Why Isn't Lovie Coaching?

[Peter Gozintite]

Besides the salary he is collecting, why do you think Lovie didn't accept a DC position or a HC position. He would be a valuable DC and even a decent HC.

I'll give him a call and get back to you.

 

[beardown07]

I'll give him a call and get back to you.

Already did.....got his machine...it said..."Rex Grossman is our quarterback...leave a message."

 

[richig07]

He probably didn't get the offer he wanted.

He had interest from Philly and Arizona. He likely also wanted a year off. I don't blame him. Being an NFL head coach is a grind.

He'll be back.

 

[noonthirtyjoe]

Lovie will be coaching in Detroit next year. You heard it here first.

 

[richig07]

What are you guys talking about? Lovie was an awful coach who made terrible in-game coaching decisions that cost us the playoffs on multiple occasions. He didn't work players near hard enough, which meant that the only players who truly developed were super self-motivated. And like it or not, there aren't 22 super self-motivated guys on most teams.

He didn't work players near hard enough? What are you basing this off of? I wasn't aware we had a Bears insider amongst us on these boards. WOW! How impressive.

Also, working with players individually is generally the job of that players INDIVIDUAL position coach.

Don't tell me your one of these "he didn't show any emotion!" people. These are professional football players... they're paid millions of dollars to play a kids game. If they can't motivate themselves to work hard, then they don't deserve to play in the league. In your profession do you rely on your boss to "kick start" you at work? I bet if you did, you wouldn't have that job for long. The NFL is no different.

Worse, he proved that he couldn't win without the help of others. He was convinced that Rivera had too big of an ego after the Super Bowl. He was Lovie and he could win with or without Ron. The only problem shows that he was wrong. Undeniably wrong. He took a budding dynasty and relegated it to a .500 team for three years before he finally manned up and realized that he needed a good DC to win. And lo and behold, the very year that he hires a good DC, the team almost makes the Super Bowl. And they would have gone 12-4 the following year without the Cutler injury. Then last year, they went 10-6.

What in the hell are you talking about sir? Lovie Smith called those 2010 and 2011 defenses. The three years he left the defense up to Babich and Marinelli was when they struggled. You just defeated yourself with your own logic.

In other words, Lovie was Head Coach for nine seasons. Throwing out the first season, when we had awful players, he had major help on defense for five. And he had no major help on defense for three (when Babich or Lovie himself were DC). The five when he had help were all 10 win-quality teams. The three where he had no help had 0 ten win teams. Do you really think it is a coincidence?

So, what your saying is... that a head coach needs talented players to win!? OH MEEE GOSH! WHO WOULD HAVE THUNK!?

Lovie ran a happy locker room. It had some benefits. He also brought in good position coaches and defensive coordinators a lot of the time. Other than that, he was hopelessly inept. He squandered eight years of stacked rosters. And unlike Bret Bielema (who is similar in many regards), he let his ego disrupt the one way that he could actually succeed as a coach. I am glad he's not our coach anymore.

Where were these "stacked rosters"? Lol... he had two years in which he had an elite defense and a great offensive line/run game. Then in 07 and 08 the line aged... his defensive talent was either injured or mediocre. His QB situation was a mess between Rex, Griese, and Orton. He had virtually zero offensive weapons, and in 2009... he lost Urlacher in week one. Then, Cutler proceeded to throw 26 INT's under Ron Turner and behind one of the worst offensive lines in football. Not to mention, with a rookie 5th round pick as his best receiver, and an injured Matt Forte who had the worst year of his career.

In 2010, when he started calling the plays on defense, the team WAY overachieved and almost reached the Super Bowl. In 2011, they were poised to do it again, and they were unfortunate in losing Forte and Cutler. Then in 2012, their offensive ineptitude caught up to them.

The team played HARD under Lovie. They were one of the most disciplined and fundamentally sound teams when they were clicking in 05 and 06. Then again in 10 and early 2011. They forced turnovers, they committed very few penalties, and the offense (barring a handful of performances from Cutler and Rex) rarely turned the ball over.

Lovie Smith is a very good head coach, and he will be a head coach in the NFL again.

