Monday Musings: C'mon Lovie, Seriously?
by Kev H on Apr 19, 2010 11:02 AM CDT
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PrintLovie Smith is not particularly good at the press conference or the interview. He's got the things he loves to say, and he repeats them ad nauseam. A quick best-of list:
- We're a defensive football team.
- We get off the bus running the football.
- Rex is our quarterback.
So it's not a surprise that he'd say something in an interview that would stand out as, at best...odd. As quoted at the Daily Herald recently, he had this to say:
"Physically, he'll be good to go," Smith said. "(The wrist injury) could have been a good thing. He had a chance to sit out. No wear and tear on his body last year. We might have stolen a year."
Wait...what!?! That can't be right...
No. Just no. No part of this quote makes sense, besides "Physically, he'll be good to go." Let's take an in-depth look at the lines of this quote really quickly.
"(The wrist injury) could have been a good thing."
I was not aware that season-ending injuries to a playmaker in the first game of the season could possibly be a good thing. Especially when that person is your franchise middle linebacker, who leads the defense, and puts guys in position. The guy that you personally have described in this same article as this:
"He is a (defensive) quarterback,"..."A coach on the field. He calls out every formation, he knows what everyone is supposed to do."
So...how is this good? Oh, it's about to be explained to us, that's good. Some insight might be able to help me understand what you meant.
"(The wrist injury) could have been a good thing. He had a chance to sit out. No wear and tear on his body last year."
Wait, I'm still confused. Back to my original point, having your "defensive quarterback" out of the field and standing on the sideline isn't good. While it's great that he was able to rest a bit, and his body didn't have to take the punishment of an NFL season, ideally, you want him on the field.
You're a team that went 7-9. You had 5 games where you lost by a margin of 7 or less points. Having him out? Probably not a good thing. He has historically been, and likely would've been, a difference maker, possibly enough to pull out some of those games that were lost.
My absolute favorite part, though, is the last part of this quote.
We might have stolen a year.
What!?!?! What does that even mean? You didn't steal a year... you had a season stolen. Well, not even that, really. You lost a year that you maybe could've competed in. Yes, it still would've been tough, the wildcard teams were 11-5. But you didn't steal anything. Having Urlacher available to play in a couple years is not the same as having had him last year. You missed the playoffs... again.
As a matter of fact - you actually may have given away a year, with poor coaching decisions, poor front office decisions, and what appears to be a general level of smugness that doesn't suit the output level.
I can appreciate the idea that Lovie is trying to find the positive side of all of this, but as two popular radio guys in Chicago would say:
Lovie Smith... who are you crapping?
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Lovie and President Bush should team up with there quoting………………..
by I love football! on Apr 19, 2010 11:07 AM CDT reply actions
Its
(Possessive form uses no apostrophe)
"F*** everybody outside of Halas Hall. BEARDOWN" - WavyGravy
"44 years of football history and nothing to show for it. I wish I wasn’t banned at the Norseman.." - tfrabotta
A+
"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 Apr 19, 2010 10:11 PM CDT up reply actions
It isn't?
Does that mean ROFLMFAO isn’t a work either?
Just call me Mr. 3000.
by Ditkavsworld on Apr 20, 2010 9:24 AM CDT up reply actions
I'm slow. damn... that's bad.
Just call me Mr. 3000.
by Ditkavsworld on Apr 20, 2010 11:33 AM CDT up reply actions
Lovie has his favorite statements
But I think it’s funny that none of them are ever backed up by the stats: we finished in the 20s in total D, we finished like 28th in rushing and Rex always carried a decent-at-best QB rating after his amazing September in ’06.
"I was interviewing George Halas and I asked him who is the greatest running back you ever saw. And he said, 'That would be Red Grange.' And I asked him if Grange was playing today, how many yards do you think he'd gain. And he said, 'About 750, maybe 800 yards.' And I said, 'Well, 800 yards is just okay.' He sat up in his chair and he said, 'Son, you must remember one thing. Red Grange is 75 years old.' - Chris Berman
by Sam Householder on Apr 19, 2010 11:11 AM CDT reply actions
decent-at-best
You are very polite.
