SB Nation User Blog: GallopingGhost

Rookie CB D.J. Moore dunking a basketball at an event for the Boys and Girls Club of...

GallopingGhost — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 18:27:25 -0000

Rookie CB D.J. Moore dunking a basketball at an event for the Boys and Girls Club of Lake County.

Harvin Hospitialized: Misses Vikings Camp

GallopingGhost — Fri, 01 May 2009 21:03:28 -0000

Harvin is hospitalized in Atlanta after falling ill Thursday while changing planes en route to Minnesota. According to Childress, Harvin has "extreme dehydration" and a virus, but has tested negative for swine flu. He will be released in 24-48 hours, Childress said, and will return to his home in Gainesville, Fla.

Is it too soon for a pot joke? Like maybe the dehydration is from cotton mouth or he smoked a joint laced with something? Probably, but I made them anyway.

Chris Williams Has Talent....

GallopingGhost — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 02:16:04 -0000

...at hockey.

Just now in the second intermission, Chris Williams took two shots on goal for the Shoot the Puck Challenge thing with the girl from Monsters in the Morning. Williams got both through the little things they have set up in front of the goal. He said he has never played hockey before. So there you go, maybe there is something to that, maybe he has athletic talent.

Hopefully it didn't throw his back out...

Simms Signs with Denver

GallopingGhost — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 00:25:08 -0000

Honestly, JA, what are you doing aside from doing random interviews with Larry Meyer? Simms, who has said he wanted to play for the Bears, and JA who said he wanted to solidify the position, and a solid back-up at the LEAST, goes to another team without us so much as getting a visit. I would say phone call but we don't know I suppose. But really, what are we waiting for?! Simms seemed like a good match for us. He won't be competing for the starting job in freakin' Denver!

Link

Saints Cut Deuce

GallopingGhost — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 18:04:55 -0000

So now with two new vets on the street and some saying you didn't want Taylor how about Deuce? He is a bit younger than Taylor but has had injuries the last couple of years. So what'dya think?

In eight seasons in New Orleans, McAllister rushed for 6,096 yards on 1,429 carries.

Knee injuries have slowed him down the past couple of seasons. In his past two years, McAllister had only 131 carries and 510 yards.

A New Unexplored Option at RB

GallopingGhost — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 18:38:08 -0000

Fred Taylor was released by the Jags today. According to the brief on ESPN, he still says he can be a starter and that the Jags may try to sign him back. Neither of these sound like real solid options. The Jags are trying to overhaul after a bad year MJD is clearly their future. Taylor has a lot of tread on his tires but he could be a good complimentary back. So what say you?

Bears QB of the Future?

GallopingGhost — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 20:42:58 -0000

The Falcons are looking to trade Michael Vick's rights.

As for the title of this post? I am totally kidding. Vick blows. Let the Vikings or San Francisco or Miami and their wildcat take him. The Bears always have had Vick's number over the years so I don't mind seeing him go to a division opponent. Besides I doubt anyone will be very eager to take a flier on him just yet...

2009 State Farm All-Star Challenge

GallopingGhost — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 18:49:11 -0000

I don't know if any one saw this over the weekend. Every year over Super Bowl weekend a small group of college players do a variety of skills competitions for scouts and fans, etc. This year most of the big name guys weren't there but obviously they don't need to raise their stock. I just watched it because we recorded it and I thought I would give a little review of the action and get your guys' thoughts on how everyone did.

People who were there:

QBs: Nate Davis, Ball State, Graham Harrell, Texas Tech, Chase Daniel, Mizzou, Hunter Cantwell, Louisville

Accuracy: They had to hit moving targets that were 10, 20, 30 and then 40 yards down field.

Harrell won it after a bonus round between him and Davis b/c they were tied. Both of them looked good but Davis clearly had better downfield accuracy. Daniel didn't look too great and Cantwell looked all right. The announcers throughout all the QB drills were like drooling over Harrell but he really didn't impress me too much.

