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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2015 • CHICAGOFOOTBALL.COM

BYE WEEK ASSESSMENT Hub Arkush asks: Bears are different, but are they better?

2

TIME OFF

We ask Bears players what their plans are for the bye week 6

READ OPTIONS Adam Jahns: Bears still have faith in Kyle Fuller 8

DRAFT PLANS

We take an early look at college players Bears could be scouting 10

SAM’S SMILE

Bears OLB Acho finds happiness, peace in his annual mission work in Nigeria

4

After 2014 disaster, these Bears are different By the time the Chicago Bears took the final snap of the 2014 season in a 13-9 loss to the Vikings in Minnesota, they had become the laughingstock of the NFL. The team had become so dysfunctional that before noon the following day, team Chairman George McCaskey was forced to stand up and fire both general manager Phil Emery and coach Marc Trestman.

After hiring long-time NFL executive Ernie Accorsi to guide the process, McCaskey identified first Ryan Pace to be his new GM and then John Fox as the 15th head coach of the Bears.

Pace was a bit of an unknown, so the early response was tepid at best, but more positive than negative.

Fox’s hiring brought excitement as he became only the third head coach in Bears history – the other two are George Halas, who left the team and then returned as head coach three different times, and Paddy Driscoll, 1956-1957 – with prior NFL headching experience.

Things really started to crank up as Fox put together an all-star group of assistants, including Vic Fangio

FROM THE EDITOR

By HUB

ARKUSH

harkush@chicagofootball.com @Hub_Arkush

and Adam Gase.

While it was understood some level of rebuilding was required, the buzz was back in Bears Nation.

With their bye this weekend, it is time to stop and analyze just what Pace, Fox and company have accomplished so far in their rookie Bears campaign.

The 2014 Bears started the season 3-3 and finished it 21st in total offense, 27th rushing, 15th passing, 24th in

interceptions allowed, 18th in sacks allowed, 24th in 3rd down conversions and 23rd in points scored.

Through six games this year, they are 26th in total offense, 14th rushing, 25th passing, 14th in interceptions, 13th in sacks, first in the NFL in third down conversions and 26th in points allowed.

While Jay Cutler – who was public enemy number three on the Emery/ Trestman Bears – has played the best football of his career and is clearly taking better care of the football, so far this year the Bears’ offense has been more efficient, but slightly less productive than last year.

Defensively, last year’s Bears were 30th in total defense, 17th vs. the run, 30th vs. the pass, 16th in interception percentage, 16th in sacks, 21st on third down defense and 31st in points allowed.

To date this year, they are 9th in total defense, 27th vs. the run, 6th against the pass, 26th in interceptions, 16th in sacks, 30th in third down defense and they’re 32nd – dead last – in points allowed.

It is important to note here that

the Bears have, of course, switched defensive schemes from a 4-3 to a 3-4, which does require time to develop.

But in spite of the fact that Mel Tucker was a punch line and Fangio is a rock star, this year’s “D” is again more proficient but less productive to date than last year’s.

No team has ever won or lost a football game on stats, but for now they are the measuring stick we have.

Clearly, the locker room is a thousand percent improved over last year, and Cutler’s play is justifiably engendering hope rather than scorn.

The arrivals in town of Pernell McPhee, Sam Acho, Jarvis Jenkins, Eddie Goldman, Hroniss Grasu, Jeremy Langford and Adrian Amos, and the continued growth of Kyle Long, Matt Slauson, Will Sutton and Christian Jones, also have opened a porthole through which we can perhaps view some interesting young and middle-aged talent around which the future will be built.

But through six games this year, the Bears have very little progress to report on Sunday, and a bushel full of questions still left to answer.

BY THE

NUMB3RS

1990

Year the NFL introduced the bye week into its regular season schedule, something that has continued every season since.

17-8

Bears record in games played immediately after their bye week dating to 1990.

7

Average week of the NFL season in which the Bears’ bye week has fallen in the 26 years of the bye era, the exact week it is this year.

Chicago Football Weekly is produced by Shaw Media, the Daily Herald Media Group and the Chicago Sun-Times in partnership with other Illinois daily newspapers.

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ChicagoFootball.com • Thursday, October 22, 2015

| CHICAGO FOOTBALL WEEKLY

2

NFL coaches on the hot seat less than halfway through the season By

BEN GARTLAND

bgartland@chicagofootball.com @BenG_Sports

The NFL already saw its first coaching casualty of 2015 when Miami Dolphins coach Joe Philbin was fired after Week Four.

With the season far from over and expectations not being met across the league, here are five coaches who are on the hot seat.

1. MIKE PETTINE The Cleveland Browns’ job never has been the most secure position, as they’ve had eight coaches since returning to the league in 1999. Mike Pettine has been in Cleveland since 2014,

when he put up a 7-9 record. However, the Browns are off to a slow start and their defense, which was supposed to be the strength of the team, has struggled mightily.

While we don’t know how quick of a hook general manager Ray Farmer (although Farmer himself may be on the hot seat) will have, if Pettine doesn’t improve on last year’s collapse, he may be gone.

2. SEAN PAYTON The Saints are trying to recover from a 7-9 season in 2014 but have been unsuccessful so far in 2015. They lost four of their first five games and have a long way

5. JIM TOMSULA AP photo

to go to contend for a weak NFC South. Their defense is allowing 27.3 points a game and their offense has not been able to keep up.

The Saints are the only team that Payton has known as head coach.

He has led them since 2006 (minus the suspension season) but New Orleans may feel like it needs to move on in 2016.

3. GUS BRADLEY

cord in 2014. As the Jaguars start off slow again, the front office may consider replacing Bradley. His record as defensive coordinator in Seattle has not followed him to Jacksonville, as its defenses have finished 28th and 26th in 2013 and 2014, respectively. If Bradley hasn’t shown progress in his third season, he likely will be shown the door.

4. JIM CALDWELL

Gus Bradley followed up a 4-12 2013 debut season with a 3-13 re-

After his debut season saw the Detroit Lions go 11-5 and

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Jim Tomsula took the reins after a brutal offseason for San Francisco that saw the club divorce from Jim Harbaugh and also saw several key players leave to early retirement. The 49ers started off the season with a 20-3 win over Minnesota, but were blown out in consecutive weeks by the Steelers (43-18) and Cardinals (47-7). They got a win Sunday against a bad Ravens team, but pressure is certainly on Tomsula as the 49ers seem destined for a last place finish in the NFC West. If things don’t improve, he may be a one-and-done coach.

