Thread: Firing Lovie was just the start (GOOD READ)

Originally Posted by blinddeafmute

Oh, and 10-6 is only two games above .500... Not 4.

Originally Posted by Shark86x

I thought Shillelagh was drafted to play opposite Peppers. I was looking for Pepper's replacement

No. Former Tampa Bay kicker.

Lovie needed to go, and the only assistants on his staff I would retain are Marinelli and Bates. Tice's career as an NFL coach is over as far as I'm concerned. He ran probably the second worst offense in the NFL this year, bar none.

Originally Posted by AmericanPitBull

Trade Hester? lol Like there is any value there anymore.

It is my firm belief that Devin Hester is a superb player, albeit not the finest of wide receivers. Through my personal reviewing of the man's play, spanning the last year or two, his subpar production as a receiver has played a significant role in his current psychological, emotional, and physical state.

Psychological: He has underachieved as a wide receiver - and he knows it. Thus, he feels the need to make the spectacular play as a returner. This has caused him to over-think when returning the football, attempting to run more east-west, rather than north-south; he does this because he is attempting to force the big highlight reel run, instead of allowing the play to come to him. He is in a psychological chinese finger trap, so to speak: the more he attempts to escape his current situation, the more he finds himself ensnared in it.

The bottom line: he is trying too much.

Emotional: See "Psychological;" Hester has invested himself greatly into becoming a two-trick pony. His lack of success as a wide receiver frustrates him, so he leans to an area of play that has brought him much comfort: special teams. Unfortunately, he is putting far too much thought into his returns. He is always attempting to force the "big play." This has caused him to subconsciously take on an entirely different mental approach to every aspect of his play. He may not recognize this, and because of that, he is frustrated. There is no fun for him, at that point - and when viewing things from this angle, I could see why. His hobby has become a job that no longer rewards him; this sinks him further into the muck of non-production.

Physical: It is well-known that the mental affects the physical. It's science. Hester is psychologically and emotionally "bankrupt." Coach Lovie Smith's termination has only heightened his frustration. In a way, he feels that HE has brought his comrad and mentor down. To only add to this, Hester can now only remember the cheers he onced received. These days, the man mostly hears the angry mob calling for heads (his included). I believe this has left him feeling jaded. Hester is currently in need of a confidence boost, because his recent overall negative experiences has burnt him out, and has left him feeling uninspired in his occupation. He still has what it takes to be an elite returner - maybe not 2006-esque, but elite nonetheless. The best thing for him to do is remain exclusive to special teams and have a peaceful, enjoyable off-season.

I am in no way, shape, or form personally affiliated with Devin Hester, I am just simply attempting to rationalize this befuddling situation of his. He has the means to recover a measure of his past glory, but it's up to Devin to conjure up his "Rocky III" comeback with Apollo (sans the daisy duke shorts and uncomfortable ocean shore embrace)

Thanks, and let's have patience with #23, rather than tear him down.

Originally Posted by JustAnotherBearsFan99

I don't see where Tice was this all-knowing, brilliant offensive line coach. All we read about was how brilliant the guy was. The pixie dust magic. I think that was all a bunch of crap. Just like the crap he gave us - and called his OL. People can defend him until the cows come home, but I'm not buying it. I never understood his moves with the players on the OL. I never understood how he took the #1 offensive lineman in America (Outland Trophy winner Gabe Carimi) and turned him into crap. I never understood why he continually played his players out of position. I never understood why he took the few "average" OL people who WERE playing halfway decent - and moved them to other positions (C.Will) and ultimately we lost them.....cut him.

I could go on and on here.

It was absolute madness, what he did to our olinemen. And in the end it killed our offense. I get angry every time I think about the many bonehead moves he made. I never saw the effects of the pixie dust. Just a crap oline.

The moves were crazy, maddening. Even a megalomaniac would have reservations about all the moves made. So stupid as to look intentional. As much as we've mulled over the entire OL I see zero logic in any of his moves.

I am not here to defend Mike Tice.

However, does anyone else find it peculiar that he was a FINE O-Line coach UNTIL he arrived in Chicago?

A head coach he is not.

An offensive coordinator he is not.

His record as an O-Line coach BEFORE he was hired in Chicago is very good. From 1997-2001, the Viking offense under Brian Billick, Ray Sherman, & Sherman Lewis was solid and in some cases, AMAZING. This is a list of the major contributors of the O-Line players in order of the round they were selected...

