Why I agree Pace has been horrible building the WR core, however, Brandon Marshall (he is currently with the Giants and he was causing trouble with the Jets) was a basket case, and Alshon Jeffery had no intention staying in Chicago.
It is what it is to be honest. We did get worse in our rec department, but all of these 'leaves' had their reason... I dont have a problem with Pace letting those (and Bennett and Forte) guys go, real problem with Pace is that he DID NOT SIGN APPROPRIATE REPLACEMENTS. And thats solely on him. Dont be fooled, we also spent a bunch of money on these guys but we got very close to nothing (would add S's Demps and Rolle to that list). Glennon, in my eyes, is not a total failure as he was a prime (and a tad too expensive) decoy.
That I agree.. He should have signed better replacements...
The Mike Glennon signing will no doubt have people shaking their heads and clucking their tongues for another decade but it's far from Ryan Pace's biggest error and flawed thinking. If the Bears were in the mode of replacing both HC and GM again their reasoning (funny word for an organization that has little) might be based on Pace's destruction of a once viable offense.
How do you explain get of rid of 2 top NFL WRs it took us many years of futility to finally acquire and replace them with the collection of #3, #4, and PS hangers on we have now? We got a bag of peanuts 5th and a thank you for BMarsh and a 7th and zip for AJ. Three years ago they were ranked as one of the top receiving duos in the NFL and now we have Dontrelle Inam and Josh Bellamy?
Pace has sent 6'3" and 6'4" 220-230lb dominators on their way and ended up replacing them with the likes of Mini-Cooper WRs like Eddie Royal, Markus Wheaton and Kendall Wright and his prize replacement isn't likely to ever see a complete 16 games season. How does a supposedly smart guy like Pace let this happen especially when he burned 4 draft picks to get his hoped for franchise QB?
Out of all of Pace's attempts to build a WR core Wheaton his been his biggest mistake yet.
Why I agree Pace has been horrible building the WR core, however, Brandon Marshall (he is currently with the Giants and he was causing trouble with the Jets) was a basket case, and Alshon Jeffery had no intention staying in Chicago.
We've been through all of this before though.
Marshall has been a problem everywhere he's ever played. We knew this but his production was still valuable. He was traded primarily to free cap space to sign McPhee, Royal, and Rolle. Royal and Rolle weren't of much help and McPhee was damaged goods upon arrival. White was drafted to replace Marshall and he's been useless.
The problem here was Pace was too cocksure he had Marshall replaced when in reality he didn't. A more experienced GM might have waited until after White began to blossom before he made a trade. He was trouble in NY too but also had 17 tds and nearly 2300 yards receiving in 2 seasons with the Jets. Compare that to White.
AJ wanted to be paid and we kept dicking around with him so he lost interest in playing here. I'd agree that by this past winter he wanted to move on but that wasn't always the case. If we had been willing to offer him what he signed with Philly for instead of tagging him in all likelihood he'd still be here.
Pace's moves to rebuild the WR position have been a colossal failure and no amount of excuses can change that. The receivers he's replaced BMarsh and AJ with have all been massive failures. That's on him.
Why I agree Pace has been horrible building the WR core, however, Brandon Marshall (he is currently with the Giants and he was causing trouble with the Jets) was a basket case, and Alshon Jeffery had no intention staying in Chicago.
It is what it is to be honest. We did get worse in our rec department, but all of these 'leaves' had their reason... I dont have a problem with Pace letting those (and Bennett and Forte) guys go, real problem with Pace is that he DID NOT SIGN APPROPRIATE REPLACEMENTS. And thats solely on him. Dont be fooled, we also spent a bunch of money on these guys but we got very close to nothing (would add S's Demps and Rolle to that list). Glennon, in my eyes, is not a total failure as he was a prime (and a tad too expensive) decoy.
This has been my point since FA. Since before they actually failed. Since the quality of who we got predicted they would fail
The key like someone mentioned isn't that they lost those specific players, its that Pace lost significant production at the time and still hasn't replaced it. I understand Fox feeling he had to move on from Marshall and Bennett, but they weren't replaced. He created holes he has yet to fill and currently Mitch is maying the price.
The key like someone mentioned isn't that they lost those specific players, its that Pace lost significant production at the time and still hasn't replaced it. I understand Fox feeling he had to move on from Marshall and Bennett, but they weren't replaced. He created holes he has yet to fill and currently Mitch is maying the price.
