2014-15 NFC North/NFL Thread

[MerrittsMustache]

John Fox hire does nothing for me, at all. Seems totally safe, conservative. It's getting difficult for me to enjoy anything that this organization is willing to offer. This was a chance for them to clean house all around, really try to start fresh. I'd have been more than fine with them blowing things up, going 2-14 next season, as long as they were working towards something. All this hire does is mean they'll be somewhere between 4-12 and 9-7 next year, and the year after.

Agree. It's kind of "meh" hire. Going with a 60-year-old (who's had health problems fairly recently) to lead a rebuild doesn't seem like the best long-term plan. Then again, the Bears had a top 10 offense in 2013 and Cutler was playing fairly well early in 2014 before Trestman completely lost his trust and lost the team, and if they could get that going again, plus improve the D...Oh, sorry. I'm just trying to talk myself into this hire.

Personally, I would have rather seen the Bears go with Jack Del Rio or Todd Bowles or even take a chance on a college coach like Kevin Sumlin or Gary Patterson. I said it before but I think that a coach like John Fox is who the Bears needed when they were "on the verge"...but hired Trestman.

[Dish]

You can make strong arguments for why Fox is a better hire than either of those guys (and any other candidate for that matter)

That's a short term point of view. I don't care about the short term, I want them to compete for championships for the next decade. This hire doesn't accomplish this. This is patching up the car to make it run for another two years, just delaying the inevitable.

[MerrittsMustache]

That's a short term point of view. I don't care about the short term, I want them to compete for championships for the next decade. This hire doesn't accomplish this. This is patching up the car to make it run for another two years, just delaying the inevitable.

Agree 100%

[LAZER]

That's a short term point of view. I don't care about the short term, I want them to compete for championships for the next decade. This hire doesn't accomplish this. This is patching up the car to make it run for another two years, just delaying the inevitable.

I don't see how this hire makes the Bears unable to compete for championships and how a first time coach would?

[brandx]

I don't see how this hire makes the Bears unable to compete for championships and how a first time coach would?

We don't know what plan Fox has for Cutler. But if there is one thing that we do know, it is this: they will not compete for a championship as long as Jay is the QB.

[Dish]

I don't see how this hire makes the Bears unable to compete for championships and how a first time coach would?

The model is Green Bay, Pittsburgh, Baltimore.

Hire a guy who represents what you want your organization to be. What attitude your team will have, what type of players you'll bring in. McCarthy, Tomlin, Harbaugh were never head coaches previously. Those teams compete year in and year out.

There is not a chance John Fox is coaching the Bears six years from now. No way.

Dave Toub I would have been happy with too.

[wadesworld]

I like Del Rio a lot.  That's who I would've wanted this off season.  Patterson is an interesting name to bring up.

[GGGG]

That's a short term point of view. I don't care about the short term, I want them to compete for championships for the next decade. This hire doesn't accomplish this. This is patching up the car to make it run for another two years, just delaying the inevitable.

John Fox is just one year older than when the Giants hired Tom Coughlin back in 2004.  He's the same age as Pete Carroll was when he was hired in Seattle.  Even if he coaches six years, that is a long time in the NFL.  Both Coughlin and Carroll won Super Bowls within six years of their hires.

[LAZER]

The model is Green Bay, Pittsburgh, Baltimore.

Hire a guy who represents what you want your organization to be. What attitude your team will have, what type of players you'll bring in. McCarthy, Tomlin, Harbaugh were never head coaches previously. Those teams compete year in and year out.

There is not a chance John Fox is coaching the Bears six years from now. No way.

Dave Toub I would have been happy with too.

I'm not saying a first year head coach can't be successful, I also don't think there is any reason why Fox can't deliver all the things you want from a coach.

[GGGG]

I like Del Rio a lot.  That's who I would've wanted this off season.  Patterson is an interesting name to bring up.

Outside of the fact he is younger, what does Del Rio give you that Fox doesn't?  Fox's track record is a lot better.  

[LAZER]

The model is Green Bay, Pittsburgh, Baltimore.

Hire a guy who represents what you want your organization to be. What attitude your team will have, what type of players you'll bring in. McCarthy, Tomlin, Harbaugh were never head coaches previously. Those teams compete year in and year out.

There is not a chance John Fox is coaching the Bears six years from now. No way.

Dave Toub I would have been happy with too.

And isn't Dave Toub the exact opposite of starting fresh? The same reason why Ballard shouldn't have been hired.

[Dish]

John Fox is just one year older than when the Giants hired Tom Coughlin back in 2004.  He's the same age as Pete Carroll was when he was hired in Seattle.  Even if he coaches six years, that is a long time in the NFL.  Both Coughlin and Carroll won Super Bowls within six years of their hires.

Fox's in game coaching decisions will not get him to Canton any time soon. Case in point, the 2013 AFC Divisional playoff game vs Baltimore is glaring.

[Dish]

And isn't Dave Toub the exact opposite of starting fresh? The same reason why Ballard shouldn't have been hired.

I like Toub a lot. He's innovative, developed players at the back end of the locker room, well respected. Fact that he worked there previously had no bearing on me.

