madlithuanian

Great write-up! I cannot wait!

Aaasuming it's true, I think it makes a HUGE difference. If he said it before Cutler came here, the perception could be that of that the QB sucks. Now that Denver has our old "Sucky" QB, and Chicago now his his kickass one...would that not make Chicago more attractive? I'm not convinced we could really swing the trade...but I just feel like anything is possible this off-season...

Also, we could lose a DL, and it wouldnot hurt so much...

It's hard not to root for the guy!

Oddly enough, I'm having the same dream...

Great points Prophet!

Great example of Switzer. I think you can possibly include the likes of Siefert, Fassel, Ross, Martz, Callahan.... Just like mentiong great players, more than win/loss or winning the big game factors in... We all know Trent Dilfer or even Jim McMahon aren't the best QB's of all time. We also know marino is, and he never won the big game. Coaching, as I see it, is not different. There are other factors as you note. 1. Win/loss 2. ability to adapt 3. innovation 4. uttilize the talent to the best potential 5. put together a strong staff I'm sure there are more!

Bingo nfo! Opponents were preparing for run, run, run and we passed, passed passed. Then when we got a nice lead, the D started making big plays...then the run game came in...then hester was doing his thing. It was a wonderful snowball ride for a while. Then as you mention, it was figured out. Get in Rex's dish and he'll fold like a house of cards. Miami I think was the first team to do it. AZ was onto something, but heroics from Url, Mike Brown and Hester proved too much. And the rest is history... And as you say, he went backwards. He did not improve. Especially on things like throwing off the back foot, reading defenses, holding onto the ball. Things under his control. It was a fun run. But ultimately, I feel duped. And while many I'm sure disagree with me, I'm still irritated how he did not take any personal responsibility for the SB loss. He called it a team loss, and while it was...a strong leader and stand-up guy takes the whole heat, even if more blame should be shifted elsewhere. It showed immaturity at that moment. It showed weakness. I was honestly done with him from that point on. I'd wish the guy luck, but he's not a Bear. I just wish him good health and hope that if we ever see him again, he's so kind to return the favor and give us about 5 turnovers.

Thank you...

Great post! I was just going to put it up myself! Kudos to Da Coach!

I third that...

IR...

Those 2 lines by you speak VOLUMES...

Texans agreed to terms with QB Rex Grossman on a one-year, $745,000 contract. We're guessing that Rex isn't being brought in to compete with Dan Orlovsky, who the Texans will pay about $3M this year. Grossman, 29, holds an awful career completion rate of 54.2 and a weak 6.4 career YPA. Most likely, he will push Alex Brink to be another insurance policy behind starter Matt Schaub, who's missed 10 games with injuries over the last two seasons. Source: Houston Chronicle

I didn't quite say that...but let's say I did. We're are 2-2. The first year we were in the playoffs, I think was just hunky dory! No expectation, and Rex just came off to give it a whirl. The second loss agasint Carloin was as pure example of what many have complained about Smith. he let Steve Smith catch all over us. There was no attempt at any adjustment once it was obvious to anyone watching. Blame Rivera, but the buck stops at the top. Smith has the power at any point to make a change. Our SB run was great. He did call a questionable timeout, which had it backfired I' sure would be a huge issue. It didn't, so it's under the radar. In the SB, it was a game that could have been won. We forced fed Benson when TJ was doing just fine. And the O went to sleep as Rex and co turned the ball over at a crucial moment. Again, you can blame Turner, Rex,et all...but the buck again stops at the top. Smith doesn't deserve full blame for that SB loss...much of it is spread around across the board. However, look back and get the feeling that the team was far too full of themselves and Smith didn't seem to address that, at least publically. So I will assume nothing was done. As much as we all like to think we missed the playoffs by one game, bad play,etc...we were also just as close to losing about 3 more games in the same fashion. If you don't get into the playoffs, you don't get credit for "almost". Other coaches have had to deal w/ injury issues from Parcells to Billicheck to Vermeil etc...and many did just fine. I think due to good coaching. We looked so putrid 2 years ago just removed from the SB, I could care less who was injured. Our teams were not prepared and we were outcoached on a constant basis. We were last year too, but we won despite much of that. Don't get me wrong, I still have hope. And I think we'll do far better than 9-7 this season. I'm just not sure how much of the imrpovement will be due to Smith. I need to see something turnaround. I'll take a win no matter how we get it. But I'd much rather take it because we made good decisions rather than luck out on a turnover.

Great post! I do think Cowher had something on Smith... His teams were almost 100% of the time in the playoffs. And I think he adjusted in games. For Cowher, it was the shotgun effect. You keep firing a shotgun at t wall, and eventually you will hit the target. For them, running and D did it. I recall Big Ben not having a good game under Cowher that SB year. Cowher kind of is the epitome of consistency. he always brought the D. I don't think any of his D's ever hit the bottom like ours practically did last year. I've had my issues with Smith, and basically i still do. But I also think, like many of us, he can learn from his mistakes. As fans, we want it all. We want (good) consistency and we want championships. Right now, Smith has a good win/loss record and an appearance to a SB. But w/ 2 years in a row missing the playoffs after such success, he needs to get back to those winning ways. I think his past success will see him ride out his contract to full fruition more than likely. I just hope within that period, he shows that he's grown and learned form his mistakes and truly becomes one of the game's best coaches.

Not speak up for his post...but I think the assumption was "win a Super Bowl".

Do you honestly feel that a "good coach" is solely based on wins/losses? Wouldn't Schottenheimer be one of the best of all time? Maybe my exact historical stats are off, but I think you get the point. A good/great coach not only gets wins in the regular season, but in the post. He gets wins when they are most important, and does things to put his team in the best possible situation to win. I do not feel Smith has done that. i feel the team, on many occassion has won despite his action/or lack thereof. One cannot take away Smith's record as a HC. It's quite decent. But I'm not going to remotely say he's a great coach. I think his failings have been pointed out ad neaseum. If he can win, and improve upon his past failings, and especially bring a championship back to Chicago, I, and am sure many other, former detractors will gladly get in line for an about face. I truly hope he can. He's been given a hell of a lot of pieces to the puzzle to get it done. It wouldn't be the first time, someone that's gotten grief, turns it around and becomes the better.

I'm hard pressed not to agree w/ you! I also think, How we win will factor in any long term extention. ST drama and defensive scoring miracles I think won't get it done alone like it did his last extention. Winning does solve virtually everything though.

Rockin'!

Where's Pisa?

I went to Cal Poly, SLO. The professor I think got his PHD at the same school McCaskey did...

Sadly, I think you are correc tin your assessment! Funny side story... When I was in college taking an advanced business management course..the first day this one prefessor started rattling off some info and stats about some person 'X' who he was using as a great example of "how to manage",etc... After a litle bit mentioning Yale and some other accomplishments, I starting thinking, is he talking about Michael McCaskey? Then he asked the students, "Who am I talking about"? I responded, "Michael McCaskey?" He said, yes! And then started going into more that he did. I proceeded to gather my things and walk out to drop the class. He asked me, "Is there somewhere you have to go?" I said, "yes, to a different professor who has a better role model than the man who ruined the Chicago Bears". I then dropped the class and took some other professor for it.

yeah, as much as I have issues with him, 20 isn't correct. I'd say he's in the top half. Somewhere between 11-16.

Yeah, I'd tend to agree! Once Mikey-boy was given the boot, that signified a serious overall change!