In the arm strength Nate Davis really shined. He threw balls of 67 and then with the competition already won, 70 yards. Last year Flacco threw it 71 and 74 yards. Harrell threw 60 and his second throw wasn't any longer than the first, Cantwell threw 64 and 65 yards but both of his were really high. Daniel threw 61 and 63 yards.

And finally in the QB scramble the players had to run with a ball and make some throws on the run at a basket and then a target. None of them hit the basket (Harrell and Davis came closest) and only Cantwell and Harrell hit the target but Davis' throw didn't have enough on it to hit it and it barely missed the target. Harrell had the best footwork through the ropes. Harrell won.

On to the receivers and backs

Juaquin Iglesias, OU, Hakeem Nicks, UNC, Ramses Barden, Cal Poly, Jordan Norwood, Penn State, Donald Brown UConn (The only RB in the comp)

All impressed in all the comps with their hands. Nicks showed OK speed and good hands. Brown impressed with his ability to catch. Iglesias did well, he had the best speed of the bunch I'd say. Norwood has great hands but at 5'11" he's not a guy I think the Bears should be interested in. The guy who really impressed me was the 6'6" frame of Barden he didn't seem like a burner but his size and his long stride make him a guy I'd love the Bears to look at in the second round or maybe third depending on what the scouts are saying.

Bears Hire New DB Coach

GallopingGhost — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 17:22:48 -0000

Bears announced they have hired Jon Hoke as the new defensive backs coach. A Ball State (Go Cards!! Chirp Chirp!!) alum, who has coached with Kent State, Florida and most recently with the Texans. I am wondering if he might be related to former Ball State head coach Brady Hoke, but who knows? I guess this is a good hire but I don't know.

The Chicago Bears reached an agreement with Jon Hoke today, making him Chicago’s defensive backs coach.

Hoke spent the last seven seasons (2002-08) as the Houston Texans defensive backs coach after spending three seasons (1999-2001) at the University of Florida as the Gators defensive coordinator/secondary coach. The Kettering, Ohio, native added the title of assistant head coach in his final two seasons (2000-01) at Florida.
Prior to his time in Gainesville, Hoke tutored the defensive backs at Missouri for five seasons (1994-98) after spending three years in the same capacity at Kent State (1989-93), adding the title of defensive coordinator in his final season with the Golden Flashes.

Hoke started coaching at Bowling Green in 1983 as the Falcons secondary/special teams coach. He spent four seasons there before coaching the defensive backs/special teams at San Diego State from 1987-88.

A four-year letterman at Ball State (1976-79), Hoke played 11 games for the Chicago Bears in 1980, recording seven tackles.

ESPN Breaks Down the Final 11 Seconds

GallopingGhost — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 19:24:03 -0000

ESPN's NFC North blogger takes a look at the final 11 seconds of yesterday's game. He makes some good analysis and just kind of says it was luck more than being 1 guys fault. He says you can't blame Babich:

Babich's defense, however, was down to two cornerbacks and therefore critically undermanned in the situation. After a long day of injuries and the surprising deactivation of Nathan Vasher, the Bears were down to second-year player Corey Graham and Marcus Hamilton at cornerback.

....

And in many ways it's difficult to point a finger at Babich, who no doubt is getting excoriated on Chicago sports radio as I type these words. Should Babich have blitzed, a decision that might have forced a poor throw but also would have left a linebacker and two backup cornerbacks in man coverage?

Can't blame Brown:

As the play unfolded, Hamilton passed Jenkins off to the deep safety, in this case veteran Mike Brown. But Jenkins simply cut off the route in front of Brown and made a 24-yard catch at the sideline before stepping out of bounds. One second remained on the clock.

....

"It was just a corner route and Cover 2," Brown said. "Good ball. Good catch. Should have made the play and I didn't. I'll take the blame for that."

Brown was being a team player, but it's hard to fault him. As the deep safety, his primary job is to keep everything in front of him. He did that job.