Archives for 2009-2010 Schedule

Carroll Expected To Sign With Seattle; Bates Might Not Follow Him

9th January 2010 by Rich Spott under 2009-2010 Schedule

According to Adam Schefter of ESPN, Pete Carroll has reportedly agreed to leave Southern California after nine years to return to the NFL and coach the Seattle Seahawks. The Los Angeles Times has reported Carroll also will be team president.

The Seahawks also are speaking with former Bears player and current Minnesota defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier. According to SI.com’s Peter King, the Seahawks front office spoke with Leslie Frazier today for about 4-5 hours, if this is true I don’t know if Carroll is a lock to become the head coach in Seattle. Also, former Bears defensive coordinator Ron Rivera is scheduled to interview for the head coaching position.

Carroll didn’t have the greatest success in the NFL when he coached the New York Jets and New England Patriots. He posted a 33-31 record.

The Seahawks are reportedly giving Carroll $35 million dollars over five years. His offensive coordinator at USC Jeremy Bates was rumored to be following him to Seattle by ESPN’s Adam Schefter, but Schefter said something different about 20 minutes ago via his twitter account.

Schefter: “USC OC Jeremy Bates to Seattle no sure thing just yet. Chicago still in play on him, as well as Univ of Minn OC Jedd Fisch.”

I hope Schefter is right about Bates not definitely going to Seattle because I would love to see Cutler-Bates reunite in the Windy City.

all quotes from twitter.com.

tags: Jeremy Bates, Leslie Frazier, Pete Carroll, Ron Rivera

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Jeremy Bates Should Become The Next Chicago Bears Offensive Coordinator

6th January 2010 by Rich Spott under 2009-2010 Schedule

Some of you Bears fans might be asking who is Jeremy Bates? Why wouldn’t we just hire Mike Martz or Charlie Weis?

First off, Jeremy Bates is the 33-year-old son to recently fired Bucs defensive coordinator, Jim Bates. Jeremy began his coaching career with the Bucs in 2002 as the offensive quality control coach. By the way the Bucs went on to win the Super Bowl that season. He spent two more seasons in Tampa and then spent one year with the Jets as the quarterbacks coach.

From 2006-2008, he was the quarterbacks for the Denver Broncos. Those three years he spent with quarterback Jay Cutler. This offseason he bolted for USC to be the assistant head coach/quarterbacks coach.

This guy knows football. He knows quarterbacks and most importantly he knows Jay Cutler.

Jay Cutler trusts this guy a lot and that is a good thing to have between your quarterback and your offensive coordinator.

Cutler said this when he heard Bates was heading to the college ranks back in January:

“Jeremy is one of the best offensive minds in football. He was extremely innovative with our offense and took our playbook to the next level with some of the things he did, keeping defenses off balance and changing our look but at the same time keeping it simple for us players. Some of the things he did were amazing to watch. He was always watching other teams and coming up with new ideas for our offense.

“He helped me grow into my third NFL season and helped me reach the Pro Bowl along with some of the other goals I set for myself. As a unit, our offense became one of the most productive in the league with Jeremy calling plays. He brought a lot of excitement to the meeting room and on the field.

“He made me want to come to work every day and get better. Jeremy will do great things in his new role, and USC couldn’t have picked a better guy.”

If the Bears decided to hire Jeremy Bates as their new offensive coordinator I would be all for it because of his strong relationship with the Bears future star Jay Cutler.

The comparisons to Rex Grossman and Jeff George should come to an end next season, if the Bears decide to hire Bates. In 2008, the Denver Broncos offense (w/Jay Cutler & Jeremy Bates) ranked second in NFL overall. The passing game was ranked third and the rushing attack was ranked 12th.

This addition could already be in the works, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN, the Bears have reached out to USC offensive coordinator Jeremy Bates about succeeding Ron Turner in that role for them. The firing of Ron Turner who didn’t know how to use Jay Cutler correctly and the hiring of someone who is smart and capable of working with Jay Cutler again is the greatest idea the Bears could have.

I hope the Bears strike a deal with Jeremy Bates before someone else snags him away. The offense is what’s going to help this team win games not the defense which could get better with some adjustments, but who knows.

Mike Martz or Charlie Weis are not the answer for the Bears, Jeremy Bates is because of unique relationship with the Bears most important piece to the puzzle Jay Cutler.

all quotes from The LA Times

tags: Jay Cutler, Jeremy Bates

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Mike Martz Wants To Be the Next Bears Offensive Coordinator

5th January 2010 by Rich Spott under 2009-2010 Schedule

PQ_MikeMartzPhoto Former Rams head coach, 49ers offensive coordinator and Lions offensive coordinator Mike Martz would like to work with Lovie Smith again if the Bears are interested in Martz as their offensive coordinator.

Martz and Lovie worked together when the Rams were known as “The greatest show on turf”, Martz was the head coach and the offensive guru while Lovie was the defensive coordinator.

Martz is good friends with both coach Lovie Smith and former Bears offensive coordinator Ron Turner.

