BearFan2000

I do recall an article mentioning of the 3 finalists both Trestman and Bevell were inclinded to keep Rod. But that the new coach would have the freedom to build the staff that he wants. Also remember the word was that the first interview with Tresman was something like 8 hours or at least longer than usual. What I believe is that the staff positions and who has the final say on them is Trestman but I would believe that Trestman is smart enough to gather as much info about who's available who could be available, who would be a good fit at the different spots. I also believe that Regardless of whether Rod stays or goes they have a plan in mind if he stays and a plan in mind if he goes, and both may be in the works at the same time. Time will tell what the final staff will look like. I'm sure being out of the NFL for 8 years Trestman is going to pick a lot of peoples brains and study a lot of different guys. My guess is the final interview they were looking at options for the staff. I believe it's a good thing for the coach and GM to be on the same page and work well together at building this staff. This will help so much in how we attack free agency and the upcoming draft.

Thanks for the insight CanadianBear, I've gone from hearing we interviewed a CFL guy (thinking this has to be a joke), to learning about him to the point where he was the one out of the finalist's I wanted. I like what I've read and heard about Trestman, and thrilled with our OC hire, as well as the Special Teams coach hire. Whether we keep Rod as DC or he brings in his own guy, I would lean towards keeping Rod because I feel like from what you've described I think they could work together well. There is risk in this move but but I think it's not risk for the sake of risk. I feel Emery did his due diligence in the search and in this hire. I like how quickly things are coming together, and that it doesn't appear to just be quick decisions but also smart decisions. I'm excited to see what Trestman and his staff will do with the Bears. Could we finally see the makings of a balanced football team not reliant on turnovers and defensive scores to keep us in games till the gets going, or has to practically win games for us. We have a very good defense who's very skilled at creating turnovers, but it's time we had an offense that can carry the load with or without the D getting those takeaways and scores. There sure seems to be a change of culture at Halas Hall from the firing of Angelo, and hiring of Emery, to George taking a larger more hands on approach and seems focused and intent on bringing championships to Chicago. I feel like Papa Bear would be proud of George and hopefully with him, Emery, and Trestman, we can have a football team that would make Papa Bear proud. It feels like new life has been breathed into this once proud franchise. Can't wait for FA and the draft!!!!

This all bodes well here's to a new Era in Bears history. Kudos to picking Emory in the GM search, it sure feels like there has been a serious culture shift within the Bears organization.

My first choice of those three (which would have surprised me merely a week or so ago) is Trestman. When I first heard Emery was to interview a CFL guy, I laughed and thought it was just part of the wide net and probably was to an extent and if so then even wiser to cast a wide net. I thought it was a joke that we interviewed a CFL guy, but the more I learned and still learn about this guy the more I think it would be a great fit. He's had a lot of experience in the NFL with different QB's different offenses, is a guy who has been a head coach at the pro level for 5 years not some guy who'd be learning how to be a head coach on the job. I have a feeling he is going to be the guy. I don't want Bevell and Arian's age kind of worries me a bit when I think of longevity in the position but I would not be opposed to him. I think both he and Trestman have a good offensive background to help this fledgling offense here in Chicago. But I lean more towards Trestman because he has head coaching experience and has had success as a coach winning two championships. What would be cool would be Trestman head coach, and Arian as OC best of both there. I do like that Trestman would be inclined to retain RM as DC that would help maintain continuity on that side of the ball, and I believe also with Lovie gone, Rod would have more freedom to adapt his scheme to the players. Remember that was one of the hot button issues between Riviera and Lovie was that Ron didn't feel the freedom to tweak and improvise Lovie's defensive philosophy. It shows the recognition that the D isn't broken, it's just aging. As they get younger It would be nice to know that Rod has the freedom to adapt to the younger players he gets. If we can relatively maintain the effectiveness of the D and fix the Offense (which would definitely help the D out) this team could be dangerous. I'm also glad to see that whoever comes in is not saddled with someone by Emery or George, or the Bears FO. The new coach will have the option to retain but isn't required to. I think it makes sense to retain RM, If I were the new coach I would strongly consider it given the body of work.

Thing is Offensive line is something that is worth throwing at least one pick at every year. We've played OL Damage control and musical chairs the past 3-4 years. You don't wait till you are in a crisis position to start putting picks into it and high picks into it. You are going to have first rounders not pan out, but by the time we started putting first round picks into our OL positions the microscope was fixed on them so them not panning out is even more of a failure because you absolutely needed them to pan out immediately. When you do look at the breakdown from year to year and you consider the college success the players had and it didn't translate to the NFL or hasn't yet. I do have to wonder at some level if it's not so much tools or the mechanic using the tools. You need to have coaches, coordinators, and position coaches who are skilled at getting the most out of players and developing talent. I don't see the Bears as a team in recent memory where we've really developed new talent. There are some guys who have cracked through over the years but we've seen guys come here and regress, we've ruined players. We are going to have new mechanics in our shop this coming season and if we get the right ones perhaps some of our guys can be salvaged and the ones that can't will be sent packing. Mix in new talent in FA and draft, and it's not unheard of for a team to see vast improvement on the OL from one season to the next. You just need the right mix of players and the right mix of coaches and staff to turn it around. I don't expect all our issues in this area to be fixed this coming season but a definite step in the right direction would be welcomed. And will help build confidence that Emery will be able to build this team for the present as well as the future.

