Ronnie Brewer is the Mob Boss

Posted on January 2, 2012 by Niral Patel
Wizards v/s Bulls 02/28/11

Early this season the Bulls “bench mob” has looked impressive. This Bulls team is built around superstar Derrick Rose, lock-down defense and the ability to tap into one of the deepest benches in the league. While back ups like Taj Gibson and C.J. Watson have been solid, Ronnie Brewer has stood out from the rest of the second unit. Though his statistics through 5 games (9.2 point per game, 3.4 rebounds per game, 0.8 steals per game) look comparable to his career averages of 9.4 PPG, 3.0 RPG, 1.4 SPG, his play has improved well beyond the numbers. He is taking the lead as the boss of the “bench mob” in his second year with the team and, in a season with an increased number of back-to-back games, will be a key to the team’s success. With early season injuries to Rip Hamilton and C.J. Watson, expect his minutes to increase and his play to become even more noticeable around the league.

When Ronnie Brewer was drafted by the Utah Jazz in 2006, his scouting report claimed he was a solid off-the-dribble creator with excellent court vision and a long-armed defensive asset. But scouts believed his spot up shooting was average partially due to an awkward shooting form. His time in the NBA has proven him to be someone that uses his athleticism to get points near the hoop but he has indeed struggled to become a dependable shooter. More importantly, Brewer has been a rock-solid defender who can create turnovers and help guard the best wing player on the opposing team. The Bulls signed him before last season knowing they probably hadn’t found their starting two-guard for the foreseeable future. Management believed he would become an important roll player to a team built around depth and defensive dominance. Ignoring his rookie season, Ronnie Brewer averaged a career low 22 minutes per game last season. Judging by his comments before this season began, he wants to have a bigger impact on the team. “I just want to play. It’s doesn’t matter what role I’m playing in. I feel like I’ve been working hard to try and get better, help my teammates out and try to have an increased role.”

Early this season his play has shown improvement, especially on the offensive end. Last season he made 6 three pointers in 27 attempts. He wasn’t confident behind the three-point arch and his lack of attempts showed it. In contrast he has already taken, and made, 4 attempts this season. Loul Deng took a similar leap between the 09-10 and 10-11 seasons where his 3 point accuracy remained virtually the same but his attempts rose from 83 to 333. A similar addition to Brewer’s game will help round out his offensive skill set and force Thibodeau to increase his minutes. We won’t hear “show me the hot sauce” from Stacey King after a streak of Brewer three-pointers anytime soon but Ronnie took the off season to improve his outside game and it shows. In addition, his ball handling skills have improved. He drove to the hoop awkwardly at times last year while mostly relying on a pass from someone else to setup his shot. He looks much more comfortable creating his own shot now which will prove necessary, especially if Watson or Hamilton miss significant time. Scouts believed his court vision was a plus coming out of college. His enhanced ability to control the ball at the pro level will increase his assists as well. In general, Brewer looks much more comfortable in season two of Thibodeau’s system. His cuts to the basket are crisper, his shots don’t look forced and he knows exactly where to be on the floor. The increased minutes he’ll see this year will ensure his play only improves as the season continues. Ronnie Brewer might not contend for 6th Man of the Year in the 2011-2012 season but will be a standout amongst the “bench mob” and vital part of a championship contender.

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White Sox Familial Approach to Hiring

