baseball Classic against Team USA on March 11, retiring the first 17 hitters he faced.
Beyond that, Quintana pitched extremely well down the stretch for the Cubs during their drive to the NL Central title. Manager Joe Maddon cited Quintana’s brilliant Sept. 24 turn at Milwaukee when he struck out 10 during a three-hit shutout as evidence he’s ready. Quintana went 3-0 with a 2.82 ERA and 45 strikeouts with only four walks in 38 1/3 innings over his final six starts.
“I don’t want to keep going back in time, but that four-game series up there was really pertinent,” Maddon said. “He had a great look. I can only tell you --- we’re all into reading people’s faces and their vibe and their energy and all that stuff. And he had it. He has it. My only concern is that he’s over-amped a little bit too much, too soon tomorrow afternoon. But he’s wanted to be this guy.”
Similar to Sale, Quintana has always desired this moment. Reaching the postseason has been his goal every season from the first time he plays catch in spring training to his first bullpen to the first start. Quintana’s laser focus in between starts always made him an easy example for White Sox pitching coach Don Cooper to use as a model for his other pitchers to follow. It also contributed to the pinpoint command that has allowed him to excel as a big leaguer.
His former catch partner with the White Sox, pitcher Carlos Rodon, said that even during a simple warmup drill, Quintana always tried to hit an invisible circle between his legs at knee-high level.
That “focused practice,” as Cooper calls it, has always helped Quintana stay dialed in during trying moments. It’ll likely be critical once again when Quintana takes the hill on Monday against a team he’s never faced before.
“The approach never changes,” Quintana said. “I saw that with (Kyle Hendricks and Jon Lester) and watching around the field in Washington was great. It’s exciting.
“John Lackey told me the last couple days, try to do your job. Just hit your spots and never change. The game’s the same and you’re going to feel the energy around you, so it’s really exciting. I’ve never seen games like this, and it’s really fun.”
WHITE SOX: The good, the bad and the mixed: What went right and what went wrong for the 2017 White Sox.
(Photo/USA TODAY)
The White Sox lost 95 games, and yet their general manager described himself as pleased with certain aspects of the 2017 season.
He isn’t wrong to be.
Welcome to life in a rebuild.
There’s undoubtedly analysts and fans who rightfully have questions about the direction the White Sox are headed. They traded almost all of their top players for unproven prospects who come without any guarantees. There’s no promise this will work. The White Sox haven’t proven anything yet, and it’ll likely be a few seasons before anyone knows if they’ve executed it.
But as crazy as it sounds, the White Sox had a good season that has begun to generate optimism from the fanbase. Whether it’s the number of trades Rick Hahn completed, the talent the team accumulated, how young players developed or several other reasons, the White Sox had plenty of positives this season. Here’s a look at what went right, what went wrong and what could have gone better.
The Good
1. Hahn traded almost everyone
What seemed impossible in December and more difficult in May was suddenly complete several days before the Aug. 1 nonwaiver trade deadline. When the White Sox started 2017 with Jose Quintana on the roster after trading Chris Sale and Adam Eaton, some thought Hahn had overvalued Quintana. Then Quintana struggled through May, and the volume of those questions significantly increased. But everything was reduced to a whisper when the White Sox traded Quintana to the Cubs on July 13 for a package featuring elite prospect Eloy Jimenez. Hahn then spent the next six weeks trading everyone, completing his work with an Aug. 31 deal that sent Miguel Gonzalez to Texas. In all, nine players were traded during the season.
2. New kids prospered
Not everyone had great seasons, but many of the top prospects acquired since December took large steps forward. Lucas Giolito rediscovered his confidence. Reynaldo Lopez and Yoan Moncada forced the issue and fared well in the majors. Michael Kopech and Jimenez developed into elite prospects, and Dane Dunning continues to look like a steal.
3. Prospecting went well
Nowhere was the staggering amount of talent acquired by Hahn more evident than the farm system’s top-30 rankings. Even as Giolito, Lopez and Moncada graduated, the White Sox still have six prospects remaining on MLB Pipeline’s top-100 list. Ten on their current top-30 list have been added via trades since December. Three more came from the 2017 draft.
But the biggest move, one that signaled to fans the White Sox are serious about rebuilding, was the May signing of Luis Robert for $52 million. The penalties they faced — the $26 million tax and two years of international signing restrictions — weren’t enough to dissuade them from signing Robert, who is currently ranked No. 22 in MLB Pipeline’s list.
4. Foundation laid
Nearly as important as adding talent is making sure it’s fostered in the proper environment. Hahn thought manager Rick Renteria would instill the appropriate atmosphere and hired him.
The White Sox are ecstatic with what Renteria has done. Hahn and the front office have recognized those efforts all season long, praising the team for its unrelenting attitude and unwillingness to quit.
5. Older players developed, too
Tommy Kahnle went from project to setup man almost overnight and keyed a trade that brought Blake Rutherford and Ian Clarkin over from the Yankees. Avisail Garcia finally released his untapped potential and turned into an All Star and a potential trade chip. And Yolmer Sanchez found a new level and ensured himself a lot of future plate appearances.
The Bad
1. Carlos Rodon’s future is uncertain
The hope was Rodon would develop into a 33-start, 200-inning pitcher this season. Instead the White Sox have more questions about if Rodon will ever reach his potential. Rodon appeared to be unaffected by the bursitis in his left biceps that cost him three months when he struck out 9.9 batters per nine over 12 starts. But what Rodon’s future holds after he had arthroscopic surgery last week is anyone’s guess, even if the White Sox are optimistic he’ll fully recover.
2. Starting pitching gambles flop
Ten starts in, Derek Holland looked like a find and a potential trade candidate. But his fastball velocity dipped and his ERA soared, leading to Holland’s release last month. Rule 5 pitcher Dylan Covey showed some signs in his final two starts but struggled much of the season. Still, don’t be surprised if the White Sox follow a similar formula next season and try to convert a rehabbing pitcher or two into trade candidates.
3. The injury bug hit hard
Rodon wasn’t the only important player sidelined for a large chunk of the season. Nate Jones was limited to 11 games, Zach Putnam pitched in seven before he and prospect Zack Burdi had reconstructive elbow surgery. Catcher Geovany Soto was hurt twice and never got going. Leury Garcia’s breakout season was slowed by injuries, and even Avisail Garcia missed time with finger and knee soreness. It was hoped Charlie Tilson would take over in center field, but he didn't play a single game this season.
