When Lovie Goes, Likely Too Will Jerry
by Dane Noble on Nov 10, 2009 1:40 PM CST
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The last couple of weeks have been filled with radio stations, websites, and newspapers getting overrun with fans calling for Coach Lovie Smith's head. We all had higher expectations this past offseason, and rightly so.
The Bears traded for a 26 year old, gunslinging QB, saw young talent being developed into starting roles, the hiring of a DL guru, and signing three free agent offensive linemen.
Unfortunately, our expectations may have been too lofty, largely because our OL has turned out to be a bust, and our DL is still getting man-handled.
Well, after a 4-4 start, the fanbase is restless, and the shouts of "Fire Lovie, Fire Jerry, Fire Ron" have been heard for weeks now. I found a well-written article to discuss, but first, I want to give you my take:
Jerry Angelo- Traded for a high-profile QB... no doubt the biggest move of his career. Tried, but failed to upgrade the OL. This is the guy who is directly responsible for personnel.
Ron Turner- Say what you will about his plays not working, but when you have an OL that gets knocked backwards as soon as the ball is snapped, what else can he do?
Lovie Smith- I am not giving up in his scheme, or his football knowledge. Like Turner, all he can do is work with the talent he has. Our DBs are generally terrible. There is some talent back there, but it is young and undeveloped as of yet. Lovie's Tampa-2 isn't the problem... it's the lack of talent.
Rod Marinelli- I touched on this a couple days ago, but it bears repeating. Rod is the only guy that has the personnel that he needs to make his system work. And that is not happening. The first few games looked good, but our pass rush has since disappeared. Why is Rod not seeing success?
Of all of our managers/ coaches, I would say that Lovie and Ron are falling victims to lack of talent. Jerry Angelo has to be the guy that is on the line here.
As for Marinelli, he is a mystery as well, but still accountable nonetheless. You've got the talent, why can't you make it work?
Now, onto the article. I typically don't go along with a lot of what David Haugh does, but this article is great. he talks about how Lovie and Jerry are linked, and how when one of them go, the other will as well. An excerpt:
When contemplating Smith's future replacement, whenever that search begins, remember the words from Angelo himself when he hired Smith on Jan. 15, 2004.
"The next autopsy will be mine," he said. "If I did this wrongly, don't worry about me coming back here."
Translated six seasons later, that means the futures of Angelo and Smith remain intertwined. Except for some odd comments two weeks ago in which Angelo publicly questioned the coaching staff, the two have worked in lock step philosophically.
Make sure you check out the entire article... it's a great read, no matter where you stand on the issue.
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I disagree.
Angelo has made many mistakes, but I see Turner and Lovie being the main problem. We’ve seen the no-imagination offense for 5+ years now. Re-watch the Atlanta game, Mike Mularkey has some clever play-calls and formations that caught our defense with its pants down. Ron Turner has no imagination.
Lovie is simply not getting his players prepared to play. Preparation involves motivation which our players clearly are not, but also means having a sound gameplan. If you watch every Bears’ 1st quarter this year, you’ll see a team with concrete in their shoes, and shell-shocked looks on their faces. Atlanta goes no-huddle and the Bears D simply was NOT prepared for it—that’s coaching. Cincy and Ariz march down the field and score on their first 4 or 5 possessions each—nice coaching job. The defense did not know what hit them. That’s all on Lovie.
+1
That’s the one part I forgot to put in. I have faith in Lovie’s scheme, and still think that he is hindered by the lack of talent…
But you are 100% right… to roll into ATL after 2 weeks to prepare and look as unprepared as we did… that is unacceptable.
You are all gentlemen (and ladies) and good judges of cheap whiskey.
Angelo should've been fired
after the Bazuin, Wolfe, Okwo trio-fiasco (tri-asco?) draft in 2007.
by Mike Mueller on Nov 10, 2009 2:29 PM CST up reply actions 1 recs
He is pretty good on Madden.
Running draws with him is great because they gave him some speed. But then again it is Madden, Omiyale actually had a pancake block in one of my games.
"Omiyale actually had a pancake block in one of my games."
Disbelief can only be suspended so far.
"We're only gonna score 17 points? Hah hah" - some clown.
I finally figured out the last piece of the puzzle
I can now link AND post images. Lovie and Jerry couldn’t be prouder.
If you can't laugh at yourself you must not be very funny.
