Quarterback Brian Hoyer gives Chicago Bears needed momentum

But how can you conclude that Fox doesn't want to win?  That makes no sense to me to conclude that any NFL coach doesn't want to win.  I also have a difficult time believing he doesn't have a plan.  He and Pace probably have a multi-year plan (both an immediate and a higher level plan).  That doesn't mean it is a good plan.  But there is a plan.  

We all have differing opinions - and we will in a rough rebuilding year like this, when the team is also crippled with key players being injured.  It's a really hard year to endure.  Especially coming on the heals of other bad years.  

And for what it's worth, I respect everyone's opinion here, and am not trying to say I'm right or that anyone else is wrong.  I just don't want to give up on Fox this year.  Part of that is just my personality.  I am slow to give up on people... some would just say I am "slow" in general :-)

tl:dr summary: Brasilbear babbles about the Bears and concludes that the future will look like the present. He needs more coffee and a life.

I agree 100% with your first paragraph. It appears to me that Fox's philosophy is to minimize risk at all cost. He wants to wait for the other team to make mistakes and than win a close game. I think last season has a really good example of this.

In the Lions game, rather than go for a first down with 3 minutes left and the Lions having 3 time-outs, Fox/Gase decided to run as much clock as possible (and I still believe they really didn't think the Lions would use all 3 timeouts before the 2 minute warning but would hold them for a final drive with just under 2 minutes left--he got out coached bad) and then make the Lions have to play mistake free to win the game. He didn't play to win, he played not to lose. You also saw this (IMO) in the Redskins game, the 49ers game, the Denver game and one or two others I'm forgetting. But to play this you need a DEF and last year the DEF couldn't rise to the occasion.

THIS IS ALL IMO: I think the reason he will stay with Hoyer is that Hoyer apparently has figured out the play-safe game-manager style of play. An absurd amount of his yards on Sunday came from runs after the catch. This Fox wants. Gase figured out how to do it with Cutler last season but not Loggains apparently. When Cutler got hurt that was Fox's chance to make a change he has wanted to make for some time. In Fox's mind protecting the DEF by limiting risk is more important than generating risk attempting to pressure the other DEF. This also explains the move from Gould. In a perfect world the OFF moves the ball enough with very little risk of a turnover just enough to get within field goal range. If you can't trust your kicker, than you make a move. Fox's perfect game would be one he wins 21-17, with the OFF generating 400+ yards of OFF and getting within field goal range 7 times but having no turnovers. Its a field position, time of possession game plan, and its designed not to lose the game with your OFF and win it with your DEF. To motm 's credit he sees this like Fox does, hence his desire to jump Cutler, stick with Hoyer as long as possible and draft DEF. (Have to give props where props are due.) My problem is that it requires an elite DEF to work, and we don't have that, nor will we have that for some time.  

Now I disagree with your second part. I think Fox has a plan, but due to injury and the surprise inconstancy of Barth its not working out. Its the plan outlined above. Fox's biggest problem is that he's holding a square puzzle piece but the only place it will go is not square and he's just staring at the and trying to place it down. Then he picks it up, stares at it, spins it over and tries to place it down. Then he picks it up, spins it over and tries to place it down. He never looks for another piece. He's unable to adjust both long-term (season plan) and short-term (half time adjustments. The Colts said they were surprised the Bears didn't adjust at halftime.)

So moving forward what happens?

Hoyer continues to start and generate good fantasy football numbers, but the OFF struggles to consistently put up more than 20 points. Opposing DEF will begin to walk defenders into the box and the run game will stop being effective. (What happens if Howard goes down at this point is too horrible to even consider.) This will put pressure on the Bears DEF to generate points and turnovers and I don't think they are at a point to do that. There is no pass rush, and no ball hawking in the secondary. Amos is grading out high but still no turnovers. He seems to get everywhere just a half step too late. He's serviceable but thats it, and yes we could do worse at the position. I still think 6-10 might be the high point for this team.

In the OFF season, we will see another big FA signing or two to match the Trevathan/Freeman signings, Jeffery will be let go because WHITE, and Cutler will be released or traded for a 3rd/4th or even a 3rd if Pace gets the other GM drunk. The draft will go:

1. DEF
2. DEF
3. OL
4. QB
5. DEF
6. WR/TE
7. DEF

and we will be right back where we started. Only now some posters will be saying "I knew the rebuild was going to be 3+ years from the beginning."
 

Summary of Brasil's attempt as Souling a thread(ya I just verb'd soulman)

Fox is Lovie 2.0, but he doesn't have a def that can get TO's or a ST's that can score for the O.

The Bears Def is not good enough to overcome the O turning the ball over, even if they might score a little more, it's more then neutralized by the O turning the ball over. Fox no likey so he'll go w/the less talented Hoyer who doesn't put the ball in the Defenses hands.

Fox has a plan, but its been jacked up by injuries and his handpicked K sucking balls instead of kicking them for points.

This O is about to get in real trouble w/it's unwillingness/inability to stretch the field; def's will start putting 10 in the box shutting down the run/short pass game; please by all that is good and holy don't let Howard go down.

Def FA, DEF draft and we're stuck w/Hoyer as the starter again(cry).

Can i just send you my posts so you can edit them down? At least I'd be able to tell my kids "Stop crying and get your own cereal for breakfast."