Mixed results
1. Anderson struggles before rebounding
Shortstop Tim Anderson’s ascent was derailed for several months as he struggled to cope with the May shooting death of his close friend, Branden Moss. Anderson made far too many errors and had a .608 OPS before he sought a grief counselor and turned around the toughest season of his life. After making 22 errors in 80 games, Anderson made six in the final 65. He also produced a .793 OPS in his final 54 games.
White Sox Talk Podcast: What happened in 2017 and what happens next?
By CSN Staff
(Photo/AP)
With the 2017 season in the books, Chuck Garfien, Dan Hayes, Ryan McGuffey and Chris Kamka take a look back at what happened with the White Sox in 2017 and look ahead to moves they might make this offseason and into next season.
Later, Garfien, McGuffey and Ka
With the 2017 season in the books, Chuck Garfien, Dan Hayes, Ryan McGuffey and Chris Kamka take a look back at what happened with the White Sox in 2017 and look ahead to moves they might make this offseason and into next season.
Later, Garfien, McGuffey and Kamka look back at the predictions they made back in March and compete for a prize off the Jason Benetti/Steve Stone prize shelf — a broken White Sox gnome.
Also, they discuss what deals the White Sox could make during the offseason. Plus, who will be the White Sox center fielder and third baseman in 2018? When will Michael Kopech be called up? Who will start Opening Day? Why Rick Renteria is the long-term answer as White Sox manager and a whole lot more.
Listen to the latest White Sox Talk Podcast right here: mka look back at the predictions they made back in March and compete for a prize off the Jason Benetti/Steve Stone prize shelf — a broken White Sox gnome.
Also, they discuss what deals the White Sox could make during the offseason. Plus, who will be the White Sox center fielder and third baseman in 2018? When will Michael Kopech be called up? Who will start Opening Day? Why Rick Renteria is the long-term answer as White Sox manager and a whole lot more.
Listen to the latest White Sox Talk Podcast right here.
Golf: I got a club for that..... Steele goes back-to-back at Safeway; Phil T-3.
(Photo/Golf Channel Digital)
Conditions were a far cry from the soggy course seen during last year's final round, but the result was the same. Here's how things ended up at the Safeway Open, where Brendan Steele held off several contenders down the stretch to successfully defend his title:
Leaderboard: Brendan Steele (-15), Tony Finau (-13), Chesson Hadley (-12), Phil Mickelson (-12), Tyler Duncan (-11), Graham DeLaet (-11)
What it means: Steele started the day two shots behind Duncan, but as the leader wobbled out of the gates Steele took control with three birdies in his first nine holes. Bogeys on Nos. 12 and 14 created a tight race with Finau and Mickelson down the stretch, but a two-putt birdie on No. 16 gave Steele all the margin he needed before closing with a birdie for a 3-under 69. It's the third win of his career, and his second straight victory at Silverado.
Round of the day: Amid blustery conditions, Brandon Harkins' 4-under 68 proved to be the day's low score. Harkins made the most of his first start as a PGA Tour member, with seven birdies including four over his last six holes after starting on No. 10. It helped Harkins jump from 41st place all the way into a tie for ninth.
Best of the rest: Finau came up just short in his bid for a second career victory, but a 3-under 69 gave him a strong shot at the title. Finau had an eagle and three birdies but also made a costly double bogey on No. 14 and wasn't able to convert a 32-foot eagle try on the last hole that would have given him a share of the lead with Steele just two holes behind.
Biggest disappointment: It took four days, but the nerves finally hit Duncan who opened with three straight bogeys en route to a 3-over 75. Duncan started the day with sole possession of the lead but found himself in chase mode after an outward 39 and ultimately tied for fifth in just his second career start on Tour.
Shot of the day: Steele was nursing a one-shot lead when he struck his approach from 235 yards on the par-5 16th. His ball rolled to the back of the green, setting up an easy birdie that boosted his lead to two and gave him a critical margin for error coming down the stretch.
Quote of the day: "It was nice to get re-started here, feel a little more free and get everything back to zero." - Steele
Hatton defends his Dunhill title at the Old Course.
By Associated Press
(Photo/Golf Channel Digital)
Tyrrell Hatton retained his title at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship on Sunday after a final round at St. Andrews in which Ross Fisher shot a course-record 61 at the home of golf.
On a calm day on the storied Old Course, even a bogey-free round by Fisher containing 11 birdies could not reel in overnight leader Hatton, who shot 6-under 66 for a three-stroke victory over his fellow Englishman.
Hatton became the first player in the 17-year history of the Dunhill Links to successfully defend the title in a tournament played over three Scottish courses - the Old Course, Kingsbarns and Carnoustie. His aggregate score of 24-under 264 was a tournament record, after rounds of 68-65-65-66.
Both of Hatton's career titles have come at the Dunhill Links, having won with a score of 23 under par in 2016.
Fisher - the runner-up for a second straight year - had a putt for eagle from the Valley of Sin on No. 18, which would have sealed the first round of 59 in the history of the European Tour. It fell two feet short and he missed the birdie putt back, though still broke the course record - held jointly by six players - by a stroke.
Fisher birdied four holes in a row from No. 2, then Nos. 7, 8 and 9 for a front nine of 29. A burst of four straight birdies from No. 12 then helped Fisher reduce Hatton's lead to three strokes, down from a margin of six at the turn.
''They started taking all the stuff off the leaderboards so I didn't see a leaderboard until the 16th green and saw he was on 21 (under),'' Hatton said. ''That made the 17th tee shot a lot harder.''
Still, Hatton found the fairway with his drive on the notoriously tough Road Hole and even sailed his approach near to the flag on the narrow green. A par at No. 17 meant he could enjoy arguably the most famous walk in golf, over the Swilcan Bridge and down the 18th fairway.
Victor Dubuisson was 10 under after 15 holes and also on course to break the course record, before a bogey at No. 16 slowed the Frenchman. Dubuisson finished with a 63 and was third, seven shots off Hatton.
Rory McIlroy shot even-par 72 to finish tied for 63rd on 4 under par, meaning he ended a season without a victory for only the second time in his professional career.
Kerr remembers cancer victims after LET win.
