Has Angelo silenced his critics?

[Cliff Levingston]

Cliff Levingston thinks Grossman could've been pretty damn good had it not been for his early injuries. Before the ACL tear and the subsequent broken leg, he'd step up in the pocket and take hits and even get out on the edge and run for first downs. Post-injuries, he's almost always looked like a deer in headlights when under any pressure.

Also, Columbo was a reach but there's not much you can do when he injures his knee that badly. It took him 3 years to come back and he's lucky that he even did at all.

Lastly, it's not that big of a deal if you miss on some first rounders when you're hitting so well on the mid-rounders. If Angelo had been missing on first rounders and only getting the usual roster filler from the middle and late rounds then Cliff Levingston would have a major gripe. No one is perfect and Doug made a nice point earlier; we've done pretty well under a the JA/Lovie regime all things considered and it looks like we may finally have a good QB in Orton; another Angelo mid-round pick.

[CBS7]

Cliff Levingston thinks Grossman could've been pretty damn good had it not been for his early injuries. Before the ACL tear and the subsequent broken leg, he'd step up in the pocket and take hits and even get out on the edge and run for first downs. Post-injuries, he's almost always looked like a deer in headlights when under any pressure.

This is somewhat true and I have thought of this often. Instead of throwing wobblers off his back foot to avoid getting hit big and avoid injury, he would step up and take hits.

But, it doesn't change the fact that he isn't very good at reading defenses. And, well, he's short.

[Icness]

Here's the big picture: I'm having a hard time counting the titles Angelo has brought me in his 7+ years here.

I'm thankful for the improvement. Angelo got us from 'A' to 'B' and we even had a flukey (I said it) SuperBowl appearance in his tenure. Until we get to 'C', though, I'm going to peck away. And if Orton hadn't come out of nowhere this season, you'd be right there with me. Fess up !

That's really underrating the difficulty and luck involved in the job. How many GMs even have a superbowl appearance in the past 7 years? Correct me if I'm wrong, but hasn't Angelo only had roster control for 4-5 of those years as well?

Shoot for the moon for your aspirations, but realistically you have to ask yourself is the replacement going to do better, and the job Lovie/JA have done so far would make me think no. The replacements probably wouldn't do better.

I feel a little more strongly about that with Lovie than with Angelo, as I do think the Bears have consistently won more games than their talent should allow.

I agree with your sentiments about Angelo. He's done a pretty good job all things considered. I can tell you he is widely respected by agents as a fair businessman, and the Bears are always the first to sign all their draft picks and get them into camp.

I completely disagree about Lovie, who IMO is the 3rd worst coach in the league that began the season coaching (Marinelli and Crennel are worse). It was Lovie who begged for Dan Bazuin, who insisted he could develop Okwo into a Pro Bowl replacement for Briggs (who Angelo didn't want to pay), who lobbied to the ends of the earth to keep both Vasher and Tillman with big $$. While it's true that it is ultimately Angelo's call, he does heavily weigh Lovie's input into defensive roster matters.

Change for the sake of change makes no sense at the GM level. Because a new GM is going to bring in his own new staff, new coaches, new style and the Bears don't need that. They need a good draft and some smart free agent moves (a WR or two or three, help along the lines, and young LB and OL talent, plus a QB of the future) and there's no reason they can't challenge for the NFC next yearI think Angelo has done a very good job late in the draft and in bringing in players who fit. He saw potential in Hester that most didn't, never gave up on Orton when all of Chicago demanded he do so, stood up to take Forte when other voices in the room wanted someone else. He's far from perfect but he's far from Matt Millen.

[Chewie]

I completely disagree about Lovie, who IMO is the 3rd worst coach in the league that began the season coaching (Marinelli and Crennel are worse). It was Lovie who begged for Dan Bazuin, who insisted he could develop Okwo into a Pro Bowl replacement for Briggs (who Angelo didn't want to pay), who lobbied to the ends of the earth to keep both Vasher and Tillman with big $$. While it's true that it is ultimately Angelo's call, he does heavily weigh Lovie's input into defensive roster matters.

Change for the sake of change makes no sense at the GM level. Because a new GM is going to bring in his own new staff, new coaches, new style and the Bears don't need that. They need a good draft and some smart free agent moves (a WR or two or three, help along the lines, and young LB and OL talent, plus a QB of the future) and there's no reason they can't challenge for the NFC next yearI think Angelo has done a very good job late in the draft and in bringing in players who fit. He saw potential in Hester that most didn't, never gave up on Orton when all of Chicago demanded he do so, stood up to take Forte when other voices in the room wanted someone else. He's far from perfect but he's far from Matt Millen.

Well that's interesting stuff if true. Never knew that Lovie was hot for Bazuin who was a reach where taken.

Just to be clear, I never stated I wanted a GM change. The OP asked 'has Angelo silenced his critics' and hopefully I stated my case as to why Angelo shouldn't be considered beyond reproach. I recogzine the good he's done for the team but there's some head scratching moves during his tenure, as with any GM.

[emperorjones]

I completely disagree about Lovie, who IMO is the 3rd worst coach in the league that began the season coaching (Marinelli and Crennel are worse). It was Lovie who begged for Dan Bazuin, who insisted he could develop Okwo into a Pro Bowl replacement for Briggs (who Angelo didn't want to pay), who lobbied to the ends of the earth to keep both Vasher and Tillman with big $$. While it's true that it is ultimately Angelo's call, he does heavily weigh Lovie's input into defensive roster matters.

These statements are incorrect IMO. JA works with the staff to see what positions they need, but he makes the decisions. Also remember that both Dan Bazuin and Okwo suffered injuries that kept them off the field. Not really anyone's fault.