Bears 10.0: GM and coach watch before the draft

[jordanwilliams6]

There's really have no excuses now. Johnson will make sure he has a good coaching staff around him.

We now should no longer have poor coaching, no more rookie QB and an off season to fill in the holes that are so clearly evident (O-line). The nucleolus of a very good team is already on the roster.

We'll be in trouble if we don't see some sort of significant uptick next season.

[panthermark]

I hope this pairing works.
Technically, we are out of alignment (again), but it really seems like BJ is actually excited about hitching his wagon to CW, and at least the GM that drafted CW is still here. That is a slight change from the past.

That is also different than Flus and Fields. I think Flus was just happy (and surprised) he landed a head coaching gig instead of an unemployment check. Trace managed to get Getsy a pay increase (and himself some commissions) as well. I don't think either were really excited about the QB drafted by the last regime. The same could probably be said for Poles since Fields was never "his" guy.

But if BJ is truly happy, that is a really good start.

[dougthonus]

But if BJ is truly happy, that is a really good start.

You have to assume he is or he wouldn't have come at all. You often don't get multiple chances at HC gigs if the first one blows up. If you have BJ's cache, you take the job you think you can win at. We'll see if he delivers, but I think he values this situation and thinks he can make it work here.

[fleet]

I hope this pairing works.
Technically, we are out of alignment (again), but it really seems like BJ is actually excited about hitching his wagon to CW, and at least the GM that drafted CW is still here. That is a slight change from the past.

That is also different than Flus and Fields. I think Flus was just happy (and surprised) he landed a head coaching gig instead of an unemployment check. Trace managed to get Getsy a pay increase (and himself some commissions) as well. I don't think either were really excited about the QB drafted by the last regime. The same could probably be said for Poles since Fields was never "his" guy.

But if BJ is truly happy, that is a really good start.

The pairing should be an improvement bare minimum because BJ is not going to have these extra long times getting the ball out. Drive killing sacks will be reduced. And hopefully the quarterback’s responsibility to make decisions will be reduced for Caleb. This coverage, this play call, this blitz, it quickly gets out to 1-2 places. If not, let’s check down immediately. I’m sure Ben will be applauding Tyson Bagent’s interpretations.

The Bears program for the quarterback was not what other teams with rookies did last season. It didn’t work. But I’m more interested in the Poles/Johnson pairing. Poles has desperately needed some direction in the draft and free agency. Ben will tell him exactly what he needs done. I suspect the draft focus will become road grading, and the pass rush, not passing all over the lot. And no more clowns. Character is for real, not for rhetoric.

[Michael Jackson]

I hope this pairing works.
Technically, we are out of alignment (again), but it really seems like BJ is actually excited about hitching his wagon to CW, and at least the GM that drafted CW is still here. That is a slight change from the past.

That is also different than Flus and Fields. I think Flus was just happy (and surprised) he landed a head coaching gig instead of an unemployment check. Trace managed to get Getsy a pay increase (and himself some commissions) as well. I don't think either were really excited about the QB drafted by the last regime. The same could probably be said for Poles since Fields was never "his" guy.

But if BJ is truly happy, that is a really good start.

The pairing should be an improvement bare minimum because BJ is not going to have these extra long times getting the ball out. Drive killing sacks will be reduced. And hopefully the quarterback’s responsibility to make decisions will be reduced for Caleb. This coverage, this play call, this blitz, it quickly gets out to 1-2 places. If not, let’s check down immediately. I’m sure Ben will be applauding Tyson Bagent’s interpretations.

The Bears program for the quarterback was not what other teams with rookies did last season. It didn’t work. But I’m more interested in the Poles/Johnson pairing. Poles has desperately needed some direction in the draft and free agency. Ben will tell him exactly what he needs done. I suspect the draft focus will become road grading, and the pass rush, not passing all over the lot. And no more clowns. Character is for real, not for rhetoric.

Yes this feels more in alignment and likely gives Poles better direction (hopefully). The playcalling will be better there is no question and there will actually be the ability to know how to use timeouts properly hopefully.

[patryk7754]

I really like the idea that Johnson met with mccaskey and basically told him “don’t f with me”

[fleet]

I really like the idea that Johnson met with mccaskey and basically told him “don’t f with me”

The rub is how enforceable that is. I assume George could backslide at any time. It would be a good idea to have contract language for Ben. Not that Ben gets to dictate everything. Within certain parameters.

