Re: Bears Offseason Thread

[Outshined_One]

Why is it taking them so long to come to a decision?

 

Maybe they'll keep everyone on board. :banghead:

[Keener98]

I really dont want Martz either. Im still hoping Kubiak is fired in Houston and the Bears hire him as OC. However, Martz is much much more likely

[Outshined_One]

I really dont want Martz either. Im still hoping Kubiak is fired in Houston and the Bears hire him as OC. However, Martz is much much more likely

 

Kubiak's going nowhere.

[jersey cubs fan]

I really don't want Mike Martz. The Bears have a young offense and need a young, fresh mind to lead them. We already know what Martz gives you. And I don't think he helps Cutler takes the step forward he needs to take. We know Cutler can throw for 3500-4000 yards. We know he can rack up the TD passes and big plays. However, his turnovers are keeping him from being elite right now. Martz hasn't shown that he is creative enough in the run game to take pressure off the QB. He hasn't shown he is smart enough to scheme so his QB doesn't take hits. And he hasn't shown that he values his QBs not turning over the ball enough.

 

Martz's age and connection to Lovie means that 2 years for now (if Lovie is allowed to coach out his contract), Cutler will go into 2012 with his 3rd completely new offensive system as a Bear.

 

I don't see them having him coach out his contract. They will either can him or extend him, but they won't lame duck him.

 

I'd love to get the next Payton, but there's no way to guarantee we don't go through a situation where the next OC is only here for a year or two. And it's not like Martz has never used the RB. He sure figured out how to make it work in STL, at least until Faulk started to age. And was he that run averse in SF? I'm not sure I'm buying your complains about how we know Cutler can make big plays and rack up yards. Sure, we know that, why not have a coach that can figure out how to turn that into points and success? If there is a better candidate than Martz I'd take him in a heartbeat, I just don't see how Martz is a bad option, or who that better guy obviously is.

[Keener98]

I really dont want Martz either. Im still hoping Kubiak is fired in Houston and the Bears hire him as OC. However, Martz is much much more likely

 

Kubiak's going nowhere.

 

Well [expletive]!

[jersey cubs fan]

Why is it taking them so long to come to a decision?

 

Maybe they'll keep everyone on board. :banghead:

 

At this point the most likely scenario is they are working with Lovie to figure out how to get a new OC and DC while keeping him. That takes time.

 

If they were going to fire him they could/should and probably would have done it already. Cutler is probably going to deal with a 4th OC in 4 years (if they play in 2011) unless they get a guy who can be bumped to head coach, or less likely, retained as OC once Lovie is canned next year.

 

The best option is cleaning house and going with a fresh Cutler friendly staff right now. But that's not happening.

[rawaction]

I really don't want Mike Martz. The Bears have a young offense and need a young, fresh mind to lead them. We already know what Martz gives you. And I don't think he helps Cutler takes the step forward he needs to take. We know Cutler can throw for 3500-4000 yards. We know he can rack up the TD passes and big plays. However, his turnovers are keeping him from being elite right now. Martz hasn't shown that he is creative enough in the run game to take pressure off the QB. He hasn't shown he is smart enough to scheme so his QB doesn't take hits. And he hasn't shown that he values his QBs not turning over the ball enough.

 

Martz's age and connection to Lovie means that 2 years for now (if Lovie is allowed to coach out his contract), Cutler will go into 2012 with his 3rd completely new offensive system as a Bear.

 

I don't see them having him coach out his contract. They will either can him or extend him, but they won't lame duck him.

 

I'd love to get the next Payton, but there's no way to guarantee we don't go through a situation where the next OC is only here for a year or two. And it's not like Martz has never used the RB. He sure figured out how to make it work in STL, at least until Faulk started to age. And was he that run averse in SF? I'm not sure I'm buying your complains about how we know Cutler can make big plays and rack up yards. Sure, we know that, why not have a coach that can figure out how to turn that into points and success? If there is a better candidate than Martz I'd take him in a heartbeat, I just don't see how Martz is a bad option, or who that better guy obviously is.

 

It's not even about the number of rushing plays called. It's the quality and creativity of those plays. Gore averaged just 4.3 per carry w/ Martz there last year. He's a career 4.8 back and got back to that this year w/o Martz. Kevin Jones only averaged 3.8 w/ Martz as the OC. Granted a lot of that had to do w/ his injury, but he got 4.7 ypc before Martz. So, basically the only thing Martz has to show for himself run-game wise is the 2 years he had one of the top 5 RBs of all time in his prime.

 

I don't think his passing game expertise is that great that you overlook his shortcomings in designing and calling running plays. Heck, 10 QBs threw for over 4000 yards this year. That old Rams passing game is a dime a dozen now. And I know this is a passing league now, but you at least have to keep teams honest w/ the run. And I don't see any proof that Martz can design plays to make Forte a 4+ ypc guy. I don't know that anyone really can, but Martz has proven he can't.

[Omar]

"From Twitter.com/ChicagoBearscom: Bears will be holding a press conference tomorrow at 2:00 p.m. (ct). We will stream it LIVE on ChicagoBears.com"

 

Major news please.

[jersey cubs fan]

I don't think his passing game expertise is that great that you overlook his shortcomings in designing and calling running plays. Heck, 10 QBs threw for over 4000 yards this year. That old Rams passing game is a dime a dozen now. And I know this is a passing league now, but you at least have to keep teams honest w/ the run. And I don't see any proof that Martz can design plays to make Forte a 4+ ypc guy. I don't know that anyone really can, but Martz has proven he can't.

 

Indy, San Diego, Houston and Arizona didn't keep teams honest with the running game and they were 4 of the top 11 scoring teams in the league. New England and Minnesota averaged just 4.1 ypc.

