Mailbag

**short faced bear** · 11-22-2012, 02:38 PM

By Dan Pompei
Tribune Reporter

11:38 a.m. CST, November 22, 2012

Do you feel the Chicago Bears should replace the entire coaching staff after Monday night’s terrible performance? — Jonathan Dyer, San Francisco

Lot of questions this week along those lines. I will say this. If Lovie Smith were fighting for his job, the loss to San Francisco was the kind of game that could get a coach fired. But firing Smith is not a legitimate topic because the Bears are 7-3. It’s tempting for all of us to overreact every week to whatever happens in the NFL. You have to look at the big picture, which is that the Bears still are well positioned to win 10 or 11 games and make the playoffs. And they will be even if they lose Sunday to the Vikings. If I said Smith should be fired after the Bears’ loss to the 49ers, I would have had to say he should have had his contract extended after they rolled over the Titans. Using this logic, you would say the 49ers should have fired Jim Harbaugh after his team lost 26-3 to the Giants. And he never would have been around to stick it to the Bears. Good coaches can have bad games. Good teams can have bad games. It even happened to the 1985 Bears, one of the greatest teams ever. The Dolphins took it to them 38-24. But bad games are not an issue unless there is a string of them.

If the Bears don't end up making the playoffs this year, do you see Lovie Smith's job being in jeopardy? — Daniel Gutstein, Lincolnwood

For the Bears not to make the playoffs, they probably would have to lose four of their remaining six games. They might have to lose five of six. That would be a significant collapse. And, assuming there weren’t extenuating circumstances that led to the collapse, I think that kind of late-season failure could put Smith’s job in jeopardy.

If they fired Lovie, who is better that they could bring in? Jeff Fisher/Bill Cowher resumes are about exactly where Lovie is. — @Qstache, from Twitter

Good point. Fisher and Cowher are regarded as potential franchise saviors. If the Bears fired Smith, he wouldn’t be likely be held in very high regard in other NFL cities. The big names who have had NFL success that are going to be pursued in the offseason are Cowher, Jon Gruden, Mike Holmgren and Andy Reid, assuming he is fired by the Eagles. Smith’s winning percentage as a head coach is .565. Cowher’s is .623. Gruden’s is .540. Holmgren’s is .592. Reid’s is .594. Smith is the only one of the five who never has had a Pro Bowl quarterback.

When was the last time the Bears had what would be called a “signature” win? It seems more times than not when the Bears are on national TV (Sunday or Monday nights) their performance is not one to remember. And what, if anything, does this say about Lovie Smith as a head coach? — Thomas Borich, Superior, Wis.

To find the kind of win you are talking about, you probably have to go back to the third game of the 2010 season (not including their playoff victory against the Seahawks). The Packers, who would be eventual Super Bowl champions, were 2-0 and coming off an 11-5 season, and the Bears beat them 20-17 with two fourth quarter Robbie Gould field goals at Soldier Field. Since that time, they have had five chances at “signature wins.” Later in the 2010 season, the Bears had a chance to beat the Super Bowl-bound Patriots but fell 36-7 at Soldier Field. They had a chance to beat the 4-0 Lions last year in Detroit but failed to do so. Defeating the Packers, Texans or 49ers this season would have qualified as “signature wins, but the Bears lost all three. I’m not sure what all of this says about Smith, other than he was coaching teams on those days that couldn’t beat their opponents.

Given Jonathan Scott was in quite a bit in jumbo formations Monday, any chance he unseats struggling Gabe Carimi at RT? — Ryan, Fort Wayne, Ind.

I’ll be surprised if Scott isn’t at least on the field at right tackle for a couple of series Sunday. And I won’t be surprised if he is in the starting lineup. The Bears don’t want to give up on Carimi. He essentially is a rookie from an experience standpoint, and he is a talented player. I’ve had personnel men on other teams express surprise to me that Carimi has struggled. There still is hope for him. But it’s not working now, and Smith and Mike Tice do not want Carimi to be the reason the Bears don’t achieve their potential.