Round 1:
Todd Steussie - No. 19 - Drafted by Minnesota in 1994
Randall McDaniel - No. 19 - Drafted by Minnesota in 1988
Korey Stringer - No. 24 - Drafted by Minnesota in 1995

Round 4:
Jeff Christy - No. 91 - Signed as a FA by Minnesota in 1993

Round 5:
Brad Badger - No. 162 - Signed as a FA by Minnesota in 2000

Round 6:
Corbin Lacina - No. 167 - Signed as a FA by Minnesota in 1999
Matt Birk - No. 173 - Drafted by Minnesota in 1998

Round 7:
Chris Liwienski - No. 207 - Signed as a FA by Minnesota in 1999

Round 9:
David Dixon - No. 232 - Signed as a FA by Minnesota in 1994

Someone draft a list of the Bears' 1st round picks and find 3 great offensive linemen. Once you've done that find me some time along the Bears' draft history where they drafted two O-Linemen in consecutive years like Steussie and Stringer. Outside of the three 1st rounders the majority of those guys were drafted in later rounds by other teams. So, that would indicate that Mike Tice CAN coach offensive linemen.For some reason, many of you have these great expectations from this team because there are a handful of very good skill players on the offense like Cutler, Forte, & Marshall. Even with all of the talent that those three possess their destinies are tied to the five guys up front. The five guys up front just aren't that good. Ultimately, if you don't commit to improving a part of your team with talented players that part of your team will suffer.

Please spare me from the talk about if Tice said he could win with those five guys that they should be better. Had he said anything else, most of you would've bashed Tice for diminishing the very guys he was supposed to coach up! There is not one of us that views Bears practice consistently, works in the Bears front office, or knows 10% as much about football as Mike Tice does. From our standpoint, there is just no way to KNOW why each decision was made by anyone on the coaching staff. Maybe Tice did voice concern about his line but was told that he would make it work. Maybe Tice ranted and raved up and down Halas Hall that he could make that line work. We will NEVER KNOW.

A chef is only as good as his ingredients.

Originally Posted by TheBaschnagelnator

It is my firm belief that Devin Hester is a superb player, albeit not the finest of wide receivers. Through my personal reviewing of the man's play, spanning the last year or two, his subpar production as a receiver has played a significant role in his current psychological, emotional, and physical state.

Psychological: He has underachieved as a wide receiver - and he knows it. Thus, he feels the need to make the spectacular play as a returner. This has caused him to over-think when returning the football, attempting to run more east-west, rather than north-south; he does this because he is attempting to force the big highlight reel run, instead of allowing the play to come to him. He is in a psychological chinese finger trap, so to speak: the more he attempts to escape his current situation, the more he finds himself ensnared in it.

The bottom line: he is trying too much.

Emotional: See "Psychological;" Hester has invested himself greatly into becoming a two-trick pony. His lack of success as a wide receiver frustrates him, so he leans to an area of play that has brought him much comfort: special teams. Unfortunately, he is putting far too much thought into his returns. He is always attempting to force the "big play." This has caused him to subconsciously take on an entirely different mental approach to every aspect of his play. He may not recognize this, and because of that, he is frustrated. There is no fun for him, at that point - and when viewing things from this angle, I could see why. His hobby has become a job that no longer rewards him; this sinks him further into the muck of non-production.

Physical: It is well-known that the mental affects the physical. It's science. Hester is psychologically and mentally "bankrupt." Coach Lovie Smith's termination has only heightened his frustration. In a way, he feels that HE has brought his comrad and mentor down. To only add to this, Hester can now only remember the cheers he onced received. These days, the man mostly hears the angry mob calling for heads (his included). I believe this has left him feeling jaded. Hester is currently in need of a confidence boost, because his recent overall negative experiences has burnt him out, and has left him feeling uninspired in his occupation. He still has what it takes to be an elite returner - maybe not 2006-esque, but elite nonetheless. The best thing for him to do is remain exclusive to special teams and have a peaceful, enjoyable off-season.

I am in no way, shape, or form personally affiliated with Devin Hester, I am just simply attempting to rationalize this befuddling situation of his. He has the means to recover a measure of his past glory, but it's up to Devin to conjure up his "Rocky III" comeback with Apollo (sans the daisy duke shorts and uncomfortable ocean shore embrace)

Thanks, and let's have patience with #23, rather than tear him down.

Bottom line. He is a 30 year old return specialist past his prime and is lacking a desire to play the game. Wake up bud.

Originally Posted by AmericanPitBull

Bottom line. He is a 30 year old return specialist past his prime and is lacking a desire to play the game. Wake up bud.

I just did. Good morning, monsieur. My quads and glutes are something firece this morning. I was a squatting cyborg, yesterday at the gym - I like to do legs wearing a "Hulkamania" t-shirt. Almost wish I DIDN'T wake up.

I dunno. Maybe Hester isn't what he was 6-7 years ago, but he is alot BETTER than he's showing us now - as a returner. By watching him, he's running silly routes...sideways. He is mentally drained and frustrated, and it's showing on special teams. If he truly is not happy playing ball, then it bleeds into what we could witness on the television. I agree that he isn't the 2006 version anymore, but he isn't the 2012 version, either. That, I am convinced of. Either way, whatever he does, wherever he does it, I hope his head is on straight and I wish him the best.

(waddles away to make coffee)