3x OC Options for HC

[BearFan PHX]

I've read some guesses that the public info about asking about Tomlin was a non tampering signal to Johnson (or anyone) that the Bears would be willing to pay better than they have in the past. We know what Tomlin makes, so if we traded, we'd have to pay it - therefore it is a signal to the league that the Bears are willing to pay, which is a counter to the idea that the Raiders might outbid us for Johnson, without actually telling Johnson's agent that and running afoul of tampering rules.

For example, Ive read some rumors that the Bears inquired after trading for Kevin OConnell, but that was not made public, so if the Tomlin move was, there's a reason.

Also, scheduling George for this morning  means that strategically, you could go after any losing playoff coach tomorrow if they were to become available. Not that you assumed Johnson or the Bills would lose, but just in case either or both did, youd be ready if you wanted to pull the trigger?

All reading tea leaves, nothing sourced or factual, but still interesting to think about.

[AZ54]

9 hours ago, BearFan PHX said:

Bears are scheduled to meet with Eddie George to interview for the head coach position tomorrow morning.

It's a bit of a surprising name, but he did just win coach of the year as head coach of Tennessee State.

But mostly, after he is interviewed, and having already spoken to Ron Rivera, the Rooney rule is now satisfied and the Bears could then announce a hiring decision as early as tomorrow afternoon.

With the Rooney Rule now satisfied, and Johnson available, if a decision doesn't come soon, then we can assume that the Bears don't know what they are doing, and really are interviewing so many candidates because they don't know what they're looking for, or have settled strongly on a coach still alive int he playoffs, like Buffalo's OC for example.

 

A couple family members have met Eddie George on several occasions.  He has some business here in Phx and also works with my son's company.  Everyone says he's a great guy and, not surprisingly, very successful in business.  One non-NFL fan said "he tells me he used to play in the NFL but he seems too nice to be a football player".  I sent her his highlight film of him running over people.   

I don't know if the Bears are using him just to satisfy the Rooney rule but they could have serious interest in adding him to a staff to help improve the culture.  I'd be 100% behind that.  Given all the non-football business activities he has I can't see him having the time, or wanting to invest the time, to be a full-time NFL coach.  That would also mean leaving his college coaching job which he enjoys.    

[Stinger226]

21 minutes ago, BearFan PHX said:

I've read some guesses that the public info about asking about Tomlin was a non tampering signal to Johnson (or anyone) that the Bears would be willing to pay better than they have in the past. We know what Tomlin makes, so if we traded, we'd have to pay it - therefore it is a signal to the league that the Bears are willing to pay, which is a counter to the idea that the Raiders might outbid us for Johnson, without actually telling Johnson's agent that and running afoul of tampering rules.

For example, Ive read some rumors that the Bears inquired after trading for Kevin OConnell, but that was not made public, so if the Tomlin move was, there's a reason.

Also, scheduling George for this morning  means that strategically, you could go after any losing playoff coach tomorrow if they were to become available. Not that you assumed Johnson or the Bills would lose, but just in case either or both did, youd be ready if you wanted to pull the trigger?

All reading tea leaves, nothing sourced or factual, but still interesting to think about.

Like you said, lots of rumors and hard to sort out the truth but things seem to be aligning for the Bears and the Johnson rumor.

[AZ54]

22 minutes ago, BearFan PHX said:

I've read some guesses that the public info about asking about Tomlin was a non tampering signal to Johnson (or anyone) that the Bears would be willing to pay better than they have in the past. We know what Tomlin makes, so if we traded, we'd have to pay it - therefore it is a signal to the league that the Bears are willing to pay, which is a counter to the idea that the Raiders might outbid us for Johnson, without actually telling Johnson's agent that and running afoul of tampering rules.

For example, Ive read some rumors that the Bears inquired after trading for Kevin OConnell, but that was not made public, so if the Tomlin move was, there's a reason.

Also, scheduling George for this morning  means that strategically, you could go after any losing playoff coach tomorrow if they were to become available. Not that you assumed Johnson or the Bills would lose, but just in case either or both did, youd be ready if you wanted to pull the trigger?

All reading tea leaves, nothing sourced or factual, but still interesting to think about.

You're spot on with the "hey we're willing to pay top dollar" theme.  

[BearFan PHX]

5 minutes ago, AZ54 said:

A couple family members have met Eddie George on several occasions.  He has some business here in Phx and also works with my son's company.  Everyone says he's a great guy and, not surprisingly, very successful in business.  One non-NFL fan said "he tells me he used to play in the NFL but he seems too nice to be a football player".  I sent her his highlight film of him running over people.   

