Should Lovie Shoulder Blame in Sunday's Loss?...........

**soulman** · 09-22-2011, 03:21 PM

Although I phrased the title as a question I actually agree with the statement Rick Morrissey makes in his title. You're damn right he should and this article nails the reasons why very nicely.

Lovie Smith should share blame for Bears offense’s debacle vs. Saints
RICK MORRISSEY rmorrissey@suntimes.com September 21, 2011 10:04PM

Lovie Smith said that the Bears will have a better balance of run vs. pass against the Packers. “We’ll get the balance up this week,” he said. | Bill Feig~AP

Updated: September 22, 2011 5:52AM

Almost everyone involved felt the sting of criticism after what happened to the Bears’ offense in New Orleans, but somehow coach Lovie Smith managed to elude would-be cacklers. It’d be a shame to leave him out.

Smith has vowed the Bears will “clean it up” this week, and by that he means he won’t allow another imbalanced attack such as the one that occurred Sunday, when his team threw 51 times and ran 12.

Great, but where was Lovie against the Saints? Just to be clear, it’s not that Martz, the offensive linemen and Cutler were blameless for what happened in that game. You could blame any of them and not be wrong. (Where he usually is. On the sideline with a puzzled expression on his face. Sometimes his cluelessness comes in second only to "Wanny")

But it’s still not clear why the Bears failed to change course during the game, especially when their pass-to-rush ratio began looking like Ralph Nader’s odds of being president. After all, the Bears had been through exactly this situation last year when Martz’s mind started to wander while calling plays, and Jay Cutler’s body was in danger of being donated to science. Smith eventually roped Martz back in. (Why change a tradition? Did they do it last year against the Giants when Cutler got sacked 9 times in one half?)

Was Smith’s headset not working Sunday? Or was it that the headset wasn’t working whenever Smith tried to communicate with Martz, who was up in the coaches’ booth? Or was Martz not answering? (Maybe any and all of the above. Martz has everyone including JA intimidated into thinking he's the guru and that's why he has to go)

Or how about this: Did it not occur to Smith that he could stop Martz from the homicidal tendency to pass the ball on almost every down? (I guess not since I never saw him get past a puzzled yet pissed off stare at the booth)

“I’m not going to go in to what all happened, private things that we have,’’ Smith said. “I’m sure Mike told you the same thing. We’ll get the balance up this week.’’ ‘Great trust’ in Martz.

Couldn’t Lovie have forgotten about the Bears’ defense for a second, called Martz during the game and demanded more balance? (Maybe he thought he needed a challenge flag to challenge your calls Mike and he's not real good with those sometimes)

“Yeah, he could,’’ Martz said. “That’s kind of not how we do things. Lovie has great trust in what we’re doing and understands that. I think he understood too a lot of the issues that we were dealing with. (Yeah but the only reason he does it is because what he knows about your offense you could fit in a thimble and still have room left over for JA willingness to accept his part of the blame)

“If you’re looking for blame, just blame me. It was one of those things that happened. I did a poor job of coaching, and we didn’t play very good.’’ (Well thanks and I already assigned about 90% of it to you but Lovie gets to share in that too)

It would be nice if Smith got it through his head that Martz can’t be trusted on his own. In the way a writer needs a good editor, Martz periodically needs someone to save him from himself. (Duh!! )

Because Smith refused to go into why he didn’t stage a Martz intervention Sunday, it’s hard to explain the rationale to leave the offensive coordinator alone during the game. I’m guessing no one needs to point out to Lovie the danger of a rogue Martz. It’s the image of a prone Cutler. (He doesn't need to. We all know the reason.)

Asked Wednesday whether he could make it through the season while taking the kind of beating he took Sunday, Cutler rapped his knuckles twice on a wooden lectern at Halas Hall. “I don’t know,’’ he said. “I don’t know.’’ (That's very courageous of you Jay so we'll say it for you. No, you won't. In fact with that little blocking you may not make it through Sunday's game.)

Cutler got kicked in the throat Sunday, which is why he sounded like Don Corleone on Wednesday. The Saints sacked him six times in the second half, which is why he said he was sore all over. (Guess we can put that "lack of toughness" thing to rest now, huh?)

