What do you think will constitute a passing grade for the team this year?

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Originally Posted by JJ-30

What if we went 10-6 and still missed the Playoffs.

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Could happen and then I'd say it depends on exactly why it happened JJ. We could lose a game or two just based on a bad break or bad call or two that no one could have done anything about. As long as the NFL insists on using the "replacement refs" it's hard to say what might happen. If it's not an error you could attribute to "bad coaching" I think you need to let Lovie and his guys off the hook and give them another year.

If on the other hand the team "chokes" in a key game or two late in the season to me that would indicate that they're not progressing and getting better as the season goes on or simply that they lack that "killer instinct" to close the deal that all championship teams need. If that happens then my decision would be totally different than what would happen in the first instance. We've seen this side of a Lovie Smith coached team before and in this case I think you have to make a change.

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Originally Posted by soulman

Could happen and then I'd say it depends on exactly why it happened JJ. We could lose a game or two just based on a bad break or bad call or two that no one could have done anything about. As long as the NFL insists on using the "replacement refs" it's hard to say what might happen. If it's not an error you could attribute to "bad coaching" I think you need to let Lovie and his guys off the hook and give them another year.

If on the other hand the team "chokes" in a key game or two late in the season to me that would indicate that they're not progressing and getting better as the season goes on or simply that they lack that "killer instinct" to close the deal that all championship teams need. If that happens then my decision would be totally different than what would happen in the first instance. We've seen this side of a Lovie Smith coached team before and in this case I think you have to make a change.

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Since we're "what iff-ing" here Soul. What if they blow up due to the oline failing in key games? Games we lose due the oline failing.

Who takes the fall? Lovie? Tice? Both of them? Nobody? I'm curious to hear what folks think about this. It could happen.

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Originally Posted by JustAnotherBearsFan99

Since we're "what iff-ing" here Soul. What if they blow up due to the oline failing in key games? Games we lose due the oline failing.

Who takes the fall? Lovie? Tice? Both of them? Nobody? I'm curious to hear what folks think about this. It could happen.

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If the O line is ugly Tice needs to go. I would think Lovie should follow, but because I am not sure what was said during the choices made, I could see Lovie getting a pass.

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Originally Posted by A-11

If the O line is ugly Tice needs to go. I would think Lovie should follow, but because I am not sure what was said during the choices made, I could see Lovie getting a pass.

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That's a great point. I wonder if privately Tice was told he had to be the "good soldier" this season and go with his existing personnel - and next year he will get the love the WR's got this year.

I could see that as a possibility. And if that WAS the case, then Emery shouldn't (obviously shouldn't) make Tice the fall guy.

Lovie, Tice, Marinelli are all tied together. None will go during the season unless they start out losing most of their games. Otherwise, they will all be here til the end of the season where they will either all get extensions or they will all be fired.

There is a chance that the Bears make the playoffs despite the Bears OL looking like crap. Which means Lovie could be retained and Tice gets the axe, but I think that either they all stay or they all go.