Considering you've only been here since February,
I’d have to say I’m proud of you too. :)
You are all gentlemen (and ladies) and good judges of cheap whiskey.
we are stuck with lovie
the bears are not going to eat 11 mil just to get rid of him and then bring in a high paid guy like shanahan to replace him, no way that happens. I do think the bears need to bring in a new OC and also bring in a DC and take that away from Lovie, i just worry something like that would make lovie feel like zorn and create a poor working environment.
We could pull an Al Davis and do exactly what you suggest (create a poor working environment).
Lovie gets pissed and quits. If he quits, he doesn’t get paid. Throw the franchise into disarray for a season or two, give the Bears a terrible reputation (although I’m not so sure how great the one we have now is), but you would succeed in getting rid of Lovie. Kind of like amputating your hand to get rid of a hang nail.
If you can't laugh at yourself you must not be very funny.
Awesome,
and maybe we could try a 76 yard field goal.
You are all gentlemen (and ladies) and good judges of cheap whiskey.
LOL!
Was the wind “in his face,” really?
Maybe I’m mis-reading that technology, but look at the flags on the field goal post. They are blowing towards the camera, meaning the wind wasn’t “in his face.” What’s the point of over-sensationalizing things like that, I don’t get it.
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by David Taylor on Nov 10, 2009 2:26 PM CST up reply actions
I'll stand by if the Bears aren't in the Playoffs...
Fire Lovie
They never will, but they should.
by Lester A. Wiltfong Jr. on Nov 10, 2009 2:11 PM CST reply actions
+1
Maybe Ron Turner can hold the door open for him, then when he’s not expecting it, we kick his arse out right behind him, shut it, lock it and laugh.
by Steven Schweickert on Nov 10, 2009 2:14 PM CST up reply actions
I may not be in the majority here...
but I still have faith in Lovie. Was he admittedly unprepared for 2 games straight? Yes, and that’s ridiculous, but I still think that overall he is a good, smart coach. I don’t care that he doesn’t scream and throw things on the field, I don’t mind him making some mistakes – everyone’s human. I never thought we were going to be amazing this season anyway, we’re too new, but tie that in with injuries and everything else that is going on and well, look where we are. He can’t control everything about how we play, the players have to decide how they’re going to play too, and if they’re going to give up halfway through a game, it’s not necessarily because the coach couldn’t motivate them – sometimes you just can’t be optimistic.
The season isn’t over yet, we could be much worse off than we are right now. I’m okay with Lovie and honestly, don’t want him fired at the end of the season. I think, with time, that he can take our players (who aren’t necessarily the greatest in some cases) and really bring them out. I hope that next season will be better, but know that this season isn’t over. So, in closing – Stop freaking out!!! :P
"A lot of fans were drawn to me because they knew that whatever the score was, I was going to run as hard as I could on every play. You don't have that now, you have guys waiting for next week or even next year." - Walter Payton
2 of 3
But your point’s made.
He makes mistakes. It’s expected. The problem is… He makes too many. The Roach at MLB experience wasn’t exactly fulfulling, we’re losing the games that are gonna matter in the WC chase (GB, ATL, now ARZ hold tiebreakers on us), and this is his defensive playcalling we’re experiencing right now. I know we’ve got our personnel issues (That’s Jerry Angelo’s issue, not Lovie’s, though he does have to have SOME say on draft day and free agency) and our injury issues (Can you really blame the players for that? Maybe more vitamins, who knows), but tack in the above, add his clock management skills and playcalling in the clutch (Ok, I’m still hammering him for last year’s ATL contest, but whatever), and I still think he should get canned.
I wouldn’t say it’s panicking, and it’s not even just this year, it’s everything resulting from the Super Bowl loss.
Honestly, I wouldn’t mind Lovie and Turner going, followed by Angelo (or at least get this man a draft consultant). But the number one thing to turn this around would be better players in the trenches, which really can’t happen till next year.
by Steven Schweickert on Nov 10, 2009 2:46 PM CST up reply actions
Yes,
he does make too many mistakes, but hopefully he’s learning from them… who knows. You could say he’s just repeating some of them, but okay, I’m not going to argue about that because I don’t know enough about it.
Hopefully he can help make some of our players better, or at least use them better. We’ll have to see, but like you said, it might not show until next year.
We’ll agree to disagree on firing him? :)
"A lot of fans were drawn to me because they knew that whatever the score was, I was going to run as hard as I could on every play. You don't have that now, you have guys waiting for next week or even next year." - Walter Payton
by Ashley Czuba on Nov 10, 2009 6:04 PM CST up reply actions
Well...
