Interesting: Is Lovie on the hot seat?

Interesting read. What do you guys think? Everyone has HUGE expectations going into this season. A lot of Chicago Bears fans are expecting a Super Bowl win. What if the offensive line ISN'T fixed? What if a couple of key injuries (Peppers, Urlacher etc etc) result in another 8-8 season?

Can Lovie Smith survive if this season doesn't meet the fans high expectations?

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LINK to the article

7. Lovie Smith, Bears
2011 was so odd for Smith: He could've avoided a spot here if Jay Cutler hadn't been injured or even if Chicago had a capable backup. Of course, if they had a capable backup, Phil Emery wouldn't be the new GM in town.

And a new GM in town can always mean trouble for a head coach.

It was a little surprising to see Chicago retain Lovie, and it's going to be tough for him in 2012 with the NFC North theoretically only becoming stronger. The Bears have plenty of expectations as well, and went out and landed Brandon Marshall this offseason to reunite with Cutler, as well as picking up Jason Campbell to serve as the aforementioned capable backup. Serious defensive regression, injury or aging could spell doom for Smith, especially if the Bears don't challenge for the division title.

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He's done with another bad season. Part of the agreement was that lovie stays at least this year, but Emery gets to pick his coach the next year. Also, Lovie's been here since 2004 with only 3 playoff appearances...

25% success rate is not really all that good, but if the Bears make a playoff run, I can not see how he is not brought back

On paper the Bear look like a team that can win any game they want this year. As long as they don't give up the ball and get the breaks need, and stay healthy. But as we all know from last year ever thing can go wrong. And it's those things that if they happen will decide Lovies fate here in Chicago. I know the one position that just about every sportswriter has written about over the past year has been our LT, we also know there are things that can be done to help our LT which will make the position less of a problem to Cutler and the Bears.

Major injuries on the Offense side won't hurt Lovies changes of returning if the replacement players out shine the play of our replacements from last year, even if there are some losses. The main problem with any key replacement is they more then likely won't be able to control the field or score as easily as our starter could.

For the first time in a very long time the biggest problem for the Bears and for Lovies tenure, is the Defense. If the Defense can't control the game while being on the field less then in the past years, because the Offense is putting up the points and is remaining on the field longer. Lovie will have a very hard time keeping his job. This is especially true during any time that our Offense replacement personal are playing well but not up to our star abilities. If our Defense folds because they are being asked to remain on the field longer and at the same time they are giving up big plays. Or in the case of a key Defensive player going down for a time that his replacement can't handle the job. I feel Lovie could see his tenure with the Bears come to an end. Remember Lovie is the guru of our Defense. Lovies bend don't break rule could kill up this year if we don't or can't field the right players.

With all that being said I don't feel that wins or lose by them selves will cause any movement in a our coaching staff next year. But if those loses come because of poor play or execution by our Defense I can see this being Lovies last year.

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Originally Posted by The Benjamin

25% success rate is not really all that good, but if the Bears make a playoff run, I can not see how he is not brought back

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I tend to agree with the general consensus above. With expectations as high as they are, a missed playoff birth with a 9-7 record or less will likely send him on his way. However, if he makes the playoffs and is one and done, he stays one more year. If he gets as far as the NFCCG again, then he gets an extension.

To me, it's a real difficult decision. I really do like Lovie as a man and as a leader. I think he's got great character, a leaders bearing, and the players admire and respect him. However, he has made some poor decisions while here with regards to his coaching staff, he leaves a lot to be desired in terms of game management (although I think he has gotten better), and he has had a lot more say in the past bad personnel moves than he gets the blame for. He has a winning record over the course of his time here, but some of that is a mirage as well, since much of that time his team played in a weak Division (our 2006 SB year, we only played 4 teams with a winning record, and our 2010 season we had remarkable and nearly unpresidented health which no one really finds in the NFL). I would like him to show more passion during the games (ala Mike Tomlin), but I don't want a Ditka screamer either.

Ultimately, I think Lovie is an average coach and we could do better, but we could also do much worse. If we go 8-8 or less, he's done in Chicago, but if we win the SB, he will be the next Ditka. I'm really pulling for Lovie to get an extension, because that means we have turned the corner and I really don't want to start all over given the age of our Defense.

I don't think Lovie has done better than an average job, but I don't see him leaving. The moves Emery has made should give him a winning season. As HC, he will get the credit and he should be fine.

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Originally Posted by bearsinhouston

I don't think Lovie has done better than an average job, but I don't see him leaving. The moves Emery has made should give him a winning season. As HC, he will get the credit and he should be fine.

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But yet everyone seemed to want Jeff Fisher as coach when they are practically the same guy

I see Fisher and Lovie as opposites.

Not sure about everyone's elses opinion on that one.

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Originally Posted by The Benjamin

But yet everyone seemed to want Jeff Fisher as coach when they are practically the same guy

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Originally Posted by bearsinhouston

I see Fisher and Lovie as opposites.

Not sure about everyone's elses opinion on that one.

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check their win-loss stats. outside of color of skin and side line antics, they are pretty similar

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Originally Posted by Henry Burris

He's done with another bad season. Part of the agreement was that lovie stays at least this year, but Emery gets to pick his coach the next year. Also, Lovie's been here since 2004 with only 3 playoff appearances...

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+1

This is how I see it.