[CBFF] Bears' rise and fall

[Jason Cetina]

Lovie fired Rivera and elevated Babich. He's had that promotion in mind 
since the day he was hired.

mactbone wrote:
> That was said in the PFW article, but this one has sources that think differently. I only see one decision that you can point to and say Lovie mandated that. Archuleta is the only Lovie decision that I can see but I don't know that Lovie didn't like Harris since he started him as a rookie. Lovie was wedded to Jones, Angelo wanted his draft pick to be played. They didn't do anything about the QB situation but Angelo didn't bring anyone in after he got Grossman until finally getting Griese.
>
> If I could look at the roster changes and see a big difference between this past year and the years before I could say sure, Lovie got more juice, but everything seems like more of the same except for getting AA.
> -Chris
>
> ----- Original Message ----
> From: Jason Cetina <jason at cetinas.org>
> To: post at chicagobearsfanforum.com
> Sent: Saturday, November 24, 2007 1:48:36 PM
> Subject: Re: [CBFF] Bears' rise and fall
>
> I had forgotten that JA was hired in 2001. However, that team was still 
> the result of over a decade of bad personnel decisions.
>
> Regardless, I think chaos will be what happens if JA doesn't execute 
> properly in the off season. I can forgive a seasonal downturn (even one 
> as dramatic as this), as long as they are corrected year to year.
>
> Again, I think part of what has happened is JA put too much control in 
> Lovie's hands (personnel direction, Babich, etc.). That won't happen 
> again. It is technically Angelo's fault that he gave that control to 
> Lovie, but he almost had to after last season. I am 100% certain he will 
> correct that mistake in the off season (fire Babich, stop drafting 
> defensive tackles for a while, focus on offense in the draft and FA).
> -
> Jason
>
> Jim Ferolie wrote:
>   
>> No GM? Angelo was hired in 2001. He's the one who got Engram cut, remember?
>>
>> Anyway, just by saying there will be a youth movement and coordinators fired 
>> suggests right there that there is organizational chaos. Maybe not total 
>> chaos, but the direction is very unclear. At least in 2002 we knew it was 
>> Shoop who was leaving and Jauron if he didn't fire Shoop and that Angelo was 
>> going to get coaches who were his guys and players who were his guys.
>>
>> At this point, I have no idea what's going to happen. Chaos.
>>
>> ----- Original Message ----- 
>> From: "Jason Cetina" <jason at cetinas.org>
>>
>>
>> Apples and Oranges. No GM at the time. The only nucleus we had was Urlacher
>> and Brown (we have a bigger nucleus now). Even dimmer prospects at QB. Much
>> worse coaching staff.
>>
>> However, I don't disagree that there will be major changes. I'm just
>> suggesting it will be a youth movement. Hard to say if we'll fire the
>> coordinators, but I'm betting at least one will be gone. I'd prefer it be
>> Babich. He's done a worse job than Turner. Turner at least has the poor
>> o-line as an excuse. As far as I'm concerned, the defense has consistently
>> let this team down this year - even moreso than the offense.
>>
>> -
>> Jason
>>
>> On 11/23/07, Jim Ferolie <ferolie at charter.net> wrote:
>>  
>>     
>>> I disagree. I thought it was spot on considering it was a national writer.
>>> The organization is as close to chaos (long-term meaning future, not past)
>>> as it's been since the year Jauron was fired. Remember following 13-3 with
>>> Daniels and McQuarters getting injured and the death spiral that continued
>>> throughout the muck in Champaign? And I thought that was because of
>>> injuries, because of travel, yadda yadda.
>>>
>>> This is like 2002 all over again, and that's where organizational shakeups
>>> begin. Do we do like the Seahawks? like the Panthers? The Eagles?
>>>
>>> Returning to playoff form is not good enough. If this team is not a
>>> championship contender this year or next year, the organization failed
>>> miserably in its post-Super Bowl plans.
>>>
>>> Like you say, NFL fates rise and fall quickly, and we could be back next
>>> year or in two, but certainly not with a retreading of this year's team.
>>> No,
>>> there need to be major changes. And that bites.
>>>
>>> ----- Original Message -----
>>> From: "Jason Cetina" <jason at cetinas.org>
>>>
>>>
>>> Bad column, IMHO. The Bears are not in the "midst of long term chaos".
>>> At the moment, they have had a bad season. They still have a talented
>>> core they can build around. As most teams have shown, a well managed
>>> off-season can turn things around quick. Sure the NFC North is better.
