Halas Hall makes a change for the… What exactly is going to change?
By Cris Benson The Fantasy Football Informer
Yesterday at ten o’clock AM the announcement came across the radio on WSCR 670 The Score that Jerry Angelo would be let go as Chicago Bears general manager. Later yesterday afternoon came the news that Mike Martz was resigning as Bears offensive coordinator two very significant changes right? Well think again.
Shouldn’t we all be happy now since the two biggest problems are gone from Halas Hall? Wait not so fast. It appears we have traded one dilemma for another even worse dilemma.
The Chicago Bears have a solid core of players on both sides of the ball. The defense has Lance Briggs age 31, Brian Urlacher age 33, Julius Peppers age 31, and Charles Tillman the youngest at age 30. While their ages are more than ripe for professional football they are playing like they are in their prime and overall all had statistically very good seasons. The offensive side has three core players Jay Cutler age 28, Matt Forte age 26, and kicker Robbie Gould age 30 all three are in their prime. So where is the priority offense or defense?
The Bears defense have some young players coming up strong safety Major Wright age 23 while injury prone is a talent, and free safety Chris Conte age 22 showed glimpses of promise. Yet overall the team struggled at nose tackle, left defensive end, and defensive tackle so basically we put no pressure on the opposing quarterback.
The Bears offense also struggled but showed moderate improvement when Jay cutler was healthy. While wide receivers Johnny Knox had a career year and Earl Bennett proved to be effective the majority of the receivers will most likely be swapped out next season. The offensive line is still a disaster!
One of the reasons I believe Angelo was fired was his tendency to draft players with a history of injury. We spent a number one draft pick last year on offensive tackle Gabe Carimi and while he is a talent he had a history of knee problems in college. Another number one draft pick offensive guard Chris Williams who had a history of back problems in college. In addition to these two offensive linemen we have a real train wreck at the offensive linemen who are not meeting potential.
Another Angelo and Martz move last season we trading away tight end Greg Olsen who in my opinion was the best overall receiver on the Bears. The reason they traded him was the Bears felt that Olsen did not fit the offensive scheme of Mike Martz. While teams like the Patriots and Saints are tearing up the league with scoring at the tight end position we ship off an offensive threat. Olsen was a core player and we traded him for a third round draft pick.
But here lies the true dilemma. The Chicago Bears are asking a new general manager to come in and wave a magic and solve all the problems. This is nearly impossible due to the circumstances.
For one the general manager cannot bring in their own coach because Bears President Ted Philips has stated that Bears coach Lovie Smith is untouchable for now. So the general manager will need to make moves based on Lovie Smith’s approval?
A general manager of any sport must be able to make moves independent to the upper tier of the front office and the even the owner.
Now I am not blaming George McCaskey for the decision to rest all dilemmas on the doorstep of President Ted Phillips but the general manager should be given not one restriction if any to work in the best interest of the Bears organization.
If you’re wondering how the Bears will proceed as of this moment it is clear right now that is Coach Lovie Smith is in control of Halas Hall. So most likely the direction of the Bears at this moment is not going to be significant since Smith himself has said, “…we keep the core in place and just make the changes that you normally make after a season…” and that is going be the general manager’s job.
The general manager is going to be handcuffed in decision making from talent to coaches to keep as Smith said himself ‘to keep the core in place’. No matter what move they make they’re going to be seeking the approval of Coach Lovie Smith.
The one change is certain to happen is that if the general manger whomever they are will not be going down with the ship if it sinks since they have an out clause. Even if it is not stated in the contract when they sign it the out is ‘Lovie said do it’ or ‘Lovie wanted him’ and ‘Lovie told me to.’
Yes Ted Phillips said the coach reports to the general manager but if the general manger is told they have no authority to hire or fire a head coach then they are also told work within the realm of that coach’s demands. How can that work?
So in the end nothing has really changed it is Lovie Smith’s decision to do what he pleases.