I think we all agree with the reasons BB but the question I've always had is was the tail wagging the dog here and therefore Pace felt obligated to move on faster than he should have. We sent a lot of offensive production packing in order to accommodate Focks' "culture change" and his desire to play 3 yards and a cloud of dust football.
Both BMarsh and Bennett were fits in that type of offense because both could and would block. In that regard those we signed at WR like Wheaton are useless and Sims has turned into another major disappointment at TE. The bottom line is in the process of trying to upgrade we've actually spent a ton of money downgrading what we once an effective offense.
Even the trade off of Forte for Howard isn't working out well since Forte was a terrific receiver whereas Howard is not. I love Howard but we need both skills from a #1 RB. Wee don't have that and so far they're not getting as much out of Cohen as he's capable of because Focks has no idea what to do with him.
At least Pace is no drafting based on his own vision for the offense but I believe many of the moves we made prior to 2017 were done to satisfy Focks and it's all too easy to see where that got us.
Post by britishbearfan on Dec 9, 2017 14:34:46 GMT -6
What seems pretty clear is that Pace and Fox are not on the same page.
I tend to see that as more on Fox than Pace - but you have to wonder why Pace is allowing it to happen. If I decide to do things my own way at work and ignore the way my boss wants things done - you can be sure that I won't be around very long.
You have to wonder whether the rumours around Pace keeping Fox in the dark about the Trubisky move had some truth to them. If they are then you have to wonder why Fox was even the head coach at the start of the season. The whole thing screams dysfunctional organization.
What seems pretty clear is that Pace and Fox are not on the same page.
I tend to see that as more on Fox than Pace - but you have to wonder why Pace is allowing it to happen. If I decide to do things my own way at work and ignore the way my boss wants things done - you can be sure that I won't be around very long.
You have to wonder whether the rumours around Pace keeping Fox in the dark about the Trubisky move had some truth to them. If they are then you have to wonder why Fox was even the head coach at the start of the season. The whole thing screams dysfunctional organization.
I think the difference may be what's delineated in each of their contracts. Most of us don't work under one but those of us who have might better understand. Pace may have contractual control of personnel and the roster but Focks will retain control of who plays where, how much, and how often.
That alone is a set up for some conflicts and dysfunction and I believe we do have some. Keeping your HC out of your plan to draft a QB #1 because your HC tend to be a blabbermouth among his peers can't be seen as being very complimentary or synergistic. In fact it's downright insulting.
So if we're looking for a hot spot where this years troubles may have begun that could be one. My guess is after GMcC told Pace that Focks had to stay he also gave permission for him to begin doing things is way as far as the draft but to at least try to field a competitive team.
Pace went out and got FAs he believed would create a bridge for a year 'til we could get Trubisky and Shaheen ready to start but Fock' offense and coaching has been so bad even that plan couldn't work and we began Plan B. Focks still resists preparing and playing the rookies and limits what Loggains and Trubisky can do but accepts no personal responsibility for it because that's typical John Focks. It's how he operates.
I don't think we have one thing to worry about as far as him being fired. No one from Pace on up the line will tolerate another year of being hosed by Focks like this but we'll never hear them say it. They believe that would reflect too poorly on them for hiring Focks to begin with and that's even more comical and dysfunctional since we already do blame all of them.
If they would simply admit that and move on in a wholly different direction it would be forgotten soon enough provided we begin winning but in all likelihood they won't. They'll just shake their heads and shrug, pass it off as one more mistake in the many they've made, and keep on doing the same dumb shit they have for 35 years. That's what I believe at any rate.
I think it would be standard procedure that the GM has control of the 53 man roster (ie he's the one making calls, signing FAs, cutting players) in consultation with the HC. While the HC has control over the game planning and 53 man roster + 46 man active roster.
I think it would be standard procedure that the GM has control of the 53 man roster (ie he's the one making calls, signing FAs, cutting players) in consultation with the HC. While the HC has control over the game planning and 53 man roster + 46 man active roster.
This seems to be what we're told. But if the HC isn't using who the GM provides him with or using them at their strengths we've wasted a lot of money and draft picks.
Take Wheaton for example. He's primarily a deep threat. But if Focks is limiting the offense in such a way that there is no deep passing game he's not very useful. Same with Tanner Gentry. He and Trubisky showed some chemistry during the preseason on deep balls but he's also an odd man out now.
Focks won't play Shaheen much and Cohen is being misused so all of the offense depends on Howard trying to pick up yardage against 8 and 9 men in the box and we seldom throw a pass more than 15 yards downfield. It's like preseason all over again. Why? Stubbornness or pissed off sabotage?