Thread: Smith has history of players on short leash

Smith has history of players on short leash


Harris and Bowman just latest of many Bears coach has yanked

Dan Pompei On the NFL

From the lips that came the words, "Rex is our quarterback," now come the words, "Take a seat, son."

So is this, in fact, a new Lovie Smith?

He says no. And there is evidence to support his claim.

The coach who on Monday pulled Zack Bowman and made Tommie Harris inactive has made similar moves in the past.

If you will recall, Nathan Vasher was a starter in the Bears' opener last year. But he wasn't a starter in the second game. Bowman replaced him after he was beat for a touchdown in the Packers game.

Others who have been unceremoniously benched in past seasons include Frank Omiyale, Josh Beekman, Danieal Manning, Hunter Hillenmeyer, Kevin Payne, Adam Archuleta, Terrence Metcalf, Mike Green, Jonathan Quinn and Craig Krenzel.

Though Smith may have been stubborn about Grossman and perhaps others of whom he has thought highly, he rarely has been hesitant to make changes.

What was stunning about Bowman and Harris is there had been no indication a benching could be coming. Smith likes it that way. He rarely gives the public any indication if he is dissatisfied with a player. He usually doesn't have to — performances speak for themselves.


Comprehend the trend: Smith vs. Coughlin

Smith and Tom Coughlin each were hired to coach the teams in the NFL's two biggest markets in 2004, and there are some interesting parallels between their careers with the Bears and Giants.

Both came into the 2010 season on the hot seat and probably need winning seasons to maintain their current jobs.

They have very different styles — Smith is known as a players' coach; Coughlin is known as a disciplinarian. But they have had very similar results. If the Bears beat the Giants on Sunday, both coaches will have 56-44 records with their teams.

Smith and Coughlin each have won division titles twice. Smith is 2-2 in the postseason, whereas Coughlin is 4-3. Smith made it to a Super Bowl and lost; Coughlin made it to a Super Bowl and won.

Smith was the NFL coach of the year in 2005; Coughlin never has won the award.

Coughlin has had more stability at quarterback with onlyEli Manning and Kurt Warner starting for him. Smith has had seven starters — Kyle Orton, Rex Grossman, Jay Cutler, Brian Griese, Chad Hutchinson, Krenzel and Quinn.

Head to head, Smith is 2-1 against Coughlin.


Front office chess: Free agent targets

The Bears' first priority in free agency last March was Julius Peppers. Their second priority was Antrel Rolle, whom they will see across the line of scrimmage Sunday at New Meadowlands Stadium.

The Bears knew they couldn't afford both players, who were two of the priciest free agents. But they engaged their agents with contract talk so they had a fallback in case they didn't land Peppers.

They rated Rolle as the best available safety, considered a premium position.

The Giants struck quickly with a five-year, $37 million, deal and the Bears subsequently did not play the free-agent game with any other safeties


If they had lost out to another team on Peppers and signed Rolle, they would be a much different team today. They might have had enough cash left over to pursue Aaron Kampman, the defensive end who went from the Packers to the Jaguars. They likely wouldn't have taken Major Wright in the draft's third round, and it's possible Alex Brown still would be in Chicago.


Numbers games: Hester's highlights

Many Bears fans know the highlights of Devin Hester's return statistics.

But there are some things you probably don't know about Hester's return history.

For instance, the Bears have won every time he has scored on a punt return except once.



He has been at his best as a punt returner (14-yard average, three touchdowns) and kick returner (26.3 average, two touchdowns) in the fourth quarter, according to STATS.

Unlike many punt returners, Hester has not been bothered by the elements. And he has not been enhanced by fast surfaces.

His average indoors is 11.1, same as his average outdoors. And he has scored all but one of his punt return touchdowns in the great outdoors. On grass, he has averaged 11.9 yards per punt return compared with 8.5 per punt return on turf.

He's reputed to be a warm-weather guy. But Hester has scored three punt return touchdowns and a kick return touchdown playing in temperatures below 40 degrees.

Hester has been his most electric in the Monday night spotlight. In five games, he has a 19.7 punt return average and two touchdowns and a 36.6 kick return average and two touchdowns.

And the month of October has been the best one for him, with a 16.9 punt return average. So look out Giants, Panthers, Seahawks and Redskins.

dpompei@tribune.com