Thread: The Bears are who we thought they were.

Originally Posted by JustAnotherBearsFan99

The team, like all teams, has areas that need improvement. But it comes down to the fact that with a solid oline, we have a Super Bowl contender. But the oline is so horrible that it limits how much this team can accomplish this season.

We can beat bottom-feeders. We've done that. But we can't beat good teams. Not with this oline.

The other problems are important, but not at important as the o-line woes. The o-line is our "terminal illness" this year. It will ultimately kill our season.

Don't lose sight of the forest because of the trees my friend. You MAY be right, but I have this sneaking feeling that our O-line is not our terminal illness, but a life threatening symptom of the true disease. I have believed for over 4 years now that our true illness is our coaching staff. How many times have we heard the refrain "we were out-coached" after a loss? It's easy to prepare a game plan against weak teams, but when you go up against better teams you have to work at it, and I don't see a lot of success. Along those same lines, who the hell is coaching this O-Line anyway, and what the hell are they teaching them? We drafted Chris Williams in the first round and he was cut, even though he was a better OG last year than anyone we currently have; We drafted Carimi in the first two years ago, who was very highly regarded by most draft boards, and he should be doing MUCH better than what he's shown; and I wont even go into the whole Webb thing. In games that the O-Line APPEARS to be getting better, what has been the lament? That this sack or that sack was Cutlers fault because he held on to the ball too long. Well, then ask yourself why he held on too long, the answer is...there are 5 defenders covering 3 receivers because everyone else is staying in the help our woeful O-Line!!!

Lovie Smith has been here going on 9 years and we are on out 4th OC! No offense can click well when you're changing your OC every 2.25 years. That's on Lovie, just as many other things are that are erroneously blamed on others. This team has the talent to succeed with a GOOD coaching staff, but we continue to laud and look for an extension for average at best. If we want to continue to be the Cubs of the NFL, then status quo is fine, but if we want a Champion then we are going to have to make some changes, because even if we happen to find ourselves with a gift appearance in the SB, we will lose again. We will be out-coached if not out-played.

That's my opinion. I could have made it longer as there is far more that I could say, but I've said it all before and I'm tired of being angry. I just sit back and listen to people apologize for shortcomings and even suggest extensions. I listen to people excuse poor decisions and blame everyone else for problems we have, and I've just grown weary of pointing out what I believe is the obvious. I hear people say "If you fired Lovie, then who would you get that's better, there is nobody" and I think the list of better is much longer than people suggest. I hear "If Lovie were fired then he would be hired right away by someone else, that shows how good he is", and I reply good, I hope he goes to a Division rival so they could be average for several years as well. I hear people blame the GM for personnel moves, the OC for offensive inadequacies and even the DC when our defense goes bad and then I just ask, "OK, if everyone else is responsible for all these things, just what does the Head Coach do?"

This is not a knee jerk reaction to a humiliating loss on national television. This has been my opinion for a long time and consecutive losses to better teams in the league when everyone thought we were going to be world beaters just reinforces my opinion.

Originally Posted by bearsinhouston

99, we'll have to disagree there. The lack of adjustment is worrisome. We did not know how to make adjustments. In a playoff game that is critical - it could be the difference between a win and a loss.

And I was not saying that I am not more worried about the O than I am the D. All I was saying was that I half way expected the O to suck, but I did not expect that from the D.

I look at it this way. The other things are "fixable" this season. Even the bonehead lack of adjustments. But you can't replace the oline between now and the playoffs. It's like a commercial airliner in flight with failing engines. You can't swap out the engines in mid-flight.

The plane is in the air. The oline engines have failed. Our season is looking pretty bleak now. We will continue to beat bad teams. We will not beat good teams. Not until the oline is fixed.

@ Jim Harbaugh job: If We Could Turn Back Time

He have done really well didn't knew he was at job interview at Bears but looking back it buggers me he didn't get him, last season I was really impressed over what he'd done to this 49'ers team.

