Lovie Smith To Take Increased Role With Defense

by WCG on Jan 13, 2009 2:09 PM CST Comment 16 comments

This is Lovie Smith's defense, so who better to call plays than him? Appranently, not Bob Babich. While not an outright demotion as Babich maintains the title of defensive coordinator, Coach Smith has vowed to take a more hands on approach to prepping and play calling of the defense.

As first first reported by SackMan:

Smith said he plans to help Babich with coordinating the defense.

``I'm excited about taking a more hands-on approach,'' Smith said of getting the defense back to where it used to be.

Babich will still maintain some responsibilites of defensive coordinator, but he will also move back and reclaim his role as linebackers coach. This spot is available after the firing of Lloyd Lee. This also means the Bears will not make the mistake of hiring Joe Berry, which has been rumored for some time.

Lovie is really getting to ground zero. He and Jerry Angelo have to turn this ship around now if they want to keep their jobs. This would account for Angelo's sudden calling out of the QB position and Lovie Smith's getting involved. Smith made a name for himself as a defensive coordinator with the St. Louis Rams, so he comes in with experience, which is what was mainly missing that last few years.

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Funniest thing...

if you listen to the press conference, Lovie mis-spoke when he said “… Ron Turner will still coordinate the defense,” and, “…Dave Toub will run the defense.”

So… we have 4 defensive coordinators LOL!

Seriously though… Bob Babich will NOT be assisting to coordinate the defense. Don’t be fooled. He will have his hands full with his new found responsibility of coaching the LBs and game prepping them every week. This is Lovie’s defense now…. for better or for worse.

I now fully expect to see Daniel Manning named the starting FS any day now. LOL.

I'm not going to even bother trying to update this sig everyday anymore... that's what the standings column on ESPN is for.
Updated on May 25, 2008

by SackMan on Jan 13, 2009 2:19 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

manning seemed to do better at the nickel

once lovie started instructing him late in the year. if lovie coaches him, i actually think he could be our starting FS – with that not being a bad thing.

by guy incognito on Jan 13, 2009 7:11 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Hey

As long as Archuletta never, ever, comes back to Chicago, I am ok with this move. Who knows if it will help.

I wonder if JA had anything to do with this move or if Lovie just steered the ship himself on this one.

by CurtisConway on Jan 13, 2009 2:48 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

encouraging

by No It All on Jan 13, 2009 3:18 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

So....

basically nothing is changing and Babich is still a puppet boy..

by tfrabotta on Jan 13, 2009 3:34 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

what was lovie doing?

by No It All on Jan 13, 2009 3:48 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

So, what you're saying is that

Babich is still making money from the Bears, yet really doesn’t have a job?

Why don’t we just fire Bob and have lovie work two jobs? lol

I'M A MAN! I'M 22!

by ChiFan13 on Jan 13, 2009 4:04 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

He has a job

he is linebackers coach and from what I understand a good one, but he still is pulling DC money for that.

Being Who You Thought We Were Since 2005!

by WCG on Jan 14, 2009 8:49 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

If you can't get excited over this...

Than you must not have a pulse. This is about as good as it’s gonna get, short of bringing in another coach and Lovie being the full time DC.

Passion For The Game, Loyal To The Name, Chicago Bears, I Trust In Thee, Standing Strong Since 1983.

by Haightminow on Jan 13, 2009 5:50 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

what took him so long

I tend to think that most fans were screaming for him to take over the signal – calling on the D at the season at mid – point.

by Waylon on Jan 13, 2009 7:19 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Babich is Lovie's boy

he picked him. They shipped Rivera so they could promote Babich. Babich failing shows poorly on Lovie, so he probably did not want to make the move.

Being Who You Thought We Were Since 2005!

by WCG on Jan 14, 2009 8:50 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Welp, this is either make or break for Lovie I think

If he can’t help the defense, then I think it’s it for his tenure in Chitown..

Erm, well if we are going to call Milton Bradley nicknames, mine is Fischer Price: yes, you heard it here first..

by Chanman25 on Jan 13, 2009 7:41 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

You got that right..

Lovie and Jerry are on the proverbial hotseat after failing to make the playoffs two years in a row. Two years in a row the defense has failed to close games out, and make big plays in crucial situations. The decision is as late as Lovie pulling Rex after the SB. He should’ve been pulled at halftime in the SB, but Lovie has never been quick to make adjustments….way too set in his ways and beliefs. Hopefully, JA makes a move for some QB competition and WR help, with Lovie/Marinelli teaming up to fix an underachieving D-line.

"I'm not so mean. I wouldn't ever go out to hurt anybody deliberately - unless it was, you know, important, like a league game or something." - Dick Butkus

by propheteer on Jan 13, 2009 11:23 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Last chance for Lovie, it seems.

For those children who claimed they’ve been a fan of their favorite team all their life, or even since they were about four or five years old: bullshit. There’s always that certain event or certain player that draws to the sport and draws you to a team. For me, Nomar Garciaparra was that reason. - Nick Coviello: I Try To See Rocco, But All I Think Is Nomar; 1/9/09

by bs.uf15bosox9bears23 on Jan 13, 2009 9:16 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Well its all on Lovie now

If the defense blows next year then its bye bye Lovie. I think Smith continues to fail to realize that the D is getting older, he can keep calling it “one of the best defenses in the league” over and over again but that won’t make it true.

by 815Sox on Jan 14, 2009 3:05 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

A very good move...

..becuase this puts him right in center. Now Lovie is the guy on the Hot Seat. Either he turns the defense around and proves it isn’t a bad scheme, or he’s out the door after the season if he can’t.

by Twins Territory on Jan 15, 2009 3:17 PM CST reply actions 0 recs