Posted on December 29, 2011 by Niral Patel

In an era where baseball teams select managers based on their past successes, future potential or some combination of the two, Jerry Reinsdorf has taken an antiquated approach to the hiring process. The White Sox last skipper, Ozzie Guillen, and the newly appointed manager, Robin Ventura, both had close ties to the team before being hired. Neither were bench coaches, pitching coaches or minor league managers in the organization though. Both, however, were successful players for the team. In fact, Ventura is the 17th former White Sox player to manage the club. Ozzie Guillen played shortstop with the Sox from ’85 to ’97, won the Rookie of the Year, had 3 All Star appearances and a Gold Glove award. Ventura played on the south side from ’89 to ’98, took home 5 Gold Gloves and participated in the ’92 All Star game. Ozzie Guillen had coaching experience with the Expos and Marlins before being hired by Reinsdorf while Ventura’s post-playing resume only includes being a White Sox special advisor in 2011. Even in that position he wasn’t very active with the team. Guillen’s managerial stint with the team lasted from 2004 to 2011 which is a considerably long tenure for someone who regularly criticized management, ownership, his players and everyone in between. There is no telling how long Ventura’s tenure will last but Jerry is known for his patience so expect it to be a long-term appointment. Though general manager Kenny Williams should be the man making these hiring, the last two selections have Reinsdorf’s name all over them. In previous generations of baseball, management often hired their former players to coach because they were known commodities and already were identifiable with the fan base. Hiring a team’s former players to manage is no longer necessary in our era of readily available information and expansive media coverage. But Reinsdorf must believe this approach will help his team succeed and bring more fans into U.S. Cellular Field.

English: This was weeks before Ventura was eve...

In his tenure on the south side Ozzie Gullien helped bring the White Sox out of the shadow of the Cubs. But, despite what the owner might believe, it has nothing to do with his ability to identify himself as a former player of the team. Reinsdorf and Kenny Williams might get a kick out of bringing former players back to lead the club. But fans appreciated Guillen because of his ’05 World Series victory, explicit f-bombs and other wise-cracking quotable quotes. After years of boring, cliche-spitting managers, it was refreshing to hear an honest assessment of a game with some added humor. Ozzie brought other former players like Harold Baines, Joey Cora and Tim Raines back to coach. He did it because he knew their talent would translate well in the dugout. Not because he wanted to organize a family reunion. Robin Ventura’s coaching staff is filled with former major league players (including hold overs Cooper and Baines) but none are former White Sox players. But it doesn’t really matter as long as they can coach a rebuilding team. Eventually Reinsdorf will accept that finding the best manager available and not just choosing a former Sox player with managerial potential is the way to build a winning team. He got lucky with Guillen but won’t fare as well with Ventura who wasn’t on any team’s potential candidate list before being hired in October.

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Hanie Playing Himself Out of the NFL

Posted on December 20, 2011 by Niral Patel
English: Caleb Hanie of the Chicago Bears

When Jay Cutler went down with a thumb injury earlier this season, Bears brass hoped Caleb Hanie could play well enough to keep the team in the playoff hunt. He didn’t and they aren’t. Hanie will be a free agent at the end of the year and blew a golden opportunity to positively shape his 2012 season. A successful stint filling in for Cutler could have opened doors that would have otherwise remained closed to an unproven back up. If he played lights out, a starting job and corresponding salary bump was in his immediate future. In 2008 Matt Cassel played 16 games in place of an injured Tom Brady, threw for almost 3700 yards and 21 touchdowns. The following year he signed a six-year, $63 million contract with the Kansas City Chiefs. That path wasn’t meant to be for Caleb. Even with an average performance to close out the season, the Bears or another team would give him a multi-year contract to hold a clipboard and back up a starter. A veteran second stringer who can quickly digest a playbook, stay cool under pressure and manage a game isn’t easy to come by in the NFL. Unfortunately for him, Hanie’s inability to avoid costly turnovers and show improvement from week to week could land him in football’s unemployment line. In 2004 Jonathan Quinn was Rex Grossman’s back up in Chicago. He was a veteran back up brought in by offensive coordinator Terry Shea because he understood the newly implemented offense. When Grossman went down with injury in week 3, Quinn was forced into game action. His horrible performance that season dramatically altered his career path. In 5 games that season (2 of them partial games) his Quarterback Rating was 53.7 and he managed to throw just 1 touchdown. He went from a career back up making a very good salary ($800,000 in 2008) to a player that couldn’t find work the following year and never played another NFL game. Believe it or not Hanie has been worse with a 41.8 Quarterback Rating mostly due to his 9 interceptions over the last 4 games.  History is about to repeat itself.

