adam

The NFC Championship Game showed us you don't need an elite QB to play in a Super Bowl, just a great defense and great running game. Wilson was horrible, Lindley-bad, yet he is going to the Super Bowl. Dallas has to be pissed, because they would've crushed Seattle if Seattle played like that. How about Matthews? He has some phantom injury and is out of the game for most of the 4th quarter, yet it gets very little press. Did anyone else notice him on the sidelines as the Seahawks march down and score to take the lead? I can't find a single article about it online. Sherman plays with a broken arm and Matthews leaves with a hangnail. Epic collapse though, a complete coaching failure, playing not to lose (hi Lovie). First, why would they not defend against the fake FG when only a TD would've impacted the game at that point? You can't give up a TD there. Then you intercept the ball and immediately slide down on your side of the field with at least 10 yards of open field, wtf? You then play not to lose and actually lose yards on multiple running plays and give Seattle a short field after a punt. Then you don't clarify their jobs on the onside kick and Bostick heads the ball to the Seahawks with Nelson standing right behind him waiting for the ball. Then you allow a moonshot 2-pt conversion that is one of the most ridiculous I have ever seen. What were the 2 defenders defending over there? An amazing turn of events, but it seemed to come down to poor coaching in the end. Seattle does not deserve to be there either.

Bell is the worst rated player on the PFF Free Agency Tracker with a -33.4 rating. In comparison, Conte was a -3. Bell shouldn't even be in the NFL next year based on that rating. I would rather have Orlando Franklin from Denver and slide Long to Tackle. Hayes would be a good pickup though. I like Thompson, but I think I would go Grasu with the last 2nd round pick instead of Hundley.

Mongo, I hear ya on the idea of getting younger and gaining more cap space but you don't do it just to do it. If you move veterans to save cap space and gain picks, there is no guarantee the new player will be better than the one you lost. In Marshall and Forte's case, I think that is what would happen. Forte is arguably a top-5 RB, and Marshall would be a #1 on most teams in the league. If you can somehow find another player of their caliber for less (than everyone would be doing it and no one would want them). Also, assuming we have a blueprint of Fox's teams, then Marshall and Forte are perfect. Forte is in his last year. I would actually extend him and try to lower his cap hit, if not, then let him walk after this year and get a comp pick. Marshall is dependent on whether he is or is not a locker room problem and is impacting the chemistry of the team.

Those would all be great moves and upgrades all around. Seattle is going to have cap issues after the Wilson contract.

At this point, I don't think the cap space would equal the loss in production from Forte. For Marshall, besides the locker room whispers, has really been a solid player on and off the field (in media) for the Bears. I think both of these guys get one more year. Forte is going to be a FA next year, so we would get a comp pick if he leaves, and Marshall's dead money is way less in 2016 (same with Allen). I believe that is the year we see a huge roster turnover.

Scratch him off the list, so now Shanahan and Gase?

Orlando Franklin is also very solid, he is the top rated FA Guard (per PFF) and 2nd best OLinemen overall.

Urlacher approves of Fox hire: http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/colum...117-column.html

PFF has their Free Agent Tracker up with ratings, here are some positions we have needs at: Edge Rusher J. Houston, KC - 51.1 P. McPhee, BAL - 26 B. Graham, PHI - 22.8 J. Pierre-Paul, NYG - 16.9 D. Morgan, TEN - 14.6 J. Worilds, PIT - 11.7 J. Hughes, BUF - 9.7 DT N. Suh, DET - 27.5 S. Paea, CHI - 14.4 T. Knighton, DEN - 12.7 D. Harrison, NYJ - 11.5 D. Williams, ARZ - 11.5 N. Fairley, DET - 9.8 J. Ordrick, MIA - 9 S M. Adams, IND - 11.7 D. McCourty, NE - 11.6 D. Landry, NYJ - 10.9 T. Gipson, CLE - 10.3 D. Searcy, BUF - 8.6 S. Brown, IND - 5.3 CB K. Jackson, HOU - 9.5 R. Mathis, IND - 9.1 C. Culliver, SF - 8.5 B. Flowers, SD - 8.2 S. Moore, DAL - 6 LB R. McClain, DAL - 13.9 L. Briggs, CHI - 7.6 B. Spikes, BUF - 7.3 G. Hayes, JAX - 5.9 OT B. Bulaga, GB - 11.9 D. Newton, HOU - 8.9 J. Parness, DAL - 8.7 D. Free, DAL - 8.5 K. Dunlap, SD - 6.8 M. Roos, TEN - 4.6 OG O. Franklin, DEN - 12 M. Iupati, SF - 11.2 C. Boling, CIN - 5.8 OC R. Hudson, KC - 13 B. DelaPuente, CHI - 4.3 W. Montgomery, DEN - 3.2 FB H. Hynoski, NYG - 6.4 J. Felton, MIN - 3.7

Unless there are two Chris Harris on the Broncos, one just signed a long extension last month and is not a FA.

