[CBFF] Translation: Combine: Lovie Smith transcription

Fri Feb 22 08:28:12 MST 2008

Good stuff, tom!

-----Original Message-----
From: cbff-bounces at chicagobearsfanforum.com
[mailto:cbff-bounces at chicagobearsfanforum.com] On Behalf Of Thomas Shannon
Sent: Friday, February 22, 2008 9:18 AM
To: post at chicagobearsfanforum.com
Subject: [CBFF] Translation: Combine: Lovie Smith transcription

For those of you who had trouble getting the gist of what Smith was saying,
I have included a translation from coach speak into English.

Tom S.
--
LOVIE SMITH

OPENING REMARKS

After a disappointing season as you look at the body of the work I was
excited the way we were able to finish the last couple of games and beat a
couple of good football teams. I feel like that started hopefully our climb
back on top for the 2008 season.

Translation:  "We stink.  What am I supposed to say?"

Since then, for the most part, we have been able to keep our coaching staff
in place.

Translation:  "No one wanted them because they suck, too."

Of course it is always good to come down to the combine. You feel like you
get a chance to look at some other players that will be a part of your
ballclub the next year.

Translation:  "We'll be starting a bunch of rookies so don't expect
improvement anytime soon."

So, that's where we are, I'll take your questions.

HOW IMPORTANT IS IT TO BRING BERNARD BERRIAN BACK?

Hopefully we can find a way to keep him in Chicago.

Translation:  "Hopefully we can find a way to keep him in Chicago cheaply."

IS IT VIABLE TO TAG BERRIAN?

Well, of course we are keeping all options open. Right now, as much as
anything, I am just interested in us trying to find a way, however we have
to do it to keep him there.

Translation:  "See answer to last question."

ASSESS YOUR QB SITUATION CURRENTLY?

Well, right now, just like most of our ballclub, we weren't happy with
everything that happened this past year. But right now Rex Grossman is an
unrestricted free agent who is out there. We of course would like for him to
come back, along with our two other quarterbacks we have right now. Every
position we're trying to improve right now. That's where we are with the
quarterback position and again hopefully we can stabilize it a little bit
more coming up.

Translation:  "We're keeping all three QBs and we're probably not going to
draft one.  Let's be honest.  It's been so long since we've seen a good QB
we don't remember what one looks like.  And we wouldn't know how to use one
even if we had him.  Better to settle for mediocrity (if we're lucky) and
save our energy."

IS THE WINDOW STILL OPEN FOR YOU TO COMPETE FOR THE SUPER BOWL OR ARE YOU
REBUILDING?

Well, we're definitely not rebuilding. As far as Super Bowl window, it was a
long time ago it seems like we played in the Super Bowl. But we like the
core of our team still. I feel like we're close. It's a fine line between
winning and losing. This past season it went the other way for us. The Super
Bowl champion New York Giants had an excellent year, we were right in it
with them right up until the end. So we feel like we are close. We'll make a
few changes which you do normally and go from there.

Translation:  "We released half our offensive line.  We're rebuilding."

DO YOU HAVE MORE HOLES TO FILL NOW THAN A YEAR AGO?

Again, that's a long time ago thinking about what we talked about then.

Translation:  "Yes."

HOW DO YOU VIEW THE LANCE BRIGGS SITUATION RIGHT NOW?

Well, just like I said with Bernard, my entire time in Chicago I have been
with Lance Briggs. He's been an All-Pro player for us, how many teams would
like to see an all-pro go somewhere else? So, I'm optimistic.

Translation:  "He's gone."

DO YOU SEE MIKE BROWN RETURNING FOR 2008?

We sure do.

Translation: "We have to bring him back.  We bought a set of crutches with
his name engraved on them."

YOUR RECEIVER CORPS ASIDE FROM BERRIAN?

Whenever you go in a different direction from a player like Muhsin Muhammad,
you have to feel pretty good about some other players that you have, and
that's the case with us. Mark Bradley has been very productive when given an
opportunity to play. From his rookie year on, he's fought injuries and
things like that. But we fell real good about the direction he's going.
Devin Hester can be a '1' receiver in the league, I truly believe that. So
we're excited about the steps he took this past season and the direction
he's going also. Rashied Davis, good football player. Mike Hass, another
good football player. So we feel good about some of our younger receivers.
They haven't come on the scene yet, but we think a few of them can.

Translation:  "What can I say?  Even though Mark Bradley couldn't get on the
field last year, he's all we've got.  Hell, we're lucky Devin Hester can tie
his own shoes much less line up correctly on the football field."

DANGERS OF HAVING NO. 1 OVERALL PICK?

