The Bears Offseason Thread

[Mark Priors Calves]

from watching all the bears games this year, it seemed that most blitzes consisted of Briggs and/or Urlacher blitzing the "A" gaps of the offensive line or Ricky Manning blitzing off the edge. Neither would be effective with the exception of a few nice plays by Manning.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

I have also heard that Rivera wanted to blitz more often but was overruled by Lovie. I think Lovie made the right call.

 

For all the hype about being a disciple of Jim Johnson, Rivera's blitzes were rarely effective and seemed poorly designed.

 

either that or he just did not have the right personnel. as good as the linebackers are, i've never seen so many blitzes picked up by opposing teams.

 

I'm obviously not very knowledgeable about blitz designs, but it seems like most of the blitzes involved Urlacher or Briggs running directly into the back of a D-Lineman.

 

it's hard to tell whether that was rivera's fault or the LB's. with as fast as those guys are, they should have been better at disguising. but then again, the tampa 2 isn't exactly designed as a blitzing defense--so maybe teams just knew a blitz was coming if they weren't in that configuration.

 

You're right, we can't tell if it's the system, if it's because Chico didn't get to call as many blitzes as he wanted which might make it more effective or if it was just Chico's blitz schemes. Whatever it was, the blitzes were rather ineffective and the blitzing didn't make up for the dropoff in pressure from the frount four after the first four weeks of the season.

[Jon]

To say that Rivera's blitzing schemes were obviously ineffective from the very beginning would be...well, spot on.

 

Babich was officially promoted to DC today.

[Jehrico]

Maybe this is a rant, maybe this is social, I don't know.

 

I'm not upset at Rivera being ousted for Babich...it doesn't sound like we're going down in quality at all. However, if you're going to can Rivera, how can you keep the idiot offensive coordinator on the staff? It just seems highly unfair. Not only did he call an incredibly stupid offensive scheme (2nd worse only to Shoop), when it became apparent how teams were having success attacking Grossman and his performance was suffering for it, he refused to make any adjustment on the line or in the play calling to compensate. He stubbornly forced his game plan to work, and more often than not, it didn't. It was almost as if he was too proud to make in game adjustments to counter the opponents defensive schemes. He had better not come back this fall.

[goonys evil twin]

I don't understand the backlash against Turner. He's taken an offense with extremely limited talent and gotten average yardage and well above average scoring out of them. There isn't a true #1 receiver, there isn't a great running back, there isn't even a good QB. There are a bunch of okay players, yet they've performed better than most.

 

I think football fans cry out against game plans as a sort of catch-all for being pissed that the team lost. Cut the turnovers in half in the Super Bowl and that gameplan probably produces a championship.

[Ding Dong Johnson]

There was a replacement for Rivera readily available, not so much with Turner.

[Jehrico]

I don't understand the backlash against Turner. He's taken an offense with extremely limited talent and gotten average yardage and well above average scoring out of them. There isn't a true #1 receiver, there isn't a great running back, there isn't even a good QB. There are a bunch of okay players, yet they've performed better than most.

 

I think football fans cry out against game plans as a sort of catch-all for being pissed that the team lost. Cut the turnovers in half in the Super Bowl and that gameplan probably produces a championship.

 

You surely can't be saying that we're getting above average scoring out of below-average players due to his play-calling, are you?

 

How often in the Super Bowl have you seen a team pass on first and second down for no yardage, then try to run the ball on third down?

 

We scored alot more points in the first half of the season than we did in the second half of the season, and I think a big part of that was they were underestimating our receivers (namely Berrian) and Grossman. After the Arizona game, teams figured out how to attack our offense, and it showed. Turner never adjusted. Also, as far as our offensive numbers go, we played the weakest schedule in the NFL this year, and that also contributed to our numbers (no, I don't buy that as an excuse to say we were overrated, we weren't...).

[Derwood]

I don't understand the backlash against Turner. He's taken an offense with extremely limited talent and gotten average yardage and well above average scoring out of them. There isn't a true #1 receiver, there isn't a great running back, there isn't even a good QB. There are a bunch of okay players, yet they've performed better than most.

 

I think football fans cry out against game plans as a sort of catch-all for being pissed that the team lost. Cut the turnovers in half in the Super Bowl and that gameplan probably produces a championship.

 

You surely can't be saying that we're getting above average scoring out of below-average players due to his play-calling, are you?

 

How often in the Super Bowl have you seen a team pass on first and second down for no yardage, then try to run the ball on third down?

