Bears 9.0: Thomas Brown HC audition, offseason/draft prep

[Dresden]

... But they've never had a QB like Caleb Williams, they've never had a receiving group this talented (although the ones Cutler had might be), their defense has the potential to be an elite unit, and they're mostly young. I don't really understand all the hand wringing about things right now.

Add in the likelihood of three draft picks in the top 45 selections and this right here is why coaching candidates aren't going to be put off by a supposed poorly run organization. According to the players poll, Bears offer some of the best facilities in the league and ownership graded out a B+. The worst run facility and owner was KC at F-. Pittsburgh and Ari ownership also received a Fs Anybody think a head coach candidate would turn down the opportunity to coach the Chiefs because the facilities and ownership sux.

Just goes to show how distorted fans' opinions can become. You'd think the Bear's org was being run by Attila the Hun or Humpty Dumpty the way some fans see it.

[fleet]

…

I’m hoping TB takes the reins and doesn’t let go. I like his approach. I’ve been screaming a for a football coach leader of men coach for decades. We haven’t had one since Ditka.

Come on TB!

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[sco]

Feels like Warren likes to hear his own voice.

I’m hoping TB takes the reins and doesn’t let go. I like his approach. I’ve been screaming a for a football coach leader of men coach for decades. We haven’t had one since Ditka.

Semantics, but I feel sorta the opposite. I want someone who isn't learning head coaching on the job and has an established set of relationships to competent assistant coaches. I feel like HC's rarely talk to the players, so his leadership vibe would seem to be a less important thing.

[Dresden]

…

I’m hoping TB takes the reins and doesn’t let go. I like his approach. I’ve been screaming a for a football coach leader of men coach for decades. We haven’t had one since Ditka.

Come on TB!

Read on Twitter

What would be the opposite of someone who looks through life with rose colored glasses?

[fleet]

Feels like Warren likes to hear his own voice.

I’m hoping TB takes the reins and doesn’t let go. I like his approach. I’ve been screaming a for a football coach leader of men coach for decades. We haven’t had one since Ditka.

Semantics, but I feel sorta the opposite. I want someone who isn't learning head coaching on the job and has an established set of relationships to competent assistant coaches. I feel like HC's rarely talk to the players, so his leadership vibe would seem to be a less important thing.

If TB does a good job here down the stretch, he would become the best bet to actually project success going forward. You can roll the dice on Brady or Johnson, but we would know more about TB at that point. Vrabel and Flores are known quantities, but are defensive minded. And then there’s Belichick. That’s fine though. You’re right about minimizing risk.

[biggestbullsfan]

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[jacoby1us]

If the Bears can do the following, I would be content knowing we are moving in the right direction:

Hire Ben Johnson as Head Coach
Hire Thomas Brown as the Offensive Coordinator
Hire Robert Saleh as the Defensive Coordinator

or

Hire Marcus Freeman as Head Coach
Hire Thomas Brown or Cliff Kingsbury as Offensive Coordinator
Hire Robert Saleh as the Defensive Coordinator

or

Hire Mike Vrabel as Head Coach
Hire Thomas Brown or Cliff Kingsbury as Offensive Coordinator
Hire Robert Saleh as the Defensive Coordinator

[fleet]

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If Kingsbury is legit at the top of that list with the other two, the Bears definitely will not be going the Vrabel of Flores or any other defensive coach route, even if they interviewed. Until further notice, I will also personally assume the Ben Johnson is just included to please the fanbase. $13- 15 million a year+ does not seem very likely in the Bears milieu. Kinda funny to consider a possibility that Kingsbury or Brown as the favorite choices. But would show a priority for some familiarity with Caleb.

[Michael Jackson]

If Kingsbury is legit at the top of that list with the other two, they’re definitely not going the Vrabel of Flores or any other defensive coach route, even if they interviewed. Until further notice, I will also personally assume the Ben Johnson is just included to please the fanbase. $13- 15 million a year+ does not seem very likely in the Bears milieu. Kinda funny to consider a possibility that Kingsbury or Brown as the favorite choices. But would show a priority for some familiarity with Caleb.

I think Ben is a legit Chase for the Bears right now. Not sure he is as interested as they are though. I think they would pony up for it because of optics.

