jason

My order of preference (assuming the Bears don't get one of the big names like Chucky): 1. Pete Carmichael, New Orleans OC - Their offense has been a juggernaut, and he knows how important it is to have protection for a QB. On top of that, he understands how to play to the strengths of the players, since he manages to make plays that take advantage of speed, size, etc. 2. Mike McCoy - Denver OC - Connections to Cutler are nice, and I'm a big fan of their blocking schemes. There is a big reason why Peyton Manning didn't get reinjured this year, and it has every bit to do with his protection. 3. Tom Clements, Green Bay OC - Their offense has been consistently nasty for quite some time, and it's shown an ability to adjust when given a RB worth a damn. On top of that, it's an inside peek at the arch-nemesis. Maybe he can give the Bears advantage because of insider knowledge. The only worry I have is seeing Cutler take hits with a new OC, just like he has with the previous OCs. 6. Mike Sullivan - Tampa OC - Tie. Not really that interested. I want to see a proven offensive leader. 6. Keith Armstrong - Atlanta ST - Tie. Not really that interested. I want to see a proven offensive leader. 6. Joe DeCamillis - Dallas ST - Tie. Not really that interested. I want to see a proven offensive leader.

Agreed. Which is why I was hesitant to put Paea in there. He's the only one that truly doesn't fit into any traditional 3-4 role.

OL - I obviously agree with any and all help given here. As someone else said, numbers need to be thrown at this situation. TE - I would like to see Rodriguez get a chance. His talent is SEVERELY wasted where he is now. He was drafted for a reason, but he wasn't used for that reason. MLB - I still think Urlacher has some skill, and is serviceable for one or two more years. Besides, I don't think MLBs are that hard to really find. Hall of Famers? Sure, they're hard to find. But good MLBs are a dime a dozen.

Dude, just because you say "move on" doesn't mean I have to. And it certainly doesn't mean you get to dictate the last word on a subject. Is Charles Tillman right? I have no doubt. I don't think anyone on this board every challenged anything in Tillman's quote. Lovie Smith, from all indications, is a very good, if not great man. But he's a average-to-good head football coach in the NFL who has severe limitations in many areas. But to the point, how exactly should a fan act in a situation such as ours? Should the fans constantly be happen with .500ish records, where the team treads water and never really threatens further? If Lovie could get the team beyond that point, then nobody would have been calling for his firing. And therefore the dilemma existed. Bears win, Lovie keeps his job, the team treads water. Bears lose, Lovie potentially loses his job (he obviously did), the team has a chance to do something other than tread water. I guess we all just view things differently. I view it as losing a few battles in order to win the war. Losses were necessary in order for Lovie to get fired, which can hopefully give the Bears the chance to advance beyond their currently stagnant point. It's not that fans wanted the Bears to actually lose - you have to understand that. It's that fans realized some losses were necessary in order for major gains to potentially be made.

I admit the Bears don't have the big NT, but you don't think the assortment of Izzy, Peppers, Melton, and Wooton could fulfill the role of 3-4 DE? This looks pretty awesome to me: NT: Player X DE: Peppers, Melton LB: Wooton, Briggs, Urlacher, SMC

LOVE this idea. And while we're talking about using players to best suit their talents, let's move Rodriguez out from FB, hand him the starting TE role right now, tell him it's his to lose in training camp, and go into the season with at least a threat at the TE position. FBs are not priorities for the most part. If we need one, I'm sure one could be found.

You make it sound as if the Bears have to start over at the beginning, yet you are ignoring the 10-6 record. The Bears don't have that many problems in comparison to most other teams. It's one of the main problems everyone had with Lovie: he didn't maximize talent. Given the fact that Emery went out and got Marshall - who is probably the best WR in Bears history - I'm feeling confident he'll identify the issues on the team and address them.

Remember where it started. Scroll up, go back to previous comments, and see where you began by basically challenging every Bears fan who didn't agree with you. Anyone who wanted Lovie gone was not a true fan. Your line of reason is weak, and just because your opinion is not majority doesn't make anyone else a lemming or in search of some sort of "echo chamber". It just means majority/minority...and generally speaking, when the difference between majority and minority is so vast, the minority is wrong.

Dude, don't flatter yourself. I don't give a damn about riling you up or whether or not you think I need your approval/assistance. I'm just saying you're in the vast minority here, and I don't see why you are trying to take a holier than thou attitude as if we couldn't possibly have a winning or better team without Lovie. Face it, nearly everyone disagrees with the fact you wanted to keep Lovie, despite how moderately dissatisfied you were/are.

EXACTLY

Dude, what are you thinking? Why is it a sad day? You sure do have a warped view of how a franchise should be run. A true fan should be happy that Lovie was fired because it shows the team is not content with a HC who continually makes the same mistakes and can't get over the hump. It says the Bears are not happy with simply having a winning season. That is what a true fan should also want. But if you're cool with missing the playoffs every year and seeing the exact same problems every year, then maybe the definition of fan changed since last I looked it up.

Lovie can look in the mirror for blame on the Seattle game. If he weren't so gung ho about shutting the team down when they get even the slightest of leads, this team would have made the playoffs and he would probably still have his job.

Exactly. F U Lovie

I still blame Lovie for Urlacher's injury. If he weren't running 30 yes back from the LOS then it would never be an issue.

It is like a broken record for me. I won't believe it until they do it.

You're right, but that performance is the exact same reason why fans are disillusioned with this team's chances in the playoffs.

See, I view it from a different perspective. When guys like Hester and Weems keep getting trotted out for snap after snap, I don't see that as a substitute player's flaw. I see that as a coaching flaw. When guys don't perform, changes should be made. Maybe Sanz would have done better than Hester? He certainly runs better routes and is undoubtedly smarter (i.e. knows the plays). Same goes for Rodriguez over Davis/Spaeth. Davis has been horrible this year, so Rodriguez should have been in the game as a flex TE. This coaching staff has no damn clue how to build an offense, how to evaluate offensive talent, or to execute a successful offense against an opponent.

Not bad overall.

Hand the ball to the cyborg in Adrian Peterson's skin = Frazier is doing a good job.

It's a good, weighted-statistic, but it doesn't tell the entire picture. Just studying the numbers a little bit shows the Bears are immensely flawed on offense. They have the only negative DVOA on offense in the top ten teams, and one of only two in the top 15 (Cincy). And even considering that is kind of ridiculous when looking at the Bears' Offensive DVOA (-10.2) vs. Cincy's (-0.9). A team that flawed on offense (something we knew without stats) can only be saved by the D/ST so often before it causes the team to lose. Which is kind of why many are sour on this team advancing to the playoffs; we realize it's false hope that will probably let Lovie keep his job while getting ass-hammered in the first round.

The sad thing is, your post makes complete sense.

Jennings was mandatory. He leads the league in INTs. Whenever there is doubt for a DB, the highlight stats are INTs.

I'm in, but I hope the Bears win because one DL player has a monster game, takes out Stafford early, and the Lions still move the ball at will...but stalling in the red zone when they move too far. As a result, they have to punt to Hester about ten times, and he takes one or two to the house (I know, unlikely this year). Then the offense does, well, pretty much what it has done all year. That way it's a win, but Lovie still looks bad.

Is this one of those "we have the roster space because someone is on IR, so let's go ahead and sign someone"-moves?

Wouldn't surprise me if he became a reliable 2nd or 3rd possession target for Dalton.