By Randall Mell
(Photo/Golf Channel Digital)
Cristie Kerr was emotional claiming her first Ladies European Tour title Sunday in a wire-to-wire victory in which she said “an angel” sat on her shoulder.
Kerr won the LaCoste Ladies Open de France, an event that benefited the fight against cancer in a week in which the mother of one of Kerr’s close friends died of the disease.
Peggy Pamela Hill Kuehne, matriarch to the Kuehne golf family, whose children include U.S. Girls’ Junior and two-time U.S. Women’s Amateur champion Kelli Kuehne, died Tuesday back in suburban Dallas. Cristie and Kelli are close friends.
Cristie also counted Kelli's mom, who went by "Pam," as a close friend.
The LaCoste Ladies Open honored the memory of Cassandra Kirkland, an LET winner who died of lung cancer earlier this year. Players funded the event’s cancer charity with donations for every birdie they made.
“I’m sorry, but f--- cancer,” a teary-eyed Kerr told reporters after winning. “I’m so sorry to say the F word, but I’m so sick of people losing people to cancer.”
Kerr, who founded Birdies For Breast Cancer more than a decade ago, has raised almost $4 million for the cause. Her efforts spearheaded funding of the Jersey City Medical Center’s Cristie Kerr Women’s Health Center. Kerr’s mother, Linda, is a breast cancer survivor.
Kerr donated $5,000 this week to the event’s cancer cause. She said she played with Peggy Kuehne and Cassandra Kirkland in mind.
After holing out to win by four shots, Kerr pointed skyward.
“I was on a mission, and I got it done for them,” Kerr said.
Kerr took the lead with an 8-under-par 62 in the first round, followed it up with a 64 and never looked back at the Golf de Chantaco course. She built a nine-shot lead going into the final round.
“Sometimes, it’s really hard to play with a big lead, because you get complacent, and so many people played well this week,” Kerr said. “But I’m happy to come out with the trophy.”
It was Kerr’s second victory this year. She won her 19th LPGA title at the Lotte Championship in Hawaii back in April.
There appears to be no slowing Kerr down with her 40th birthday coming up on Thursday. She will celebrate playing the first round of the KEB Hana Bank Championship in South Korea.
With her game in good form this summer, Kerr said she was driven to keep winning.
Kerr won the LaCoste Ladies Open de France, an event that benefited the fight against cancer in a week in which the mother of one of Kerr’s close friends died of the disease.
Peggy Pamela Hill Kuehne, matriarch to the Kuehne golf family, whose children include U.S. Girls’ Junior and two-time U.S. Women’s Amateur champion Kelli Kuehne, died Tuesday back in suburban Dallas. Cristie and Kelli are close friends.
Cristie also counted Kelli's mom, who went by "Pam," as a close friend.
The LaCoste Ladies Open honored the memory of Cassandra Kirkland, an LET winner who died of lung cancer earlier this year. Players funded the event’s cancer charity with donations for every birdie they made.
“I’m sorry, but f--- cancer,” a teary-eyed Kerr told reporters after winning. “I’m so sorry to say the F word, but I’m so sick of people losing people to cancer.”
Kerr, who founded Birdies For Breast Cancer more than a decade ago, has raised almost $4 million for the cause. Her efforts spearheaded funding of the Jersey City Medical Center’s Cristie Kerr Women’s Health Center. Kerr’s mother, Linda, is a breast cancer survivor.
Kerr donated $5,000 this week to the event’s cancer cause. She said she played with Peggy Kuehne and Cassandra Kirkland in mind.
After holing out to win by four shots, Kerr pointed skyward.
“I was on a mission, and I got it done for them,” Kerr said.
Kerr took the lead with an 8-under-par 62 in the first round, followed it up with a 64 and never looked back at the Golf de Chantaco course. She built a nine-shot lead going into the final round.
“Sometimes, it’s really hard to play with a big lead, because you get complacent, and so many people played well this week,” Kerr said. “But I’m happy to come out with the trophy.”
It was Kerr’s second victory this year. She won her 19th LPGA title at the Lotte Championship in Hawaii back in April.
There appears to be no slowing Kerr down with her 40th birthday coming up on Thursday. She will celebrate playing the first round of the KEB Hana Bank Championship in South Korea.
With her game in good form this summer, Kerr said she was driven to keep winning.
“I’ve won many times in my 30s, and when I was 39, now, and I want to try to break some of the stereotypes out here, win in my 40s and 50s. Why not?” she said at the U.S. Women’s Open in July. “I feel like as long as I’m working at it, feel like training and trying to keep my body fit, you can play for as long as you want.”
Major champ, FedExCup champ Thomas wins POY.
By Rex Hoggard
(Photo/Golf Channel Digital)
He may have been the only one who had any doubts.
Following a season that included five victories, his first major triumph at the PGA Championship and a runner-up finish to close the year at the Tour Championship and clinch the FedExCup, Justin Thomas still wasn’t sure he’d be voted the circuit’s Player of the Year.
“It's something that I felt like I may win just because of Atlanta and how the year ended, but I knew how tight of a race it was going up until then and how many people had the opportunity or with one week to kind of change everything,” Thomas said on Wednesday.
In fact, it wasn’t until Thomas received a phone call from Tour commissioner Jay Monahan informing him he’d won the Jack Nicklaus Award, which is voted on by players, that the gravity of his season sunk in.
Thomas was the front-runner for the award heading into the playoffs, but Dustin Johnson, who won four times last season, and Jordan Spieth, a three-time winner including The Open, could have swayed the outcome had they won the FedExCup. The Tour does not reveal vote totals.
Thomas, who was a member of the winning U.S. Presidents Cup team last week, won’t have much time to reflect on his historic season. He’s scheduled to play next week’s CIMB Classic, where he is the defending champion, followed by the new CJ Cup in South Korea.
When he does get a moment to reflect, it will likely be difficult picking out a single highlight moment. Thomas began the year winning in Malaysia, and then swept the Hawaiian swing with victories at the Tournament of Champions and Sony Open, where he opened his week with 59.
In June, Thomas shot a third-round 63 at Erin Hills to tie the lowest round in U.S. Open history, and at 9 under was the lowest score in relation to par.
Or maybe he’d choose his performance at the PGA Championship at Quail Hollow, where he won by two after beginning his week with a 73.