With the playoffs out the window analysts don’t expect Jay Cutler to return this year. If Lovie Smith allows Caleb Hanie to play out the season and he shows no sign of growth, Mike Martz’s talent evaluation will be validated. It has been no secret that Martz wants no part of Caleb Hanie. He demoted him not once but twice last season. And he temporarily demoted him again during training camp this past summer in favor of rookie, Nathan Enderle. Angelo will likely let Hanie go to free agency and sign a true veteran back up this offseason. Caleb Hanie will seek a back up job with another team but it won’t be easy because he couldn’t limit his mistakes over the course of this year. Most players in the NFL want exactly what Hanie got, a chance to be a star. But sometimes earning a decent wage, staying out of the spotlight and holding a clipboard has its advantages too.

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If Thibodeau Adjusts Intensity, Bulls Can Succeed

Posted on December 10, 2011 by Niral Patel

Basketball is back. Finally. But this season will feel much different from a typical NBA season. Fans will get all the basketball they can watch. Players will earn their game checks more than ever. There will be no drawn out free agency period and just a couple preseason games will be played. Instead of the standard 82 games spread out over 7 months, the NBA will play a condensed 66 game season which begins on Christmas Day and ends in April. The Chicago Bulls schedule is as tough as any team they’ll compete against this year. They will play 17 pairs of back-to-back games and one set of back-to-back-to-back games. Their hardest stretch begins in late January when the team begins a 9 game road trip that includes Miami and Boston. Though the roster isn’t finalized, the Bulls will at least have youth on their side. Aged teams like the Celtics won’t fare well playing this many back-to-back games. Out of everyone, coaches may have the biggest challenge of all. The Bulls success in the 2011-2012 season will rely heavily on how coach Thibodeau manages his team through a sprint-of-a-season.

Head coach Tom Thibodeau of the Chicago Bulls ...

Tom Thibodeau is a tough coach. Last year’s coach of the year award and 62 win season proves his way works. He practiced his team hard last year to instill a sense of disciple that was lacking during the Vinny Del Negro regime. But he can’t play Derrick Rose 37 minutes per game and he definitely can’t play Deng 39 minutes per game again this year. He will have to limit the number of heavy practices this season and find creative ways to rest his starters. Most coaches love the phrase “one game at a time”. Playing each game like a one game season keeps the players focused on the ‘here and now’ instead of looking ahead to a big match up or, even worse, the playoffs. But this season is all about the ‘long game’ for the Bulls. Thibodeau must strike a balance between stacking wins and keeping his team fresh. Winning 40 games (.606), getting the 4th seed in the playoffs and having a well rested team will prove more beneficial than winning 50 games (.758), owning the 1st seed but having Rose, Deng and Noah exhausted for the playoffs.

Even though Tom Thibodeau is known for being the hard-nosed coach who rides his players, he is smart and knows adjustments will be needed this year. His coaching smarts coupled with a deep bench built by Gar Foreman and John Paxon will keep the Bulls well within reach of a top four seed in the playoffs while allowing key players to stay as rested as possible. NBA basketball might not look pretty this year. But the Bulls remain in great position to compete for the championship. With a well built team, a great organizational structure and a superstar in Derrick Rose, we’re in for another fun basketball season. Just a couple months later than we expected.

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Re: Who Cares About the Back Up Quarterback?!

Posted on November 24, 2011 by Niral Patel

Before the football season began I wrote a post about all the wasted time spent on Bears back up quarter talk. The Nathan Enderle versus Caleb Hanie debate was nonsensical because it didn’t factor in the outcome of the season. Neither possessed the talent to keep the Bears in contention should Jay Cutler go down so what did it matter where they fell on the depth chart. Little did I know that the talent of the number two quarterback would make or break the Bears season.

Caleb Hanie works out with the Bears during tr...

