To be a Bears fan right now...

[Mr. Scot]

Bruce Arians just finished a second season where loads of people called his performance 'coach of the year' worthy.

 

Why is that relevant in Chicago?

 

Well...

 

“It seemed awkward in Chicago because they wanted me to keep some of their (assistant coaches), which wasn’t going to happen,” Arians said.

 

According to multiple sources, there were many forces at work.

 

The Bears wanted Arians to do one thing: fix quarterback Jay Cutler. They desperately wanted to keep Rod Marinelli as defensive coordinator, believing that side of that ball needed no reform. That was a pipe dream from the start, as Marinelli was extremely close to the fired Lovie Smith and wasn’t going to remain in Chicago under any circumstance.

 

Along the way, a high-ranking Bears official fell in love with Trestman, who kept two members of Smith’s staff: defensive backs coach Jon Hoke and defensive line coach Mike Phair, who was fired after last season.

 

Why the Bears passed on Bruce Arians

 

Since that article was written, both Marc Trestman and the GM who hired him have been handed their pink slips.

 

Now they have a new GM, and he's going to get them John Fox.

[Mr. Scot]

The Sporting News chimes in...

 

Bears to hire John Fox, or Lovie Smith all over again

 

I doubt Vinnie Iyer reads this board, but that particular opinion has already been expressed here

[Squirrel]

Yeah but the last line is off.  Saying Smith was a bad firing.

 

 

Chicago is setup for a easy turn around.  Fix the Defense and play conservative with a good running back and two good WR's and they can make a run.  Fox's specialty.

[VerticalThreat]

Yeah but the last line is off.  Saying Smith was a bad firing.

 

 

Chicago is setup for a easy turn around.  Fix the Defense and play conservative with a good running back and two good WR's and they can make a run.  Fox's specialty.

 

I don't know if Matt Forte is the type of "pound-it" back that Fox wants in his backfield. I'm also not sold that they have the OL to do what he wants to do. Based on what I see in CHI and know about Fox, he's got a lot of work to do on the offensive side of the ball. Doesn't seem that they hired a coach to take advantage of what was already there.

[PanthersClinic]

I think the Bears are a good fit for Fox and Fox a good fit for the bears. It won't be an easy job as that is a competitive division controlled by the Packers. He'll have to beat the Packers if he wants to keep that job.

[Squirrel]

I don't know if Matt Forte is the type of "pound-it" back that Fox wants in his backfield. I'm also not sold that they have the OL to do what he wants to do. Based on what I see in CHI and know about Fox, he's got a lot of work to do on the offensive side of the ball. Doesn't seem that they hired a coach to take advantage of what was already there.

 

They will grab a another veteran running back in free agency. THey have 25 mil in cap space right now,  They can fix the oline with that and draft pick. 

[Silent Majority]

Why is this not in the general NFL forum?

[Mr. Scot]

I don't know if Matt Forte is the type of "pound-it" back that Fox wants in his backfield. I'm also not sold that they have the OL to do what he wants to do. Based on what I see in CHI and know about Fox, he's got a lot of work to do on the offensive side of the ball. Doesn't seem that they hired a coach to take advantage of what was already there.

 

Don't know.  I kinda thought Forte would be the kind of 'workhorse' back that Fox would love to have.

 

[j2sgam]

My little brother, a big Bears fan, called me yesterday saying he was trying to be optimistic, didnt want to start bitchin as soon as Fox got hired... I laughed, told him hes fugged..... Foxy & Clausen back together again, what could go wrong??

[Squirrel]

Why is this not in the general NFL forum?

 

offseason.

[Mr. Scot]

Adam Schefter @AdamSchefter  ·  3h 3 hours ago

John Fox’s deal to become Bears HC is “all but done,” per sources. @JasonPhilCole reported Thursday that Fox would be hired in Chicago.

 

[UNCrules2187]

I keep seeing people make a variation of the comment: "John Fox only won 2 playoff games with Peyton Manning, how can he win with Jay Cutler?"

 

Let's not forget that Fox won 5 playoff games with Delhomme and a playoff game with Tim fuging The Golden Calf of Bristol. Or the fact that Peyton is now 11-13 in the playoffs.

 

Fox can absolutely win with Cutler. I'd argue Cutler is a more talented (in terms of physical talent) than Delhomme. Put him in a ball control offense and take advantage of that arm, and they can easily contend for a WC berth provided Fox shores up the defense (which he tends to do in the early years).

[Mr. Scot]

I keep seeing people make a variation of the comment: "John Fox only won 2 playoff games with Peyton Manning, how can he win with Jay Cutler?"

 

Let's not forget that Fox won 5 playoff games with Delhomme and a playoff game with Tim fuging The Golden Calf of Bristol. Or the fact that Peyton is now 11-13 in the playoffs.

 

Fox can absolutely win with Cutler. I'd argue Cutler is a more talented (in terms of physical talent) than Delhomme. Put him in a ball control offense and take advantage of that arm, and they can easily contend for a WC berth provided Fox shores up the defense (which he tends to do in the early years).

 

More talented than Delhomme?  Definitely.

 

But to be fair, Jake was always a high character guy and a solid teammate.

 

Cutler is a bit of a fruit loop.

 

[VerticalThreat]

They will grab a another veteran running back in free agency. THey have 25 mil in cap space right now,  They can fix the oline with that and draft pick. 

 

Yeah, you're probably right about that. I don't really keep up with the cap figures, so it looks like they've got the ability to make some moves to get more in line with what Fox will want to do. You know what Fox doesn't like? A QB like Cutler who doesn't value possession of the football. THAT should be interesting.

 

Think they'll go "BeastMode"?

 

Don't know.  I kinda thought Forte would be the kind of 'workhorse' back that Fox would love to have.

 

 

Yeah, I could see that, but for whatever reason I've always gotten the feeling/assumed that Forte was that shifty guy who either wasn't good at or didn't want to run between the tackles and get pound out 3-4 yards a clip.  I could be totally wrong and it was just a matter of the way he's been used, just never saw him as a time of possession/workhorse back.