I have a feeling Emery will never have to explain why, and how he forgot to check a box on a form LOL

He's just that good LOL

the way he's gone about this from the get go has been refreshing and has given me confidence that he will bring in the guy he feels will be the best fit here in Chicago. I like that he didn't wait a few days before firing Smith, he did so the day after the game. He had already prepared and sent out paperwork to get permission to interview candidates Monday morning. We find that he had pretty much made up his mind weeks before that regardless of how things shook out that he wanted to go in a different direction with the Coaching position. I think it was also respectful to Lovie by making the decision right away on Monday which gives Smith more time to make his plans and contact other teams for their vacancies. I think both Emery and Smith handled the situation with class and I think that will serve both the Bears and Smith well going forward. It sends the message that Emory, knows what he's doing, has a plan and isn't afraid to take action. This choice was not a spur of the moment, reactionary move as a result of the packers vikings game. It was premeditated, he had a list of guys he had in mind before he waved goodbye to Smith. I like that he started interviewing as soon as possible and has been interviewing a lot of candidates with a variety of backgrounds. It does show he's not just saying it but he's demonstrating that he will be thorough in the search, and that bodes well. It's very smart to cast a wide net here, given he's new to the GM position, its a smart move to pick different candidates brains, and see who has the best ideas/plans to take the Bears to the next level.

I agree I think both Conte and Wright played well overall. I had almost written Wright off as a complete failure but It looks like he's starting to get it. I think they both play well together. What I'd like to see is let them both stay where they are. It's hard for any player to succeed in when we keep playing musical safeties. I say give them time to develop further in their roles. I think they played well and I feel we got better overall play out of the safety position that we have in the recent past.

I don't see Manti sitting there at 20. I don't see him doing poorly at the combine, but again anything's possible. If it were to happen in your scenario and Mant's there at 20 when we pick... And there aren't any stud OT left you take Teo, I've watched the kid play over the years, his leadership on and off the field and his play on it has been a big reason for ND's return to relevance. The guy exudes character and plays with a high intensity and football iq. I think you take him if he's there. Just don't see him being there at 20. I'd love to see him in a Bears Uni and be the replacement for Url as I think he certainly could fill those shoes.

There's a difference between a QB using his legs by offensive design as in roll outs, bootlegs, et. vs a QB using his legs because he's running for his life.

Thought I heard earlier this year that Gonzo's retiring after this season?

I liked how he approached that question about staying 43 or moving to 34. I think he has absolutely the right mentality on this. He understands and we've hashed and rehashed this on this board of whether or not the Bears do have the players to run a 34. I like that Emery is open to a 34 but wants a candidate that would like to bring a 34 to convince him that we have or could have the personnel to do it right. Emery as far as I can tell is extremely meticulous and insistent on having a firm plan. I think this one thing he will want out of a candidate. He will want to know their plan for this team moving forward, how they intend to implement that plan. I don't see this as excluding a candidate because they prefer a 34 because we run a 43. But rather if we are to make the change that he is convinced that we can in fact make that transition.

personally I think the Bears ruined Devin Hester, he was the best return man in the game, and the Bears let the knee jerk reaction of "wow what a cool new toy, let's look for way to get the ball in his hands more... oh I know let's make him a WR, noo better yet let's try to make him our #! WR, who cares that he's never played the spot before he'll be great" I think success in the return game, and the push to make him a #1 when he's at best a situational WR all went to his head and his wallet. We took him off return duties which was his skill, and put him in a position he's ill suited for. Bears management and coaches fed the monster and now we have a screwed up kid who think's he's all that, and has become barry sanders of the return game trying to make every return a home run rather than take whats there. Tired of watching him dance around thinking if he dances long enough something will break and more often than not what breaks is our field position as he takes what should be a decent return and screws the pooch with it. I love Hester and what he has done for the Bears over the years, and when he was that return threat. I no longer expect anything special on his returns like i used to. I just hope he doesn't lose the ball, lose us field position, etc.

I want the Bears to be a winner and bring home SB Titles. That's reality is that hasn't nor would it happen under Lovie. The body of work proves that change needed to happen. We want whats best for the team we want success, we've tasted very little of that in the 9 years with Smith. It is time to move on. We are happy not out of hatred for Lovie, or anyone on his staff, it's out of being sick of losing and not seeing things improve. Insanity is doing the same thing over and over expecting a different result. We are looking for a different result so it's time to do something different.