[Jcool0]

I really like the idea that Johnson met with mccaskey and basically told him “don’t f with me”

The rub is how enforceable that is. I assume George could backslide at any time. It would be a good idea to have contract language for Ben. Not that Ben gets to dictate everything. Within certain parameters.

What exactly has McCaskey done besides hiring the wrong people to interfere in football operations?

[MisterRoy]

Let’s see if Poles knows how to manage upwards. If he can convince Warren to “stay out of it” and if Warren can convince McKaskey to do the same, that’s a good sign.

[dougthonus]

I really like the idea that Johnson met with mccaskey and basically told him “don’t f with me”

The rub is how enforceable that is. I assume George could backslide at any time. It would be a good idea to have contract language for Ben. Not that Ben gets to dictate everything. Within certain parameters.

McCaskey doesn't really seem like that much of a meddler in football ops. I don't know what the big concern here is. Am I missing something where McCaskey came in and started screwing up football decisions? Like Jerry Jones seems all over that kind of thing, I don't know that is McCaskey's style.

[fleet]

Look at who Ben wants to hire as a DC. Expensive. Not doable in the past Let alone Ben himself

[Betta Bulleavit]

I hope this pairing works.
Technically, we are out of alignment (again), but it really seems like BJ is actually excited about hitching his wagon to CW, and at least the GM that drafted CW is still here. That is a slight change from the past.

That is also different than Flus and Fields. I think Flus was just happy (and surprised) he landed a head coaching gig instead of an unemployment check. Trace managed to get Getsy a pay increase (and himself some commissions) as well. I don't think either were really excited about the QB drafted by the last regime. The same could probably be said for Poles since Fields was never "his" guy.

But if BJ is truly happy, that is a really good start.

From an alignment standpoint, I certainly don’t want to underestimate that because it is a thing for sure. However, I also think it’s possible for it to be oversold as well. The most important alignment from GM-HC-QB is ideological (in my opinion). If Ben is aligned with RP with regards to the building of the team and Ben is also aligned with Caleb in terms of how the QB needs to lead this team, success will follow. And if that happens, the years won’t matter as much because extensions can create alignment.

The most important thing is that Poles got the guy that he wanted and can now take full accountability of everything that happens from here. No excuses anymore. This is his roster with his coach based exclusively on his decisions as a GM.

[Jcool0]

I really like the idea that Johnson met with mccaskey and basically told him “don’t f with me”

The rub is how enforceable that is. I assume George could backslide at any time. It would be a good idea to have contract language for Ben. Not that Ben gets to dictate everything. Within certain parameters.

McCaskey doesn't really seem like that much of a meddler in football ops. I don't know what the big concern here is. Am I missing something where McCaskey came in and started screwing up football decisions? Like Jerry Jones seems all over that kind of thing, I don't know that is McCaskey's style.

You never really hear about McCaskey at all during the year. I think he stays out of things. His issue is hiring the wrong people. They tended to use a search committee which always ends up hiring the friend of the lead guy or recently let Trace Armstrong had big input into who they are hiring. At some point you just kind of luck into the right situation. Maybe this is that time for Chicago.

[panthermark]

https://www.nbcsports.com/nfl/profootballtalk/rumor-mill/news/hard-knocks-doesnt-have-profanity-this-year-because-the-mccaskey-family-doesnt-approve

If George is setting up certain non-football field criteria for the searches that lead to the wrong hires, he is interfering. Even more so if he lets the agent influence him on final decisions.

Look at the whole Poles/Flus/Getsy hiring, followed by Warren being hired a year after Poles but sorta becoming Poles boss...kinda, and then the Flus firing debacle.

[molepharmer]

This might be going back before your time, but getting Jack Pardee was a very good hire I thought. Of course he arrived right about the same time as a certain running back from Jackson State. I'm correcting myself- I thought he came from the Dallas org, but it was the Rams. In any case, he was a former player from a winning organization, and brought a sense of professionalism and instilled a winning attitude in the team.

Not quite before, but I would have been in diapers.

Then you missed the glory of the Abe Gibron era.

One of the classic moments on the old NFL Films was watching Abe yell at Bobby Douglas.

[fleet]

The rub is how enforceable that is. I assume George could backslide at any time. It would be a good idea to have contract language for Ben. Not that Ben gets to dictate everything. Within certain parameters.