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make the playoffs as a wild card, the Lions have collapsed in 2015.

They got their first win in Week Six and coaching has been the blame for many of the losses.

Normally, a coach will be given a reprieve after he takes his team to the playoffs in his first season, especially a team starved for success like the Lions, but a collapse this severe in Caldwell’s second season could lead to his firing.

Mike Pettine

ON A MISSION

ChicagoFootball.com • Thursday, October 22, 2015

| CHICAGO FOOTBALL WEEKLY

4

Outside of football, Sam Acho helps take care of those in need in his wife’s, parents’ native Nigeria By

Sam Acho

KYLE NABORS

knabors@daily-journal.com

Sam Acho steps into a hallway at Halas Hall and quickly dives into his interview with a big smile.

There’s no talk about taking things one game at a time. No throw-away line about getting better each and every day.

In fact, there’s almost no talk of football at all.

It doesn’t take long to realize there’s something different about the Bears’ outside linebacker.

The 27-year-old’s smile grows broader as he talks about his wife, Ngozi, whom he met 11 years ago on his first mission trip to Nigeria. Each summer, Acho would return for another mission trip, and their friendship would grow closer — even if he didn’t know what it meant at the time.

“She was 7,000 miles away,” Acho said. “I wasn’t thinking about marriage. I was a 15-year-old boy. But every year I’d go and see her, and I’d think, Man, this girl is beautiful.”

Acho grew up in Texas, but Nigeria was and remains a second home. His parents emigrated to the United States from Nigeria before he was born, but Acho and his three siblings returned with their parents every other Christmas to visit family.

His parents also founded Living Hope Ministries in 1989, when Acho was only a year old, with the goal of providing medical care to rural and often im-

AP photo

poverished areas of Nigeria via annual mission trips.

The country of more than 180 million people sits on the West Coast as one of Africa’s fastest growing nations.

Democracy took root with free elections in 1999, and a booming oil industry helped Nigeria overtake South Africa as the continent’s largest economy last year.

Yet for all the progress, Nigeria still faces serious problems.

Boko Haram – an extremist group with ties to ISIS – has terrorized regions of the country in recent months, while poverty and sickness remain huge obstacles in the more remote areas.

That’s where Acho and Living Hope Ministries come in.

“The great thing about Nigeria is that it’s so rich in natural resources,”

Acho said. “Obviously, you look at oil, and it’s huge over there. There are places that have grown financially in certain areas. But there are places that still have extreme poverty. Part of what we do is that we take care of the poor and we take care of the needy.”

Acho embarked on his first medical mission to Nigeria in 2004 with a team that included doctors, nurses, dentists, surgeons, ophthalmologists, pharmacists and pediatricians.

“My freshman year in high school was the first time I went,” he said. “My parents felt I was old enough to be able to see all that was going on.

“Part of what we do, the surgeons come with and are removing hernias and the ophthalmologists are removing cataracts. You see some crazy stuff.

People with huge lumps on their bodies.

People would just walk up and say, ‘Hey, look, I’ve got a hernia. Do surgery.’”

Acho has made the trip nearly a dozen times since despite a remarkably active life.

A standout linebacker at the University of Texas, Acho won the William V. Campbell Trophy – awarded annually to college football’s top scholar-athlete – as a senior and was selected by the Arizona Cardinals in the fourth round of the 2011 NFL Draft.

He wasted no time making his presence known with 35 tackles and seven sacks in his rookie season, but that wasn’t enough of a challenge for Acho.

So following the season, he began working toward his MBA. “My family really values education,” Acho said. “Coming from a developing nation, they know no one

Sam Acho

THIS WEEK IN THE NFL

AP photo

can take your brain away from you. You’ve got to educate yourself.

“With [the Campbell Trophy] came a $25,000 post graduate scholarship. And also, the NFLPA has a tuition reimbursement program where you get reimbursed for any education you get while you’re playing. I wanted to take advantage of those things.”

And so it went. Master’s classes from season’s end until OTAs. From there, a mission trip to Nigeria before training camp in late July.

And then football.

Acho completed his degree this spring – not long after signing a one-year deal with the Bears.

“It was definitely a balancing act, but what I’ve found is that idle time for me isn’t a good thing,” he said. “I finished up my rookie year in the NFL, and then we’re told we’ve got about three months off to do whatever you want.

For a couple of days it was fun, but I knew there was a better way to use my time.

“During the offseason, I decided to work on my MBA. That helped take some of that idle time. Once the season started up, it was football time.”

Acho says he never will be ready to be done learning, however.

Already an avid reader of English literature – his ability to drop Shakespearean soliloquies would make any high school English teacher proud – he’s also brushing up on his Spanish while trying

People have this picture of the poor there. They say how sorry they feel for them. I’m grateful to God because a lot of people who are poor money-wise are rich in spirit. They’re rich in culture. The joy I see over there in Nigeria is unbelievable. They’ve got nothing. ... Yet they’re so joyful and so grateful.

— SAM ACHO ON OUTREACH EFFORTS IN NIGERIA

to master Igbo (pronounced e-boo), his parents’ and wife’s native language.

“Obviously, my parents speak English, but Igbo is the language they grew up speaking,” Acho said. “I never really picked it up. My wife speaks both English and Igbo. And now, my 9-monthold son is learning both English and Igbo. I’ve been real-

ly trying to learn.

“Honestly, though, I haven’t done well. I’ll get on it for a little bit and then kind of stop. But I’m really trying to learn because that’s the language that’s going to be spoken in my household with my wife and my son. I don’t want them talking behind my back and me not knowing.”

With his family growing in the United States, his second home remains a huge part of Acho’s life.

Not content with annual mission trips, Living Hope Ministries is $250,000 into a $2 million drive to build a hospital in rural Nigeria.

Acho is still considering fundraising options for the Chicago area as he settles into his new home but welcomed donations to LivingHopeMinistries.us.

And that big smile stretched across his face as he described his and Ngozi’s traditional Nigerian wedding with 2,000 friends and family in the middle of the village.

As he said, Nigeria is in his blood.

“People have this picture of the poor there,” he said.

“They say how sorry they feel for them. I’m grateful to God because a lot of people who are poor money-wise are rich in spirit. They’re rich in culture.

“The joy I see over there in Nigeria is unbelievable.

They’ve got nothing. They don’t have clothes to wear.

They don’t have running water. Yet they’re so joyful and so grateful.”