[GGGG]

Fox's in game coaching decisions will not get him to Canton any time soon. Case in point, the 2013 AFC Divisional playoff game vs Baltimore is glaring.

I understand that concern.  It just seemed like you were concerned that he an old, retread more than anything. 

[GGGG]

Hey Bears fans...at least you didn't hire this guy.  The anti-Harbaugh.

http://deadspin.com/new-49ers-coach-jim-tomsula-mumbles-and-huffs-his-way-t-1680004518

(He might be really good, but this was a little strange.)

[JWags85]

Hey, at least they didnt get McDaniels

[muarmy81]

That's a short term point of view. I don't care about the short term, I want them to compete for championships for the next decade. This hire doesn't accomplish this. This is patching up the car to make it run for another two years, just delaying the inevitable.

Unfortunately with the NFL you have to win now...not every franchise has the luxury of waiting to develop a young coach for the next three years to establish a decade of success.

green bay fans have made it known as recent as this year how McCarthy has made them angry at times.

[hairy worthen]

Unfortunately with the NFL you have to win now...not every franchise has the luxury of waiting to develop a young coach for the next three years to establish a decade of success.

green bay fans have made it known as recent as this year how McCarthy has made them angry at times.

McCarthey was a little known assistant when the packers hired him. i wouldn't use scoop posters as an example of how fans feel toward mccarthey

[muarmy81]

McCarthey was a little known assistant when the packers hired him. i wouldn't use scoop posters as an example of how fans feel toward mccarthey

I would argue that Green Bay's success is probably more a byproduct of Aaron Rodgers and not Mike McCarthy.

[muarmy81]

That's a short term point of view. I don't care about the short term, I want them to compete for championships for the next decade. This hire doesn't accomplish this. This is patching up the car to make it run for another two years, just delaying the inevitable.

I'm ok with the hire...I think they needed someone with credibility and quite frankly, not everyone was busting down the door for the bears job:

Rex Ryan - didn't want it
Todd Bowles - didn't want it
Gary Kubiak - didn't want it but now is willing to interview in Denver.
Dan Quinn - doesn't want it (Wanted the Jets gig now sounds like he wants to end up in ATL)

If you're left looking at Doug Marrone, Teryl Austin, and John Fox, I think you hire Fox.

We will certainly see but after thinking outside the box with Trestman i think you need to make a bit safer hire.

[hairy worthen]

I would argue that Green Bay's success is probably more a byproduct of Aaron Rodgers and not Mike McCarthy.

silly argument. Any successful coach has good players. He still has to manage the team. Would you say belicheck success is because of Brady?

[muarmy81]

silly argument. Any successful coach has good players. He still has to manage the team. Would you say belicheck success is because of Brady?

Bellicheck is 11-5 in games without Brady...McCarthy is something like 3-5-1 in games without Rodgers.

[jesmu84]

I'm okay with Fox. I think he has a decent track record. More than anything, I'm positive he'll bring in qualified/known/quality coordinators/assistants, which, beyond Lovie getting Marinelli, I can't say either of the last few Bears' coaches have done. Also, I think Fox will be a very steady, positive influence over the team/players going forward.

My guess is Pace wanted a safe hire for now, so he can draft/acquire free agents in a rebuild attempt. Then, in 3-5 years, bring in a young, rising coach to push the young, developing team to the next level.

My question, and I don't know the answer, is whether Fox is good at developing young talent. I know he was okay with his defense in Denver and Carolina.

Further, re: Kubiak, I think that is VERY telling. Says no to leaving Baltimore when Chicago was searching, but now will talk to Denver? Interesting.

Only other candidates I would have liked were Bowles, Kubiak or Toub. I think Toub, like Ballard, was out d/t prior ties.

I'm somewhat glad we didn't hire the "hot" assistant/coordinator or a college coach. At least for this team/roster right now.

[hairy worthen]

Bellicheck is 11-5 in games without Brady...McCarthy is something like 3-5-1 in games without Rodgers.

When Rodgers went down, the backups were Seneca freaking Wallace and matt tolzein before they finally picked up an injured Flynn. Vince Lombardi couldn't win with that. It's not as simple as just looking at record. McCarthey kept that team together last year. He is easily a top 3 to 5 coach in the league. Any packer fan that says otherwise is either spoiled or not paying attention.

[RJax55]

Further, re: Kubiak, I think that is VERY telling. Says no to leaving Baltimore when Chicago was searching, but now will talk to Denver? Interesting.

Only other candidates I would have liked were Bowles, Kubiak or Toub. I think Toub, like Ballard, was out d/t prior ties.

I'm somewhat glad we didn't hire the "hot" assistant/coordinator or a college coach. At least for this team/roster right now.

I don't understand your surprise on Kubiak. Kubiak and Elway have been friends for over 30 years, going back when they were both rookies on the Broncos. A ton of history there.

I agree with avoiding college coaches. College coaches with limited to no NFL experience have tended to struggle in making the transition.

I'm ok with Fox. After Trestman, the Bears needed a pro back in that locker room. Going young with a young coach sounds exciting, but the NFL is a win now league.