-
Urlacher, Briggs like Lovie for coach of year
Urlacher, Briggs like Lovie for coach of year
LAKE FOREST, Ill. -- Chicago Bears coach Lovie Smith definitely receives votes for NFL Coach of the Year from linebackers Brian Urlacher and Lance Briggs.
The duo discussed Smith's non-wavering style as one of the main ingredients of the team's success.
don't know how [coach of the year voting] works," Urlacher said. "But in my mind, he's my head coach, so of course I'm going to say [Smith deserves the award]. The thing you've got to love about Lovie -- as a player -- [is] he's the same all the time. He lets you know where you stand.
"I know the media doesn't like it very much because he doesn't give you all the information. But as players, we like that. He doesn't sell us out, doesn't tell any information that needs to be out there; keeps it in-house, for the most part. Sometimes, some guys got their little friends in the media they talk to. But, for the most part, he keeps everything in-house, and we appreciate that. He keeps it in our family."
According to ESPN Insider John Clayton, since the Associated Press started handing out Coach of the Year in 1957, the award has gone 40 times to a first-, second- or third-year coach with the most pronounced turnaround.
Raheem Morris of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Steve Spagnuolo of the St. Louis Rams, and Todd Haley of the Kansas City Chiefs certainly fit those credentials. But several other names such as Philadelphia's Andy Reid, Jacksonville's Jack Del Rio, New England's Bill Belichick, and Atlanta's Mike Smith belong in the conversation along with Lovie Smith and Pittsburgh's Mike Tomlin.
"He's very consistent. That's the type of play he demands from his men," Briggs said of Lovie Smith. "He's got my vote for coach of the year. There are a lot of coaches out there who deserve it, but he's definitely one of them."
The NFL Coach of the Year award typically isn't announced until January.
Urlacher said Smith predicted the Bears' success when the team started offseason conditioning.
"He's the same all the time; that's what we love about him," Urlacher said. "He told us how good we were the first day of whenever we do our junk in the spring, and he was right. We've been pretty good this whole time."
Michael C. Wright covers the Bears for ESPNChicago.com and ESPN 1000.
-
-
Little something for those still not sold on Lovie Smith.
Smith has compiled a 62-48 regular-season record in seven years with the Bears. Only George Halas and Mike Ditka have more victories. Smith reached the 50-win plateau in 88 games, faster than notable NFL coaches Bill Parcells (89), Bill Walsh (91), Chuck Noll (94), Bill Belichick (111) and Tom Landry (119).
Pretty Impresive don't ya think?
-
High Fives / Like - 0 BEAR DOWN!, 0 Dislikes
-
Originally Posted by
GrizzlyBear91 
Little something for those still not sold on Lovie Smith.
Smith has compiled a 62-48 regular-season record in seven years with the Bears. Only George Halas and Mike Ditka have more victories. Smith reached the 50-win plateau in 88 games, faster than notable NFL coaches Bill Parcells (89), Bill Walsh (91), Chuck Noll (94), Bill Belichick (111) and Tom Landry (119).
Pretty Impresive don't ya think?
agreed, he is muhc better than many give him credit for.. and really liked what urlacher/briggs said about taking the bullet's for the PLAYERS, and not saying much, MUCH rather have the 53 players on field RESPECT and want to play for a coach.. then have the players not like or trust the coach, but be a media "darling" that the fans suck up to- but players may not like- So even though it ticks many off the "lovie-speak".. if the players WANT THAT and glad he does it, i'm all for it
"I know the media doesn't like it very much because he doesn't give you all the information. But as players, we like that. He doesn't sell us out, doesn't tell any information that needs to be out there; keeps it in-house, for the most part. Sometimes, some guys got their little friends in the media they talk to. But, for the most part, he keeps everything in-house, and we appreciate that. He keeps it in our family."
-
High Fives / Like - 0 BEAR DOWN!, 0 Dislikes
-
I never figured Briggs and expecially BU54 to be "political" players. But I guess it's mandatory in the NFL these days.
How many coaches have been in the superbowl then failed to make the playoffs 3 consecutive years after?
Ready for a meltdown next season? Not me.
10-7-07 Bears 27,Fudge Packers 20...12-23-07 Bears 35,Fudge Packers 7 Then Favre quit and became a Jet...
-
I give Lovie alot of credit for turning it around, getting the right coaching staff here, and getting this team back to where they were in 2006. I like this team better then 2006, it has way more potential. Back then the QB was such a question mark, Thomas Jones and Berrian were leaving, now we have better WRs and QB and RB positions set.
-
Originally Posted by
BU54 I never figured Briggs and expecially BU54 to be "political" players. But I guess it's mandatory in the NFL these days.
How many coaches have been in the superbowl then failed to make the playoffs 3 consecutive years after?
Ready for a meltdown next season? Not me.
How many Bears coaches in the last 25 years have taken us TO a superbowl? and how many came close before lovie?
-
High Fives / Like - 0 BEAR DOWN!, 0 Dislikes
-
Originally Posted by
GrizzlyBear91 How many Bears coaches in the last 25 years have taken us TO a superbowl? and how many came close before lovie?
Were you a Grossman supporter too? Sounds like it with your blind faith. lol
You know the answer to that and Ditka made the playoffs the following 3 seasons and 5 of the next 6 with many of our superbowl players gone. That's the kind of consistancy I want in a coach.
Don't try to bait me into the old Lovie is the only other coach beside Ditka that took us to the superbowl so he must be good BS.
Cheers.....
Last edited by BU54; 12-23-2010 at 04:06 PM.
10-7-07 Bears 27,Fudge Packers 20...12-23-07 Bears 35,Fudge Packers 7 Then Favre quit and became a Jet...
-
I had this team pegged in pre-season at 6-10 tops.
With FOUR HEAD COACHES it seemed like it would take at least a year for all of this to gel.
You could see that it was going to be about each coach getting the players he wanted in the future for any of it to make sense.
Their style of play at each coaching position would take time...etc. etc. etc.
This on the other hand has been one quick learning curve. It seems that what happened after the NYG,Seattle & Washington games
were internalized & what came out after the bye was the result of that.
Sombody got everybody else on the same page during the bye & that could only be the HEAD COACH.
As to exactly which one that is I have no idea. I'm guessin its Lovie : )
-
High Fives / Like - 0 BEAR DOWN!, 0 Dislikes
-
Lovie's numbers are now pretty impressive, thats 3 division titles since he arrived, and the team was garbage when he arrived here. This team is looking up to, I think this team has a really high ceiling over the next few years.
-
High Fives / Like - 0 BEAR DOWN!, 0 Dislikes
-
Originally Posted by
BU54 Were you a Grossman supporter too? Sounds like it with your blind faith. lol
You know the answer to that and Ditka made the playoffs the following 3 seasons and 5 of the next 6 with many of our superbowl players gone. That's the kind of consistancy I want in a coach.
Don't try to bait me into the old Lovie is the only other coach beside Ditka that took us to the superbowl so he must be good BS.
Cheers.....
Okay, but is the league set up the same way it was back then? Other than the Patriots, doesn't it seem that everyone is hit-or-miss every year in the playoffs?
LinkBack URL
About LinkBacks
Reply With Quote