[fleet]

If Kingsbury is legit at the top of that list with the other two, they’re definitely not going the Vrabel of Flores or any other defensive coach route, even if they interviewed. Until further notice, I will also personally assume the Ben Johnson is just included to please the fanbase. $13- 15 million a year+ does not seem very likely in the Bears milieu. Kinda funny to consider a possibility that Kingsbury or Brown as the favorite choices. But would show a priority for some familiarity with Caleb.

I think Ben is a legit Chase for the Bears right now. Not sure he is as interested as they are though. I think they would pony up for it because of optics.

It would blow me away. Also because on the heels of rolling dice on a similar hot coordinator in Nagy, more known quantities having some familiarity with Caleb would make a lot of sense for the Bears. However, yeah, we can consider an optics concern as a possibility to overpay for because of the current position of franchise in question.

[nitetrain8603]

https://www.dabearsblog.com/2024/poles-warren-brown-meet-the-media-random-thoughts

Basically where I’m at.

Although I think Poles is deflated because he wanted to fire Flus after the Patriots game (per report) and knew then that he could save the season. Instead it was Waldron games later and finally Flus after a 6 game skid of ineptitude.

Poles biggest mistake was keeping Flus. Many of us said it over and over. His bigger mistake was letting Flus pick Waldron instead of Kingsbury.

Not directed at you but I hate seeing this type of comment from Bears fans. They also say they don't want to follow the same broken model of letting others dictate who is hired as direct subordinates of someone else.

I respect Poles for committing to the coach fully. If you're going to keep him, don't treat him as a lameduck. Promote him around the org showing you got his back. "Oh you think this guy will fix the offense and develop our franchise player? Go for it then."

It didn't work this time, but it doesn't change the fact that it's the right thing to do - support your coaching staff fully and get them the puzzle pieces they say they need to make it work.

Poles literally is breaking the cycle and letting his direct subordinates hire their direct subordinates. Not undermining them by saying you need to hire this guy as your OC.

And I hope he does that with the next coach he brings on instead of saying "we are going to hire you as our head coach, here is your DC and OC"

Sent from my SM-S928U using Tapatalk

[panthermark]

The proper model is already broken and we are repeating the past.

If a new coach comes in, WE are assuming they like CW, but in reality, CW was never THEIR guy.

Maybe this is why Kingsbury is on the list?

[Dresden]

The proper model is already broken and we are repeating the past.

If a new coach comes in, WE are assuming they like CW, but in reality, CW was never THEIR guy.

Maybe this is why Kingsbury is on the list?

I think the idea that there is a model out there that you have to follow to have success is a bunch of hooey. There were 6 QB's taken in the top 12 picks last year- all presumably to be franchise leading QB's. Not a single one of them was brought in along with a new HC, and odds are all of them will outlast their HC (except maybe Nix).

If the ideal is to start fresh with a new GM, new HC, and new QB, what happens when one of them doesn't work out? Are you supposed to then get rid of the other two as well so you again follow this ideal model?

I can't imagine any scenario where a new HC is hired for the Bears, and later we find out he says that Caleb was never his guy, and that's why things didn't work out. The new HC will only be hired if he's dead certain he can work with Caleb. Caleb is the guy this all revolves around right now.

[Dresden]

One thing about Kingsbury that gives me pause is the his reputation is someone who can't finish- his teams start out hot, then the league catches up to them, and they Peter out. Some think this may already be happening with WAS, as their offense has not been as good as it was to start the year (although they did score 42 v. the Jags last week). There were reasons we didn't pick him as OC last year, so I'd be a bit surprised if they now want him as HC.

[Chi town]

https://www.dabearsblog.com/2024/poles-warren-brown-meet-the-media-random-thoughts

Basically where I’m at.

Although I think Poles is deflated because he wanted to fire Flus after the Patriots game (per report) and knew then that he could save the season. Instead it was Waldron games later and finally Flus after a 6 game skid of ineptitude.

Poles biggest mistake was keeping Flus. Many of us said it over and over. His bigger mistake was letting Flus pick Waldron instead of Kingsbury.

