Thread: As A Challenger, Lovie Is No Champ

As a challenger, Lovie Smith is no champ
By Sean Jensen sjensen@suntimes.com October 29, 2011 12:24AM
Updated: October 29, 2011 12:44AM


Lovie Smith, with the fifth-longest tenure among current NFL coaches, has compiled a 67-52 (56.3 percent) record with the Bears. But during his tenure, Smith has flummoxed fans and reporters with his challenges. The Bears are 19-for-61 (31 percent) in challenges since Smith took over in 2004 — fifth-worst among NFL teams during that span. The worst team in terms of challenges in that span is the Cleveland Browns (21.3 percent). (Geez, he's only in his 8th year so maybe he just hasn't got the hang of it yet)

Smith took some time recently to explain his challenge philosophy.(He actually has a philosophy about it???????? Oh this should be good because I thought he was either flipping coins or using a magic 8 ball to decide)

‘‘First off, we start upstairs,’’ he said, referring to the coaches in the press box. ‘‘If we think we have a legitimate gripe, or we think we’re going to win, that’s a part of it. But if it’s close, and it’s a critical situation, I’m going to challenge it.’’ (So even if they say don't bother you still challenge and that's why you lose so many)

So even if there isn’t much confidence, Smith is going to use a challenge if the play is significant enough.
‘‘Most of the time, if it’s whether a touchdown or not, we’re going to challenge that,’’ he said. ‘‘There are no guarantees that you’re going to get it the next play. We use that as much as anything.’’ (Except those times when you don't right? Why don't you change "most" to "always" and maybe we wouldn't lose games we could have won)

In London last Sunday against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Bears linebacker Brian Urlacher intercepted a pass from Josh Freeman. But he lost the ball as he was falling to the ground, and Bucs receiver Arrelious Benn recovered. Smith got an indication from one of his coaches upstairs that they had a case. Then he asked Urlacher.‘‘Brian didn’t know for sure,’’ Smith said.

Smith challenged the play. After a review, the officials overturned the initial ruling.‘‘We had all the checks and balances,’’ Smith said. ‘‘Luckily, it worked out our way.’’ (Well you have been successful on 3 out of 10. Even a blind dog finds a bone sometimes. Only four other coaches have success rates below yours so you still have room to get worse)

It’s hardly a perfect process, knowing when to challenge a play or not. Last year, Smith admittedly regretted not throwing a challenge flag against the Washington Redskins when quarterback Jay Cutler fumbled the ball near the goal line. ‘‘Normally if there is a critical situation, I throw it whether I have a good look or not on it,’’ Smith said at the time. ‘‘Didn’t have a great look on it. I understand the reason why, but that was a critical play in the game. I need to be able to make that call.’’ (And that's so typical of you challenging when it's a waste, like non-critical first down spot, but not challenging when it is critical, like on a score or a fumble on the goal line.)

For perspective, Smith had challenged the spot on the play before, a 48-yard completion to receiver Earl Bennett. A successful challenge of the Cutler fumble would have given the Bears a 21-10 lead. They lost 17-14. (This one is a real "smoking gun" of incompetence isn't it?)

Ultimately, Smith suggested too much is made of his use of challenges. ‘‘Even if you lose a challenge, you look at the end of the game,’’ he said. ‘‘Did you need the timeout at the end of the game? If you didn’t, it’s no biggie if you miss it. ‘‘You can’t carry them over. They don’t let you keep accumulating them.’’ (Yeah, your offense wastes more time outs than any other team in the league so what's the difference whether you waste them or Martz does right?)