Top 3 Candidates for Bears Offensive Coordinator Position
by Dane Noble on Jan 5, 2010 4:42 PM CST
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Even though Lovie Smith stated in his press conference today that the team would take it's time finding a replacement for Ron Turner, we can still start making a case for who the top three will be. Here's my take:
1- Jeremy Bates. He was Cutler's QB coach in Denver, and bolted to USC after all the drama went down. Cutler was very disappointed that Bates left, and there was speculation that Cutler would have stayed in Denver had Bates stayed. Bates is a young, up-and-coming coach, who many believe will be on the fast track to an NFL head coaching gig in the near future.
2- Mike Martz. Shortly after Turner was fired, Martz went on record to say he'd be interested in the job if Chicago wanted him. Martz has seen success in the NFL, and having a QB like Cutler would be an interesting project for him. Like many have stated, high risk- high reward with Martz.
3- Charlie Weis. Chicago would be close to home for Weis, and his return to the NFL as an OC was inevitable. He has seen plenty of success at the NFL level... the only thing is, would the Bears be interested in Weis?
Those are my top 3 choices, but there may be other candidates out there who haven't gotten fired from their current teams yet. Also, there may be some other college names out there that the Bears want to look at.
All in all, we shouldn't expect this to be a quick decision.
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I like bates.
Offense was never denvers problem when shannahan was in town. Plus, i’m pretty sure he knows that zone blocking scheme they used. A one cut system like that would be just what the doctor order for forte.
Weiss
Weiss would be a PR nightmare for the Bears. IF Cutler were to get off to a bad start with Weiss as OC it would be like Notre Dame over the last several years.
What?
Weis NEVER had problems with the offense her in South Bend. His problem was two-fold. An inability to handle head coaching and offensive playcalling simultaniously, and the complete lack of understanding where defense is concerned.
Living within a couple of miles of Notre Dame stadium, and being a die hard ND fan, I am well versed in Weis. I was thrilled to see him fired as the ND head coach. He just couldn’t handle defensive concepts, to such a poor degree that he was unable to hire anyone who did. So the firing thrilled me. But once he was fired, the “what if’s” immediately poured in, and rumors began immediately here about Weis being a good fit should Chicago fired Turner. Personally, I’d rather see Bates. But Weis is a close second for me. Martz, not so much. His time has passed. Ask Detroit.
by Timothy Hockemeyer on Jan 5, 2010 10:50 PM CST up reply actions
QB coach in GB
Tom Clements I believe. I don’t know if he has any experience calling plays, but he’s done a heck of a job with Rodgers.
"But it doesn't matter what I do, what I choose. I'm what's wrong. This is fate" - Dexter season 4....I mean Lovie season 6.
Here we go
"But it doesn't matter what I do, what I choose. I'm what's wrong. This is fate" - Dexter season 4....I mean Lovie season 6.
Interesting
choice….mccarthy calls all the plays but clements has an extensive track record….
"What you've just said is one of the most insanely idiotic things I have ever heard. At no point in your rambling, incoherent response were you even close to anything that could be considered a rational thought. Everyone in this room is now dumber for having listened to it. I award you no points, and may God have mercy on your soul...."
- Jay Cutler to Ron Turner during the season
Clements would be a cheaper hire
Here’s where I spotlighted him a while back
But I want Bates. He’s the kind of young energetic coach that woudl be a fit for Cutler. Hiring a get in your face type QB coach would be wise as well.
by Lester A. Wiltfong Jr. on Jan 6, 2010 8:32 AM CST up reply actions
Speaking of QB coaches...
The Saints Joe Lombardi might be worth an interview….
http://www.neworleanssaints.com/Team/Coaches/People/Joe%20Lombardi.aspx
What's with this guy?
Lombardi arrived in New Orleans with extensive coaching experience on both sides of the ball, most recently serving as defensive assistant for the Atlanta Falcons in 2006. While in that role, he worked with a defensive line that combined for 25.5 sacks.
Hey, he can always help Hot Rod with the D-line!
"But it doesn't matter what I do, what I choose. I'm what's wrong. This is fate" - Dexter season 4....I mean Lovie season 6.
Bates sounds interesting.
As for Martz, I’m leary of his pass happy offense without seeing the o-line upgraded and that the defense, who would be on the field for much of the game, can cause more turnovers.
Weiss is qualified, but after his run at ND, why would Lovie want to start off with such negative press attention when he’s obviously in a make or break year.
at daver's request, Let's frontload this B**ch!
Jay Cutler is the Heart of the Bears offense
1. Bates has a previous working relationship with Cutler.
Cutler likes and respects him.
Never been a coordinator before (That said, Mike Martz had never been an OCuntil Dick Vermeil hired him for that position with the Rams in 1999. The Rams won the SB that season).
