Ayanbadejo comments on Bears...

[madlithuanian]

http://www.suntimes.com/sports/football/be...-011209.article

 

"He's a former special teams coach and is used to dealing with every single guy," Ayanbadejo said of Harbaugh. "He's a lot more hands-on than Lovie. His coaching approach is a lot more personal, a lot different than Lovie's."

[DaBearSox]

well I do get the feeling that Lovie just sits there with the blank look on his face saying good job, or let's work on that...all day long

[madlithuanian]

...I think he just says, "Brains..." a lot. (ie. Zombie Smith)

 

well I do get the feeling that Lovie just sits there with the blank look on his face saying good job, or let's work on that...all day long

[jason]

http://www.suntimes.com/sports/football/be...-011209.article

 

"He's a former special teams coach and is used to dealing with every single guy," Ayanbadejo said of Harbaugh. "He's a lot more hands-on than Lovie. His coaching approach is a lot more personal, a lot different than Lovie's."

 

So, in other words he didn't like...

 

ZOMBIE LOVIE!!

[madlithuanian]

That's how I read into it!

 

So, in other words he didn't like...

 

ZOMBIE LOVIE!!

[ChileBear]

So, in other words he didn't like...

 

ZOMBIE LOVIE!!

Nothing new there. Every time I watched the Bears on TV, Lovie WAS a Zombie. I sure hope that Marinelli is a hands-on guy. We sure need one!

[danimal99]

If someone was going to do an article on you and ask about your current boss and the boss you had at your old job. Which boss would you speak more highly of ???

 

Like Banjo boy I'd speak more favorably of my current one. You'd be stupid not to !!

 

It's laughable that anyone would think other wise.

[Connorbear]

If someone was going to do an article on you and ask about your current boss and the boss you had at your old job. Which boss would you speak more highly of ???

 

Like Banjo boy I'd speak more favorably of my current one. You'd be stupid not to !!

 

It's laughable that anyone would think other wise.

Exactly. Yet another reason why I don't take these type of comments seriously.

 

Peace

[madlithuanian]

Yet why say anything and take the total high road? Like, "I liked coach Smith and he had a very different style. Both are successful, but obviously I'm excited to be where I am now."

 

Exactly. Yet another reason why I don't take these type of comments seriously.

 

Peace

[jason]

If someone was going to do an article on you and ask about your current boss and the boss you had at your old job. Which boss would you speak more highly of ???

 

Like Banjo boy I'd speak more favorably of my current one. You'd be stupid not to !!

 

It's laughable that anyone would think other wise.

 

You're right, but there is subtlety that Ayanbadejo didn't use, but could have. Which sounds more accepting of Lovie and his coaching style?

 

"He's a former special teams coach and is used to dealing with every single guy," Ayanbadejo said of Harbaugh. "He's a lot more hands-on than Lovie. His coaching approach is a lot more personal, a lot different than Lovie's."

 

OR

 

"He's a former special teams coach and is used to dealing with every single guy," Ayanbadejo said of Harbaugh. "He's a lot more hands-on than Lovie. His coaching approach is a lot more personal, a lot different than Lovie's. Lovie is good in a group setting, like a college professor. Harbaugh is more like a personal tutor."

 

-----------------------------------

Of course, if the example were mine, Lovie would be teaching high school, and Harbaugh would be a junior level college tutor with a Master's.

[Connorbear]

Yet why say anything and take the total high road? Like, "I liked coach Smith and he had a very different style. Both are successful, but obviously I'm excited to be where I am now."

That's what I would have said. Nice one.

 

Peace

[ASHKUM BEAR]

Something else to add:

 

Did anyone else catch 670 the score the other night, Hub was taking calls from fans. They recieved one call from someone saying that they currently play for the Baltimore Ravens. The caller said he loved the city of Chicago and grew up there, is great friends with many of the players there, and then he said Chicago will never accomplish anything because the "team" is cheap.