Not directed at you but I hate seeing this type of comment from Bears fans. They also say they don't want to follow the same broken model of letting others dictate who is hired as direct subordinates of someone else.

I respect Poles for committing to the coach fully. If you're going to keep him, don't treat him as a lameduck. Promote him around the org showing you got his back. "Oh you think this guy will fix the offense and develop our franchise player? Go for it then."

It didn't work this time, but it doesn't change the fact that it's the right thing to do - support your coaching staff fully and get them the puzzle pieces they say they need to make it work.

Poles literally is breaking the cycle and letting his direct subordinates hire their direct subordinates. Not undermining them by saying you need to hire this guy as your OC.

And I hope he does that with the next coach he brings on instead of saying "we are going to hire you as our head coach, here is your DC and OC"

Sent from my SM-S928U using Tapatalk

I agree about fully supporting the coach and empowering them to make decisions.

The problem is when that coach is Flus and he has to fire Getsy and Waldron and has other coaches spin out on his tenure.

I’m glad Poles wanted to fire Flus much earlier. I no longer trust him due to Waldron and keeping and backing Flus when it was o build he sucked.

[panthermark]

The proper model is already broken and we are repeating the past.

If a new coach comes in, WE are assuming they like CW, but in reality, CW was never THEIR guy.

Maybe this is why Kingsbury is on the list?

I think the idea that there is a model out there that you have to follow to have success is a bunch of hooey. There were 6 QB's taken in the top 12 picks last year- all presumably to be franchise leading QB's. Not a single one of them was brought in along with a new HC, and odds are all of them will outlast their HC (except maybe Nix).

If the ideal is to start fresh with a new GM, new HC, and new QB, what happens when one of them doesn't work out? Are you supposed to then get rid of the other two as well so you again follow this ideal model?

I can't imagine any scenario where a new HC is hired for the Bears, and later we find out he says that Caleb was never his guy, and that's why things didn't work out. The new HC will only be hired if he's dead certain he can work with Caleb. Caleb is the guy this all revolves around right now.

One of the six you referred to was us, and we just fired our coach while taking a QB with the #1 overall pick a few months ago.

Washington, New England and Atlanta all changed coaches when they took QB's with high 1st round picks. That represents the #2 pick, the #3 pick, and the #8 pick.

Plus, you understand the lame duck status of the coach or GM I'm sure and not investing a #1 in a QB the coach does not choose.

[Dresden]

The proper model is already broken and we are repeating the past.

If a new coach comes in, WE are assuming they like CW, but in reality, CW was never THEIR guy.

Maybe this is why Kingsbury is on the list?

I think the idea that there is a model out there that you have to follow to have success is a bunch of hooey. There were 6 QB's taken in the top 12 picks last year- all presumably to be franchise leading QB's. Not a single one of them was brought in along with a new HC, and odds are all of them will outlast their HC (except maybe Nix).

If the ideal is to start fresh with a new GM, new HC, and new QB, what happens when one of them doesn't work out? Are you supposed to then get rid of the other two as well so you again follow this ideal model?

I can't imagine any scenario where a new HC is hired for the Bears, and later we find out he says that Caleb was never his guy, and that's why things didn't work out. The new HC will only be hired if he's dead certain he can work with Caleb. Caleb is the guy this all revolves around right now.

One of the six you referred to was us, and we just fired our coach while taking a QB with the #1 overall pick a few months ago.

Washington, New England and Atlanta all changed coaches when they took QB's with high 1st round picks. That represents the #2 pick, the #3 pick, and the #8 pick.

Plus, you understand the lame duck status of the coach or GM I'm sure and not investing a #1 in a QB the coach does not choose.

Sorry I guess I was wrong about a few of those teams. I thought the NE coach was there last year though. And is the ATL coach new this year?

[nitetrain8603]

https://www.dabearsblog.com/2024/poles-warren-brown-meet-the-media-random-thoughts

Basically where I’m at.

Although I think Poles is deflated because he wanted to fire Flus after the Patriots game (per report) and knew then that he could save the season. Instead it was Waldron games later and finally Flus after a 6 game skid of ineptitude.

Poles biggest mistake was keeping Flus. Many of us said it over and over. His bigger mistake was letting Flus pick Waldron instead of Kingsbury.

