Lovie Smith, Reggie Wayne highlight best offseason decisions

Good read.

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LINK to the article

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Lovie Smith has the Chicago Bears playing excellent defense and tied for first place in the NFC North at 4-1. There is no offseason in the NFL. The moves that are made in the draft, during the free-agency period and in regard to the coaching tree will shape a team's season. In this edition of The Schein Nine, I've highlighted nine offseason moves -- including some that were hotly debated and controversial at the time they were made -- that have affected the course of the 2012 campaign in a very positive way. #1. Chicago Bears say goodbye to Jerry Angelo, keep Lovie Smith I'm usually against the idea of bringing in a new general manager with the stipulation that the incumbent coach is untouchable. But while Angelo had to go after a bevy of bad offseasons, Smith is a very good coach who has won a lot of games in Chicago. He needed help with personnel and he needed a new offensive coordinator. Enter Phil Emery as the Bears' new general manager, who brilliantly traded for Miami Dolphins receiverBrandon Marshall and drafted defensive end Shea McClellin and receiver Alshon Jeffery. Enter Mike Tice, who was actually promoted from within to replace the overmatched and pass-happy Mike Martz as the Bears' offensive coordinator. By keeping Smith, Emery allowed the defense, which had been built around Smith's Tampa 2 scheme, to stay together. Cornerback Tim Jennings explained on SiriusXM Blitz how everyone has rallied around Smith, how the defensive players love playing for the coach. And the unit is producing results. Jennings is putting together an All-Pro-caliber season. LinebackerLance Briggs has returned an interception for a touchdown in consecutive weeks. Guys like defensive tackle Henry Melton and safety Major Wright have stepped up. Here's what's scary about the Bears, whom I picked to make the playoffs in the preseason: They can only get better, and linebacker Brian Urlacher and running back Matt Forte can only get healthier. Quarterback Jay Cutler might befuddle with his demeanor, but his play has been solid. The Bears are legit and a true force in the NFC. The Emery-Smith combination has worked.

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That last sentence says it all. "The Emery-Smith combination has worked."

SPORTS MEDIA DISCLAIMER: No, Jay Cutler is NOT trying to break teammate D.J. Moore's neck in the photograph. :smile:

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Originally Posted by JustAnotherBearsFan99

That last sentence says it all. "The Emery-Smith combination has worked."

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It has worked.... so far. Let's all be patient. Bears have still a lot to prove.

If Emery had let Lovie go, we'd be rebuilding this year instead of being poised for a serious Super Bowl run.

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Occasional boneheaded calls and dumb challenges aside, Lovie is a pretty good coach. Bears have had success under him, including playoffs, NFCC game and SB appearance. Plus the players respect him to a high degree. So it shouldnt be a surprise that he would still be coaching this year with a new GM.

Our biggest problem has been that we have had talent, but we've always been "close," the bridesmaid, never the bride. Here's hoping Emery can change that by getting the proper pieces in place to push us over that edge. And so far, its looking good for Emery, i only hope that we focus more on OL this offseason (as well as *gasp* trying to draft Urlacher's eventual replacement)

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Originally Posted by Jimmors

Occasional boneheaded calls and dumb challenges aside, Lovie is a pretty good coach. Bears have had success under him, including playoffs, NFCC game and SB appearance. Plus the players respect him to a high degree. So it shouldnt be a surprise that he would still be coaching this year with a new GM.

Our biggest problem has been that we have had talent, but we've always been "close," the bridesmaid, never the bride. Here's hoping Emery can change that by getting the proper pieces in place to push us over that edge. And so far, its looking good for Emery, i only hope that we focus more on OL this offseason (as well as *gasp* trying to draft Urlacher's eventual replacement)

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Yep, I have to agree. If we were to get rid of Lovie we'd still be faced with the task of who to replace him with that could do better. That list would be small.

Lovie shortcomings as a game day coach and his lack of control over his offense and it's OC of the day can be disturbing at times but both situations are gradually getting better and the defense is playing lights out so it's tough to expect more right now.

Phil Emery's arrival made it all that more possible to see just how poorly staffed this team has been at times especially when it came to marquee offensive players and quality depth. Jerry Angelo just wasn't the guy to put it all together so Lovie made due.

I don't think he'll be going anywhere just as long as he can keep the team from falling back into mediocrity again.