Terry Shea Fired

[Confederate_48]

Right now it seems like Fassel is going to become the next Ravens OC. If the bears don't get Linehan, they could possibly look at Brad Childrees the Eagles OC, as he could leave if he doesn't get a head coaching job and then Marty Morhninweg would take over as the Eagles OC.

 

Why would Childress leave Philly if he doesnt get a HC job ?? Wouldnt he just stay there for another year since they have the players to compete still instead of going to another team to be an OC ??

[CSF]

Little bit of news on Smith's plan for the offense (take it for what it's worth):

 

From the Sun-Times:

 

Bears dump Shea, system

 

\

Bears dump Shea, system

 

January 5, 2005

 

BY BRAD BIGGS Staff Reporter

 

 

Ultimately, F was the highest grade Lovie Smith could give Terry Shea.

 

Two days after the Bears' 5-11 season ground to a halt with the team at the bottom of the league in nearly every offensive category, they fired their offensive coordinator with two years left on his contract. While the news was no surprise given the lack of support Shea received a day earlier, it is interesting that Smith is ready to dump the system, too, after vehemently defending the scheme as much as the man operating it during the season.

 

"We're going in a different direction that entails quite a bit,'' Smith said. "I would like to see us become more of a running team. I said all along, I would like to be a run-first team. That's what we'll do.''

 

THE CANDIDATES

 

Jim Fassel: Former Giants coach is holding out for head-coaching job.

 

Marty Mornhinweg: Former Lions coach knows NFC North and has something to prove after disastrous run in Detroit.

 

Scott Linehan: Soon-to-be free agent knows division, would figure out a way to get Justin Gage involved in offense.

 

Ron Turner: Could step back into job he held with Bears for four years; team put up some of its best numbers under his guidance.

 

Jim Colletto/Marc Trestman: Proposed Plan B from last year might get another look if things fall apart.

 

 

RANK PERFORMANCE

 

The Bears ranked at or near the bottom of the NFL in almost every major offensive statistic this season. 

Category No. Rank 

 

Scoring 14.4 32

 

Touchdowns 26 T-30 

 

Total offense 238.5 32

 

Rushing offense 101.5 T-25

 

Passing offense 137.0 32

 

Sacks allowed 66 32 

 

First downs 14.4 32

 

Third-down conversions 25.1 32

 

Fourth-down conversions 31.6 28

 

Time of possession 28:20 T-27

 

That means Smith will look outside of the Don Coryell offensive family tree that is used in St.Louis, where Smith came from, and in Kansas City, where Shea worked as quarterbacks coach. Smith had not worked previously with Shea but hired him after Rams coach Mike Martz put out feelers for people with a background in the scheme. Smith sold the offense to general manager Jerry Angelo, whom he informed of his decision along with club president Ted Phillips before lowering the boom on Shea.

 

While things started with promise -- the Bears ranked 12th in total yards after Week 3 -- that third game in Minnesota is when quarterback Rex Grossman was lost with a season-ending knee injury. The offense hit a freefall starting with backup quarterback Jonathan Quinn, whom Shea backed, and never came out of it. In fairness, Grossman wasn't the only injury. The Bears used five starting guards and four tackles.

 

With the club floundering three weeks ago, Shea made the PR blunder of giving himself a B grade in self-evaluation and said it couldn't be higher because the team had not scored enough points. When asked what grade he would give Shea, Smith said the highest grade possible.

 

"You ask questions like that during the course of the season, we were a group together and you kind of go with everything then,'' Smith said. "After the season, you really sit back and evaluate everything that happened. Every coach had full support as we were going through the season. After the season, we were 5-11, and that isn't good enough.''

 

Perhaps the greatest problem was that Shea simplified the scheme only once, in rookie Craig Krenzel's first two starts against San Francisco and the New York Giants. Sources said Krenzel occasionally would forget elements of the call at the line of scrimmage, and it got so bad that Smith met with Shea after the embarrassing 21-7 loss on Thanksgiving at Dallas to find out what was going on.

 

The offense set franchise records for sacks allowed (66) -- Shea stuck with seven-step drops while using a patchwork line -- and third-down efficiency (25.1 percent). Much of the blame for a record 124 penalties goes to the offense, too.

 

Reached by phone in the hotel room he has lived in this season, Shea said he had no comment.

 

"It's not a happy day when you're dealing with a good man and a good coach like Terry,'' Smith said. "But I'd like to see the offense go in a different direction.''

 

Smith did not set any boundaries to his search, refusing to say if he preferred someone he has worked with or someone with experience calling plays in the NFL. He was interested in the Minnesota Vikings' Scott Linehan last year. Linehan's deal is up, but he already has been rumored to be a possibility in New England and Baltimore.

 

"There's a bottom line,'' Smith said. "You have to get a profit, and I just don't think we made enough progress this year. I know there are injuries involved and different things. I had to feel comfortable as we make our run this coming season that we could go in the right direction and the direction that I would like.''

 

 

I'm a little bummed out with this. I was really looking forward to a vertical passing game from this team for a change. The "3 yards and a cloud of dust" mentality hasn't been working too well.

[babybearhater]

I am willing to start the bring Norm Chow to chicago petition. He would dominate if we brought him in here. Look what he has done to a program who has dismal in previous years. Now he has back to back national championships. Both times demolishing apposing defenses.

[ChWRoCk2]

please not mornhingweg, or i prefer to him as mournhinweg no

[DBAHO]

Billick is saying that he thinks Fassel will get an opportunity to be a head coach.  You don't think so?

I doubt it for this off-season at least. Right now the Browns are probably going to settle on either Romeo Crennel or Brad Childress as their next head coach, although with Phil Savage the ex Ravens personnel director taking over as the Browns GM, maybe he will be interested Fassel.

The 49ers now they could be a possibility as John York said he wants an experienced coach. If the Seahawks lose to the Rams this week, I expect York to try and start contacting Mike Holmgren possibly, but that's a longshot.

[DBAHO]

Why would Childress leave Philly if he doesnt get a HC job ?? Wouldnt he just stay there for another year since they have the players to compete still instead of going to another team to be an OC ??

Childress doesn't call the plays in Philly, Andy Reid does that, so he's not going to get all the credit for the job that he's done with McNabb and Westbrook. Now if he moved to a team like the Bears and took their offense from 32nd to the top 10, that would prove he deserves a head coaching job. He probably does anyway, looking at the success Mike Mularkey had with the Bills this season.