Chicago Bears Offseason 2012

[jersey cubs fan]

Running Forte was the absolute key to this offense's success, and to pretend otherwise is ignorance.

then call me ignorant because cutler throwing was the key the whole time and remains the key. Without cutler they can't do anything, regardless of forte or no forte

[Sammy Sofa]

Running Forte was the absolute key to this offense's success, and to pretend otherwise is ignorance.

then call me ignorant because cutler throwing was the key the whole time and remains the key. Without cutler they can't do anything, regardless of forte or no forte

 

Yuuuuuuuuuuuup.

[JonJayCutler]

Running Forte was the absolute key to this offense's success, and to pretend otherwise is ignorance.

then call me ignorant because cutler throwing was the key the whole time and remains the key. Without cutler they can't do anything, regardless of forte or no forte

 

I obviously worded that poorly, so let me rephrase. Basically, they couldn't pass without also utilizing their running game, something that has been proven the past two seasons. I agree that they need to develop into a pass-first team, but that's not something the Bears have been capable of to this point. Need to bring in more talent.

[minnesotacubsfan]

Running Forte was the absolute key to this offense's success, and to pretend otherwise is ignorance.

then call me ignorant because cutler throwing was the key the whole time and remains the key. Without cutler they can't do anything, regardless of forte or no forte

yes. The bears had plenty of success running after Cutler went down and still couldnt win

[cubbyvirus00]

Running Forte was the absolute key to this offense's success, and to pretend otherwise is ignorance.

then call me ignorant because cutler throwing was the key the whole time and remains the key. Without cutler they can't do anything, regardless of forte or no forte

 

Yuuuuuuuuuuuup.

 

Thank you for the contribution! :roll:

[Banedon]

I think Tice ends up OC. At this point I don't think it makes much sense to put Cutler into an entirely new offense. Tice is the best way to maintain the same offensive language. If you bring in a new OC, that's gonna be what...the 3rd offense in 4 years for Jay or something? And then if the new GM replaces Lovie after one year, you probably end up with yet another new OC.

[rawaction]

I think Tice ends up OC. At this point I don't think it makes much sense to put Cutler into an entirely new offense. Tice is the best way to maintain the same offensive language. If you bring in a new OC, that's gonna be what...the 3rd offense in 4 years for Jay or something? And then if the new GM replaces Lovie after one year, you probably end up with yet another new OC.

 

Yeah that's how I feel. The only possible ways around this are either getting a guy with an offense Jay is familiar with or bringing in a guy at OC who is going to survive if Lovie is canned in the near future. At least the latter way wouldn't mean 4 of 5 years with a new offense.

[Soul]

I think Tice ends up OC. At this point I don't think it makes much sense to put Cutler into an entirely new offense. Tice is the best way to maintain the same offensive language. If you bring in a new OC, that's gonna be what...the 3rd offense in 4 years for Jay or something? And then if the new GM replaces Lovie after one year, you probably end up with yet another new OC.

 

Yeah that's how I feel. The only possible ways around this are either getting a guy with an offense Jay is familiar with or bringing in a guy at OC who is going to survive if Lovie is canned in the near future. At least the latter way wouldn't mean 4 of 5 years with a new offense.

 

The Jason Garrett scenario.

[Magnetic Curses]

I think Tice ends up OC. At this point I don't think it makes much sense to put Cutler into an entirely new offense. Tice is the best way to maintain the same offensive language. If you bring in a new OC, that's gonna be what...the 3rd offense in 4 years for Jay or something? And then if the new GM replaces Lovie after one year, you probably end up with yet another new OC.

 

why put off jay learning a new offense another year?

 

and why replace smith when he wasn't the problem? lovie has been a good coach, he's been a level head and he's well-respected among all of his players. i'm betting that the bears' brass knew that they may have a full-scale mutiny on their hands if they got rid of lovie, the 4 leaders of this defense are sworn to him.

 

i don't believe that lovie is on his last legs with this franchise and i wouldn't be surprised to see him extended before they hire a new coordinator, as a token of good faith for both he and the incoming OC.