Sore, he said, but not worried. “This happened to us last year,’’ he said. “This is nothing new. We struggled with some things. We made some changes. That’s what this league is about. It’s going out there and putting stuff on film. People are going to react to it, and we’ve got to react back. That’s just how it goes. It’s back and forth.’’ (Add the word brave or foolish, your choice, to tough)

Packers are blitzing bunch (Maybe this time Kellen Davis will remember to yell "duck" after he whiffs on his man. That alone might spare Cutler's life)

There is panic in the streets of Chicago after two games because A) the Bears were supposed to be beyond the kind of beating Cutler took Sunday and B) the freakin’ Packers are coming! It’s one thing for the Saints to expose the Bears’ weaknesses, but the mere thought of hated Green Bay doing something similar is enough for Bears fans to act out in ways normally associated with mass psychosis.

The Packers like to blitz as much as the Saints do. (Tell us something we don't already know Rick)

Martz is a bright guy, and three days after a game, he can break down the particulars of a game as if they were his birth date, Social Security number and his place of birth. On Wednesday, he said he shifted into two-minute mode too quickly against the Saints. Fine. But as we know from last year, Martz has self-awareness problems during games. That’s where Lovie is supposed to step in. It’s nice he shows so much confidence in his offensive coordinator. If you were a coordinator, you’d want that kind of support.But Martz has proven he can’t be trusted with it. (Or about as much as Bill Clinton could be trusted around his aides anyway. Martz has self-awareness problems before, during and after games. The guy can't remember what he said about something a few weeks after he said it (Greg Olsen will be a big part of our offense this year) and that's why he can't be trusted. This wasn't the first time he did this and it won't be the last. Lovie needs to put a "kill switch" on his mike to Cutler's helmet.)

The only thing at stake is the quarterback and, by association, the season.

“There’s still a lot of football left to be played,’’ Cutler said. “If this continues, then obviously we’re going to have a problem. We’ll have to adjust to it. But we’re looking forward to this game, and all those guys are going to bounce back, as will I.’’

One of the people in need of a bounce-back game wears headphones on the sidelines. He might consider using them. (You're asking for a lot here. I'm still not sure Lovie knows what a HC is supposed to do on the sidelines except to look puzzled or concerned. That he's very good at).

**soulman** · 09-22-2011, 03:31 PM

I don't know why this scenario has to repeat itself every year but Morrissey is 100% correct. Mike Martz cannot be trusted to call a game without limits and supervision. His motto will always be 'when in doubt pass'. Starting this week they have got to start giving Cutler audibles to check to when he sees that they play he given or he will get smothered. Letting this continue without letting Martz know that he'll be stepping in if this doesn't happen in not just a good idea. It's imperative.

The funniest yet saddest thing I saw about it this week was a faux headline in the Onion. It read as follows;

"Bears to continue testing Cutler's toughness by allowing him to get sacked more often"

I love their dry sense of humor but if that line plays like it did last week then Cutler may be a lot more than sore after the game. This shit can't go on for another year and if it does then Ted Phillips needs to have a real "come to Jesus" meeting with Angelo or George McCaskey should have one with both of them. If I were the Bears owner and I kept seeing my franchise QB getting beat up like that somebodies ass is gonna get fired.

**motownbear** · 09-22-2011, 03:42 PM

I'm sticking to what I said earlier coaches will coach what they know and do what they do that is a given. So the only factor for me to blame is the talent. We have two hof and probowlers on defense the result is a top defense. We have a rb on offense and a qb with no oline and no weapons yet everyone here is surprised things didn't work out last week. If they wanted to get off the bus running you don't hire marts. If you want a bullshit offense with no weapons you don't trade for cutler and you guess what don't hire martz. Common factor for blame in all this JA IMO gets all the blame. Could go further into it not worth my time

**soulman** · 09-22-2011, 04:34 PM

Originally Posted by motownbear

I'm sticking to what I said earlier coaches will coach what they know and do what they do that is a given. So the only factor for me to blame is the talent. We have two hof and probowlers on defense the result is a top defense. We have a rb on offense and a qb with no oline and no weapons yet everyone here is surprised things didn't work out last week. If they wanted to get off the bus running you don't hire marts. If you want a bullshit offense with no weapons you don't trade for cutler and you guess what don't hire martz. Common factor for blame in all this JA IMO gets all the blame. Could go further into it not worth my time

I can hold JA responsible for his lousy, half-hearted, failed efforts to improve the offense in the Oline and at WR and give Cutler both the protection and the weapons he needs but once the season begins it's the coaching staff that has to win with what they have.