 

We scored alot more points in the first half of the season than we did in the second half of the season, and I think a big part of that was they were underestimating our receivers (namely Berrian) and Grossman. After the Arizona game, teams figured out how to attack our offense, and it showed. Turner never adjusted. Also, as far as our offensive numbers go, we played the weakest schedule in the NFL this year, and that also contributed to our numbers (no, I don't buy that as an excuse to say we were overrated, we weren't...).

 

so you want the team to write off next year while they learn a new offense?

[goonys evil twin]

I don't understand the backlash against Turner. He's taken an offense with extremely limited talent and gotten average yardage and well above average scoring out of them. There isn't a true #1 receiver, there isn't a great running back, there isn't even a good QB. There are a bunch of okay players, yet they've performed better than most.

 

I think football fans cry out against game plans as a sort of catch-all for being pissed that the team lost. Cut the turnovers in half in the Super Bowl and that gameplan probably produces a championship.

 

You surely can't be saying that we're getting above average scoring out of below-average players due to his play-calling, are you?

 

You think his play calling should have led to more scoring?

 

 

No offense, but the vast majority of the time when people talk about play-calling, they are just grasping at straws. Football is a far more complicated sport than baseball, which anybody could break down. The fact is, that Super Bowl gameplan could have led to a championship with half the turnovers. When somebody runs on 3rd and 12th, and they make it, he's a genius. When they run on 3rd and 2 and don't make it, he's a hack.

 

Yes, I was annoyed by some of Turner's calls throughout the season. However, I'm a results guy, and Turner has gotten greater results out of the office than one may have expected, given the talent. Going into the season, I was expecting great defense and hoping for average offense. I think the defense was a little worse than I expected and the offense was a little better than I'd hoped. I can't find justification for the "run Turner out of town" rants. In a salary cap sport, when management has focuses the vast majority of their resources on bettering one side of the ball, I find it very hard to be pissed about above average production from the neglected side.

[Soriano12]

Why Ron Turner can't grasp the concept that Grossman could be more effective out of the shotgun, is beyond me. Why won't the lightbulb go off in his head?

[goonys evil twin]

Why Ron Turner can't grasp the concept that Grossman could be more effective out of the shotgun, is beyond me. Why won't the lightbulb go off in his head?

 

I sure as heck am not convinced that the shotgun is the answer.

[CubColtPacer]

I don't understand the backlash against Turner. He's taken an offense with extremely limited talent and gotten average yardage and well above average scoring out of them. There isn't a true #1 receiver, there isn't a great running back, there isn't even a good QB. There are a bunch of okay players, yet they've performed better than most.

 

I think football fans cry out against game plans as a sort of catch-all for being pissed that the team lost. Cut the turnovers in half in the Super Bowl and that gameplan probably produces a championship.

 

 

How often in the Super Bowl have you seen a team pass on first and second down for no yardage, then try to run the ball on third down?

 

 

I know you might be exaggerating a little bit, but there was nothing like that playcalling in the Super Bowl. In fact, the Bears ran twice on third down

once on a 3rd and 6, where they picked up 4-this was from their own 9 yard line right after Tait got hurt, so they were probably playing a little conservative here.

2nd time was on a 3rd and 3, and they picked up 2.

 

That's all of the Bears 3rd down running in the Super Bowl. They did run a lot on 2nd downs though, and for the most part, 2nd down running was terrible:

 

2-4-Jones for 1

2-4-Jones for 0

2-6-Jones for 0

2-2-Jones for 4

2-10-Jones for 2

 

(Note: he picked up 2 12-15 yard gains after the second INT-I've basically thrown out all statistics after that point as they are basically meaningless with the Colts in a prevent defense).

 

I didn't see the play-calling problem in the Super Bowl at least-the players just weren't performing very well.

[minnesotacubsfan]

I have to say that part of an offesive coordinators job is understanding how his players will respond to the opponents defense. Turner did a horrible job at theis in the Super Bowl.

 

 

having said that, I think Turner can be critisized for his handling of grossman, and his inability to keep Grossman calm when the poop hit the fan.

 

I also think Turner did an exceptional job understanding what he had in his WR's for the majority of the season.

 

I look forward to how he will change in his approach with Grossman (and thus how Grossman will respond) more then anything. I think that is the key for the Bears next year.

[goonys evil twin]

I look forward to how he will change in his approach with Grossman (and thus how Grossman will respond) more then anything. I think that is the key for the Bears next year.

 

I agree. By no means do I think Turner is the greatest OC in the world. But I don't know of any better option. And I believe the best course of action is to maintain what they are doing, and look for improvement from Grossman. Add some O line help to the mix, and maybe another skill position guy via the draft. Plus, let him use Hester as an offensive weapon.