 

Hub answered back and said "do you think Tommie Harris thinks the Bears are cheap, Brian Urlacher..., Devin Hester..., Charles Tillman...., Nathan Vasher..., Alex Brown.....

 

The caller never gave his name, but it sure sounded and coincides with former Chicago native/player Brendan Ayenbadejo.

 

Just thought it was funny listening to that part of the show, and when I seen this, I thought I'd see if anyone else heard it.

[azbearsfan]

Something else to add:

 

Did anyone else catch 670 the score the other night, Hub was taking calls from fans. They recieved one call from someone saying that they currently play for the Baltimore Ravens. The caller said he loved the city of Chicago and grew up there, is great friends with many of the players there, and then he said Chicago will never accomplish anything because the "team" is cheap.

 

Hub answered back and said "do you think Tommie Harris thinks the Bears are cheap, Brian Urlacher..., Devin Hester..., Charles Tillman...., Nathan Vasher..., Alex Brown.....

 

The caller never gave his name, but it sure sounded and coincides with former Chicago native/player Brendan Ayenbadejo.

 

Just thought it was funny listening to that part of the show, and when I seen this, I thought I'd see if anyone else heard it.

 

 

Well I think Ayen is a little pissed the Bears passed on him this off season.

 

I wouldn't read anything into it except a little sour grapes.

 

There is a QB who just said he likes Lovie Smith too....

[nfoligno]

You all are too quick to sweep this under the rug.

 

First, let me ask this. Were the things Ayen said so out there? Are they things that just shock us, or are they things that many have believed for some time? If it were something that was just "out there", then maybe I would more easily question it. If the circumstances were different in his departure, then maybe, but I don't recall his signing w/ Baltimore being a huge slap in the face. Further, while he does seem to question Lovie a bit, he also goes further. Even when a player does have a bit of ill will toward an organization for cutting or just not signing him, it isn't often he says something negative about the players due to that.

 

The focus has been on what he said about Lovie, but there was more from the interview.

 

''We had a great team when I was in Chicago,'' he said. ''I loved, loved, loved my teammates in Chicago, but something was missing. Maybe we were a bit too cool in Chicago. Or we just didn't give it our hearts and soul. Whereas here, with [middle linebacker] Ray Lewis being that emotional leader and as spiritual as he is, it takes us over the top with that emotional advantage we have over every other team on Sundays.''

 

As I said before, this is not something you usually hear a player say when he is just upset w/ the team or GM. Further, he is not JUST praising Ray Lewis, but also slighting his former teamates. Further, is that not something we as fans have seen/felt for some time.

 

I have said many times that Urlacher is not a leader. Frankly, at no time was he ever more than a leader by example type. I have said for a long time that the only legit "leader" on our defense has been Mike Brown, but even Brown spoke a few years ago about how he didn't feel as though he could push a leadership role as much due to his lack of playing time. We have a lot of talent on D, but we have simply not had the leaders most successful defenses have. We don't seem to have that guy that fires up the D, or gets in their face when the mess up. Combine that w/ our not having a coach who fills this role, and I can easily see why our team so often seems lackluster.

 

Carol Sleeze points this criticism directly at Urlacher, but I would ask why it has to be him? Why not Briggs, who most believe has passed Urlacher in terms of top defender. Why not one of our veterans on the DL, whether that be Brown, Wale or Harris. To me, it is more than Urlacher not being Ray Lewis, but our defense simply not having anyone who fills that emotional leadership role.

 

Harbaugh ''is a lot more hands-on than Lovie'' and that his coaching style ''is more personal and a lot different than Lovie.''

 

This is the comment that got all the talk on this board, any many want to dismiss it, but again, is it really that different from what we have seen? Lovie stands there and never gets emotional. When we blow it, nothing. When we do well, nothing. Combine a coach who shows no emotion w/ a team that lacks an emotional leader, and is there any wonder? IMHO, this is also a slight in that we run Lovie's scheme, and thus I would argue a greater level of being hands on, particularly when things don't go well, should be expected.

