Week 9: Cardinals at Bears, noon on Fox

[Soul]

I feel like being in a positive mood today. Here's a nice little tidbit:

 

Devin Hester is on pace to have somewhere in the neighborhood of 80 catches and over 1,000 yards receiving. For a player who most thought would not be able to approach those kinds of numbers, he's been a bright spot on the team this year. He's gone from not even knowing where to line up, to being a pretty reliable target, in just a couple seasons.

 

So good job to Devin, and good job to the coaches.

 

Bob LeGere blogged about this yesterday as well:

 

http://blogs.dailyherald.com/node/2850

[rawaction]

I feel like being in a positive mood today. Here's a nice little tidbit:

 

Devin Hester is on pace to have somewhere in the neighborhood of 80 catches and over 1,000 yards receiving. For a player who most thought would not be able to approach those kinds of numbers, he's been a bright spot on the team this year. He's gone from not even knowing where to line up, to being a pretty reliable target, in just a couple seasons.

 

So good job to Devin, and good job to the coaches.

 

Bob LeGere blogged about this yesterday as well:

 

http://blogs.dailyherald.com/node/2850

 

He is a legit NFL WR now. He has made some plays over the last 3 weeks that he couldn't have made last year. The 4th down catch vs. ATL. The catch reaching back in the middle of the field last week. I will dare to say that Devin Hester has become an EXCELLENT route runner this season.

[jersey cubs fan]

I'm still down on the Bears. They need to win 10 games this year to not be a disappointment and they absolutely have to win this game to accomplish that. They can win it, but I have no idea if they will. If they came up short again this year, 3 straight non-playoff years, Lovie's job has to be on the line. I'm not going to waste time getting into those reasons, but I want to bitch at all those horrible Chicago Tribune Live morons who cannot fathom how somebody could possibly think that Lovie should be on the hot seat. They keep spouting off the nonsensical note that Lovie is the winningest coach in the NFC outside of Coughlin since 2005. Who cares? First off, Lovie has been the coach since 2004, when his team won 5 games. Why do they ignore that and only talk about 2005 and beyond. Second of all, some coaches weren't around then, which means they can't beat Lovie's totals, even if Dallas has more wins as an organization. And it ignores Andy Reid whose team has been much more successful than the Bears this decade, and have won several more games than Lovie's teams since Smith took the job. And that doesn't even count the 10 playoff wins Reid has, or the 5-3 playoff record since Lovie took the job. And to top it off, it ignores all the AFC teams with better success.

 

 

Why the hell is Lovie's win total minus his worst season in comparison to other coaches who have been coaching since that time the reason you can't discuss getting a new coach? The biggest portion of that success was amassed in 2005/2006, we might be going on 3 straight disappointing. Why can't an NFL coach's job be up for discussion under that scenario?

[Banedon]

Unfortunately there's a factor you didn't mention, Jersey....money. Smith's contract runs through 2011...I think he's likely to get that time to continue to try to get the most out of that team. The Bears already got burned by having to pay Jauron to go away...I just don't think they will with Lovie too.

 

Should Lovie's job be in danger? Yes. Will it? Unfortunately I don't think so.

[SpongeWorthy]

If the Bears miss the playoffs I doubt you're going to see much outrage if Lovie is canned. Sure, there will be a pocket of people who say it would be a mistake but overall public sentiment isn't going to be negative about bringing in a new staff. You'll probably see more criticism from the national media anyway.

 

The public probably won't be STRONGLY in favor of getting rid of Lovie either but it won't preclude a move either. If the Bears miss the playoffs again and then retain the coaching staff it'll be because they think it's the right move and not because they're kowtowing to the wishes of the public...which might be a dumber reason, sadly.

[SpongeWorthy]

Unfortunately there's a factor you didn't mention, Jersey....money. Smith's contract runs through 2011...I think he's likely to get that time to continue to try to get the most out of that team. The Bears already got burned by having to pay Jauron to go away...I just don't think they will with Lovie too.

 

Should Lovie's job be in danger? Yes. Will it? Unfortunately I don't think so.

