CrackerDog

If they hire Tice at OC it'll mean they expect to fire everyone at the end of next season. This is the only clear signal I could see here. And I'll boycott the team for a season if I expect they're just throwing in the towel.

As you know, I try to remain an optimist when it comes to the Bears. Here are a few thoughts that may help you remain one too. So, have at it, I'm not happy with what I've seen from these guys for the last few years either, but here are the things that keep me hopeful for next season... We needed a new OC. I don't think anyone here was in love with Turner. Now we'll get one. And hopefully whoever it is will be able to make the best of our new QB. Cutler seems to be involved in this process. This can be a good thing or a bad thing. You don't want the inmates running the asylum but he did seem to be right, all along, about DA. What the heck, let him pick an OC or his QB coach from the pool out there. Can't hurt. Probably. Say what you want about Lovie's lack of fire on the sideline, I defy anyone to name a coach who would've done much better than 7-9 with this offensive line and as many injuries as we had on defense. Face it, losing your franchise MLB on opening day doesn't make it a picnic for the rest of the year. We found two new WR's this year who could develop into real stars. When's the last time you could feel that way about this team? Olsen grew a ton this year and our O Line came together toward the end of the season. I'm not giving up on the Lovie Cover Two scheme like many of you already have. You need the horses to run it. Maybe Lovie and JA will find a new DC that Lovie feels comfortable enough with that he'll be allowed to be somewhat independent in his decision making. That was Rivera's issue, IMO, Lovie didn't have a track record with him and he questioned his calls despite the results. Lovie always felt he would've done better. AND, the last few years may have been humbling enough for Lovie that he'll be more tolerant of non-Lovie type decisions. Marinelli may work on him to run more line stunts, etc. The leadership of this team is now on a short leash. They know it. Some folks do their best work under the gun. We'll see. Worst case, Jerry and Lovie are unemployed next year at this time. Best case, they'll have been given some new toys to play with in the off season, via free agency, and they'll have vindicated ownership's vote of confidence. Also along these lines, if they do succeed, what happens in most places is your staff is raided for talent and you lose your best coordinators to the marketplace. But these guys will have all proven themselves to be failures as head coaches. I know that sounds funny when you say it but if they work well together (assuming some of the rumors are true about who we're bringing in, etc.) we'll be able to keep this band of misfits together. Well, guys, that all I got. I look forward to the second day of the draft and the minicamps. Until then you probably won't hear much more from me.

It's their team. Ownership has its privilege. Of course they'd be consulted.

I generally don't agree with Jason but I do here. And in my opinion, this is a one to two year experiment anyway. My only concern is Martz is probably a better indoor guy than out. You aren't going to throw it around like crazy in December in Chicago. With that said, I think Martz is smart enough to realize this. I'd welcome his being hired by the Bears.

Giving away a 2 for him was ridiculous. I hope he pays off in the long run but you shouldn't have had to pay that high a price for him. Hester is nothing more than an overpaid slot guy. If you bring in the right OC then this position may have value and I'd keep him. But he's lost a step as a return man and isn't ever going to blossom as a #1 WR. I'd have feelers out to see what we could get for him.

Sorry I've been missing in action for a while. Didn't feel like I had anything constructive to say so I didn't say anything at all. Now that it's over, I think we need to see this team address the following: 1.) Repair the O Line through free agency. I sure wish I knew who was out there but this is (and has been) my number one concern. Having no first or second round choices this year sure isn't going to help. 2.) Determine who it was that was responsible for Devin A being unseen for the vast majority of the season and fire that guy. I'm not sure if this is Turner or Lovie but I sure recall Cutler lobbying for him during the preseason and it took all year to happen. 3.) Trade Hester for whatever you can get. I'd take as low as a 5th rounder for him but would hope for a 4th. 4.) Sign Boldin and put him opposite DA and/or Knox. Keep Bennett for a backup but he isn't my starter. 5.) I think the Ron Turner era needs to end. 6.) Find out from the medical staff if Urlacher and Pisa have the ability to return and contribute for at least a few more seasons. If not, you should trade these guys too. I hope for the best for each of them and want them back but you can't waste any more time here either. 7.) Our DB's are bad in general. I have no clue how you address all the things I mentioned above and still find a way to fix this. In short, we're rebuilding and it kills me that we finally have our QB (I still like Jay a lot) and we're in this pitiful situation elsewhere on the team. 8.) Forte and Olsen are keepers. We've even found a solid backup RB. When's the last time someone said the Bears were solid at the "Skilled Positions" but were weak on D and in the front lines. 9.) Tommy can't be relied on. I'm not going to say cut him because you don't find DT's growing on trees. But damn, other than last weekend, he's been a disappointment. 10.) Jerry Angelo probably needs to be fired. I've been his biggest defender but this team is a clusterfuck right now and I can't blame anyone more than him. Our 7-9 record is deceiving, we're not very good. A lot of teams just plain suck worse than us. That's nothing to be proud of. Maybe it's time for a complete house-cleaning. Damn, I still don't have anything nice to say. I hope you all had great holidays.

We're going to get embarrassed today. The only good that may come from this is maybe, just maybe, Turner will be fired. We haven't scored in the first quarter ALL SEASON with Jay Cutler at QB. The defense sucks but they have multiple excuses. Half the team is injured. But the offense has no excuses. This SHIT is inexcusable.

Really? Who gives a shit? Mike Golic hasn't picked the Bears all season on Mike and Mike. I don't think he picked the Bears in our Superbowl season a few years back more than a time or two. I still enjoy the Mike and Mike show. Atlanta is at home and they beat us last year. The "experts" are going with the easy pick here. Doesn't mean the Bears don't get any respect or that we can't win. It means nothing.

Ain't gunna happen.