2. Mike Martz publicly slammed Jay Cutler after his first game as a Bear. He did this on the NFL network where he strongly criticized Cutler’s attitude after the game in his press conference.
Sorry Mike. I have a better chance of getting this job than do you.
3. Weis has NFL success, but how much of that is due to Belichick in New England? No matter who leaves there, the machine keeps on humming along. Weis left, McDaniels was promoted and the Pats didn’t miss a beat.
Beyond that Weis’s success in NE was with Tom Brady.
Cutler and Brady are almost completely different QB’s from a skill-set position.
Probably not a good fit.
Agreed on Weiss - he appears to be too much risk
to double down in the Chicago area this year. Too many lulled pressers and questions on what was Belichick/Brady in the NFL.
at daver's request, Let's frontload this B**ch!
Lovie
Should take over as OC…. Gots ta save that $$$$
"I guess I can’t do anything if you’re just irrational, but to point it out and move on."
- fundamentallysound
by J Theory on Jan 5, 2010 5:18 PM CST via mobile reply actions
What I don't want is inflexibility
That’s why I don’t want Martz. Martz is a good OC, but he is pretty adamant about running his system his way. That’s a death sentence for next season (especially considering how much his system relies on a strong O Line, and the state of ours), and if we don’t do better next year there’s no real point.
I know less about Bates and Weis, but given Bates’ previous experience with Cutler I’m inclined to go with him. But the important thing is to go with a guy who will work with the talent we have, not with the talent he wishes we had.
Makes
You feel better Cutler has been pushing for Bates to get the job….Now how much say Cutler will have is the question (Angelo did say that he would take Cutler into consideration but I cant recall how that would work)…..So guess we will see…
"What you've just said is one of the most insanely idiotic things I have ever heard. At no point in your rambling, incoherent response were you even close to anything that could be considered a rational thought. Everyone in this room is now dumber for having listened to it. I award you no points, and may God have mercy on your soul...."
- Jay Cutler to Ron Turner during the season
Again, this is Jay Cutler's team
Not Lovie’s. Cutler will be here long after lovie is gone.
Here’s what Martz said after the GB game:
Former NFL coaches Mike Martz and Jim Mora criticized Bears QB Jay Cutler after his debut loss to the Packers on Sunday and said Cutler is still not showing the maturity the Bears need from him.
Mora, the former Colts and Saints coach and the father of current Seahawks coach Jim Mora, said on the NFLN that Cutler “acted like he didn’t even care” when speaking to reporters following the 21-15 loss in Green Bay.
“When I saw that postgame press conference last night, I thought he looked completely immature,” Mora said.
Added Martz, ""He just doesn’t get it. He doesn’t understand that he represents a great head coach and the rest of those players on that team … somebody needs to talk to him."
Martz and Mora are analysts on the NFLN’s show, The Head Coaches.
Again, Martz has NO chance here (even though he did a GREAT job of kissing Lovie’s ass by saying):
He doesn’t understand that he represents a great head coach
Great HC????
I hope so. I hope Angelo forces Lovie's hand on this. After what Martz said about Jay, Jay will probably phone it in so he doesn
by frenchbears113 on Jan 5, 2010 5:43 PM CST up reply actions
That's honestly not that bad of a comment.
You are all gentlemen (and ladies) and good judges of cheap whiskey.
His tone of voice and body language made it a lot worse
than if someone was just reading it from a piece of paper.
They (Mora & Martz) were getting all emotional as they ripped Cutler’s demeanor during his press conference. Like Cutler should have threatened to commit suicide cause he threw 4 INT’s.
I can’t ever recall two ex-coaches getting all hysterical over a Press Conference. Not the game. The press conference after the game.
It was pathetic.
I guess I would just have to see it
to understand the direness of it. You happen to have a link?
You are all gentlemen (and ladies) and good judges of cheap whiskey.
Not sure where
there is a link for Martz criticizing Cutler, though I vaguely remember it. Here is a link where Martz and Faulk are supporting Cutler while criticizing the wide receivers and Turner a little bit.
youtube vid, goes pop.
Couldn't find it
Here’s a link of Cutler’s press conference that they were ripping.
http://www.nfl.com/videos/chicago-bears/09000d5d81299f24/Bears-postgame-press-conference
I just thought their criticism was stupid. Who cares how laid back he was? He took resposibility for his poor play and said that there were 15 games left to play.
That’s enough for me.
These guys were going ballistic over this.
Comical.
I agree.
Why should anyone care how laid back he is? He cares but he just shows it in a different way.
Especially in a friggin press conference
I could see it if he was yawning on the field or something.
Personally I like fiery, emotional leaders. Guys like Dan Marino or Jim McMahon back in the day.
Others are cool, calm and collected. Like Joe Montana.
Montana was replaced by a more emotional QB, Steve Young.
Either was is fine if they get the job done.
But a press conference?
Who gives a rat’s ass!