My statement in the preseason was “If Hanie or Enderle is forced to play more than two games this season, the team can kiss the playoffs goodbye.” Who knew the thesis would be put to the test. At 7-3 the Bears currently hold one of the two NFC wildcard spots but will rely on Caleb Hanie, a second stringer with little experience, to run the offense for the remaining six regular season games. The teams that remain on their schedule are a combined 31-29 with road games against the Raiders and Packers being the most challenging. Without seeing Hanie in ‘game action’ it’s hard to stand firm on my previous statement. But the reality is even if Cutler was healthy, making the playoffs wasn’t a lock. And unless Hanie plays above what most analysts expect, his play will indeed prevent the Bears from playing into January. If you believe Hanie is being underestimated, the actions of Bears management prove you wrong.

Jerry Angelo put in a failed waiver claim on ex-Bronco Kyle Orton who was eventually awarded to the Kansas City Chiefs this week. Orton would likely have made his way into the Bears starting line up after a few week crash course in the Martz offensive system. Angelo immediately went to his back up plan and signed Josh McCown to be Hanie’s back up. Jerry Angelo, Lovie Smith and, most of all, Mike Martz will keep Caleb Hanie on a short leash until he proves trustworthy. And if he doesn’t cut it, don’t be surprised when McCown is inserted into the starting role. Martz is familiar with him from their overlapping time in Detroit and he tends to trust veterans over inexperienced youth at the quarterback position. I’m all for Caleb Hanie leading the Bears into the playoffs but without at least a 3-3 finish, the Bears will end up on the outside looking in.

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Up, Down and Sideways (Bears Preview Week 11)

Posted on November 18, 2011 by Niral Patel
Philip Rivers

The Bears (6-3) kick off four straight games against the AFC West by hosting the San Diego Chargers (4-5) at 3:15 on Sunday. After a big win last week against the Lions, the Bears remain in the NFC playoff picture. The struggling Chargers will attempt to halt a four game losing streak while the Bears try to extend their four game win streak.

UP…
Guess which quarterback leads the NFL with 15 interceptions this year? It’s Chargers QB Philip Rivers who has looked like a shell of his former self this season. And guess which defense is top five in passes intercepted this year? The Chicago Bears who picked off Matthew Stafford 4 times last week. That combination could make for a big defensive outburst against the Chargers on Sunday.

DOWN…
The injury report this week revealed two critical losses for the Bears offensive line. Rookie right tackle Gabe Carimi (knee) was put on injured reserve after missing all but two games this year. Left guard Chris Williams (wrist) will also miss the rest of the season which means more changes to an ever-evolving offensive line. Edwin Williams will step into the starting lineup at guard but he lacks the quickness and experience of Chris Williams. Forte’s production could dip unless Edwin proves to be a suitable season-long replacement. If he fails, Frank Omiyale stands in the shadows waiting to replace him. Based on his past ineffectiveness no one wants to see him back in the starting line up. Edwin Williams will be given every chance to succeed.

Mathews tries to run through the Titans defense

SIDEWAYS…
Ryan Mathews and Mike Tolbert are a one-two punch that could cause troubles for the Bears on Sunday. Though Chicago ranks a respectable 12th in total yards allowed against the run this season, they have been gashed by long runs on a couple of occasions. Lions running back Jahvid Best ran 88 yards for a touchdown in week 5 while Michael Turner had a 53 yard run for the Falcons in week 1. The defense has managed to prevent those game changing runs in every other game this season but there is talent in the Chargers backfield. If the defense can contain Mathews and Tolbert this Sunday, the Chargers offense will be pass heavy and turn over prone.

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Bears Draft Strategy: Safeties in Numbers

Posted on November 13, 2011 by Niral Patel

Jerry Angelo has run eleven drafts as general manager of the Chicago Bears. He has spent almost every draft trying to fix the safety position. And a quick glance at the list of his drafted safeties show the task is far from complete.

