DABEARSDABOMB

One thing I always remember about Minny was that when they were really good, they had top notch olines and Tice was a big part of that.

And that is a real impressive resume he has.

Really, really good hire. I like the fact that he preaches a power run game and he does a real nice job with the oline. This is a serious upgrade to Harry Heistad. I like this move alot. I guess this throws out the idea that the Bears were going to go with both Tice/Zampese as co-coordinators. Zampese I assume is still in the running as the OC. Damn, this is a real nice hire (Tice as Oline coach).

Found this interesting blurb on Barry: If they wouldn't let him interview with the Skins it makes you wonder if they would the Bears. Of course there is a much better relationship between Tampa and Chicago and obviously Barry is the son in law of Marinelli.

All of them, with the exception of Edwards and Barry seem to be younger coaches that would probably work okay in Chicago given Marinelli/Smith/Babich's experience calling plays. Note, I am not saying the three guys above are tremendous play-callers (and Marinelli has the most limited experience of the three) but they all have experience and two of the three are well respected around the NFL. I wonder if the Vikings would let either of there guys leave for Chicago though, which means Carrier would be the best bet.

Given the defensive minds we have currently on the staff in Smith and Marinelli, Carrier could be a nice fit and he brings a more unique style having worked a bit with Rex Ryan and the 46 defense and that added spice could be nice. Seems like he'd be the type of guy we could lure too as moving to DC would be a nice upgrade.

I didn't realize this, but a few teams are using this approach and it is working nicely in Arizona.

I did, only to update it for the news around 12 which indicated he was still in play.

Here's Noots take on the issue. Pretty spot on and I'm in his camp on this:

Phillips job was the stadium and non-football matters and he has excelled in those roles. And best yet he let his football guys do the job on that end. I think based upon his press conferences (if he had full 100% say) would have fired Lovie Smith at the very least. But you know what, he still needs the owners approval and that wasn't the case so Lovie is still here. Ted Phillips has done his job (given his role). And the contract negotiations had a lot to do with Angelo as well and at the time the contract Smith got was fair. He was either going to walk or not and no one in the major media was ripping the move at the time. Some of you think everything the org does is always wrong no matter what and it can be pretty ridiculous and tiresome to read. Clearly we aren't where we want to be (W/L) but it doesn't mean we are the crappiest org in football, etc, etc. I have a lot of confidence in Phillips and still have a good amount in Angelo. Lovie is Lovie. He'll coach again elsewhere and this will probably be his last year. Is he amazing, no, is he the worse head coach in the league, nope (he's far from it in fact).

Two teams have hired OC's that I know of. The Chiefs (who are pretty much another version of New England's coaching personel) and the Seahawks (and that OC followed his head coach there). So I really don't have an issue with the way the Bears are going about this. On the defensive side it is different because we apparently targeted a guy and might lose out to him despite the fact that it was widely believed he had a preference for Chicago.

Excellent

Phillips is going nowhere nor should he. He hasn't done anything wrong.

No thank you.

Palmer speaks highly of him and Krenzels backing is actually significant. Krenzel might not have had the tools to play in the pro's but he was smart, very smart and his blessing says a lot, imo .

Mike Tice is a good oline coach, a good OC and a very good coach in general. I don't see how anyone could be upset with this move. He has had success calling plays and was a solid coach outside of the boat incident. ANd you talk about keeping players in check, that is Lovie's job not Tice's and that is one of Lovie's strong points (not necessarily talking down to players but keeping the lockeroom under control). Tice would be a nice hire as an OC and an even better hire as an oline coach.

Cutler is also the reason that no matter who our Head Coach is that our OC job will be enticing.

Except everyone (not Chicago media but national media as well) had Fewell leaning towards the Bears. Money clearly was a factor in this.

This pisses me off more than anything. It had to come down to money and the Bears didn't offer it. Hell, the Bears were going to have to offer more because there was much better job security in New York than Chicago. This pisses me off big time.

Zampese is being interviewed by the Bears again today and is believed to be meeting with Jay Cutler as well. I got a feeling that this is our new OC.

On a sidenote, I was dreaming last night that the Bears moves paid off perfectly and Lovie ends up getting another extension in two years after we win the superbowl!!!! Of course before I got to celebrate my fiance woke me up.

Martz wasn't efficient in Detroit. I think he's a great offensive mind but I don't know if he is the right fit for a team that wants to win in November/December/January. His team would be fine for the 1st week of February since you won't have to battle the elements in the Superbowl.

I'd like him as non OC coach.

Exactly, you want to be in a position to offer your next head coach (if things fail) a full draft board. I expect the Bears to be more active than people anticipate in FA. I also expect to see the Bears hand the reigns to some of the young players we've heard about over the years and see if they sink or swim. Lovie isn't going to get a ton of help on the defensive side (in terms of big signings) as I think Angelo is going to be focused on upgrading the offensive side of the football via FA (oline, very good back-up, ie Chester Taylor).