Is Ron Turner holding the Bears back? (1 Viewer)

[GroveDiesel]

I may have missed discussion on this, so my apologies if this is a :honda:

Apparently the helmet communications went out during the Bears vs. Eagles game during the last drive of the game. So Griese was forced to call his own plays. And the Bears drove the entire length of the field and scored the game winning TD.

Maybe Lovie Smith needs to think long and hard about either taking the playcalling duties away from Turner, or getting rid of him outright. It was just one series, but the offense actually seemed to click.

LINK

 

[PsychoMan]

I've been on to him for a while now.

ETA - In fairness, Philly defense was in a prevent (dumb move IMO because the "normal" defense was working all game), and Griese admitted to not calling all of the plays on that drive, but I've already been really wondering about Ronny Turner ...

 

[saintfool]

too much is getting made of this. griese's playcalling was likely "run downfield, get open, and i'll try to find you". that likely wouldn't be much different than turner's, i think. griese did well for himself and didn't get cute. griese has a brain and used it to his advantage. i would be more impressed with the chicago WR's actually making plays than griese's playcalling.

 

[Power Monster]

Ron Turner + Cedric Benson + Rex Grossman + Bernard Berrian + Injuries to the defense = 3-4

 

[NatronIsMean]

Ron Turner + Cedric Benson + Rex Grossman + Bernard Berrian + Injuries to the defense = 3-4

Bingo. I have no reason to like Ron Turner since he drove my Illinois football program into the ground, but he's not the problem IMO.Lovie tells Turner what his limits are, period. Turner works within those limits. Additionally, I look at every Bears coordinator in the last 15-20 years, and can't find one that I like more than Turner. Translation? It could be much worse...

 

[Warpig]

I believe I read an article on CBS Sportsline where Griese said he made all the calls EXCEPT the touchdown play.

Hmmmm? Curious.

And on another issue...maybe it was Turners play calling more than it was Grossman's inability?

 

[Q-Bert]

One thing to remember is that Brian Griese didn't design the plays or put them into the game plan for the week. He also was not responsible for preparing the WR/OL/RB for the two minute drill. Those things were all the responsibility of the Offensive Coordinator and the other Assistant Coaches. The fact that Griese was able to execute a very good two minute drive under adverse conditions is evidence that he is a smart player who was thoroughly prepared by his coaches. In my opinion, this was a very good job of coaching and preparation on the part of the Bears offensive coaches as well as very good execution on the part of the Bears offensive players.

And, I am a Packer fan so I hate every player and coach in the Bear organization with a passion, so that last paragraph was very painful to write.

 

[dornado]

I have been a bit underwhelmed by Turner's playcalling this year (as a big Bears homer)... but I have to say that when the Bears were putting up 26 ppg last year this didn't get mentioned a lot... I guess that's what happens when the Defense doesn't score a ton of TDs.

My biggest complaints with Turner thus far have been

1. A lack of creativity in the running game (though we're starting to pitch to the outside a bit more frequently)

2. This John Shoop-like tendency to throw 3 yard passes on 3rd and 8.

That being said.. when you've lived through Shoop and Terry Shea... and Gary Crowton (after he was figured out)... you get used to it. Turner had some decent Bears offenses in the mid 90's with Kramer/Conway/Graham where the ball was distributed well and a balanced run/pass game opened up play action.

One thing that can't be overlooked is that Turner is just getting used to some new toys... Greg Olsen and Devin Hester... and hell, Brian Griese. I think they'll get things moving a bit.

 

[whitem0nkey]

Maybe Hester should wear the green dot helmet so he knows where to line up. And let Brian just call his plays.

But on a serious note, he changed his position on this in the post game he acted like it was all him, and the next day he back down from his claims and said he called a few plays, and he turner called some.

 

[scoobygang]

Is this an indictment on Turner in general or on the entire system that takes control away from players and gives it to coaches?

I have one big pet peeve with the NFL. Coaches are control freaks. And when they get a new or inexperienced QB, the first thing they do is limit what they expect that QB to do. I'd have an entirely different philosophy. I want my players committed to what they're doing on the field. If I put my QB in a position to call his own plays, I know he'll feel comfortable with what he's looking for on every play.

I know that most observers seem to think that Peyton Manning is a special case, but I'd wager there are plenty of other QBs in the NFL who would excel in a system closer to Peyton's. The fact that so many "average" QBs inexplicably play better in two minute drills just reinforces my convictions on this issue.

 

[Synthesizer]

Maybe Hester should wear the green dot helmet so he knows where to line up.

 

[circelli17]

Are you people serious?

Anybody that calls themselves a true Chicago Bear fan knows that Ron Turner is the best offensive coordinator that this organization has ever had (period, end of discussion). How quickly some people forget the DEBACLE that was the Bears offense between when he left after his first go-around for the Illinois head coaching job (circa 2000) and when he returned in the same capacity a few years ago.

His offense was effective when Erik Kramer was at the helm and it's regaining form now under Brian Griese because this is exactly the kind of QB that has the capacity to excel in this system. Rex Grossman was a TERRIBLE fit for the west coast scheme that Turner utilizes. THAT is what was holding the offense back.