 

[noonthirtyjoe]

(Lovie Smith is a very good head coach, and he will be a head coach in the NFL again.) 100% agree. It was time for a change and I'm glad we did make a change but I also have much respect for Lovie and I have no doubts he will be a HC again real soon.

 

[Smart]

He didn't work players near hard enough? What are you basing this off of? I wasn't aware we had a Bears insider amongst us on these boards. WOW! How impressive.

It's no secret that he was a players coach. Heck, that was Cutler's exact quote after Lovie was fired. Part of that is because he gave them a fair amount of autonomy. I'm sorry if you disagree, but it was the story throughout his time as coach.

What in the hell are you talking about sir? Lovie Smith called those 2010 and 2011 defenses. The three years he left the defense up to Babich and Marinelli was when they struggled. You just defeated yourself with your own logic.

Well, at least you aren't very good at pretending to follow the Bears. Marinelli was the DC the last three years and handled play-calling. Here is an article specifically praising his play-calling during the 2010-2011 season. The three worst defenses since 2005 were from 2007-2009. Those were the three years without Rivera or Marinelli calling plays. I'm sorry you just started watching the Bears yesterday, but it's true.

So, what your saying is... that a head coach needs talented players to win!? OH MEEE GOSH! WHO WOULD HAVE THUNK!?

So between 2006 and 2007, there was enough talent to take a 15-4 Super Bowl team to a 7-9 team? Unless Chris Harris was the greatest player ever, that is pretty indefensible.

The team played HARD under Lovie. They were one of the most disciplined and fundamentally sound teams when they were clicking in 05 and 06. Then again in 10 and early 2011. They forced turnovers, they committed very few penalties, and the offense (barring a handful of performances from Cutler and Rex) rarely turned the ball over.

Wow, what a coincidence. You picked the years that they tried hard as the years they had good DCs. And you picked the years that they stopped trying as the years where Lovie ran the defense. Thanks for proving my point.

 

[gmalis1]

Lovie isn't coaching right now because no team wanted him. Plain and simple. Specifically as a head coach.

Lovie's ego gets in the way of his coaching. He wouldn't take a defensive coordinator's job because he still thinks he can be the top guy. The problem is with Lovie, offensively he is a cancer. He can take any offense and make it suck.

Why do you think the Bears went through so many offensive coordinators with Lovie? Why do you think the Bears always had to settle for leftover OC's? No one in their right mind wanted to come to Chicago and be OC because Lovie really didn't put a priority on the offense. As a defensive coach, he wanted to be a defensive force. And in most years he was.

But the NFL has changed. It's an offensive league with putting up points taking precedence over stopping teams. But Lovie refused to put a premium on that. I mean really...Mike Martz? And then Mike Tice? Martz was shoved down the Bears throats because no one else wanted the job. And the same with Tice. No one...not one capable offensive mind...wanted to be OC for Lovie.

And that's why teams won't hire him as head coach.

Now, when the Bears stop paying Lovie, and Lovie gets tired of sitting on his ass and gets the football itch again, and he swallows his pride...he might make the decision to get back to coaching and be a DC somewhere.

But throughout all the Bear defense under Lovie, I still hate Cover 2 or Cover 3. The middle is wide open. It will happen again this year, especially with a rookie like Bostic playing middle linebacker. Watch for over the middle throws and slants inside underneath the linebackers. Gonna happen all day until the Bears will stop it.

 

[beardown07]

Nothing wrong with the cover 2 or 3....It's wrong, when that's ALL you play.


His stubbornness with his dumb system, basically allowed them to not even have to prepare for specific opponents..."we just line up, and play the same shit, every time." It's like a child, playing Madden. Serviceable system, but his unwillingness to budge/adjust cost the Bears a Super Bowl.

 

[gmalis1]

To me, it was too much "bend but don't break". Let's let them march up and down the field, but somehow our defense will bail it out in the end by making a play such as stripping the ball for a fumble or an interception.

And agreed, his defensive prevent defense at the end of the half and the fourth quarter was horrible.

Liking Mel Tucker's defense already. Although predicated on the Cover 2, at least he wants to throw some pressure on the quarterback and mix it up some. And that's only the start in the preseason.

