Tag: olin kreutz

Olin Kreutz says Bears QB Justin Fields should want out of Chicago

Olin Kreutz joined 670 The Score’s to share why Justin Fields should want out of Chicago and why the Bears should stick with Tyson Bagent.

The Chicago Bears are set to start undrafted rookie quarterback Tyson Bagent for a second week in a row when they take on the Los Angeles Chargers Sunday night due to Justin Fields’ thumb injury. Head coach Matt Eberflus made it clear that when Fields is healthy, he will return as the starting quarterback. But given how Bagent has looked and the type of offense the team put together for him during his first start, one former Bear and current analyst thinks Fields should start looking for new places to play while the team sticks with Bagent moving forward.

Olin Kreutz, the former Bears center and current NFL analyst, joined 670 The Score’s Parkins & Spiegel show on Friday for his weekly hit and shared that he believes the Bears coaching staff is unwilling to design an offense around Fields. For that reason, he thinks Fields should want to go elsewhere to a team that will use him in a more effective way and for the Bears to stick with Bagent going forward. Kreutz explains his reasoning:

The Bears have shown you that they’re not going to design an offense around Justin Fields. It’s not that any of us think Justin Fields can’t win in the NFL, that we don’t see his immense talent, that we don’t see the way he runs the ball, that we don’t think he’s a dynamic playmaker, it’s that the Bears are insisting they want a quarterback that can beat you from the pocket. The only thing that tells me that is the film.

The film tells me they insist on coach [Luke] Getsy, coach [Matt] Eberflus, Ryan Poles, they want a quarterback in the pocket, they don’t want these college concepts, they don’t want to run a of quarterback runs, they don’t want to run a lot of zone reads. So if they’re going to do that, if I’m Justin Fields, I want out of Chicago. I want to go somewhere where they use me the way I think I can help a team win, the way I think I can be elite.

I think they should stay with Bagent because that’s the kind of quarterback they want anyway.

Kreutz has seen his fair share of quarterbacks trying to run offenses that don’t fit their style, and he makes valid points. For much of the season, Fields and Getsy haven’t been able to work effectively together. Things looked to be improving overall before Fields’ injury in Week 6, but that was after three weeks of poor offensive play. Now Bagent comes in and operates the offense like Getsy and Eberflus wanted with positive results, abeit for one game.

There’s no denying Fields’ natural talents, as Kreutz says, and there have been periods of success during their year and a half together. But after 21 games in this offense, it feels like the two sides just aren’t a match and are destined for divorce at some point.

That being said, it’s highly unlikely the Bears will bench Fields for the rest of the season, and it would come as a complete shock to see him moved prior to the NFL trade deadline next week. He will make his return in the next week or two and look to show the organization he deserves to be in the long-term plans. The third-year quarterback has thrown for 1,201 yards with 11 touchdowns and six interceptions in six games, the bulk of his production coming in recent games. But Kretuz thinks he should want out and it’s hard to blame him.

2023 NFL Draft: Devin Hester to announce one of the Bears Day 2 picks

Bears legendary return specialist Devin Hester will announce one of the team’s second-round picks on Friday evening.

A Chicago Bears legend will introduce one of the team’s newest draft selections on Friday night. Former All-Pro return specialist Devin Hester is set to take the stage in Kansas City to announce one of the Bears’ second-round picks.

Over the last decade or so, the NFL has brought former and active players from each organization to the draft to make selections on Day 2. The Bears have had players such as Matt Forte, Dick Butkus, Rashied Davis, and Olin Kreutz in recent years as representatives. Now it’s Hester’s turn as he hopefully introduces another star second-round selection, just like he turned out to be back in the mid-2000s.

The Bears selected Hester out of the University of Miami with the No. 57 pick in 2006. He immediately became a star, setting the NFL world on fire with his electric returns his rookie season, culminating in one of the greatest plays in Super Bowl history when he ran back the opening kickoff for a touchdown in Super Bowl XLI against the Indianapolis Colts.

Hester finished his  NFL career with multiple NFL records, including the most career return touchdowns of all time and has been a finalist for the Pro Football Hall of Fame each of the last two years. He’s considered the greatest return specialist in NFL history.

Hester will surely receive a warm reception from the Bears fans in attendance when he gets ready to announce the pick. The question is, will the NFL let him walk out to his signature song “Crank That (Soulja Boy)” by Soulja Boy when he enters the stage? We won’t have to wait too long to find out.

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Reactions to Notre Dame’s first half performance against Ohio State

The Irish have the lead going into half 👀

In a massive matchup like No. 5 Notre Dame visiting No. 3 Ohio State there are going to be plenty of hot takes. There was a rollercoaster of emotions for both teams and here are the best reactions to game action during the first half.

Contact/Follow us @IrishWireND on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Notre Dame news, notes, and opinions.

Follow Mike on Twitter: @MikeFChen

Most embarrassing moments from Bears Chairman George McCaskey’s press conference

From insulting Olin Kreutz to George McCaskey’s mom being ‘very, very disappointed,’ the most embarrassing moments from McCaskey’s presser.