 

Plus with all the high profile guys potentially available to be head coaches you're going to either fire Lovie, continue to pay him, and then have to bring in a Cowher/Shanahan/Gruden/Holmgren/etc. at a higher price. If you don't hire one of those guys you might be perceived as going low rent with an unproven candidate. Now if you end up winning with that guy all is forgiven but you're risking a backlash if he turns out to be another Jim Zorn or Scott Linehan.

[jersey cubs fan]

Unfortunately there's a factor you didn't mention, Jersey....money. Smith's contract runs through 2011...I think he's likely to get that time to continue to try to get the most out of that team. The Bears already got burned by having to pay Jauron to go away...I just don't think they will with Lovie too.

 

Should Lovie's job be in danger? Yes. Will it? Unfortunately I don't think so.

 

I get that, but my complaint was with the media types who are absolutely apoplectic if the topic of Lovie's job security comes up. They just keep repeating winningest NFC coach since 2005 besides Coughlin. It makes no sense. He's been here 5.5 years, they have 2 playoff appearances, are 2-2 (including 2 embarrassing defeats) and haven't been there since 2006. The topic is worth discussion.

 

Will the Bears pull the trigger? My guess is only if they completely fall apart and somehow lose 10 games. But 7-9, 8-8 should at least make them consider it. But should a media member scoff at the notion that it should be discussed? Absolutely not.

[Banedon]

Unfortunately there's a factor you didn't mention, Jersey....money. Smith's contract runs through 2011...I think he's likely to get that time to continue to try to get the most out of that team. The Bears already got burned by having to pay Jauron to go away...I just don't think they will with Lovie too.

 

Should Lovie's job be in danger? Yes. Will it? Unfortunately I don't think so.

 

I get that, but my complaint was with the media types who are absolutely apoplectic if the topic of Lovie's job security comes up. They just keep repeating winningest NFC coach since 2005 besides Coughlin. It makes no sense. He's been here 5.5 years, they have 2 playoff appearances, are 2-2 (including 2 embarrassing defeats) and haven't been there since 2006. The topic is worth discussion.

 

Will the Bears pull the trigger? My guess is only if they completely fall apart and somehow lose 10 games. But 7-9, 8-8 should at least make them consider it. But should a media member scoff at the notion that it should be discussed? Absolutely not.

 

No argument there.

[jersey cubs fan]

If the Bears miss the playoffs I doubt you're going to see much outrage if Lovie is canned. Sure, there will be a pocket of people who say it would be a mistake but overall public sentiment isn't going to be negative about bringing in a new staff. You'll probably see more criticism from the national media anyway.

 

The public probably won't be STRONGLY in favor of getting rid of Lovie either but it won't preclude a move either. If the Bears miss the playoffs again and then retain the coaching staff it'll be because they think it's the right move and not because they're kowtowing to the wishes of the public...which might be a dumber reason, sadly.

 

 

I'd only be strongly in favor of getting rid of him if he insists on bringing back the same offensive coaches.

[cubweiser03]

If the Bears miss the playoffs I doubt you're going to see much outrage if Lovie is canned. Sure, there will be a pocket of people who say it would be a mistake but overall public sentiment isn't going to be negative about bringing in a new staff. You'll probably see more criticism from the national media anyway.

 

The public probably won't be STRONGLY in favor of getting rid of Lovie either but it won't preclude a move either. If the Bears miss the playoffs again and then retain the coaching staff it'll be because they think it's the right move and not because they're kowtowing to the wishes of the public...which might be a dumber reason, sadly.

 

I'd only be strongly in favor of getting rid of him if he insists on bringing back the same offensive coaches.

Like Dick Jauron. Yeah Lovie can go to hell if he wants to pull that. Replacing Turner is the cheapest and most effective coaching option available to the Bears.

[SpongeWorthy]

If the Bears miss the playoffs I doubt you're going to see much outrage if Lovie is canned. Sure, there will be a pocket of people who say it would be a mistake but overall public sentiment isn't going to be negative about bringing in a new staff. You'll probably see more criticism from the national media anyway.