“That shot I hit on 17 at the PGA was probably the best shot I've ever hit in my life under those circumstances, and the same with the 3-wood on 18 at the U.S. Open on Saturday,” he said. “I don't know, it's such a great year and so many great moments that it's nice to not be able to know which one.”
The bigger challenge, however, may be how he follows up his historic season. At East Lake, Thomas revealed his list of goals for the 2016-17 season, and said on Wednesday he hasn’t sat down yet to set new goals for next season.
“It's something that I felt like I may win just because of Atlanta and how the year ended, but I knew how tight of a race it was going up until then and how many people had the opportunity or with one week to kind of change everything,” Thomas said on Wednesday.
In fact, it wasn’t until Thomas received a phone call from Tour commissioner Jay Monahan informing him he’d won the Jack Nicklaus Award, which is voted on by players, that the gravity of his season sunk in.
Thomas was the front-runner for the award heading into the playoffs, but Dustin Johnson, who won four times last season, and Jordan Spieth, a three-time winner including The Open, could have swayed the outcome had they won the FedExCup. The Tour does not reveal vote totals.
Thomas, who was a member of the winning U.S. Presidents Cup team last week, won’t have much time to reflect on his historic season. He’s scheduled to play next week’s CIMB Classic, where he is the defending champion, followed by the new CJ Cup in South Korea.
When he does get a moment to reflect, it will likely be difficult picking out a single highlight moment. Thomas began the year winning in Malaysia, and then swept the Hawaiian swing with victories at the Tournament of Champions and Sony Open, where he opened his week with 59.
In June, Thomas shot a third-round 63 at Erin Hills to tie the lowest round in U.S. Open history, and at 9 under was the lowest score in relation to par.
Or maybe he’d choose his performance at the PGA Championship at Quail Hollow, where he won by two after beginning his week with a 73.
“That shot I hit on 17 at the PGA was probably the best shot I've ever hit in my life under those circumstances, and the same with the 3-wood on 18 at the U.S. Open on Saturday,” he said. “I don't know, it's such a great year and so many great moments that it's nice to not be able to know which one.”
The bigger challenge, however, may be how he follows up his historic season. At East Lake, Thomas revealed his list of goals for the 2016-17 season, and said on Wednesday he hasn’t sat down yet to set new goals for next season.
“I'll probably spend some time talking to Mr. Nicklaus about it or Tiger [Woods] because those are guys, those are the only people, or even Jordan [Spieth], those are the only people I know that have had such success in one season multiple times,” he said. “They've had to deal with resetting their goals and reevaluating.”
NASCAR: Martin Truex Jr. wins Bank of America 500 to open second round of playoffs
By Daniel McFadin
(Photo/accesswdun.com)
Martin Truex Jr. won the Bank of America 500 at Charlotte Motor Speedway in an overtime finish, opening the second round of the playoffs with his sixth Cup win of the year.
It is Truex’s second Charlotte win after winning the 2016 Coke 600.
Truex beat Chase Elliott, Kevin Harvick, Denny Hamlin and Jamie McMurray to the checkered flag following a caution for Kurt Busch spinning with three laps to go. The overtime finish added three laps to the race’s scheduled 334-lap length.
“It was tough out there today,” Truex told NBC. “The car was a handful. It was really hot. … The pit crew was flawless. Got us track position and we were able to keep it.”
Truex led 91 laps. He has won both opening-round playoff races after also winning at Chicagoland.
“This time of year you want to be clicking on all cylinders and today we did,” Truex said. “We just did everything right.”
STAGE 1 WINNER: Kevin Harvick
STAGE 2 WINNER: Kevin Harvick
WHO HAD A GOOD DAY: Chase Elliott earned his fourth runner-up finish of the year and his third in four races. … Kevin Harvick led a race-high 149 laps before earning his 10th top five and his second of the playoffs. He finished outside the top 15 the previous two races. … Jamie McMurray earned his third top five of the year and his first top 10 of the playoffs.
WHO HAD A BAD DAY: Ryan Newman finished last after a two-car crash with Clint Bowyer on Lap 44 … Erik Jones finished 17th after multiple pit stops early in the race to fix a broken shock mount …. Kyle Busch finished 29th, six laps down after causing three cautions, the last coming with nine laps to go … Danica Patrick and David Ragan were eliminated after a wreck with 69 laps to go … Ricky Stenhouse Jr. finished 13th after being caught speeding during the final pit stop.
NOTABLE: Five of Truex’s six wins this season have come at 1.5-mile tracks. Truex’s average finish at 1.5-mile tracks this season is third. … Dale Earnhardt Jr. finished 12th in his last Cup start at Charlotte … Daniel Suarez, who finished sixth, had one unsecured lug nut. Any fines will be announced later this week.
QUOTE OF THE DAY: “Obviously you hate to run second because that means you were close to first, but hopefully we’ll have our day sometime.” – Chase Elliott
WHAT’S NEXT: Alabama 500 at Talladega Superspeedway at 2 p.m. ET on Oct. 15 on NBC
Martin Truex Jr. increases points lead with Charlotte win; Kyle Busch drops to sixth.
By Daniel McFadin
Following his win Sunday at Charlotte Motor Speedway, Martin Truex Jr. now leads the Cup Series playoffs by 34 points over Kyle Larson.
Truex entered the Round of 12 with an 18-point lead over Kyle Busch.
Busch leaves Charlotte in sixth, 51 points back after finishing 29th, six laps down following multiple accidents.
The bottom four drivers in the standings heading to Talladega are Matt Kenseth, Brad Keselowski, Ryan Blaney and Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
Click here for the full points standings.
Alex Bowman triumphs at Charlotte for first career Xfinity victory.
By Dustin Long
(Photo/www.motorsportshub.com)
Alex Bowman, making his first Xfintiy Series start of the season, took the lead with 32 laps left and won Saturday night’s rain-delayed race at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
While Bowman, who will take over Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s No. 88 Cup ride next season, celebrated his first career Xfinity win, four the 12 playoff contenders were eliminated from title contention.
Ryan Reed held on for the eighth and final transfer spot to the next round, beating Brendan Gaughan by one point.
Eliminated from title contention were Brendan Gaughan, Jeremy Clements, Blake Koch and Michael Annett.
Sam Hornish Jr. finished second. Ryan Blaney, who won the May race at this track, placed third.
Rain delayed the start of the race more than five hours.
That didn’t matter to Bowman, who scored his first series win in 51 starts.
