Thread: How secure is Lovie's job if our season tanks?

Originally Posted by bearsinhouston

I don't think that can happen Soul. Maybe someone with a better memory than me can chime in. I thought I remember that Lovie's contract included control of his coaches. In other words, Emery controls players, but Lovie controls coaches. So if Emery keeps Lovie, he has no say on his coaches. Of course in real life, Lovie would do well by agreeing to whatever "suggestion" Emery might have since Lovie's hand is not very strong right now.

Well the solution to this is pretty simple brother and it's one of those cases where no matter what the contract says Phil Emery has all the leverage he needs to make it so.

If Lovie doesn't agree to that change either by gentleman's agreement or by contractual addendum then he's dismissed as Bears HC and Emery has control over the hire of a brand new coaching staff. When Emery took the job it was with the understanding that Lovie only had a one year grace period in which he could not be replaced. That alone seems to preclude anything happening now.

But once that 16th game is over and with it the playoffs, which I believe will end for good this Sunday anyway, Lovie is fair game and has to stand for the results of another failed season. Let's face it, one way or another Lovie is on borrowed time. Without an offense there is no way he can even hope to make to a SB let alone win one and he has no offense.

After nine years of aborted attempts to field one he's still failed at every turn. The only thing left to try in order to save his ass is to let somebody do the job of finding him an offensive general for him. He hasn't been able to do it so why fight it? Either you agree and possibly turn the team around and get the extension or you accept your fate now and either resign or get canned. Regardless of what the contract says he has no choice if Emery decides to go about it that way.

Originally Posted by JJ-30

It doesn't matter who is right Soul or you. I know for a fact if anyone is given the choice of either giving up control over one part of his job or losing his job, almost everyone will give up a little control if it means he can keep job today and in the future.

Yep, exactly what I was saying but in far fewer words. Regardless of what the contract says Lovie has no leverage in the matter. I also think you're right when it comes down to what Lovie has acquiesce to IF he wants to get one more year. It very clear what needs to be done so it should even cause much of a discussion.

The bottom line is that Tice needs to go and if Lovie is gonna be given one more year it's either gonna be Bates job or Emery will find a guy to come in hoping to be made HC when Lovie isn't asked back after 2013. Lovie would never hire his potential replacement as his OC but Emery most certainly will.

I can't believe i'm the only one to say it, but our HC has been constantly hampered by injuries and garbage players provided by our 2 straight GM's. He hasn't always done a great job, but giving up on him now admits we're not a team that can compete, and unless we hit a homerun with the next guy, are likely rebuilding with. Let's not get too high on the Emery fumes, as he's drafted one player that has played in most games, and his first 3 picks have all been consistent at only one thing this year: getting injured.

So BEN you are infavor of signing Lovie to an extension, if I'm reading your post(s) right? Your happy with the Bears since Lovie has been HC right? So every three years a playoff berth is good for you? Three in nine years. Thats a winning head coach to you, I'm sorry, I except more. Worst case to me , is a new HC that SUCKS, LOSES, get better draft picks, cause of losing. Then gets fired, but the BEARS have a good team of early round picks, new HC SB.. Sorry I see things differently. If you can't dance, why go to the DANCE. Take lessons, then GO.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lovie_Smith


THE BUCK STOPS HERE

On more than one occasion President Truman referred to the desk sign in public statements. For example, in an address at the National War College on December 19, 1952 Mr. Truman said, "You know, it's easy for the Monday morning quarterback to say what the coach should have done, after the game is over. But when the decision is up before you -- and on my desk I have a motto which says The Buck Stops Here' -- the decision has to be made." In his farewell address to the American people given in January 1953, President Truman referred to this concept very specifically in asserting that, "The President--whoever he is--has to decide. He can't pass the buck to anybody. No one else can do the deciding for him. That's his job.

http://www.trumanlibrary.org/buckstop.htm

Originally Posted by The Benjamin

Bingo.

People are always saying Lovie sucks because he can not get this team to win. But at the same time, they are also saying how we are lacking good players and that the drafts have been busts.

With the team filled with less than great players, Lovie has managed to keep us competitive. Sure, he has his flaws, as does every coach, but when you are given crap..... what do you expect to get out of it? Think Ditka, Lombardi or Halas could turn this pile of crap into a better team? I don't think so.

Great teams are more of a result of great players than a great coach. Great players can make an average coach look great where a crap team can make a great coach look like crap.

I like what others here have mentioned. If Lovie stays then it's critically important to get him a solid OC. Lovie needs all 3 coordinators to be solid. And 2 of the 3 are solid now. But that OC position has never been good under Lovie Smith. Lovie is a poor game day coach. And Lovie is zero help with the offense, so he is totally dependent on having a good OC on gameday too.

If we do get a stud OC, and Emery can take another step this off season improving the team (fix the oline woes, get a receiving TE, and make a few other upgrades), then I'm fine with Lovie staying.

I'm not fine with bimbos at OC, and losing games, and poor seasons. I just want to win.

Originally Posted by The Benjamin

Bingo.

People are always saying Lovie sucks because he can not get this team to win. But at the same time, they are also saying how we are lacking good players and that the drafts have been busts.

With the team filled with less than great players, Lovie has managed to keep us competitive. Sure, he has his flaws, as does every coach, but when you are given crap..... what do you expect to get out of it? Think Ditka, Lombardi or Halas could turn this pile of crap into a better team? I don't think so.

Great teams are more of a result of great players than a great coach. Great players can make an average coach look great where a crap team can make a great coach look like crap.

I understand, and I have heard this before from supporters of Lovie. Your premise is completely valid IF Lovie has had no he has had no say in personnel. I think your premise was absolutely accurate up until and through the 2006 season. However, after he got his post Super Bowl extension, his personnel say was much greater. To be honest, I think that's valid. If you coach a team to the Superbowl, you earned more say. Unfortunately, that was a mistake. So, to suggest that he should be applauded, or at least admired for "keeping us competitive...when he was given crap", completely ignores the fact that he played a substantial role in retaining "crap" with his year end player review with his staff and collecting new "crap" with his draft board review and scouting that he participated in, hand in hand with Jerry Angelo and the Scouting Department. Yes, it is the job of the GM and Scouting Department to scout new prospects, but ask yourself these questions if you doubt Lovie's participation (and his coordinators) in the scouting process:

Did Lovie attend every scouting combine over the last 9 years?
Yes, he has, and several prospects have been interviewed and discussed the lengthy conversations they had with "Coach Lovie" when interviewed in the team rooms.

Did Lovie ever attend any pro days?:
Yes, he has typically attended at least 3 or 4 every year and when he cannot, he sends his coordinators. J-Webb was "found" by Tice.

Does Lovie participate in constructing the Big board and is he present in the war room on draft day?
While I have never been in these meetings, it has been reported that this is the case.

Does Lovie attend the Senior Bowl?
I can't answer for every year, but I have taken note that he has been present at the both the Senior Bowl and East-West Shrine game from time to time.

Ironically, the O-Line that has been our nemesis for so many years was adequate when Lovie first took over (Tait, Brown, Kreutz, Garza, Miller), but after he attained greater personnel say in 2007 is when our O-Line began to be ignored and fell apart. Ironically, Rex Grossman had a better O-Line than Jay Cutler has had. It's not all on Angelo.