SpongeWorthy

Agreed. But it was stupid 2 years ago when Lovie was a lameduck coach and brought in Martz. That was the time to get a long-term OC. That's why I think Tice should get the job. He's a stopgap that doesn't cause any drastic changes. He doesn't make it 6 different offenses in 7 years if another lame duck is brought in. If Lovie stays and an outside OC is brought in, my guess is that means Lovie is here for the long haul, unless that OC is also being earmarked for the HC position in a year. i can't disagree with your logic, and i DO think that lovie deserves more time to prove that he can win a super bowl. i definitely do not want to change up the defense in any way. it's just i think running someone else's offense is weird. where is brad childress these days? Driving around in an unmarked white fan around elementary schools if I had to guess.

Tice has that Flintstonian quality to him that scares me. He's well suited to the job he has now.

Rose seems to have been making a lot more back court to front court passes in order to push the tempo. Sometimes I think he gives it up a bit early but there's definitely been an emphasis on pushing it.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/football/bears/chi-colts-christensen-likely-oc-candidate-for-bears-20120103,0,2665339.story

The Packers, Saints, and Patriots all invested a top half of the draft pick to get their tight ends. In New England's case, they used two of 'em. Not saying it's vital but it's worth a look. Certainly wouldn't hurt to go from nonexistent production at TE to something approaching league average. We spent 5 years listening to people whine about TE while Desmond Clark was a perfectly average TE because people were obsessed with Gates and Gonzalez. It got annoying. And I can tell it's going to get annoying again. The point is there are MUCH BIGGER fish to fry instead of worrying about filling Ditka's position again. The correlation between having a productive receiving TE and having a high caliber offense has gotten a lot stronger since then. The best offenses are investing in them and featuring them and not using stop gap solutions. We do not have much bigger fish to fry than getting Cutler more viable targets. A tight end COULD be a big part of that.

Considering the best offenses in the league today feature a dynamic TE(i.e. Finley, Graham, Gronkowski) yes, yes we are. GB won the Superbowl without Finley last year, and he only had 750ish yards this year. The Giants, Steelers and Eagles were also top 10 offenses without dynamic TEs. Not sure how you define "dynamic", but Celek and Ballard were both beasts this year. Miller less so, but he's steady/reliable and can hurt you if you vacate the short-middle because you are worried about the Wallace's and Brown's of the world.(see the Eagles game earlier this season). That said, I think Kelen Davis could be a useful target in the right offense. He's not going to line-up in the slot like Finley does, but he's a big target. That said, having a guy like Finley or Vernon Davis creates mismatches in the slot if you put a LB or S on them. They have to be covered in a zone or by a CB. Ballard had 38 catches for 600 yards this year. I don't think that's dynamic. Those are Greg Olsen numbers (with more catches for Olsen). All TEs are mismatches vs. a LB. No LB could stop 6-7 Davis if used properly. But still, that's icing on the cake. The cake is having WRs that can actually get open and make plays. Olsen was never very effective on a per target basis. Blame that on who you will.

The Packers, Saints, and Patriots all invested a top half of the draft pick to get their tight ends. In New England's case, they used two of 'em. Not saying it's vital but it's worth a look. Certainly wouldn't hurt to go from nonexistent production at TE to something approaching league average.

What we need in an OC is another guy whose glory years were in the late 90s. No to Billick.

Why would we get those guys to make lateral moves here? Especially with a new GM and Lovie's status up in the air. Two years ago you couldn't even get position coaches to take the job, which is why they settled on Martz. Carmichael and Clements aren't the play callers. I figured there was no way Norv wouldn't become available but you're right, it's just broke that he somehow has retained his job. Chud is a hot candidate probably will go straight to an HC position. I figured Mohrinweg would become available but Reid saved his job. I've always liked Borges. He runs a pro scheme and has developed QBs.

Oh my god you're right. Hahahah wow

Here's a slapdash list of guys that I'd be interested in looking at for OC: Tom Clements - Green Bay QB Coach Norv Turner Peter Carmichael Jr - Saints OC Rob Chudzinksi - Carolina OC Marty Mohrinweg - Eagles OC, doubtful he comes available looks like Reid is keeping his job Al Borges - Michigan OC Jeremy Bates name was attached to the job the last time around because he worked with Cutler in Denver. He's available but got fired by Seattle so not sure on how how a candidate he will be.

One of the Bears beat writers tweeted something about Ruskell not likely being Angelo's replacement.

But that offense was still 9th in points scored and 15th in total yardage when Cutler was healthy. http://footballoutsiders.com/dvoa-ratings/2011/week-11-dvoa-ratings 22nd in offensive DVOA after the Chargers game. 1st in special teams and 6th in defense. It was still pretty much the same formula we've always had under Lovie.

