The Bear’s Den, May 14, 2019

BEAR DOWN, CHICAGO BEARS, BEAR DOWN!!!!

BEARRRSSSS / FREE AGENCY / DRAFT

Wood: Self-Scouting the 2018 Bears Offense - Da Bears Blog - Chicago’s offense was generally mediocre in 2018. We all know this. They finished 21st in the NFL in yards per game, 9th in points scored (a number buoyed by a bunch of defensive touchdowns), and 20th in Football Outsiders’ DVOA. Those types of basic stats are easy for anybody to look up, and they can help paint an overall picture of how effective a unit performed.

Cox: Ha Ha Clinton-Dix already feeling at home in ‘special’ Bears locker room - NBC Sports Chicago - Ha Ha Clinton-Dix was a part of some successful locker rooms in Green Bay, but the new Bears safety is seeing a new level of camaraderie in Chicago.

Cox: Too soon? Kyle Long cracks Bears first ‘double doink’ joke - NBC Sports Chicago - Kawhi Leonard double-doinked Philadelphia out of the playoffs, which brought to mind the Bears’ double-doink playoff exit.

Ha Ha Clinton-Dix eager to earn red zone opportunities on offense - Bears Wire - New Chicago Bears safety Ha Ha Clinton-Dix wants to be a part of Matt Nagy’s red zone packages that put defensive players on offense.

Mayer: Clinton-Dix impressed with Bears’ culture - ChicagoBears.com - After spending the first month of the offseason program getting to know his new teammates, safety Ha Ha Clinton-Dix believes the Bears “have something special going on here.”

Bears sign three rookie draft picks to deals - ChicagoBears.com - The Bears on Monday signed three of their five 2019 draft picks to four-year contracts: fourth-round receiver Riley Ridley, seventh-round running back Kerrith Whyte and seventh-round cornerback Stephen Denmark.

Mayer: Childress a key addition to coaching staff - ChicagoBears.com - After working together with the Chiefs and again last summer with the Bears, coach Matt Nagy is thrilled to have Brad Childress back on his coaching staff this season.

Mayer: Trubisky holding first youth football camp - ChicagoBears.com - Bears Pro Bowl quarterback Mitchell Trubisky will host his inaugural youth football camp June 25-26 just down the road from Halas Hall at Lake Forest Academy.

Roster moves: Bears ink Horsted, cut Doles - ChicagoBears.com - The Bears on Monday signed undrafted rookie tight end Jesper Horsted and waived guard Tommy Doles.

Bears sign three draft picks – ProFootballTalk - The Bears announced they signed three of their five draft choices Monday. Fourth-rounder Riley Ridley and seventh-rounders Kerrith Whyte and Stephen Denmark are under contract, leaving only third-rounder David Montgomery and sixth-rounder Duke Shelley unsigned.

Finley: Bears sign WR Riley Ridley, RB Kerrith Whyte, CB Stephen Denmark to rookie deals - Sun Times - The Bears signed three of their five draft picks Monday: wide receiver Riley Ridley, running back Kerrith Whyte and cornerback Stephen Denmark.

Finley: Bears add to TE depth, sign Princeton’s Jesper Horsted - Sun Times - Before becoming an undrafted free agent, Horsted set Princeton records with 196 career catches and 28 touchdowns.

Campbell: Bears sign draft picks Riley Ridley, Kerrith Whyte and Stephen Denmark - Chicago Tribune - The Bears signed draft picks Riley Ridley, Kerrith Whyte and Stephen Denmark on Monday.

Get to know Bears draft pick Stephen Denmark: A Q&A with former Valdosta State defensive backs coach David Rowe - Chicago Tribune - Stephen Denmark’s transition to cornerback from wide receiver was borne out of necessity.

POLISH SAUSAGE

EJ Manuel, Geno Smith moves a reminder of the weak 2013 draft class – ProFootballTalk - In every draft, there are teams hunting for a franchise quarterback. Some years, there just isn’t a franchise quarterback to be found. The 2013 NFL draft was one of those years.

Former Chiefs coach Gunther Cunningham dead at 72 - NFL.com - Former Chiefs head coach and long-time assistant Gunther Cunningham passed away at the age of 72. For more than 30 years, Cunningham was a staple personality among the NFL coaching world.

KNOW THY ENEMY

Detroit Lions shake up scouting staff - Pride Of Detroit - For the second time in three years, Bob Quinn is shaking up his scouting staff.

Mike Zimmer expresses optimism that Kyle Rudolph will stay in Minnesota - Daily Norseman - Well. . .kind of, anyway.

Packers’ improvement on defense likely to come from secondary, not revamped pass rush - Acme Packing Company - Despite massive upgrades in personnel at outside linebacker, the Packers defensive improvement still hinges on the development of the secondary.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT ON WINDY CITY GRIDIRON

Infante: Bears sign Ridley, Whyte, Denmark to rookie deals, 2 draft picks remain unsigned - Windy City Gridiron - The Bears have signed more than half of their rookie class.

WCG CONTRIBUTORS BEARS PODCASTS & STREAMS

Windy City Gridiron Podcast Channel which includes Bear With Me from Robert Schmitz, Bears Over Beers featuring Jeff Berckes & EJ Snyder, and T Formation Conversation from Lester A. Wiltfong Jr.; Steven’s Streaming Twitch Channel from Steven Schweickert; and Robert Zeglinski’s The Blitz Network

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