Bears off-season thread 2022

[WrigleyField 22]

I read something the other day saying that they had too few people doing too much work in the front office. It kind of reminds me of the Cubs stories when the Ricketts took over and let Theo hire people (of course they fired most of them).

And the scary thing is Pace dramatically increased the size of football ops.

[UMFan83]

Since this guy was steadfast in maintaining that he was hearing Nagy and Pace were gone even when many reporters were saying Pace was safe, he gets a shred of credibility:

 

 

Matt Nagy began to fall out of favor with ownership this summer. George McCaskey, and Ted Phillips, shared my outrage with how the quarterback position was being handled. George was physically moved to see Justin Fields receive a standing ovation at a preseason game and could not understand why Nagy, and to a lesser degree Pace, were eschewing that enthusiasm to play a journeyman quarterback.

 

Despite what has been reported, George never instructed Nagy to play Fields. But he did, almost weekly, ask WHY Fields wasn’t playing. The problem? Nagy’s answers never held water. When the coach would resort to tired phrases about the kid not being “ready”, the owner wanted to know what that actually meant. Nagy could never communicate that effectively.

 

The Bears decided to fire Nagy before Thanksgiving, but never entertained the idea of firing him in-season. Nagy never lost the locker room; the team constantly played with effort. The Bears are comfortable waiting until the season is over. Nagy was NOT told that week.

 

On the Patch report, the same source tried to leak that story to many journalists and non-journalists like me. We vetted it. It had no merit.

 

The Bears were furious about the story getting traction. And they still can’t believe they faced criticism for a [expletive] story.

 

The decision to fire Ryan Pace was far more complicated and took FAR longer. Some highlights:

The Bears, through back channels, used a series of consultants to evaluate the whole of their football operation. Bill Polian was involved. Tony Dungy was involved. In the early stages of that process, the recommendation was veering towards only replacing Pace if they could land an

established GM. But at the conclusion of the process, the formal recommendation was for the Bears to move on.

 

Ozzie Newsome was approached about a formal role in the organization. He chose to remain retired.

 

The Bears put out feelers to both Kevin Colbert and John Schneider, gauging potential availability and interest. (I honestly don’t know the outcomes of those feelers, but Colbert is retiring from the Steelers after this coming draft.)

 

The Bears have been pretty definitively firing Pace for a few weeks. But it became “official” last Wednesday.

 

Polian helped compile a list of a dozen GM candidates and those meetings will begin immediately. I do not know what his involvement will be in the coming weeks.

[Outshined_One]

Quick, where's Ernie Accorsi when you need him???

[WrigleyField 22]

Since this guy was steadfast in maintaining that he was hearing Nagy and Pace were gone even when many reporters were saying Pace was safe, he gets a shred of credibility:

 

 

Matt Nagy began to fall out of favor with ownership this summer. George McCaskey, and Ted Phillips, shared my outrage with how the quarterback position was being handled. George was physically moved to see Justin Fields receive a standing ovation at a preseason game and could not understand why Nagy, and to a lesser degree Pace, were eschewing that enthusiasm to play a journeyman quarterback.

 

Despite what has been reported, George never instructed Nagy to play Fields. But he did, almost weekly, ask WHY Fields wasn’t playing. The problem? Nagy’s answers never held water. When the coach would resort to tired phrases about the kid not being “ready”, the owner wanted to know what that actually meant. Nagy could never communicate that effectively.

 

The Bears decided to fire Nagy before Thanksgiving, but never entertained the idea of firing him in-season. Nagy never lost the locker room; the team constantly played with effort. The Bears are comfortable waiting until the season is over. Nagy was NOT told that week.

 

On the Patch report, the same source tried to leak that story to many journalists and non-journalists like me. We vetted it. It had no merit.

 

The Bears were furious about the story getting traction. And they still can’t believe they faced criticism for a [expletive] story.

 

The decision to fire Ryan Pace was far more complicated and took FAR longer. Some highlights:

The Bears, through back channels, used a series of consultants to evaluate the whole of their football operation. Bill Polian was involved. Tony Dungy was involved. In the early stages of that process, the recommendation was veering towards only replacing Pace if they could land an

established GM. But at the conclusion of the process, the formal recommendation was for the Bears to move on.

 

Ozzie Newsome was approached about a formal role in the organization. He chose to remain retired.

 

The Bears put out feelers to both Kevin Colbert and John Schneider, gauging potential availability and interest. (I honestly don’t know the outcomes of those feelers, but Colbert is retiring from the Steelers after this coming draft.)

 

The Bears have been pretty definitively firing Pace for a few weeks. But it became “official” last Wednesday.

 

Polian helped compile a list of a dozen GM candidates and those meetings will begin immediately. I do not know what his involvement will be in the coming weeks.

