Cleveland Browns fans: Reserve your Super Bowl tickets early! Defensive coordinator Rob Ryan is planning to “incorporate a version of the 46 with the Browns.” As in the Buddy Ryan-led, 1985 Bears’ 46 defense that utterly decimated opponents. Word is defensive tackle Shaun Smith has already called dibs on verses 1-17 when the Browns record their shufflin’ video.
All logic, expunged by a single list; The Sporting News can take credit for it after ranking all 32 NFL head coaches.
Is it worse that Lovie Smith ranks an underwhelming 20th–mind you, it’s out of 32–or that ahead of him are the unassuming ex-Bears head coach Dick Jauron (18) and the ridiculously intense ex-Bears linebacker Mike Singletary (14)?
That’s right, TSN is basically saying the Bears would be better off with either a coach who they fired six years ago, or one who wears his pants around his ankles during halftime locker room speeches.
The quiet and stoic style that Tony Dungy rode through a successful NFL coaching career, the tragic death of his son and all the social work that followed after, merits him a great amount of respect. So, when he second-guesses the Bears trade for Jay Cutler, people should listen.
Dungy spoke of Cutler’s maturity and the drama which befell the events leading up to his departure from Denver. Let’s just say that, in Dungy’s eyes, Cutler still has a lot to prove. (more…)
It appears that his grossly increased role on offense wasn’t what thwarted Devin Hester’s kick returning prowess last season after all. No, according to Bears special teams coach Dave Toub, it was just that the special teams were young and bad. Oh…
The good news is that because of an improved, more experienced special teams, Toub fully expects Hester to revert to his old form in 2009, even if it is only on punt returns (Danieal Manning is expected to see work on kickoffs). If Toub is right, you should expect more videos like this.
Don’t call Jay Cutler a whiny baby or else Vanderbilt’s Bobby Johnson might take exception. The silver-headed football coach calls the stigma that Cutler is spoiled and whiny the “furthest thing from Jay Cutler you can imagine.”
In fact, Johnson, who coached Cutler from 2002 to 2005, says Cutler “never whined or whimpered” despite sharing his apartment with other players in the summer prior to his senior year, and getting hit a bunch.
Furthermore, Johnson’s vouch for Cutler’s leadership and ability should only further stimulate his Jordanesque expectations in Chicago:
“We didn’t have the greatest people around him at that time to allow him to demonstrate his talents until maybe his senior year. He was a trooper for us. He rallied the troops.”
But, no pressure.
Lost in the euphoria of what local television stations are now, annoyingly referring to as “Jay Day,” is the potentially awkward history between Jay Cutler and Bears offensive coordinator, Ron Turner.
Back when Cutler was entering the college ranks, he had accepted a scholarship to play for Turner’s Fighting Illini — without ever visiting the campus. And maybe, he never should have. Because upon Cutler’s first official visit, Turner rescinded the offer. (more…)
Note: Read headline more as a request, less as a question.
The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review says Bears offensive coordinator Ron Turner’s name has surfaced as a possible candidate to become Pitt’s new offensive coordinator.
Turner is familiar with Pitt head coach Dave Wannstedt; he was the offensive coordinator when Wannstedt coached the Bears from 1993-1996; Wannstedt and Turner’s brother, Norv, coached together in Dallas; and Turner’s nephew, Scott — Norv’s son — is currently a Pitt graduate assistant.
Still, it’s kind of odd that Turner’s name would come up considering he’s under contract for one more year.
It’s more likely that Pitt will choose to bring back former head coach Walt Harris, who was replaced by Wannstedt, to be at the helm of the offense.
Pitt will be looking for an offensive coordinator to replace the soon-to-be departed Matt Cavanaugh, who is widely expected to be named Jets’ quarterbacks coach.
Detroit Lions wide receiver Mike Furrey has been told he’s not coming back to the team. Needless to say, Furrey isn’t upset…AT ALL. Since ousted Lions coach Rod Marinelli took the defensive line/assistant head coaching job with the Bears and Furrey played with Lovie Smith in St. Louis, some think Furrey to the Bears makes sense.
No doubt it’s been a rough year so far for Bears defensive coordinator Bob Babich. The Bears defense has gone from elite to above average since he took over for now Chargers defensive coordinator Ron Rivera. Sure, factors not under his control, like key injuries to the secondary, must account for some reason to why the defense is vaunted no more. But don’t tell me the discrepancy in performance from 2006 to now isn’t mainly due to Babich being totally ill-prepared. Because it is. (more…)