BearsFan4Life
Footballguy
Would be amazing !!
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***Chicago Bears Thread*** Ben Johnson hired. The Resurrection Begins! (3 Viewers)
- Thread starter flapgreen
- Start date
Brunell4MVP
Footballguy
I think he'd still have his job if he manned up and said he messed up the end of the game. Publicly putting the blame on others is never a good look for a HC.
calcinorjones
Footballguy
Bears ownership would haul Poles into a meeting and tell him to discontinue thoughts of this nature. They will hand him a list of names that he would be wise to pursue
Deranged Hermit
Not cool & Pissed
See, this is what confuses me. They'll spend 12 mil on freaking Swift but won't pony up the cash for the obvious best coaching candidate.
Desert_Power
Footballguy
Never really saw it with Thomas Brown in prior stops, but he has definitely improved this offense. Glad to see him getting a shot and happy for the players that they didn't let Eberflus linger longer. Good job.
Wingnut
Footballguy
BobbyLayne
Footballguy
It's consistent with how he has handled issues in the past, though.
BobbyLayne
Footballguy
Yeah since teams almost always go the opposite direction of the last guy who had the job, will almost surely be an offensive oriented coach.
Hope Aaron Glenn gets the Saints gig, but wow would he be dangerous working with the Bears. They have talent, the issue has been leadership.
Can you long time Bears fanatics explain to me how decisions get made around Halas Hall? Like Virginia is 101 years old, and supposedly the five sons stay out of the football operations. But I always get the sense they're isn't unity of vision between ownership/boad-GM-HC. But I don't know enough about the power dynamics to really understand how it's supposed to work.
In Detroit, Sheila Hamp is in the facility every day. But she has buffers - Chris Spielman, Rod Wood, Mike Disner - between her and Holmes/Campbell. The football people have free reign, she just tries to find out what they can improve on in terms of player experience, work atmosphere, mental health, quality of facilities, etc. She does not get involved with the football. She is there in the war room during the draft but she let's the football people football. Her job is to support them.
The Lions did not change the culture in the building until she took over from her 99 year old mom 4.5 years ago. She made the organization more transparent and focused on creating a work environment that lets everyone be themselves. It's a good place to work, whether you're a player or coach or work in the back office payroll. They do all kinds of initiatives to make it a great environment. But the biggest thing (IMO) besides being the tone setter is she stays tf away from trying to tell the football people how to football.
Hope Aaron Glenn gets the Saints gig, but wow would he be dangerous working with the Bears. They have talent, the issue has been leadership.
Can you long time Bears fanatics explain to me how decisions get made around Halas Hall? Like Virginia is 101 years old, and supposedly the five sons stay out of the football operations. But I always get the sense they're isn't unity of vision between ownership/boad-GM-HC. But I don't know enough about the power dynamics to really understand how it's supposed to work.
In Detroit, Sheila Hamp is in the facility every day. But she has buffers - Chris Spielman, Rod Wood, Mike Disner - between her and Holmes/Campbell. The football people have free reign, she just tries to find out what they can improve on in terms of player experience, work atmosphere, mental health, quality of facilities, etc. She does not get involved with the football. She is there in the war room during the draft but she let's the football people football. Her job is to support them.
The Lions did not change the culture in the building until she took over from her 99 year old mom 4.5 years ago. She made the organization more transparent and focused on creating a work environment that lets everyone be themselves. It's a good place to work, whether you're a player or coach or work in the back office payroll. They do all kinds of initiatives to make it a great environment. But the biggest thing (IMO) besides being the tone setter is she stays tf away from trying to tell the football people how to football.
barackdhouse
Footballguy
thank god
Ghost Rider
Footballguy
I am not sure the Bears organization has the sense to hire the right coach this offseason, but at least they finally got a little serious and fired Eberflus. He was Nate Hackett levels of awful.
JohnnyU
Footballguy
…..but they were on sale!!!!
Deranged Hermit
Not cool & Pissed
Saved nothing but money....
