Grading the QB Room, Howard’s Got Next, Bonding With Trubisky, and Other Bullets
Jordan Howard’s meteoric rise continues.
The Chicago Bears running back was recently profiled in the latest edition of Chicago Magazine, and is considered to be among the city’s most bold and innovative residents. The “Who’s Got Next?” issue features some of the city’s biggest names and brightest personalities who are “poised to make big changes in their fields-and beyond.” Howard fits the bill here after a 1,313-yard rushing season as a rookie, but also for his connections to the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation.
Being in rebuild mode (and coming off a 3-13 season) can make it hard for young players to shine, but Howard is definitely breaking the mold.
- The Chicago Bears quarterback room has a lot of room to grow, and most of that responsibility will fall in the hands of offensive coordinator Dowell Loggains, whose task it is to groom rookie Mitch Trubisky, while also getting Mike Glennon (and to a lesser extent, Mark Sanchez) up to speed. Pro Football Weekly has graded every team’s quarterback room based on a particular set of criteria, and the Bears – unsurprisingly – are rated in the bottom third of the league. They were also called “inexperienced, yet pricey.” Wonderful.
- There has been no update on Victor Cruz’s status after his two-day visit in Chicago, but Daniel Cohen’s post at Pro Football Focus compares Cruz’s 2016 production against that of Bears free agent additions Markus Wheaton and Kendall Wright.
- One of the lighter anecdotes from the Bears’ rookie mini-camp was tight end Adam Shaheen’s love of Chipotle, whose burritos he credits for helping him grow into the imposing 6-foot-6, 278-pound figure he is today. ESPN’s Jeff Dickerson uses the tasty sidebar to help introduce Shaheen as the potential playmaker quarterback Mitch Trubisky needs in the field. Trubisky tells Dickerson: “It’s really cool to throw to him. You can tell he loves being out here as well. I’ve never thrown to a guy that big. He has huge range to catch the ball, so it makes it a lot easier for me.” If and when Trubisky plays remains to be seen, but he’ll have some intriguing tight end options to throw to whenever he starts taking snaps. Shaheen joins returning starter Zach Miller (who could be on the trading block) and free agent signee Dion Sims as the team’s top tight end targets.
- And over at Scout.com, Zack Pearson has a look at the budding relationship between Trubisky and Shaheen, the Bears’ first two picks in the 2017 NFL Draft.
- I bet this was a special moment:
Mrs. Virginia McCaskey spoke to #Bears rookies about our history, being a founding franchise, shared her favorite moments & took questions. pic.twitter.com/4ZHR1eiunF
— Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) May 17, 2017
- It’s a shame it didn’t happen for Martellus Bennett when he was with the Bears, but the Green Bay Packers tight end offers up his insight and a behind the scenes look at how the New England Patriots pieced together the greatest comeback in Super Bowl history in a video interview at Inc.com.
- No final decision has been made yet, but it looks like a camp move is in the works for the Minnesota Vikings. The franchise has been operating out of Eden Prairie since 1981, but training at Minnesota State’s campus in Mankato since 1966.
- Because it’s never too early to prepare for your own draft season, Pro Football Focus’ Michael Moore has an early mock draft where you can find Jordan Howard going just outside the first round.
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