Bobby Gray (5)
Todd Johnson (4)
Chris Harris (6)
Danieal Manning (2)
Kevin Payne (5)
Craig Steltz (4)
Al Afalava (6)
Major Wright (3)
Chris Conte (3)

Jerry at training camp

In Lovie Smith’s Tampa-2 defense a cornerback’s discipline is more important than their talent. The Bears don’t require a high-priced, shut down corner because the scheme mostly requires them to cover their area of the field (i.e. zone). This fact makes the safety position that much more important. In the Bears defensive scheme a strong safety (SS) and free safety (FS) are often interchangeable. Both positions require similar talent and football smarts. An inexperienced or below average safety could allow long pass plays by falling for a play action pass. Angelo has failed to identify the necessary talent to fix either position since he arrived in Chicago.

The strategy to draft safeties in the late rounds and let Bears coaches develop them isn’t working. Jerry Angelo spent a 2nd round pick on Danieal Manning who spent five years rotating between cornerback and safety before signing with Houston in the offseason. Manning had the raw speed but never developed into a great safety or cornerback. Other than Manning, Angelo hasn’t used higher than a 3rd round selection in eight other draft picks on the position. The latest pair of safeties that Angelo hopes will stick are Chris Conte and Major Wright. Conte, a 3rd round pick, is a rookie who has played solid so far but the defensive coaches have positioned him extremely deep to avoid a major mistake. He might develop into a good safety but doesn’t look to have Pro Bowl type ability. Wright, another 3rd rounder, has athletic ability but his inconsistent play and minor injuries has made him another questionable draft pick. Either the G.M. needs to spend heavily to sign a top safety in free agency or use higher round picks in the draft. His signing of talented Patriots cast-off Brandon Meriweather might be a sign of this strategic change. If Meriweather learns the system and eliminates the illegal hit penalties, he could help solve the problem for years to come. The Bears defense is good but won’t live up to its true potential until Angelo solves this puzzle.

NOTE: Parenthesis next to play name indicates round player was selected.

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Up, Down and Sideways (Bears Preview Week 10)

Posted on November 12, 2011 by Niral Patel
Detroit Lions vs NY Giants NFL

The Detroit Lions (6-2) enter Soldier Field to face the Bears (5-3) this Sunday, November 13 at 3:15 P.M. The Bears come into the game on a three game winning streak and are back in the wild card race. With half the games behind them, they currently hold the 6th seed. But with the NFC North title practically out of reach, a division win this week is crucial.

UP…
The Lions entered the season with two promising young running backs in Jahvid Best and Mikel Leshoure. Both will miss Sunday’s game, Best with a concussion and Leshoure with a torn achilles tendon. Maurice Morris and Keiland Williams will carry the load on Sunday but neither have the explosiveness of Best or potential of Leshoure. The Bears defense can focus on shutting down the high-flying passing game as the Lions should be ineffective rushing the ball.

DOWN…
Returner extraordinaire/so-so wide out Devin Hester showed up on the Bears injury report as questionable this week. The offense will notice his absence if he can’t play but not because of his receiver skills. The Bears are a mediocre 17th in total yards gained half way through the season yet the team is top ten in points per game at 25.0. The team relies on good field position provided by the special teams to put up their points. If Hester misses the game Knox and Bennett will do fine but it’s impossible for them to instill fear in an opponent the way Devin can.

SIDEWAYS…
Matthew Stafford has only 4 interceptions this season, tied for 26th in the league. He doesn’t make many mistakes which spells trouble for a Bears defense that relies on turnovers for success. However, nickelback D.J. Moore caught one of Stafford’s interceptions during their week 5 match up. If he or one of the other defensive backs can notch at least one interception this weekend, the Bears should keep the game within reach.

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Up, Down and Sideways (Bears Week 9)

Posted on November 3, 2011 by Niral Patel
Matt Forté of the Chicago Bears

Fresh off their bye week, the Bears (4-3) visit the Philadelphia Eagles (3-4) on Monday night. They stare up at the undefeated Packers and two-loss Lions in the NFC North and face a tough Eagles team who has reeled off two straight wins.