 

This is a pass first league. You have to pass. The Bears have to pass. They need an OC who can help develop Cutler and take advantage of their one strength. I really don't see any strong justification for eliminating Martz based on your perception that he can't do anything with the running game. The running game just isn't that important, and with a Forte led attack, it's not going to be good regardless. Martz has shown he can exploit a good pass catching RB, and that's Forte's only strength.

 

The focus should be on who can do the most with the QB and passing game, not who can get the biggest YPC out of Forte. The passing game will determine this team's future.

[jersey cubs fan]

4 of top 12 yards per carry teams made playoffs, 10 of 12 yards per attempted pass teams made playoffs.

 

It cannot be overemphasized how much more important the passing game is from the running game.

 

Mike Martz might not be the right guy for this job, or there may be a dozen better options, and I'd be fine with any of them. But there's just very little support for eliminating Martz based on a perception that he doesn't emphasize the run enough or get enough out of it. This team needs to be a threat through the air, and if Martz can help make that happen, he can be a solid acquisition. They also need to go away from the stupid 1 running back attack and figure out a way to get 2-3 guys involved in carrying the ball.

 

But the primary focus has to be on the passing game.

[Soul]

I agree, there's a certain likelihood that it will be Martz based on the relationships and his availability.

 

 

And then Lovie will be canned next offseason.

 

New coach, 3rd OC for Cutler (4th in 4 years).

 

Yikes. Hope you know what you're doing, Mr. Angelo.

[SpongeWorthy]

Yes, the passing game is the most important part. But I hope the Bears go from at god awful to at least something approaching average on a per carry basis. Cutler just isn't a good enough decision maker yet to guide an attack entirely with his arm. I doubt he ever will be ala Manning or Rivers.

 

That's why I'm hoping that stuff about Forte's knee is accurate and he'll be full speed next season. He was tentative all year.

[SpongeWorthy]

Also, it's looking like Marshall is a goner in Denver...he's a must-target.

[YearofDaCubs]

I would be shocked if we find out tomorrow at 2PM that Lovie and co have been fired.

[Keener98]

Also, it's looking like Marshall is a goner in Denver...he's a must-target.

 

Hes a restricted free agent, we have nothing to trade for him.

[SpongeWorthy]

Also, it's looking like Marshall is a goner in Denver...he's a must-target.

 

Hes a restricted free agent, we have nothing to trade for him.

 

How does that work exactly? I'm seeing that Marshall, among many others, loses unrestricted status if 2010 is an uncapped year. So we'd have to give up a pick(s) that we don't have to sign him if Denver refuses to match?

[Keener98]

Also, it's looking like Marshall is a goner in Denver...he's a must-target.

 

Hes a restricted free agent, we have nothing to trade for him.

 

How does that work exactly? I'm seeing that Marshall, among many others, loses unrestricted status if 2010 is an uncapped year. So we'd have to give up a pick(s) that we don't have to sign him if Denver refuses to match?

 

Im really not sure, but I know rotoworld has he will be put on trade block immediately.

[JonJayCutler]

Also, it's looking like Marshall is a goner in Denver...he's a must-target.

 

We should have thrown our 2011 first-rounder into the mix and got both him and Cutler.

[JonJayCutler]

WBBM-AM 780 reported Sunday that Forte played this season with a sprained medial collateral ligament. Forte first injured his left knee during the Bears' Week 3 win at Seattle.

 

Wow. I like Bell, but we need a guy that can take over if Forte is hurt, cuz that's crazy.

 

I really want to believe that this contributed to his sub-par season, but I'm not sure. Either way, as long as he can get the ypc back up around 4 like he had last year, hes plenty valuable. A few less fumbles would be nice too.

[davell]

It'll take a 1st and a 3rd to get Marshall from the Broncos, since he's a restricted FA and then give him a large contract as well. Cutler and him were very tight in Denver until Cutler left, then Marshall had some pretty negative things to say about him. I wonder if they've buried the hatchet personally?

 

I doubt Denver finds anyone willing to give up the 1st and 3rd for him myself, so then they'll take a look at what offers are out there......A 1st in THIS draft will trump ours from the following year, first and foremost, so we'd be behind the 8-ball and have to offer more in terms of picks......I'm not even sure that we'd go hard after him anyway, with the comments about our receivers not being our problem(which I agree with, to an extent anyway), but if we do go after him, I gotta figure Hester would be part of the package we'd offer for him......

[Banedon]

The only question I guess is what the Bears knew...but it sounds like they knew to me. I don't care if you have to put Peterson or Wolfe out there, you don't run a finesse back out there with a bum knee.

 

Who is the finesse back? Forte sure isn't.

 

How would you describe him? He's not a power back. You just said he's not all that fast...so how would you describe Forte's running style? "Bad" is not an option.

[Guest]

Lovie going nowhere:

 

Trib[/url]"]The Bears will announce at a news conference at 2 p.m. Tuesday at Halas Hall that Smith will be back for a seventh season, the third-longest tenure of any coach in franchise history, but that decision is expected to come with strings attached.

 

It is expected that Smith will make changes to his staff, moves that could include the removal of offensive coordinator Ron Turner. There is also a chance the Bears will seek a defensive coordinator from the outside.

[cubbyvirus00]

Stupid Bears.

[BigSlick]

It cannot be said enough so I'll just say it once more for emphasis

 

FIRE RON TURNER

 

Ask Madden is a better option for running an offense

[WrigleyField 22]

I'm gonna be so bummed at 2:00pm tomorrow. Even though I'm bracing myself for it, I just don't want Lovie back.

 

The only thing I have to say is that I hope the past two weeks didn't have anything to do with the decision to retain him.

 

My favorite team next year is my fantasy team. Sorry Bears.