Chisoxfn

I remember when I was blowing everyone away....now I'm a wussy.

QUOTE (Tex @ Jan 3, 2013 -> 08:27 AM) There is actually a nice follow up to that article from an opposing viewpoint. I rarely read comments but it was the first one and caught my eye. I don't mind a few minutes of turning off my electronics. I turn off my electronics. I saw a special a couple years ago on it and it mentioned that certain malfunctioning electronics can interfere with the radar system etc and it showed the waves and how busted phones, etc would create minor blips in the electronics. I'd rather be overly careful. And I'm not saying that it would cause the plane to crash but it might cause a situation where the pilot doesn't correct for it. It did go on to say (in the study) that they never had it come up with something that would have caused a hazard to fly (which couldn't be addressed by the pilot).

QUOTE (bmags @ Jan 3, 2013 -> 08:25 AM) I just can't get past the last 6 years of Grudens career. If he wants to prove himself again I'm not so sure he gets to hop onto a head coaching job right away, at least not in the pros. The offensive mindset I really like but I too have a lot of memories of how he failed in Tampa. He is my least favorite of the polished head coaches that are available (which is my preferred route).

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Jan 3, 2013 -> 07:59 AM) Holmgren. The goal stated was to be a consistent playoff contender. He was constantly in the playoffs in 2 places. I have no idea if he would even consider the Bears, and wonder if he still has the energy at his age to tackle the job, but he has the best track record. Personally, if the Bears were serious about winning next year, IMO, their best shot was to keep Lovie one more season. I think record-wise, no matter who is hired, there will probably be a step back next season. If they are going with a coordinator, I'd go with Kyle Shannahan. Dick...Holmgren (along with Reid) are my top candidates. Shanny is probably my top coordinator candidate.

Bears to interview (or have interviewed, depending on the source) Saints OC Carmichael. Worked with Brees in San Diego and called plays this year. Took over as OC in 2009 or 2010.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jan 1, 2013 -> 06:30 PM) Serious q: isn't that the case for any hire? Retread coach, college coach, coordinator...all have fairly high bust rates. I think there is much less risk if you hire Andy Reid or Jon Gruden or Cowher or Holmgren. My point is...Bears went from a guy who was one of the better coaches in football and are in a position they should be able to contend. A lot of the names being thrown out have some major flaws that concern me. I shouldn't even say flaws, but things they haven't yet done which make you wonder if they can do it as an HC (in some instances not necessarily their fault they haven't done them either).

QUOTE (GoodAsGould @ Jan 1, 2013 -> 05:43 PM) On top of that, isn't McCarthy calling the plays in GB? I'd love Clements for an OC, I think there are better options for a HC. The bustability of some of these assistants is pretty high.

QUOTE (GoodAsGould @ Jan 1, 2013 -> 09:55 AM) Knox isn't perfect by any means, but if he is back into form he is plenty good for a 4th WR.... you aren't going to find many 4th WR's in the NFL that don't come with a list of flaws. Knox in the slot close to what he was prior to the injury would be a huge coup. He is exactly what the receiving corps could use. They obviously need a TE as well plus oline help.

QUOTE (zenryan @ Dec 31, 2012 -> 03:21 PM) Pretty embarrassing effort by Kiffin and Co today. Few weeks to prepare and his QB looks like complete trash. But it was fun to see USC fall flat again. Nothing makes me happier

Whisenhunt is one of my hopeful choices of OC (along with Norv Turner).

QUOTE (bmags @ Dec 31, 2012 -> 03:09 PM) It's more than that though. He showed tremendous adaptability going from Orton to tebow to manning. The in season tebow switch they did a 180 to be a run first option team on a dime. Then he brings a QB that had been at another team all his life and helps organize everyone on the same page in about 5 games. That's impressive. I agree about that. He also worked with Delhomme a bit and made him look decent for a while too (IIRC). There are some damning quotes from Thomas when they brought manning in and how he was going to actually have to learn the route tree, etc (as in, this offense is so basic we don't do anything). That might have been more related to Tebow then anything else though.

Pretty classy statement their by Cutler. Plus I like the fact that he takes responsibility. He seems to be doing that more as of late which makes me think he might be getting things a little more.

QUOTE (Brian @ Dec 31, 2012 -> 02:18 PM) Apologies to Iowa. I stereotyped them to be awful before I saw thm. Definitely have talent. Well...after the years of sucking, it is easy to do so. They made it tough on Indiana. Still probably not a tourney team (NIT bound) but they are headed in the right direction. Really really like Fran. Plus they improved their facilities which was huge.

QUOTE (2nd_city_saint787 @ Dec 31, 2012 -> 02:40 PM) Will Muschamp is apparently a "Phil Emery guy" Really good defensive credentials, which I'm okay with, as long as the defensive coach has ties to some creative offensive minds. I wonder if any of the current assistants stick around. I also wonder if Toub is interviewed.

