Lovie, the search, blame Cutty

So guys, a lot has happened since my last installment of the worlds toughest to read blog. Either way here's a brief rundown.

Lovie Smith fired after 9 seasons and a 10-6 record.

Bears interviewing 13 different people to be the next Head Coach.

And as always, its Jay Cutler's fault.

First, I don't agree with the Lovie firing, not yet anyways. Here is a guy that has consistently won in Chicago. Has created a top defense in Chicago, and by all accounts is a good guy and role model for those under his wing. Sure he ultimately was held accountable for the teams offensive woes in his 9 years, but his defense was and is one of the best this league has to offer. Why is that? Well because of stability. The Bears defense has had the same approach for 9 seasons. The players know exactly what is expected of them, and if they didn't do what was expected they were gone.

That can't be said for the offense however. Lovie Smith had multiple offensive coordinators, which have brought new terminology and lingo to the team. New processes and blocking schemes, new routes and new reads. None of those offenses worked, and honesty none if them were given an opportunity to work.

We will more than likely have another offense come in (Mike Tice is still employed and has the OC job till the new Head Coach makes a decision) which would give Jay Cutler his 4th offense in a Bears uniform, and 5th in his career. Basically saying, every year the offense is learning something new, and not refining something they know.

I don't like the firing, this year. Years past and possibly next season I agree with it, but now no. Biggest reasoning, this team will NOT hire a better Head Coach this year than Lovie Smith. In fact, I will say Lovie will have better luck with his next job than the next Bears HC will have in this one. Secondly, the roster is in flux. Meaning, it is old with large dollars tied to on the fringe type players. Lance Briggs is climbing the age ladder, Julius Peppers isn't young any longer, Devin Hester has lost something. We have old dollars in the secondary and on both lines. If a new coach comes in, he will have a process of moving players out while transitioning the team to what he wants to do, and that will take time and patience (something we seem to of lost). Why not allow Lovie to finish off his contract, even in a lame duck scenario? Let him move on with his players once its done, or resign him if he succeeded.

Since I learned I didn't have a say in Lovie staying or going, perhaps I'll have a say in who is next to lead this team. We have heard all the big names, Like the Jon Gruden's of the world. We have even heard the name of an old nemesis, Mike Holmgren. I don't want those guys. They are either out of the game, used to plush lifestyles now, or will demand too much money and power. Who I want, is simple, Bruce Arians. Sure he's the hot name right now. Sure those guys rarely pan out. I am telling you though, he is the real deal.

Arians is the guy that Ben Roethlisberger was pissed at when he was let go by the Steelers. He is the guy that helped a rookie QB in Andrew Luck turn into a mature and very good Quarterback, and one that will move into elite status soon. Not only is he able to teach the Bears what a 2013 offense should look like, he has Head Coaching experience. You see, during the 2012 season he was the interim head coach of the Indianapolis Colts. He should get a ton of respect for taking a pretty talentless team to a 10-6 record and into the playoffs. You don't have to work through those first year stumbles cause, he's already done it.

Finally, if all else fails of course we just blame Jay Cutler. ESPN's constant attack of Cutler has continued with them asking, "How much blame to you give Jay Cutler for RGIII's injury?"

Really!? Now I get the premise... Did RGIII stay in the game out of fear for being ridiculed like Cutty was. Thing is, it is always ESPN's prerogative to match Cutler's name negatively with anything. From Tom Jackson saying he's a bad guy cause he didn't say hi to someone, or this new garbage, he just can't win. This is one of the many reasons I've turned away from anything ESPN (outside of Waddle and Silvy) and just don't plan on supporting them any longer. I used to listen religiously to ESPN Radio all day, bought the ESPN Radio iPhone app, watched SportsCenter, followed them on Twitter, all of it. Now however, they push their ideas or push for their ratings. It's no longer about bringing you sports, especially teams you've never seen. They've become opinionists and no longer are reporters.

