madlithuanian

Sorry, following this and the past few regimes has me as a cynic. Smith is a defensive guy. So, I do honestly question how involved he was in finding all the O guys. I'm certain he at minimum, signed off on it. But, how much other than that is debatable. Not sure it really matters though... JA is also not an O guy. So maybe Martz and Tice just simply landed on their laps. let's not forget that people were not lining up for the job. We were spurned by numerous O and D prospects. Saying a lot about the perception of our management and HC...at least last year. Your last statement is correct. However,it appeared to me, in our last game (our most important game), too much of his errant ways from the past came out in full force. Not adjusting the O or reigning in martz to run the ball more and believing that his guy (Collins) was better than Hanie. Both blunders in in-game coaching and personnell decisions. Something he's been guilty in the past of as well. He did seem to learn from his error in the regualr season and made changes. But in crunchtime, he reverted to his old ways. It's like a guy who's totally cool all the time, but when he gets drunk is an a$$hole. The drunk = pressure. Your true colors come out when your guard is down. Smith failed that test this past season. Will he fail again? I hope not. I fear so.

Gtocha! Thanks for clarifying! I like Izzy! To me, he's like Alex Brown. A good role player and fill in. He's just not an impact player.

Here's to Wooten! Right now, he can do no wrong for me based on that most amazing play!

Doth give Smith too much credit! Do you think Smith brought those guys in? He may have leaned a bit for Martz...but I think Tice came from JA. One of JA's good FA moves! I know he's always wanted Marinelli. And Marinelli did a beter job with Smith D than Smith. Then again, he also had a healthy Urlacher and a new Peppers to play with. I think Smith made the changes with a gun to his head. JA knew it. So, something had to be done. if Smith wasn't getting fired, everyone knew damn well Ron Turner was. Stopping Tice was completely out of character, and it was a good move (or non-move). That is a serious element that deserves serious credit. By both JA...and I think Smith. You can't dump all the past. I'm sure you know the old quote of not forgetting the past.... Too much failure at the end of the season was a replay of old issues. I'm not calling for Smith's head. I'm supporting him. But, I'm really weary.

Glad to supply a laugh! (I know my horrible spelling these days should be it alone!) lemonej, don't get me started on the ridiculousness of the constant timeouts on O! Seriously maddening! I'm not sure how great Izzy is. I'm sure much of his success has come from who's lined up next to him. But, he has done a satisfactory job. I've had my issues with HH. He's too slow. But he always played smart. And I'm not sure if Smith had anything to do with that. he seemed like a very sharp man regardless. Tillman has done well. But again, I'm not sure if that's just natural ability or coaching up. In fact, many have screamed that he should be a safety. Smith has developmed some. Just not nearly a respecatble amount enough. Your point on the Fortes, Olsens and Cutlers is spot on! And the Chris Williams's..etc!

I've loved reading this threas as well! The demeanor issue is one thing, but it's really football accumen. The stoics and screamers who were successful did things that were football savvy. They seemed to get good players. They seemed to develop second tier players. They made good in-game adjustments. They kept going to the well until it dried up. All the things our current regime seems to somewhat lack. JA doesn't seem to draft well enough. Smith and crew can't seem to develop anyone. Very rarely do we change something mid-game. And we stop running when we're successful doing it. I think I've mentioned this countless times (and I apologize for doing so again, but here it goes again...), but it's not the stoicism that is the problem with Smith. It's all the above issues. The stoicism is just the crummy clothes someone wears when you already know they are useless. The clothes really don't make the man. But when you already don't dig the man, it's easy to dislike his clothes. I make no bones about it... I pretty much expect the same as we've had from this regime. Lots of down and a tick up. Yet not enough up to go all the way. We're good enough to take advantage of the weak and kock off the occassional good. But in crunchtime, we don't have enough in talent on and off the field to make it happen right now. And with that said, my a$$ will be cheering for them hoping that I'm either wrong or that we get get lucky enough!

Scratch one possible FA pickup.

I expect a signing any day now.

I think you wrote, more eloquently, what I was trying to say...

Thanks for posting the article! It was an interesting read. I too have worked for both types...and I know I would rather work for Smith. I prefer country clubs!

No side wants to take a hit. I just think it's interesting fodder considering there's not a lot of info on this CBA fiasco.

Dammit! I told my cousin to chill out on that!

No, I understand. In in those terms I agree. But I want more than the middle class...I want the pinnacle. I'm not basing my opinion on Smith and company lightly. They have made far too many mistakes. And they have all rec'd a fari share of luck. I just fear the Jauron syndrome. One good year followed by numerous poor ones. But many of the players perfomrning were shoe-ins. Peppers was obvious. Cutler was obvious. I give Briggs and Hester. But, the rest are pretty fair at best, and far too many busts. I actually dislike JA more than Smith. If JA could get Smith better players, we'd do better. I like both guys as guys. But as top calibur football minds, that they are not. I really was on Smith's side all this year. I thought he did a great job. Except in the only game that truly mattered. The playoff loss to GB. Nice run and all, but I feel hollow. And I totally get where you're coming from on your post. I loved reading it! I basically agree...there's not been uch better from the Bears. But I find that there's not much better to be a bad thing.

Honestly, we'll never know. The biggest question is really do the coaches matter for us for the longest while? One could make an arguement that any success the bears have had is solely based on having a healthy team out there. And mostly on D... The whole Cutler thing add a dimention we've not been able to talk about in 20 years really besided the odd Kramer year. Having a potnetial potent offense. The record, etc that JA and Smith have garsnished, I personally feel, could have been done by others. I don't really feel that JA and Smith are that good that their presence makes the difference. But that's just me... I'm sure others here feel that Smith and JA are doing a fantastic job and are the reason for success. I just happen to think the team wins in spite of them... and that means they have to all be healthy and we need pure kickass guys. PS - I loved your analysis...

http://money.cnn.com/2011/02/28/news/compa...in&hpt=Sbin

Well said...

Did you mean to respond to my comment bowlingtwig? Seems like you're responding to something very different. I'm fearing Williams is a bust. Yes, I want to draft OL and yes, I want to get some in FA. But I don't want to trade away high picks (at least for Mankins). I want FA and draft both personally, but, isn't that a different topic? As far as who we should draft...I haven't a clue. I've been removed from this past college season and leave it to you guys that know the college ranks better than I!

Ha! Hunter is no surprise, nor is Shaffer. Harris shouldn't be...but kind of is.

You seem to be seeing much of what I'm seeing. I fear he isn't that good.

Well said...

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/...tricted-tender/

I sure hope so, but I smell bust...

Stick a fork in him?

Nah. Cutler's our a-hole! I prefer to keep him! More upside... Plus I don't trust JA using the pick correctly...

It's not all that. Let's not forget for 6 seasons before that, he sent them to the playoffs. Didn't miss a single year. (I think you meant years 7-8-9). Thos were bad years. He may have been let go by numerous teams. However, the 6 previous years of strong showings seemed to generate enough goodwill. Smith got the same leway this past year, and without similar strong showings in pervious years. I'm 100% certain we'll never get Cowher. Timing and money will dictate that. But just becasue it's probably not going to happen, doesn't meant I don't want it to. And did you think we were going to get Peppers? Cutler? Sometimes, we get surprised...