I think he was first this AM to make claim that Ted won't be in reporting line for next GM and that George would confirm. Saw Jahns I think allude to it after then. If that bears out that will be a pretty big feather in his legitimacy cap too.

 

Also for anyone who saw him do that one podcast earlier this week the legitimacy cap is a horrific Old Style cap.

[WrigleyField 22]

Quick, where's Ernie Accorsi when you need him???

Its gonna be a super team of consultants this time. Accorsi, Polian, Dungy, Parcells.

[raw]

Quick, where's Ernie Accorsi when you need him???

Its gonna be a super team of consultants this time. Accorsi, Polian, Dungy, Parcells.

 

They're all 90

[Brian707]

What do you all think the timeline is for the Bears to have a new coach/GM in place? 2 weeks?

[raw]

Bears Blog Jeff is going to have people hanging onto his every word. A legend in the vein of wetbutt23 and katyperrysbootyhole.

[David]

https://twitter.com/PFF_Anthony/status/1480552861020917760?s=20

[UMFan83]

Bears Blog Jeff is going to have people hanging onto his every word. A legend in the vein of wetbutt23 and katyperrysbootyhole.

 

Yeah.... I'll listen to him on reporting, but some of his personal takes this year have been spectacularly awful.

[raw]

What do you all think the timeline is for the Bears to have a new coach/GM in place? 2 weeks?

 

I don't think there's any rush for the HC. If one of the assistants they want is coaching in the Superbowl, you have to wait until after that anyway. SB still over a month away.

 

That being said, if it's a guy like Harbaugh, I'd imagine that decision comes pretty quickly (next 2 weeks makes sense), since there are implications in the college game and no need to wait out any candidates. So, I'm thinking GM within a couple weeks. HC after the Superbowl.

[jersey cubs fan]

What do you all think the timeline is for the Bears to have a new coach/GM in place? 2 weeks?

I assume considerably longer. I doubt George has a big name dude line up, in which case they will spend several weeks to find a GM and another couple to get a HC. Done after the super bowl.

[UMFan83]

https://twitter.com/PFF_Anthony/status/1480552861020917760?s=20

 

Just show a highlight reel of the throws in that game to anyone they interview. All the talent is there...he just needs the right person to unlock it.

[raw]

https://twitter.com/PFF_Anthony/status/1480552861020917760?s=20

 

Looking at those plays, it's funny. We heard when Trubisky was the QB that Nagy's offense schemes guys open (but Mitch was missing them). But in all those plays, exactly 1 guy is open every time (actually 0 are open until Fields escapes the pocket on the Mooney TD). No wonder the offense didn't work. If the team takes away that 1 designed to be open, everyone else is pretty much running decoy routes. Explains a lot why some guys look like they aren't expecting the ball at times. Also makes me wonder if they don't do a lot of scramble drill stuff because either Nagy was stubborn about his guy definitely being open AKA design would work or if the thought was the QB would just run if nothing was open (moreso for Mitch and Fields).

[Soul]

https://twitter.com/PFF_Anthony/status/1480552861020917760?s=20

 

Looking at those plays, it's funny. We heard when Trubisky was the QB that Nagy's offense schemes guys open (but Mitch was missing them). But in all those plays, exactly 1 guy is open every time (actually 0 are open until Fields escapes the pocket on the Mooney TD). No wonder the offense didn't work. If the team takes away that 1 designed to be open, everyone else is pretty much running decoy routes. Explains a lot why some guys look like they aren't expecting the ball at times. Also makes me wonder if they don't do a lot of scramble drill stuff because either Nagy was stubborn about his guy definitely being open AKA design would work or if the thought was the QB would just run if nothing was open (moreso for Mitch and Fields).

 

I've always wondered about the scramble drill stuff. Watching other teams, they consistently get big plays after it all breaks down and the QB is scrambling. Big Ben, Rodgers - they make their living cutting the hearts out of defenses on those plays. Doesn't seem like the Bears make that happen very much. Surely that goes back to what they are/aren't practicing. Anyway I'm stoked about the presser today, and looking forward to a coach a little more in line with what the better offenses are doing. And I think they've got the right QB to be successful with scramble drill make-it-happen football.

[champaignchris]

I wish I had a more rational explanation for why I don’t want Harbaugh beyond, “He’s a goober.”

 

His record speaks for itself. The fact that some view his 61-24 record at Michigan as something of a disappointment is more of an indictment of what lunatics college fans and media are than an actual judgment on Harbaugh’s ability.

 

I think the only really valid criticism I can see of Harbaugh’s record is that he tends to wear out his welcome, but if the plan is for him to come to the Bears and win 40-something games in 4 years before moving on, I don’t know why I should object.