>>> Its hard for it not to be. But the Lions have lost 3 in a row, and the
>>> Vikes are miserable at QB. The Pack is good this year, but Favre has 1-2
>>> more years left in the tank at most (if he doesn't pack it in after this
>>> season). We may even yet come out of this season with a serviceable QB.
>>>
>>> I think media types are fascinated by the quick unraveling of a team,
>>> but if this doorknob had put any thoughtful analysis into this article,
>>> he would've pointed to the glaringly obvious problem of a bad o-line,
>>> which can be retooled.
>>>
>>> But that doesn't sell ad space.
>>>
>>> Teams in the midst of long term chaos include: Oakland, Miami, possibly
>>> Detroit, and the 49ers.
>>>
>>> My prediction: Angelo will address the o-line, safety, and coaching
>>> problems in the off season, and return the Bears to playoff (but not yet
>>> SB) form.
>>>
>>> To me, this means Turner will be on notice, Babich will be gone, Briggs
>>> will be signed, Archuleta, Moose, F. Miller and R. Brown cut, Tait moved
>>> back to the right side. We will draft linemen in the first and third
>>> rounds, and a safety in the second. Plan on seeing us trade down for
>>> more picks. Mike Brown will be back, but with an adequate backup. The
>>> fates of Turner, Grossman and Berrian are linked, IMHO, and their status
>>> with the Bears will be determined the the remaining 6 games. If Grossman
>>> is back, Griese will be cut in order to allow Orton to continue to
>>> develop.
>>>
>>> -
>>> Jason
>>>
>>> mactbone wrote:
>>>    
>>>       
>>>> SEATTLE – Olin Kreutz was glaring at a reporter in the same disgusted
>>>> refrain that has defined the Chicago Bears locker room this season. The
>>>> moment came after yet another disappointing loss, with a sting that was
>>>> quickly enflamed by another question about how this season had gone so
>>>> wrong.
>>>>
>>>> Kreutz furrowed his brow at the question.
>>>> "I don't wonder about anything," he said. "I just … it's just …"
>>>> He paused and shrugged. And with that, the interview was dead.
>>>>
>>>> Kreutz's reaction might as well have extended across the shoulders of
>>>>      
>>>>         
>>> the
>>>    
>>>       
>>>> entire franchise, which has seemingly been in a collective shrug since
>>>>      
>>>>         
>>> the
>>>    
>>>       
>>>> season began. In a little more than 13 months – 413 days, to be exact –
>>>> this team has nearly exhausted the NFL's cycle of life, going from birth
>>>> to death as a legitimate Super Bowl contender.
>>>>
>>>> Those 413 days mark the span of time between Chicago's 37-6 thumping of
>>>> Seattle on Oct. 1 2006 and last Sunday's likely playoff-killing 30-23
>>>>      
>>>>         
>>> loss
>>>    
>>>       
>>>> to the same Seahawks franchise. With only a few flips of the calendar
>>>>      
>>>>         
>>> and
>>>    
>>>       
>>>> sparing roster changes, Chicago went from the cusp of a world
>>>>      
>>>>         
>>> championship
>>>    
>>>       
>>>> to the midst of long-term chaos.
>>>>
>>>> For the uninformed, this is a franchise in significant turmoil. Not only
>>>> for the remainder of 2007, but potentially far beyond. Despite keeping
>>>>      
>>>>         
>>> the
>>>    
>>>       
>>>> vast majority of last season's Super Bowl roster intact, Chicago's
>>>> championship window hasn't closed as much as it has simply collapsed.
>>>>
>>>> "I'm sure there are going to be a lot of things figured out about the
>>>>      
>>>>         
>>> team
>>>    
>>>       
>>>> and the direction the rest of the season," cornerback Charles Tillman
>>>> said. "That's why we have GMs and coaches and presidents and pro
>>>>      
>>>>         
>>> personnel
>>>    
>>>       
>>>> directors. That's everybody upstairs. I'm sure that's in the backs of
>>>>      
>>>>         
>>> some
>>>    
>>>       
>>>> people's minds, the whole 'this is the last year of so-and-so's
>>>>      
>>>>         
>>> contract,
>>>    
>>>       
>>>> what are they going to do?' And that might be in the back of everyone's
>>>> mind by the end of the season."
>>>>
>>>> Surely, there are bound to be some jarring realities that set in for the
>>>> Bears over the season's final six games. With the rest of the NFC North
>>>> seemingly getting better (Green Bay and Detroit) or adding game-changing
>>>> talent (Adrian Peterson in Minnesota), Chicago faces some stark
>>>>      
>>>>         
>>> realities.