What is the rule for holding? I can't get over how Bears offensive linemen can't stop anyone for even a second, and other teams’ quarterbacks have what it seems like all day to throw. I watch other games and their offensive linemen have both hands grabbing the jersey of the defensive linemen. Isn't that holding? — Ron Koji, La Crosse, Wis.

Section 1, Article 3 of The 2012 Official Rules and Casebook of the National Football League says it is holding if a blocker “use[s] his hands or arms to materially restrict an opponent or alter the defender’s path or angle of pursuit. Material restrictions include but are not limited to: I. grabbing or tackling an opponent; II. Hooking, jerking, twisting or tuning him; or; III. Pulling him to the ground.” Officials usually allow blockers to get away with a subtle jersey grab as long as the blocker gets the front of the jersey in between the shoulder pads and the grab doesn’t give him too big of an advantage.

During Monday's game, Jon Gruden mentioned how many of the Bears' O-linemen were playing unfamiliar positions: J'Marcus Webb entered the league as a RT, Chilo Rachal only played on the right side prior to this season, Roberto Garza spent most of his career at RG, and Gabe Carimi played his entire college career at LT. But that doesn't begin to cover the position changes forced on players by this coaching staff. Lance Louis, the only O-lineman currently playing his natural position, lost a year of development last season playing RT. Chris Spencer, who started for several years at center and was signed the day Olin Kreutz left, has only played guard for the Bears. Danieal Manning, now playing very well for Houston, was switched from safety to corner to safety to nickleback and finally back to safety before being let go as a free agent because he hadn't developed the way the coaches thought he should. And these guys are still at it: no one outside Halas Hall believes Shea McClellan's best position is as a 4-3 DE, while Evan Rodriguez was touted on draft day as a pass-catching TE and is now a FB. Is it fair to say they have flat-out failed when it comes to changing players’ positions? Are the players starting to lose faith that the coaches can put them in a position to be successful? — Mark Early, Arlington, Va.

I think you have to look at each case individually Mark. If a guard can’t switch from the left side to the right, how good is he? If you think Gabe Carimi has struggled at right tackle, you don’t want to see how he would be blocking on the left side. Roberto Garza has played no worse at center than he did at guard. Lance Louis played right tackle out of necessity last year. I think both rookies, McClellan and Rodriguez, have looked pretty promising at their positions. The one guy who was really hurt by position switching, in my opinion, was Danieal Manning.

With Alshon Jeffery out another 2-4 weeks, how can we get that Jay and Earl Bennett connection back? — @Geensey, from Twitter

I think there has to be a concerted effort to get Bennett more involved, which there has not been. That effort has to come from three sources: the game plan, the play calls and the quarterback’s reads. Bennett is not going to catch six or seven passes by accident. He’s been a forgotten man, and the Bears offense is worse because of it.

How will Jay Cutler's concussion history affect a new deal with the Bears or the possibility of the Bears targeting a QB in the draft? — @URlyle, from Twitter

I think Cutler’s concussion history is something the Bears have to take into account regarding a contract extension because it could impact his long-term ability to play the game. I’m not saying it will, because I don’t have access to his medical records. But the more concussions he suffers, he less valuable he becomes. A quarterback who is a durability risk is worth less. And a quarterback who could have his career shortened is worth less still.

