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Get Your Priorities Straight (and in order)

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If we were to take an objective look at the things that need to be address before 2010, in order to become competitive again, we could end up with quite a list.  But, in order for an organization to have a quick turn around, they have to prioritize.

Let's first make a list of things that could/ should/ might make the Bears competitive again in 2010.  In no particular order (because that's going to be your job):

Star-divide

- Offensive Line

- Head coaching change

- Coordinator(s) change

- Front office management

- Make a huge splash in free agency

- Wide receivers upgrade

- Running back help

- Defensive pass rush upgrade

- Heal up in the LB corp

- Get some real talent in the defensive secondary

Are there others I left off the list of things that could help contribute to a quick turnaround for next year?  If so, let me know and I can add them to the list.

After making the list, we can see that getting all of that done before 2010 is not realistic... so, we have to narrow the list down.

Your jorb: Make a realistic top-5 priority list, in order, to make the Bears competitive in 2010.

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top5

O-Coordinator
O-Line
Defensive Backfield
Pass Rush/DLine/Gap Discipline!!!!
Not sure on #5, either between WRs or other Coaches.

by scy3000 on Nov 25, 2009 9:00 AM CST reply actions  

Player Personnell is more important

It’s easy to change the front office and coaching, but it’s much harder to fill in player spots that you desperately need.

You need O line and D line players. Games are won and lost at the line of scrimmage.

You DONT need runningbacks, with a good O Line, they can make an average RB look good. Forte is above average. Not the stud bears fans think he is, but he’s solid.

You NEED a big play #1 Wide Receiver. A big guy, like a calvin johnson or andre johnson. someone that can’t be covered, who makes big catches. Takes pressure off the QB pass rush and opens up the running game, and allows Olson to be single covered where he will make defenses pay.

D-line and secondary need to improve together. One will help the other, but if one lacks then the other suffers. Teams can get by with mediocre LB’s, and there’s plenty on free agency if you don’t like who you have, which I think your LB’s are just fine. Vikings learned this as our pass D was atrocious, and it wasn’t because our secondary was bad at coverage as much as we had no pressure on the QB. Hence the Jared Allen trade.

Getting ALL of this done by 2010 isn’t as important as at least addressing SOME of it by 2010. Vikes were in the same boat just 4 seasons ago. We didn’t have much of a team at 6-10, but we addressed a need or two each seaon either through the draft or free agency. Now they’re a powerhouse.

The biggest problem is not having draft picks. That’s what’s going to hurt this team the most down the road.

by cdubs on Nov 25, 2009 9:09 AM CST reply actions  

+1
Player Personnell is more important
It’s easy to change the front office and coaching, but it’s much harder to fill in player spots that you desperately need.

"Hey, the offensive linemen are the biggest guys on the field, they're bigger than everybody else, and that's what make them the biggest guys on the field." -Madden

by BearNecessities on Nov 25, 2009 9:36 AM CST up reply actions  

Good analysis except...

for the Olsen bit. Every time he’s supposed to make defenses pay he comes up short. But sadly still the best Angelo First rounder. :/

by SaintCee on Nov 25, 2009 9:48 AM CST up reply actions  

Have to do it
Vikes were in the same boat just 4 seasons ago.

Yeah I remember that. Whatever came about that “Love Boat” incident?

by McRipper on Nov 25, 2009 10:01 AM CST up reply actions  

We didn’t have much of a team at 6-10, but we addressed a need or two each seaon either through the draft or free agency.

Unfortunately, we seem to collect underperforming defensive players like they’re going out of fashion while ignoring other needs.

"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

by Spongie on Nov 25, 2009 10:38 AM CST up reply actions  

Which is why...

We make a front office change that leads to a head coaching change that gives us new coordinators with a chance to make a big free agent signing that upgrades our offensive line while getting us help in the secondary that leads us back down the road to redemption. It couldn’t be easier…..

If you can't laugh at yourself you must not be very funny.

by Just Dave on Nov 25, 2009 10:51 AM CST up reply actions  

Good ideas

1. Front office management – They have no idea how to judge talent, especially in the trenches; speaking of:
2. Fix the offensive line; seriously, I’m all for punting 2010 if they draft three linemen who don’t turn out sucking.
3. Coordinator change: This one is probably all but assured on the offensive side of the ball.
4. Pass Rush: Everyone needs a good pass rush
5. More line help. Seriously, it’s a terrible line. The defensive line could use some work too.