We talkin' bout Presser. Not a game, not a game. Not a game.
We talkin’ bout… Presser.
by Steven Schweickert on Jan 6, 2010 7:27 AM CST up reply actions
No way will it be Martz
I would rather have Ron Turner stay than to give Martz a shot. He’s proven over and over again that his system only really worked with the specific set of players he had in St. Louis. Bates is clearly the frontrunner…really good coach who has experience with Cutler. Weiss runs a good offense but I think the talent he needs is too different from what we have right now.
Though I can't really believe I'm
about to type this. I kinda (throwing up in my mouth a little, trying not to let it get on the keyboard) agree with this.
agreed, at least as far as martz goes.
Weis, on the other hand, I think would do very well with Da Bears. He is very good for QBs and receivers (see Notre Dame) and great at working around a horrible line and with tier two RBs (again, see ND). I still would like to see Bates, but Weis would be a close second choice for me.
by Timothy Hockemeyer on Jan 5, 2010 10:57 PM CST up reply actions
Martz is the Terrell Owens of coaches...
everywhere he goes, he has good numbers but no real success. He alienates those around him and leaves the team in worse shape than when he got there. Martz’s offenses ranked in the lower third of the NFL in 2006, 2007, and 2008. Yes, he put’s together a great passing scheme, but it just doesn’t translate to actual winning football.
I cannot comment on Weis, but I know he was run out of ND.
Bates seems like a good fit and makes the most sense. STILL CANNOT BELIEVE LOVIE WAS NOT FIRED. Is Dom Capers available? ;>P
Fewell guided the Bills to the 30th ranked run defense when his offense couldn’t score points and everyone knew the opposition was going to run the ball anyway! Do not see the defense getting better as long as Lovie is still around. Hopefully the new OC can generate about 40-50 pts. per game!
When you find yourself in a hole, STOP DIGGING!!!
Fewell
didn’t have a good run defense, but really improved the secondary there in a short period of time. That D was pretty bad before he got there, and improved to at least respectable. He has the reputation of an excellent teacher and that his players play hard for him.
Lovie flat out said they will continue to run the cover-2. If they are married to that defense, Fewell is the best we could hope for.
DEJESUS!!!
The problems with that are...
1. Lovie is still here.
2. In the NFL, offenses operate by both passing AND running.
3. The reason his passing defense was so good was because his rush defense was so bad. Teams simply ran roughshod over the Bills and didn’t need to pass.
4. McKelvin is a legit cover corner, so that’s not all Fewell’s doing either.
5. He’s running the same bad Tampa-2.
Other than that, I’m sure he’ll have tons of success. As I said elsewhere, hope the new OC can have this offense averaging about 45 pts. per game!
When you find yourself in a hole, STOP DIGGING!!!
The Bills
gave up a lot of rushing yards, but they shut down the passing game. Teams ran on the Bills because they couldn’t throw. They were middle of the pack in points allowed this year despite the offense going three and out all game long—if teams were running roughshod over them, they should be racking up points—shouldn’t they?
Fewell is not Dick Lebeau, but he’s the only reason the Bills were in any games this year. The offense certainly didn’t help that team. There is a reason he was named interim coach—it’s because he did a good job and was respected by the players.
We’re not going to hire someone to bring in the 3-4, Lovie said as much in the press conference, he wants someone that likes the cover-2. Fewell is one of, if not the best DB coach in the NFL, and knows the cover 2. He’s a best case scenario given the conditions here.
I’d rather have a new defensive scheme, but that’s not going to happen. There are LOTS of things to be upset about, hiring Fewell needn’t be one of them.
DEJESUS!!!
I think your stack ranking is a little off, I'd make it something like.....
1. Lovie is still here
2. Lovie is still here
3. Lovie is still here
4. Smith is still the HC
5. Some guy from Big Sandy, TX is in charge of our football team
6. Rod Marinelli’s best friend is still his boss
7. MaryAnne Smith’s husband is with the Bears
8. Bob Babich’s best friend is still his boss
9. The guy who has compromising pictures of Virginia McCaskey and a farm animal is still coaching the Bears
10. Oh, yeah…..Lovie is still here
Feel free to change the order.
Good, Turner gone!
The guy ruined Univ. of Illinois, and then ruins the Bears! Personally think Angelo should be gone, too. Him, before Lovie. But we need an offensive line. Get rid of Pace, draft one, pick on up, whatever. Don’t need Martz, don’t need Weiss, Bates would be good.
The old coach
Quotes from Martz
“I really hope I get a phone call,” he said. “I’m excited about it. Obviously, I’d love to work for Lovie. From a selfish standpoint, it would be a great situation for me. Working for someone you know and believe in would be ideal. There is real potential there.”
“Cutler has more talent than anybody I’ve ever seen,” Martz said. “When he came out I gave him the best grade of any quarterback I’ve ever graded.”