I don't know if the Bears are using him just to satisfy the Rooney rule but they could have serious interest in adding him to a staff to help improve the culture.  I'd be 100% behind that.  Given all the non-football business activities he has I can't see him having the time, or wanting to invest the time, to be a full-time NFL coach.  That would also mean leaving his college coaching job which he enjoys.    

I dont mean to imply that it was ONLY to satify the Rooney rule, just that it does.

Eddie George is a truly incredible person, and I wouldn't be surprised to see him have lots of success. I dont think he is ready for an NFL head coaching job yet, but I wouldnt really know. I havent been following his current team at all.

[Stinger226]

6 minutes ago, AZ54 said:

A couple family members have met Eddie George on several occasions.  He has some business here in Phx and also works with my son's company.  Everyone says he's a great guy and, not surprisingly, very successful in business.  One non-NFL fan said "he tells me he used to play in the NFL but he seems too nice to be a football player".  I sent her his highlight film of him running over people.   

I don't know if the Bears are using him just to satisfy the Rooney rule but they could have serious interest in adding him to a staff to help improve the culture.  I'd be 100% behind that.  Given all the non-football business activities he has I can't see him having the time, or wanting to invest the time, to be a full-time NFL coach.  That would also mean leaving his college coaching job which he enjoys.    

They are probably several on the Bears list that would end up being great coaches but if the bears don't take the experience coaches or Ben Johnson they are going to get hammered in the media for taking chances on an unknown. Vrabel, Johnson, Carroll and even McCarthy carries at least logical choices for the job. A Eddie George or David Shaw hire would bring the bo birds out.

[DABEARSDABOMB]

One thing I like about Johnson. He is creative but he also uses a ton of Playaction and has great designs around it and with that has an amazing rush scheme (great talent too). 
 

And some of those trick plays - yes they may not work - but they are so well done and you see how they play off them in the game to scheme guys space on the non-trick variations of the same play. 
 

Right now for me it is Johnson or McCarthy. I will admit I can also live with Kingsbury. 

[DABEARSDABOMB]

Eddie George or Shaw would be good candidates as assistant head coaches in NFL (not sure if that would be a step that either of them would take though). 

[BearFan PHX]

4 minutes ago, DABEARSDABOMB said:

One thing I like about Johnson. He is creative but he also uses a ton of Playaction and has great designs around it and with that has an amazing rush scheme (great talent too). 
 

And some of those trick plays - yes they may not work - but they are so well done and you see how they play off them in the game to scheme guys space on the non-trick variations of the same play. 
 

Right now for me it is Johnson or McCarthy. I will admit I can also live with Kingsbury. 

I think Kingsbury is tremendously underrated, but that's mostly because I dont think Daniels in more than a one read or run QB. Daniels does a LOT of other things right, including having a rocket for an arm with insane accuracy though.

BUT Kingsbury is also considered to be kind of an ahole, and so even though i think he has done a tremendous job with Daniels, I dont know if he is the right head coach for us.

I think Johnson is a tremendous offensive mind, and it would be such a relief to have a guy who takes the run game seriously for once in the last several decades. But I think it's a coin flip on his head coaching leadership abilities. If we go that way, i sure hope he works out.

McCarthy seems the safest bet to me. The highest floor. He's proven as a leader and a winner. But is he as innovative as Johnson? Probably not.

[DABEARSDABOMB]

6 minutes ago, BearFan PHX said:

I think Kingsbury is tremendously underrated, but that's mostly because I dont think Daniels in more than a one read or run QB. Daniels does a LOT of other things right, including having a rocket for an arm with insane accuracy though.

BUT Kingsbury is also considered to be kind of an ahole, and so even though i think he has done a tremendous job with Daniels, I dont know if he is the right head coach for us.

I think Johnson is a tremendous offensive mind, and it would be such a relief to have a guy who takes the run game seriously for once in the last several decades. But I think it's a coin flip on his head coaching leadership abilities. If we go that way, i sure hope he works out.

McCarthy seems the safest bet to me. The highest floor. He's proven as a leader and a winner. But is he as innovative as Johnson? Probably not.

For the record I think either of McCarthy or Johnson is a home run hire. Kingsbury is a good hire. All 3 would be major improvements vs past cycles. 
 

I also happen to think this is an amazing year to be hiring a head coach (real strong pool of candidates). 