Originally Posted by 4DaBERS

Don't lose sight of the forest because of the trees my friend. You MAY be right, but I have this sneaking feeling that our O-line is not our terminal illness, but a life threatening symptom of the true disease. I have believed for over 4 years now that our true illness is our coaching staff. How many times have we heard the refrain "we were out-coached" after a loss? It's easy to prepare a game plan against weak teams, but when you go up against better teams you have to work at it, and I don't see a lot of success. Along those same lines, who the hell is coaching this O-Line anyway, and what the hell are they teaching them? We drafted Chris Williams in the first round and he was cut, even though he was a better OG last year than anyone we currently have; We drafted Carimi in the first two years ago, who was very highly regarded by most draft boards, and he should be doing MUCH better than what he's shown; and I wont even go into the whole Webb thing. In games that the O-Line APPEARS to be getting better, what has been the lament? That this sack or that sack was Cutlers fault because he held on to the ball too long. Well, then ask yourself why he held on too long, the answer is...there are 5 defenders covering 3 receivers because everyone else is staying in the help our woeful O-Line!!!

Lovie Smith has been here going on 9 years and we are on out 4th OC! No offense can click well when you're changing your OC every 2.25 years. That's on Lovie, just as many other things are that are erroneously blamed on others. This team has the talent to succeed with a GOOD coaching staff, but we continue to laud and look for an extension for average at best. If we want to continue to be the Cubs of the NFL, then status quo is fine, but if we want a Champion then we are going to have to make some changes, because even if we happen to find ourselves with a gift appearance in the SB, we will lose again. We will be out-coached if not out-played.

That's my opinion. I could have made it longer as there is far more that I could say, but I've said it all before and I'm tired of being angry. I just sit back and listen to people apologize for shortcomings and even suggest extensions. I listen to people excuse poor decisions and blame everyone else for problems we have, and I've just grown weary of pointing out what I believe is the obvious. I hear people say "If you fired Lovie, then who would you get that's better, there is nobody" and I think the list of better is much longer than people suggest. I hear "If Lovie were fired then he would be hired right away by someone else, that shows how good he is", and I reply good, I hope he goes to a Division rival so they could be average for several years as well. I hear people blame the GM for personnel moves, the OC for offensive inadequacies and even the DC when our defense goes bad and then I just ask, "OK, if everyone else is responsible for all these things, just what does the Head Coach do?"

This is not a knee jerk reaction to a humiliating loss on national television. This has been my opinion for a long time and consecutive losses to better teams in the league when everyone thought we were going to be world beaters just reinforces my opinion.

Here's my 2-cents worth. Emery will fix the oline this off season. I believe he knows how to draft. Angelo didn't have a clue, but this guy seems to be better.

We do have problems beyond the oline. But I believe that (even with this coaching staff) we can win a Super Bowl. But not with this offensive line setting a low-ceiling for the offense. The defense is still elite IMHO. Yes, they stunk last night. Even great defenses can have nights like that. It happens. But games like that are precisely why you need a decent offense to (finally) come to life and carry some of the load. Move the chains, eat the clock, score points, let your defense have some rest (instead of three-and-outs, dumb penalties, sacks & ints).

Sometimes in games like last night, a defenses best asset can be a rock-solid offense.

We can have that rock-solid offense, once we dump the worst oline in the NFL. Watch this offense come to life - and all of our weapons look better - once we have an NFL-quality oline. Not this bunch of wannabe's.

Originally Posted by bearsinhouston

Well, ok, I'll bite. How do you fix the inability of a coordinator to adjust to a game plan? Is there some sort of seminar they can go to for that training. A guy in his 50's or 60's either has that ability or they do not.

To some extent I can see an improvement there, but honestly I just see the clouds opening up and the sun shining through all of a sudden.

I really don't see the season as bleak. I think we will win our share of the rest of the games. I don't think we will progress far in the off-season however. I am questioning the coaching staff more than ever - and by that I mean both the ability to judge what they have in a player, make them better (Marinelli seems to be excellent in this regard), be able to analyze a team and develop a good game plan for them, and then be able to think on their feet and make real time adjustments to the game even as opposing coaches are making counter-adjustments.

I don't think we have most of those coaching elements. Not going into panic mode by any means. I am fairly happy with the season -- I just don't think we have those elements, I think we need them to win a SB. What Emery does going forward will be telling.

On Special Teams & Defense, I believe we have elite units. Last night did not change my opinion there. I like both of those coordinators. I'd like to see this offense with an oline. Maybe Tice, Bates & Cutler would be solid with an oline.

I had NO problem with Campbell last night (and folks, will flame me for this) but Tom Brady would have tanked last night behind our oline. It was a QB's worst nightmare.