AP photo

SEAHAWKS @ 49ERS 7:25 p.m. Thursday, CBS

boss. Hoyer 1-0 in second stint as Houston starter.

Seattle’s in-season demise might be more stunning than San Francisco’s offseason.

STEELERS @ CHIEFS

BILLS @ JAGUARS 8:30 a.m. Sunday in London, Yahoo

Big Ben back on practice field; Alex Smith sacked staggering 23 times for 1-5 Chiefs.

Shady got his groove back, but Tyrod can’t come back soon enough. Gus Bradley now 8-30 as head coach.

BUCCANEERS @ WASHINGTON

VIKINGS @ LIONS Noon Sunday, FOX Mike Zimmer looks to double 2014 division win total; Detroit tries to double win total, period.

SAINTS @ COLTS Noon Sunday, FOX After Pagano’s #puntgate fiasco, Payton-to-Indy buzz will only grow.

JETS @ PATRIOTS Noon Sunday, CBS

Noon Sunday, CBS

Noon Sunday, FOX Bucs found Jameis a run game before bye; Jay Gruden standing behind Kirk Cousins after another dud.

RAIDERS @ CHARGERS 3:05 p.m. Sunday, CBS 503 yards from Rivers and Bolts but nothing to show for it. Off bye, Oakland looks to begin new win streak.

COWBOYS @ GIANTS 3:35 p.m. Sunday, FOX

Revis returns to Foxboro. Bowles vs. Belichick for first time should be a doozy.

Dallas emerges from bye with whole new backfield; Giants, on short rest, look to move on from Monday-night meltdown.

FALCONS @ TITANS

EAGLES @ PANTHERS

Noon Sunday, FOX

7:30 p.m. Sunday, NBC

Atanta had 10 days to stew after first loss; Whiz still stewing about how he lost Mariota.

How does Cam respond from dazzling finish in Seattle? Dominant ‘D,’ old DeMarco sighting saved bumbling Bradford.

BROWNS @ RAMS Noon Sunday, CBS

RAVENS @ CARDINALS

More disappointing for Browns: another heartbreaking loss or Manziel mishap?

7:30 p.m. Monday, ESPN

TEXANS @ DOLPHINS Noon Sunday, CBS Dan Campbell 1-0 as Fins’ interim

Carson Palmer came down to earth in Pittsburgh; Baltimore down and out at 1-5.

• The Bears, Bengals, Broncos and Packers are on bye weeks.

CHICAGO FOOTBALL WEEKLY | Thursday, October 22, 2015 • ChicagoFootball.com

Russell Wilson

5

ChicagoFootball.com • Thursday, October 22, 2015

| CHICAGO FOOTBALL WEEKLY

6

BEARS PLAYERS TALK ABOUT THEIR BYE PLANS

By ARTHUR

week ritual?

ARKUSH

aarkush@chicagofootball.com

What are your plans for the bye week?

EGO FERGUSON: I’ll be in Chicago come Wednesday night. I plan to pick my daughter up on Friday.

What about your first NFL bye week, as a rookie in 2014?

A couple of us met in [Scottsdale], Arizona, spent the weekend out there. Me and [49ers OLB] Aaron Lynch met up, [Seahawks WR] Ricardo Lockette, [Seahawks OL] Alvin Bailey, just had a nice little time in Arizona. Chilled, went to the pool, enjoyed ourselves.

EDDIE ROYAL: I haven’t even thought about it.

Do you have a favorite bye-

No, I’m kind of boring. I normally go home to Virginia and spend time with my family, little nieces and nephews.

ANTREL ROLLE: My plan for the bye week is to get as healthy as I possibly can so I can get back out on the field and help my guys. …

My focus is going to be rehab and getting my ankle in tip-top shape so I can go out there and perform.

MARQUESS WILSON: Just try and recover and get my body right, and then go home (Tulare, Calif.) and see my family.

TRACY PORTER: Probably go home and see my girls. They’ve been in Louisiana in school. Want to get that father-daughter time. I haven’t seen them consistently all

H. Rick Bamman

Kyle Long and some of his Bears teammates might try to take in a Cubs NLCS game during their bye week.

Who’s your cousin?

[Dallas Mavericks guard] JusDo you have a favorite byetin Anderson. One more pick and week memory? year so that’s what I’ll be doing.

To be honest, I’m more of a homebody, so I don’t really have any wild stories. It may sound a little lame, but for me, once I get the opportunity to go back home, I just want to do that and go relax with the family.

JERMON BUSHROD: My cousin, he plays against the Bulls on Friday, so I’m going to watch him.

Then I’ll probably go to Towson [University] for Homecoming Saturday.

Orthopedic and sports rehab Pre/ post surgical rehab ASTYM Tendonitis treatment

he would’ve been drafted by the Bulls.

Do you have any bye-week rituals?

No. Just try and enjoy the time off and be lucky I can still have a bye week. Get away from everything for a little bit and try and refocus.

Do you have any advice for the youngsters heading out on bye?

Just realize you’ve got to come back to work. I was young. I had

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KYLE LONG: I don’t really have anything going on, so it’s good to see friends. Shoot, it’s not like I’m going to go on a Vegas trip with some of my buddies. That just isn’t appealing to me. I like to hang out, maybe get to walk my dog a couple times this week.

Maybe go see the Cubbies play now that they’ve got a homestand, an opportunity to bounce back. And then obviously prepare for the Vikings.

ALAN BALL: Relax. Rest. Treatment. That’s one of the things I’ve always been about in my career.

Take the week and not only get away mentally but get your body right. I plan on getting away to Houston, get a little bit more sun and some heat and go from there.

SHERROD MARTIN: Now, I’m smarter. Don’t come back more tired than when you left.

ZACH MILLER: If I leave, I’m wasting two days of travel. My kids are in school, so we’ll hang out here, enjoy the city. That’ll probably give us a chance to explore it even more. Cubbies game, maybe? Gotta find tickets for that.

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| CHICAGO FOOTBALL WEEKLY

8

Bears still have faith in struggling CB Kyle Fuller

By ADAM

JAHNS

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In some ways, cornerback Kyle Fuller’s technique was fine. He just didn’t finish the play off against Lions tight end Tim Wright.

Face-guarding, which is what Fuller was doing, is acceptable in certain situations. Quarterback Matthew Stafford was scrambling, and Fuller had the back of the end zone as help.