>>>    
>>>       
>>>> The offensive line is showing its age and there doesn't appear to be a
>>>> franchise quarterback in sight. The starting running back, Cedric
>>>>      
>>>>         
>>> Benson,
>>>    
>>>       
>>>> is in the third year of a five-year, $29.96 million contract and
>>>>      
>>>>         
>>> averaging
>>>    
>>>       
>>>> only 3.3 yards per carry. Two significant building blocks, wideout
>>>>      
>>>>         
>>> Bernard
>>>    
>>>       
>>>> Berrian and linebacker Lance Briggs, will be hotly pursued unrestricted
>>>> free agents at season's end. Another young star, defensive tackle Tommie
>>>> Harris, continues to have knee issues.
>>>>
>>>> And if all of those problems weren't enough, the team superstar and face
>>>> of the franchise, linebacker Brian Urlacher, is engaged in an
>>>>      
>>>>         
>>> embarrassing
>>>    
>>>       
>>>> standoff with the Chicago media, highlighted with him glowering and
>>>>      
>>>>         
>>> giving
>>>    
>>>       
>>>> answers in Morse Code. Apparently upset at how the team has been
>>>> criticized by local media, Urlacher has come off as passive aggressive
>>>>      
>>>>         
>>> at
>>>    
>>>       
>>>> best. At worst, he's appeared childish and unprofessional. Critics were
>>>> free to take their pick after the Seattle loss, when his thoughts on Rex
>>>> Grossman amounted to "He did well," and his theory on the defensive
>>>> struggles ended at "Too many yards."
>>>>
>>>> Not that there was much definition to be had in other places on Sunday.
>>>> Briggs refused to talk to the media, as he has for much of this season.
>>>> Others were simply shaking their heads over the litany of questions that
>>>> can't seem to be answered. The offense has been up and down as it has
>>>>      
>>>>         
>>> gone
>>>    
>>>       
>>>> from the management of Grossman to Brian Griese and back to Grossman
>>>> again. And the defense has lost the big-play ability that made it so
>>>> feared. Last season the Bears had 44 takeaways in 16 games, but this
>>>>      
>>>>         
>>> year
>>>    
>>>       
>>>> have managed only 17 through 10. Interceptions are a major part of that
>>>> decline, with only six though 10 games, sharply off the pace of last
>>>> season's 24 in 16 games.
>>>>
>>>> "It's been like that all year," defensive end Alex Brown said of the
>>>> inconsistency. "For some reason we're not getting it right. I don't
>>>>      
>>>>         
>>> know.
>>>    
>>>       
>>>> I can't go on about it, because I really don't know. I'd just be
>>>> babbling."
>>>> Asked if he could have envisioned such a significant fall by the
>>>>      
>>>>         
>>> franchise
>>>    
>>>       
>>>> in only one year, Brown recoiled.
>>>> "I'm not answering silly questions, OK?" he said. "Come on. I'm not
>>>>      
>>>>         
>>> going
>>>    
>>>       
>>>> to do it. I'm not going to entertain (it)."
>>>>
>>>> It was a typical reaction in a locker room that seems either too
>>>> confounded to put the struggles in perspective, or too upset from facing
>>>> steady criticism. Not that there aren't opinions to be had. Yahoo!
>>>>      
>>>>         
>>> Sports
>>>    
>>>       
>>>> tapped three NFC sources – two coaches and one general manager – for
>>>>      
>>>>         
>>> their
>>>    
>>>       
>>>> opinions on the Bears' fall. All three have seen film on the franchise
>>>> this season, and despite widespread criticism of coach Lovie Smith and
>>>>      
>>>>         
>>> his
>>>    
>>>       
>>>> coordinators, all three placed the majority of the blame on the talent
>>>> development and management.
>>>> Asked about the turnover on the coaching staff and the play-calling,
>>>>      
>>>>         
>>> once
>>>    
>>>       
>>>> coach said, "I wouldn't point at that. For the most part, they are
>>>>      
>>>>         
>>> running
>>>    
>>>       
>>>> the things that made them successful last season."
>>>>
>>>> Added another coach, "I didn't see fundamental changes (in scheme). But
>>>>      
>>>>         
>>> I
>>>    
>>>       
>>>> do think you have some spots that haven't improved. The quarterbacks are
>>>> erratic – take your pick. Berrian and (Muhsin) Muhammad, I guess you
>>>>      
>>>>         
>>> could
>>>    
>>>       
>>>> say the receivers as a whole, aren't better. … Benson is definitely a
>>>>      
>>>>         
>>> step
>>>    
>>>       
>>>> down from the rotation they had last year. He backfired on them.