 

like i said, if they want to get a GM that's comfortable with smith, they'll most likely hire mckenzie. mckenzie and smith will work together, find a new OC from outside the organization and start fresh. we CAN start fresh with our old coach, as i said, the defense isn't the problem, it works. let's focus on getting the offense in shape with a new, fresh system that cutler can drive right away.

[jersey cubs fan]

I think Tice ends up OC. At this point I don't think it makes much sense to put Cutler into an entirely new offense. Tice is the best way to maintain the same offensive language. If you bring in a new OC, that's gonna be what...the 3rd offense in 4 years for Jay or something? And then if the new GM replaces Lovie after one year, you probably end up with yet another new OC.

 

Yeah that's how I feel. The only possible ways around this are either getting a guy with an offense Jay is familiar with or bringing in a guy at OC who is going to survive if Lovie is canned in the near future. At least the latter way wouldn't mean 4 of 5 years with a new offense.

 

Or a guy who runs an offense that you can reasonably expect will be similar to the potential next guy.

 

I see no reason to force Tice into the role. He's almost certainly not the best candidate available. And his background is more west coast offense than Martz. That situation just screams "self fulfilling prophecy of failure" to me. You have to go get a real OC who can run a real offense and potentially be connected at the hip to Jay for the next 6-8 years. Lovie has 2 years on his deal and if the Bears have any sort of decent season next year he's going to be around more than a season. He could easily get another extension before the next season ends.

[jersey cubs fan]

i don't believe that lovie is on his last legs with this franchise and i wouldn't be surprised to see him extended before they hire a new coordinator, as a token of good faith for both he and the incoming OC.

 

I would be surprised. He's signed for 2 more years at very big money. I don't see them giving him another year right now just to convince some other guy who will make a fraction of his salary to sign with them. He's got 2 years and the explicit backing of ownership. There's no need for such an expensive gesture, which would by no means be just a token.

[Guest]

I know it doesn't belong here, but since someone suggested Norv Turner as a possible OC replacement, I thought I'd point out the anger this town is demonstrating with Spanos' decision to retain AJ Smith and Norv for another season. One interesting comment I read from one Charger fan suggests Spanos made this decision to kill season ticket sales to force a move to LA due to lack of fan support.

 

That seems pretty logical, because it makes absolutely no sense at all to retain either of these guys when 90% of the fanbase has clearly flexed their muscles that they both need to go now.

[JonJayCutler]

I know it doesn't belong here, but since someone suggested Norv Turner as a possible OC replacement, I thought I'd point out the anger this town is demonstrating with Spanos' decision to retain AJ Smith and Norv for another season. One interesting comment I read from one Charger fan suggests Spanos made this decision to kill season ticket sales to force a move to LA due to lack of fan support.

 

That seems pretty logical, because it makes absolutely no sense at all to retain either of these guys when 90% of the fanbase has clearly flexed their muscles that they both need to go now.

 

They'll have to beat the Vikings to LA. Or maybe LA can have two teams again.

[rawaction]

I think Tice ends up OC. At this point I don't think it makes much sense to put Cutler into an entirely new offense. Tice is the best way to maintain the same offensive language. If you bring in a new OC, that's gonna be what...the 3rd offense in 4 years for Jay or something? And then if the new GM replaces Lovie after one year, you probably end up with yet another new OC.

 

Yeah that's how I feel. The only possible ways around this are either getting a guy with an offense Jay is familiar with or bringing in a guy at OC who is going to survive if Lovie is canned in the near future. At least the latter way wouldn't mean 4 of 5 years with a new offense.

 

Or a guy who runs an offense that you can reasonably expect will be similar to the potential next guy.

 

I see no reason to force Tice into the role. He's almost certainly not the best candidate available. And his background is more west coast offense than Martz. That situation just screams "self fulfilling prophecy of failure" to me. You have to go get a real OC who can run a real offense and potentially be connected at the hip to Jay for the next 6-8 years. Lovie has 2 years on his deal and if the Bears have any sort of decent season next year he's going to be around more than a season. He could easily get another extension before the next season ends.

 

But the Bears screwed the pooch on this 3 years ago when they kept Turner around. They went for sloppy seconds on the same pooch when they hired 60+ year old Martz the following year.