I'm a firm believer in the philosophy of a ruling class. Especially since I rule. -Randal Graves
Writer at windycitygridiron.com -/-I http://www.twitter.com/kdoggers
You should do a quote beaakdown every week
ala Tosh.0
"When I played pro football, I never set out to hurt anyone deliberately - unless it was, you know, important, like a league game or something." ~ Dick Butkus
by Lester A. Wiltfong Jr. on Apr 19, 2010 11:17 AM CDT reply actions
I very possibly could.
They certainly provide enough material.
I'm a firm believer in the philosophy of a ruling class. Especially since I rule. -Randal Graves
Writer at windycitygridiron.com -/-I http://www.twitter.com/kdoggers
understanding the enjoyment of bashing Lovie aside
He probably means looking forward it could have been a good thing. we already lost, it sucked and was bad, but now moving forward. his body isn’t beaten up, he’s had a full year to rehab, and to watch and wait and grow hungry to play again.
that’s my take… back to the hate train
Chuck Norris once met Dick Butkus and had a very odd feeling come over him. Chuck later realized it was fear
by BearNecessities on Apr 19, 2010 11:20 AM CDT reply actions
Really, I wrote it from more of a
“Dude…seriously?”, I found this funny place than a “Yes, let’s punch him while he’s down.”
Probably would’ve been better to not talk about it much than say silly things. But hey…there’s nothing of super substance to talk about until later Friday evening, so, we takes what we gets.
I'm a firm believer in the philosophy of a ruling class. Especially since I rule. -Randal Graves
Writer at windycitygridiron.com -/-I http://www.twitter.com/kdoggers
absolutely
just my take on it (what lovie said) not your musings of it.
Chuck Norris once met Dick Butkus and had a very odd feeling come over him. Chuck later realized it was fear
by BearNecessities on Apr 19, 2010 11:28 AM CDT up reply actions
oh and i wasn't overreacting
just too slow to catch the sarcasm
Chuck Norris once met Dick Butkus and had a very odd feeling come over him. Chuck later realized it was fear
by BearNecessities on Apr 19, 2010 11:29 AM CDT up reply actions
No worries.
Sarcasm is, at this point, so deeply engrained in my body that the better assumption is to assume I’m being sarcastic, and if I’m not being sarcastic, then I’ll say “I realize it sounds like I’m being sarcastic, but I really do mean __________”
I'm a firm believer in the philosophy of a ruling class. Especially since I rule. -Randal Graves
Writer at windycitygridiron.com -/-I http://www.twitter.com/kdoggers
All good
my sarcasm meter doesn’t start in person til Wednesday, it usually doesnt ever pick up for internet speak. carry on good sir
Chuck Norris once met Dick Butkus and had a very odd feeling come over him. Chuck later realized it was fear
by BearNecessities on Apr 19, 2010 11:40 AM CDT up reply actions
Way to over react to 5 sentences
This is why Lovie and other coaches never say anything interesting. Bloggers and reporters can’t wait to break down an innocuous paragraph line by line, read all sorts of stuff into it, and call you an idiot for having said it.
It’s clear what Lovie means. Yes you could just as easily look at it as losing a year as stealing a year, but because Lovie is not a pessimist like you it doesn’t mean he’s wrong. The cup can be both half empty and half full at the same time.
The reason why football players break down is less about age and more about wear and tear on their body. That’s the reason why nobody thinks Chester Taylor is done at an age when so many starting RBs are. The fact that Brian sat out a year, likely did extend his career for another year on the backside. In addition he’ll likely be more effective this year than he would have been last year due to the extra rest.
I know this is the off season and you need reasons to complain, in lieu of actual bad football plays, but this is petty.
Vinny: "[Thrust] means pace, it means getting the ball out, it means getting your back to the sidelines, it means extending your outlets, it means getting the ball up the court into our early offense with plenty of time."
You should probably read the comment
that is touching the very top of your own. And maybe consume one of these
I'm a firm believer in the philosophy of a ruling class. Especially since I rule. -Randal Graves
Writer at windycitygridiron.com -/-I http://www.twitter.com/kdoggers
I agree with most of your post
I don’t agree with your last sentence, but I like the rest of what you wrote.
