Rams at Bears, noon on Fox

[jersey cubs fan]

Chris Williams is playing left tackle is practice.

[cubweiser03]

Chris Williams is playing left tackle is practice.

Anything about Pace? LG, kinda like to see that. Shaffer at RT.

[Soul]

Chris Williams is playing left tackle is practice.

Anything about Pace? LG, kinda like to see that. Shaffer at RT.

 

I heard on the radio this morning that Pace out with an injury.

[Banedon]

Chris Williams is playing left tackle is practice.

Anything about Pace? LG, kinda like to see that. Shaffer at RT.

 

I heard on the radio this morning that Pace out with an injury.

 

Yeah...Pace is out this week. Williams needs to play LT the rest of the season...you gotta see what you have there.

 

And Gooney, you're right...the Bears have an unfair rep as cheapskates. That said, they aren't known for signing top free agents, making big name trades (till Cutler of course) and they haven't gotten the big name head coaches in the past (although that could be a factor of timing as much as anything).

 

I would say that's changing...Lovie was a pretty hot name when he was hired, and they were about to hire Saban, who at the time was the big name out there. With the names out there, I'd be really nervous if I was Lovie.

[jersey cubs fan]

That said, they aren't known for signing top free agents,

 

No, but they don't lose their free agents either, and very few teams do spend huge on free agency. Chicago paid heavily for Tait and Muhammed, they stepped up for Ogunleye when he was holding out, they paid Urlacher and Briggs when most teams would let one walk. The reputation is left over from the Halas era, and the end of the Ditka era, when he blamed it all on cheapness.

 

This organization doesn't have great owners, but in a salary cap game, there's very little an owner can do to make a positive difference.

[Banedon]

That said, they aren't known for signing top free agents,

 

No, but they don't lose their free agents either, and very few teams do spend huge on free agency. Chicago paid heavily for Tait and Muhammed, they stepped up for Ogunleye when he was holding out, they paid Urlacher and Briggs when most teams would let one walk. The reputation is left over from the Halas era, and the end of the Ditka era, when he blamed it all on cheapness.

 

This organization doesn't have great owners, but in a salary cap game, there's very little an owner can do to make a positive difference.

 

Good point....they pay their guys...no question. They paid heavily for Tait and Muhammed, though you can debate whether or not they were worth that...heh. But yeah...the point is the Bears weren't cheap in those situations....no doubt.

[Soul]

The Bears could sign a "top free agent" and 2 years later people would be doubting that he was a top free agent in the first place.

 

Other teams sign someone who has accumlated doubts, and re-energize his career. Such as Moss and NE. Can the Bears do that with a player? Doubtful.

[Banedon]

Wait, what? Hub Arkush made stuff up? You don't say...

 

http://www.chicagobreakingsports.com/2009/12/espns-nfl-insider-shoots-down-cowher-report-on-wmvp-am.html

[JonJayCutler]

Its nice that we're finally going to pick up a win Sunday. I know we're bad, but we're still lightyears ahead of the Rams.

 

Bears 31

Rams 13

[hawkeyecub]

Decent breakdown on Cutler:

 

http://www.footballoutsiders.com/cover-3/2009/cover-1-whats-wrong-jay-cutler

[Magnetic Curses]

i'd shift Omiyale to RT, release Kreutz, get Beekman in at center, look for some new guards in the offseason.

[UMFan83]

Chris Williams is playing left tackle is practice.

Anything about Pace? LG, kinda like to see that. Shaffer at RT.

 

I heard on the radio this morning that Pace out with an injury.

 

Yeah...Pace is out this week. Williams needs to play LT the rest of the season...you gotta see what you have there.

 

And Gooney, you're right...the Bears have an unfair rep as cheapskates. That said, they aren't known for signing top free agents, making big name trades (till Cutler of course) and they haven't gotten the big name head coaches in the past (although that could be a factor of timing as much as anything).

 

I would say that's changing...Lovie was a pretty hot name when he was hired, and they were about to hire Saban, who at the time was the big name out there. With the names out there, I'd be really nervous if I was Lovie.

 

I'm pretty sure Wanny was a very hot name when the Bears hired him way back when.

[UMFan83]

That said, they aren't known for signing top free agents,

 

No, but they don't lose their free agents either, and very few teams do spend huge on free agency. Chicago paid heavily for Tait and Muhammed, they stepped up for Ogunleye when he was holding out, they paid Urlacher and Briggs when most teams would let one walk. The reputation is left over from the Halas era, and the end of the Ditka era, when he blamed it all on cheapness.

 

This organization doesn't have great owners, but in a salary cap game, there's very little an owner can do to make a positive difference.

 

Good point....they pay their guys...no question. They paid heavily for Tait and Muhammed, though you can debate whether or not they were worth that...heh. But yeah...the point is the Bears weren't cheap in those situations....no doubt.

 

Going back a little, but don't forget Bryan Cox. He was the largest contract in Bears history when they signed him as a FA. A huge bust, but a big name at the time.

[rawaction]

i'd shift Omiyale to RT, release Kreutz, get Beekman in at center, look for some new guards in the offseason.

 

That's one option. I really don't want Shaffer starting. In limited time this season, he has shown how bad he is. And I think the only way to salvage anything out of Omiyale is to move him back to tackle, where he at least had 1 very good game in Carolina.

 

The Bears absolutely must sign AT LEAST one free agent lineman. I don't know what is greater, the need for a T or a G. I'd love Evans (NO) or Mankins (NE). Gaither in Baltimore, I would absolutely adore, but he's restricted. He could be allowed to leave though, if a team pays him like a LT, because Baltimore has Oher who looks like he could be a star LT in the NFL. Winston Justice and Marcus McNeill would be nice too.

