Re: Bears Offseason Thread

[DivineBovine]

What, you think its too early for this? I think not.

 

 

Here's another Cowher rumor:

 

http://www.chicagobreakingsports.com/2009/11/report-bears-reaching-out-to-cowher.html

 

"The Bears deny this report but my sources, who are impeccable, insist that it's true: They have reached out to an intermediary for Bill Cowher to try to find out what it would take to get him, if he would be interested, what he would want in terms of staff, money, etc.,"

 

Why aim low with firing Turner only. Let's get rid of everyone.

[tfarks]

Love it. I could see them backing out based on Cowher's demands but the fact that they're likely reaching out is fantastic news. A top to bottom staff overhaul is in order.

[UMFan83]

I believe there are good coaches, bad coaches, and average coaches. But I also believe there are coaches that are so far ahead of the rest, you'd be stupid not to hire them. I don't think Lovie is a bad coach, I think he's an average one. With a good team, he can get them to play as one and succeed. However on a bad team, or a team that is falling apart, or needs a schematic advantage to compete with more talented teams, he fails miserably. But Cower is someone who is one of those superior top of the line coaches. When you have an opportunity to hire a coach like that, you have to get him. If you can hire a coach that can consistently produce results at or above their talent level, a coach that can outscheme the opposing coach most games, a coach that can make successful adjustments on the fly, you have to. Coaches can affect a teams play. But only the creme of the crop can do that with any consistency.

[ELCABALLO45]

Terrell Owens anyone?

[DivineBovine]

I believe there are good coaches, bad coaches, and average coaches. But I also believe there are coaches that are so far ahead of the rest, you'd be stupid not to hire them. I don't think Lovie is a bad coach, I think he's an average one. With a good team, he can get them to play as one and succeed. However on a bad team, or a team that is falling apart, or needs a schematic advantage to compete with more talented teams, he fails miserably. But Cower is someone who is one of those superior top of the line coaches. When you have an opportunity to hire a coach like that, you have to get him. If you can hire a coach that can consistently produce results at or above their talent level, a coach that can outscheme the opposing coach most games, a coach that can make successful adjustments on the fly, you have to. Coaches can affect a teams play. But only the creme of the crop can do that with any consistency.

 

I agree.

 

Lovie is an average coach at best. He is outclassed every week.

 

Coaches have to outthink and strategize other coaches and think a step ahead. Lovie is simply outclassed in this league. He has had some success in the past, but he cannot make any adjustments or outstrategize any good team. He insists on the Cover 2 defense, when everyone has figured it out and picks it apart. And he clearly is not an offensive mind, yet he hands the offense over to a moron and stubbornly defends him.

 

Coaching and management is more important in the NFL than in any other sport, by far. Football is more a team sport than any sport there is. Its so easy to blame the players, but some teams have managed to produce consistent winners in a league with a salary cap where 1 superstar can't win it for you. I'd be excited to land a proven winner. I'm not sure if Cowher is the answer, but I hope he is (provided the Bears hire him).

[RedFlash]

Love it. I could see them backing out based on Cowher's demands but the fact that they're likely reaching out is fantastic news. A top to bottom staff overhaul is in order.

 

If they are already contacting Cowher and/or his representative then there is a chance that money may not be an object for the McCaskey's. Which means this could mean serious trouble for Lovie. But if the Bears do make this type move then it means that Angelo's butt would be on the hot seat next yr, which also means that he may have the urgency to improve this team.

 

I agree with you that they COULD back out due to the demands (or maybe his demands are being overrated), but it tells me Angelo may be getting tired of Smith as a HC. This team not only is bad, but it has been declining since the Super Bowl, and is getting older and less talented.

[rawaction]

I just can't see the Bears eating 11Mil and then paying another coach more money to come in. I think Lovie stays one more year (along with Angelo). But I think most of his power is taken away, making him a lame duck coach. After all, he got rid of Rivera and the D hasn't been the same. He promoted Babich and stuck up for him. He kept Turner around. He took over the defense, and they still aren't very good. Lovie has shown he cannot be trusted with personnel and coaching decisions.

 

If Lovie stays, what I would like to see is an established NFL OC who has worked with and developed a QB. Doesn't even have to be an expensive, older coach with 20 years experience. Even a young mind with experience who has learned from one of the great minds. The Bears put so much into getting Cutler. Now they need to put everything into getting the most out of Cutler.

 

Defensively, it may be tough to bring in a DC with a different philosophy. But that may be what needs to be done, as I don't really want Hoke or Marinelli to be promoted.

[Soul]

Any chance Lovie would agree to a buyout?

[Banedon]

Cowher just said this weekend that he wouldn't talk to any teams until after the season.