“To get my first win here in my second home at Charlotte means so much,’’ Bowman told NBCSN.
Stage 1 Winner: Erik Jones
Stage 2 Winner: Daniel Suarez
Who else had a good race: Sam Hornish Jr. started 31st in just his fifth start of the season. He was up to second at the beginning of the final stage and ran in the top five most of the rest of the night, finishing second. … Brennan Poole placed fifth, ranking as the highest-finishing playoff driver. It marked his third consecutive top-five finish.
Who had a bad race: Blake Koch battled power steering issues, losing a lap before the opening stage ended. He fell a second lap down and never recovered, finishing 25th. … Angela Ruch brought out the first two cautions for incidents and finished 36th. … Justin Allgaier hit a battery from Ruch’s car after her crash and that caused cooling issues. His engine later expired and he finished 33rd. … Spencer Gallagher had a tire go down and it caused too much damage to repair. He finished 34th. … A slow pit stop and then a penalty for an uncontrolled tire in the final 40 laps cost Daniel Suarez a chance for the win. He finished eighth.
Notable: The cars of Matt Tifft and Blake Koch failed inspection after the race. Both cars were too low. The infraction is likely an L1 penalty. A similar infraction earlier this year in the series was a 10-point penalty. Tifft advances to the next round by 16 points, so a 10-p0int penalty wouldn’t alter the eight playoff contenders if that’s the penalty.
Quote of the night: “That’s what you do in playoffs, that’s what the best playoff teams do in any sport no matter who much you’re down, no matter how much you need, you just find a way,’’ Ryan Reed on advancing by one point to the next round of the playoffs.
What’s next: The series is off until Oct. 21 at Kansas Speedway.
William Byron enters Round of 8 as Xfinity points leader.
By Dustin Long
William Byron is the points leader heading into the Round of 8 after the completion of the opening round Saturday night at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
The race cut the playoff field from 12 to eight drivers. Byron leads with 3,026 points after the reset. He has a three-point lead on JR Motorsports teammate Justin Allgaier and a six-point lead on teammate Elliott Sadler.
First through eighth is separated by 22 points.
Click here for points report
SOCCER: Fire's Dax McCarty makes first World Cup qualifier appearance in dominant American win.
(Photo/ESPN)
Everyone can take a deep breath: the U.S. is going to the World Cup.
In what was nearly literally a must-win, the Americans dominated Panama to the tune of a 4-0 win Friday night in Orlando. The win didn't lock up a World Cup berth for the U.S., but it put the U.S. back in one of the three automatic qualifying positions from CONCACAF with one game remaining, which will be at last place Trinidad and Tobago on Tuesday.
Borussia Dortmund teenage midfielder Christian Pulisic stole the show with an early goal and set up the second goal with an assist to Jozy Altidore. With the game in hand by halftime, Pulisic was taken out 10 minutes into the second half. The man who replaced him is familiar to Chicago Fire fans.
Dax McCarty entered in the 56th minute for Pulisic and finished the match. McCarty is an Orlando native, which meant the game was a homecoming for him.
He nearly had an assist when he set up Paul Arriola in a one-on-one situation with goalkeeper Jaime Penedo, but Arriola was denied in the breakaway in the 80th minute.
McCarty has been called in to every World Cup qualifying roster since Bruce Arena took over as coach, but hadn't got off the bench. This marked his first appearance in a World Cup qualifier.
What the playoff picture looks like for the Fire.
By Dan Santaromita
(Photo/USA TODAY)
For the first time since 2012, the Chicago Fire will be in the postseason.
The Fire clinched a playoff berth with a 4-1 win at San Jose. Now it’s about playoff seeding.
The Fire were the fourth team in the Eastern Conference to clinch a playoff spot. All six spots are locked up heading into the final two weekends of the regular season. Here’s a look at the remaining schedules and clinching scenarios for playoff spots and seeding for the teams in the race. Check back to this page, it will be updated as results come in.
Last update: Oct. 7, 5:58 p.m.
Toronto FC
Last update: Oct. 7, 5:58 p.m.
Toronto FC
- Record: 19-5-8, 65 points
- Games remaining: 2 (vs. Montreal, at Atlanta)
- Clinched Supporters' Shield
- Last result: 4-2 win against New York Red Bulls
Justin Morrow, a left back, scored a hat trick in the Supporters' Shield clincher against the Red Bulls. With four points from the last two matches, Toronto would have the highest point total in league history.
New York City FC
New York City FC
- Record: 16-8-8, 56 points
- Games remaining: 2 (at New England, vs. Columbus)
- Possible seeds: 2-5
- Last result: 1-1 draw at Fire
City is now in prime position for the bye. Atlanta's loss to Minnesota gave NYCFC the edge and City has a good chance to get points from each of its last two matches.
Atlanta United FC
- Record: 15-9-8, 53 points
- Games remaining: 2 (at New York Red Bulls, vs. Toronto)
- Possible seeds: 2-5
- Last result: 3-2 loss vs. Minnesota
Atlanta fans have seen their team lose at Mercedes-Benz Stadium for the first time. Minnesota took a lead in the second half, then went up a man, but blew the lead. Atlanta nearly had a miraculous win, but gave up two late goals to lose.
Chicago Fire
- Record: 15-10-7, 52 points
- Games remaining: 2 (vs. Philadelphia, at Houston)
- Possible seeds: 2-6
- Last result: 1-1 draw vs. New York City FC
Saturday's draw against NYCFC practically took the Fire out of the race for a first-round bye. The No. 4 seed and a home game against Columbus appears to be the most likely scenario.
Columbus Crew
- Record: 15-12-5, 50 points
- Games remaining: 2 (at Orlando, at NYCFC)
- Possible seeds: 2-6
- Last result: 2-0 win against D.C.
Columbus took care of business in its final home game of the regular season to lock up a playoff spot. To earn a home game in the first round, the Crew will need to get points on the road.
New York Red Bulls
- Record: 13-12-7, 46 points
- Games remaining: 2 (vs. Atlanta, at D.C.)
- Possible seeds: 4-6
- Last result: 3-0 win vs. Vancouver
The Red Bulls finally locked up a playoff berth with a 3-0 win against Vancouver on Saturday. It looks like they will settle for the No. 6 seed, but could catch Columbus for the No. 5 spot with the Crew's final two games being on the road.