That's been my 2 cents for the week, hope to be back with more info soon!

Where do we go now

Well, well, well, the Bears certainly have put themselves in an interesting position haven't they? The team, which didn't address their number 1 concern in the offseason, started off 7-1 and was ranked in the top 5 in all of the NFL (higher in some polls). But even with this, weren't Bears fans a little concerned? I mean there still was no offensive line, we weren't handing the ball off or taking advantage of Matt Forte in the passing game. Jay Cutler has shown signs of being erratic since arriving in Chicago, and the Bears defense wasn't exactly getting younger.



But alas, the Bears were 7-1 and in control of their destiny. The Packers, although beating the Bears early in the season, were an afterthought and the surprising Vikings were the team which posed the biggest first half threat. Lovie Smith was on pace to receive an extension to stay here for at least 3 more years, Jay Cutler would get the same. Heck! Even Brian Urlacher was possibly in line for a new deal. All things were good, and the Bears had just shalacked the Tennessee Titans 51-20.



Boom! Reality.....

The Bears faced a contender in the Houston Texans, and even though teh Bears defense kept them in the game, Houston eventually rolled on with a 13-6 victory and Jay left the game early with a concussion. We still didn't worry cause in the offseason we brought in Jason Campbell, who legitimized the Chicago back-up QB position.



San Francisco rolled on over us, with a rookie QB under center. Picking apart the Bears defense like Tom Brady himself, Colin Kaepernick (ex Chicago Cubs prospective prospect) was thrust upon the national stage, while the Bears defense looked old and Jason Campbell spent more time on the ground that his balls did in the air. Worry at this point is setting in, although chants of MVP began for Jay Cutler...



After a week of questioning if Cutler would make his return, he did, leading the Bears to their 2nd divisional win and further prompting some MVP chatter. Radio stations began to pick this up, and national guys argued for and against the notion. But, don't you worry cause that all ended abruptly as the Bears faced it's 4th contender and 3rd in the last 4 weeks, Seattle. This was a highly contested game, with the Bears leading at the half, but you felt some air leave Soldier Field when the Bears were unable to convert a 4th and 1 which would have extended a drive in their own red zone. In the 2nd half, it was time for Russell Wilson to perform his very own version of Colin Kaepernick. Running an offense which seemed unstopable, Wilson had 3 options, hand off, run it himself, or pass and all 3 would result in what seemed like 12 yard gains. The Bears showed some life with a long pass to Brandon Marshall, but losing the coin flip in overtime did the Bears in as the defense was slow and tired and has become visably old.



The next 2 weeks have gone exactly the same, looked old, tired, and just unable to compete at a professional level. Jay Cutler is under pressure and the only weapon being used, possibly more than anticipated, is Marshall. With the Bears going 3-6 against teams that currently have winning records (all 6 of their losses have been to playoff caliber or competing teams), they have placed themselves in a position which almost all is lost. Lovie's extension is torn to shreds, Cutler went from MVP candidate to maybe not receiving new money, Urlacher went from the newest member of the Bears Middle Linebacker Mount Rushmore to calling out the fans (twice this season) and possibly on his way out of Chicago. Mike Tice is sure to be replaced (his replacement will certainly be the 4th Offensive Coordinator Cutler will have while with the Bears), and if Lovie Smith is gone, the Cover-2 defense will certainly leave as well.



So I ask the questions... Should the Bears invest in Jay Cutler again? What about Lovie Smith? Should he keep his job? Is Urlacher in jeapordy of leaving Chicago? Should Matt Forte be used more in the passing game? Is it time to completely rebuild this franchise? How far can Jay Cutler take us, even with a healthy and good offensive line?

All I know is, if the Bears win a playoff berth or not. If the rebuild or not. If they fire Lovie or not. Come August the Bears will be the center of the Chicago sports world once again, and us Bears fans will scream about this or that, but proclaim that this team will win a Super Bowl.