It’s weird. It needs to happen but it addresses hardly anything with the team itself. He’s had a few years since the SB and we’ve regressed. Pretty badly.
We’ll disagree, but I admit it changes very little except for the scheme we run defensively and those mistakes; the biggest change will have to be personnel on the field.
by Steven Schweickert on Nov 11, 2009 8:47 AM CST up reply actions
Lovie develop players?
Who? #1 that would be mostly the position coaches job and #2 Lovie can’t make a second half adjustment let alone develop and inspire his players.
Maybe you are fine with “hoo humm” maybe next week or “well I guess we should play better” or multiple weeks of “we were not prepared”. But I am not. If you are calm on the sideline great, that’s his personality. I just ask JA to lesson his medication so he doesn’t look like he is in a comma.
He can figure
out where to play who, etc. You could use the Hester argument and even though no one thought he would do well at WR, he’s developing. Hopefully we can see this same effect with someone else, who knows.
I am not okay with not being prepared, as I said, it was ridiculous. There is no excuse for that, but hopefully now he realizes that they need to be prepared, every week. I’m not ho hum about it at all, but there’s not much I can do. Unfortunately, we’re not BFFs. Lol. So I’m not going to freak out about something I personally can’t control. Am I upset after a loss? Of course. Am I going to change teams, etc. because of it? No.
Besides, I personally don’t think he looks like he’s in a coma. Most of the shots I see of him, he looks like he’s thinking. At least that’s what I tell myself… :)
"A lot of fans were drawn to me because they knew that whatever the score was, I was going to run as hard as I could on every play. You don't have that now, you have guys waiting for next week or even next year." - Walter Payton
by Ashley Czuba on Nov 10, 2009 6:08 PM CST up reply actions
Besides, I personally don’t think he looks like he’s in a coma. Most of the shots I see of him, he looks like he’s thinking. At least that’s what I tell myself… :)
I think that’s his “I gotta poop” face.
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by Ditkavsworld on Nov 10, 2009 8:10 PM CST up reply actions
Lol
"A lot of fans were drawn to me because they knew that whatever the score was, I was going to run as hard as I could on every play. You don't have that now, you have guys waiting for next week or even next year." - Walter Payton
by Ashley Czuba on Nov 11, 2009 8:32 AM CST up reply actions
hopefully now he realizes that they need to be prepared, every week
Indeed, the way some people have been complaining about the Bears’ slow start this season and their inability to take on their opponents’ game tendencies, it seems like they’ve forgotten this is Lovie’s first season as a Head Coach…
…er…..
"The trouble with the world is that the stupid are cocksure and the intelligent are full of doubt." - Bertrand Russell
"F*** everybody outside of Halas Hall. BEARDOWN" - WavyGravy
I know...
I didn’t say that he shouldn’t have known before… just that he obviously has to know now.
"A lot of fans were drawn to me because they knew that whatever the score was, I was going to run as hard as I could on every play. You don't have that now, you have guys waiting for next week or even next year." - Walter Payton
by Ashley Czuba on Nov 11, 2009 8:32 AM CST up reply actions
That doesn’t excuse/explain the last three weeks, let alone the past few years. Lovie’s taken this team as far as he can and now he’s on the downside.
"The trouble with the world is that the stupid are cocksure and the intelligent are full of doubt." - Bertrand Russell
"F*** everybody outside of Halas Hall. BEARDOWN" - WavyGravy
I am glad.
People are starting to talk about lovie being on hot seat. I myself predicted its a do or get booed season for lovie smith. Not only lovie coaching performance has been awful, but it has been humiliating. Lovie smith had too many years to make stars. He/Angelo should have been drafting better players instead bunch of baddies. So its completely and entirely their fault and not talents around him for bears humiliating losses.
I second this emotion.
Even in their super bowl year the Bears had question marks. Them going 13-3 and “winding up” in the super bowl was the worst thing that could’ve happened. The O-line was maybe a slight concern then, But when you’re winning you get lured into a false sense of security. Especially if you’re an overacheiving team with a sub-par offense and killer defense. The Bears counted on Hester’s return game and defensive TDs as their formula for winning. Your “Offense” has to put points on the board if you’re going to be successful on a consistant basis.
Interesting article
Didn’t see the connection quite like that but makes sense in wanting to bring in another coach. Why if JA is going to try to control everything, and yes JA will not surrender his all powerful (music here) hold on the Bears.
