Terry Shea: One and done as Bears OC?

[CSF]

STATE OF THE BEARS

 

Shea's future left twisting

He gets no vote of confidence from his bosses

 

By David Haugh

Tribune staff reporter

 

January 3, 2005, 11:03 PM CST

 

 

Given the chance Monday at Halas Hall to cast a vote of confidence for Bears offensive coordinator Terry Shea, general manager Jerry Angelo and coach Lovie Smith abstained.

 

Nobody had to take a poll to figure out what that portended.

 

 

 

 

"Is Terry Shea's future secure? Terry's part of our staff like [defensive coordinator] Ron Rivera and all the rest of the coaches right now," Smith said. "Right now, I expect every [assistant coach] to be back."

 

By saying "right now," Smith reserved wiggle room if the Bears fire Shea in the week ahead with two years left on his contract. Offensive ineptitude was the No. 1 reason for the Bears' 5-11 record this season. And in tone and content, Smith's comments represented a significant shift from the public support he gave Shea three weeks ago in musing, "What's the highest grade you can give him?"

 

Angelo, showing the strain of a third straight losing season, followed Smith to the podium and left Shea's future twisting just as perilously in the wind.

 

"Lovie's responsible for his staff," Angelo said when the issue of Shea came up. "Lovie and I will talk through everything each and every year about every phase and asset of our program."

 

Asked if he saw enough positives despite the poor offensive showing to warrant Shea's return, Angelo bristled.

 

"That's a loaded question," he said. "We'll answer that when we talk, and those talks will start this afternoon and carry on."

 

To many, that was a long way of saying no.

 

Smith planned to begin a series of meetings with individual staff members Monday, a day that began with the head coach saying goodbye to his team. Players raced out of their parking lot following Smith's farewell. Wide receiver David Terrell was in such a hurry that he ran over a reflector bordering the driveway.

 

Angelo sounded in just as big a rush to fix a Bears offense that finished last in the league in seven of 11 categories: yards per game, yards per play, passing yards per game, sacks per game, first downs per game, third-down efficiency and scoring.

 

"We were abysmal on offense," Angelo said. "There are reasons for that. We have tough questions to ask ourselves, and we have to do it objectively and not emotionally."

 

Minutes later, Angelo's emotion overflowed as he addressed how likely it is the Bears will find their answers during the free-agency period that begins March 1.

 

"I don't want to look at free agency as this hope … sometimes free agency is false hope," Angelo said. "We've got a good nucleus right here. I want to focus on the development of our players. I'm tired of going into free agency. I'm tired of looking for Mr. Goodbar.

 

The intensity in Angelo's voice began to increase.

 

"We've got a good football team here," he said. "We've got to make this team work. I'm not going to sit here and say we need this player, that player, left tackle, we need wide receivers. Why do we need coaches? Why do we need general managers? … We need to focus on the development of this team, and that's what we're going to do."

 

In putting the onus on the coaching staff to develop the talent he believes exists on the roster, Angelo for the first time contradicted Smith, who earlier had suggested the coaches faced limitations within the roster. Smith spoke of needing more "offensive firepower" and mentioned that the problems went beyond injuries, subtly indicting either the players or the play-calling—or both.

 

"Our coaching staff did the best job they really could," Smith said. "I don't think you can say, 'Hey, we didn't do well, it's the scheme.' It's how we played the scheme at times. You look at that and you look at personnel. Any scheme will work if you believe in it and have personnel to do it."

 

In Angelo's mind, the Bears do. He holds the coaching staff responsible for figuring out ways to bring that personnel closer to its potential.

 

"It's fixing the problem, it's not about blame," Angelo said. "It's about being right, it always has been. It's a team effort. It's not one person's fault. There's accountability in any organization. That's the way businesses are run. There's certainly going to be accountability in this organization as well. That's part of my responsibility, and I'm going to do my due diligence."

Copyright © 2005, The Chicago Tribune

[DBAHO]

LOL @ David Terrell. Actually I think if the Cowboys do decide to go into 2005 with Drew Henson, they could look at signing Terrell due to the Michigan background. I'm not sure if he's a FA or if he has 1 year left on his deal though.

[southsider2k5]

I don't see why Terrell won't be back in 2005. He has a one year deal at just under $1 million, so it isn't like they will save any money by cutting him, and there isn't any long term cap savings because he only has the one year deal. Maybe he will be traded, but cut? I doubt it.

[EvilJester99]

Hell when people are calling to bring back Shoop you know something is wrong... Shea's play calling some suspect to say the least but with that offensive line or lack there of, how much can you do?

[ChWRoCk2]

are offensive linemen arent fast enogh for sheas scheme, and we seriously need to go out of the shotgun, it allows you more itme to see open guys downfield, i dont care if terrell doesnt come back, he cant catch

[Credepopsup]

All sorts of rumors are flying about the Bears OC job. This is from ProFootballTalk.

 

Another name to keep in mind for Bears fans is Mike Martz. If the Rams coach ends up out of St. Louis once the dust of the 2004 season settles, Martz could end up on the Chicago staff, possibly in an ill-defined, Fassel-esque "I'm too good to be called an assistant coach" capacity.

 

Our suggestion, frankly, would be to dump offensive coordinator Terry Shea (as we advocated on Sunday) and to make Martz the new architect of the offense. The last time Martz had such a job, his team only won the Super Bowl

 

Fassel is another name being mentioned. One thing does look certain, Shea - he gawn.

[Chisoxfn]

I wish it were certain and I believe he should be fired. I just hope Lovie and JA do the right thing.

 

Fassel is my #1 choice with Martz a 2nd. If the Raiders axe Norv Turner thats another guy I'd look at. I want the Bears to bring in a proven OC if at all possible.

 

Dbaho, DT has another year on his deal with the actual salary being 950K (not counting his bonus) so I think he gets cut only if the Bears think he's detrimental to the club.