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Before the Chicago Bears began the Ryan Pace portion of the press conference, team president Ted Philips spoke to the media. Contrary to yesterday's reports, Ryan Pace will report directly to Ted Phillips. While Pace is "going to oversee the entire football operations", the fact that he's structured under Phillips in the Bears organization is troubling to many. Time will tell how much involvement Phillips has on the football side of things.
My guess is this is no big deal. Pace is the shot caller when it comes to the football side of things and Phillips will stay in his comfort zone.
Bears team president Ted Phillips: "Look, you guys all have convinced me I'm not a football guy, all right?"
— Rich Campbell (@Rich_Campbell) January 9, 2015
Here are some highlights from new GM Ryan Pace via the twitter feeds of some of the Bears beat writers and the Bears twitter feed.
Pace's first order of business is to find a head coach.
New #Bears GM Ryan Pace says first order of business is "to hire right head coach to lead us to championships."
— Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) January 9, 2015
Pace will lead #Bears' coaching search. Phillips, McCaskey and Accorsi will be involved. #BearsTalk
— Bears Talk (@CSNBears) January 9, 2015
The Bears made it clear that there would be no questions regarding specific head coaching candidates nor would Pace address any specific players on the roster.
Pace: "Our roster will be thoroughly evaluated. That will be a critical first step."
— Jeremy Stoltz (@BearReport) January 9, 2015
Pace: "For the Bears to have sustained success, we must build through the draft."
— Rich Campbell (@Rich_Campbell) January 9, 2015
Pace says #Bears will be aggressive in pursuit of players and must build championship team through the draft.
— Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) January 9, 2015
Pace: The recipe to winning Super Bowls is to string successful drafts together again, again and again. #BearsTalk
— Bears Talk (@CSNBears) January 9, 2015
What kind of team will Pace try to build?
Pace says #Bears will look for players with toughness, character, instincts and intelligence.
— Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) January 9, 2015
#Bears GM Ryan Pace says, "It's all about winning games."
— Bob LeGere (@BobLeGere) January 9, 2015
But about that coaching search...
Pace not looking for specific schemes in HC coach.
— Michael C. Wright (@mikecwright) January 9, 2015
Ryan Pace mentions the Saints' change from 2005 to 2006, and the focus on hiring the right coach (Sean Payton) to turn it around.
— Kevin Fishbain (@kfishbain) January 9, 2015
#Bears GM Ryan Pace says he's looking for "confidence, charisma, discipline," in a head coach.
— Bob LeGere (@BobLeGere) January 9, 2015
Ryan Pace: "doesn't matter" if it's offensive or defensive coach, or one than runs a 3-4 or a 4-3
— Patrick Finley (@patrickfinley) January 9, 2015
What about a special teams coach?
#Bears GM Ryan Pace said other coaching candidates have been scheduled for interviews.
— Adam Jahns (@adamjahns) January 9, 2015
Pace on hiring coaches, executives, scouts, etc. "It's fair and it's right that I evaluate the current staff here."
— Rich Campbell (@Rich_Campbell) January 9, 2015
#Bears GM Pace - not limiting coach search to NFL guys - just important to "get it right"
— John Mullin (@CSNMoonMullin) January 9, 2015
Pace says he sat down with Todd Bowles 1-on-1 yesterday.
— Jeremy Stoltz (@BearReport) January 9, 2015
Pace on searching for a head coach: "I think I'm a really good judge of character."
— Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) January 9, 2015
Pace says his head coach must have outward confidence, must be able to control the room. #Bears
— Jeremy Stoltz (@BearReport) January 9, 2015
Pace says he is influenced by Sean Payton and will look for some similar traits. Todd Bowles comes from same Bill Parcells coaching tree
— Brad Biggs (@BradBiggs) January 9, 2015
No timetable on hiring a head coach, according to Pace.
— Jeff Dickerson (@ESPNChiBears) January 9, 2015
Pace mentioned that the decision on the new head coach is his to make, but it will be a group effort between him, George McCaskey, Ted Phillips and Ernie Accorsi.
For those of you wondering why Pace wanted the Bears job over other opportunities...
Pace on why he coveted Bears' job: It's a historic franchise that will do whatever it takes to win, and I want to be leading that charge.
— Rich Campbell (@Rich_Campbell) January 9, 2015
Pace says Bears organization is desperate to win and will do anything to make it happen. Said that's part of why he took the gig.
— Michael C. Wright (@mikecwright) January 9, 2015
Pace: "This was a very thorough and calculated decision by me. That's because this is a historic franchise that desperately wants to win."
— Jeremy Stoltz (@BearReport) January 9, 2015
Pace on why he chose the Bears: "I feel it here. This historic franchise, coming back to Illinois, everything just felt right."
— Jeremy Stoltz (@BearReport) January 9, 2015
If Pace can build a winner in Chicago, I'm pretty sure he'll have his pick of deep dish pizza or Italian beefs for life.
Pace notes that he was the Saints' interim GM for 8 weeks as a result of fallout of the bounty scandal.
— Rich Campbell (@Rich_Campbell) January 9, 2015
Pace talks about the value of discipline in the next head coach.