Finally fit, Yedlin fills USMNT’s longtime void at right back.
By Andy Edwards
(Photo credit: U.S. Soccer/@ussoccer)
The right-back position has proven a crippling quandary for the U.S. national team ever since Steve Cherundolo’s international retirement in 2012. (Left back was — and remains — an issue long before then, but that’s a different story for a different day.)
So many were asked to fill the career-long Hannover star’s boots — Eric Lichaj, Michael Orozco, Geoff Cameron, Brad Evans, Fabian Johnson, Timothy Chandler and most recently Graham Zusi each played the position in significant stretches over the last five years — only to come up woefully short of Cherundolo’s lofty standard. The 2014 World Cup provided a perfect jumping-off point for the most promising prospect of the post-‘Dolo era: DeAndre Yedlin.
“Especially being so young and not really expecting to go [in 2014], it was a crazy feeling,” Yedlin said this week. “I can’t obviously thank Jurgen enough for putting his trust in me and bringing me into that, and that’s really what jump-started my career.”
Like those who came before him, even the dream of Yedlin becoming the instant answer fizzled out for a period before landing at Newcastle United last summer, at the age of 23, where he’d reclaim his form and fitness in the Championship. Following his failed move to Tottenham Hotspur the winter after Brazil, Yedlin spent most of the next two seasons unavailable due to injuries more often than not.
“Especially being so young and not really expecting to go [in 2014], it was a crazy feeling,” Yedlin said this week. “I can’t obviously thank Jurgen enough for putting his trust in me and bringing me into that, and that’s really what jump-started my career.”
Like those who came before him, even the dream of Yedlin becoming the instant answer fizzled out for a period before landing at Newcastle United last summer, at the age of 23, where he’d reclaim his form and fitness in the Championship. Following his failed move to Tottenham Hotspur the winter after Brazil, Yedlin spent most of the next two seasons unavailable due to injuries more often than not.
“I’ve had to grow up pretty quick, but I’m glad that I chose to make this step to kind of move away from what I’m comfortable from.”
Now 24, and having been fit for much of the last 15 months, Yedlin is an integral piece of the Magpies’ puzzle, and returned to the USMNT in its most desperate time of need: needing wins in each of their final two 2018 World Cup qualifiers to assure their place at next summer’s tournament in Russia.
Friday night in Orlando, Fla., Yedlin reassumed the starting spot from Zusi and flourished, helping the Yanks to a vitally important 4-0 victory over Panama. He alone stood out as the star performer along a sometimes-shaky four-man backline, flashing the recovery speed and open-field marauding that earned him a move to the Premier League at the age of 21. According to Yedlin, much of what he brings to the team is an energy level that’s unmatched and confounds his teammates.
“Everybody tells me they don’t know how I have so much energy, and I think people feed off that, which is great.”More importantly, playing under Newcastle manager Rafa Benitez has matured the mental side of Yedlin’s game immeasurably. His ability to recover serious real estate in the blink of an eye remains, but Friday’s performance was largely born out of a newfound ability to read the game around him.
“It’s a very physical league. It’s a league that if you lose focus for even a little bit of time, they can punish you,” Yedlin said. “Working with Rafa has taken my game to another level.”
That tactical growth, so perfectly exemplified by noticeable restraint and an understanding of when he can and can’t take risks, are precisely the signs that have USMNT fans counting on Yedlin to come better than good on his second trip to a World Cup.
NCAAFB: 2017 NCAA FBS Football Rankings, 10/08//2017.
AP
RANK
|
SCHOOL
|
POINTS
|
RECORD
|
PREVIOUS
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alabama (43) | 1,507 | 6-0 | 1 |
| 2 | Clemson (18) | 1481 | 6-0 | 2 |
| 3 | Penn State | 1370 | 6-0 | 4 |
| 4 | Georgia | 1327 | 6-0 | 5 |
| 5 | Washington | 1284 | 6-0 | 6 |
| 6 | TCU | 1192 | 5-0 | 8 |
| 7 | Wisconsin | 1127 | 5-0 | 9 |
| 8 | Washington State | 1094 | 6-0 | 11 |
| 9 | Ohio State | 1051 | 5-1 | 10 |
| 10 | Auburn | 914 | 5-1 | 12 |
| 11 | Miami (FL) | 908 | 4-0 | 13 |
| 12 | Oklahoma | 851 | 4-1 | 3 |
| 13 | USC | 795 | 5-1 | 14 |
| 14 | Oklahoma State | 712 | 4-1 | 15 |
| 15 | Virginia Tech | 617 | 5-1 | 16 |
| 16 | Notre Dame | 583 | 5-1 | 21 |
| 17 | Michigan | 524 | 4-1 | 7 |
| 18 | South Florida | 482 | 5-0 | 18 |
| 19 | San Diego State | 465 | 6-0 | 19 |
| 20 | North Carolina State | 421 | 5-1 | 24 |
| 21 | Michigan State | 416 | 4-1 | NR |
| 22 | UCF | 274 | 4-0 | 25 |
| 23 | Stanford | 109 | 4-2 | NR |
| 24 | Texas Tech | 105 | 4-1 | NR |
| 25 | Navy | 74 | 5-0 | NR |
TCU, NC State, Ohio State and Wisconsin among those who can clinch bowl eligibility in Week 7.
By Kevin McGuire
(Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
A handful of teams you expect to be bowl eligible this past weekend officially clinched their eligibility to play in a postseason game. This means Alabama, Clemson, Penn State, Georgia, Washington, and Washington State are now officially in the running for the College Football Playoff after each clinched the required sixth win to become bowl eligible for the 2017 season. San Diego State can also start focusing on their postseason outlook after picking up their sixth win of the season.
This week a few more teams can join the party with a win. Among the more notable names vying for postseason eligibility this week includes TCU (the new Big 12 leader in the clubhouse after this past weekend), Wisconsin (staring at a possible 12-0 record), and N.C. State (the Wolfpack have won six straight since a season-opening loss to South Carolina). At 5-1, the Auburn Tigers are also one win away from clinching their bowl eligibility, and they would become the third team from the SEC to do so. Ohio State can also join the fun with a win at Nebraska, which will also make Nebraska’s chances of reaching the postseason that much more difficult.
