Thread: The next posible HC for the BEARS........

Source: Toub would take over Bears if Lovie were fired

Bears' special-teams coach is head-coach material, but it doesn't have to be in Chicago


November 10, 2010
BY MIKE MULLIGAN mmulligan@suntimes.com


</p> Wade Phillips is the fired kind, losing his job Monday in Dallas after a wretched loss at Green Bay the night before that capped a 1-7 start to the season. Minnesota's Brad Childress, who brings his Vikings to town Sunday, looks increasingly like a gonna-be-fired kind. Vikings owner Zygi Wilf reportedly considered firing Childress after the Randy Moss debacle last week. A last-gasp overtime victory against Arizona offered a stay of execution, but Childress isn't safe yet.


Bears coach Lovie Smith isn't going to be fired any time soon -- certainly not with a 5-3 record that leaves him three games short of the magical mediocrity the Bears seem to crave. Smith appears destined to complete his contract next season, and the Bears even might be planning to get him to take a deal close to the $4 million guaranteed base that Childress reportedly signed a year ago.
The Cowboys promoted offensive coordinator Jason Garrett to take over for Phillips. The Vikings reportedly would like to promote defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier, a former Bear, if Childress were sent packing.
For the sake of argument, just for snorts and giggles, who would be in line to replace Smith if the Bears were to make an in-season move, something they've never done in the history of the organization?
The name of Smith's obvious successor might surprise you because he isn't a member of the college of head coaches on staff. Forget Mike Martz. It's difficult enough to control him when he runs half the team.
Rod Marinelli has done a great job this season, but that goose egg in Detroit -- 0-16 as the Lions' head coach in 2008 -- makes him a tough sell. Mike Tice has fallen on his sword and risked his reputation by giving the offensive line a much-needed overhaul.
The Bears' head coach-in-waiting is none other than special-teams coordinator Dave Toub, who once again is having a stellar season. One source close to ownership said Toub even would be on the short list for head coach if the Bears were to make a move.


''The McCaskeys are Bears fans and have a great sense of team history,'' the source said.


In other words, they know Mike Ditka came into the Bears' head-coaching job after a stint as a special-teams coach with Dallas.
Given the connections between the McCaskeys and the Rooney family that owns the Steelers, there has been speculation that Bill Cowher is the logical candidate for the Bears if they made a move after the season. As likely, the source said, Stanford's Jim Harbaugh, the 49ers' Mike Singletary -- if he were fired -- or another former Bears player such as Ron Rivera or Frazier might get the call.


But Toub would get an interview based on what he has done for the Bears: finishing in the top third his six previous seasons and No. 1 overall in 2006 and 2007.


Toub's unit has made a major contribution to each of the Bears' victories this season:
• A decided field-position advantage in the opener helped beat Detroit. The Bears' average starting point was at their 40, as compared to the Lions opening drives at their 23.
• In Week 2, it was an onside kick recovered by the Bears that preserved a victory at Dallas.
• Devin Hester broke a 62-yard punt return for a touchdown against Green Bay and added a 28-yarder that set up another touchdown.
• Danieal Manning returned the opening kickoff 62 yards against Carolina, and Hester added a 50-yard punt return, both setting up scoring drives.
• Israel Idonije blocked an extra point by Buffalo's Rian Lindell in Toronto on Sunday. It was Lindell's first miss in 320 conversion attempts in his 11-year career and wound up being a crucial element in a game in which both teams scored three touchdowns, but the Bears won 22-19.


If the Bears are going to beat Minnesota, you can bet they will need a major contribution from special teams, where they hold a decided advantage -- one not limited to talented players such as Hester.


Toub has been excellent under difficult circumstances. He has lost key players every season and has had to deal with constant turnover because of injuries. There are so many elements to special-teams play that a coordinator needs exceptional organizational skills.


Toub came to the Bears from Philadelphia, where he was on a staff under Andy Reid with some coaches who've gone on to be pretty good NFL head coaches in Childress, Baltimore's John Harbaugh and St. Louis' Steve Spagnuolo. Childress might be in trouble now, but he was good enough to get that extension last season. Spagnuolo has the Rams on the rise. Harbaugh, whom Toub worked under with the Eagles, is the best example of a special-teams coach who made good.


The Bears have a future head coach on their staff; the only question is where he'll end up.


http://www.suntimes.com/sports/mulli...ully10.article




Well, don't know how you all feel about it, but.....I'm not so sure I'm ready to see Lovie go.


The coaching staff hasn't exactly been brilliant....but the players haven't exactly been stellar either.


Everybody screams for the coaches head when things go wrong. But I tend to feel that they are working with the mediocre crap that Angelo has dealt them.
Get an Offensive line built around CUTLER. THAT'S the "problem" in my opinion....for whatever it's worth (LOL).


How can you possibly GRADE the coaches when they have zero to work with?
If we had an great Offensive Line, AND they were making these mistakes, then I could see it. But lets be honest and fair about it.
You can't send today's Soldier into battle with a Slingshot. They need serious FirePower.


And Martz, and Tice really haven't had much to work with in the way of FirePower.



I'm not exactly condoning them...They have certainly made some bonehead calls. But what coach doesn't?


As far as Lovie is concerned: He's really only make one serious mistake....that dam Touchdown of Cutlers that should have been challenged. That was inexcusable for sure. But, every HC has a moment he wishes he could have back.


I think, once the game begins, Lovie is basically a puppet. It's in the hands of his assistant coaches to get it right. That's their job. Much like a company owner relies on his managers to run the departments.
Of course, Lovie may have final say.....but it would take an awful lot for him to "step in" and belittle one of his assistant coaches for bone headed mistakes.



So, at this point.....I really don't blame Lovie either.


Yeah......he SHOULD have thrown that flag. But the game shouldn't have been that close either. And that's mainly on the poor Play On The Field.....not the totally the calls on the sidelines.


The "players" needs to GET IT DONE. ~ And they're not.



Last week was better.....I'll give them that.


Let's just see where this goes from here.





Lovie is NOT a "Wade Phillips".....and he's certainly NOT a "Brad Childress".

Thank GOD! ......





If I could, I would say: "ANGELO!!!! Get In HERE!!!!!!! ~ Get them serious Fire Power......or Get GONE!"






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