Is Jerry Angelo fired yet?

by ES46NE10 on Nov 25, 2009 9:11 AM CST reply actions  

I would go OC before HC

I can almost see letting Lovie ride another year especially with his big contract (I really hate saying that). Personally I would love seeing Angelo go but I have no clue what that guy is bringing in $$$$ wise. Of course it is not like Bears ticket sales are lagging and they are short on income.

I would much rather see a good OC and support staff QB coach, line coach, WR development etc.

OC
Offensive coaches
True #1 receiver

I agree with cdubs on the running backs and WR assessment. Forte is above average maybe a new strength and conditioning regiment might help him. He seems to be gettign taken down with arm tackles a lot more this year.

by TheMan1 on Nov 25, 2009 9:24 AM CST reply actions  

My list

1. O-Line
2. D-Line
3. OC
4. Receivers
5. Secondary

Ditka Avenger and Original WCG Power Poster!!!!

Want to be a blood donor? Insult Chuck Norris.

by Ditkavsworld on Nov 25, 2009 9:30 AM CST reply actions  

My order(obviously superior to everyone else's)

1) Offensive Coordinator
2) O-Line
3) Secondary
4) New Head Coach(hopefully Shannahan)
5) Have a good draft

by GouldisGold on Nov 25, 2009 9:39 AM CST reply actions  

oh

1. Fire GM
2. Fire Coaches
3. Oline
4. HIre GM/ Coaches
5. Sell the team.

''My favorite player growing up was Kevin Garnett and he's now my least favorite player. ''-Joakim Noah

by SoulEater7 on Nov 25, 2009 9:57 AM CST reply actions  

My to do list for next season

1) Coordinators – We need one of each. I’m still sure Lovie is just overwhelmed by taking over as DC while being HC and, according to his own words, having a hand in the offense too. That’s my theory as to why defensive adjustments during games are too few and too late.

2) Upper management – I’d love to get rid of Phillips and Angelo. Phillips comes off as an accountant who happens to work at a football team. That “profit first, good team second” attitude seeps from the top and we can’t fire the McCaskeys. :( Angelo has just been horrible at evaluating player talent.

3) O-line – We need bigger, younger, and better. If we get bigger and younger then better may follow. I’d have to include a new O-line coach too.

4) D-line – Trenches, therein the game is won, or some such.

5) QB coach – We have a QB. We need someone who can actually coach a QB. Pep hasn’t shown any aptitude for that.

IMO that’ll be the quickest way to stop the slide. With our lack of draft picks and overall draft ineptitude anyway we’ll have to wait to address many player personnel needs til after next season. Notice a slew of new coaches so if that means a whole new changing of the guard brought in by a new Head Coach then all the better.

For the immediate future I think our secondary will be adequate with some D-line help. We do need a true No. 1 receiver but without high draft picks we aren’t likely to get one unless through free agency.

by SaintCee on Nov 25, 2009 10:15 AM CST reply actions  

1. that’s why he’s a f-ing head coach. if he couldn’t handle it he should not have taken the job.

by Justin T on Nov 25, 2009 10:38 AM CST up reply actions  

This is easy

1. O-line
2. Splash in FA (this coincides with #1 and #3)
3. WR (Jay is in desperate need of another target he can lock-onto).
4. D-line (pass-rushers needed!)
5. Coordinator change

The rest will take care of itself in free-agency. How can the Bears upgrade the secondary without a 1st and 2nd rounder? D. Manning, Tillman, AA, and Bowman will all be back starting next season…..and frankly IM, they’re not the problem.

"Those guys were the suckiest bunch of sucks that ever sucked" - Homer defines the Bears '09 season in less than 12 words.

by propheteer on Nov 25, 2009 10:18 AM CST reply actions  

1. Defensive pass rush upgrade: Give me more defensive linemen! Please!
2. Head coaching change: One word… RICHROD!
3. Wide receivers upgrade: Sign Matt Jones & Marvin Harrison, let Hester go and trade Dez Clark for Wes Welker. Also, Matt Jones will be our backup QB and serve as the teams new Aquatic Engineer.
4. Running back help: Larry Johnson (starter), Dominic Rhodes (backup), Matt Forte (will now be Matt Jones’ personal assistant)
5. Offensive Line: Carlton Medder – sign him to a five year 20 million dollar contract and the OL will auto-gel.