 

And yet, I still can’t help feeling that he’d fail spectacularly as Bears HC.

[raw]

I wish I had a more rational explanation for why I don’t want Harbaugh beyond, “He’s a goober.”

 

His record speaks for itself. The fact that some view his 61-24 record at Michigan as something of a disappointment is more of an indictment of what lunatics college fans and media are than an actual judgment on Harbaugh’s ability.

 

I think the only really valid criticism I can see of Harbaugh’s record is that he tends to wear out his welcome, but if the plan is for him to come to the Bears and win 40-something games in 4 years before moving on, I don’t know why I should object.

 

And yet, I still can’t help feeling that he’d fail spectacularly as Bears HC.

 

His history of developing QBs is the biggest criticism I have. He's a former QB who is supposed to be a QB/offensive guru, but has never really shown he can be. He had Andrew Luck at Stanford. Luck is literally the top QB prospect of the 21st century, and Harbaugh left before he was done in college. I don't give Harbaugh credit for developing him. He had Alex Smith and Kaepernick in SF. Smith resurrected his career there and Kap obviously led them to a SB. But the passing offenses in SF finished ranked 28th, 23rd, 30th and 30th in Harbaugh's 4 years there. And then at Michigan.....he can recruit his QBs. Can go into their house tell them he knows what it takes to become an NFL QB like him, tout Andrew Luck and a SB on his resume. But he hasn't produced anything close to worthwhile QB at Michigan. Harbaugh is a pound the ball and play defense kind of coach. The Bears need a guy that's going to turn Justin Fields into the type of QB that Josh Allen, Patrick Mahomes, and Justin Herbert have become.

[bukie]

At least get Brian Flores an interview, but I worry that someone will scoop him up before the Bears even organize enough to get a GM.

[raw]

I wish I had a more rational explanation for why I don’t want Harbaugh beyond, “He’s a goober.”

 

His record speaks for itself. The fact that some view his 61-24 record at Michigan as something of a disappointment is more of an indictment of what lunatics college fans and media are than an actual judgment on Harbaugh’s ability.

 

I think the only really valid criticism I can see of Harbaugh’s record is that he tends to wear out his welcome, but if the plan is for him to come to the Bears and win 40-something games in 4 years before moving on, I don’t know why I should object.

 

And yet, I still can’t help feeling that he’d fail spectacularly as Bears HC.

 

His history of developing QBs is the biggest criticism I have. He's a former QB who is supposed to be a QB/offensive guru, but has never really shown he can be. He had Andrew Luck at Stanford. Luck is literally the top QB prospect of the 21st century, and Harbaugh left before he was done in college. I don't give Harbaugh credit for developing him. He had Alex Smith and Kaepernick in SF. Smith resurrected his career there and Kap obviously led them to a SB. But the passing offenses in SF finished ranked 28th, 23rd, 30th and 30th in Harbaugh's 4 years there. And then at Michigan.....he can recruit his QBs. Can go into their house tell them he knows what it takes to become an NFL QB like him, tout Andrew Luck and a SB on his resume. But he hasn't produced anything close to worthwhile QB at Michigan. Harbaugh is a pound the ball and play defense kind of coach. The Bears need a guy that's going to turn Justin Fields into the type of QB that Josh Allen, Patrick Mahomes, and Justin Herbert have become.

 

Basically, Harbaugh needs to come with a good OC. I love Kevin O'Connell from the Rams. He may be a guy open to a lateral move in order to get experience calling plays. Maybe O'Connell and Harbaugh know each other from one being QB at San Diego St. while the other coached University of San Diego. But I don't think he's getting Greg Roman from his brother to run the show.

[raw]

Pep Hamilton is a good name with ties to Harbaugh if Jimbo comes back to Chicago. Pep was the QB coach for Herbert last year and has done a good job with Davis Mills this year. Also a former Lovie assistant so checks that history box they seem to care about.

[Wilson A2000]

What do you all think the timeline is for the Bears to have a new coach/GM in place? 2 weeks?

 

Depends if those people are still in the playoffs. If not, then a few weeks sounds right.

[jersey cubs fan]

You're looking live from the PNC Center at Halas Hall, sponsored by Hyundai

 

 

 

George gets right into reprimanding people for criticism leveled at Nagy's kids.

[jersey cubs fan]

George trying to get a discounted extension by naming Montgomery and Smith for their outstanding effort and play.

[TarzanJoeWallis]

George trying to get a discounted extension by naming Montgomery and Smith for their outstanding effort and play.

Where can I watch this online?

[PosterToBeNamedLater]

George trying to get a discounted extension by naming Montgomery and Smith for their outstanding effort and play.

Where can I watch this online?