 

On Babich, that he ''especially loved him as a linebackers coach.''

 

Ouch.

 

Ayen also questions moving Hester to WR. I understand the comments, especially from a special teams specialist, but also disagree. If Hester does develop as a WR, I would argue he would provide more for the team than simply as a returner, regardless if he is the best returner in the league.

 

Overall though, I think we can and should consider his comments more than most are doing. I just don't see why he should be written off, and further, as his comments by and large reflect opinions many fans already have, I would argue he simply gives credence to those previous beliefs.

[madlithuanian]

Good thoughts nfo...

 

I know it is easy to sluff it off as sour grapes, but I'm not so sure there is such sourness per se. It just sounds like the guy is shooting from the hip. If I were his agent, I'd tell him to be a bit more ambiguous...but I get no real sense that he is just taking shots at the bears because of ill will.

 

You all are too quick to sweep this under the rug.

 

First, let me ask this. Were the things Ayen said so out there? Are they things that just shock us, or are they things that many have believed for some time? If it were something that was just "out there", then maybe I would more easily question it. If the circumstances were different in his departure, then maybe, but I don't recall his signing w/ Baltimore being a huge slap in the face. Further, while he does seem to question Lovie a bit, he also goes further. Even when a player does have a bit of ill will toward an organization for cutting or just not signing him, it isn't often he says something negative about the players due to that.

 

The focus has been on what he said about Lovie, but there was more from the interview.

 

''We had a great team when I was in Chicago,'' he said. ''I loved, loved, loved my teammates in Chicago, but something was missing. Maybe we were a bit too cool in Chicago. Or we just didn't give it our hearts and soul. Whereas here, with [middle linebacker] Ray Lewis being that emotional leader and as spiritual as he is, it takes us over the top with that emotional advantage we have over every other team on Sundays.''

 

As I said before, this is not something you usually hear a player say when he is just upset w/ the team or GM. Further, he is not JUST praising Ray Lewis, but also slighting his former teamates. Further, is that not something we as fans have seen/felt for some time.

 

I have said many times that Urlacher is not a leader. Frankly, at no time was he ever more than a leader by example type. I have said for a long time that the only legit "leader" on our defense has been Mike Brown, but even Brown spoke a few years ago about how he didn't feel as though he could push a leadership role as much due to his lack of playing time. We have a lot of talent on D, but we have simply not had the leaders most successful defenses have. We don't seem to have that guy that fires up the D, or gets in their face when the mess up. Combine that w/ our not having a coach who fills this role, and I can easily see why our team so often seems lackluster.

 

Carol Sleeze points this criticism directly at Urlacher, but I would ask why it has to be him? Why not Briggs, who most believe has passed Urlacher in terms of top defender. Why not one of our veterans on the DL, whether that be Brown, Wale or Harris. To me, it is more than Urlacher not being Ray Lewis, but our defense simply not having anyone who fills that emotional leadership role.

 

Harbaugh ''is a lot more hands-on than Lovie'' and that his coaching style ''is more personal and a lot different than Lovie.''

 

This is the comment that got all the talk on this board, any many want to dismiss it, but again, is it really that different from what we have seen? Lovie stands there and never gets emotional. When we blow it, nothing. When we do well, nothing. Combine a coach who shows no emotion w/ a team that lacks an emotional leader, and is there any wonder? IMHO, this is also a slight in that we run Lovie's scheme, and thus I would argue a greater level of being hands on, particularly when things don't go well, should be expected.

 

On Babich, that he ''especially loved him as a linebackers coach.''

 

Ouch.

 

Ayen also questions moving Hester to WR. I understand the comments, especially from a special teams specialist, but also disagree. If Hester does develop as a WR, I would argue he would provide more for the team than simply as a returner, regardless if he is the best returner in the league.

 

Overall though, I think we can and should consider his comments more than most are doing. I just don't see why he should be written off, and further, as his comments by and large reflect opinions many fans already have, I would argue he simply gives credence to those previous beliefs.