Is it possible that JA gets let go, since he is responsible for personnel?
by boondock_saint812 on Nov 10, 2009 3:44 PM CST reply actions
That would be a lot of money to pay to two people just to go away.
If you can't laugh at yourself you must not be very funny.
I know Lovie isn’t going anywhere.
Is it heard of to get rid of the GM but keep the coach? Change GM’s and coordinators. Let Lovie just coach until his contract is up.
by boondock_saint812 on Nov 10, 2009 3:54 PM CST up reply actions
Usually a GM's gonna want "his guy" as coach. Usually.
If you can't laugh at yourself you must not be very funny.
tampa 2...
only works if you have a fast secondary…guess what? we don’t. tampa 2 forces our secondary to cover to much ground and we simply don’t have the speed. im not questioning the strength cause our boys can still hit…unfortunately, they first have to get to the hit…ha? also…we all know it really, really works when we can actually put some pressure on the qb…guess what? our line hasn’t been pressuring the qb at all this year. it’s sad…sad…sad. we used to be a defensive powerhouse. we used to rely on defense and special teams…now we put the weight on our offensive to make it happen. unfortunately, our young talent on the offensive side of the ball just isn’t there yet. they can’t quite compete td for td with offenses like arizona and whatnot. the ol hasn’t been great but 3td’s means the line has to be doing something right. if the defense wakes up then the mistakes that come from the ol will level out? maybe?
so many problems…so little time…f*ck!
our boys can still hit
You mustn’t have been watching the 2009 Bears. Except for Tommie Harris on his 4th play of the Cardinals game, that is.
"The trouble with the world is that the stupid are cocksure and the intelligent are full of doubt." - Bertrand Russell
"F*** everybody outside of Halas Hall. BEARDOWN" - WavyGravy
Sunday the 15th
I wanted to thank the Chicago Bear(cubs) for “playing” on Thursday, at least they will not ruin my Sunday afternoon with their STINK this Sunday. I can watch pro teams and not the garbage they represent and enjoy an afternoon of real NFL football.
Thumbs up
something rash needs to be done to make a statement about accountability, fine, suspend or cut Tommie Harris for chronic immaturity. Bench another offensive lineman. Plan a full-contact practice for Saturday that will be canceled only if the Bears win. Institute hefty fines for dumb penalties. Show some leadership.
I’ve been more supportive of Lovie than most of the fans here, but if he has to go for Angelo to also be canned (which I agree, should have happened post- Bazuin/Wolfe/Okwo Triasco), then I can totally understand.
We need a guy who can look at an offensive lineman and say “He can play football.” It may start with the quarterback, but it sure as hell doesn’t end there.
"We're only gonna score 17 points? Hah hah" - some clown.
Bazuin
The Bazuin pick was one of the most puzzling I had seen by Angelo since he joined the team. I had never even heard of him when he was taken, and really felt we had no need for a Defensive End. Sometimes Lovie and Jerry just fall in love with drafting and developing defensive players even if we don’t need them (a la Gaines Adams).
Bill Cowher, Mike Shanahan and Mike Holmgren all will want power Angelo will be unwilling to cede.
…
Have there been enough recent misses in the draft to merit a scouting overhaul?
There was a graphic listing the Steelers’ 1st-round draft choices from recent years during last night’s game. A cursory glance reveals a few notable names:
2008 – Rashad Mendenhall
2007 – Lawrence Timmons
2006 – Santonio Holmes
2005
2004 – Ben Roethlisberger
2003 – Troy Polamalu
2002
2001 – Casey Hampton
2000 – Plaxico Burress
Nice one, Jerry.
"The trouble with the world is that the stupid are cocksure and the intelligent are full of doubt." - Bertrand Russell
"F*** everybody outside of Halas Hall. BEARDOWN" - WavyGravy
LOVIE ?HUMAN
love da one about Lovie’s emotions. But, don’t think that Lovie’s to be fired just b’coz he’s part cyborg! But definitely will miss his troubled face after another lost challenge!
Excerpt from FOX NFL website: Lovie's long lost bro.?
Blockquoted paragraph ``I would say every game’s a big game,‘’ Belichick said. ``The biggest game is the next game.’’
It’s hard not to believe him. The record says so. So, too, does the man’s demeanor. Take a good look into Belichick’s face at any point in any season: Nothing and nothing changes. Ever.
Lovie to the Raiders?
I would bet that Caple will be fired from Oakland. Maybe Al Davis will make a trade for Lovie. Could we be that lucky?
by boondock_saint812 on Nov 11, 2009 11:27 AM CST reply actions
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