Uncle Buck Posted January 4, 2010 Report Share Posted January 4, 2010 What is interesting to me is that the offense's poor showing has overshadowed a crappy defense. If we are talking about firing the offensive coordinator, we could call for the same dismissal of the defensive coordinator...wait... he's our head coach. Check this quote from Pro Football Weekly, when they posted today a ranking of defensive coordinators (this is a scout's take): "22. Lovie Smith (head coach) / Bears — Though Bob Babich maintained his defensive-coordinator title to coach the linebackers, Smith coordinates the defense, with great help from D-line coach/assistant head coach Rod Marinelli. Personnel utilization and an inability to maximize talent has been a problem, while the loss of MLB Brian Urlacher had an effect, as well. SCOUT'S TAKE: "It has looked a lot like what they did in Detroit last year. They have been blown out in too many games this year and are getting run over. They struggle in the second half because they get outcoached and cannot adjust. Some of the calls are so bad it almost makes me think they are trying to get fired — no one can be so dumb. ... "They could have laid down at the end of the year, and they kept on fighting. They beat a good Minnesota team, but they still had big problems adjusting in the second half."" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daventry Posted January 4, 2010 Report Share Posted January 4, 2010 Absolutely agreed. I think this is a particularly grating issue when you have your head coach, supposedly the guru, taking over play-calling and a demi-god, Rob Marinelli, coming in to work with the D as well. And what happens? We look pretty consistently bad....with signs of poor play calling and difficulty adjusting all year. Not to mention little sign of fire or intensity from the D. I wish we could let the whole bunch go, but I doubt we will. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nfoligno Posted January 4, 2010 Report Share Posted January 4, 2010 Honestly, I think the offense gets more talk because how to fix it seems easier, thus easier to talk about. Upgrade offensive coach and OL, and you upgrade the offense as a whole. Defense is far more muddled. Most here would love to replace the DC, but that is Lovie. Assume for the moment Lovie is not fired. I think it likely Angelo will tell Lovie he can't due the dual role thing again, and from what I have read coming from Lovie, it sounds like he would be fine with that. Lovie has said doing both roles was much harder than expected. But who do we insert? Do we simply promote Marinelli, or allow Lovie to hire another cover two guy? I don't think many fans would be happy with either, but will Angelo really push hard enough to hire a DC that doesn't have the Lovie or cover two ties? I think many fans could better deal w/ retaining Lovie if we went out and hired a good DC that wasn't just going to be another Lovie/Cover two yes man, but I have less confidence that will happen. Okay, how about the players. DL - Wale is as good as gone IMHO. Anderson could be back, especially if there is not a new CBA, and he is only a RFA. Here is the problem as I see the DL. We have spent a 3rd on Harrison, a 3rd on Gilbert, a 4th on Melton and now a 2nd on Gaines. How much does anyone expect us to spend on a FA when we have this many untested young players on the team? I think Angelo could be looking for development of what is on the roster, rather than spending big to add. That is a risky proposition. LB - I think we will see little change, and like w/ Anderson, may even keep Williams if there is no new CBA. Briggs, Urlacher and whoever is still a damn good LB corp. CB - We have issues here. Vasher is gone. Tillman is average. Bowman started most of this season, and was average to below average. Graham doesn't seem to be considered in the mix, and you have to wonder about Moore, who never was given so much as a chance. definite need, but this is among the most expensive positions. S - I think we can get by w/ what we have at SS. Between Afalava, Steltz and Payne, we have three similar players who can play SS. The problem is FS. But Angelo has never gone out and tries to add a ball hawking centerfielder, which is what we need. To me, the key problem, player wise, is on the DL. The further problem is, we have spent so many picks on the DL, I just question how much we should expect to add here. What is interesting to me is that the offense's poor showing has overshadowed a crappy defense. If we are talking about firing the offensive coordinator, we could call for the same dismissal of the defensive coordinator...wait... he's our head coach. Check this quote from Pro Football Weekly, when they posted today a ranking of defensive coordinators (this is a scout's take): "22. Lovie Smith (head coach) / Bears — Though Bob Babich maintained his defensive-coordinator title to coach the linebackers, Smith coordinates the defense, with great help from D-line coach/assistant head coach Rod Marinelli. Personnel utilization and an inability to maximize talent has been a problem, while the loss of MLB Brian Urlacher had an effect, as well. SCOUT'S TAKE: "It has looked a lot like what they did in Detroit last year. They have been blown out in too many games this year and are getting run over. They struggle in the second half because they get outcoached and cannot adjust. Some of the calls are so bad it almost makes me think they are trying to get fired — no one can be so dumb. ... "They could have laid down at the end of the year, and they kept on fighting. They beat a good Minnesota team, but they still had big problems adjusting in the second half."" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChileBear Posted January 4, 2010 Report Share Posted January 4, 2010 Honestly, I think the offense gets more talk because how to fix it seems easier, thus easier to talk about. Upgrade offensive coach and OL, and you upgrade the offense as a whole. Defense is far more muddled. To me, the key problem, player wise, is on the DL. The further problem is, we have spent so many picks on the DL, I just question how much we should expect to add here. Agreed. The D is a real indictment of Lovie's and Angelo's staff's inability to evaluate and develop players. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nfoligno Posted January 4, 2010 Report Share Posted January 4, 2010 In your one statement lies a far greater and more complex problem. "staff's inability to evaluate and develop players" Here's the age old question. Which is the greater issue? Ability to evaluate players, thus add talent to the roster, or ability to develop players, thus get more production from what you have. Take the DL as an example. Few would argue we have gotten enough production out of this group. But is that for lack of talent or lack of production? Angelo has invested quite a lot of picks of late into the DL, and yet we have seen minimal results. Is the problem Angelo and the scouts can't evaluate talent, or is the problem we have added talent, but coaching has failed to develop that talent. WR is another position to look at. We have a player like Bennett, who has looked good this year, but was never even given a chance last. We have Arashamado, who our QB begged to see on the field, yet our coaches never gave a 2nd look until injuries forced the situation. Is our situation at WR really so lacking in talent (thus weak evaluation) or is the problem more of a developmental/coaching one. If we don't know what is the problem, how the hell do we fix it? Agreed. The D is a real indictment of Lovie's and Angelo's staff's inability to evaluate and develop players. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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