[jersey cubs fan]

I completely disagree with any assertion that Bill Cowher outstrategizes the opposition. He does not. He isn't even really involved in strategy. If there was one knock on Cowher it was that while he often got his team to big games, they were routinely beaten in those big games. You don't bring in Bill Cowher to be your thinker. He's Lovie Smith with a more fiery temper.

 

The only thing that is going to turn this team around is an offensive coach. If Cowher can bring in such a guy, great. But the Bears aren't going to be great simply by going to the tough guy route. They need the next Sean Payton, not the next Mike Ditka. They need to maximize Jay Cutler's value and they aren't going to do that with people who constantly harp about their identity being a running team or being a defense first team. You only win consistently when your offense is rolling behind a top notch QB. Defense first teams fluctuate with the level of talent they have on defense. Chicago had a great influx in talent earlier this decade, but it dried up quickly and that's why they suck. There's no such thing as a QB of the defense.

 

The NFL is all about the passing game. You can complain about it all you want, you can talk about run, but when it comes down to it, you need to be able to move and score through the air. Yes, it helps to be able to do something on the ground. But first and foremost this team needs to learn how to have an effective passing game, and then fill in the rest around that.

[rawaction]

I completely disagree with any assertion that Bill Cowher outstrategizes the opposition. He does not. He isn't even really involved in strategy. If there was one knock on Cowher it was that while he often got his team to big games, they were routinely beaten in those big games. You don't bring in Bill Cowher to be your thinker. He's Lovie Smith with a more fiery temper.

 

The only thing that is going to turn this team around is an offensive coach. If Cowher can bring in such a guy, great. But the Bears aren't going to be great simply by going to the tough guy route. They need the next Sean Payton, not the next Mike Ditka. They need to maximize Jay Cutler's value and they aren't going to do that with people who constantly harp about their identity being a running team or being a defense first team. You only win consistently when your offense is rolling behind a top notch QB. Defense first teams fluctuate with the level of talent they have on defense. Chicago had a great influx in talent earlier this decade, but it dried up quickly and that's why they suck. There's no such thing as a QB of the defense.

 

The NFL is all about the passing game. You can complain about it all you want, you can talk about run, but when it comes down to it, you need to be able to move and score through the air. Yes, it helps to be able to do something on the ground. But first and foremost this team needs to learn how to have an effective passing game, and then fill in the rest around that.

 

Good post. Cowher, though, is likely to bring a good OC with him. Simply based on his reputation as a winner. Good OC's will be willing to work with him, because it could be a springboard to a head coaching job.

 

As for the NFL being a passing league, I could not agree more. Even the teams that pride themselves on being run first teams (Steelers, Ravens, Bengals, Giants) haven't played well when they haven't been able to throw the ball for 250.

 

Realizing that you need to throw the ball and put up points is paramount to the Bears for a couple reasons. One of course is you have Jay Cutler. Talk about the INTs all you want, but you can't tell me those INTs would be that high with a sophisticated scheme and some legit playmakers to throw to (didn't throw as many last year and threw the ball like 800 times). Secondly, I don't see any way for this defense to be a "carry-the-team" type of defense again any time soon. They can add a few parts here and there and be a defense that is as good as the Colts in recent years, and like NO is this year. That is good enough to win tons of games if your offense is good enough.

[Keener98]

Id be happy as hell for a Cower/Kubiak combo. Even without Cower, Im hoping Kubiak gets the OC job over anybody else out there.

[WrigleyField 22]

I just can't see the Bears eating 11Mil and then paying another coach more money to come in. I think Lovie stays one more year (along with Angelo). .

I really wouldn't like this decision. If we're that worried about the money I'd rather see us skip the big names and hire a first time Head Coach who is willing to work for very little rather than taking another year of Lovie/Angelo. Kind of like the Del Negro hiring in Chicago, except we get someone who at least has assistant coaching experience.

[Wilson A2000]

The Bears might be changing from grass to field turf this offseason.

 

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/football/bears/chi-04-pompei-bears-dec04,0,4806236.column

[Soul]

The Bears might be changing from grass to field turf this offseason.

 

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/football/bears/chi-04-pompei-bears-dec04,0,4806236.column

 

*sigh*

 

I really prefer grass, but given the inability of the Bears and Park District to make it work effectively, they may have no choice here. That field is becoming an embarrasing topic too often, and way too early in the season too.

[Mark Priors Calves]

The Bears might be changing from grass to field turf this offseason.

 

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/football/bears/chi-04-pompei-bears-dec04,0,4806236.column

This was long overdue. The turf at the new Soldier Field has always been embarrassing.

[Wilson A2000]

The Bears might be changing from grass to field turf this offseason.

 

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/football/bears/chi-04-pompei-bears-dec04,0,4806236.column

This was long overdue. The turf at the new Soldier Field has always been embarrassing.

