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Bowe is the best candidate. VJax is the next best wideout, imo, but also the biggest head case of the bunch. Desean would have been perfect for Martz but doesn't fit what the Bears need. I think the Bears might say screw it and go with Jackson, but I'd probably put them at going hard for Stevie if Bowe is franchised but for all I know Stevie (Bills) will be franchised. Colston scares me because I have no idea how much of a product he is of Brees. Bowe has put up numbers with all kinds of mediocre QB's. My only concern with him is he gets hurt or he gets lazy. Physically the dude is a total beast.

He would be the best hire of the bunch. Followed closely by the Green Bay guy, but none of the 1st time GM candidates have the pedigree and reputation as DeCosta.

Just cause it is the same systems as Shanny's doesn't necessarily mean it would work the same way or be as effective. Remember, Bates would be the one calling plays. I'm not saying I'm for/or against the hire, just remember it wouldn't be quite the same as when Jay was in Denver. I am intrigued about the idea of Bates but I'd also need to know more about why he was fired in Seattle and why he isn't coaching right now. Terry Shea was supposed to know Martz offense and we know that never worked out.

Atlanta has done some really good things. Not sure how involved he was in those things but at first glance, I'm intrigued.

This is what I don't like. If Lovie has just one more year, you should have fired him. They better have kept him because they believe he is one of the better coaches in the league and assume he'll figure things out and get extended. If not, we are going to be firing our coach a year from now and on the verge of bringing in yet another OC (unless we give this OC a big time contract; problem is, if you do that, what coach is going to come in knowing they are tied to an existing OC?).

Doubly agree.

I do think if you brought in a GM like the Ravens guy (who is the top candidate in the league) and the Bears loved him and he was in with the exception that he needed to have a shot to bring in his coach, than I'd probably do it. However, when I look down the list of NFL head coaches, I only see 5 coaches better than Lovie in this league: 1. Bellicheck 2. Sean Payton 3. McCarthy 4. Tomlin 5. Reid I think anyone else and you can make an argument Lovie is better. The next list, which includes Lovie, also includes Mike Smith, the Harbaugh Brothers, Shanny (I might include him in the top group), and Rex Ryan (who I happen to hate). You could also argue for Kubiak (who I'm a huge fan of). Which means, if you agree with my list, at worse, Lovie is the 11th or 12th best coach in the league. I happen to think he rates on par with everyone else on the list of this group of candidates and most definitely ahead of Rex. I realize Bears fans have problem with the guy but his teams play hard for him week in and week out. They respect him and he by and large gets the most out of his players. While you may think this are not a big deal, the reality in the NFL is that the vast majority of coaches don't get this out of there players. Some might be a little shrewder in the in-game decisions but Lovie has improved on the in-game adjustments to the point that he's at least average. He excels at getting his guys ready to play though and that is why I think at worse he is a top 8 coach in this league and I don't understand why we are ready to kick him to the curb. I'm not going to fire him because people don't like the way he uses "coach speak" to the press, thats for sure. I do know that he had this team playing at a high-level prior to injuries and never once used injuries as an excuse.

Cause Lovie is a good coach.

Interesting. I never had a Problem with jerry but I'd be all for polian. I wonder what this means for lovie?

I'm going to assume they will franchise them. I don't have a clue why they wouldn't? I guess the only reason they wouldn't is if someone else that was of significant value to them was a free agent.

Mario Williams would be my #1 target though. I think it is so important to have a big pass rush in the current NFL. Factor in that 2 of our teams in the division throw the ball a lot and have pretty prolific offenses and it is even more important (GB & Detroit). And you'd have at least 1-2 years with Peppers still playing at a high level (add in Melton & Paea in the middle and Idonjie spelling the ends and I'd be pretty happy).

Touche. Calvin Johnson and Fitz seem okay to me. In terms of guys that are FA's, I don't really have an answer. I also don't mind Stevie Johnson, however, Stevie, has most definitely said some dumb crap.

I'm actually not convinced that dumping him is the best idea. I think Martz did some very good things this year and didn't have any major issues with him outside of the early playcalling and the Raiders game. And I think if you watch any offense, you'd know that teams are going to have weeks where the playcalling is less than par (so it happens to everyone). Bottom line: With Cutler this offense looked like it was heading to the next level. Add another quality olineman (specifically a LT), plus a front-line wideout and another year in Martz system, and I wouldn't be surprised to see this offense progress to the next level. Cutler was starting to look quite comfortable. Now if really, it was Tice calling more of the plays and we didn't know it, than that is a whole nother story. Basically put, if there was more backdrama than I need to know, than I understand why they'd fire Martz but Martz is a good offensive mind and at a minimum a good OC and I hate the idea of starting over and throwing Cutler in yet another new system.

No. I'd rather just stick with Williams. And to be honest, at the right price, I have zero problem bringing Williams back. He just better not prevent the Bears from spending big money on a #1 wideout.

Putting in Aba for Briggs is a major loss. Now if the Bears trade Briggs, than we have to figure something out. Briggs is a rock.