[jason]

You all are too quick to sweep this under the rug....

 

Exactly. I agree with your thoughts on this.

 

There's a reason why the Bears are thought of as a somewhat heartless team.

There's a reason why the Bears are considered bland.

There's a reason why the Bears aren't a team others think of as emotional.

 

While Lovie Smith has brought a certain level of success with him - which may have simply coincided with him walking into a great situation on defense - there is no doubting that the guy is not the motivational figure that gets his players fired up. Ayanbadejo just simply pointed out what many on this board have said for quite some time; the Bears lack fire.

 

It's in the philosophy, the demeanor, the style of play, the scheme; the players; it's everywhere. There's a reason why he's...

 

ZOMBIE LOVIE!

[nfoligno]

And before we get the Landry responses, I would just like to add something I have said for a while. I personally do not believe you have to have a head coach that is all fire, but I do think if you have a calmer demeanor HC, you need fired up assistants. I have made the military analogy before. It is fine to have a captain w/ a calmer way, but you need that drill sergant fired up. If everyone of the military leaders has that calm demeanor, how can the men get fired up?

 

When you watch our sidelines, what coaches ever look fired up? There is only one coach I have seen who seems to get animated, and that is Toub. Ever notice Toub after a good or bad thing happens on special teams. When there is a good thing, toub is halfway onto the field giving high fives and patting backs. When something bad happens, I have numerous times seen toub get in the face of the player. Not to the level of Ditka, but its there.

 

Besides Lovie, Turner and Babich just seem very low key, and I just have never felt that was an effective combo. One of the other needs to have the fire.

 

Exactly. I agree with your thoughts on this.

 

There's a reason why the Bears are thought of as a somewhat heartless team.

There's a reason why the Bears are considered bland.

There's a reason why the Bears aren't a team others think of as emotional.

 

While Lovie Smith has brought a certain level of success with him - which may have simply coincided with him walking into a great situation on defense - there is no doubting that the guy is not the motivational figure that gets his players fired up. Ayanbadejo just simply pointed out what many on this board have said for quite some time; the Bears lack fire.

 

It's in the philosophy, the demeanor, the style of play, the scheme; the players; it's everywhere. There's a reason why he's...

 

ZOMBIE LOVIE!

[ASHKUM BEAR]

The problem with Lovie is that he doesn't show any emotion or personality. He speaks in monotone and his answers are short and it seems to make the media mesmerized. Maybe that's his plan? It's that personality that has everyone turned off about him. If he gave us some emotion, showed "some" fire on the sidelines (like he was actually involved), maybe the fans/players would have his back.

 

I know when I played football, my coach was a fire ball. Throwing clipboards and spitting during practice, he got our attention. I still respect him today, because he taught me that as hard as somethings can be, grind it out, give 100%, leave it all on the field, and when it's over you will regret it if you ever held back. This personality may not work with everyone, but it worked pretty good with our unit.

 

I fully expect Lovie to show a different side this coming season. He will be taking the reigns of the defense and will have to interact with the players during the game and his lips will be moving when he calls the plays.

[madlithuanian]

Like his players...he should be fighting for his job!

 

The problem with Lovie is that he doesn't show any emotion or personality. He speaks in monotone and his answers are short and it seems to make the media mesmerized. Maybe that's his plan? It's that personality that has everyone turned off about him. If he gave us some emotion, showed "some" fire on the sidelines (like he was actually involved), maybe the fans/players would have his back.

 

I know when I played football, my coach was a fire ball. Throwing clipboards and spitting during practice, he got our attention. I still respect him today, because he taught me that as hard as somethings can be, grind it out, give 100%, leave it all on the field, and when it's over you will regret it if you ever held back. This personality may not work with everyone, but it worked pretty good with our unit.

 

I fully expect Lovie to show a different side this coming season. He will be taking the reigns of the defense and will have to interact with the players during the game and his lips will be moving when he calls the plays.