The Chicago Bears fired head coach Matt Nagy and general manager Ryan Pace on Monday morning, which left Bears fans feeling uncharacteristically hopeful that things might actually change.

But much like Nagy’s second-half collapses, Monday went from great to hopeless once Chairman George McCaskey took center stage later that afternoon.

McCaskey met the Chicago media for roughly an hour, where he addressed everything from Nagy and Pace’s firings to the search efforts for a new head coach and GM. But with McCaskey, even a routine end-of-year press conference always seems to develop into an absolute disaster.

While many didn’t think it could get worse than last year’s press conference, it’s right up there with it.

Here’s a look at some of the most embarrassing moments from McCaskey (and Phillips) during their press conference:

Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports

Bears once offered Olin Kreutz $15 an hour to serve as O-line consultant

The Bears offered Olin Kreutz a job to serve as player consultant under Harry Hiestand for just $15 an hour. Seriously.

The Chicago Bears have garnered a reputation for being a cheap organization. As Mike Ditka once said about the great George Halas, “(Halas) throws nickels around like manhole covers.”

Well, this story from former Bears center Olin Kreutz isn’t going to help the franchise shed that reputation.

Kreutz appeared on 670 the Score Friday, where he explained that former Bears offensive line coach Harry Hiestand wanted to bring him aboard in 2018. Kreutz said the Bears offered him a position as a player consultant to work with the offensive line for a mere $15 an hour.

Seriously.

“That’s the way they do business,” Kreutz said on 670 the Score. “Those are the things that have to change.”

Recently, there’s been a discussion among former Bears players about wanting to be heard by the organization as a means to get the team on the right track.

Players like Kreutz, Charles Tillman, Alex Brown, Jerry Azumah and Patrick Mannelly have all expressed a desire to meet with the front office and share their thoughts on the organization.

One of the criticisms of Chariman George McCaskey and the Bears organization as a whole has been their inability to impact positive change. It doesn’t help that McCaskey and President/CEO Ted Phillips aren’t “football guys.”

So why not listen to some “football guys,” aka some former players who have some insight to provide that could help get this organization back on the right track?

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Anthony ‘Spice’ Adams talks Charmin, his playing days, Eddie Goldman, and the taunting rules

We talked with Anthony “Spice” Adams about his playing days, thoughts on the Bears defense, the new NFL rules, and his work with Charmin.

There aren’t many former Chicago Bears players who have become more recognizable after their playing days concluded than Anthony “Spice” Adams.

The former defensive tackle who spent nine years in the NFL, including five with the Bears, has become an internet sensation and energetic television host. He’s created countless social media videos and characters since retiring from the NFL, but continues to stay involved with the Bears as co-host of “Inside the Bears” with Lauren Screeden.

We had the opportunity to talk with Adams about his playing days, his thoughts on this year’s defense, the new NFL rules, and the work he’s doing with Charmin and their new Forever Roll.

Olin Kreutz on Aaron Rodgers ‘I still own you’ comment: ‘I’d like to punch him in his face’

Aaron Rodgers struck a nerve with Bears fans and Olin Kreutz with his “I still own you” comment.

Aaron Rodgers beating the Bears is inevitable. Even in games where he’s mediocre. So it wasn’t a surprise when the Packers delivered a 24-14 loss to Chicago in a game that was for the taking by the Bears.

There were many frustrating things from Sunday’s loss, including the offense’s inability to score points and the defense struggling against the run. But the most frustrating was Rodgers’ comment to the Bears and their fans after he scored a game-clinching touchdown run late in the fourth quarter.

“All my (expletive life), I own you,” Rodgers shouted to the crowd. “I still own you.”

While Rodgers wasn’t wrong — he’s 21-5 against the Bears in his career — there are some that aren’t happy with his taunting the Bears and their fans. That includes former Bears center and Hall of Fame finalist Olin Kreutz.

“I’d like to punch him in his face,” Kreutz said on the Mully & Haugh Show on 670 the Score on Monday morning.

After the game, Rodgers explained what prompted his “I still own you” comments, where he essentially deflected blame for his actions in the moment.

“Sometimes you black out on the field — in a good way,” Rodgers said after the game. “I looked up in the stands and in the front row all I saw was a woman giving me the double-bird. So I’m not sure exactly what came out of my mouth next.”

Kreutz called it a “lame excuse.”

“We all know this is the kind of guy you are,” he said. “You’re competitive, and that’s the way you feel, and you’ve won a lot of games here at Soldier Field. Just because you’re right doesn’t make you right for doing it.”

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Olin Kreutz would start Tyler Bray over Mitchell Trubisky vs. Packers

With Nick Foles’ status uncertain following a hip injury, it appears as if Mitchell Trubisky will get another shot for the Bears.

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Stop me if you’ve heard this before: The Chicago Bears have uncertainty at the quarterback position.

Following another unimpressive performance, starting quarterback Nick Foles was slammed to the turf and appeared to suffer a serious injury in the final minute of Monday night’s loss to the Minnesota Vikings. Foles was carted off the field, which certainly didn’t look good for the remainder of the season. But it was later revealed that Foles’ hip injury wasn’t as serious as initially believed.