"Do or do not... there is no try." - Yoda
by Maelvampyre on Apr 19, 2010 12:59 PM CDT up reply actions
This was a pretty good post until people got into semantics.
The cup can be both half empty and half full at the same time.
Totally wrong. The correct answer is the cup is simply too big. There are no shades of gray….
If you can't laugh at yourself you must not be very funny.
How would the president get through the day, then?
"I want to be remembered as the guy who gave his all whenever he was on the field."
-Walter Payton
Anyone besides me wonder
why the “QB of the defense” was roaming the sidelines (when he was in attendance) instead of getting a headset on or helping coach up the backup LB’s last year.
I wondered as well.
Don’t feel alone.
I'm a firm believer in the philosophy of a ruling class. Especially since I rule. -Randal Graves
Writer at windycitygridiron.com -/-I http://www.twitter.com/kdoggers
why?
Presuming you mean Brian Urlacher.
The answer is obvious.
He’s not a coach.
They had plenty of coaches on the sidelines, for better or worse.
"Do or do not... there is no try." - Yoda
by Maelvampyre on Apr 19, 2010 12:58 PM CDT up reply actions
Well
If he is the key player and you have a struggling defense with inexperienced linebackers or key play callers, tell him to help out a bit. Can a coach really tell a player how to lead and adjust on field better than a Pro Bowl vet like Urlacher?
All I am saying is it could not have hurt anything having him coach up another player about the in game strategies and schemes. You see other hurt players doing it all the time when they are the key guy.
Or why he didn't travel with the team
for road games?
"The time has come to get deeply into Football. It is the only thing we have left that ain't fixed." - HST
You're right on target with your comments, but you know the worst thing about the interview?
The fact that he’s still around as Head Coach of the Bears to even be interviewed!!!! I can’t wait until he’s a footnote in, what I will always refer to as, the “dark period” of Chicago Bears history (the Wanny, Jauron, Lovie eras). I don’t think any team could purposely pick 3 bigger morons in a row! Even Al Davis through a Gruden in the mix to break up the monotony.
I think that's a little harsh.
Lovie obviously had some success, I just don’t feel he’s the best to adapt to the continually and rapidly changing NFL, and is too stubborn to admit that changes need to be made.
I don’t think he’s a bad coach, I’m just unsure that he’s got much future here. And if they do well, return to form, and they get back to the Super Bowl, i’ll be a happy kid.
I'm a firm believer in the philosophy of a ruling class. Especially since I rule. -Randal Graves
Writer at windycitygridiron.com -/-I http://www.twitter.com/kdoggers
Not a bad coach?
He’s missed the playoffs 3 years in a row after reaching the Super Bowl with a team largely built by the previous regime and a once in a lifetime return man. He has since taken said return man and turned him into a mediocre receiver, has had only two people who were brought in under his time go to a Pro Bowl (one being the aforementioned former return man), has not developed any players to be better than they were when he got here or become good after they were drafted, decided to give a starting job to a DE who didn’t earn it over the best D-lineman he had at the time but wouldn’t admit the mistake until well into the season, was influential in signing two of the biggest Free Agent busts in recent memory (Archleta and Pace), drove away coaches who stood up or challenged him, continuously makes terrible game decisions, has one of the worst “challenge” percentages in the league, has teams that are consistantly unprepared for games, singlehandedly came up with a new disease “DMS” that has pretty much ruined at least one player’s career, can’t out think opposing coaches during games because he…
is too stubborn to admit that changes need to be made.
let’s not keep fooling ourselves into thinking this guy is not a bad coach. Everything points to the fact that he is.
Sorry to get off on a rant, but I’m tired of waiting for my team to be good again and , in my opinion,Lovie is the poster boy for mediocrity.
by BearFan611 on Apr 19, 2010 12:44 PM CDT up reply actions 3 recs
My fault
Inherently, I don’t think he’s a bad coach. I agree that he is a less than stellar head coach. There’s a difference to be noted.