“We’re teaching him to shield and keep moving in that situation,” secondary coach Ed Donatell said. “If you look back [at the quarterback], they’re just going to work away from you.

“They made a heck of a play,

and that guy [Wright] actually pushed to separate a little bit.

If we can do it next time, we’d push and maybe get him out of the back of the end zone. There’s a way to body him out of there.”

Fuller also needs to turn to the ball at some point, which has been a recurring issue for him this season. He didn’t see the pass until Wright had it in his hands for a touchdown.

“The rules are made to where they want you to play the football,” Donatell said. “We’re always preaching that, to get your head around.”

In the end, it became another woeful moment for Fuller this season.

His individual struggles have become a major focal point for the Bears moving forward. The Bears need to figure out what he can be for them, whether it’s a cornerback, nickel back or may-

THE WAY WE HEAR IT Can Johnny Football survive in Cleveland?

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him would seem to be an indication of how this year has been a struggle.

Veteran Tracy Porter shadowed Lions receiver Calvin Johnson and Raiders rookie star Amari Cooper. And it was Porter who had Chiefs receiver Jeremy Maclin in man coverage on a crucial third down in Kansas City.

In his first six games last year as a rookie, Fuller had Kyle Fuller three interceptions, three forced ?% I`Zb 9XddXe ÆJ_Xn D\[`X fumbles and six pass breakups.

This season, Fuller has two pass breakups and three pass-interbe even a safety.

Fuller’s performance against ference penalties through the the Lions was a noticeable step first six weeks.

Donatell hasn’t lost faith in backward after he went unnoticed – a good thing for corner- Fuller. He thinks he fits the backs in a way – against the Sea- scheme just fine and said progress has been made. hawks, Raiders and Chiefs.

“Good players fit our sysFuller remains a strong and physical tackler. But he’s paid tem,” Donatell said, “and he’s a to cover, and the Bears’ use of good football player.”

The Bears’ pass rush has been OK this season, but it remains too erratic for it not to be a point of emphasis this offseason for general manager Ryan Pace.

At times, it looks like the only consistent threat is outside linebacker Pernell McPhee, who was credited at Ford Field with a sack, two tackles for loss and two quarterback hits.

An internal story line to watch when the Bears return from the bye week: Will Charles Leno Jr.’s improving play be enough to keep him a starter over left tackle Jermon Bushrod, who is set to return from a shoulder injury and concussion in Week Eight?

BY HUB ARKUSH

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Lots of changes expected in Dallas

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Ben Roethlisberger

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Big Ben ahead of schedule?

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The Bears will soon have a big decision to make on Alshon Jeffery. Big, as in how big of a contract they’re willing to offer the four-year veteran when his rookie contract expires after this season. Jeffery is the most dangerous big-play weapon on the Bears’ roster – maybe the only one.

It’s been apparent in the first six games this year just how important the 2013 Pro Bowl wide receiver is to the Bears’ attack. In the two games that Jeffery played – Week One and Week Six – the Bears averaged 423 yards of total offense and 28.5 points. In the four that he missed with a hamstring injury, the Bears averaged 295 yards and 20.75 points.

“If you watched the game, just catching the ball down the field, [he’s] a down-the-field threat,” Bears running back Matt Forte said after Jeffery returned to the lineup and caught eight passes for 147 yards and a touchdown vs. the Lions. “We’ve been dinking and dunking a little bit. Q (Marquess Wilson) was able to

OPINION

By BOB

LeGERE

rlegere@dailyherald.com @BobLeGere

stretch the field a little bit, too, but Alshon being in there, he was able to catch the ball down the field a lot and open it up for some of the other guys in the passing game, too.”

The Bears did lose both games that Jeffery played, although that has more to do with the 68 points they allowed than anything else. The Lions game was vintage Jeffery, even though he

had missed four straight weeks of practice. He set up a field goal with a 45-yard reception on a deep jump ball on which he easily outmaneuvered cornerback Darius Slay.

Then, with 21 seconds left in regulation and starting from his own 20-yard line, quarterback Jay Cutler went to Jeffery along the sideline on back-to-back plays that picked up 25 and 24 yards.

“He’s just a difference-maker,” Cutler said. “You get Alshon over there, and he makes you feel comfortable. He can win the jump ball one on one more times than not and good things will happen.”

In the previous two seasons, the 6-foot-3, 216-pound second-round pick out of South Carolina caught 89 passes for 1,421 yards and seven touchdowns (in 2013) and 85-1,133-10 last year.

He played all 16 games in those two seasons. But there could be durability concerns because Jeffery missed all four preseason games this year, as well as four that matter. As a rookie, he missed three games

Alshon Jeffery AP photo

with a hand injury and two more with a sprained knee.

But, as long as he stays healthy for the remainder of this season, his value won’t be diminished by durability concerns.

So, the question looms: How much is a big, rangy, 1,000-yard Pro Bowl wide receiver with a huge catch radius who’s just 25 years old worth on the open market?

The Packers gave Jordy Nelson a four-year, $39.05 million prior to this season, and he’s five years older than Jeffery. A closer comparison might be the

Packers’ Randall Cobb, who got $40 million over four years. He’s 25, too, and has numbers similar to Jeffery.

A month ago, A.J. Green got $60 million over four years. But he’s more durable and has been more productive than Jeffery for twice as long.

He’s 27 and well on his way to a fifth straight 1,000-yard season.

So, the guess here is that Jeffery costs the Bears $50 million for four years.

With all the other holes they have to fill, it’s a price the Bears might have to pay.

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9 CHICAGO FOOTBALL WEEKLY | Thursday, October 22, 2015 • ChicagoFootball.com

Is Alshon Jeffery worth a $50 million contract?

IN NEED OF HELP

ChicagoFootball.com • Thursday, October 22, 2015

| CHICAGO FOOTBALL WEEKLY

10

A way-too-early look at top college prospects who could help the Bears By

NATE ATKINS

natkins@chicagofootball.com

I

s it too early to talk NFL Draft? Maybe it is. With three straight Bears games coming down to the wire, it’s getting harder to pinpoint exactly what they’ll be when all is said and done this season, but one thing’s

JARED GOFF, CALIFORNIA JUNIOR QB Size: 6-4, 215 2015 stats: 150-of-226 (66.7 percent),

1,970 yards, 17 TDs, 9 INTs, 8.8 yards/ attempt Career stats: 786-of-1,284 (62.2 percent), 9,451 yards, 70 TDs, 26 INTs, 7.5 yards/ attempt Last game: 25-of-47, 340 yards, 2 TDs, 5 INTs, 9 carries for 30 yards in 30-24 loss to Utah on Oct. 10 Way too early projection: Round 1 Why he could fit: Ryan Pace, John Fox and Adam Gase might very well want their guy at QB. Jay Cutler is good enough to often prevent a high draft pick but might never be good enough to make a team a real contender, so if you have a chance to get your guy, why not take it?