— Jeremy Stoltz (@BearReport) January 9, 2015
Good idea. I'm sure the word "accountability" will be thrown around at some point.
Ryan Pace will have final say on the 53-man roster, but says he's gotta be able to work with head coach, too.
— Patrick Finley (@patrickfinley) January 9, 2015
#Bears GM Ryan Pace on overcoming adversity of Hurricane Katrina.: "You find out a lot about people. You find out who's in and who's out."
— Bob LeGere (@BobLeGere) January 9, 2015
Pace says the two most important relationships in the building are GM/head coach and head coach/QB.
— Adam Hoge (@AdamHoge) January 9, 2015
Pace on the QB position: "I want to get to know Jay before I come to these conclusions."
— Rich Campbell (@Rich_Campbell) January 9, 2015
Pace, politely declining to detail what he thinks of Cutler: "Evaluating the quarterback is more than what I see on tape."
— Rich Campbell (@Rich_Campbell) January 9, 2015
And that's the closest he'll get to addressing Jay Cutler.
And then of course someone asked him about his age.
Pace: "I don't look at my age. I look at my experience."
— Rich Campbell (@Rich_Campbell) January 9, 2015
Ryan Pace on how long his contract is: "I feel really, really good about being here."
— Kevin Fishbain (@kfishbain) January 9, 2015
My guess on his contract length, 5 years, but if he slips up the Bears have proven they won't hesitate to make a change.
#Bears GM Ryan Pace has a 5 year contract
— Brad Biggs (@BradBiggs) January 9, 2015
Boom! Nailed it!
Pace said the pro and college departments in New Orleans are blended, so they cross functions. #Bears
— dan durkin (@djdurkin) January 9, 2015
Pace: "I feel really, really good about being in power here."
— Adam Hoge (@AdamHoge) January 9, 2015
Pace: "In a perfect world you're acquiring players in free agency that allow you to take best player available in the draft."
— Jeremy Stoltz (@BearReport) January 9, 2015
Pace on NFCN playoff teams in GB and DET: Those teams have done a good job of building themselves up through the draft.
— Rich Campbell (@Rich_Campbell) January 9, 2015
Ryan Pace: "Eventually I really want to implement our (draft grading) system here."
— Kevin Fishbain (@kfishbain) January 9, 2015
If you remember correctly, when Phil Emery was hired, he used Jerry Angelo's draft grading system for his first draft. I wonder how quick Pace will get his system up and running.
Pace unsure if he'll be able to implement his draft grading system before this year's draft, but eventually will.
— Jeff Dickerson (@ESPNChiBears) January 9, 2015
Thanks Jeff...
Pace: "I’m excited about bringing new ideas to the #Bears organization."
— Adam Hoge (@AdamHoge) January 9, 2015
Pace: You turn over the ball, you're not going to win consistently.
— Rich Campbell (@Rich_Campbell) January 9, 2015
"I don't want you guys thinking I'm some moneyball GM. That's not me." -- Ryan Pace.
— Michael C. Wright (@mikecwright) January 9, 2015
To be fair, Pace mentioned that the analytics side of scouting is something he will utilize, it's just not his main source of info.
Pace on difference between leaving Illinois after college and coming back in this position: "I'm really proud of the path that I took."
— Rich Campbell (@Rich_Campbell) January 9, 2015
Pace says salary cap is not his background. Will lean on Phillips & Cliff Stein.
— Jeff Dickerson (@ESPNChiBears) January 9, 2015
I hope his lean is more towards the best cap guy in the NFL and not to Phillips.
"I come from an evaluation background, that's my strength." -- #Bears GM Ryan Pace. Said he'll lean on Cliff Stein for salary cap.
— Adam Jahns (@adamjahns) January 9, 2015
Pace: "The salary cap is not my background … I think being a good GM is knowing your strengths and weaknesses."
— Adam Hoge (@AdamHoge) January 9, 2015
Pace: "You only get one first shot, so it better be right. ...They were interviewing me...and I was interviewing them."
— Rich Campbell (@Rich_Campbell) January 9, 2015
Pace's wife is from Illinois. Says his family is full of #Bears fans.
— Jeremy Stoltz (@BearReport) January 9, 2015
What about the lack of 'identity' reputation the Bears have acquired the last two years?
Ryan Pace: Given the weather, "You gotta be able to run the ball, you gotta play tough defense."
— Patrick Finley (@patrickfinley) January 9, 2015
#BearWeather
Pace: "Tough, physical defense. We’re going to get back to that."
— Adam Hoge (@AdamHoge) January 9, 2015
Ryan Pace said he believes in "best player available" during the draft.
— Kevin Fishbain (@kfishbain) January 9, 2015
Pace has a solid sense of humor. Says he has never made a mistake in evaluating a player. Got a good chuckle out of McCaskey.
— Jeff Arnold (@JeffArnold_CF) January 9, 2015
Pace spoke about a previous mistake with the #Saints when they drafted DT Johnathan Sullivan, putting need over best player. #Bears
— dan durkin (@djdurkin) January 9, 2015
I know that's a lot to digest, but what do you think about the first impression from Ryan Pace?