>>>>      
>>>>         
>>> (Thomas)
>>>    
>>>       
>>>> Jones was getting four yards (per carry). Not being able to keep him or
>>>> whatever the situation was, that probably hurt as much as anything."
>>>>
>>>> An NFC general manager pointed to injuries as the culprit for the
>>>> defensive problems. After losing defensive tackles Alfonso Boone (free
>>>> agency) and Tank Johnson (released), and then trading away safety Chris
>>>> Harris, the Bears were left at a pinch in both spots. Tommie Harris has
>>>> struggled all season with knee swelling, while starting defensive tackle
>>>> Dusty Dvoracek and strong safety Mike Brown were lost to season-ending
>>>> injuries in the first game of the season. Urlacher has been slowed by a
>>>> sore lower back, and cornerback Nathan Vasher has played in only three
>>>> games with a groin injury.
>>>>
>>>> Meanwhile personnel decisions have only highlighted the deficiencies.
>>>>      
>>>>         
>>> Sack
>>>    
>>>       
>>>> specialist Mark Anderson was promoted over Alex Brown at defensive end,
>>>> but hasn't been able to duplicate last season's lighting in a bottle,
>>>> while also appearing to be a liability against the run. Defensive tackle
>>>> Darwin Walker has had little impact after being acquired in a September
>>>> trade, and Danieal Manning struggled switching between safety and
>>>> cornerback. And who can forget strong safety Adam Archuleta, who has
>>>> disappointed as a historic liability in pass coverage.
>>>>
>>>> "If they were healthy, I think you could say it would be a different
>>>> story, but that's how it all goes," the general manager said. "You have
>>>>      
>>>>         
>>> to
>>>    
>>>       
>>>> deal with injuries in this game. What I think is interesting is how
>>>> confident they were. I guess you could say they were cocky. That was
>>>>      
>>>>         
>>> right
>>>    
>>>       
>>>> from the top (of the coaching staff). You can talk about being a great
>>>> team, but injuries tend to show what you are as an entire organization.
>>>>      
>>>>         
>>> If
>>>    
>>>       
>>>> you're going to be so confident like they have been, the people upstairs
>>>> (in management) better make all the right decisions."
>>>> And with the Bears' playoff hopes fading (though they're only one game
>>>> back in the loss column behind the sixth-seeded Lions), the jury of
>>>>      
>>>>         
>>> public
>>>    
>>>       
>>>> opinion has already begun to weigh in on all of the decision-making –
>>>>      
>>>>         
>>> from
>>>    
>>>       
>>>> general manager Jerry Angelo to the coaching staff and to the players on
>>>> the field. It hasn't been pretty either, with the media questioning
>>>> play-calling on a weekly basis and fans flooding Chicago radio stations
>>>>      
>>>>         
>>> to
>>>    
>>>       
>>>> second-guess the contract extensions given to Angelo and coach Lovie
>>>>      
>>>>         
>>> Smith
>>>    
>>>       
>>>> in the offseason.
>>>>
>>>> Interestingly, Smith finally broke away from his clockwork press
>>>> conference cliché of trumpeting the team's "one game at a time mindset."
>>>> Talking to reporters on Monday, he talked of winning out and making the
>>>> playoffs and how the season has become "a single-elimination
>>>>      
>>>>         
>>> tournament."
>>>    
>>>       
>>>> "We looked at the big picture," Smith said. "Normally we just look at
>>>>      
>>>>         
>>> one
>>>    
>>>       
>>>> game at a time. But I want the team to see the big picture, too."
>>>>
>>>> The big picture, Smith said, is about getting to 10 wins and pushing for
>>>> the playoffs. But with personnel concerns piling up and criticism
>>>> building, this is a team on the verge of something that looms even
>>>>      
>>>>         
>>> larger.
>>>    
>>>       
>>>> The future of the next several seasons hangs in the balance, starting
>>>>      
>>>>         
>>> now
>>>    
>>>       
>>>> and extending into the offseason.
>>>>
>>>> How the Bears react to the mounting question marks means everything.
>>>>
>>>> And from this point on, the collective shrug can't be the answer.
>>>> Charles Robinson is a national NFL writer for Yahoo! Sports. Send
>>>>      
>>>>         
>>> Charles
>>>    
>>>       
>>>> a question or comment for potential use in a future column or webcast.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>      
>>>>         
>>> ____________________________________________________________________________________
>>>    
>>>       
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>>>>      
>>>>         
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>>>       
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>>     
>
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