[Stinger226]

29 minutes ago, DABEARSDABOMB said:

For the record I think either of McCarthy or Johnson is a home run hire. Kingsbury is a good hire. All 3 would be major improvements vs past cycles. 
 

I also happen to think this is an amazing year to be hiring a head coach (real strong pool of candidates). 

Agreed, lots of good choices for coach. That will also make those available for OC and DC hires after they don't get jobs.  In fandom eyes Johnson appears the prize. Along with some, he still has to prove his leadership ability but is worth that risk. McCarthy is more qualified than I want to admit, when people use stats to make cases for candidates, his are very good. Next to them, I like Monken and Brady. 

[BearFan PHX]

40 minutes ago, DABEARSDABOMB said:

For the record I think either of McCarthy or Johnson is a home run hire. Kingsbury is a good hire. All 3 would be major improvements vs past cycles. 
 

I also happen to think this is an amazing year to be hiring a head coach (real strong pool of candidates). 

all good points.

And a ham sandwich would be an improvement vs past cycles LOL especially if it came on some good bread.

[BearFan PHX]

so far either

1) the Bears have a clear plan and most of these interviews are fact finding, favors, Rooney rule, or early coordinator activity

or

2) the Bears front office are out of their minds and should all be fired.

If we dont have a coach by Thursday at noon, then we know it's #2. The only caveat would be if we end up with Joe Brady.

Otherwise, it's the clown show we are all hoping it isn't.

[Stinger226]

4 hours ago, BearFan PHX said:

so far either

1) the Bears have a clear plan and most of these interviews are fact finding, favors, Rooney rule, or early coordinator activity

or

2) the Bears front office are out of their minds and should all be fired.

If we dont have a coach by Thursday at noon, then we know it's #2. The only caveat would be if we end up with Joe Brady.

Otherwise, it's the clown show we are all hoping it isn't.

Actually I'm not sure who you want now. We both wanted Vrabel, gone. I'm okay with Johnson as next in line, was thinking you had to many questions about him? Otherwise I would be happy with Brady or Monken. Semi okay with McCarthy. 

[BearFan PHX]

5 hours ago, Stinger226 said:

Actually I'm not sure who you want now. We both wanted Vrabel, gone. I'm okay with Johnson as next in line, was thinking you had to many questions about him? Otherwise I would be happy with Brady or Monken. Semi okay with McCarthy. 

I would choose McCarthy, but I see there is like a 50/50 chance Johnson will be much better, but the other side of that coin is that he is like another Trestman; good on the chalkboard, but not a head coach.

But my comment here was about process. If they dont pick the guy I want, that doesnt make them a clown show in my eyes. But if they truly are looking at 15+ candidates seriously, then they are idiots.

To give them the benefit of the doubt, I'll hope they have had 3 or 4 guys targeted this whole time, and the rest of the interviews were favors, Rooney rule stuff, gather intel on opponents, making long term connections and/or scouting possible coordinators.

But if they are serious, and literally thought 15 guys could be the guy and really just dont have a vision, then they should all be fired.

And if they are still screwing around by thursday, we will know they are idiots. Unless we end up with Joe Brady, and then we will know why they waited, with a plan.

[Mongo3451]

6 hours ago, Stinger226 said:

Actually I'm not sure who you want now. We both wanted Vrabel, gone. I'm okay with Johnson as next in line, was thinking you had to many questions about him? Otherwise I would be happy with Brady or Monken. Semi okay with McCarthy. 

Monken is Kap's pick.  He's been a college HC and a Chicago native.

[Stinger226]

17 hours ago, BearFan PHX said:

so far either

1) the Bears have a clear plan and most of these interviews are fact finding, favors, Rooney rule, or early coordinator activity

or

2) the Bears front office are out of their minds and should all be fired.

If we dont have a coach by Thursday at noon, then we know it's #2. The only caveat would be if we end up with Joe Brady.

Otherwise, it's the clown show we are all hoping it isn't.

It seems that by the quickness of the hire, they were set when they did the virtual meeting. It was just a matter of satisfying the Rooney rule and boom, Johnson hired.

[BearFan PHX]

7 minutes ago, Stinger226 said:

It seems that by the quickness of the hire, they were set when they did the virtual meeting. It was just a matter of satisfying the Rooney rule and boom, Johnson hired.

I agree. So all the extra interviews were not a clown show, just maximizing small advantages while they bided their time. Good.