Why he might not: The question is whether Goff is that guy, or at least ready to be the guy. All the natural ability is there – arm strength, accuracy, vision – but he lacks in some areas that time could heal, such as bulk and composure under pressure, as the Utah loss exposed. The Bears could decide they want to wait and develop that on their own, or they might want a guy they feel better about taking at such a prime position.

Other QBs to watch : Penn State’s Christian Hackenberg, Michigan State’s Connor Cook

for sure: The transitions on both sides of the ball are City for a second straight year. long-term ones, and that truth alone circles us back to While the Bears are on their bye week, let’s take a thinking about that three-day extravaganza in the late roll call of where some of the best college prospects are spring – which, by the way, will be back in the Windy and how they might, might, might fit in with the Bears:

EZEKIEL ELLIOTT, OHIO STATE JUNIOR RB Size: 6-0, 225 2015 stats: 988 yards on 6.7 yards/

carry, 11 TDs, 131 receiving yards for 0 TDs Career stats: 3,128 yards on 6.9 YPC, 31 TDs, 374 receiving yards for 0 TDs Last game: 27 carries for 153 yards and 1 TD, 4 receiving for 21 yards in 3810 win over Penn State Way too early projection: Round 1 Why he could fit : Between his strength, break-away speed, shiftiness, vision and ability to add as a blocker and as a receiver, Elliott has some rare talent. The production is all there, too, with 12 straight 100-yard games and his best performances all coming in his biggest games. He could be a younger, cheaper alternative to Matt Forte, keeping a feature back in this new runbased offense.

Why he might not: It’s still hard to take a RB this early, especially with so many other holes to fill. And the Bears just spent a fourth-round pick on Jeremy Langford, who also appears like he can do a little of everything. Langford’s no Elliott, but he’s already on the roster.

Other RBs to watch: Notre Dame’s CJ Prosise, UCLA’s Paul Perkins, Utah’s DeVontae Booker

MYLES JACK, UCLA JUNIOR ILB Size: 6-1, 232 2015 stats: 15 tackles (9 solo), 1 INT

in three games Career stats: 178 tackles (117 solo), 15 tackles for loss, 1 sack, 4 INTs, 19 passes defensed Last game: 6 tackles (3 solo), INT in 24-23 win over BYU on Sept. 19 Way too early projection: Round 1 Why he could fit: It’s just rare to find an ILB prospect who has proven himself in as many areas as Jack, who is superb as a cover man (4 INTs and 19 PDs) and even has some goal-line RB potential with 11 career rushing TDs. And those traits are secondary to his ability to track a play and make a stop. The Bears have been begging for big plays from their ILBs this season, and Jack has made his mark on those kinds of splash plays.

Why he might not : Jack is a risk, coming off a season-ending knee injury and having just three games of upperclass game film. Inside linebackers also are routinely available later in the draft and sometimes after; Christian Jones, after all, went undrafted before coming to the Bears in 2014.

Other ILBs to watch : Notre Dame’s Jaylon Smith, Alabama’s Reggie Ragland, Missouri’s Kentrell Brothers

JALEN RAMSEY, FLORIDA STATE JUNIOR CB/S Size: 6-1, 202 2015 stats: 22 tackles (16 solo), 1 tackle

for loss, 6 passes defensed, 1 fumble recovery Career stats: 151 tackles (101 solo), 13 TFL, 4 sacks, 3 INTs, 19 PD, 2 FR, 4 forced fumbles Last game: 4 tackles (3 solo), 1 PD in 4121 win over Louisville Way too early projection: Round 1 Why he could fit: Ramsey has the mold of a future sure thing the Bears are lacking in a struggling secondary with three members age 28 or older. He moved to CB this season for team needs, but he projects especially well as a S, where his footwork and physicality are overwhelming for his age. He showcased that at CB against Louisville on Saturday by wrecking a WR screen for a TFL and also driving a receiver into his own coaching staff out of bounds off the snap.

Why he might not: If Antrel Rolle comes back to form and Adrian Amos continues to climb, Fangio could decide he has two starting safeties. Ramsey has been hit or miss in coverage as a corner this season, so spending a high draft pick on a risky transition might not be the best plan.

Other DBs to watch: Florida’s Vernon Hargreaves, LSU’s Tre’Davious White, Clemson’s Jayron Kearse

11

9 tackle for loss, 5 sacks, 4 passes defensed Career stats: 185 tackles (82 solo), 28 TFL, 12.5 sacks, 9 PD, 1 fumble recovery, 1 forced fumble Last game: 6 tackles (1 solo), 2 TFL, 1.5 sacks, 2 PD in 26-20 win over Washington Way too early projection: Round 1 Why he could fit : The Bears have been most thin at DL since this regime took over, and that’s going to get worse as Jeremiah Ratliff, 34, ages. After taking Eddie Goldman last year, the Bears could go out and grab a five-technique to build around, and Buckner fits that mold as a player who can pass rush, command double-teams and present the length to bat some passes at the line – all of which he showed last Saturday against Washington, arguably his finest outing yet.

Why he might not: Buckner plays in an Oregon scheme unfriendly to sack numbers, so he remains somewhat of a mystery as a pass-rush finisher. The college game can appear too easy for him sometimes, so he’ll need to show an ability to work up the ranks when the competition is much stiffer in the NFL. Other DL to watch: Mississippi’s Robert Nkemdiche, Baylor’s Shawn Oakman, Alabama’s A’Shawn Robinson

VADAL ALEXANDER, LSU SENIOR OG/OT Size : 6-6, 329 2015 stats : Offense is averaging

135 passing yards and 326 rushing yards per game Career stats: 34 starts in 38 games Last game : Led the way for 202 passing yards and 221 rushing yards in 35-28 win over Florida Way too early projection : Round 1-2 Why he could fit : Alexander has spent two seasons as a guard and two as a tackle at LSU. On Saturday, he neutralized a bevy of talented Gators pass rushers to show that tackle could be a fit at the next level. For now, his size and strength probably projects him better as a guard, but that versatility could prove invaluable to a Bears offense that has already shuffled so much through five games yet still lacks a backup who can play both guard and tackle.