 

[63bears40]

Lovie isn't coaching right now because no team wanted him. Plain and simple. Specifically as a head coach.

Lovie's ego gets in the way of his coaching. He wouldn't take a defensive coordinator's job because he still thinks he can be the top guy. The problem is with Lovie, offensively he is a cancer. He can take any offense and make it suck.

Why do you think the Bears went through so many offensive coordinators with Lovie? Why do you think the Bears always had to settle for leftover OC's? No one in their right mind wanted to come to Chicago and be OC because Lovie really didn't put a priority on the offense. As a defensive coach, he wanted to be a defensive force. And in most years he was.

But the NFL has changed. It's an offensive league with putting up points taking precedence over stopping teams. But Lovie refused to put a premium on that. I mean really...Mike Martz? And then Mike Tice? Martz was shoved down the Bears throats because no one else wanted the job. And the same with Tice. No one...not one capable offensive mind...wanted to be OC for Lovie.

And that's why teams won't hire him as head coach.

Now, when the Bears stop paying Lovie, and Lovie gets tired of sitting on his ass and gets the football itch again, and he swallows his pride...he might make the decision to get back to coaching and be a DC somewhere.

But throughout all the Bear defense under Lovie, I still hate Cover 2 or Cover 3. The middle is wide open. It will happen again this year, especially with a rookie like Bostic playing middle linebacker. Watch for over the middle throws and slants inside underneath the linebackers. Gonna happen all day until the Bears will stop it.

Lovie isn't coaching this year because the Bears are paying him 7.5 Mil. Nobody is crazy enough to pay a new HC that money, let alone a DC. HE isn't tired. he's just collecting 1 of his biggest paychecks ever for sitting on his ass if he wants too. I would too.

 

[gmalis1]

Lovie isn't coaching this year because the Bears are paying him 7.5 Mil. Nobody is crazy enough to pay a new HC that money, let alone a DC. HE isn't tired. he's just collecting 1 of his biggest paychecks ever for sitting on his ass if he wants too. I would too.

And by your response, I'm assuming that you think someone will be knocking on Lovie's door after the end of this season?

Sorry to burst your bubble, but I don't think anyone will want Lovie as a head coach.

 

[noonthirtyjoe]

And by your response, I'm assuming that you think someone will be knocking on Lovie's door after the end of this season?

Sorry to burst your bubble, but I don't think anyone will want Lovie as a head coach.

I'll take that bet, Lovie will be a NFL HC by next season.

 

[#1BostonFan]

Wouldn't call Lovie a great HC, but one of the better ones. Great defensive mind also. I read he's taking the year off and should be coaching somewhere next year.

 

[RaptorII]

I have to agree with nearly everything gmelis has said here.
I've said before, that our OC "search" when we "landed" Martz was completely laughable.
It was never a search, it was a courting. -Trying to persuade someone to agree.

NOBODY want to sign up for the nonsense that being Lovie's OC meant.
Martz was our choice, because he was the only guy willing, and with him it was his own ego that pushed him into it.

And then Tice two years later was basically a non-search also. Tice was just handed the job, because we already knew that interest was non-existent.

Lovie does not have anybody coveting him as a HC, and the fact that he is collecting on the last year of his contract has nothing to do with that.

DC next year? Maybe... if he will allow his ego to be knocked down a notch.

HC next year? Reeeeaaaallly don't see that.
Nobody wants him for a HC for the same reasons that nobody wanted to be his OC.

 

[55briggs]

Lovie could coach 15 teams to a better record.

 

[RoboticDreams]

I've seen this topic brought up several times and its always race based. He had a long tenure and did some good things. He also had an ineffective offense during his entire tenure. Defense wins championships but not if your offense isn't at least serviceable.

 

[63bears40]

I've seen this topic brought up several times and its always race based. He had a long tenure and did some good things. He also had an ineffective offense during his entire tenure. Defense wins championships but not if your offense isn't at least serviceable.

Lovie had no clue when it came to the O side of the ball.

 

[beardown07]

Bears would be 0-3 if Lovie were still at the helm.

 

[packerzrule]

Bears playing spirited ball so far.

Can't wait to see how they fair against the Packers