Definitely the biggest decision of Emery's GM stint in Chicago thus far. This could be one of his defining moments. However this goes and whoever he gets we all need to give it some time. It seems we've been here before. When Angelo was brought in he was saddled with Dick Moron. A year later Angelo was given the power to fire and then hire his own coach. Now Emery is in that position. Things I want in a head coach, mostly based on deficiencies in Smith's staff's. Offensive mind or connections and ability to build a solid offensive coaching staff. A coach who is good with QB's and will bring in the right guys to help Jay and also will be able to develop QB's A coach who has good player evaluation, and development skills and will get the most out of his players A coach who will put his players in the best position to succeed and will field the best players regardless of salary, loyalty, etc. A coach with a killer instinct not one who will get a lead and try to sit on it the rest of the game but keep the pedal down till the game is out of reach. A coach who earns and commands respect from his players by pushing them to be the best they can be, not by going easy on them.

And unfortunately they both can't lose. I can't stand either team. promoting Tice was the easy lazy choice, one of many the Bears and smith has made. But he was sold as the anti Martz, going to get us back to running the ball, using TE's, what we got was an offense that often was predictable, disorganized, and despite adding weapons regressed and lacked any punch at all. Mostly a one dimensional offense. They gave the stats that coming into the game that Marshall had 89 more catches than the next leading Bears receiver (Bennet) who practically disappeared this year between injuries, etc.

And a real LT at that not a RT guard, center, or scrub being moved to LT or washed up LT. Tired of project guys and playing musical OL. Need to start building a solid line and anchoring it with true starter quality players. This minor league patchwork crap aint cutting it. Tired of doing next to nothing to put bandaids on it and say "we like our guys". Reality is our guys SUCK!!!

oh hell no.... just say no to Reid I'd rather have Lovie back next year than Reid. He has earned his firing from Philly. Why fire one loser to bring another? This solves nothing

I don't blame Green Bay or the Vikings for us missing the playoffs. The Bears as a whole dug their own grave after starting 7-1. Bears have no one to blame but themselves period.

no post season for us unless the vikings blow this chip shot kick.

playoffs at this point the way the GB Minn game may be a moot point. I don't count GB out of it yet. But either way I don't feel we belong in the playoffs. We dug our own whole by following a 7-1 start by slumping only to win the last two games and need help to get in. We lost games we should have won against teams we should have beat if we were good. We played like crap and dug our own grave. That said would I like us to be in the playoffs and somehow find our grove and somehow make a run. I will never root for the Bears to lose just to get a coach canned. But look a the body of work by Smith. Does he deserve to stay? Hell no. Even if we don't make the playoffs I have a feeling they will bring him back for the last year of his contract. I don't see an extension as other's have said unless we go really deep in the playoffs and somehow manage to make it to the NFC Title game, or even the SB. But even if we'd have lost today I think we'd still get Lovie one more season. I think most of us are not and haven't been rooting for the Bears to lose just to see Lovie sent packing. We are more frustrated with the overall body of work and regardless how this season ends we'd still be calling for a coaching change. We want to see our Bears do well, and I think we have seen how far Lovie will take the team, it's time for a change.

Only masked on the scoreboard. Most fans are fully aware of the way the game ended. We started out 20-3 but ended the game giving up a 21-6 run by Detroit and just barely squeaked by. Anyone who thinks this team has a chance at doing anything in the playoffs is drinking spiked kool aid. Looking at our season as a whole, the defensive scores, and turnovers leading to easy points masked an inept offense to a 7-1 record, once the D came back to earth so did our record, and a chance at backing into a playoff spot we really don't deserve. Should GB win today, no doubt we'll be stuck with Lovie another year.

I agree that one I have no problem with. In that situation, take the TO be sure you got the call you want. The ones that irritate us fans are the ones called because the play is late coming in and Cutlers trying to rush everyone to the line and get the play set up, and has to burn one. We've seen that scene too many times this year, and too many times in recent years.

We have to be the worst team in the league at getting plays in from the sidelines in a timely fashion. I've lost count how many time outs we've burned because we were late getting to the line barely having time to snap the ball. I think this creates at least problems. One we lose time outs that can be so valuable later, it kills continuity in a drive you get some rhythm and you have to burn a timeout because you were late getting a play in. And when you get to the line with 5 seconds or less. It gives your QB almost no time to get pre-snap reads, audibles, adjustments, etc. The good offenses are ahead of the clock and get to the line with plenty of time to look the defense over and make pre-snap reads. I've seen way too much confusion and rushing around and disorder getting to the line and executing a play. When you start off hurried and sloppy you tend to play sloppy and hurried.