-------
"Newbie, if the next two words out of your mouth aren't 'See ya' then the third word will be 'Oh my god. My crotch. You've punched me in my crotch." - Dr. Percival Ulysses Cox

by David Taylor on Nov 25, 2009 10:22 AM CST reply actions  

Hmmm, sounds like sarcasim to me. :)

Ditka Avenger and Original WCG Power Poster!!!!

Want to be a blood donor? Insult Chuck Norris.

by Ditkavsworld on Nov 25, 2009 11:06 AM CST up reply actions  

The lack of a plan, inability to judge

both offensive talent almost anywhere in the draft and early picks, and potential need for a new coach makes #1 easy.

1. GM, let him decide the coach and the coach decide the coordinators. Then the GM needs to get a
2. O – Line
3. 1 elite receiver – Jay is here for 2 more years. If one receiver can get seperation, maybe it creates more for others.
4. D Secondary
5. D line

at daver's request, Let's frontload this B**ch!

by N Oakley on Nov 25, 2009 10:31 AM CST reply actions  

Priorities

1. Offensive Line: The Achilles heal of the Chicago Bears. It’s a combination of their terrible blocking on both pass and rush and their uncanny ability to be penalized in crucial moments of a game or during a big play.

2. Wide Receiver: If the Bears can get a Marshall or V. Jackson as a #1 and move Hester to the slot, immediate improvement. This offense would get drastically better from this one small, but expensive, move.

3. Secondary: Tillman’s ball stipping ability is the only thing worth mentioning about this unit. They are terrible.

4. Defensive Line: They have to get bigger in the middle and younger on the outside. They tried that with the trade for Gaines Adams so I’ll hold judgement on this until next year about this time but they need a HUGE NT to play along side Tommie.

5. Full time punt and kick returner: I think the Bears should move Knox to full time kick returner and punt returner like Hester his 1st 2 seasons. He’s not a very good WR but his fast as hell. He can still learn the WR position but his main job should be kick/punt returner.

The entire coaching staff should be fired but that’s not going to happen. This is something the Bears can do with the current coaching staff that can keep them competitive until Lovie and Angelo are gone.*

by McRipper on Nov 25, 2009 10:39 AM CST reply actions  

I understand what you're saying but if you don't make the move on Lovie and JA now

then they improve to 9-7 next year because of the LB’s getting healthy and an improved O-line we could be stuck with these morons for a few more years. I agree it probably won’t happen but since the excercise is what would we do, I’d have to go:
1. New GM and HC
2. New coordinators & position coaches (especially QB coach)
3. Upgrade O-line
4. Get LB’s healthy
5. A WR upgrade (not the whole group but add one legit veteran WR)

by BearFan611 on Nov 25, 2009 5:35 PM CST up reply actions  

thats exactly the way i would go

but since they asked for top 5, I would also add a tough RB, and get a new O-coordinator

"All they do is mock me, just like they did the fat fellow. All the time mocking, mocking, mocking, mocking all the time! Now, it is Babu's turn to mock "---Babu Bhatt in the Seinfeld Finale Part 2

P.S.
"The fact of the matter is the chicago bulls have never been a contender since I left..."----Johnny Kilroy

by chi_till_eye_die on Nov 27, 2009 11:51 AM CST up reply actions  

Priorities

Can we make it a prior to get Jay a new helmet? I don’t know who it was on here talking about Jay’s vision because of his diabetes. But maybe he was on to something. I think his helmet does not fit properly. Take a look at the past 3 QB’s we’ve faced. They have no obstructions to their vision. Jay has his helmet pulled down like he wants to be cool.