At 5-1, the Auburn Tigers are also one win away from clinching their bowl eligibility, and they would become the third team from the SEC to do so. Ohio State (5-1) can also join the fun with a win at Nebraska, which will also make Nebraska’s chances of reaching the postseason that much more difficult. USC is also in the 5-1 club and gets to host Utah this week in a key Pac-12 South Division matchup. Virginia Tech is 5-1 as well, but the Hokies are off this week before getting back on the field next week against North Carolina. Notre Dame will also have to wait a week for their chance with a bye week to prepare for a game against USC in South Bend. Kentucky is also off this week with a chance to wrap up their postseason eligibility the following week at Mississippi State.
A few other teams looking to lock down their eligibility this week include Navy (at Memphis), USF (vs. Cincinnati).
On the flip side, UMass and Charlotte (each at 0-6) can officially be eliminated from postseason contention with a loss this weekend.
Michigan State rains on No. 7 Michigan’s unbeaten season, upsets Wolverines in storm-swept Big House.
By John Taylor
(Photo/Associated Press)
With the first-ever Michigan-Michigan State night game looming at the Big House, both athletic directors were concerned over fans’ actions off the field. When it came to one of the ADs, they should’ve worried more about their players’ play — and the weather — on the field.
With a torrential downpour weighing heavy on a portion of the last 15 minutes of action, 10-point underdog MSU went into Ann Arbor and stunned their in-state counterparts in a 14-10 win. The loss is the seventh-ranked Wolverines’ first of the season, one that will likely knock them out of the Top 10 when the new rankings are released early Sunday afternoon.
UM turned the ball over a whopping five times — MSU came in having forced just four turnovers, total, the first four games this season — but the Spartans converted those gifts into just seven points. John O’Korn, starting at quarterback in place of the injured Wilton Speight, threw interceptions on back-to-back-to-back possessions late in the third quarter and on into the fourth, but Sparty failed to produce points on any of those turnovers in keeping the game closer than it could’ve been.
Right up to the very end, as it turned out.
The Spartans, which held a 14-3 halftime lead, had zero first downs in the second half until less than three minutes were remaining in the fourth quarter, and then picked up a second, on a crucial third down no less, with under two minutes left that essentially sealed the upset win for MSU in the in-state rivalry game. The key word there is “essentially” as MSU did their damnedest to hand the game back to its rivals, from a holding penalty on their last offensive possession that kept them from, basically, running out the clock to an inexplicable personal foul penalty on their last defensive possession that helped give the Wolverines one shot at a (failed) Hail Mary with no time left.
Even prior to the weather rolling in, it was a defensive battle from start to finish. The Wolverines actually outgained their counterparts 300-252, with the Spartans converting just two of 14 on third-downs. Two scores less than 10 minutes apart, though, proved to be the difference — quarterback Brian Lewerke‘s 14-yard touchdown run late in the first quarter, his 16-yard touchdown pass to Madre London in the middle of the second quarter.
While the loss put a dent in Michigan’s College Football Playoff hopes, it did the same for its biggest rival.
Thanks to its Week 2 loss, Ohio State needed, in part, Oklahoma and Michigan to run the table. Not only did the Wolverines lose in Week 6, the Sooners did the same as 30-point home favorites earlier in the day in Norman.
It’s far too early for both UM and OSU to be excluded from the playoff discussion, but the former did neither of the Big Ten East schools any favors with this home loss.
Oh, and there’s this bit of trivia to chew on:
ESPN Stats & Info ✔
@ESPNStatsInfo
Jim Harbaugh drops to 1-4 against Michigan's top rivals, Michigan State and Ohio State (0-3 at home)
8:38 PM - 7 Oct 2017
Texas A&M puts up a fight, but No. 1 Alabama just too much in the end.
By Bryan Fischer
(Photo/Getty Images)
At this point in the season, the top of the SEC has been more or less established as Alabama and either Georgia or Auburn in some order trailing the Crimson Tide. Who might be the fourth-best team in the league though?
Based on Saturday night’s result, Texas A&M may very well lay claim to that spot.
Sure the Aggies lost to the No. 1 team in the country 27-19 but that slimmer-than-expected margin is pretty notable considering the Tide beat their past two conference foes by a combined 125-3. If Alabama is the measuring stick, A&M measured up pretty well for a young team in defeat all things considered.
After all, Nick Saban was bright red several times throughout the night as his juggernaut of a team looked fairly mortal, especially on offense. The Tide turned the ball over for the first time all season, trailed for 13 seconds early, allowed the Aggies’ famous 12th man to block a J.K. Scott punt for safety and gave up a touchdown for the first time in three weeks. Were it not for two fumbles and a goal line interception by Minkah Fitzpatrick, it could have been a downright close call for the team on a day where one top three team already went down and another saw their quarterback hurt.
Quarterback Jalen Hurts did not have the sharpest of outings but still did plenty enough to capture the victory, throwing for 123 yards (one touchdown) and rushing for another 56 on the ground with a score as well. Damien Harris was the lead tailback and rightfully so, ripping off a 75-yard touchdown to take back the lead in the first quarter and finishing the game with 124 yards on just 14 carries.
On the other sideline, freshman quarterback Kellen Mond had his best game of the season when you factor in the competition. While he wasn’t quite Johnny Football in slaying a giant, he was pretty solid outside of two turnovers and finished with 237 yards passing and a touchdown while scrambling for another 14 yards and a score on a night where the running lanes were hard to come by.
In the end though, it was yet another Alabama victory as they stayed perfect on the season and won their 70th in a row to an unranked team. The biggest winner when all is said and done however, might just be Texas A&M head coach Kevin Sumlin, who is as embattled as any coach in the country and just might have the second best team in the division after an effort like that.
NCAABKB: Top recruits address college basketball scandal: 'It's unfortunate. It's crazy.'
By Pete Thamel
Two top high school basketball stars publicly identified in the federal investigation that’s rocked the recruiting landscape addressed the scandal on Saturday afternoon at USA Basketball’s junior team minicamp.
Arizona commitment Jahvon Quinerly said neither he nor his family have been contacted by federal authorities. He declined comment when asked if they took money from former Arizona assistant coach Emanuel “Book” Richardson. He referred all questions about the case to his lawyer. Quinerly, a top point guard in the 2018 class, said he’s still verbally committed to Arizona. “For now,” he said, “I’m committed.” He added that he’s spoken to Arizona coach Sean Miller, who told him to focus on his high school season. “He was upset as well,” Quinerly said. “It’s unfortunate. It’s crazy.”
