Are Lovie Smith and Ron Turner Still on the Hot Seat?

I think Turner proved last year that he can deliver even with only mildly adequate weapons. Lovie on the other hand has created this defense and needs to prove it can still work. The fact is, we are just about the only team left still running the Tampa 2 which has become very passe. If the D turns in another year like the last two, then I think Lovie may be in trouble.

The problem is, this whole Tampa contingent (JA. Lovie, Marinelli) are kind of linked at the hip and I don’t believe for a second that after the Cutler signing, JA is in trouble. So if JA is foced to throw Lovie under the bus, does that mean he needs to completely re-design the defense and scrap the cover 2? If so, that is a huge project and I’m not sure the Bears have the stomach for it.

Because I don’t think Ron and Lovie are tied that closely. Ron Turner is DEFINATELY on the hot seat, if the offense doesn’t look substantially better with Hester having more experience, having a new PB QB, and upgrading the O:Line then he is gone.

Lovie will likely get at least one more year than Turner.

Please not Shanahan, but Cowher would definately be loved here.

on the basis that money isn’t an issue. If the Bears go 9-7 again but the defense looks better, then I think they stay. Not necessarily because I would want them to, but because I don’t think the McJokesky’s will cough up the dough if they can find a reason not too.

Now, if they go 7-9 or worse and the defense doesn’t improve at all. Then I think that there is a good chance that Lovie at least goes. With Lovie apparently putting full responsibility of the defense on his shoulders, a move that I respect him for, it pretty much has to improve. If the defense doesn’t get better, than Lovie looks pretty ineffectual.

Shanny vs. The Chin

Shanny is a great coach whom I have a lot of respect for and he already has a report with Cutler.

The Chin on the other hand is also a great coach whom I have a lot of respect for.

I might change my mind later, but I’m leaning towards The Chin. I think that his personality and intensity fits my impression of the Chicago Bears better.

That said, if we go 7-9 next year and Lovie is fired, we will be in a rebuilding mode and will have to do more building on defense than offense. Hate to see that happen.

with the talent that we’ve acquired and have on this team – they no doubt should be shown the door, particularly Turner. The ineptitude on offense in terms of play calling needs to be righted this year, especially with the addition of Cutler. Turner’s main problem is not knowing how to make the best use of talent and I hope that changes this year with Cutler and doesn’t force him to throw 10 yard outs and 5 yard ins all year.

Lovie will feel the heat if the Defense doesn’t show vast improvement from ’08 with him calling the signals and Marinelli working with the DL. However if the D performs like in 2006 then Lovie will be considered a genius for taking the chance on RM, and RM will look like a miracle worker.

Turner will feel the heat if the Offense sputters. There was talk last year that he only opened so much of the playbook with Orten as the QB, with Cutler, there should be no reason that every play can’t be utilized. If the offense stagnates, or becomes vanilla, get your pitchforks and torches ready, because we’ll be storming the castle. But if we go 11-5/12-4 win the North, and out score our opponents by a 7-10 point margin for the season, RT will be given cart blanche for at least another season or two.

what are the most comments, and separately the most “wrecks” that a post has ever received? anyone? just curious seeing as how i’ve noticed a nice handful of them hitting the century mark on comments… of course being a relative “newbie” to the site, i was just wondering.

I like Lovie and I think he should stay he’s a good coach.

I could see as many “unlucky” things happening this year as “lucky” things that happened last year.

This team needs 2-3 years to be one of the best teams in the league. So with an eye towards that…

If Kreutz, Garza, Pace, Urlacher, Ogunleye, Brown and any other of the the older players shit the bed and fall of the steep cliff of decrepitude, overall, it could be a lousy year. However, if that happens, but the younger guys show promise and development, I’ll still be happy even if they miss the playoffs

On the other hand, if the older players play okay or slightly rebound, but this year’s draft class looks as bad as last year’s, I won’t have much hope for the future, and I might be asking for their jobs.

Jerry Angelo definitely protected himself this offseason. It looks like he is putting Ron in position to make things happen offensively. He made a statement a few weeks ago to the effect of: “We are getting the talent, now it is up to the coaches to figure out how to best use the talent.” To me, that’s his way of telling Ron Turner not to stink it up.

On the other side of the ball, whether Lovie stepped up and decided to call the plays on defense, or whether that was Angelo’s decision, I think this is a sign that Lovie needs to make something happen now. Yeah, he’s the head coach, but he is also a defensive specialist. With the hiring of Marinelli, if Lovie can’t make this defense one of the best in the league, there is no reason he should be a head coach.

Regardless of how many wins we get this year, if one side of the ball is doing all of the work and generating all of the wins, I don’t see the “weak link”, be it Lovie or Ron, on the staff in 2010.

and all of the different scenario’s, I hope that we Kick Ass this year and no one will be on the bubble. Ron Turner, please change my mind of how I feel about you with some good play calling all season. Call games to go for your opponent’s jugular. It would be nice to see us run up some points instead of playing to hold the lead. I can’t stand that type of coaching, play calling to hold a lead that is. This is the last time I bring it up I swear, but for crying out loud, no more f’n full-back dives..EVER!!!

have these 4 options?

Ron should go, Lovie should stay.
Lovie should go, Ron should stay.
They should both go.
They should both stay.

If we miss the playoffs again, especially if the NFC North winner is only a 9 or 10 win team again, then the head coach needs to be let go. There is no excuse for missing 3 years in a row after playing in the Super Bowl with a relatively young team. That being said, if Lovies is launched the new HC would probably want to pick his own staff and Turner would probably be out anyway. I doubt if the players feel strongly enough to try and convince ownership (like Buddy Ryan in the early 80’s) to keep him. I don’t think Cowher and Shanahan are the most likely options. As long as we pick someone who shows some intensity and doesn’t care about being a “players’ coach”, I’m fine with it.

If lovie is fired the bears are set back about 4 years
hes the best coach since DA coach he brought the defense back and guys cmon! he did take us to the superbowl not too long ago and he made a us a team people couldnt scratch off as a win three of the last four have been winning seasons and did you guys forget he saved us from the green bay ass whoopings??