Martz had this to say about the possibility of getting the offensive coordinator gig:

“I really hope I get a phone call, I’m excited about it. Obviously, I’d love to work for Lovie. From a selfish standpoint, it would be a great situation for me. Working for someone you know and believe in would be ideal. There is real potential there.”

“Cutler has more talent than anybody I’ve ever seen, when he came out I gave him the best grade of any quarterback I’ve ever graded. But I don’t know him. Until you sit down and work with a guy, you don’t really know him.”

“I’d like to coach again, but the situation has to be right, otherwise you go back into TV if that’s available.”

Martz went 56-36 as a head coach in St. Louis and his teams averaged 26.5 points per game — more than any head coach in history of the NFL. Those numbers alone are impressive. He has also taken some decent quarterbacks and made them successful in his system some of them were Trent Green, Kurt Warner, Marc Bulger and Jon Kitna.

Do I think hiring Martz would be a good move?

Well Martz does have the experience and the success, but he is maniac when it comes to passing, he barely ever runs it and maybe thats why he didn’t get the job done in San Fransisco or Detroit, but he would be a big help to Jay Cutler. I’m not opposed to the idea, but just make sure he is the right guy and you don’t overpay for him.

all quotes from chicagotribune.com

tags: Mike Martz

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Bears Fire Offensive Coordinator Ron Turner and Five Other Offensive Coaches

5th January 2010 by Rich Spott under 2009-2010 Schedule

chi_a_turner01_400 The Bears press conference is scheduled for 3pm ET, and will be streamed live on the team’s official site.

According to a league source, offensive coordinator Ron Turner will not be returning next season. Also gone are tight ends coach Rob Boras, offensive assistant/assistant offensive line coach Luke Butkus, quarterbacks coach Pep Hamilton, offensive line coach Harry Hiestand, and offensive assistant/assistant receivers coach Charles London.

Running backs coach Tim Spencer and receivers coach Darryl Drake are expected to return.

Someone had to take the blame for the Bears failures and the offense didn’t get it done with the new Pro Bowl quarterback in Jay Cutler. Offensive Coordinator Ron Turner and quarterbacks coach Pep Hamilton never had a good relationship with Cutler and some have said Pep very rarely talked to Cutler. Cutler needs someone who fixes his mistakes by being demanding because sometimes Cutler looks like he doesn’t care out there sometimes. Cutler needs to be a leader and to be a leader you a need someone leading you.

Will find out who the Bears will bring in as the next offensive coordinator and the next quarterbacks coach. These decisions are important for the success of the Bears over the next couple of seasons. It’s clear Turner’s offense didn’t work because it was ranked 23rd in yards per game and 29th in rushing this season.

tags: Ron Turner

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Bears 2010 Schedule

5th January 2010 by Rich Spott under 2009-2010 Schedule

Home: Philadelphia, Washington, New England, New York Jets, Seattle, Detroit, Green Bay, Minnesota.

Away: Dallas, New York Giants, Buffalo, Miami, Detroit, Green Bay, Minnesota, Carolina.

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Bears 2010 Schedule

5th January 2010 by Rich Spott under 2009-2010 Schedule

Home: Philadelphia, Washington, New England, New York Jets, Seattle, Detroit, Green Bay, Minnesota.

Away: Dallas, New York Giants, Buffalo, Miami, Detroit, Green Bay, Minnesota, Carolina.

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Jay Cutler Named NFC Offensive Player of The Week

30th December 2009 by Rich Spott under 2009-2010 Schedule

3f23dcc53518c3f9dc608e62eaba1c6f-getty- Bears quarterback Jay Cutler clearly had his best game this season and because of that he has been named the NFC offensive player of the week. He helped the Bears upset the NFC North champion Vikings.

Cutler completed 20-of-35 passes for 273 yards and four touchdown passes to four different receivers. He threw a 39-yard game-winner to Devin Aromashodu in overtime to clinch the 36-30 victory.

Cutler has 23 touchdown passes this season, tying him with Rex Grossman for the second-most in franchise history.

Hopefully last Monday night’s victory are signs of good things to come, some say Cutler plays better in meaningless games. We’ll have to wait and see what happens next season.

tags: Jay Cutler

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Lance Briggs Named To His Fifth Pro Bowl

29th December 2009 by Rich Spott under 2009-2010 Schedule, Did you Know?

88972226EG012_CHICAGO_BEARS Seven year veteran linebacker Lance Briggs was named to his fifth Pro Bowl today. In 14 games this season Briggs has made 106 tackles, two and half sacks and one interception.

In 108 games, Lance Briggs, who is only 29 years old has made 764 tackles, 8.5 sacks, 10 interceptions, four defensive touchdowns and nine forced fumbles over seven seasons.

Briggs has been a real leader for the Bears this season, with Urlacher out Briggs has worn that captain patch with pride. He is a fan favorite and clearly a favorite around the players and coaches of the NFL. It seems like he is one of the most consistent linebackers in the league.

Congratulations Lance, this award is very well deserved. Hopefully when Brian Urlacher comes back next season you Hunter Hillenmeyer and Brian Urlacher will be the best linebackers in the league.

Congrats again.