Why he might not : Alexander can get a little heavy, which can limit him in springing run blocks to the second level. With a powerful left guard like Matt Slauson, a more natural pulling guard might be a better complement on the right side, which is traditionally where those guys play.

Other OGs to watch : Missouri’s Connor McGovern, Baylor’s Spencer Drango, Ohio State’s Pat Elflein

RONNIE STANLEY, NOTRE DAME SENIOR OT Size: 6-5½, 315 2015 stats : Offense is averaging

264 passing yards and 235 rushing yards per game Career stats: 32 starts in 32 games Last game : Led the way for 262 passing yards and 214 rushing yards in 41-31 win over USC Way too early projection : Stanley has the length to project at left tackle, yet he proved with his downfield blocks against USC that he’s much more than just a pass protector.

Lengthy, quick and ultra-experienced in a spotlight program, Stanley is one of just a few prospects in this draft who looks like he could step in on Day One and start for an NFL team. That ability could allow Adam Gase to move Kyle Long over to the left side of the line and still feel good about the RT spot.

Why he might not: Stanley is an excellent athlete, but he could afford to add some strength to his base. That isn’t something you develop overnight. And sure, moving Long to left tackle sounds great, but do you really spend a first-round pick on a right tackle? How do you justify that with so many more crucial positions that need to be filled?

Other OT to watch : Mississippi’s Laremy Tunsil, Ohio State’s Taylor Decker, Michigan State’s Jack Conklin

JORDAN JENKINS, GEORGIA OLB Year: Senior Size: 6-3, 253 2015 stats : 29 tackles (12 solo), 7.5

tackles for loss, 3 sacks, 1 forced fumble Career stats : 175 tackles (92 solo), 37 TFL, 18 sacks, 5 passes defensed, 3 fumble recoveries, 5 FF Last game: 6 tackles (3 solo), 1 TFL, 1 FF in 38-10 loss to Alabama on Oct. 3 Way too early projection: Round 1-2 Why he could fit: Jenkins offers the rare college experience playing the exact 3-4 position Vic Fangio would ask him to play in Chicago. He’s shown some versatility along the way, playing effectively with a hand on the ground as well as standing up and rushing as well as he attacks blockers in the ground game. His ability to drop nearly 20 pounds shows a work ethic to reach whatever type of build Fangio would require.

Why he might not : There are still some concerns over exactly what you’re getting out of Jenkins at the next level, as all his talent and work ethic hasn’t always turned into consistent production. Simply put, he needs to become a better finisher. He's shown progress this season, but missing the past two games hasn't helped.

The Bears have enough pass rushers who struggle to finish.

Other OLBs to watch: Ohio State’s Joey Bosa, Michigan State’s Shilique Calhoun, Arizona’s Scooby Wright III

CHICAGO FOOTBALL WEEKLY | Thursday, October 22, 2015 • ChicagoFootball.com

DEFOREST BUCKNER, OREGON SENIOR DL Size: 6-7, 300 2015 stats : 36 tackles (18 solo),

ChicagoFootball.com • Thursday, October 22, 2015

| CHICAGO FOOTBALL WEEKLY

12

NFC NORTH REPORT By

ARTHUR ARKUSH

aarkush@chicagofootball.com @ArthurArkush

VIKINGS @ LIONS

tory, but the Lions will be hard pressed to replicate that offensive production against Mike Zimmer’s defense, ranked second in the NFL in scoring and limiting Detroit to less than 17 points per contest.

Matchup to watch

Overview

Both teams earned Week Six victories at home in very different fashions – the Vikings overcoming a pair of Teddy Bridgewater interceptions in plus territory with a suffocating ‘D’’ against the Chiefs; the Lions reminding the Bears they’re dangerous as long as Matthew Stafford feeds Calvin Johnson. Minnesota climbed to 3-2 mostly in spite of Adrian Peterson and a largely ineffective run-blocking line. Yet A.P. ripped off a season-high 192 scrimmage yards in these divisional foes’ first meeting, a 26-16 Week Two triumph for the Vikings.

Detroit’s 546 total yards in its first win were the second-most in franchise his-

s a g Ve ON THE

Of Peterson’s 26 carries Sunday, 12 failed to gain any ground. Now he meets a Detroit run ‘D’ that had its finest performance despite missing two key starters, nose guard Haloti Ngata (calf) and safety James Ihedigbo (quad). Both could return this week and will be needed, as Peterson and the Vikings do most of their damage running right up the gut (4.84 yards per carry, sixth in the NFL).

That would make this a strength versus strength battle, as the Lions are most stout in the middle of their line, remarkable considering the absence of Ngata, who was, of course, acquired to replace Detroit’s top four tackles, headlined by Ndamukong Suh and Nick Fairley.

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By the numbers

Against Chicago, the Lions were balanced offensively for the first time this season, supplementing Matthew Stafford’s big day (405 yards, four touchdowns) with a season-best 155 rushing yards – more than the previous three games combined (137). … Vikings rookie WR Stefon Diggs has played in two games, in Weeks Four and Six, leading Minnesota in receiving yards in both.

Diggs has 13 catches for 261 yards, the second-highest through a player’s first two games in franchise history.

PACKERS BYE REPORT CARD QB (A): Although Tom Brady will have something to say about Aaron Rodgers repeating as league MVP, his 15:2 touchdown-to-interception ratio without his go-to guy in Jordy Nelson and undefeated record are certainly MVP caliber.

RBs (B): Green Bay boasts the NFL’s No. 5 run game but it’s clear Eddie Lacy isn’t himself right now (3.9 ypc, long run of 19 yards). Backup James Starks had the hot hand in the Pack’s two toughest wins (Seattle and San Diego).

WRs (B): Attrition has clobbered this group, with Nelson done for the year, Randall Cobb (shoulder) still not

100 percent and Davante Adams and Ty Montgomery hobbled. James Jones’ reinsertion in September has rescued the Packers’ passing game. Jeff Janis showed before the bye he can inject juice into the offense.

OL (B+): This group has weathered some injury scares but has depth concerns. OGs Josh Sitton and T.J. Lang have been superb. The edges have been a little leakier. Of course, Rodgers is the great equalizer.

DL (A): In a contract year, Mike Daniels has been a dominant force. Datone Jones is shedding the first-round bust label. B.J. Raji has turned back the clock to 2011. The group’s depth and athleticism have been noticeably upgraded.