Sunday Gravy
Footballguy
And finally the ultimate fail by Ryan Poles who has made one good trade. He has been an absolutely HORRIBLE general manager and if he gets to pick the next head coach there is no doubt in my mind it will fail. This guy completely sucks in every way. He completely and single handedly sunk this season before it even began.
calcinorjones
Footballguy
Sadly a competent HC gets them 3 possibly 4 additional wins. The manner in which they lost to Washington GB Minny and Detroit are all arguably HC and OC dysfunction. I can see the brass trying to leverage this point well after the season ends but there are no more excuses. I can’t trust Poles with the draft capital and staffing a winning caliber coaching staff to turn this around
higgins
Footballguy
Bears folks: do you find it fairly likely that ownership cans Poles as well since, similar to a coach unwilling to walk into a newly opened coordinator role with an assumed “lame duck” head coach….a higher profile HC candidate wouldn’t consider interviewing w/ CHI if Poles is retained (or lame duck)?
Or is this a total wildcard due to Bears ownership?
Or is this a total wildcard due to Bears ownership?
rschroeder1
Footballguy
Unlikely they fire Poles. In the past, they have extended the GM contract to match that of the second hired coach to try to alleviate these concerns.
Edit: the one wild card is the new team president Kevin Warren. The Bears have never had a team president with football connections. While Warren is not an X's and O's football guy (former Big 10 commissioner), the open question is how much football authority he has been given, assumed or is trying to carve out for himself. Warren joined the Bears after Poles was hired (in typical Bears opposite day fashion).
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Deranged Hermit
Not cool & Pissed
The sports books have :
1. Joe Brady +325
2. Ben Johnson +400
3. Thomas Brown +600
1. Joe Brady +325
2. Ben Johnson +400
3. Thomas Brown +600
InDitkaWeTrust
Footballguy
Man, if half of what this article says is true, the disfunction on the locker room was crazy.
calcinorjones
Footballguy
Hail Mary broke this team
GrantK
Footballguy
Wow, you could tell something wasn't right after the Hail Mary debacle and it snowballed from there. Here's hoping they can get it right this time, as a fan I'm not holding my breath...
Jacob's Ladder
Footballguy
Yuck. Not sold on Brady. Without Allen's insane talent and off script magic, that offense is pretty unimaginative. Not taking advantage of a pick like Kincaid is a huge red flag.
My hope
1. Johnson
2. Coen
3. Monken
4 Brown
No more DCs!!!!
calcinorjones
Footballguy
Any thoughts on Bellicheck? I can imagine initial thoughts could be they would never allow his big personality to box in the McCasky or he would never stay in his HC lane. Perhaps the game has passed him over and that new refreshing innovative thinking potentials are more desirable. Guy knows how to win and gets the most from his players. It doesn’t feel like rock bottom anymore especially w the draft capital. Caleb is clearly a dynamic player and the offensive pieces are intact and the defense has been strong. Bears are not that far off and it feels like leadership w experience could be the answer. Ahhh just kicking around ideas
Sunday Gravy
Footballguy
Johnston has by far the best collection of talent in the league. He's not doing anything out of the ordinary and it's getting annoying hearing everyone assume he's a can't miss pick. That offensive line plus skill position talent would make lots of play callers look like a genius.
Jacob's Ladder
Footballguy
Johnson...not Johnston.
You make a good point about the weapons in Detroit, and while I agree to a degree, Johnson took over as the OC in 2022. This was the year before he got Montgomery, LaPorta, Gibbs or Williams. This was also only the second year they had Goff who was a disappointment in LA. In his first year with the Lions, 2021 before Johnson, Goff played OK but was a middling starter. In 2022, he had a career year. Without all the superstars the Lions have now, you know where their offense ranked in 2022, the first year under Johnson as the OC? They were the 3rd ranked offense in the entire NFL, only behind the Chiefs and the Eagles.
So, while I agree the Lions have an embarrassment of riches at the skill positions (and offensive line) now, they certainly didn't when Johnson took over. He still turned around a bottom of the barrel offense and made them something, more than just something really, they're now the cream of the crop. In 2020 the Lions offense was ranked #20, in 2021 they were #22. He's creative, and continues to innovate and take advantage of the weapons he's given.
You know what else? The Bears also have an embarrassment of riches at skill positions and continue to build out their roster. They are an attractive landing spot for an offensive mind like Johnson. I would LOVE to have him in Chicago.
Max Power
Footballguy
Yesterday was the first game in a long time I actually turned off and walked away from. The team is uninspired and I feel like they've checked out mentally for the season.