If Bradley ever took off her skirt I'd care more. Berrian is the only one on the list worth discussing and he left because of our cap situation, to my recollection.

Well then... Work at work and play at home. I think I'll be switching it soon anyway. It's just nice knowing that every post I make will be opened although I believe the distraction part means most of the time my message isn't actually read.

ST is probably the last area to see improvement as a team emerges from massive suckitude. It takes a while to develop that bench depth that delivers the ST's coach guys who can actually play. At this stage, Detroit is focused on skill position players and in finding guys who can help keep Stafford alive. As they rebuild, they'll find those guys. With that said, I've always claimed that the difference between great teams and average teams in the league wasn't a huge gap in talent. And I'd say the same thing for teams that suck and average teams. I think this is proven out year after year when we see teams go from a few wins to competing for playoff spots the next. And the other way around too. Detroit has beaten the odds, however, in that they've SUCKED for a lot longer than most.

Sad but true. But... I think the execution improved so dramatically in the second half and in the following games, for me, it was lack of preparation. And not "Rex Grossman wanting to party on New Years Eve" lack of preparation but rather "Coach Turner really screwed the pooch" type of lack of preparation. None of this will matter if we don't get healthier. You can prepare these guys very well but if you don't have the horses, you're not going to compete. And in this regard, I give the coaching staff a lot of credit. We've won 3 games with lots of excuses not to.

I assume Colombo's was a lot worse but have you heard something about Stafford's? Colombo had pretty bad nerve damage with his. PS. I won't wish injury on any player, not even a Packer, since I believe it carries with it bad karma. With that said, now that the injury has occured, I don't really "feel bad" for him either. Not that I hope it's a really bad long term injury or anything but it isn't my worry either. We've got our own guys to feel bad for and plenty of them are injured too.

The first game it was that we weren't prepared on offense at all and Cutler looked lost. So I blame that on coaching. So, did we "not adjust" in game one until halftime... Not sure. We dragged our feet in game four to be certain. Against Seattle they had a second string QB in there and while they couldn't close the deal on lots of drives, they had an easy time of it against our ill-prepared D for the most part. They earned my respect a touch for the Pitt game because we were much better prepared entering the game but we'd just come off playing a 3-4 so we damn well should've been. Hey, 3-1 is as good as we could've hoped for before the season began. But I don't think Green Bay is even the best team we've played and we found a way to lose to them. I want these guys better prepared and then I want to see coaches reacting more quickly. But I admit it's tough to do when you're working with a bunch of second teamers, particularly on D.

Very well said NFO and as long as those lessons are driven home, I'm with you 100%. Also, there's actually a Youtube on this and you can see the ball as it drops hits the goal line. And he's dropping it from behind himself. So, although it's still REALLY stupid and should never happen again, I can't agree that it's completely clear that he fumbled. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dkdL2nvzVXA I'm not sure you can drop the ball on the goal line from behind yourself and have it land on the goal line if you aren't already across the line. It's REAL close...

I'm thrilled our team isn't one dimensional anymore. We can give up 24 points and still win. It wasn't so much Cutler and the offense but ther special teams guys yesterday and some second half defense. But if you can get the guys inspired at halftime, you should be able to do it during the pregame too. Coming out flat isn't an option. And with all the injuries we've suffered, it'll be a full team effort to continue to win.

I agree 100%. This team isn't good enough to take ANYTHING for granted. Come out of the gate scratching and clawing EVERY GAME and they have a chance at winning 10 games or so and making the playoffs. Piss away a game or two because you don't or because you can't close or because one of your stars plays like shit (opening day was all of the above) and you'll end up 8-8 and out of the playoffs. And the coaches need to make adjustments sooner than halftime. What is it about these guys that they can't seem to get their thumbs out of their asses until they're off the playing surface?

I hope they rip him a new asshole in the film room. There's no room for this. Sure, the kid made a great play... But that doesn't mean he's allowed to be stupid. The vets ought to ream him.

This defense F*CKING SUCKS!

Jason thinks very highly of himself. Nothing wrong with that.

And more accurately, giving the receiver a chance to see the field.

I think we'd have won in either case but this can't be bad for the Bears.

Pix - Please note these aren't my positions on these matters but I think I can sum it up... 1.) While most realists expected 10-6 a solid year for this team, most football fans may pretend to be realists on the outside but deep down everyone hopes for perfection. Seeing a team from last year with a 9-7 record only improve 1 game to this year after adding Cutler just wasn't enough for most fans. Urlacher and Tommy were supposed to be MUCH better this year due to health. 2.) Our one loss was to the Packers and we lost in a very disappointing fashion. It made a lot of people think of last season and how we found ways to lose. 3.) Many saw Forte as a sure thing stud, regardless of the line. Nobody bought into the idea that he could have a slow start, particularly with a QB who could produce 100+ QB ratings. Forte ought to be seeing wide open spaces as D's back off and play the pass... Or so the logic goes. 4.) There are people out there like me who still aren't sold on Ron Turner as an O Coordinator. Others feel the same way about Lovie, ownership or Jerry Angelo. For those people, the start to the season vindicates their own prejudgements. In my own case, I'm still not in love with what Turner is doing but have to admit the W's are still there despite some flaws I perceive in his performance. I can nail, for example, 90% of his play calls based on formation and down and distance. If a novice like me can do that, professional defenses are all over it. And this, IMO, causes some of failed plays that would be much more successful with a more creative, imaginative and unpredictable scheme. 5.) The loudest and shillest voices you hear are those that scream on talk radio and parrot those opinions here. It's easy, it sells papers and it brings more listeners. Hey, don't forget, everyone on Bearstalk is a friggen expert! Those are my initial thoughts.

They better not... http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/P/PaytWa00.htm Sweetness had a helluva year in 1985!