McCaskey doesn't really seem like that much of a meddler in football ops. I don't know what the big concern here is. Am I missing something where McCaskey came in and started screwing up football decisions? Like Jerry Jones seems all over that kind of thing, I don't know that is McCaskey's style.

You never really hear about McCaskey at all during the year. I think he stays out of things. His issue is hiring the wrong people. They tended to use a search committee which always ends up hiring the friend of the lead guy or recently let Trace Armstrong had big input into who they are hiring. At some point you just kind of luck into the right situation. Maybe this is that time for Chicago.

They don’t hire the right GMs. Or coaches. Cheap and clueless. And they can’t even fire them the right way, or in a timely fashion. Other than that, George is totally hands off.

[panthermark]

I hope this pairing works.
Technically, we are out of alignment (again), but it really seems like BJ is actually excited about hitching his wagon to CW, and at least the GM that drafted CW is still here. That is a slight change from the past.

That is also different than Flus and Fields. I think Flus was just happy (and surprised) he landed a head coaching gig instead of an unemployment check. Trace managed to get Getsy a pay increase (and himself some commissions) as well. I don't think either were really excited about the QB drafted by the last regime. The same could probably be said for Poles since Fields was never "his" guy.

But if BJ is truly happy, that is a really good start.

From an alignment standpoint, I certainly don’t want to underestimate that because it is a thing for sure. However, I also think it’s possible for it to be oversold as well. The most important alignment from GM-HC-QB is ideological (in my opinion). If Ben is aligned with RP with regards to the building of the team and Ben is also aligned with Caleb in terms of how the QB needs to lead this team, success will follow. And if that happens, the years won’t matter as much because extensions can create alignment.

The most important thing is that Poles got the guy that he wanted and can now take full accountability of everything that happens from here. No excuses anymore. This is his roster with his coach based exclusively on his decisions as a GM.

I agree with all that, especially the accountability point.
What I mean by out of alignment is that we drafted the new QB first overall under the lame duck HC. This hire should have been done last year.
But, if they are all on the same page, it should hopefully work-out.

Back to accountability, YES! That has been my biggest issue with how things were done in the past. No one was truly accountable because the person below was never truly "their guy", so if/when things failed, it was always "Well I should be able to hire my own HC and draft my own QB instead of being stuck with the others guys stuff..."
GM has his coach, coach has his QB. If things fail, there should be a clear trail of accountability. We still don't know who officially made the call the call to hire Flus. Poles? George? Trace? Hopefully we are done with that type of non-sense.

[dougthonus]

You never really hear about McCaskey at all during the year. I think he stays out of things. His issue is hiring the wrong people. They tended to use a search committee which always ends up hiring the friend of the lead guy or recently let Trace Armstrong had big input into who they are hiring. At some point you just kind of luck into the right situation. Maybe this is that time for Chicago.

To a degree though, this is the right way to go about it if you are McCaskey and don't know and try to get a committee of people who do know to advise you. Now maybe he's also terrible about picking the right committee, but the approach of trying to get better opinions than your own seems like an okay one.

And in this case, if Ben Johnson is the right guy, then it feels like this risk is not really big going forward anyway.

[dougthonus]

They don’t hire the right GMs. Or coaches. Cheap and clueless. And they can’t even fire them the right way, or in a timely fashion. Other than that, George is totally hands off.

Maybe that is changing? They fired flus pretty quickly and went with the premier coach this time around. Either way, not trying to stump for McCaskey or anything, but doesn't feel like a huge concern coming up. In the immediate future, feels like the success will be hinged on whether Caleb is the right guy or not and whether Johnson is the right guy or not.

[Jcool0]

You never really hear about McCaskey at all during the year. I think he stays out of things. His issue is hiring the wrong people. They tended to use a search committee which always ends up hiring the friend of the lead guy or recently let Trace Armstrong had big input into who they are hiring. At some point you just kind of luck into the right situation. Maybe this is that time for Chicago.

To a degree though, this is the right way to go about it if you are McCaskey and don't know and try to get a committee of people who do know to advise you. Now maybe he's also terrible about picking the right committee, but the approach of trying to get better opinions than your own seems like an okay one.

And in this case, if Ben Johnson is the right guy, then it feels like this risk is not really big going forward anyway.

Search committees in sports are usually a bad idea. I get it in theory you don't know what you are doing and hire someone who does. But Either you are having Bill Polian and/or Ernie Accorsi advising you to hire one of there buddies or you are hiring an outside firm who will want you to hire one of there clients. It rarely leads to the best candidate.