I had hope Thomas Brown would spark something, but he's just not ready to be a HC. Not his fault, this team wasn't fixable overnight. I hope his struggle was the sign to management they need to get a seasoned coach or Ben Johnson for next year.
I'm basically looking at the draft at this point. I'd like to think the Bears could steal one more division game this year, but I'm losing faith in that idea.
Went from 4-2 to very possibly 4-13.
I had hope Thomas Brown would spark something, but he's just not ready to be a HC. Not his fault, this team wasn't fixable overnight. I hope his struggle was the sign to management they need to get a seasoned coach or Ben Johnson for next year.
I'm basically looking at the draft at this point. I'd like to think the Bears could steal one more division game this year, but I'm losing faith in that idea.
Went from 4-2 to very possibly 4-13.
rschroeder1
Footballguy
With the Bears' strength of schedule, feels like 9th is about the best they are going to pull off in the draft order (Tankathon). Hard to see the Bears winning any of their last four games; a Bengals win tonight would help the Bears' draft position.
Sunday Gravy
Footballguy
Unwatchable yesterday. Team is a disgrace. For some reason 100% of the fan base and media isn't in unison calling for Poles to be fired. I cannot understand it at this point. He has failed in just about every way imaginable. Only a loser franchise would allow him to pick the next head coach and waste more draft picks.
Deranged Hermit
Not cool & Pissed
Yeah, I switched between games all day. I can take them losing competitive games as they are still building, but yesterday was ridiculous and uninspired. No one looked they wanted to be there.
rschroeder1
Footballguy
I think the problem is that the Bears have been so awful for so long, Poles has managed to be not awful and thus people are satisfied with it. Likewise, after a long stretch of Ryan Pace abusing the salary cap and trading away draft picks, Poles doing the opposite has people easily satisfied.
Poles is plagued by the same problem as Ryan Pace - he's able to add good/decent talent, but the roster remains largely bereft of blue chip and superstar players. Montez Sweat and DJ Moore could be those guys, but neither is playing at that level, and both were acquired by trade. Poles has not drafted a single player who is, or you would project to be, an all-pro or second team all-pro. Caleb Williams excluded as using the first overall pick doesn't require a high degree of cleverness or skill.
What makes it all the more galling is the players who Poles has shipped out - James Daniels, Roquan Smith, Khalil Mack. All playing at high levels at their respective positions.
InDitkaWeTrust
Footballguy
I'm not ready to give up on Poles yet, mostly because I don't have faith in the hiring process for a new GM. His 2024 draft is looking like we'll have 3 blue chippers (Caleb, Rome, and Tory Taylor).
My biggest fault with Poles is that he was emphatic about building this team from both lines up and so far he has neglected both lines (particularly the interiors). Coming into the 2023 draft, I expect him to hit OL and DL early and often and it just didn't happen. Wright has been solid, but unspectacular. Same with Gervon Dexter. Amegadjie is still a project. Braxton Jones has played above his 5th round draft capital. The Bears just haven't put enough draft capital into building either line and when they seem to go cheap every time when acquiring FAs for the lines. I just don't think you can play Moneyball with the lines (particularly OL) in the NFL.
Wrigley
Footballguy
I put lights on the house
Hankmoody
Footballguy
And yet there are dozens of guys that could screw it up - just go look at the last 20 years of Raiders' coaches as most of them have cycled through us. Sometimes the best thing you can do is exactly meet expectations.
Goff is no Mahomes, he was a McVay castoff that Johnson fixed, improved, and put a ribbon on for his MVP candidacy.
Snotbubbles
Footballguy
Bears are going to pull the major upset and beat Detroit in 2 weeks.
BLOCKED_PUNT
Footballguy
seems like it was on the CB and blasting Eberflus for not calling a TO after a 13 year completion seems a bit absurd to me but I guess I could see it.
Sunday Gravy
Footballguy
As if it didn't suck enough for us, we get a nice kick in the nuts today by hearing Bellicheck expressed interest in the Bears job and thought it was the most attractive opening.
We wouldn't want him anyway. Too successful. We're doing just fine hiring a new GM/coach with no track record every 3-4 years. Loser franchise.
We wouldn't want him anyway. Too successful. We're doing just fine hiring a new GM/coach with no track record every 3-4 years. Loser franchise.