But Foles’ status — as well as his performance over the last seven games — started the conversation about what Chicago should do at quarterback. Since replacing Mitchell Trubisky in Week 3, Foles hasn’t performed up to par.

Bears head coach Matt Nagy didn’t rule out making a switch at quarterback — that’s what happens when you’ve lost four straight games. But the concern remains the health of both Trubisky and Foles, who are nursing shoulder and hip injuries, respectively.

Former Bears center Olin Kreutz says, if it were him, he’d start third-string quarterback Tyler Bray over Trubisky against the Packers.

“I hate to say this, but who cares?” Kreutz said on the Football Aftershow. “Who cares if it’s Mitch or Bray? It should probably be Bray so you can see what you’ve got at your third string quarterback, since now for three years since Coach Nagy’s came here you haven’t brought another young quarterback to develop in your scheme.”

Let’s be honest, the real reason Bray has been in Chicago over the last three seasons has been because he knows Matt Nagy’s offense. He’s served as a coach of sorts. At this point, he’s nothing more than a career back-up who has spent the majority of his Bears career on the practice squad.

While Foles’ hip injury isn’t serious — he’s day-to-day and expected to miss a couple of weeks — there’s an argument to be made that the Bears should make the switch back to Trubisky. Not that Trubisky is the answer, but the offense did look slightly better than it has under Foles. Trubisky has the benefit of mobility, which helps with an offensive line that struggles in pass protection.

The Bears have a bye week to make another quarterback evaluation. Assuming both Trubisky and Foles are healthy, we’ll see if Nagy ultimately makes the decision to go back to Trubisky to try and find a spark on offense.

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Olin Kreutz suggests Bears’ struggles running the ball due, in part, to Cody Whitehair

Former Chicago Bears center and current television analyst Olin Kreutz offered his insight on what’s been plaguing the Bears’ running game in a recent conversation with The Athletic’s Adam Jahns, and it’s worth noting in advance of Chicago’s …

Former Chicago Bears center and current television analyst Olin Kreutz offered his insight on what’s been plaguing the Bears’ running game in a recent conversation with The Athletic’s Adam Jahns, and it’s worth noting in advance of Chicago’s showdown with Aaron Donald and the Los Angeles Rams on Monday night.

“Part of the Bears’ problems is when you watch their film is that Cody’s not doing a very good job recognizing these run blitzes coming at them,” Kreutz said. “If you watch the Tampa Bay game, Alex Bars comes in and he slides away from Alex Bars immediately. To me, that’s a problem. We talk about Mitch Trubisky having awareness, same thing at the center position. You have to be aware of everything that’s going on around him.”

Whitehair isn’t having a terrible season. His 67.6 grade from Pro Football Focus ranks seventh-best on the Bears’ offense and his 77.8 run-blocking grade is tops among Chicago’s offensive linemen. It’s a classic case of the analytics not matching the eye-test, especially when that exam is conducted by one of the best offensive linemen in Bears franchise history.

“When you play a game wrecker, you just have to always account for where he is,” Kreutz said. “You’re going to change protections a little bit. A lot of that comes down the center. Like, OK, if I’m supposed to slide away from Aaron Donald here but the linebacker doesn’t look like he’s coming that I’m sliding to, I’m just going to change the protection and make maybe a middle call and sit right here in the middle so I can take my help to Aaron Donald, especially if he’s matched up on Rashaad Coward.”

Kreutz isn’t grading each rep, he isn’t applying any metric to his analysis. Instead, he’s relying on his experience playing the position and is able to see things that the casual fan or data analyst can’t. So if he’s telling you that Whitehair is struggling in this critical area of the running game? Believe him.

The Bears currently rank 31st in the NFL in rushing yards per game entering Monday night against the Rams.

Olin Kreutz on Garrett Bradbury: ‘He has a lot to learn’

The former Bears center has been watching film on the Vikings’ 2019 first-round pick.

The rookie season for Vikings center Garrett Bradbury might not have gone as expected.

The team’s 2019 first-round pick finished with a Pro Football Focus grade of 57.7, a mark that ranked 30th among 37 ranked centers in the league.

Former Bears center Olin Kreutz, who made six Pro Bowls and was a one-time All-Pro, watched the film on Bradbury and said the rookie certainly has some room to grow.

“He has a lot to learn about body positioning and angles and getting his hands inside and punching guys when you’re a smaller center,” Kreutz said via SKOR North. “A lot of those things he has to learn and work on but there is a ton of film of guys doing what he’s trying to get accomplished and you can see why he got drafted early when he gets his head across on zone plays and those one-on-one blocks and cuts the defense off and gashes guys when Dalvin Cook was running all over people. He has a lot to learn but he definitely can develop what he needs if he takes his time and studies film and studies the guys who came before him.”

While Bradbury wasn’t the Pro Bowl-caliber player many Vikings’ fans hoped for, it was only his rookie season. When the team drafted him 18th overall, it was considered a no-brainer among most experts.

We’ll see if we get back to that thinking during his second season.