LBs (A): Clay Matthews looks like he’s been playing inside linebacker his whole life and Nate Palmer has held his own as a first-time starter. Julius Peppers looks likes he’s 25 instead of 35. Nick Perry, Mike Neal and Jayrone Elliott form a more-than-capable rush trifecta.

DBs (A): From Sam Shields to rookie Quinten Rollins, the corners have been outstanding, quelling any offseason concerns regarding heavy turnover.

Ha Ha Clinton-Dix has become a difference-maker in Year Two, and the safeties have survived Morgan Burnett’s calf injury with swiss army knife Micah Hyde, plus Chris Banjo taking on a bigger role.

FOOTBALL With RBs struggling, look for best matchups

AP photo

By

J.C. TALON

ChicagoFootball.com fantasy football writer

As the season wears on, quality running backs are becoming about as rare as an NFL punt return without a penalty flag. Jamaal Charles is out for the season with an injury. Marshawn Lynch, Arian Foster, and LeSean McCoy have been limited by injuries.

Adrian Peterson, Eddie Lacy, C.J. Anderson and Lamar Miller have performed below (in some cases, well below) expectations. Of the surefire first-round RBs, perhaps only Matt Forte and Le’Veon Bell have lived up to their draft position.

If you are feeling a lack of production at the RB position, you’re not alone. There have been some pleasant surprises, most notably Devonta Freeman, but, for the most part, fantasy owners are scrambling at RB. If you are in a larger league, you can forget about the waiver wire – any back with a pulse has been scooped up.

But, it doesn’t matter where your points come from. If you’re thin at RB, use a receiver at flex.

Focus on getting as much as you can at other positions, and keep looking for ways to fill your hole at RB. In fantasy, as in real football, things can change in a hurry.

And be sure to take a close look at the matchups to ensure you’re starting the best possible lineup each week.

MATCHUPS TO EXPLOIT BILLS (@ JAGUARS) 8:30 a.m. Sunday (game in London) Only Tampa Bay and Chicago are giving up more points per game than Jacksonville. Buffalo’s offense has been ravaged by injury. Some Bills are going to produce, but fantasy owners will have to keep an eye on the injury report to determine who will be on the field. Either Tyrod Taylor or E.J. Manuel would be a reasonable op-

tion this week for owners of Aaron Rodgers. Again, the trick will be figuring out which one is starting.

LeSean McCoy performed well last week (17 carries/90 yards/1 TD) in his return from a hamstring injury. Sammy Watkins injured his ankle on a TD reception and is unlikely to play. Percy Harvin (hip) is also out for this game.

Solid play: Taylor*, McCoy, Charles Clay, Dan Carpenter Worth a look: Manuel (if no Taylor), Karlos Williams*, Robert Woods, Bills D/ST Last resort: Chris Hogan Stay away: Watkins*, Harvin*

FALCONS (@ TITANS) Noon Sunday This week will be a good test for Atlanta: Was their poor performance in New Orleans last Thursday an anomaly, or was their 5-0 start a bit of a fluke? The Titans actually boast the NFL’s third-best defense in terms of yards allowed, but they yield nearly 26 points per game, which is middle of the pack.

Tennessee’s yardage stats might be a little misleading. They are No. 1 versus the pass, but 28th against the run. With a 1-4 record, they’ve been trailing in most games this season. Their opponents have been eating clock with a successful ground game.

Must start: Devonta Freeman, Julio Jones Solid play: Matt Ryan, Matt Bryant Worth a look: Leonard Hankerson, Jacob Tamme, Falcons D/ST Last resort: Tevin Coleman, Roddy White

COLTS (vs. SAINTS) 7:30 p.m. Monday This recommendation is less an endorsement of the Colts and more an indictment of Rob Ryan’s league-worst defense. Ryan’s unit is No. 32 in yardage allowed, No. 23 against the pass, and No. 30 against the run. In a supposedly “performance-based” business, how this cartoon character still

Last resort: David Johnson, Darhas a job is anybody’s guess. But the Saints’ poor HR practices are a ren Fells Stay away: Andre Ellington nice opportunity for fantasy owners who have Colts on their squad.

ALSO CONSIDER Must start: Andrew Luck Solid play: Frank Gore, T.Y. HilRAMS (@ BROWNS) ton, Donte Moncrief, Adam VinatNoon Sunday ieri The Rams can’t throw the ball, Worth a look: Coby Fleener, but they won’t have to this week.

Dwayne Allen Last resort: Andre Johnson, Cleveland comes to town with the worst rushing defense in the NFL. Phillip Dorsett, Colts D/ST Todd Gurley is a must start.

CHARGERS (vs. RAIDERS) 3:05 p.m. Sunday After Philip Rivers erupted for 503 yards passing in last week’s loss to the Packers, San Diego boasts the No. 1 offense and passing attack in the NFL. Generally, we would not recommend overreacting to a single performance, but the Chargers were a top-five passing team even before the game in Green Bay. Factor in the Raiders and their No. 26 defense, and San Diego looks like a smart fantasy play this week. Be sure to monitor Keenan Allen’s hip flexor injury.

Must start: Rivers Solid play: Melvin Gordon, Allen*, Antonio Gates Josh Lambo Worth a look: Danny Woodhead, Malcom Floyd (solid play if no Allen) Last resort: Ladarius Green, Chargers D/ST

COWBOYS (@ GIANTS) 3:25 p.m. Sunday If the Mets have disposed of the Cubs in time, Mr. Met might be lining up for the Giants at defensive end. The New York pass rush was lame enough on Monday to make Sam Bradford look good on occasion (when he wasn’t throwing one of his three picks). Matt Cassel starts at QB for the Cowboys and Dez Bryant could make his return this week.

MATCHUPS TO AVOID BROWNS (@ RAMS)

Noon Sunday The Rams (No. 21 versus the run) can be had on the ground, but Cleveland has one of the worst rushing attacks (No. 25) in the NFL. By necessity, the Browns throw the ball … a lot. Unfortunately for Josh McCown owners, the Rams CARDINALS (vs. RAVENS) are No. 10 against the pass.

Noon Sunday Solid play: Gary Barnidge Baltimore’s defense got so bad Worth a look: McCown, Travis so fast, you might think Marc Benjamin Trestman was the team’s defenLast resort: Isiah Crowell, Duke sive mastermind and not its of- Johnson, Travis Coons, Browns fensive coordinator. The Ravens D/ST have fallen all the way to No. 27 Stay away: Andrew Hawkins overall and No. 25 in passing yards allowed. After a disappointing out- BUCCANEERS (@ WASHINGTON) ing in Pittsburgh, look for Arizona Noon Sunday to get back on track.