Putting all other issues aside, how much does it cost taxpayers each time the playing service needs repairs or replacement? If we multiply that figure by the number of repairs needed over the years, the sum will no doubt be staggering. If the Bears are opposed to an artificial grass playing surface, they should pay for the constant repairs and maintenance. The current arrangement is ridiculous. — Bill Zolla

It costs $250,000 to completely resod Soldier Field. It is in the Bears’ contract with the city that the Bears do not pay for resoddings. That’s one of the reasons the city would be in favor of replacing natural grass with an infill surface. The Bears, however, have been resistant to a change. They believe natural grass better protects their most natural resources — their players.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports...,3996282.story

**Dagan81** · 11-22-2012, 02:51 PM

Well, I think we're being fed another load of bullshit again, don't you, shorty? I mean let's face it, Dan Pompeii is actually coming across as a Lovie Smith/Mike Tice apologist. I agree that Lovie should be retained as much as is humanly possible provided that the Bears don't experience a collapse like they did last season, but it's almost like "Danny Boy" is condoning the failures of this coaching staff. I can't believe that anyone would excuse the pitiful excuse for coaching we have seen out of this coaching staff, but then again, it's like someone said (maybe soulman?) regarding Mark Potash of The Chicago Sun-Times in that maybe Pompeii is propping up the Lovie regime in order to not be forbidden from gaining access to the players in the locker room.

**Henry Burris** · 11-22-2012, 02:52 PM

The first three questions were beyond idiotic. I simply can't believe bennett isn't being used properly, cutler should be resigned for cheap and we should def. draft a qb....next year. Keep Campbell and McCown, as both will be cheap. Also, i hope everyone has gotten "bear weather football" out of their system, because it results in boring, sloppy football. Heritage with a crappy stadium with crappy weather, and garbage games when it rains or snows is nothing to be proud of. Kill the politics, and get this team the same kind of playing surface as the packers.

**short faced bear** · 11-22-2012, 03:04 PM

Originally Posted by Dagan81

Well, I think we're being fed another load of bullshit again, don't you, shorty? I mean let's face it, Dan Pompeii is actually coming across as a Lovie Smith/Mike Tice apologist. I agree that Lovie should be retained as much as is humanly possible provided that the Bears don't experience a collapse like they did last season, but it's almost like "Danny Boy" is condoning the failures of this coaching staff. I can't believe that anyone would excuse the pitiful excuse for coaching we have seen out of this coaching staff, but then again, it's like someone said (maybe soulman?) regarding Mark Potash of The Chicago Sun-Times in that maybe Pompeii is propping up the Lovie regime in order to not be forbidden from gaining access to the players in the locker room.

I take ol' Pompus w/a grain of salt Dags. Like Mayer he can only go so far. As is most writers he can't come outright and alienate his fanbase or the organization else he will be locked out of certain happenings. That's just human nature in any type of give-take media relationship.

I prefer Bowen and just showing by play, technique, or route where the good or bad lie.

**Dagan81** · 11-22-2012, 03:13 PM

I mean, this week's mailbag with Pompeii was total and complete bullshit, Henry and shorty. I didn't even go into the parts about Cutler and the playing surface because I didn't think it was worth my time or energy to address it when I could be attacking Pompeii on his assertions that Lovie is essentially doing a bang-up job this season. But now that you mentioned those things, Henry, I think I'll contribute my two cents worth.

Most players suffer multiple concussions throughout the course of a career. That's part of the reason why the acronym for the NFL is "Not For Long." If the Bears are honestly serious about lowballing Cutler because he's suffered through two concussions and a broken thumb, they're fucking out of their minds because there is not another quality quarterback out there who is a) available or b) would want to play for the Bears because of their lame ass excuse for an offensive line and wide receivers. Chicago is the place where quarterbacks and wide receivers come to die, and if you don't believe that, then too bad, so sad. Despite all the shit that he has to put up with regarding the national media and in particular, the media in Chicago, as well as his horrid supporting cast on offense, Cutler wants to finish career with the Bears. Somewhere along the line, there has to be something said for player loyalty to a team. Maybe the Bears should learn to stick with one quarterback for longer than half a year unlike what they did during the Wannstedt and Jauron years.