You are all gentlemen (and ladies) and good judges of cheap whiskey.
Like I needed another reason to hate Martz...
thanks GeauxDane! ;>P
When you find yourself in a hole, STOP DIGGING!!!
Apparently, according Mike Martz,
Cutler just doesn’t grade out too well in press conferences.
Makes no sense to me. About the only time I would criticize a guy’s press conference would be if he was not taking responsiblity for his poor play or if he was criticizing teammates or coaches to excess.
Cutler did neither.
If I was Cutler I wouldn’t have a problem with a guy like Martz criticizing my play if I though he was being fair about it. I would have a problem if he was criticizing my demeanor after the game.
Off topic...
…but I’ve wanted to say this for awhile…
CHECK YER EMAIL!!!!
I’m excited! 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 Jan 5, 2010 11:24 PM CST up reply actions
Please, please stop sending me
pictures of your ingrown toenail. That’s worse than Adam constantly sending pics of his creepy unibrow.
You are all gentlemen (and ladies) and good judges of cheap whiskey.
Aw...
ewww. Thanks for creepin’ everyone out on this site by telling.. 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
Bates seems
to have had success calling plays at the NFL level, and has the respect of Cutler. As we’ve seen, if Cutler doens’t like who he’s playing for, he plays like crap. As immature and unprofessional as that sounds, it is the reality, and the Bears could either wish he was different or accept how he is. Hiring Bates would probably be the best bet.
I don’t think Cutler would play for Martz after Martz publically ripped him. Cutler seems to have held a grudge against Turner since high school, so I imagine Cutler will be pissed at Martz for more than 6 months. Plus I don’t think Martz coaches an effective offense, just one that has good statistical passing numbers.
I’d like to see them at least talk to Mike Leach from Texas Tech. If anyone can rejuvinate an offense, it’s him. He’s got some baggage, but certainly less than the nude drive-thru joke of a coach they thought about bringing in.
DEJESUS!!!
agreed
I’ve been rooting for Weis to be the OC but ever since Bates’ name popped up it’s changed my mind. Like you said, Jay is this team now, and as much as it might suck to play into his games, it could be worse. Bates helped Jay in Denver, Jay liked Bates so much he said he’s stay in Denver if Bates did, you can’t help but like the chances for the Bears with Cutler playing for a good ol’ buddy like that.
Also the comments made about him being one of those darkhorse young coaches whose names are tossed around seems like a good thing. Perhaps if things don’t go as planned we’ll have a Lovie replacement already on staff!
I wasn't being critical of Jay
when I said that it’s his team. I wasn’t implying that he’s a cry-baby or something (although we all know he has that perception about him – and there may be some truth to it).
I just think that almost (almost) all great teams have a great HC & QB.
from Lombard /Starr to Walsh/Montana to Belichick/Brady.
The Bears have invested a lot in Cutler and they are complete IDIOTS if they don’t do everything needed for him to succeed.
They don’t have to kiss his ass. In fact, some ‘tough love’ from the right kind of coach might (might) be the best thing.
Two of the best QB’s in the 80’s were Phil Simms and Jim McMahon and they played for two of the hardest HC’s on QB’s that there were (Ditka & Parcells).
However it is accomplished, they must get the most out of Cutler.
tomas21...Ron Turner kind of did himself in
by not giving Jay more role out plays out of the pocket until week 15.
by MetalGearPeaceWalker on Jan 5, 2010 6:38 PM CST reply actions
That was my big complaint
That was one of Cutler’s biggest strengths. It seemed stupid not to try and exploit it.
Turner deserved to go
The offense has never been above average under him, and the franchise qb didn’t like/respect him. Did I suggest Turner deserved to stay?
DEJESUS!!!
At least in the beginning Jay said all the right things about Tuner despite the Illinois scholarship fiasco…I think it’s less Jay liking or not liking Turner that resulted in the Bears bland offensive playcalling than Tuner just being the predictable O playcaller that he was.
by MetalGearPeaceWalker on Jan 5, 2010 7:27 PM CST up reply actions
I want to see them get Bates.
Someone that knows Cutler is the best choice to be the OC.
Lifelong Arizona Cardinals/Chicago Bears fan.
I can't stand band-wagoner fans, stick with your team, throughout the good and the bad.
bates
i say bates form what i read the best choice young and knows cutler.. no more lovie buddies!!! and if i was pencil neck angelo id grow a pair and insist!!
No one from college please...
“Also, there may be some other college names out there that the Bears want to look at.”
Uh, no. Let’s stay away from college coaches (Bates/Weiss excluded having real NFL experience). I don’t want someone with 0 NFL experience taking over the offense—that rarely works.
wat about...
Mark Heimerdinger, I remember some reporter a while back saying he would be a good head coach. Would he still be an option as a offensive coordinator?
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