[Stinger226]

10 minutes ago, BearFan PHX said:

I agree. So all the extra interviews were not a clown show, just maximizing small advantages while they bided their time. Good.

When you talk to a bunch of people about the state of the bears, you have to gain insight as how to correct the mistakes made.

From what I read, Poles, Warren, Cunningham and Jeff King were the main interviewers and the other 2 just sat in on meetings . I totally thought it was ridiculous to meet with that many coaches but it may have been the smart thing to do knowing they would have to wait for Johnson to finish playing. 

 

[BearFan PHX]

6 minutes ago, Stinger226 said:

When you talk to a bunch of people about the state of the bears, you have to gain insight as how to correct the mistakes made.

From what I read, Poles, Warren, Cunningham and Jeff King were the main interviewers and the other 2 just sat in on meetings . I totally thought it was ridiculous to meet with that many coaches but it may have been the smart thing to do knowing they would have to wait for Johnson to finish playing. 

 

as long as they werent actually considering 17 candidates, then yes it was smart. If they had let this drag on another week while they had lots of second interviews and mulled their options, then they should have all been fired. But they didnt, so alls well.

Also, I head Cunninghim was less involved, so he could go do his GM interviews, and i suppose with the idea that he wouldnt be here next year.

Seems like we have him for one more year which I think is a good thing, although that 3rd rounder would make a nice center or guard.

[BearFan PHX]

Oh, one other cool thing.

According to Jeff Hughes, DaBearsBlog, who has been first with a bunch of info about this search, Ben Johnson asked McCaskey if he and Warren would stay out of football decisions, and leave it to Poles, and McCaskey told him they would.

That's a very good sign, but if true, it also puts the failure of not firing Flus last year more on Poles' shoulders?
 

 

[AZ54]

1 hour ago, BearFan PHX said:

Oh, one other cool thing.

According to Jeff Hughes, DaBearsBlog, who has been first with a bunch of info about this search, Ben Johnson asked McCaskey if he and Warren would stay out of football decisions, and leave it to Poles, and McCaskey told him they would.

That's a very good sign, but if true, it also puts the failure of not firing Flus last year more on Poles' shoulders?
 

 

I get the whole Flus thing but that fact he remained here last year also means Ben Johnson knows Poles has his back as well.  Ben was looking for that in his next organization while also (apparently) not wanting meddling owners.   

[BearFan PHX]

37 minutes ago, AZ54 said:

I get the whole Flus thing but that fact he remained here last year also means Ben Johnson knows Poles has his back as well.  Ben was looking for that in his next organization while also (apparently) not wanting meddling owners.   

certainly Poles has demonstrated loyalty. I thought too much last year, and I still think so, but youre right, if you have the right guy to be loyal to, its a plus too. I guess you gotta know when to hold them and know when to fold them, and that's the GMs job, but loyalty isnt a negative or a positive inherently, just depends on when it's applied?

I just hope Johnson has the right kind of energy to command the locker room. That's my main concern with him now, and I really hope he can do it.

And Poles needs to get us at least three new good starters on the OL and get us a top notch pass rusher too. not easy to do in one offseason. But we have cap money, but of course free agency is a bigger crap shoot than the draft too.

There are reasons for optimism for sure.

[Stinger226]

13 hours ago, BearFan PHX said:

certainly Poles has demonstrated loyalty. I thought too much last year, and I still think so, but youre right, if you have the right guy to be loyal to, its a plus too. I guess you gotta know when to hold them and know when to fold them, and that's the GMs job, but loyalty isnt a negative or a positive inherently, just depends on when it's applied?

I just hope Johnson has the right kind of energy to command the locker room. That's my main concern with him now, and I really hope he can do it.

And Poles needs to get us at least three new good starters on the OL and get us a top notch pass rusher too. not easy to do in one offseason. But we have cap money, but of course free agency is a bigger crap shoot than the draft too.

There are reasons for optimism for sure.

The draft this year is weak at OT and center but lots of good guard prospects. Guards are found out of the first round all the time. Also DT and DE are loaded. Our first 3 picks can be blue chip players easily and at 72 finding a OG won't be a problem. I expect 2+2 OL and DL. I think free agency will land at least one OL starters. I think they bring back Shelton if we draft a rookie at center to allow the new center to develop first before he gets the starting job. 

I seen one podcast breakdown of Matt Campbell that said he has high football IQ and was calling the line calls from the tackle spot the last 2 years at LSU. He stated that Campbell could be a day one starter and future pro bowler if put at center.