InDitkaWeTrust
Footballguy
Dude is 72 and has an 83-101 record without Brady. If he was considered a good hire, he would have been snatched up by any number of teams last off season. The Hoodie getting hired at UNC is just a way to nepo his son into a head coaching career. He'll be out of that job (one way or another) in 3 years.
Sunday Gravy
Footballguy
Such a dumb comment. The "dude" has forgotten more about football than Ryan Poles, the next GM, and the next coach will ever know. And he didn't get hired because loser franchises like ours would NEVER have the balls to turn over the entire program to him.
Brady had nothing to do with his D being consistently one of the best in football for 20 years. Any football person will tell you there will never be a game planner that can compare. Your attitude toward him is basically the reason an organization like the Bears has sucked for nearly 40 years. Trash Bill Bellicheck. That's a smart idea.
InDitkaWeTrust
Footballguy
And yet, he didn't get a sniff from the 8 NFL franchises needing a coach in 2024. Superstar coaches like Aaron Pierce, Mike MacDonald, and Raheem Morris were hired before him. In 2025 "dude" takes a HC job at a fair to middling ACC school that can't fill their stadium in the best of times and abandons football once basketball season gets started.
Bellichick is not and never was a good hire for a franchise that needs a full blown culture change, which is exactly what the Bears organization needs.
Sunday Gravy
Footballguy
Ok. Let's do the same thing we have been doing for the last 15 years and failing miserably at.
I'm looking at you too Vegas.
InDitkaWeTrust
Footballguy
What we have been doing the last 15 years (really 50+ years) is hiring coaches on the cheap. This is an organizational failing. Kevin Warren may get the blame for not interviewing Harbaugh, but the front office never would have paid the man what he wanted. I'll be happy if we can hire a young stud OC like Ben Johnson. That guy will command one of the higher paying contracts in the league come January. If we end up with an also-ran hire with barely known coordinators, then you'll know it's the same as it ever was.
Edit to add: There's a good article out there on the head coach hirings this decade that I cannot for the life of me find. The synopsis was as above. Bears hire cheap and hope it works out. They haven't made a single splash hire at HC in the history of the franchise.
calcinorjones
Footballguy
Would think it has to be Johnson - competent and innovative offensive mind, knows the division, we take away a critical piece from the best team in the division’s coaching staff, there is a good chance he has some Campbell leadership chops and the balls to take high percentage risks, he will probably tell these knuckleheads to finally fix the OL with the goal of having a top 3 OL in the NFL by 2026.
Well maybe its like hitting the egg nog way too early. It’s the Bears. They don’t do smart things like this because ownership doesn’t give a rip. There aren’t enough football minds between Poles and Prince George or whomever is in that silver spoon executive suite named McCasky.
There is a 60% chance that they will break all the good draft capital potentials and drive good roster players out. Cultural change starts at the top but this is a monarchy. These ppl think they are the first family of the NFL and what they do best is count the profits and blame everyone beneath them with “coach” or “manager” in their title. This is a 4 win team going on a 40 year Super Bowl Championship drought. It starts at the top and the top isn’t going anywhere.
Well maybe its like hitting the egg nog way too early. It’s the Bears. They don’t do smart things like this because ownership doesn’t give a rip. There aren’t enough football minds between Poles and Prince George or whomever is in that silver spoon executive suite named McCasky.
There is a 60% chance that they will break all the good draft capital potentials and drive good roster players out. Cultural change starts at the top but this is a monarchy. These ppl think they are the first family of the NFL and what they do best is count the profits and blame everyone beneath them with “coach” or “manager” in their title. This is a 4 win team going on a 40 year Super Bowl Championship drought. It starts at the top and the top isn’t going anywhere.
Snotbubbles
Footballguy
I'm feeling a Chicago upset this weekend against Detroit.
Max Power
Footballguy
Bears can score in the 20s against that Defense.
Sunday Gravy
Footballguy
All we heard about was the incredible cap situation. Most room by far. And this team has gotten worse. How is that even possible. Poles is one of the worst GMs we've ever had.
UNC needed full blown culture change and hired Bellicheck. Guess we'll see who's right.
calcinorjones
Footballguy
I wouldn’t count on it but hey its the NFL. I don’t think Eagles lose out on top seed. Much easier path than Lions (and even Vikings)