 

Honestly, I can see it both ways. I agree that Tice probably won't be very good at OC. But I guess I don't see him as more than just a figurehead....Bob Babich style from a few years ago. I'd like to think they'd bring in a QB coach as a playcaller. But the goal shouldn't be to hope Tice can be a serviceable OC. It should be to stabilize the position for the foreseeable future. But my concern is Jay and Jay only. At some point, the organization has to cater to him. I'm sure if a new OC comes in and he throws for 4500 yards next year, he'll be fine. But he has said he doesn't want another offense, he wants WR help, he wants OL help, he liked Olsen. The Bears haven't done anything he's wanted. What's motivating him to stay here after 2013 when his contract is up?

[Magnetic Curses]

i don't believe that lovie is on his last legs with this franchise and i wouldn't be surprised to see him extended before they hire a new coordinator, as a token of good faith for both he and the incoming OC.

 

I would be surprised. He's signed for 2 more years at very big money. I don't see them giving him another year right now just to convince some other guy who will make a fraction of his salary to sign with them. He's got 2 years and the explicit backing of ownership. There's no need for such an expensive gesture, which would by no means be just a token.

 

i was thinking he had only one more year to go.

[jersey cubs fan]

But I guess I don't see him as more than just a figurehead....Bob Babich style from a few years ago. I'd like to think they'd bring in a QB coach as a playcaller. But the goal shouldn't be to hope Tice can be a serviceable OC. It should be to stabilize the position for the foreseeable future. But my concern is Jay and Jay only. At some point, the organization has to cater to him. I'm sure if a new OC comes in and he throws for 4500 yards next year, he'll be fine. But he has said he doesn't want another offense, he wants WR help, he wants OL help, he liked Olsen. The Bears haven't done anything he's wanted. What's motivating him to stay here after 2013 when his contract is up?

 

This seems far more complicated than it has to be. It sounds like you want a future OC to come in and apprentice under Tice who will be running (but not calling plays) a dumbed down version of Martz's offense. I'd much rather just have a new OC come in and start bonding with Jay today. I want to start catering to his needs as well, and I think he needs his long-term, or at least potentially long-term, offensive coordinator brought in to the program today. He may not want a new offense this year, but one way or another he's going to get one because Mike Tice is not Mike Martz, or anything even close to him. As for his biggest motivator to stay, it's going to be money and hopefully the potential to continue a relationship with whoever the OC that is hired this year. Cutler's best chance of making the most money is to start winning ASAP with the Bears. They aren't going to allow him to get to free agency unless he sucks or gets hurt, and in that case, he's not making much money as a 31 year old.

 

Keeping Tice around to sort of run the system that Martz ran is just delaying the inevitable, which is a new system being installed.

[rawaction]

But I guess I don't see him as more than just a figurehead....Bob Babich style from a few years ago. I'd like to think they'd bring in a QB coach as a playcaller. But the goal shouldn't be to hope Tice can be a serviceable OC. It should be to stabilize the position for the foreseeable future. But my concern is Jay and Jay only. At some point, the organization has to cater to him. I'm sure if a new OC comes in and he throws for 4500 yards next year, he'll be fine. But he has said he doesn't want another offense, he wants WR help, he wants OL help, he liked Olsen. The Bears haven't done anything he's wanted. What's motivating him to stay here after 2013 when his contract is up?

 

This seems far more complicated than it has to be. It sounds like you want a future OC to come in and apprentice under Tice who will be running (but not calling plays) a dumbed down version of Martz's offense. I'd much rather just have a new OC come in and start bonding with Jay today. I want to start catering to his needs as well, and I think he needs his long-term, or at least potentially long-term, offensive coordinator brought in to the program today. He may not want a new offense this year, but one way or another he's going to get one because Mike Tice is not Mike Martz, or anything even close to him. As for his biggest motivator to stay, it's going to be money and hopefully the potential to continue a relationship with whoever the OC that is hired this year. Cutler's best chance of making the most money is to start winning ASAP with the Bears. They aren't going to allow him to get to free agency unless he sucks or gets hurt, and in that case, he's not making much money as a 31 year old.

