AZ54

Anyone know what kind of run blocking scheme we'll be using with Martz system?

I can see the logic but Harry had to go and I think those two were tied at the hip. I felt Lovie should have been gone but he's not so he gets the chance to get it right one last time. If Lovie felt Turner was his best chance to succeed he should have kept him. Otherwise this puts Lovie squarely on the hot seat and that's where he belongs. However, you are correct in that we've framed a very bad situation with a HC on the hot seat in search of new coordinators.

I agree Olsen's blocking leaves a lot to be desired but I still think Martz will line him up like this from time to time. How often he'll be called to block from this role, I hope it's less than what Turner tried to do. Despite thinking this is what we'll see I still prefer to get a real FB who can block, catch, and run. I know it doesn't fit into what Martz does but it's something I think we need in the redzone and short yardage situations if nothing else.

Yesterday I was telling my son (said Martz won't run enough) about how the 49ers used to pass as often as Martz does with his offense. Walsh used to hear about it but then they started scoring and nobody could stop them and suddenly everyone converted to saying the 49ers replace the run with their short swing routes to the RBs. All you have to do is be successful and the naysayers go away. Even though I wanted him as our OC I'm not saying Martz will be successful, much less wildly successful just that I'll grade him on his results when the games begin. After all what was the point of Turner running Garrett Wolfe up the middle against the Vikings? Offense's goal is to score points. Defense's goal is to stop the opponent from scoring.

I can't imagine missing Rashied Davis when he's no longer a Bear. Too many up and coming players at WR to keep him around.

If we could somehow get Peppers to play hard on the plays Harris takes off and then vice versa then maybe this will work out but somehow I think we'd mostly see $30 million taking plays off routinely.

Greg Olsen = H-back.

Didn't we beat the Vikings at the end of the season in a hugely important game for them, likely one that kept them from the Superbowl? I realize everyone can say well there wasn't pressure to win but I like to see a guy who competes down to the wire even when the game means nothing and the other team has everything to play for. The offense got a big lead and then watched the defense lose it yet Cutler kept on plugging. When I think of whiners they don't show up in games like this because it's just not worth it. I didn't see that from Cutler on the field.

I agree that playoff teams don't get blown out like we did consistently. I said after the Bengals game we'd either go downhill fast or we'd regroup and become a playoff contender. We went downhill and I certainly didn't need to see a blowout loss in Rd 1 of the playoffs.

I think our best receiving threat is Aromashodu, hard as that might be to accept. Clark, while capable of catching and providing some YAC, is not a true threat to a defense. I think Olsen is more of a threat than Clark but the lack of a true outside threat last year enabled teams to focus on taking him out of the game plan. I read the Wikipedia page on Air Coryell and it was insightful. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coryell_Offense It's interesting to see how other coaches adapted the scheme to fit their personnel or their preferences. Will Martz move his offense a bit toward what Gibbs or Saundes ran?

Don't understand this at all. Davis sucked even under Singletary until he had his little benching incident. Even then he struggled getting back onto the field but Singletary's message sank in and he has developed into a Pro Bowl TE like everyone expected him to be. If it was just Martz hamstringing Davis' potential why did Singletary have to bench him to get his attention? I understand TEs are not utilized, or haven't been utilized in Martz's offenses over the years and that argument holds more water IMO. I still think Olsen has a place in his scheme because of his versatility and I used to feel the same for Vernon Davis. Desmond Clark is another story. I am very curious to see if Martz tries to adapt the players to his scheme or adapts his scheme to his players. IMO he had the players to make the scheme work in StL but in Detroit he tried to make them fit his scheme and it didn't work. I know we'll still be a pass first team. I think we all know Martz had quite a bit of arrogance in how he went about his work after StL the question is has he learned from that experience in ways that will help him in Chicago? I don't know but I'd rather see him trying to mesh everything together than some QB coach who has never done it.

No way I'm giving up picks for a coach.