On the topic of the turf at Soldier Field, this just gets down to what I've always said about the Bears as a franchise: they're cheap. They don't want to invest money in providing a safe field for the players simply because with the current grass turf they have, they don't have to pay a penny toward the upkeep. The Bears hide behind the excuse that this turf on which we currently play is safer for the players, but in reality, they don't want to put in the Field Turf like Green Bay has because they don't want to have to put forth any dough to replace the turf. In essence, the Bears are lying to the City of Chicago and to the people of Bears Nation by using the old players' safety excuse as a crutch with which to walk. I'd hate to be the one to tell the people at Halas Hall that this turf in the last two months of the season becomes very dangerous because the sod pulls up into the cleats and the players slip and fall while running routes. A certain player by the name of Red Grange once tore his knee up on the sod at old Wrigley Field, and though I'm not sure what time of year it was this occurred nor the year in which it did occur, I would almost guarantee you that it happened between the months of October through December because of dead grass or perhaps the wet grass from a torrential rain fall made the grass slick and therefore Grange got his cleats caught in the sod.

I will end this post by posting a famous quote by one of history's greatest and most compelling leaders, Winston Churchill: "Those who fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it." The Bears have continuously made the same mistakes for 92 years now on how to get the most out of their franchise, whether it's been the two "sneaker games" versus the New York Giants in the NFL Championship Games of 1934 and later 1956, whether its been on handling quarterbacks, how to build offenses with pizzazz, or whether it comes to paying players handsomely for services rendered (which Papa Bear was not always known for doing and which his grandson Michael later was an abject failure at doing).

**Dagan81** · 11-22-2012, 03:16 PM

Originally Posted by short faced bear

I take ol' Pompus w/a grain of salt Dags. Like Mayer he can only go so far. As is most writers he can't come outright and alienate his fanbase or the organization else he will be locked out of certain happenings. That's just human nature in any type of give-take media relationship.

I prefer Bowen and just showing by play, technique, or route where the good or bad lie.

I'll trust you, then. I'm not a native of the city of Chicago, so I have no clue as to who the movers and shakers are up there in the media without going out of my way to pull up either The Chicago Tribune or The Chicago Sun-Times.

**short faced bear** · 11-22-2012, 03:39 PM

Originally Posted by Dagan81

I'll trust you, then. I'm not a native of the city of Chicago, so I have no clue as to who the movers and shakers are up there in the media without going out of my way to pull up either The Chicago Tribune or The Chicago Sun-Times.

I just think about it logically Dags. If you had a writer writing things about you and he constantly reamed you, you wouldn't be all fired up to tell him the juicy things that your readers would wish to read. Also,you must think that a good chunk of the fan base your writing to falls into many demographics. Some not well informed, overly optimistic, etc. So you can't be brutally honest week after week and expand your readership to make money.

Mayer is what he is but for him at least I can read between the lines on many things he says. I think if you ever sat down one-on-one with these guys you would find that they are probably as dissatisfied as we are at times.

**Dagan81** · 11-22-2012, 04:11 PM

Originally Posted by short faced bear

I just think about it logically Dags. If you had a writer writing things about you and he constantly reamed you, you wouldn't be all fired up to tell him the juicy things that your readers would wish to read. Also,you must think that a good chunk of the fan base your writing to falls into many demographics. Some not well informed, overly optimistic, etc. So you can't be brutally honest week after week and expand your readership to make money.

Mayer is what he is but for him at least I can read between the lines on many things he says. I think if you ever sat down one-on-one with these guys you would find that they are probably as dissatisfied as we are at times.

That's a good point. I can't believe I didn't think of that myself, it's so good! I guess that with me, brutal honesty is the best policy, and that's the way I am: I call a spade a spade and things as I see them. At the same time, though, I can't help but wonder whether the media has the goods on the Bears (and of course, with other franchises as well) because of the fact they're the franchise's voice for news about the team or what. It's definitely food for thought. I would honestly think that the media holds all the cards, but you could well be correct in your assertion that is, indeed, the Bears who own the media by what they choose to share.

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