Not directed at you but I hate seeing this type of comment from Bears fans. They also say they don't want to follow the same broken model of letting others dictate who is hired as direct subordinates of someone else.

I respect Poles for committing to the coach fully. If you're going to keep him, don't treat him as a lameduck. Promote him around the org showing you got his back. "Oh you think this guy will fix the offense and develop our franchise player? Go for it then."

It didn't work this time, but it doesn't change the fact that it's the right thing to do - support your coaching staff fully and get them the puzzle pieces they say they need to make it work.

Poles literally is breaking the cycle and letting his direct subordinates hire their direct subordinates. Not undermining them by saying you need to hire this guy as your OC.

And I hope he does that with the next coach he brings on instead of saying "we are going to hire you as our head coach, here is your DC and OC"

Sent from my SM-S928U using Tapatalk

I agree about fully supporting the coach and empowering them to make decisions.

The problem is when that coach is Flus and he has to fire Getsy and Waldron and has other coaches spin out on his tenure.

I’m glad Poles wanted to fire Flus much earlier. I no longer trust him due to Waldron and keeping and backing Flus when it was o build he sucked.

IMO, Poles wanted to jump ship at the appropriate time with Eberflus. He was patient and saw Flus was no longer tenable. It's the organization that wouldn't let him fire him. I have 0 problem with Poles bringing back Flus and allowing him to make his hire for his staff. I wouldn't have done it myself, but hard for me to say it was absolutely the wrong move to make. It was also the appropriate move to fire Waldron when he did. It was also appropriate to fire Flus after the Patriots game and anytime afterward, though I would've been ok waiting until the end of the year so that TB could coach Caleb through end of season.

I also hope that Poles picks the next coach and brings on whoever that coach determines as necessary to make work.

Lastly, I hope they do explore trading for coaches as well. I'm not a huge Shanahan fan, but would like to talk to him. Same with McVay and Tomlin if they are available. Heck, even McDaniels.

[panthermark]

I think the idea that there is a model out there that you have to follow to have success is a bunch of hooey. There were 6 QB's taken in the top 12 picks last year- all presumably to be franchise leading QB's. Not a single one of them was brought in along with a new HC, and odds are all of them will outlast their HC (except maybe Nix).

If the ideal is to start fresh with a new GM, new HC, and new QB, what happens when one of them doesn't work out? Are you supposed to then get rid of the other two as well so you again follow this ideal model?

I can't imagine any scenario where a new HC is hired for the Bears, and later we find out he says that Caleb was never his guy, and that's why things didn't work out. The new HC will only be hired if he's dead certain he can work with Caleb. Caleb is the guy this all revolves around right now.

One of the six you referred to was us, and we just fired our coach while taking a QB with the #1 overall pick a few months ago.

Washington, New England and Atlanta all changed coaches when they took QB's with high 1st round picks. That represents the #2 pick, the #3 pick, and the #8 pick.

Plus, you understand the lame duck status of the coach or GM I'm sure and not investing a #1 in a QB the coach does not choose.

Sorry I guess I was wrong about a few of those teams. I thought the NE coach was there last year though. And is the ATL coach new this year?

Yup, Bill "retired" (LOL) and was replaced by Mayo in NE.

Atlanta could not wait to get rid of Smith, everyone hated how he ran the offense and used BR as a decoy.

It really depends on the situation.
Minny's coach was not a lame duck, but their QB was old, coming off a major injury, and wanted a huge payday. So them selecting a QB made sense. Russ was no longer working out in Denver there were contract issues. I should add, Sean was named coach the year before Bo was drafted.

Chicago, Washington, New England, and Atlanta all had "young QB's" that the moved away from before drafting new QB's.

[Betta Bulleavit]

…

I’m hoping TB takes the reins and doesn’t let go. I like his approach. I’ve been screaming a for a football coach leader of men coach for decades. We haven’t had one since Ditka.

Come on TB!

Read on Twitter

The funny thing about luck is that just about every good team has a fair share of it. No GM makes moves knowing exactly how they are going to turn out. The only thing that you can do is gauge the potential upside in the moves that you make and hope that it plays out to the highest of levels. That’s not just a Bears thing. It’s a general thing across all sports.