QUOTE (nitetrain8601 @ Dec 31, 2012 -> 11:48 AM) Agreed all the way. I fail to see what Emery has shown in KC that even warranted him getting a look at by the Bears. But he got hired. His picks, outside of Jeffery, did nothing to help a Lovie Smith coached team. His recent comments about not planning his entire offseason addressing the offensive line because continuity is more important than upgrading talent(paraphrasing) is alarming. In a game situation, Lovie has only really screwed the Bears maybe twice in 9 seasons. The Bears are in a holding pattern, because whoever they hire will need to install a new defense and a new offense. Jay will have to get acclimated to his 100th offense in oh so many seasons, by the time they would be semi-ready to compete, guys like Peanut, Briggs, definitely Urlacher will all be gone and your best case scenario is that you are where the Bears are today, a 10-6 team, but maybe 2 years younger. I don't think Emery has the full say in who they hire. McCaskey is still involved in this equation too and is more active then the previous McCaskey's. That said, the names I've seen thrown around look alright (at least early on). Muschamp would be very interesting. I also think they'll give Ferentz a call. Not saying that would be a good hire, although I do think he's a good field general and while Iowa has sucked miserably the past couple years, he has an NFL type make-up. Again, I don't know that I'd like the hire but it woudln't surprise me to see them look at him.

QUOTE (dasox24 @ Dec 31, 2012 -> 11:45 AM) I've heard people say that, but I like the fact that he's adapted his offenses to fit the personnel. Quite frankly, it's amazing what he was able to do with Tebow (who's awful) as his QB and field an offense that was at least capable of making it to the 2nd round of the playoffs. Then, they get a pure pocket passer like Peyton and they go much more balanced (even a little pass-heavy). While Peyton is clearly a reason for Denver's offensive turnaround this year, it's not like he's the one calling the plays. That's on McCoy. Its hard though...Peyton could make me calling plays look good. And to be clear, I'd only call plays out of the madden playbook, haha.

QUOTE (maggsmaggs @ Dec 31, 2012 -> 11:40 AM) The Lovie firing and the Ozzie firing have lots of similarities. Even if Lovie had won the SB, it would be time to move on, just as the Sox needed to move on from Ozzie. Disagree completely. Players had quit on Ozzie...could never ever make that case for Lovie. You will get a lot of lockeroom backfire from his move so it is important that they bring in a strong, well respected guy to take the reigns. That is another part of the reason why I want an experienced coach. You hire Reid or Holmgren and it is much easier for the Bears players to understand the decision. And say what you want about the players, this roster with some minor tweaks, can win a superbowl. And by minor, I mean the freaking oline.

QUOTE (2nd_city_saint787 @ Dec 31, 2012 -> 11:40 AM) Nick Roach hasn't looked bad at MLB. It'll be interesting to see what the new coach does with Shea. Could they go Briggs-Roach-Shea? Is Emery gonna bring a guy who runs the 3-4 he's used to? It's going to be an interesting offseason. Emery isn't just a 3-4 guy. He spent a lot of time with other organizations that ran 4-3's, including quite a bit of time with the Bears.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Dec 31, 2012 -> 11:29 AM) I went to 4 games and probably heard it at least 20 times a game. They won a couple of them. Bears fans wanted Lovie fired the year they went to the NFC Championship game.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Dec 31, 2012 -> 11:28 AM) Pioli is the shocker to me. This guy has been pretty bad for a while. It must be nice to write off you constant mistakes on others. Pioli's failure worries me about Emery. The Patriot way has been a collosal bust anywhere that Belliceck isn't. That said, Emery has a lot of other influences as well.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Dec 31, 2012 -> 11:24 AM) If the Bears had beaten the Colts in the SB, I wonder if the fans would have had a different feeling toward Lovie. He has pretty much been hated for a good portion of his tenure. He was hated as soon as he wasn't screaming on the sidelines by most Bear fans. I never got it...for years Bears fans have been mad. Hell most of the morons think he's a s***ty defensive coach and yap about how the tampa 2 is a dead D. Its amazing how dumb some of the fans are. I support the move but the potential for a huge backfire is there. I think Lovie, with the right talent, could have won a superbowl and I wouldn't be surprised if one day he did. That said, he has no one to blame but himself here. He had a golden opportunity and the org was pretty patient with him.

QUOTE (shipps @ Dec 31, 2012 -> 10:51 AM) Hester is killing the little stock value he had left. Not only is he bad with no confidence but now he has desire to play the game issues. Hester is an idiot but I'm not surprised. Lovie is so well respected by his players and really is the epitome of a head coach from the perspective of the fact that he gets his guys ready to play and is a good leader. Problem is he failed to hire good assistants too many times and as a result, you had OC's that didn't want to come and other issues (such as Babich as the DC).

Lovie is too good not to get hired this year. If he wants it he will get it.

QUOTE (balfanman @ Dec 31, 2012 -> 08:16 AM) I really don't know that much about his coaching abilities although he seemed to have started to turn Carolina around the last half of the season. I definitely do not claim to be any kind of a football expert (just follow it casually), but why do you, and others apparently, think that he would be brutal? Has he majorly screwed up in the past? Good DC, not the best head coach. Lot of lockeroom issues in Carolina. Bad coaching decisions. I will give him credit for one thing, team played hard, but team also lost a ton of close games. A ton of them. They made a lot of stupid mistakes in those games and that comes down to coaching.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Dec 31, 2012 -> 08:07 AM) The only teams that scored less points than the Eagles this year were Arizona, Jacksonville and KC. It would be the perfect Bears hire for more offense. They will wind up hiring an assistant with no head coaching experience because they are the Bears. I agree. It probably won't even be one of the top candidates. A lot of the names I see disgust me.