That would be awesome. The only thing that scares me about Jacksons is his injury issues and the fact that he's an idiot. I'd just be worried that he'd be lazy and totally suck. Talent wise he'd be a nice piece on the offense. I love DBowe too but he has the same idiot issues as Jackson.

Andersons is about the only player who went on to have bigger success elsewhere though? I can't think of many examples of guys who left the Bears and played significantly better after leaving (or even much better for that matter). Chris Harris is another example (traded and made the probowl).

The one chucked at his feet should have been caught. The announcers spent a minute talking about how maybe it was Roy's injury or just Roy being Roy but he needed to come back on the ball and if he did, the ball would have been at his hip.

Edwin at worst is a good backup and he is probably better than that. Good move. I always think the Bears are going to find a way to lock-up Forte before Saturday as well. They have a lot of cap space that they would be smart to use prior to the game on Sunday (since you can still count your signings against this years cap).

The line produced during that winning streak and was getting better each and every week. Than Williams and Cutler go down and things change. Hanie runs around and puts up one of the worst 4 game stretches in NFL history out of a QB and people are throwing the line under the bus. How the hell can you evaluate anyone on the offense with that garbage. Bennett was rolling and looks like he's dead because Hanie sucks too. I'm not about to throw Bennett under the bus. My point is, the line was making a lot of progress, has a lot of youth, and has shown an ability to get better. They have a need at LT because Webb is so damn inconsistent (but I don't want some mediocre LT, I'd want a book-end LT or a guy with that sort of upside).

I'd also argue that Cutlers mobility and quick release would make an average oline look above average so if the Bears can put together an average oline it would be a nice start (especially given the youth that that Bears have on the line).

Great post. I agree with the analysis above. I think Williams/Louis at guard would give the Bears an incredibly athletic set of guards that can get out and be very very effective run-blockers. Hell the Bears line in general did a nice job creating holes for Forte to break some huge runs. LT is an area of need and I fully endorse going out and getting one (either via the draft in the 1st round or FA). I'd invest in wide-out first but I think both can be addressed. If I were going to fill my dream list of needs, it would be WR (we actually need 2 but give me a legit #1 and I'll be happy), LT (1st round or FA), DE (I love our dt rotation with Melton, Paea, Okoye, etc, but we need another guy that can rush that passer and take over for Pepp in a few years), CB (ours are getting older), LB (need to start looking for replacements).

I heard the argument from you for years about how our wide receivers were good. They were and always have been bad. You are completely overreacting on the line and you need to evaluate based upon the reality of the situation. We are talking about an extremely young line. You have to look at the actual physical attributes and ability and project. And being the person who thinks our line is better than advertised, I want to point out I'm about the only one here saying that moving Williams out of guard is ludicrious. And the talk of having him at left tackle is downright scary. Tice is a good coach (and a proven coach). He isn't a moron like it seems most everyone seems to think (and apparently thinks of every Bears coach even though some of them have been widelye successful in previous stints at their respected positions). If I were to grade out, I'd actually say that Garza has played slightly above average at center. Spencer is around average. Louis played a few games at an above average level. He did have one horrendous game but that happens, especially when you are a rookie, and I think he projects into a guy that can be an above average guard. That gives you Williams, who was our best lineman this year (prior to going down), who is an average guard (as a pass blocker) and looks like he could be an above average run-blocker (his athletic ability gives the Bears a great opportunity to get there guards on the move and break some huge runs for a nifty back like Forte). You throw Carimi at tackle and than you evaluate Webb. Webb is a physical beast and at times can shut-down above average lineman. The consistency just isn't there but you expect that with youth, especially when most of the line is youth. You don't have the veteran anchors to carry the line, but in time, they can get there. I think there is definitely room to draft another lineman and I would fully endorse drafting a book end left tackle if it was available in Rnd 1. But I would not draft a guard, I think between Williams, Spencer, and Louis, we have enough depth there. I think Webb is a nice depth player and Carimi deserves his shot at RT. Garza is fine at center (although I would fully endorse drafting someone we think could play there in time). At wide-out, I think if you sign/pick-up 1 legit #1 plsu another wide-out, it will be widely beneficial to the line as well. Teams will actually think twice about blitzing as much as they do after Cutler burns them on some big plays. Right now the Bears have one starting wide-out (Bennett). That is horrendous. And I also point out that I don't want to evaluate tape with Hanie. Defenses overloaded the Bears consistently with Hanie at QB and Hanie put up statistically one of the worst 4 game stretches from a QB in NFL history. The line had zero chance to do anything worth a damn in that situation. I'm not going to say our line is great right now but I don't see it as this major need. I think what they need is time to continue to gel/develop, Cutler back, a better offense around them, and Williams/Carimi back.

Wideout is a much greater area of need than oline. Our oline is not that bad. Repeat...not that bad. In fact, as Carimi progresses and Williams comes back, I still like what we have by and large. It isn't perfect but as they gel, it will be fine.

There is no way that Bennett is a #1. He isn't near athletic enough. He is mr steady with his hands and a good route runner but he is nothing more than a #2, imo. And I love Earl. Easily my favorite wideout on the Bears (not that it says anything).