Allen has a $12.5 cap hit (dead money) if he is cut in 2015, but in 2016 he can be cut with zero dead money, so he will be a Bear in 2015 (unless traded).

That is awesome. It is amazing to see the quality we are being linked to and interviewing with. Fox really brings in instant credibility. Pace is really impressing me thus far. Looks like offense is Shanahan-35 (OC), Gase-36 (OC), and Mularkey-53 (HC/OC), and defense is Fangio-56 (DC), Allen-42 (HC/DC), and Nolan-55 (HC/DC). All have been previous coordinators, and half have had previous HC experience.

I was just being silly, I knew what you meant, but I wanted to accent "good ass coaches".

And Assistant coaches

I think with Fox's input, they are going to have a pretty solid acquisition strategy, and if the Coordinators are experienced, they will be able to maximize their talents (unlike the clowns we had).

If he is no longer with SF, why are they asking permission and to who? SF has had a great defense, and this would be a very solid hire. Also means shift to 3-4 (or at least hybrid).

and to those who have concerns about Pace:

Looks like Shanny and Allen are early favorites. I have seen Gase and Mularkey mentioned as well.

That is not correct, that only applies to Head Coaches:

They also "publicly" fired Kromer and fired Kevin Turks. Also, they have moved quickly: Dec 29th - Emery/Trestman fired January 8th - Ryan Pace hired (10 days later) January 16th - Fox hired (8 days later) So in 18 days (which included New Year's holiday), this franchise has done an internal 180 in terms of vision and leadership, and something we haven't seen in a long time if ever. Now we are on to the next step of Coordinators/Assistants, Roster and draft prospect evaluations.

Fox QB's 2014 - Manning 2013 - Manning 2012 - Manning 2011 - Tebow, Orton (8-8) 2010 - Clausen, Moore, St. Pierre (2-14) 2009 - Delhomme, Moore (8-8) 2008 - Delhomme 2007 - Testaverde, Carr, Moore, Delhomme (7-9) 2006 - Delhomme, Weinke (8-8) 2005 - Delhomme 2004 - Delhomme (7-9) 2003 - Delhomme, Peete 2002 - Peete, Fasani, Weinke (7-9)

I am very excited and really like this hire (compared to my non-committal stance on Trestman - it never felt right). Pace knows what he is doing and I think pairing him with a veteran coach with sustained success (and a ton of experience and respect) is a great move. Looking at Fox's numbers, he has been remarkable at turning around organizations: In Carolina, he took a 1-15 team and improved by 6 games the next year and improved by 4 more games in Year #2 and reaches the Super Bowl (lost by Vinatieri FG after Kasay kicks ball out of bounds on kickoff). (CAR) Year Before Fox: 1-15, 28th in pts, 31st in yds Fox's 1st Year: 7-9, 5th in pts, 2nd in yds In Denver, a very similar tune. He was hired right after being fired in Carolina. He then takes a 4-12 team and improves by 4 wins in year #1 (and advances to 2nd round of playoffs with Tebow at QB), then gains 5 more gains in year #2 with another playoff visit. (DEN) Year Before Fox: 4-12, 32nd in pts, 32nd in yds Fox's 1st Year: 8-8, 24th in pts, 20th in yds Average of 5 more wins in year #1 and 9.5 by year #2. Now it may be a little unrealistic to expect the exact same results, but the precedence is there to at least improve. 5 wins would give us 10, and 9 wins makes us a 14 win team in year #2. I would be happy with 9-7 and 11-5. Where he really excels is on the defensive side of the ball. Here are all Fox's teams Defensive Rankings. To me all this is very promising. Defensive Ranks YR - PTS - YDS 2014 - 16 - 3 2013 - 22 - 19 2012 - 4 - 2 2011 - 24 - 20 (DEN) 2010 - 26 - 18 (CAR) 2009 - 9 - 8 2008 - 12 - 18 2007 - 15 - 16 2006 - 8 - 7 2005 - 5 - 3 2004 - 15 - 20 2003 - 10 - 8 2002 - 5 - 2

Oh, I was talking about the media, some are hating the pick.

I just hate the detractors talking about how Fox is only good because Peyton Manning, then the same could be said about Dungy, etc. In a way Manning was the reason why Fox lost. I thought his run with Tebow was amazing. He completely revamped the scheme and game plan to maximize the strengths of his players. If he did that with our team, we are 3-4 games better instantly. back in Chi-town:

Thanks, saw it on Twitter, instant classic. Thinking about this from Fox's perspective, we had to either offer him a ton of cash or something was appealing enough to take the position that quick. Hopefully it was Pace's vision and direction of the team. That would be refreshing. Any news on where Emery is going next? Of all our coaching hires, is Fox the most seasoned coach we have ever signed? All the previous ones dating back to Armstrong and Pardee seem to all be coordinators or assistants.