Thread: An article on why Lovie will still be our coach next year

Originally Posted by The Benjamin

I almost have to face him a pass on Martz and Tice. Both hires were made in a make or break, win or you're fires year and options were non existent. No one wanted to take a job that had no job security, and I can not blame those OC wannabes. Honestly think that Martz or Tice were their first choices?! I certainly don't.

This is the problem I have Ben. I believe, for whatever reason, Lovie Smith is given a pass by too many on almost everything negative. Believe me, I say this with all due respect and it is not a direct rant at you. The Head coach is responsible for the coordinators and coaches he has on his staff. If he has put himself in a position that he is on the hot seat and cannot attract top talent, then whose fault is that? Lovie is seldom blamed for the personnel choices of Angelo, but then the same people give credit to Lovie for getting some guys because he's a players coach and FA's want to play for him. So...the bad ones are Angelos fault, but the good ones are thanks to Lovie? All those draft picks that did not pan out were all on Angelo, but after his post Superbowl extension, it was widely reported by Chicago Sports media that Lovie would have much more say in personnel matters? Then, as Houston put it, some of our personnel problems have come from coaches either not not developing talent we had or at least inadequately evaluating said talent. If the HEAD Coach of a football team gets a pass on all these things, then I ask, what is he responsible for? The game planning? What is the last game we played against a legitimate playoff team that appeared to be well prepared? It's easy to game plan against bad teams...all the Defense has to do is keep the plays in front of them and wait for the offense to make a mistake, but good teams don't make those mistakes and they often chew up our "vaunted" defense like we're playing a Prevent Defense the whole game. As far as his continued employment, this is an endless circle; the article states that the McCaskey's do not want to pay two coaches for the same season by letting Lovie go and then also paying his replacement, but then goes on to say that NFL coaches are seldom allowed to enter into a lame duck season without an extension. Well, if that premise is true, then Lovie has a job in Chicago for life.

The only time to make a move is when there is only a single season left on his contract, and that is THIS off season. For the record, that is the ONLY reason this discussion even has any merit and the only reason I believe it is worth discussing. At the end of this season, Lovie Smith will either be let go or given an extension. I would prefer to let he and his staff play out the last year of his contract, but since that is not an option in the modern NFL, then he either goes or gets extended. I really don't see either of those as a good choice myself, but if I had to make the call, I let him walk unless he gets this team with this roster to the NFC Title game. If he doesn't even make the playoffs, then the decision is easy.

In closing, I will say what I always must, that I do not dislike Lovie Smith. I think he is a wonderful person, I think he is a GREAT leader, but I think he is only an average coach.