[rawaction]

Decent breakdown on Cutler:

 

http://www.footballoutsiders.com/cover-3/2009/cover-1-whats-wrong-jay-cutler

 

That's pretty much it. As upset as I get about his INTs, it's not all his fault. He threw 18 INTs last year on 616 throws. He has 2 more this year with 200 fewer passes thrown. He didn't become that bad of a QB overnight. When you think about him having a star WR, one of the great offensive minds of our time, and a top 5 offensive line in Denver...and then see the league's worst line, worst OC, and bottom 5 WR corps, there's no wonder he has struggled this year.

[biittner77]

So Lovie Smith gets fired at the end of the season unless they go 8-8. Does that seem realistic?

[jersey cubs fan]

So Lovie Smith gets fired at the end of the season unless they go 8-8. Does that seem realistic?

 

No. I'd bet 7-9 keeps him here for another year, and then 6-10 is up in the air.

[jersey cubs fan]

The Bears absolutely must sign AT LEAST one free agent lineman. I don't know what is greater, the need for a T or a G.

 

As ugly as the tackles have looked at times, I think the biggest weakness is in the middle. Kreutz stinks and needs to be cut. And they need upgrades at guard. I think they have the bodies to get the job done on the outside, but the guards can't run block worth a crap, and they are getting destroyed in passing situations. There is no pocket. Jay can't step up, he has to step on an angle every time to avoid the ends while at the same time avoiding a tackle or blitzing linebacker coming up the middle.

[biittner77]

So Lovie Smith gets fired at the end of the season unless they go 8-8. Does that seem realistic?

 

No. I'd bet 7-9 keeps him here for another year, and then 6-10 is up in the air.

 

I guess that makes sense since 7-9 means that they beat the Packers or a disinterested Vikings team. But they have to at least fire Turner and also bring in a new defensive coordinator. If that happens I can live with another year of Lovie at the helm.

[jersey cubs fan]

So Lovie Smith gets fired at the end of the season unless they go 8-8. Does that seem realistic?

 

No. I'd bet 7-9 keeps him here for another year, and then 6-10 is up in the air.

 

I guess that makes sense since 7-9 means that they beat the Packers or a disinterested Vikings team. But they have to at least fire Turner and also bring in a new defensive coordinator. If that happens I can live with another year of Lovie at the helm.

 

I can "live" with it, only because I don't want to die. But I am so sick of Lovie's cowardly decision making and the horrible coaching on this team. 8-8 might give me some hope that they can fix things, but I don't see it.

 

I just don't see how they can keep tweaking things like coordinators but keep the men in charge. People forget this but Lovie's already had 2 offensive coordinators. He started with Terry Shea, then went to Turner. He's had 3 defensive coordinators, Rivera, Babich and himself, and the defense has just gotten worse. He was given greater personel authority after 2006, and personel just got weaker. He already had to demote his buddy and take over the D coordinator spot, which should have been the "last chance" option for him to save his job. What more can you do? If he keeps taking these hits, but remains the head coach, how does he maintain credibility? I think he's already lost it. Players talk about their respect for the guy, but I think it's much more clear that they like him and appreciate his easy going ways, but their lack of effort displays something other than respect. Coaches who keep getting demerits and power taken away from them will always lose the team. I think you have to cut him lose or keep the status quo. And status quo can't work.

[Soul]

It's pretty hard for an OC to install a system and have success in just one season. I'm not seeing a path for winning in '10, even with a new HC. But with a new HC, at least we could say we're building something.

 

Without a new HC, I feel like '10 is going to be a lost year.

[Guest]

It's pretty hard for an OC to install a system and have success in just one season. I'm not seeing a path for winning in '10, even with a new HC. But with a new HC, at least we could say we're building something.

 

Without a new HC, I feel like '10 is going to be a lost year.

Teams turn their record around in one year all the time. it's not impossible by any stretch.

[jersey cubs fan]

It's pretty hard for an OC to install a system and have success in just one season. I'm not seeing a path for winning in '10, even with a new HC. But with a new HC, at least we could say we're building something.

 

Without a new HC, I feel like '10 is going to be a lost year.

 

It's tough, but if they can get to work on it right away, it can work. Presumably any new OC would have more time to work with Jay Cutler than Turner did, since the trade didn't happen until April. I do think it's a big risk and and unlikely to work for 2010 though.

[jersey cubs fan]

It's pretty hard for an OC to install a system and have success in just one season. I'm not seeing a path for winning in '10, even with a new HC. But with a new HC, at least we could say we're building something.

 

Without a new HC, I feel like '10 is going to be a lost year.

Teams turn their record around in one year all the time. it's not impossible by any stretch.

 

And often times it's the result of a coaching overhaul. Good teams that have one bad season can turn their record around in one year under the same coach, but when you have three straight years of mediocrity and decline and keep the same group in charge (and don't have a first day draft choice) the chance for a one year turnaround is lessened.

 

Pittsburgh bounced back from a 6 win season to go 15-1, but they were a double digit win team in the two previous years and got a new QB. They bounced back from one disappointing 8-8 year but that was after two more double digit win seasons and a coaching change (not to mention partially caused by their QB going through a windshield). Philly is sort of the model for bouncing back from disappointing seasons while maintaining continuity with the coach, but their struggles often depend on McNabb's health.

 

The Bears have been bad offensively and defensively for three year's now, and they don't have a day one draft choice. I don't see a quick turnaround coming with the same coaching staff.

[Wilson A2000]

i'd shift Omiyale to RT, release Kreutz, get Beekman in at center, look for some new guards in the offseason.

 

Who is LG then?