 

Keeping Tice around to sort of run the system that Martz ran is just delaying the inevitable, which is a new system being installed.

 

Yeah, I guess I agree. I just want to make sure Jay's cool with everything. Doesn't seem like he's liked much of what's gone on with this organization since he's been in it.

[jersey cubs fan]

Yeah, I guess I agree. I just want to make sure Jay's cool with everything. Doesn't seem like he's liked much of what's gone on with this organization since he's been in it.

 

I think he's played the good soldier, but is itching to get a real OC in here to work with him. I think he talked about wanting to stay in the same system for the same reason most people in sports say they want the people who are here to stay here, to avoid rocking the boat. My fear is the Bears screw this up by thinking Lovie is more important to the Bears going forward than Jay is, and going overboard to find a guy who will do what Lovie wants. But I think they view Cutler as the franchise QB they've never had and are getting serious about taking advantage of his presence. Many of the things that have probably pissed off Jay contributed to why Angelo and Martz are gone. Knox being their de facto #1, no offensive line protection, no real receivers, no more Olsen, etc. But the Bears saw what happened when Cutler went down. They don't have to treat him like Peyton Manning yet, but they have to know the benefits he provides and the need to surround him with talent, both on the field and in the booth.

[Guest]

McKenzie as GM and Clements as OC would be ideal.

[biittner77]

I think Tice ends up OC. At this point I don't think it makes much sense to put Cutler into an entirely new offense. Tice is the best way to maintain the same offensive language. If you bring in a new OC, that's gonna be what...the 3rd offense in 4 years for Jay or something? And then if the new GM replaces Lovie after one year, you probably end up with yet another new OC.

 

why put off jay learning a new offense another year?

 

and why replace smith when he wasn't the problem? lovie has been a good coach, he's been a level head and he's well-respected among all of his players. i'm betting that the bears' brass knew that they may have a full-scale mutiny on their hands if they got rid of lovie, the 4 leaders of this defense are sworn to him.

 

i don't believe that lovie is on his last legs with this franchise and i wouldn't be surprised to see him extended before they hire a new coordinator, as a token of good faith for both he and the incoming OC.

 

like i said, if they want to get a GM that's comfortable with smith, they'll most likely hire mckenzie. mckenzie and smith will work together, find a new OC from outside the organization and start fresh. we CAN start fresh with our old coach, as i said, the defense isn't the problem, it works. let's focus on getting the offense in shape with a new, fresh system that cutler can drive right away.

 

The Cover 2 works because they have Urlacher covering a large amount of the middle of the field. We saw what happened without him. Even with Urlacher, good QBs (like Rogers, Brees, Manning) pick the cover 2 apart unless they can get a pass rush using only the 4 linemen.

[Banedon]

McKenzie interviewing today for Raiders GM job.

[minnesotacubsfan]

That sucks

[rawaction]

McKenzie as GM and Clements as OC would be ideal.

 

Would be perfect. I hate to get my hopes up, but the forcing the GM to keep Lovie leads me to believe McKenzie is the target.

[jersey cubs fan]

McKenzie as GM and Clements as OC would be ideal.

 

Would be perfect. I hate to get my hopes up, but the forcing the GM to keep Lovie leads me to believe McKenzie is the target.

 

Well, unless they give him another extension this offseason, which would be completely unwarrented, they are really only forcing him to keep Lovie for one year. And any GM brought in to a team over the course of an offseason is going to be inclined to keep an already signed head coach/defensive staff anyway, especially if that side of the ball hasn't been the issue. If they hire a GM sometime in early February, that guy won't have the time to put together an entirely new staff of his own choosing, and most GMs don't necessarily go into their job with all of "their own guys" anyway. Head coaches are often at least equal with GMs, and often hold a little more power than them. I doubt they will force the new guy to keep Lovie in perpetuity, it's most likely a short-term thing. And that's fairly standard in the NFL, where the head coach and GM relationship is much different than MLB.

[Banedon]

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/football/bears/chi-biggs-10-thoughts-on-bears-big-shakeup-20120104,0,2030008.story

 

#3 addresses the TE position, for those that are interested.