 

Cutler will probably tear his ACL on the new turf the first game next year. Just our luck!

 

I can't think of too many Bears that have torn their ACL on the grass at Soldier Field.

[hawkeyecub]

The Bears might be changing from grass to field turf this offseason.

 

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/football/bears/chi-04-pompei-bears-dec04,0,4806236.column

 

*sigh*

 

I really prefer grass, but given the inability of the Bears and Park District to make it work effectively, they may have no choice here. That field is becoming an embarrasing topic too often, and way too early in the season too.

 

So why could you not see that when you were vehemently arguing against that this past summer?

[Soul]

The Bears might be changing from grass to field turf this offseason.

 

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/football/bears/chi-04-pompei-bears-dec04,0,4806236.column

 

*sigh*

 

I really prefer grass, but given the inability of the Bears and Park District to make it work effectively, they may have no choice here. That field is becoming an embarrasing topic too often, and way too early in the season too.

 

So why could you not see that when you were vehemently arguing against that this past summer?

 

The basis of my argument was that turf sucks, because it does.

 

But the inability of the Bears and Park District to have the field playable even in September is a whole other issue.

[Banedon]

The Bears might be changing from grass to field turf this offseason.

 

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/football/bears/chi-04-pompei-bears-dec04,0,4806236.column

 

This is great news and absolutely necessary.

[hawkeyecub]

The Bears might be changing from grass to field turf this offseason.

 

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/football/bears/chi-04-pompei-bears-dec04,0,4806236.column

 

*sigh*

 

I really prefer grass, but given the inability of the Bears and Park District to make it work effectively, they may have no choice here. That field is becoming an embarrasing topic too often, and way too early in the season too.

 

So why could you not see that when you were vehemently arguing against that this past summer?

 

The basis of my argument was that turf sucks, because it does.

 

But the inability of the Bears and Park District to have the field playable even in September is a whole other issue.

 

I'm talking specifically about Soldier Field. Myself and others said that the FieldTurf in the dome was probably better than Soldier Field most of the year. You said there's no way any FieldTurf is better than grass.

Nothing has changed between now and then. Soldier Field's surface is just as bad as it's been for years.

[mul21]

I'm talking specifically about Soldier Field. Myself and others said that the FieldTurf in the dome was probably better than Soldier Field most of the year. You said there's no way any FieldTurf is better than grass.

Nothing has changed between now and then. Soldier Field's surface is just as bad as it's been for years.

 

He's right about no field turf being better than grass. Unfortunately, when it comes to Soldier Field in November and December, there is no grass, only green painted dirt.

[E.J.]

The Bears might be changing from grass to field turf this offseason.

 

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/football/bears/chi-04-pompei-bears-dec04,0,4806236.column

 

Under coach Lovie Smith, the Bears think of themselves as a team that can beat opponents with speed. Infill surfaces are considered faster than grass -- especially bad grass. So unless the Bears are going to change the makeup of their team, a new playing surface undoubtedly would be a hit with the coaching staff.

 

What? What speed is this writer talking about?

[tfarks]

The Bears might be changing from grass to field turf this offseason.

 

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/football/bears/chi-04-pompei-bears-dec04,0,4806236.column

 

Under coach Lovie Smith, the Bears think of themselves as a team that can beat opponents with speed. Infill surfaces are considered faster than grass -- especially bad grass. So unless the Bears are going to change the makeup of their team, a new playing surface undoubtedly would be a hit with the coaching staff.

 

What? What speed is this writer talking about?

 

I think the switch to field turf wouldn't help the defense all that much, although Urlacher still has some pretty good speed. But I see it as a positive for the offense (Knox, Hester, Olsen). Probably help Forte as well, his cutting abilities have left a lot to be desired.

[Soul]

The Bears might be changing from grass to field turf this offseason.

 

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/football/bears/chi-04-pompei-bears-dec04,0,4806236.column

 

*sigh*

 

I really prefer grass, but given the inability of the Bears and Park District to make it work effectively, they may have no choice here. That field is becoming an embarrasing topic too often, and way too early in the season too.

 

So why could you not see that when you were vehemently arguing against that this past summer?

 

The basis of my argument was that turf sucks, because it does.

 

But the inability of the Bears and Park District to have the field playable even in September is a whole other issue.

 

I'm talking specifically about Soldier Field. Myself and others said that the FieldTurf in the dome was probably better than Soldier Field most of the year. You said there's no way any FieldTurf is better than grass.

Nothing has changed between now and then. Soldier Field's surface is just as bad as it's been for years.

 

It was worse at the beginning of this year. There's never been a season where it was unplayable on day 1 like this year.

 

You really need to get off this whole "everyone was against my team so now I'm pissy about it" BS.