Glimmers of hope (something positive from the Tribune)

Just from the header I knew it didn't come from Biggsy, Haugh or Rosenrant.  That latter two I expect it from but even Biggsy seem to have reached the point of being utterly fed up and without much of anything positive to say.  That's unusual for him.

These are a few of the players I see who refute the idea that this roster is so bereft of talent. I really don't know why anyone would chose to use that excuse when Fangio has pieced together another functional defense playing with backups and rookies as much or more than starters.  I'm not giving John Fox any outs for lack of talent when it's been his lack of coaching that's behind the failure to win.

Floyd may make me eat my words yet but it's clear the light didn't come on and his production didn't shoot up until after Fox kept on insisting he start as a 3 down OLB instead of allowing him to focus on his rushing and penetration which is why we drafted him to begin with.

It's much the same at RB.  Anyone with eyes and a willingness to admit it can see that Howard is the real deal.  He can run between the tackles, shrug off arm tackles, carry the pile and basically get the tough yards and he can also get to the edge well enough to be used as an outside threat and as a pass receiver.  IMHO he and Carey have blown Langford back to the #3 spot where he should be used only as a change of pace back.

Whitehair was a guy I hoped we'd take all along and he's making it nearly impossible for Grasu to regain his OC spot but having starting caliber depth or a valuable trade piece in him eventually is worth something as well.  The Sitton signing was a GM showing he knows how and when to act quickly when it's called for and at least partially offsets other FA OL acquisitions like Larsen and Massie.  Maybe we'll get lucky with Mike Adams by next year or we'll draft or sign a better OT. That's still a project that needs tackling.

Goldman is a gem and Amos might be too if we could play him at SS and find a really good FS.  Other than this I think most of his decisions about which of our own UFAs to keep has also been a positive.  Porter and Miller are both talented players who are also playing on a very shitty team but they're doing their own jobs well.

Pace has added talent more quickly than Emery and at least some of his coaches have made use of it.  Injuries have slowed the progression but they haven't destroyed it to the level that has happened.  That comes only from piss poor preparation and coaching.  To much of the time this team is still playing just as unprepared as they looked during the preseason yet we have a HC who sees team progress when there is none and still can't judge the preparedness of his team each week any better than he did this summer.

In my book that's almost a criminal act.

Covert-Bortz-Hilgy-Thayer-Van Horne < I think people forget just how solid an O-line we had back when we were 'great' . Couple that with a dangerous QB , a world class speedster WR , a tough possession WR , Walter , and all the studs we had on D , and you see just how MUCH talent you need to have in order to be good enough to win it all . So ... while 'some' talent is better than none , we need to be realistic and acknowledge just how much more we need , across the board , to even start 'winning' again .

Yeah we do because too many guys who are starting are no better than the type of backup depth we need. Massie and Leno would be pretty fair backups but we could use stronger #1 guys at both spots.  The trouble is they're hard to get in FA so you have to draft them and develop them.  We might improve one OT spot next year but both will be tough.

The secondary is full of #2 type who may or may not step it up but at least they're getting some good experience.  I think if we can add a truly great FS and QB of the DBs this offseason it will help a lot.  Then the younger DL like CWash and Bullard either need to step up or we need to upgrade one DE spot.

There talent but also a lot of inexperience and a lot of new parts being added constantly due to turnover and injury.  The thing is Fangio is making it happen despite that.  Fox and the rest of his coordinators are not.  If that's not a clear sign of the changes needed then Halas Hall will be in a similar fog next year.

I believe Vic Fangio is the #1 asset the franchise has right now.  I'm including all of the team's coaches and players when I say this.  He is an amazingly valuable asset.  If we lose him it would be a huge blow to the Chicago Bears.

We all talk about how important some players are to a given NFL franchise, and that is true.  But it is especially true with coaches, IMHO.  A great one like Fangio is priceless.  In my opinion it's almost as valuable as having a franchise QB like Tom Brady.  Maybe not at the same level, but it's pretty close.

I would be sick if we ever let Fangio go.  I'm feeling John Fox is a goner.  At best he makes it to the end of this season as our HC.  My worry is that Fangio may not choose to stay under a new HC.  He might.  But he might not.  And, I guess a new HC may want his own people in place and not want Fangio... it would be like Mike Ditka not wanting Buddy Ryan to stay.  Of course the Bears forced Ryan on Ditka for a bit, and I guess the Bears could do that with Fangio and a new HC.  However it plays out, I'm just hoping Fangio stays.  I think that if that happens we are going to see a great defense.  One for the ages.