I'll take Martz over these QB coaches we're checking out, or over any of these college OCs we're supposed to be considering. He's pass first but I'll live with it for next year. I figure it's a total boom or bust and quite honestly that's the way I prefer it for next year. What's the point of bringing in someone, who might be good but will need some time to develop as a play caller (i.e. a year or so) thus we end up again a middle of the road offense. If Martz busts, or we're just average again, as most predict then he takes Lovie out of town with him and that doesn't bother me at all. OTOH if Martz and Cutler strike gold then we win big time and that won't bother me one bit.

I don't want to get too caught up in this hearsay, at least not until more facts are known but in general the Bears have been fair with salaries lately. What I wouldn't be surprised with is that Chud wanted 3yr contract or 3yr of money on a 2yr deal. Chud is not an experienced OC so nobody knows what he was demanding either. Regardless I think Lovie's situation is the biggest issue we have getting someone in here.

I understand your questions on Plank's experience but I don't understand why you feel we shouldn't even interview the guy. Even if he's not your leading candidate going in I think a willingness to look at someone different is a good thing for Lovie to do. Maybe he doesn't hire the guy but sometimes you get that different perspective in interviews and it opens your eyes to see things a bit differently among your candidates. Sometimes you end up hiring that long shot (at least it's happened to me).

That's true. Within the extended family we have one Chicagoan who was a Chicago Cardinals fan and was actually at their championship game in 1947. The guy is over 80 years old and still remembers all the players and talked in detail about that game. That's a football fan!

I guess I don't fit your mold because I took one of those challenges at work but that's off topic. I fully understand the circumstances any new OC for us faces with job security but I also know these guys will have at least a two year guaranteed contract so it's not like they won't be able to put food on the table. Not to mention what should be a huge pay raise for taking on an bigger role. I would think in those two years Chud would make at least double his current salary so if he leaves after one year he'd get the equivalent of 4 years of pay. Then he can take 3 years off to spend time with his family. Let's assume he's gone after one year, I'd think the guy would have enough confidence in his body of work to feel he's capable of finding another job. It's not like people wouldn't understand his situation with the Bears. I understand your disagreement but I'll stand by my position that any new OC we hire should have enough confidence in himself to feel like he can be successful next year. We ranked 23rd in total yards, 17th in passing yards, and 29th in rushing yards, but 19th in scoring. The rushing game is clearly in need of repair but otherwise we're in the middle of the mix and a lot of our skill position players are young and improving and we have a very talented QB which is by far the toughest piece of the puzzle. I don't view this as a total rebuild. Therefore, le'ts move on from the success/failure discussion because I feel guys knew the circumstances before they got on the plane (i.e. 2yr contract and Lovie's on a short leash) so that leads me to believe there's something else going on here. Maybe it's our timeline and they don't want to wait that long. Let's face it if they leave Cincy or San Diego those teams would have to replace them. It's likely the team asked them to make a decision one way or the other within a couple weeks. If Lovie is waiting for some Superbowl coaches then perhaps you are right in that they chose to just stay in their comfort zone with the current team. Or is the problem today's report that we aren't going to spend much on offense in FA (not that we could anyway). Or is the problem that these guys don't think they'll win the job from whoever is at the end of Lovie's list?

Not true because experience isn't the only factor in choosing a coach, what they did with that experience is relavant. While I'm ok with Tice as our Oline coach I think the frat house aspect he put in the Vikings locker room is not something I want with our young core of skill players. With regards to Marinelli I think his indecisiveness about being a DC is also something we don't need. I tend to agree with Nfol ( ) I think for success we need to get someone outside our current organization with a different perspective. We aren't likely to get a high profile DC or OC for this job unless they are a future HC candidate who could takeover and JA or Philips give them the indication they'd get a shot at it. Seeing as that doesn't appear to be our M.O. it's clear we going with a guy who gets his first shot.