 

The public probably won't be STRONGLY in favor of getting rid of Lovie either but it won't preclude a move either. If the Bears miss the playoffs again and then retain the coaching staff it'll be because they think it's the right move and not because they're kowtowing to the wishes of the public...which might be a dumber reason, sadly.

 

 

I'd only be strongly in favor of getting rid of him if he insists on bringing back the same offensive coaches.

 

Lovie's a defensive guy. I just don't see a good, creative offensive staff as likely to coalesce around him as it would around Cowher, Shanahan, Gruden, Holmgren, etc. The guys with the pull to build a top notch staff are available this offseason.

 

I think Lovie's a fine coach but I think it's pretty telling that you don't see his staffs being poached of coaching talent.

[NCCubFan]

If the Bears miss the playoffs I doubt you're going to see much outrage if Lovie is canned. Sure, there will be a pocket of people who say it would be a mistake but overall public sentiment isn't going to be negative about bringing in a new staff. You'll probably see more criticism from the national media anyway.

 

The public probably won't be STRONGLY in favor of getting rid of Lovie either but it won't preclude a move either. If the Bears miss the playoffs again and then retain the coaching staff it'll be because they think it's the right move and not because they're kowtowing to the wishes of the public...which might be a dumber reason, sadly.

 

 

I'd only be strongly in favor of getting rid of him if he insists on bringing back the same offensive coaches.

He shouldn't even be given that choice. If they miss the playoffs and Smith is retained it should be under the explicit condition that the offensive coaching staff is replaced. If Lovie isn't OK with that and chooses to resign that's his decision.

[Soul]

7-9 or 8-8 wouldn't be a reason to consider keeping this coaching staff. That's mediocrity, for 3 straight years. Not something you want to hitch your wagon to.

[Mark Priors Calves]

The NFL Network is re-airing the Bears/Cardinals MNF game from a few years ago. It makes me miss Urlacher.

[Soul]

That's THE GAME.

 

Will they air Denny afterwards too?

[Mark Priors Calves]

That's THE GAME.

 

Will they air Denny afterwards too?

Yes they did.

[Omar]

I almost forgot about these pictures:

 

http://img30.imageshack.us/img30/4917/bearscardinals.jpg

 

http://img188.imageshack.us/img188/1182/beareatbird.jpg

[NCCubFan]

They are who we THOUGHT they are! AND WE LET THEM GET AWAY!

[Butterscup1679666578]

whats that mean

[Fred Hornkohl]

My fearless prediction...........

 

Arizona     23
BEARS       26

[Soul]

The Bears may not be who I thought they were, but unfortunately they're turning into who I hoped they wouldn't be.

[UMFan83]

It's crazy how little talk has been had about this game here. I guess people are still discouraged about the team. I think the Bears can win tomorrow and even play well. I've seen teams play nearly as bad as the Bears and still recover for a decent season.

 

The Bears can win, but I can't get a good feel for the game. The weather is probably gonna help the Cardinals and their 'air it out' offense, so I'm gonna predict a 10 point Cardinals victory, but I can EASILY see the result being the other way around.

[Banedon]

Yeah, I could see it going either way. If forced to pick, I'd probably take the Cardinals, because like you said...I'm just kind of down on the Bears right now. I really think Turner is gonna be the fall guy this year.

[JonJayCutler]

The nice thing about today is that one of the 5-2 teams in the East has to lose (no ties please), although I can't decide if it would be better for the Bears if the Eagles won or the Cowboys. On one hand, the Eagles losing would give us a chance to pretty much pass them for good in a few weeks, but on the other hand it would be nice if they ran away with the division, taking pressure off of our game against them in a few weeks. As far as other wild card matters go, it would help the Bears if the Redskins beat the Falcons, the Chargers beat the Giants, the Bucs beat the Packers, the Saints beat the Panthers, and the Titans beat the 49ers.

[Soul]

Even though there's still plenty of football to be played, I look around the NFC and see many teams that I feel are just much better than this club. So that takes some of the wind out of my sails. I think I'm like many others here -- I'm wanting changes, and not seeing where the big improvements will come from without it.