I'm a firm believer in the philosophy of a ruling class. Especially since I rule. -Randal Graves
Writer at windycitygridiron.com -/-I http://www.twitter.com/kdoggers
Your point is a valid one
but I’m not sure if it can be said that he’s even a good coordinator at this point. He was our DC last year, we know how that turned.
You are right, though, there are some guys who are good position coaches or coordinators who are terrible as HC’s. I just wish the Bears would stop finding all of them!
I think that's how most of us feel
We just have to deal with it and like with any bad thing we have to try and find the silver lining. If we don’t at least try to be somewhat thrilled about a new year then we’d be horrible fans.And remember any angst at Lovie should also go to the top because it’s those “geniuses” that kept him, his staff and Angelo onboard
Lovie has no thoughts.
He is just a cardboard cutout that doesn’t have any idea what he is supposed to say.
Lifelong Arizona Cardinals/Chicago Bears fan.
I can't stand fair-weather/bandwagon fans, stick with your team, throughout the good and the bad.
Gotta wreck this one!!!!!!!!!!!!!...
This is a microcosm of the last 3 seasons. Sometimes when bad things happen, they actually do suck. Isn’t it better to just admit the errors, learn from them, and move on. It’s almost worse trying to sugar coat a turd.
IT'S NOT TOO LATE TO FIRE LOVIE!
It's funny how some people can be hypocrites when it involves Lovie
Really? You’re breaking down a quote when he is obviously taking the only good thing he can from Urlacher being out all of last year? It’s not like numerous people have made similar comments on this site or anything….How many more posts can WCG create to bash the coach? People cant have that much more disparaging words to say about Lovie, the ONLY coach to get the Bears to the Super Bowl in the last 20 years….I can already see Bear “fans” secretly wishing the team sucks so they can bash Lovie more, he gets fired and another coach comes in who im sure will get bashed as well…..The Bears could hire Jimmy Johnson in his coaching prime and it wouldnt please the majority of you….
It's playoff time and im in asshole mode circa 09 Mamba...Fuck your team and their title chances.
Ya Gotta Love Bear "Fans"!!
It's playoff time and im in asshole mode circa 09 Mamba...Fuck your team and their title chances.
You also have to like people who don't get the joke.
Please clean up the language in your signature line.
I'm a firm believer in the philosophy of a ruling class. Especially since I rule. -Randal Graves
Writer at windycitygridiron.com -/-I http://www.twitter.com/kdoggers
You didnt see the sarcasm in the last part of my comment and the reply? aaah it does happen then
The sig is for SS&R but ill censor it on here
It's playoff time and im in *sshole mode circa 09 Mamba...**ck your team and their title chances.
Gracias Senor and/or Senorita
Es very mucho appreciated.
I'm a firm believer in the philosophy of a ruling class. Especially since I rule. -Randal Graves
Writer at windycitygridiron.com -/-I http://www.twitter.com/kdoggers
Dude... relax...
… he’s obviously joking around, plus there’s not a lot of Bears news right now. The guys bust their tushies trying to keep everyone entertained around here.
And before you blame all of the WCG writers for bashing Lovie, do some research. I heart him.
Have a good day. And relax, it’s healthier for you. :]
"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 Apr 19, 2010 11:56 PM CDT up reply actions
I didnt word it exactly how i wanted
But it was more towards the Lovie hatred as a whole. People have their opinions and i have mine. And i chose to state mine about the lovie bashing people with a side of sarcasm at the end…If you took the name off the site people would swear we were Lion fans….Trust me im relaxed its the NBA playoffs and the defending NBA Champion Lakers are playing later on tonight for a 2-0 lead in their series. Could it possibly get any better than that? lol
It's playoff time and im in *sshole mode circa 09 Mamba...**ck your team and their title chances.
Trust me im relaxed its the NBA playoffs and the defending NBA Champion Lakers are playing later on tonight for a 2-0 lead in their series. Could it possibly get any better than that? lol
Yeah the Bears could be playing.
Just call me Mr. 3000.
by Ditkavsworld on Apr 20, 2010 9:22 AM CDT up reply actions
I wanna see the Bears
in the NBA playoffs.