North Carolina commitment Nassir Little has been publicly identified as the player rival shoe companies were bidding up to $150,000 to help either Miami or Arizona secure his commitment.
Little said that he and his family did not receive any money and that they have not been contacted by federal authorities. “I know what me and my family did and didn’t do,” he said. “That’s all that matters.”
Since the story was initially reported more than a week ago, Little eliminated Miami and Arizona and committed to North Carolina. He said that he’d stick with his decision to attend Carolina no matter what punishment the NCAA levies in their investigation into the academic fraud case that’s shrouded the university and athletic department.
Little said UNC coach Roy Williams has insinuated to him that the Tar Heels won’t receive a significant punishment from the NCAA. He said that Williams has not told him of the specific punishment, but told him generally: “It’s not necessarily an athletic thing,” he said Williams told him.
"It wasn’t just the basketball team involved in it. They’re not going to be penalized as people suggest.”
Little said he’s avoided looking at his phone to block out the “noise” surrounding the controversy.
Things could end up more complicated for Quinerly. In the federal documents associated with the case, Quinerly has been publicly identified as “Player-5.” Richardson is quoted in the federal documents saying Quinerly’s mother asked for money because “she didn’t know what I was already doing for her son.” Multiple conversations in the document revolve around Richardson securing $15,000 and delivering “a portion of the bribe money he received” to secure Quinerly’s commitment to Arizona. Richardson is quoted saying he had formerly encouraged players to speak with different financial advisers but would direct Arizona players solely to former agent Christian Dawkins and financer Munish Sood in exchange for the payment.
Quinerly said that basketball has provided an escape from the scandal. “It’s unfortunate,” he said. “It is what it is.”
Galen Rupp leads strong showing for American runners at Chicago Marathon.
By Shannon Ryan
By Shannon Ryan
Chicago Marathon winner Galen Rupp said he tried to remain "invisible" for the first 20 miles or so of Sunday's race.
His then burst to the lead in the final miles for a victory of 2 hours 9 minutes and 20 seconds. His win punctuated a resurgent day for American marathoning.
Rupp was the first American winner in the Chicago Marathon since Khalid Khannouchi in 2002 and the first American-born male winner since Greg Meyer in 1982. In the women's race, Jordan Hasay finished third in 2:20:57, recording the second-fastest time ever for an American woman and breaking Joan Benoit Samuelson's 1985 course record for an American woman.
"It's tremendous," Rupp, whose father, Greg, is from Maywood, said. "It's fun to be part of it. It's fun to see Americans competing on the international level. It's real fun to see American doing well again. Hopefully we can inspire a future generation."
Rupp's moment has been coming, rising from the track to the road. He made his marathon debut in 2016 by winning the U.S. Olympic Marathon trials, placed second at the Boston Marathon and earned a bronze medal in Rio de Janeiro.
Hasay similarly has transitioned from track to marathons. In April, she recorded the fastest debut ever by an American woman for a fourth-place finish at the Boston Marathon.
When she crossed the finish line, she said she immediately asked how Rupp — with whom she sometimes trains in Portland — did.
"That's one of the reasons that I went with that lead pack today," said Hasay, who was met at the finish by Samuelson. "It's important to show we can compete with them. That's one of the things I was telling myself, 'Be confident. You can compete with these ladies.'"
Rupp and Hasay's performances mark a pivotal moment for American marathon running and could spark future generations of elite distance runners.
"I think this was a really inspiring day for the sport in America," said Deena Kastor, an American who earned a bronze in the 2004 Olympics marathon. "This was a star-studded field. It wasn't buffered down. There were world record holders, Olympic medalists, previous champions. … Growing up you just heard, the East Africans are so dominant. If you believed in that story, you fell in line. "
She said more Americans are making the podium at track distance events and Americans runners are entering the marathon younger. Hasay, 26, and Rupp, 31, both said they plan to focus on marathon running now rather than the track, where each is accomplished.
"Marathon running is something (American) distance runners would try when they started to lose their track speed," Kastor said. "Now you see people with promise getting in at the height of their career rather than the end of it."
Rupp broke out of a relatively slow group of runners, calling on his track background to record mile splits of 4:39, 4:35 and 4:31 between Miles 21-23. Defending champion Abel Kirui finished second in 2:09:48, and fellow Kenyan Bernard Kipyego finished third in 2:10:23.
"It was real important for me to sit back and relax and conserve energy," he said. "That was my mantra. When it was time to go I wanted to make a real decisive move. At that point, you have to be all in."
Hasay kept with a fast, aggressive pace for much of the race before Tirunesh Dibaba (Ethiopia) broke free from the pack with second-place finisher Brigid Kosgei (Kenya).
"I had to definitely be very brave," Hasay said. "I was little indecisive. Do I go? Do I not go? I had to be really tough and stick to my rhythm that second half. I'm just thankful that training really carried me though."
Two-time defending champion Florence Kiplagat, from Kenya, did not finish the race, dropping out at the 25 kilometer mark. Dennis Kimetto, who holds the world record, dropped out of the men's race as well after starting to limp at Mile 14.
On This Date in Sports History: Today is Monday, October 09, 2017.
Memoriesofhistory.com
1919 - The Cincinnati Reds won the World Series. The win would be later tainted when 8 Chicago White Sox were charged with throwing the game. The incident became known as the "Black Sox" scandal.
1974 - The Washington Capitals played their first NHL game.
2000 - Brett Hull (Dallas Stars) scored his 611th NHL goal. The goal allowed him to pass his father, Bobby Hull, on the all time scoring list bringing him to number 9.
2001 - Prosecutors in Miami, FL, announced that they would seek a prison sentence if O.J. Simpson was convicted in his road rage trial. Jury selection began for the trial just after the announcement.
2002 - The L.A. Kings retired Wayne Gretzky's #99.
1974 - The Washington Capitals played their first NHL game.
2000 - Brett Hull (Dallas Stars) scored his 611th NHL goal. The goal allowed him to pass his father, Bobby Hull, on the all time scoring list bringing him to number 9.
2001 - Prosecutors in Miami, FL, announced that they would seek a prison sentence if O.J. Simpson was convicted in his road rage trial. Jury selection began for the trial just after the announcement.
2002 - The L.A. Kings retired Wayne Gretzky's #99.
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