Thread: NFL.com: "Lovie Smith needs to win now in Chicago"

I only disagree with the statement that the Bears are the third most talented team in the NFC north. That is a complete load. There are not too many players on the Lions that I would switch with the same position player in Chicago, especially with the additions to our WR corps. I would undoubtedly love the Fairley/Donkeykong duo on the inside of our line, and obviously Calvin Johnson is very very good, otherwise, meh.
Aside from that, many have been saying that no playoffs or even a one and done could be the end of Lovie in Chicago. That is not new, and not likely untrue.

The problem for Lovie is that expectations among Bears fans are extremely high now that Emery has added some excellent talent. I think a lot of fans are expecting "Super Bowl win or bust" this year.

I look at our coaching talent overall - not just Lovie - and we have some solid coaches. If we pull the plug on this crew it will be a setback for a time. New coaches. New schemes. Needing to draft the players that match up with the new schemes. Man, that would be pretty devastating.

Originally Posted by JustAnotherBearsFan99

The problem for Lovie is that expectations among Bears fans are extremely high now that Emery has added some excellent talent. I think a lot of fans are expecting "Super Bowl win or bust" this year.

I look at our coaching talent overall - not just Lovie - and we have some solid coaches. If we pull the plug on this crew it will be a setback for a time. New coaches. New schemes. Needing to draft the players that match up with the new schemes. Man, that would be pretty devastating.

I agree, it would be admitting failure and starting over from scratch. I don't want to see that happen at all. But on the bright side, it won't. There is a reason for the optimism amongst fans of the Bears, a deep playoff run is in our immediate future. Therefore, moot point, Lovie stays to have this conversation a couple years from now. Sosaysme.

I believe Lovie has a two year window to produce period. A non-winning record this year would make him ripe for being sacked the following year. If Emery does replace him I would like to see Toub get a interview for HC. Lovie has had a decent run, it's not like he wasn't given time or tools to produce.

Originally Posted by bearsinhouston

I have gone from being a fan of Lovie's to not being a fan. He is better than average, but I always think you should strive for the best. That said, I don't think there is any way that the Bears don't make the playoffs. With the talent on this team and the coaches in place, I think I could get them to the SB. Lovie doesn't have to do much (nor does he).

Here's my 2-cents on Lovie. We originally hired him when he had zero head coaching experience. Usually that means you're going to go through some tough times as the guy tries to learn the HC job (on the job training). They also have to gather together a solid group of position-coaches and coordinators (can be hit & miss at first too). That's why a lot of coaches get fired in their first HC try. Fans don't have the patience for them to learn the job & assemble a top-tier group of coaches/coordinators.

We also had to suffer through a GM who provided a lot of draft/FA misses and mediocre 2nd-tier talent (with some notable exceptions).

We've gone through the "learning curve" with Lovie. We now have a solid GM who is a better judge of talent (he's already plugged some big holes with great talent upgrades).

The hardest part is over now.

Lovie seems to have a GREAT set of coaches/coordinators in place. The schemes should be pretty solid. Lovie seems to be better now that he's a seasoned head coach. Sure, he still makes some bonehead challenges or moves. But overall I think we have a rock-solid coach in Lovie Smith.

To pull the plug on Lovie now, and start over with another green coach would set us back - we'd have to do the whole thing over again. You might as well put a gun to your head and blow your brains out........it would mean we'd have to go to new schemes, get talent that MATCHES the new schemes. Etc, etc, etc.

In all reality, he's def. really learned how to be a good coach (albeit extremely sloth-like in any type of change), but he's had too many "almost" years and a few just downright sh*tty ones. If he'd just started Brian Griese and we'd won the SB, we wouldn't be having this discussion, but it's those types of moves that have him in a position of concern if we start the season at or below .500 often and early in the season.