Over the years I've always watched the national broadcast games at home so my kids can are properly educated in how to enjoy a Bears game and what it means to be a Bears fan. They have also learned, as has my wife, that you CANNOT interrupt me during a game. Then as they got older they watched with me. Now years later they go to the bar with me to watch the games. Of 4 kids I've only lost one to the Cardinals.

If a guy doesn't have enough confidence in himself and his system that he has to worry about failing as an OC then I don't want him. Good quality people who are motivated to move up realize you don't get many opportunities and you are much better off getting the experience at the next level sooner rather than later. I realize we aren't offering an ideal situation but regardless walking away from opportunities tells other teams something about Chud too!

He took some pretty good shots from the Bears D as well. By the end of the season it was becoming obvious those big OTs protecting Favre had trouble stopping quicker DEs from getting around the corner. Once teams gave up defending AP (not the home run threat he used to be) they just decided to come after Favre. I enjoyed that.

The logic about Chud wanting a HC position doesn't make sense. The reality is if he comes here and turns around the Bears offense in one season he's on everyone's list around the league just like that. Not saying he'd be at the top of the list but he'd have everyone's attention and then if Lovie was still around for another year (likely because of Chud's offense) then in his second year he'd again be on the HC candidate lists. It can happen fast look at Todd Haley who was our WR coach not too long ago and Arizona went to the Superbowl (a small miracle) and just like that he's a head coach.

For those with a good memory you'll recall that many years ago I said I wanted Plank to come in a few years down the road as our DC. That was back when he was in the arena league and he started out right here in Arizona. Back then I liked his attitude and I liked the fact he actually got the Rattlers to play some defense, that's saying something in the arena league. I don't know what it was but when I listened to his interviews I liked his presence and they way he talked about how defense should be played. I figured he needed some seasoning in the NFL before he'd be ready for us but you know what, he's done that and it appears in a successful way. Something about him has the ability to get his guys to play well and that's something I always look for in a coach: ---------------------------------------------------------------------- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doug_Plank In 2001, Plank began his coaching career as a defensive coordinator in the Arena Football League for 3 seasons under Danny White. In 2004, Plank was hired by Arthur Blank to be head coach of the Georgia Force, the Arena Football team he owned in addition to the Atlanta Falcons. Plank was named the AFL's Coach of the Year in 2005 and 2007 as he led Georgia to the playoffs each year and ArenaBowl XIX in his first year at the helm in 2005. In 2008, he was a seasonal assistant on the Falcons staff. In 2009 he served as the assistant defensive backfield coach for the New York Jets under head coach Rex Ryan, the son of Plank's former defensive coordinator, Buddy Ryan. On January 25, 2009, Rex Ryan announced that Plank's contract would not be extended, effectively ending his tenure with the Jets.[1] --------------------------------------------------------------------- We're just not in the position to get quality veteran coordinators given Lovie's short leash. I figured we'll have to find either a young up and coming coach and take a chance on him or a veteran who wants to get back in the league. IMO Plank fits the up-and-coming role so he deserves an interview. Besides, his middle name is Walter, that has to bring good karma when it comes to the Bears.

Brett won't be back next year and here's why. He was really roughed in the last few games, not just the Saints game. Recall the Bears Vikings game where the ref had to help him up off the turf. He's tough but all those hits were having a cumulative effect and that won't be easier to handle next year. Bu the #1 reason he won't be back is because his wife couldn't stand to see his asx get planted all over the Superdome turf with him unable to get up afterwards time and time again. How many times did they show her and whoever was sitting next to her covering their eyes as he rolled on the ground? Now if it was me out there and I was making $10mil/season my wife would have me back out there with a walker.

This is awesome for Knox and I'm really glad for him. For a 5th Rd pick to come in from Abilene Christian and make the Pro Bowl, even if he was first alternate or whatever, is just something you don't see too often. I hope it gives him confidence to work and build on his good first season.