I'm surely not taking JA off the hook (although he seems to be doing that very nicely himself this week) but when Morrissey speaks to Lovie needing to step in and behave like a HC needs to he's absolutely on target as far as I'm concerned. When you've already witnessed they guy do it before why let him do it again and get your star QB beat up again? I don't think there is one other HC in the NFL of Lovies supposed stature that wouldn't have gotten Martz on the horn and put a stop to it. Not one.

We all know that Martz wasn't first choice for this job but somewhere along the line Lovie must have brought him up and told JA he'd be comfortable with him. The problem is that they knew what he was before they hired him and just like Lovies recommendation to hire Terry Shea he couldn't have found a worse fit for a "get off the bus running" style offense.

So yes, in that regard and in his failure to step in and do something to influence the play calling on Sunday I do blame him. He's the HC for cripes sake and he acts like he's either intimdated by a guy who once his boss or simply doesn't know what do do about it. Hell, Mike Tice was a college QB and he's was an offensive minded HC and surely he knows enough about this offense to take over play calling in it's necessary.

Martz can't be trusted to do what he says he'll do and that is painfully obvious. This spring and summer he told everyone that he would be picking up right where he left off by running a balanced attack. Not more than two games into the season he forgets that he even said that and reverts to "Air Martz"???? The guy is an idiot and a loose cannon who needs to be more than just directed. He needs to be controlled. That's Lovies job and with Tice as his Asst. HC it's not like there are no options. Lovie Smith needs to start doing his job much better than he has too.

**short faced bear** · 09-22-2011, 04:52 PM

Originally Posted by soulman

I don't know why this scenario has to repeat itself every year but Morrissey is 100% correct. Mike Martz cannot be trusted to call a game without limits and supervision. His motto will always be 'when in doubt pass'. Starting this week they have got to start giving Cutler audibles to check to when he sees that they play he given or he will get smothered. Letting this continue without letting Martz know that he'll be stepping in if this doesn't happen in not just a good idea. It's imperative.

I wonder if his going into the coach box he thought he could get back to his old shtick.

**soulman** · 09-22-2011, 05:12 PM

Originally Posted by short faced bear

I wonder if his going into the coach box he thought he could get back to his old shtick.

Shorty I wouldn't put anything past Martz. If we polled Bears fans as to his trust rating in running the offense he says he will he'd rank significantly lower than they'd rate Obama on his plans to fix the economy. Let's face it the guy sees himself as something he's not and since he's a former Super Bowl winning HC he's arrogant and will avoid taking direction whenever he can.

That's why he comes out and says that he'll change. It's the old "I broke it so I'm gonna fix it ploy" which is just another way of assuring that he retains control. Anyone who's watched his work and watched him can see it. He's just not that hard to read and he has a very short and convenient memory when it comes to his promises and committments. If, probably should say when since he's well on the way, RWill fails to catch Martz advertised 70 or 80 passes in his offense do you think Martz will even mention it?

Sorry but the guy is a total control freak and a pathological liar.

**Blue Horse-shoe** · 09-23-2011, 05:39 PM

Originally Posted by soulman

I don't know why this scenario has to repeat itself every year but Morrissey is 100% correct. Mike Martz cannot be trusted to call a game without limits and supervision. His motto will always be 'when in doubt pass'. Starting this week they have got to start giving Cutler audibles to check to when he sees that they play he given or he will get smothered. Letting this continue without letting Martz know that he'll be stepping in if this doesn't happen in not just a good idea. It's imperative.