[Banedon]

I look forward to how he will change in his approach with Grossman (and thus how Grossman will respond) more then anything. I think that is the key for the Bears next year.

 

I agree. By no means do I think Turner is the greatest OC in the world. But I don't know of any better option. And I believe the best course of action is to maintain what they are doing, and look for improvement from Grossman. Add some O line help to the mix, and maybe another skill position guy via the draft. Plus, let him use Hester as an offensive weapon.

 

I wouldn't mind if they brought in someone that they could "groom" for the Off Coord position for the future though. Some NFL team may be dumb enough to hire Turner as a HC sometime here, and we could be stuck.

[minnesotacubsfan]

Plus, let him use Hester as an offensive weapon.

 

I pull my hair out when I think of why we haven't tried this yet. Granted, he was a rook, and maybe he doesn't have WR hands (pure conjecture on my part), but a guy with that speed HAS to get a few looks on offense, right?

[goonys evil twin]

I look forward to how he will change in his approach with Grossman (and thus how Grossman will respond) more then anything. I think that is the key for the Bears next year.

 

I agree. By no means do I think Turner is the greatest OC in the world. But I don't know of any better option. And I believe the best course of action is to maintain what they are doing, and look for improvement from Grossman. Add some O line help to the mix, and maybe another skill position guy via the draft. Plus, let him use Hester as an offensive weapon.

 

I wouldn't mind if they brought in someone that they could "groom" for the Off Coord position for the future though. Some NFL team may be dumb enough to hire Turner as a HC sometime here, and we could be stuck.

 

I think Wilson is in the process of being groomed. He was QB coach in Dallas for 2 years and now Chicago for 3. The TE coach was an OC in college for several years. He has been an offensive coach for several years, in many capacities, including head coach in DIII. Tim Spencer has been a coach for a long time. He has pro playing experience that could offset the fact that most of his coaching was in college. Likewise, Drake, the WR coach has pro playing experience, and vast coaching experience in several areas. Hiestand, the O line coach, has a lot of coaching experience, but would probaly end up following Turner if he went somewhere.

 

I think one of those guys could become an OC. But the Bears coaching staff in general is very heavy in college experience. I think they could all use some more time working under an experienced pro OC, which Turner is.

[Soul]

It's so easy to blame the OC. Thousands of play calls are made, just pick out a random sampling of the ones we didn't like, and you've got instant fodder to hate any OC.

 

I see an offense with mediocre to below-average talent. They appear to have outscored most projections this year. Given this, I'm having a tough time with the idea that Ron Turner should be thrown under the bus.

[TB_11]

Plus, let him use Hester as an offensive weapon.

 

I pull my hair out when I think of why we haven't tried this yet. Granted, he was a rook, and maybe he doesn't have WR hands (pure conjecture on my part), but a guy with that speed HAS to get a few looks on offense, right?

 

Aside from an occasional end-around or outside run, the talents as a return man don't translate well to an offensive set. That being said, he would be a great decoy in certain situations, similar to how the Saints used Reggie Bush at the beginning of the season.

[Handlebar McSkullet]

Chris Mortenson says that the Bears and Lovie Smith are in a stalemate, and will probably go into the season without a contract.

[Magnetic Curses]

Why Ron Turner can't grasp the concept that Grossman could be more effective out of the shotgun, is beyond me. Why won't the lightbulb go off in his head?

 

I sure as heck am not convinced that the shotgun is the answer.

 

it's called the "magic shotgun" and it would apparently alleviate all of our offensive woes.

 

actually, it wouldn't, and it works better for guys like kyle orton who like to fall down for no reason.

[Soriano12]

Chris Mortenson says that the Bears and Lovie Smith are in a stalemate, and will probably go into the season without a contract.

 

Screw you Ted Phillips & McCaskeys. :x

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Chris Mortenson says that the Bears and Lovie Smith are in a stalemate, and will probably go into the season without a contract.

 

Lame.

 

Wonder what the problem is.

[Handlebar McSkullet]

Chris Mortenson says that the Bears and Lovie Smith are in a stalemate, and will probably go into the season without a contract.

 

Lame.

 

Wonder what the problem is.

 

INSERT APPROPRIATE SWEAR WORD- CHEAP!!!!!!!!!!!!

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Chris Mortenson says that the Bears and Lovie Smith are in a stalemate, and will probably go into the season without a contract.

 

Lame.

 

Wonder what the problem is.

 

INSERT APPROPRIATE SWEAR WORD- CHEAP!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Dunno, maybe Lovie is asking for the moon. We don't really know (and I'd like to hear this from someone besides Mort too).