Back when I was an Andy Frain usher, I was watching the lack Bill Veeck being interviewed by one of the local papers. When asked when he would do if he owned the Cubs, he said that he would “build lots of driveways at Wrigley Field so that I can back up the truck.”
That’s the place the Chicago Bears are now. I have not been on the “fire Lovie Smith bandwagon” up to now, probably for 2 reasons. First, even though these guys make more money than the normal person, it’s hard for me to call on someone to lose their job. I’ve been unemployed and I’m sure that wee all know someone who is unemployed in this recession, so losing a job is a very personal, often demeaning thing. The other reason is because I was raised by my grandmother to root for black coaches. Of course, black coaches are much more common, and the ultimate sign of “equality” is that minority coaches get fired too.
But this is enough. After this weekend’s 31-7 loss to Baltimore, the 2009 Bears have nothing. They can’t run the ball; they can’t block; their defense can’t tackle or stop anybody. I know that some people are going to point at Jay Cutler too, but I think that if he played for a team with a 21st Century offensive scheme and a decent offensive line, he would be fine.
But Lovie; it’s time to go. Ron Turner needs to find work elsewhere. I would say that it’s time for Jerry Angelo to pack his bags too, but I don’t see the McCaskeys firing everybody, despite the fact that it was his decisions on draft picks and players that has the Bears in this predicament now. The Bears under Angelo have been woeful in developing talent. The players that they have gotten with talent, have performed well, but the players that they’ve acquired who haven’t panned out; or aren’t playing; have done so because the team has not done a good job of turning those raw gems into diamonds.
So let’s put to rest the spirits of Red Grange, Gaye Sayers, and Walter Payton and stop playing run-first offense. This team needs someone to bring the offense into the 21st Century. Mike Martz, someone like Cam Cameron, a great offensive mind is what is needed. And on defense, something is very wrong. Meanwhile, the head coach, the quiet guy from Big Sandy, Texas has lost the team and may be too soft-spoken to be heard among the din.
There’s a lot of driveways at Soldier Field and at Halas Hall in Lake Forest – let’s get them used.