I'm a firm believer in the philosophy of a ruling class. Especially since I rule. -Randal Graves
Writer at windycitygridiron.com -/-I http://www.twitter.com/kdoggers
It'd be more entertaining I'm sure.
Just call me Mr. 3000.
by Ditkavsworld on Apr 20, 2010 11:35 AM CDT up reply actions
Being that its April
and the White Sox SUCK right now..It doesnt get any better than the Lakers playing ball…Ask me the same question August-Jan and itz a no contest for the Bears
It's playoff time and im in *sshole mode circa 09 Mamba...**ck your team and their title chances.
Oh, and I wouldn't want Jimmy Johnson in his coaching prime.
I don’t like him.
I'm a firm believer in the philosophy of a ruling class. Especially since I rule. -Randal Graves
Writer at windycitygridiron.com -/-I http://www.twitter.com/kdoggers
He has great hair though.
1. Mel Kiper
2. Jimmy Johnson
Just call me Mr. 3000.
by Ditkavsworld on Apr 20, 2010 9:23 AM CDT up reply actions
they weren't going to do shit
either way. so if he has his last highly productive year a later when the rest of the team is finally built than he would have otherwise, (which you’ll never know) then maybe they will be better off in the end.
You're overlooking the obvious, Kev.
I think it’s pretty apparent that after the injury, he was taken to Cloud City and placed in the carbon freezing unit, thus keeping him from aging this past year. They’re keeping him stored in Jabba’s palace (Wisconsin) until training camp rolls around. I believe this is the point where Smudgers steps in with a delightful photoshopped image.
"The time has come to get deeply into Football. It is the only thing we have left that ain't fixed." - HST
by JerBear50 on Apr 20, 2010 12:40 AM CDT reply actions 1 recs
nice
"When I played pro football, I never set out to hurt anyone deliberately - unless it was, you know, important, like a league game or something." ~ Dick Butkus
by Lester A. Wiltfong Jr. on Apr 20, 2010 9:42 AM CDT up reply actions
Urlacher: [as Briggs tries to fight off the medical staff and free Urlacher] No! Stop, Briggs, stop! Briggs! Briggs this won’t help me! Hey! Save your strength. There’ll be another time. Lovie. You have to take care of him. You hear me? Huh?
[Lovie and Urlacher share a passionate kiss before Urlacher is dragged towards the freezing chamber by the Bears medical staff]
Lovie: I love you.
Urlacher: I know.
by rdent4hof on Apr 20, 2010 10:22 AM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
The concept of Urlacher sharing a passionate kiss
with anyone, man or woman, is a concept that utterly terrifies me.
I'm a firm believer in the philosophy of a ruling class. Especially since I rule. -Randal Graves
Writer at windycitygridiron.com -/-I http://www.twitter.com/kdoggers
by Kev H on Apr 20, 2010 10:27 AM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
Nice follow up, sir.
I was going to do a whole Luke/Yoda “My friends are in danger/but your training is not complete” thing, but then I realized there’s no one on the staff who I’m comfortable comparing to Yoda. Sadly, this staff seems to be more Episode 1 than Episode 5. I will admit though, Martz looks like he could have some Ewok blood somewhere in his family tree.
"The time has come to get deeply into Football. It is the only thing we have left that ain't fixed." - HST
bored writers
know how you can tell if a writer is bored? Articles like this.
Know how
you can tell readers aren’t appreciative that we try to have something up for them, even in the slowest part of the season, and complain even though they still read them? Comments like this. :]
"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 Apr 20, 2010 11:19 AM CDT up reply actions
Know how you can spot the new guy who post nothing.
Just call me Mr. 3000.
by Ditkavsworld on Apr 20, 2010 11:34 AM CDT up reply actions
My first thought was
“Oh! That poor cat!” But then I realized that it’s photoshopped on, and not someone really putting stuff on their nice white cat. Whew. 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 Apr 20, 2010 12:10 PM CDT up reply actions
I think people would have died attempting to put makeup on a cat.
"F*** everybody outside of Halas Hall. BEARDOWN" - WavyGravy
"44 years of football history and nothing to show for it. I wish I wasn’t banned at the Norseman.." - tfrabotta
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