The funniest yet saddest thing I saw about it this week was a faux headline in the Onion. It read as follows;

"Bears to continue testing Cutler's toughness by allowing him to get sacked more often"

I love their dry sense of humor but if that line plays like it did last week then Cutler may be a lot more than sore after the game. This shit can't go on for another year and if it does then Ted Phillips needs to have a real "come to Jesus" meeting with Angelo or George McCaskey should have one with both of them. If I were the Bears owner and I kept seeing my franchise QB getting beat up like that somebodies ass is gonna get fired.

If the $h!t continues ..... could anyone blame Cutler if he asked for a trade at the end of the season ? What's the definition of insanity ? At this rate a 15yr career ( under normal circumstances ) would be lucky to get to 10. As much as I'd hate it , I couldn't really blame him. Why waste yourself on this kind of mismanagement ? Yes, probably way too early to be talking about something like this. But life is short. And the definition of insanity speaks for itself. Give them 1 more year to get serious about fixing this line ? Hope so. Then maybe all the could have beens become realities.
I'll believe it when I see it.

**Dagan81** · 09-23-2011, 08:06 PM

Originally Posted by Blue Horse-shoe

If the $h!t continues ..... could anyone blame Cutler if he asked for a trade at the end of the season ? What's the definition of insanity ? At this rate a 15yr career ( under normal circumstances ) would be lucky to get to 10. As much as I'd hate it , I couldn't really blame him. Why waste yourself on this kind of mismanagement ? Yes, probably way too early to be talking about something like this. But life is short. And the definition of insanity speaks for itself. Give them 1 more year to get serious about fixing this line ? Hope so. Then maybe all the could have beens become realities.
I'll believe it when I see it.

Blue, if I were Cutler, I would ask to be traded for sure. It's just not safe to play for the Bears when you're getting sacked anywhere from 4-6 times a game ON AVERAGE. I love the Bears, they are my team, but Cutler has to look out for himself. His health is in jeopardy right now.

**Blue Horse-shoe** · 09-23-2011, 11:59 PM

Originally Posted by Dagan81

Blue, if I were Cutler, I would ask to be traded for sure. It's just not safe to play for the Bears when you're getting sacked anywhere from 4-6 times a game ON AVERAGE. I love the Bears, they are my team, but Cutler has to look out for himself. His health is in jeopardy right now.

Why do I KNOW that if Belichick was the head coach of this team , this wouldn't happen nearly as often . If I was Cutler , when the jailbreak happens, the ball is coming out and getting thrown where no one can catch it ...... as often as it needs to happen. Seriously, if it's a worthless play throw it away. Better than gettin the everlivin shit knocked out of him. Least he can live to fight another week. Caleb Hanie ( and his couple of lucky throws vs. the Packers after they stopped playing full tilt ) does not give me confidence.

**Dagan81** · 09-24-2011, 08:43 PM

Originally Posted by Blue Horse-shoe

Why do I KNOW that if Belichick was the head coach of this team , this wouldn't happen nearly as often . If I was Cutler , when the jailbreak happens, the ball is coming out and getting thrown where no one can catch it ...... as often as it needs to happen. Seriously, if it's a worthless play throw it away. Better than gettin the everlivin shit knocked out of him. Least he can live to fight another week. Caleb Hanie ( and his couple of lucky throws vs. the Packers after they stopped playing full tilt ) does not give me confidence.

Bill Belichick actually has a brain when it comes to football, unlike the bozos who run the Bears. We all know what Jerry Angelo is, and we know that Lovie and Martz are Angelo's lackeys. The jury is still out on Rod Marinelli, although since he was hired by the Bears front office, I lean in the direction that he, too, is one of Angelo's lackeys as well.

The best this team will finish will be 10-6. I'm beginning to agree 100% with what The Chicago Tribune said in preseason predictions over the summer. 9-7 will be the least they'll do, only because they have two games against the Vikings, a game against each the Panthers and Buccaneers, the entire AFC West (which, as we all know, is arguably the weakest division in football outside of the NFC West). We might take one from the Lions at Soldier Field, but I don't look for us to win either of the games against the Packers. If we finish 11-5 and win the division, I will be very surprised.

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