Well, for one, it worked fine with Cutler and garbage linemen/receivers. But if Lovie is getting one year to make things right without a real outside replacement for Angelo, he doesn't have time to institute a new system. They'd be much better off improving the linemen and getting a wide receiver and trying to make another go with what they have. It was more bad than good. 2010 the offense was largely terrible. There was a decent stretch this season but it wasn't an elite unit by any means. If we're bringing in some new offensive talent, as we should, we might as well get a new OC if he'll be a better fit for Cutler. There will be a transition period but I don't see it as being tougher than Cutler continuing to play with incompetent boobs under the same system. I also don't see this as a one year stay of execution on Lovie. I think he's the guy unless we fall into multiple 5-11 type seasons. Not being elite doesn't mean they weren't good. They were good until Cutler got hurt and Martz had to use the incompetent piece of crap that Angelo forced into the system. As of now, there is no real GM. But the minute they hire one, Lovie's job is on the line. That would mean it is vital for Lovie to win in 2012, or else the pressure to hire a real GM will be huge. I view the offense being decent more as Cutler being super man back there rather than what Martz did. Look at the Detroit MNF game--Cutler had to be in god mode just to put up decent numbers and for us to put 13 points on the board. Between his refusal to look at the tight ends (there's a big correlation between high powered offenses and use of TE in today's NFL), constant calls for deep drops with linemen that can't hold blocks and receivers who can get open, and no-audibles he's a bad fit for Cutler and the makeup of the league. As for the GM, I could see them hiring some personnel figure head that can't give Lovie an ultimatum. I don't think he's really on the hot seat next year unless it's a complete disaster of a season.

Because it would be Cutler's 5th offense in the last 6 years (Shanahan to McDaniels, to Turner to Martz). Plus, if the Bears don't make the playoffs next year, there's a possibility that the whole staff gets fired. That would mean a 6th OC in 7 years for Cutler. Cutler didn't play under McDaniels.

Well, for one, it worked fine with Cutler and garbage linemen/receivers. But if Lovie is getting one year to make things right without a real outside replacement for Angelo, he doesn't have time to institute a new system. They'd be much better off improving the linemen and getting a wide receiver and trying to make another go with what they have. It was more bad than good. 2010 the offense was largely terrible. There was a decent stretch this season but it wasn't an elite unit by any means. If we're bringing in some new offensive talent, as we should, we might as well get a new OC if he'll be a better fit for Cutler. There will be a transition period but I don't see it as being tougher than Cutler continuing to play with incompetent boobs under the same system. I also don't see this as a one year stay of execution on Lovie. I think he's the guy unless we fall into multiple 5-11 type seasons.

Alshon Jeffery. He's big but he kinda lumbers and rounds off his routes. Not sure about his separation ability at the next level.

I don't know what's going to happen. I do know that Martz didn't want Hanie, that Angelo essentially forced Hanie on Martz, and that the 2011 season was lost the second Hanie stepped foot on the field. On the surface it looks to me that Jerry lost a power struggle and that Lovie will get one more chance. It makes plenty of sense to bring back Martz in that situation. But that assumes Lovie and Martz got along. There were reports each of the last 2 years that Lovie was not OK with the run/pass ratio early in the seasons. Playcalling has been an issue. Getting play calls in from him up in the booth has been an issue. It took Lovie half a decade to wake up to the fact that this is a passing league, but I think he finally did, even if he doesn't like it. You don't win running the ball. But the Bears actually did run the ball. There are issues, but if the situation is that Jerry is out but Lovie is staying, I'm guessing it has a lot to do with Caleb Hanie, and Lovie will only have one year to make things right. It doesn't make sense to have Lovie find a new offensive coordinator in that situation. I'm figuring the "new" coordinator would be Tice anyway, with Shane Day calling the plays. Doesn't make sense to change the offense, but there's no reason he can't change to Tice as OC. Why doesn't it make sense to change the offense?

Damn, I had no idea Clements had been Green Bay's QB coach since 2006. He has to be itching for a promotion.

The no-audibles scheme is done in the NFL if you've got a veteran QB. Cutler needs the game in his hands as sulley said. I'd also like an OC that would get him outside of the pocket more by design.

I don't know what's going to happen. I do know that Martz didn't want Hanie, that Angelo essentially forced Hanie on Martz, and that the 2011 season was lost the second Hanie stepped foot on the field. On the surface it looks to me that Jerry lost a power struggle and that Lovie will get one more chance. It makes plenty of sense to bring back Martz in that situation. I don't see the evidence that Martz and Lovie were aligned in some kind of power struggle against Angelo. Maybe either of them individually but I never got the impression that Martz and Lovie were some strong tandem. I think Martz is gone.

You guys think we're keeping Martz?

Nicccceeee But Lovie isnt going anywhere...I was 99.9% sure on thay until Angelo got canned now I'm like 95%.

Epic game

Isn't Okoye an FA too? I'd bring him back.