Photobucket

by boondock_saint812 on Nov 25, 2009 12:47 PM CST reply actions  

lot of that..

is the angle of lighting at the fact that its a dark blue helmet vs gold white and green/white..makes it look darker than it is..he would have gotten a new helmet awhile ago if that was a problem lol

by Pretender85 on Nov 25, 2009 2:58 PM CST up reply actions  

Noticed that also

but mcnabbs’s looks the same way, down low on the eyes…I always wondered about that….but wouldnt you think if he really cant see from the helmet he wouldve said something??? I would like to think so

"All they do is mock me, just like they did the fat fellow. All the time mocking, mocking, mocking, mocking all the time! Now, it is Babu's turn to mock "---Babu Bhatt in the Seinfeld Finale Part 2

P.S.
"The fact of the matter is the chicago bulls have never been a contender since I left..."----Johnny Kilroy

by chi_till_eye_die on Nov 27, 2009 11:49 AM CST up reply actions  

top 5

1 – Coordinator(s) change – Ron Turner MUST go. He is an embarrassment to the sport of football.
2 – Heal up in the LB corp – The injury problems have killed us on defense. Missing that cover LB in Urlacher has been huge, and I was really looking forward to seeing what Pisa could do.
3 – Offensive Line – I don’t think much else needs to be said about this. They are atrocious.
4 – Get some real talent in the defensive secondary – Our secondary has been a problem for YEARS, and we’ve only tried to address it with late draft picks. Yes a lot of our guys are young, but the only one who has shown any signs of having a pretty high ceiling is Afalava and maybe Manning.
5 – Defensive pass rush upgrade – They need to perform better, plain and simple. I think the talent is there, but they’re just missing something at the moment. Another year with Marinelli should solve that.

by mw834 on Nov 25, 2009 1:10 PM CST reply actions  

Da top 5
  1. GM – I don’t trust angelo to shore up the o-line, maybe a new set of eyes will be able to get some better help. And to find a go to WR
  2. Coaches – I think this would upgrade the WR corps and put tommie (who i still think can be dominant) more accountable cause he isn’t anyones boy now.
  3. O-line
  4. Defensive Back field- we need some talent there other than Tillman’s ability to strip the ball.
  5. Need to stay HEALTHY

by GtM on Nov 25, 2009 1:33 PM CST reply actions  

My jeaaarrbbb

1. o-line overhaul
2. o-coordinator replacement
3. o-line overhaul
4. a 2nd RB of competence if KJ isn’t back next year
5. o-line overhaul?

by Pretender85 on Nov 25, 2009 2:55 PM CST reply actions  

My top 5...

1. A new offensive coordinator. Ron Turner did nothing in his first stint with the Bears, he did nothing at Illinois, and he sure as hell hasn’t done anthing in this stint with the Bears.

2. Offensive line. It is very apparent that the inability to protect Cutler and the inability to run the ball have killed this team.

3. D line. I think we need some bulk in the middle to keep our linebackers clean and allow them to make plays. If we can generate consistent pressure, our secondary should look better without revamping it.

4 and 5 are new head coach and new GM, but if ownership doesn’t decide to open up their wallets and try to improve this team, 1-3 will never happen and it won’t really matter if 4-5 happens or not.

by Bears Fan Chad on Nov 25, 2009 3:30 PM CST reply actions  

Make a list -

1. Hire Mike Shanahan he will fix Cutler and running game
2. Let Mike do his job

by Choirboys on Nov 25, 2009 6:31 PM CST reply actions  

well

1. O Line – This years group has hampered our passing game and killed our running game. Do we really want to watch Hanie at QB when our $30m+ investment gets hurt?
2. OC – Awful, just awful.
3. Key Free Agent Pick ups – No picks, so this looks like our only option to improve personnel. Please no more Frank Omiyales, though.
4. #1 WR – See above. A Marshall or Boldin would help the offense substantially. BM has bailed Orton out of some bad throws.
5. HC/DC – Bad decisions, no motivation or discipline. His whole staff sucks except Toub and maybe BFF Bob (eww did I really say that). No more clamoring for aging Rams rejects either (see #3).

There are glaring issues on both sides of the field with personnel and coaches. Personnel is more important. Sadly, our coaching staff has less talent than our players. The thought of Ron Turner being OC next year makes me want to hurl. I really hope we clean house because I sure as hell don’t want to see another Benson Bowl next year.

by TrialsBass on Nov 25, 2009 10:52 PM CST reply actions  

TED PHILLIPS!!!

1. TED PHILLIPS
2. Jerry Angelo
3. Ron Tuner
4. O Line
5. Secondary Talent

by No It All on Nov 29, 2009 10:17 AM CST reply actions  

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