I assume there are some dangers involved. You're getting the best player
coming out in the draft, so I guess that has to be good. Hopefully we won't
be in that situation very often that I have to deal with.

Translation:  "What the hell kind of question is that?  Did we acquire 6
more losses somewhere that I didn't see?"

LOST TWO STARTERS, BUT WITH TERRENCE METCALF STRUGGLING, NEED MORE THAN 2?

In the offseason you're trying to improve your ballclub. We're not saying we
have all of those areas taken care of. We're going to try to bring in as
many good football players as we possibly game. Terrence was disappointing
at times, but sometimes when you have a while to think about it, you come in
in a little bit different situation. He has played good football in the past
in spots. Believe me, we're just not going to stop with that. That's why
we're down here. Of course there's free agency and there's a lot of
different ways for us to improve our offensive line.

Translation:  "Yes.  Terrence hasn't produced anything but body heat."

HOW COMFORTABLE ARE YOU WITH A ROOKIE STARTING ON OLINE?

I'm comfortable with a good football player. You know our history. We play
young players. We've had success with older players. We're looking at the
player, period, and go from there.

Translation:  "I not at all comfortable with it.  But when you're a bad team
that's what you do."

WHY CAN YOU COUNT ON CEDRIC BENSON?

We know more about Cedric right now in that lead position. He didn't have a
good year, and there are reasons why, from the injuries and just his overall
play wasn't what we would like for it to be this past season. I still have
confidence in Cedric that he can do the job. I know that he's a good
football player. A lot of times when you have a disappointing year, just
like a ballclub, you come back a lot stronger that next year. We're hoping
that will be the case with Cedric, and again, I still say he's a good
football player and he can be productive in our league.

Translation:  "I can't."

IS HE THE BEARS' NO. 1 RB?

Right now it would be hard for me to say many guys are No. 1 at their
position. You open everything up. I would like for all of our players to
think that they're No. 1 coming in. Again, Cedric, we know what he was able
to do. Adrian Peterson was productive and finished the season out strong and
I still think Garrett Wolfe has a bright future ahead of him.

Translation:  "We're stuck with Benson because the game is too fast for
Garrett Wolfe and we reached for him in the third round.  But Jerry Angelo
can't admit his mistake by releasing him so I have to live with it."

WILL TEAMS OVERSPEND IN FREE AGENCY WITH CAP INCREASE?

Again, that's hard to say too. I hope that's not the case with us. Hopefully
having more money we can get better players in to help us win.

Translation:  "We certainly won't."

ARCHULETA HAVE FUTURE WITH TEAM?

Adam, just like some more of our players, didn't have the type of season we
were hoping, he was hoping. But he's still a part of our ballclub and we're
expecting him to come back stronger this year.

Translation:  "Yes.  If Angelo doesn't have to admit his mistakes, I
certainly don't have to admit mine."

URLACHER'S SURGERY?

What exactly is wrong with him? He had minor neck surgery. And I say minor.

Translation:  "It was serious.  Serious enough that I can't tell you what
the problem is."

Fell victim to the From SUPER BOWL to missing the playoffs jinx?

Well last year I was hit with those questions and I talked about how it
wouldn';t happen to us but it happened to us.

Translation:  ... none!  A straight answer!  They're throwing snowballs in
Hell.

Can't hear, think it's about the increased pre-Combine prep being done these
days?

Translation:  Transcriber was distracted by the bread mold growing from
Smith's chin.

AFTER THE EXTENSION, IS ALEX BROWN THE STARTER AT RIGHT END NOW?

Like I talked about Cedric, right now just rather not talk about a lot of
the starting positions.

Translation:  "Yes."

HOW DID DEFENSE SUFFER WITHOUT RON RIVERA?

That's hard to say on how someone that was with us the year before. We
didn't have as good a year defensively as we'd like.

Translation:  "Yes."

I don't think it had much to do with Ron Rivera.

Translation:  "No."

I think it had something to do with the guys that were there, players didn't
play as well, coaches didn't coach as well as we needed to just like the
rest of our team.

Translation:  "OK, yes."

YOUR SAFETY SITUATION AND DO YOU REGRET TRADING CHRIS HARRIS?

With Chris Harris. No, when you make decisions based on the moment, we had
at the time a lot of depth at the safety position, now it didn't end up
being that way at the end of the year. Chris Harris was a good player, Chris
Harris just signed a big contract, that's good. It's always good when
players that don't fit in completely with our situation, get a chance to go
off and sign a contract like this, so I think it worked out. We feel good
about where we are and it really worked out good for Chris.

Translation:  "Why even ask.  You knw the answer is 'yes'.  I'm done with
you."

Hope this helped.

Tom S.

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