This game features low-octane Must start: Larry Fitzgerald offenses (Tampa is No. 21 and Solid play: Carson Palmer, Chris Washington is No. 25) and respectJohnson, John Brown, Chandler able defenses (Tampa No. 5 and Catanzaro Washington No. 8). That would Worth a look: Michael Floyd, seem to be a recipe for a low-scorCardinals D/ST ing affair. Washington is better

versus the pass (No. 8) than the run (No. 23). Doug Martin remains a decent fantasy option. With 90 carries and 11 receptions, he averages more than 20 touches per game.

Solid play: Martin Worth a look: Vincent Jackson, Mike Evans, Bucs D/ST Last resort: Charles Sims, Austin Seferian-Jenkins* Stay away: Connor Barth

TEXANS (@ DOLPHINS) Noon Sunday A couple of weeks ago, this looked like a favorable matchup for Houston. With a new coach and coming off a bye, the Dolphins went into Tennessee and pasted the Titans. Tennessee managed just 69 yards rushing and 299 total yards, despite playing catch-up nearly the entire game. It’s impossible to know if Miami will continue its defensive resurgence, but its performance last week should cause fantasy owners with Houston options to take pause. Brian Hoyer has been named the permanent starter at QB … until he screws up again.

Must start: DeAndre Hopkins Solid play: Arian Foster Worth a look: Hoyer Last resort: Cecil Shorts, Nick Novak, Texans D/ST Stay away: Alfred Blue, Chris Polk

EAGLES (@ PANTHERS) 7:30 p.m. Sunday Sam Bradford had all day to throw against the Giants on Monday night. That is a luxury he will not enjoy against Carolina. The Eagles’ offense has been inconsistent.

Facing the league’s No. 7 defense, this does not look like a good week for them to hit their stride.

Solid play: DeMarco Murray Worth a look: Jordan Matthews, Eagles D/ST Last resort: Bradford, Ryan Mathews, Darren Sproles, Riley Cooper, Caleb Sturgis Stay away: Brent Celek *Check injury status

13 CHICAGO FOOTBALL WEEKLY | Thursday, October 22, 2015 • ChicagoFootball.com

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ChicagoFootball.com • Thursday, October 22, 2015

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With the Bears on their bye week, the Sun-Times’ Patrick Finley and ChicagoFootball.com’s Arthur Arkush evaluate the job GM Ryan Pace has done to date, and look ahead to his next big decisions.

FINLEY: Arthur, let’s gather around the Bye Week Bush, sing Sunday Funday carols and check our honey-do list twice. The Bears made themselves scarce after Wednesday’s practice and don’t have to return until Monday. The bye is a good a time as any, I think, to ponder this question: How’s GM Ryan Pace doing so far?

He’s hired a couple dozen staffers, made two in-season trades and still has the biggest decisions ahead of him, but let’s talk about the players he’s picked up since being hired in January. How are they lookin’?

ARKUSH: Well, Pat, Pace’s first haul

shouldn’t frighten Bears fans like a good Halloween horror flick, nor is it as sweet as Mom’s Thanksgiving cranberry sauce.

The top priority for the youngest GM in football had to be doing something about one of the NFL’s oldest rosters, and after September cut-downs, his went from being older than 30 others in Phil Emery’s final season to 19th. With zero rookie contributions expected from Kevin White, it’s encouraging that Eddie Goldman, Hroniss Grasu, Jeremy Langford and Adrian Amos are all playing – and playing well.

Throw in recent flashes from undrafted Cameron Meredith and Jonathan Anderson and the cupboard isn’t bare of future Bears.

FINLEY: Which is both a compliment to Pace and a condemnation of the players that were here. While John Fox gets credit for what appears to be a culture change-

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whether he wants to pay Matt Forte. The latter is only the NFL’s leading rusher – his 507 yards are two more than Devonta Freeman – but he turns 30 in December.

Jeffery, another free-agent-to-be, made an emphatic case in his return from a hamstring injury Sunday, catching eight balls for 147 yards. He and Jay Cutler are made for each other – the ultimate throw-it-upthere quarterback and the jump-and-get-it receiver.

As far as evaluation goes, Pace will have to ask himself how his aforementioned one-year-deal wonders would play with the security of new deals. Big-picture, he’s got to be wondering whether Kyle Long is a left tackle or Shea McClellin is worth re-signing.

His most important role, though, will be looking at college film for next year’s draft. But that’s a whole other conversation, isn’t it?

ARKUSH: It is, and because we like to have all bases covered, readers can find us initiating said conversation on page 10. You bring up a great point about the one-year contracts, a staple of Pace’s first free-agent foray. Fortunately, he found high-character players in Jenkins, Acho and Porter – which I believe will lessen concerns over future motivation. The other obvious players whose contract situations bare watching are Martellus Bennett and Jay Cutler, also whole other conversations.

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15 CHICAGO FOOTBALL WEEKLY | Thursday, October 22, 2015 • ChicagoFootball.com

TAKE TWO

in-progress, it was Pace who parted with veterans. He, too, signed Pernell McPhee, maybe the team’s most vocal leader and an outright star on the field. His home run was a towering shot, but some of his most modest one-year deals have paid off, too.

Defensive end Jarvis Jenkins has more sacks through six games than in his fouryear Redskins career, and linebacker Sam Acho and cornerback Tracy Porter have been solid when healthy.

ARKUSH: If Fox gets credit for culture change, Pace deserves recognition for tabbing Fox. And we might not be giving Pace enough Ryan Pace for the McPhee acquisition – among the best free-agent signings by any team. You also mentioned, Pace somehow parlayed a pair of Emery strikeouts – Jared Allen and Jon Bostic – into sixth-round picks. That’s not to say he hasn’t had whiffs. My guess is Wally Pipp never earned $3 million in a season, the amount Alan Ball now makes on the bench. Vladimir Ducasse is getting $825,000, a smidgen more than $100k for each of his team-high seven penalties.

What’s next on Pace’s to-do list, Pat? Of course, 2016 free agency and the draft, but soon he must identify who’s worth keeping and cutting loose, right?

FINLEY: He’s got to figure out how much he needs to pay Alshon Jeffery. And

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