Interesting tidbit about our new TE coach.  What I like is that Nagy is bringing in successful NFL experience with both his Oline and TE coaching hires.  I said he needed to get rid of "yes men" and hire people who will challenge him.   FWIW Clancy also worked with Shurmur in Minn so Nagy now has two offensive coaches with ties to Shurmur.   Maybe he isn't done yet although it's odd to hire these two ahead of the OC it could be we're in final negotiations with Shurmur and this was just one of the pieces he wanted.  

https://www.chicagobears.com/news/bears-hire-clancy-barone-as-tight-ends-coach

"As a tight ends coach, Barone has had four players voted to the Pro Bowl with four different teams: the Falcons’ Alge Crumpler, the Chargers’ Antonio Gates, the Broncos’ Julius Thomas and the Vikings’ Kyle Rudolph."

On the other hand, there's this connection...

"Barone worked at Eastern Illinois when Bears general manager Ryan Pace played defensive end at the school. Barone, who doubled as EIU’s recruiting coordinator, was quoted about what he saw from Pace as a high school player in a story in the Mattoon (Ill.) Journal Gazette on March 5, 1995, saying: “He showed good toughness on film. He was quick and a good athlete.”

I assume Shurmur is seeing what other options are out there, maybe a team where he can call plays (like CAR), and then if nothing else is there, comes over to join Nagy. 

To me, if Shurmur does come over, it would seem too easy to bring Keenum in as a FA, especially with how well he played for Shurmur in Minnesota.

2 hours ago, adam said:

I assume Shurmur is seeing what other options are out there, maybe a team where he can call plays (like CAR), and then if nothing else is there, comes over to join Nagy. 

To me, if Shurmur does come over, it would seem too easy to bring Keenum in as a FA, especially with how well he played for Shurmur in Minnesota.

With our QB and cap the way it is I would go along with bringing in Keenum.  He is mobile and has experience and I think he gets a little bit of a bad rap.  But what if Pace and Nagy think this is all going so well they decide to just skip the OC Cord. and they announce that Nagy is going to do both before and during the game?

3 hours ago, Bill said:

With our QB and cap the way it is I would go along with bringing in Keenum.  He is mobile and has experience and I think he gets a little bit of a bad rap.  But what if Pace and Nagy think this is all going so well they decide to just skip the OC Cord. and they announce that Nagy is going to do both before and during the game?

It's possible, but I am thinking that if Nagy wants to last beyond 2020, he would insulate himself from another potential down year from the offense. If he hires new coaches left and right, and especially a new OC. That would potentially give him some new scapegoats if things don't get turned around. However, I hope the organization is wiser and just cans Pace and Nagy if they don't improve in 2020. 

31 minutes ago, adam said:

It's possible, but I am thinking that if Nagy wants to last beyond 2020, he would insulate himself from another potential down year from the offense. If he hires new coaches left and right, and especially a new OC. That would potentially give him some new scapegoats if things don't get turned around. However, I hope the organization is wiser and just cans Pace and Nagy if they don't improve in 2020. 

they only reason they arent being fired right now is the money remaining on their contracts.

next year they are clearly on the hot seat if they dont prove something on the field.

I said many years ago here that a coach and gm should have three years together to win the big one.  If they don't at least get to the NFC champ. then they both need to go next year.  And throw in Philips also.  We've had what two or three good years and the rest mediocre.

And by mediocre I mean not in the NFC Chap. game.  Just making the playoffs is not enough anymore.  One Super Bowl win in over 50 years.  The 30's 40's 50's 60's are long long ago even for me.  They stopped being an elite franchise almost a century ago.  OK maybe just 60 years ago.

 

44 minutes ago, Bill said:

I said many years ago here that a coach and gm should have three years together to win the big one.  If they don't at least get to the NFC champ. then they both need to go next year.  And throw in Philips also.  We've had what two or three good years and the rest mediocre.

No matter how bad we want it to happen, Ted Phillips is not going anywhere. 

Peace

I'd be happy to make the playoffs on the regular right now. Two playoff years out of 10 years (2010, 2018).  Let's get to the top 10 before asking to be a top 5. Need a QB for that, this is do or die for MT.  

With the easier schedule next year based on how we finished this year, we really need to go for it next year. It's much harder to get to the playoffs playing a first place schedule. It can be done, but playing a 3rd place schedule makes it a little easier.