Thread: Let's talk change

Originally Posted by inchibearfan

How many new playbooks and offensive coordinators do we give Cutler?

It's a crime how he's been treated here in Chicago. Worst oline in the NFL. Until this season he had crap for receivers. TE's that were taboo to use as receivers until this year, but we'd already canned Olsen. 3 OC's in 4 years. New scheme/playbooks. Jerry Angelo bringing in the people. Nobody has a clue as to building a decent offense, or how to coach it. Cutler gets the snot kicked out of him every week by 300 pound men. Don't kid yourself, Cutler won't finish this season. He'll come back and get concussed within a few weeks again.

It's like watching a horrific train wreck.

Originally Posted by The Benjamin

People say that they want change. So let's hear the change you would make.

You want Lovie fired? Who do you replace him with?

You want Tice fired? Who do you replace him with?

You want to change the offensive line.... go for it. Give me the offensive line you would run out there every game.

Let's see the change you would make if you were making the changes.

Lets talk change? OK, lets do. I'll assume for the moment that this is an honest question for civil discussion, because I've been asked this before on other boards in past years only to have each and every option criticized and mocked with no other alternatives other than to say "Lovie is better". Well, is Lovie better than Harbaugh, which is a guy I suggested (among others) some time back? You just don't know until these guys are given opportunities. So, here is my current list of interviewee's:

1. Perry Fewell (DC, Giants). I put Fewell at the top of my list because he has done an outstanding job with the Giants defense and also knows the Lovie defense well, so he could transition this Defense well while still bringing in a fresh perspective for the rest of the team.

1a. Chip Kelly (HC University of Oregon). This guy is going to be an NFL head Coach very soon and he has had great success with that Oregon team. He is reported to have a tremendous organization and practices his team very efficiently. He could be the next College Coach success story following up Harbaugh.

2. Jay Gruden: Brother of Jon, has been in the league and is reported as an up and comer for a HC job given his offensive success with the Bengals

3. Dave Toub: yes, our very own ST Coach. The guy is innovative as hell and probably deserves a chance as a HC. Before anyone laughs, remember that John Harbaugh was a ST coach before being given the Ravens job and even our own Coach Ditka was the ST coach in Dallas before coming here.

4. Brian Schottenheimer
5. Mike McCoy (Bronco's OC)

Those are my five top interviewee's, but there are many more that could make some changes. As of right now, Perry Fewell would be my first choice, but I would take a real hard look at Kelly.

As for a replacement for Tice, I think a very good option is already on our payroll and and given Jay's relationship with him, Jeremy Bates should be given the first opportunity. Beyond that, it's really up to the new HC as there are a variety of guys that could come in and have a very good chance at being far more dynamic and fresh than what we have now.

As for the O-Line (I'm getting the impression you are asking what changes we would all make right now, and obviously there are no good options. As JABF has suggested in other threads, you can't do engine repairs on a plane that is in flight), obviously our first choice is to find at least one good alternative in FA, two would be better, but we have to be fiscally real. I would keep Carimi for now as it would be stupid to give up on such a young player that a 1st round pick was spent on, and while it's a little late, I would NOT have released Chris Williams. While he was drafted as our LT, he was at least serviceable, if not above average as our LG last year, but obviously that's water under the bridge now. I could be persuaded to keep Webb as he has at least shown enough potential to keep as a swing Tackle, but if I had my choices, he would be gone. I would then go into the draft targeting Barrett Jones from Alabama to replace Garza who is aging before our very eyes, and I would go after Travis Frederick and Ricky Wagner, both from Wisconsin. Team these guys with Carimi and you already have some pretty good chemistry that is often so difficult to develop in an O-Line. Combine all these guys with Lance Lewis along with a vet that we find in FA and we will have some youthful growing pains, but a solid line to grow with.

Originally Posted by The Benjamin

Yes, this is an honest question. Many say they want change but never really come out and say who they want.

Thank you for taking the time to say who you would look at.

Cool.

Just for the record, my first choice is for THIS team to finally "GET IT" and start developing into a championship caliber team. As I've said previously, I think Lovie Smith is an outstanding "leader" and a coach that the players respect. I would much prefer that he succeeds and we do not have to go through that whole drama and change period that comes with seeking and hiring a new coach. Unfortunately, I don't think that will happen and by continuing down this same path we are simply prolonging the inevitable, but I certainly respect those that continue to hope, because I do as well.

Starting this past offseason, when he was fired from the Jets, I wanted Brian Schottenheimer, and I'll tell you why, showing what QB's did before him and then with him, after and with him, as well as the running game, starting in 2006 with the New York Jets....

Chad Pennington:
This one may be a stretch, because he was injured in 2005, but came back with his second highest passing yards (3,352) and a trip to the playoffs, not to mention comeback player of the year, and they ran for 1,738 yards on 491 carries with a committee approach.

2007: nothing spectacular from the QB position, but as is known, Chad Pennington suffered severe injuries only on odd years (look it up). They still managed 1701 rushing yards, with Thomas Jones as the main rusher.

Brett Favre/2008:

Amazing year before coming to the Jets, but as we all know, he had a serious injury that took the Jets from 8-3 to 8-8. This injury took place in week 11, which coincides with the 5 game losing streak. Before the injury, Favre threw for 20 TDs and 14 INTs. They still ran for 2004 yards.

Mark Sanchez/2009-2011:

2009, 12-20 on TDs to INTs, 2,444 passing yards 2,756 rushing yards.
2010, 17-13 on TDs to INTs 3,291 passing yards 2,374 rushing yards.
2011, 26-18 on TDs to INts 3,474 passing yards 1,692 rushing yards.

After Schottenheimer:

11 Tds to 9 INTs, 1,089 rushing yards. 2084 passing yards

Sam Bradford:

Last Year

team total of 9 TDs to 10 INTS
1667 rushing yards, 2870 passing yards

This year

13 TDs to 9 INTs 2323 passing yards so far
1123 rushing yards

Now, I know i'm not putting the full stats up, but just enough to show a progress, and decline in some situations. I think the best thing about him is that Sanchez was progressing each year under him, until he was fired. Now Sanchez looks like ****. Bradford isn't looking great by any means, BUT he's back on the road to improvement. The guy also calls a very close to 50-50 run pass game that this team sorely needs. The guy fuggin' gets it. That's who i would want, but he's not going anywhere at this point.