OT - Bears OC Canidates: Gophs OC and Pack's QB coach

[PkrsBcksGphsMqt]

http://nflnr.com/2010/01/bears-coordinator-search-heats-up/

Kind of amusing. Most Gopher fans would be happy to have Fisch leave. I for one hope he stays just because we've had a new OC every year of Brewster's tenure and it would be nice keep all our coaches for once. I guess the main reason they are interested in him is because he has some experience working with Cutler. Fisch was the WRs coach under Shanahan in Denver (Brewster was the TEs coach under Shanahan). I don't think this would be a very good hire for the Bears, the guy has a lot of potential as a coordinator but he is young and inexperienced.

It also says the Bears are looking at the USC OC (USC would lose their OC 2 years in a row if he left) and Charlie Weis.

[Ryan5UW]

Damn, I'm torn. Minnesota was 12th worst in total yards per game and 21st worst in points per game. Can he coach both teams so they both continue to suck?

[PkrsBcksGphsMqt]

Damn, I'm torn. Minnesota was 12th worst in total yards per game and 21st worst in points per game. Can he coach both teams so they both continue to suck?

I think the biggest problem with Minnesota's offense was Webbers insane regression. Word is Webber will have to beat out Gray and Moses Alipate for QB next year which speaks volumes about Webber's play this year considering he is a 3 year starter going into next year.

I doubt they hire Fisch, I wouldn't be surprised if they offer him a positional job as the WR coach though. If they hired him as the OC then I think there is a good chance their offense struggles and Lovie is fired at the end of the year.

[LUKE23]

Speaking of Minnesota coaching, I'm very glad Minnesota re-upped Brewster.

[PkrsBcksGphsMqt]

Speaking of Minnesota coaching, I'm very glad Minnesota re-upped Brewster.

With all of the openings in college football there is no way they could get anyone better. He's still on the hot seat, has to perform well next year or he'll be out. Giving him the extension keeps the recruiting classes intact and still gives us an outside chance of getting Seantrel Henderson. Last year gopher fans were happy to see Bielema re-upped, haha.

[LUKE23]

Last year gopher fans were happy to see Bielema re-upped, haha.

BB already had a 12-1 and 9-3 season under his belt though (and I'm not a huge fan of him, just saying).

[PkrsBcksGphsMqt]

Last year gopher fans were happy to see Bielema re-upped, haha.

BB already had a 12-1 and 9-3 season under his belt though (and I'm not a huge fan of him, just saying).

Yeah I totally understand, and with this year he has solidified himself as a good coach (albeit with some questionable game management skills and weird obsession with coaching special teams). But before this year his record had declined every year he had been a head coach so the perception at that time was that he had only been winning because of Barry's guys. Obviously that is not true any more.

Brewster has done a tremendous job recruiting but his coaching has been questionable. Part of that may be because we've had major coordinator changes every off season (not to mention we switched from a spread offense to a pro style offense), which is why I am personally in favor of Fisch staying. If there isn't significant improvement next year (or maybe the year after) he'll be out. Maturi really wants to get the football program back on track.

[PkrsBcksGphsMqt]

http://espn.go.com/chicago/columns/blog/_/post/4806886/name/silverman

This guy thinks Fisch would be good for the Bears...

Mike Martz scares me. He would not make the Bears offense the "Greatest Show" on Soldier Field's slop.

I don't want Lovie's "buddy system" on defense and now on offense. I don't want the man who has been fired three times in the last five years. I don't want another former Ram to fall down in Chicago.

Martz should've been the Bears offensive coordinator in 1999 when Dave McGinnis should've been hired as the Bears head coach. The past is for cowards and losers.

Give me that Filet O' Fish, I want Jeremy Bates and Jedd Fisch. And no, not because Jay Cutler wants them.

Cutler should have say in the coordinator hiring but only if it makes sense -- his guys make sense.

Bates has been schooled by the best. His father, Jim, is an NFL lifer, and he worked with Jon Gruden in Tampa, where he won a Super Bowl. In addition, Bates has also worked with Mike Shanahan and earned his trust as play caller. This year, Bates is an assistant head coach under USC coach Pete Carroll, where he groomed Matthew Barkley. All this and the "kid" is only 33 years old. And -- oh yeah -- Cutler's best success came under Bates.

Fisch now is the offensive coordinator at the University of Minnesota. He was groomed by Brian Billick for four seasons in Baltimore and coached Brandon Marshall and Eddie Royal with the Broncos in 2008.

I've also been assured that these two don't coddle Cutler. As Steve Young told us, Cutler needs some tough love, much like Mike Holmgren and Steve Mariucci gave Brett Favre in his early years. Young called Cutler Lamborghini leaking oil. It's a fixable situation. Bates and Fisch remind me of young versions of Mariucci and Gruden in Green Bay.

Lovie can have "his" guy for defensive coordinator. On offense, it's time to "go fish" and grab Bates. And perhaps Gruden would like to work with him again in 2011.

And even this guy likes the Packers this weekend and possibly to win the NFC.

Finally, to the "hated" Packers. Before the season started, I put $50 down on Green Bay to win the NFC at 11/1. That bet stays alive after Aaron Rodgers and crew win for the second straight week in Phoenix. Close game here too, but the Packers are the better, more well rounded team.

So to recap, I've got three close games with the Packers, Cowboys and Pats winning, while Cincy has little problem with the Jets.

[PkrsBcksGphsMqt]

Packers QB Coach also seems to be in the mix...

CHICAGO -- Judging by the amount of e-mail received since Monday, it appears many Chicago Bears fans are unfamiliar with Tom Clements, a name David Haugh first brought up over a month ago on our ESPN 1000 radio show as a potential candidate for the Bears offensive coordinator job.

Since then, we've tried to give background information on Clements' impressive career on the air multiple times, but since the offensive coordinator opening is the hottest topic in town, let's do it again.

First of all, Clements is under contract with the Green Bay Packers (quarterbacks coach), and the Packers are probably in no rush to let a talented coach leave for the rival Bears. If Clements makes enough noise to get out of his deal, maybe Green Bay would allow it, but is there enough security in Chicago for somebody to make that move?

Mike Martz needs a job, so he would take it. Jeremy Bates is a college coach, so he would likely take it. But Clements works for a solid organization, and is held in high regard for his work with quarterback Aaron Rodgers. What if he comes here for one season, and then Lovie Smith gets fired? Where does that leave him? They are all questions any experienced coach ponders when contemplating a big career move.

Plus, there's also a chance the Packers go deep into the playoffs. Would the Bears wait for Clements? If the answer is yes, and if Clements and Green Bay give the green light, then he should be strongly considered for the job.

Clements has been the Packers quarterbacks coach since 2006, helping transform Rodgers into an elite passer the past two seasons. He also coached quarterbacks in Pittsburgh (2001-03), Kansas City (2000) and New Orleans (1997-99), so if the Bears are looking for an experienced hand to deal with Jay Cutler; this is the guy.

Clements also served as Buffalo's offensive coordinator in 2004-05, a vital element of his resume, since hiring a play-caller with experience should be a prerequisite for Smith.

Some may view Clements as a safe choice given some of the other candidates. I view him as an intelligent choice. But are the Packers on-board with the idea?

[Ayt]

Like the articles states, I can't see Clements taking the job knowing it may only be a one year thing since Lovie could easily get canned.