Up
Matt Forte is an offensive stud and appears to be headed for his first Pro Bowl. He is 6th in the league in rushing at 96 yards per game. And with 419 yards receiving he is also the top receiving running back through eight weeks. Forte is surprisingly ranked 8th in total rushing attempts which means Mike Martz has stayed committed to the running game in recent weeks. Whether he gets a new contract or not, the Bears have a legitimate running back that Mike Martz won’t ignore.

Down
With DeSean Jackson and Jeremy Maclin, the Eagles have two receivers in the top twenty in receiving yards through 8 weeks. Michael Vick’s play has improved over the last couple weeks and the Bear’s secondary in flux (goodbye Chris Harris). Those two receivers could wreak havoc on Monday night against a defense which ranks 28th in passing yards allowed per game.

Sideways
The Bears have played three road games so far this year. The only road game they won was played against the Tampa Bay Bucs at a neutral site so it doesn’t really count. But the Bears are an astounding 28-9-1 against the Eagles since the two teams first met in 1933. Even with this being a road game the Bears have history on their side and could pull off a much-needed victory.

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Taxpayers to Ricketts: Don’t Follow Reinsdorf’s Extortion Tactics

Posted on October 30, 2011 by Niral Patel

Jerry Reinsdorf, chairman and primary owner of the Bulls and White Sox franchises has brought trophies to Chicago. To be specific, six basketball championships (1991–1993 and 1996–1998) and one World Series title (2005). As the owner of those teams, he paid a lot for those championships. A recent Tribune/WGN-TV joint investigation revealed Illinois taxpayers did too. About $6.9 million of taxpayer money was used in the building of Bacardi at the Park, a 10,000 square foot upscale restaurant across the street from U.S. Cellular Field. And what percent of those profits go back to the Illinois Sports Facilities Authority, the government agency that funded it and also owns U.S. Cellular Field? Let’s ask Jim Thompson, the agency’s board chairman at the time the deal was made.

“We said to Jerry, ‘Jerry can we have part of the profits?’ and he said no,” former Gov. Jim Thompson… said in an interview. “We said, OK.’

This isn’t Jerry Reinsdorf’s first time leveraging the Illinois Sports Facilities Authority (ISFA) to get what he wants. He threatened to relocate his baseball franchise to Tampa Bay in the late 1980s but then-governor (guess who?) Jim Thompson lobbied successfully for the creation of the above mentioned ISFA. That agency then funded the building of U.S. Cellular Field as the new home of the White Sox. Public funding of a baseball stadium isn’t unique but the way he got it done coupled with the more recent revelation of how Bacardi at the Park was paid for should make taxpayers view Reinsdorf in a more negative light.

Sign on the outside of Wrigley Field

Chicago Cubs chairman Tom Ricketts enters his third off-season as owner of the team and faces the challenge of rebuilding his ancient ballpark. How he funds the construction will either grow his goodwill with Cub fans or make all Illinois taxpayers compare him to crude businessman Jerry Reinsdorf. Tom Ricketts’s first attempt at securing public funding for rebuilding historic Wrigley Field was a non-starter with ex-Mayor Richard Daley in 2010. He begins discussions again with new Mayor Rahm Emanuel who seems more receptive to helping the Cubs. This is likely because reports indicate Ricketts is proposing to fund at least half of the $400 million rebuilding project privately, a significant increase from his original proposal to the city. Like all sports franchises, the Cubs will do what is needed to get the best deal for themselves. But to garner some goodwill from citizens, Ricketts must not utilize scare tactics to get what he wants. Threatening to move the team to Schaumburg or lobbying politicians like a snake-in-the-grass oil executive isn’t acceptable. All the praise he is receiving from the Theo Espstein hiring will quickly evaporate if he handles it poorly. Ricketts is obviously a smart businessman and should find creative ways to fund as much of the renovation as possible on his own. Whether it be more Wrigley Field advertising or negotiating better TV and radio deals, there are options to get it done. Let’s hope Ricketts grows into an owner everyone in Chicago, not just Cub fans, can come to respect.

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